14 Best High Fantasy Series to Read in 2025
Looking for your next high fantasy series? We’ve got the best tales, epic battles, and magic kingdoms perfect for new readers.
If you’re hunting for the next high fantasy series to get lost in, you’ve come to the right place. We know how wild the choices can get—trust us, we’ve nearly started a wizard duel over which book deserves the top spot. For this list, we focused on high fantasy series that whisk you away to brand new worlds full of magic, dragons, and a little too much walking (seriously, why does everyone walk so much?). We looked at epic world-building, wild plots, loveable (and hateable) characters, plus how easy it is for new readers to jump in. Whether you want wild politics, unpredictable magic, or just a good old-fashioned adventure, these high fantasy series have got it all. Grab a snack and a comfy chair, because things are about to get magical—no spellbook needed!
On this list:
- The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)
- A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
- The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1)
- The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1)
- Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn Series, Book 1)
- The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, Book 1)
- Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1)
- Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, Book 1)
- The Black Prism (Lightbringer Series, Book 1)
- The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1)
- The Bone Ships (The Tide Child Trilogy, Book 1)
- Priory of the Orange Tree
- The Ruin of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons, Book 1)
- The Hobbit
14 The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) by Robert Jordan
This kicks off one of the most epic high fantasy series ever, with magic, prophecies, and characters that are always running from something. We picked this because the world-building has more depth than our coffee mugs on Monday mornings. But, be warned, it can get slow and there are a lot (we mean a LOT) of pages.
13 A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) by George R. R. Martin
If you like politics with your dragons, this is your go-to high fantasy series. The twists will keep your mouth open so long your dentist will call you. Characters die faster than socks go missing in the dryer, which keeps the pages turning, but be warned: some plotlines walk slower than we do after eating a big lunch.
12 The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1) by Patrick Rothfuss
This high fantasy series starts with a bang (and some music). Kvothe’s story is part legend, part hostel-room confession. The writing style is smooth like that last slice of cheesecake nobody saw you eat. The second book is great too, but the series is still waiting for an ending longer than we’ve waited for our pizza delivery.
11 The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson gives us a high fantasy series with epic battles, big swords, and even bigger stakes. The world feels alive, and you might need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the magical doodads. The only downside: these books make your arms stronger just carrying them around.
10 Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn Series, Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson
This high fantasy series flips things upside down—what if the dark lord won? Tons of cool magic, a rebellious crew, and plot twists that hit harder than my cousin at dodgeball. Easy to get into but tricky to put down, be ready for some dark moments (and a bit of ash).
9 The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, Book 1) by Scott Lynch
We couldn’t skip this high fantasy series. It’s a heist story with grit, wit, and banter snappier than my grandma’s apple pie. The city feels alive, the scams are smarter than most of us, and the dialogue is just fun. There is a bit of violence and some language that would make our old principal blush.
8 Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) by Robin Hobb
Robin Hobb’s high fantasy series is all about the feels. FitzChivalry has a tough name and an even tougher life, with magic that’s more subtle but still makes you want to try talking to your cat. Sometimes the pace slows down, but we loved sulking along with Fitz anyway.
7 Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, Book 1) by Raymond E. Feist
Classic high fantasy series vibes with elves, magicians, and kingdoms in danger. The magic system is easy to get, and the characters are fun (especially Pug, our personal favorite wizard-in-training). The writing style can feel a bit old-school, but that adds to the charm if you ask us.
6 The Black Prism (Lightbringer Series, Book 1) by Brent Weeks
Color-based magic? Yes, please. This high fantasy series has action, drama, and plot twists that pop up more often than new streaming apps. Some parts can be dark, but you get a wild ride with a magic system that’s truly unique.
5 The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Book 1) by J.R.R. Tolkien
The grandfather of all high fantasy series, this is the blueprint everyone else copies (some better than others). There are epic journeys, magical rings, and enough walking to make your step counter jealous. The writing is old-fashioned, but the story rocks like a band at a goblin party.
4 The Bone Ships (The Tide Child Trilogy, Book 1) by RJ Barker
Love ships and sea monsters? This high fantasy series is for you. It’s got big bones, big dreams, and bigger risks. The world and language are unique, but can be an acquired taste if you don’t like swashbuckling lingo.
3 Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
This stand-alone is a high fantasy series in a single book—dragons, queens, and so many plots you’ll need a notebook. The cast is large, the dragons are epic, and we love the girl power. It’s a bit long for one book, but worth the time.
2 The Ruin of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons, Book 1) by Jenn Lyons
This high fantasy series is wild, with dragons, gods, and a guy who gets in more trouble than we do at karaoke night. The plot jumps around in time, but we still loved trying to keep up.
1 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
We are picking this as the best high fantasy series starter because it’s the classic that started our obsession. The Hobbit is fun, light, and full of charm. Bilbo’s adventure is what got many of us to leave the comfort of home (mentally, not physically—we like our blankets).
