Best Epic Fantasy Series 2025: Top 5 Must-Read Picks
Looking for an epic fantasy series? These five books bring magic, adventure, and heroes that keep us reading all night long.
The Best Epic Fantasy Series: Our Top 5 Picks for New Adventurers! If you’re looking to get swept away by dragons, magic, and a little bit of chaos, you’ve come to the right place. We know how tough it is to pick the right epic fantasy series, so we focused on exciting worlds, lovable (or hateable) characters, and stories that actually finish what they started. Our list is packed with twists, swords, and more than one wizard with spectacular hair. So grab your snacks! These top five epic fantasy series books are about to become your new favorites (and maybe ruin your sleep schedule like they did ours).
On this list:
5 The Wheel of Time: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
We picked this as a starter for epic fantasy series. The world-building is massive. You meet more characters than socks in your laundry. But the pacing can slow down sometimes, like trying to run in mud with flip-flops. Still, there’s magic, adventure, and a lot of good hair.
4 Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
This book made us want to eat metal flakes. The magic system is unique and clear (digesting coins for powers? Sign us up). The heists make it feel like Ocean’s Eleven with more cloaks. Some dialogue is a bit cheesy, but we forgive it. Easy to follow, fun to read.
3 A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
If you enjoy surprise character deaths and political backstabbing, this epic fantasy series will keep you on your toes. The writing is sharp, and the battles will make you want to wear a helmet. It’s long and gets confusing at times, but worth the ride… just don’t get too attached to anyone.
2 The Stormlight Archive: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
This monster of a book made us wish we had more arms to hold it. The world is strange and awesome (giant crabs, anyone?). Characters feel real. The story takes a while to get going, but the payoffs are big. Sanderson’s fights are like fireworks. We cheered out loud more than once.
1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is the grandparent of all epic fantasy series. We picked it as the best because it shaped the genre. The writing feels old-timey, but that’s part of the charm (and sometimes a headache). The world feels alive, and the journey is a classic. Every time we read, it’s like walking through Middle-earth with old friends and arguing about who gets to be Gandalf. Not everyone will love the singing and walking, but we always come back for more. It’s honest, quirky, and epic in all the right ways. If you want to start an adventure, this is the place to go. It’s a must-read for any fantasy fan.
