15 Best High Fantasy Series to Read in 2025
Looking for a high fantasy series to get lost in? We list the best worlds, epic battles, and magical adventures for you.
Looking for your next big high fantasy series? Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve sorted through endless forests, battled dragons (well, imaginary ones), and drank enough magic potions (okay, coffee) to bring you the 15 best high fantasy series on Amazon. We picked series with epic world-building, unforgettable heroes, and plots that kept us up way too late. We also looked for books that balance wild magic with real stakes – because, let’s be honest, we all love a good sword fight, but we also want to care about the people swinging those swords. Whether you’re new to high fantasy series or a battle-hardened veteran, this list is your ticket to other worlds – and yes, we promise there’s something for everyone (even if your favorite creature is a potato).
On this list:
- The Wheel of Time (Series)
- Mistborn (Series)
- The Stormlight Archive
- The Lord of the Rings
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- The Inheritance Cycle
- The Lightbringer Series
- The First Law Trilogy
- Malazan Book of the Fallen
- The Faithful and the Fallen
- Shannara Series
- The Broken Empire Trilogy
- Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
- Realm of the Elderlings
- The Kingkiller Chronicle
- The Stormlight Archive
15 The Wheel of Time (Series) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
We spent more time with Rand al’Thor and friends than at our own family reunions. It’s sprawling, epic, and has magic so wild even Gandalf would need a manual. Sometimes it gets a bit wordy, though.
14 Mistborn (Series) by Brandon Sanderson
Metal-eating wizards, fast pacing, and plot twists that will keep you up past your bedtime. The magic system is as snappy as our grandma’s cooking. The characters are top notch, but the third book gets a bit dense.
13 The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
This high fantasy series is so huge we needed a notepad just to keep track of the names. Every book is basically a doorstopper, but the worldbuilding blew our socks off.
12 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The OG high fantasy series. Elves, big feet, and lots of walking. If you haven’t read it, have you even fantasy’d? It’s a classic, but the prose can feel dated for new readers.
11 A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Winter is coming – and so are plot twists. No hero is safe. Warning: you may develop trust issues. Still, waiting for the last books is harder than finding a dragon egg.
10 The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
Dragon riders and elves who have more attitude than our pet cat. Very accessible, but sometimes the pacing lags and the writing is a bit young.
9 The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
Color magic! (No, really.) The plot twists made us spill our coffee. If you like complex politics and action, this high fantasy series is a must. Worldbuilding can feel a bit overpacked.
8 The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
Grim, brutal, and somehow still funny. The characters are rough around the edges and we love them for it. It’s dark, so bring a flashlight (and maybe some therapy).
7 Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
If you’re ready for a challenge, this is your Everest. Epic battles, gods, and a plot that made our brains hurt—in a good way. Not for beginners.
6 The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
If you like your high fantasy series with classic good vs evil and some wild action scenes, this one is for you. Great for fans of epic battles and banter.
5 Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
Elves with swords, magic stones, quests, and a healthy nostalgia vibe. Simple writing and fast plot. It’s a bit formulaic, but it’s great for new fantasy fans.
4 The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence
This high fantasy series is sharp, dark, and a little twisted. It’s got the same edge as your favorite uncle’s jokes at family dinner. Not for the faint of heart.
3 Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
A huge inspiration for Game of Thrones. Complex plots, moody castles, and underestimated heroes. The middle gets a bit slow, but it’s worth the journey.
2 Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb
Fitz and the Fool make us cry every time. Deep emotions, talking animals, and masterful prose. Some readers find it slow, but we love the feels.
1 The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a poet runs a magic school, this is your high fantasy series. Kvothe is fun, witty, and the story pulls you in quick. Just don’t expect the series to ever get finished—waiting for Book 3 is our new hobby.
0 The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
After much reading and heated debates (and maybe a thrown potato or two), we have crowned The Stormlight Archive as the best high fantasy series available on Amazon. Why? The worldbuilding is so deep we needed a map, a compass, and a snack for the journey. The magic system is truly unique and has rules that actually make sense—imagine that! The cast is massive, yet somehow everyone gets time to shine. You’ll get epic battles, heartfelt character arcs, and themes that stick with you longer than that time we tried to re-watch all the movies in one weekend. Yes, the books are chunky, and sometimes we needed encouragement to turn all those pages, but trust us—they’re worth it. If you want a high fantasy series that redefines epic, this is it.
