Best High Fantasy Novel Series 2025: Top 5 Reviewed
Here are the best high fantasy novel series for new readers. These worlds are full of magic, dragons, and wild adventures.
Looking for a high fantasy novel series that whisks you away faster than a wizard’s spell? Well, you’re in luck. We’ve sorted through countless high fantasy novel series, looking for worlds that are big, magic that’s wild, and characters so real you’d buy them coffee. Our picks have epic quests, deep lore, and at least one scene where someone learns the hard way not to touch a glowing rock. Whether you’re new to fantasy or just need a new obsession, this list will help you find your next big read.
On this list:
5 The Wheel of Time (Series) by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
We picked this high fantasy novel series because it’s an epic with more twists than a pretzel at a carnival. The worldbuilding is huge, and the cast is so big, we started keeping a notebook just to remember who is who. Sure, sometimes the characters spend too much time staring out windows or brushing their hair, but we never felt bored for long. The magic system is unique and the villains are truly nasty. If you like giant books and even bigger adventures, this one will keep you busy for a year.
4 The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
This high fantasy novel series is a real flex for anyone who says they want ‘something new.’ The magic system is fancy, like a Swiss watch. Sanderson keeps the action, mystery, and cool lore coming. Sometimes his dialogue sounds like a superhero movie, but the wild battles and heartfelt moments make up for that. Warning: these books are so big, you could use them as dumbbells.
3 The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
We like this high fantasy novel series because it’s about storytelling itself. Kvothe, the hero, is half genius, half disaster, just like us on a Monday morning. The writing is pretty and sometimes even poetic, but heads up: the series is still unfinished. If you are good at waiting, this is for you. Also, the magic is clever and the music scenes made us want to pick up a lute, but our neighbors quickly asked us to stop.
2 The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
This high fantasy novel series is for people who want something different than kings, knights, and dragons. Jemisin builds a world where gods walk around and politics get messy very fast. The writing style is bold and the story brings up big questions about freedom and power. Sometimes we scratched our heads at the timeline, but the wild twists kept us reading late at night.
1 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is the top pick for any high fantasy novel series because it invented the whole party. Elves, orcs, epic quests, and more songs than your high school musical. We picked Tolkien’s classic as our winner because it’s the reason most of us care about fantasy at all. The writing can get a bit old-timey, and don’t even ask about the songs (we started skipping them after a while). But the adventure, friendships, and big battles never get old. We read this with friends and even the ones who said ‘I don’t like books’ ended up racing to see who could finish first. If you want the best, just start here—you’ll spot bits of it in every other series. This series is like the bread and butter of fantasy: simple, filling, and it goes with everything.
