There are a lot of amazing fantasy series out there, but many – or so it feels – are still works in progress. That means waiting for the next book to come out, sometimes for years (looking at you GRRM & Rothfuss!).
So, here are some of my favorite *finished* series. Most come from the world of traditional publishing, except Kingfisher:
- Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas) – 8 books and 2 novellas
- Book of the Ancestor (Mark Lawrence) – 3 books
- Demon Cycle (Peter V. Brett) – 5 books
- The Saint of Steel / World of the White Rat (T. Kingfisher) – 4 books
- Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan) – 14 books and a prequel
- The Folk of the Air (Holly Black) – 3 books and a novella
A few words about each of these series
Throne of Glass is definitely an absolute favorite. It starts off just OK but within the first book, Aelin grew on me. The series felt like an immersive experience that played my emotions like a musician making her cello sing. The worldbuilding, the secondary characters that will steal your heart, the twists and turns… it’s gold. I laughed, I gasped, I cried. And everyone I’ve recommended the series to has fallen for it just as hard.
Book of the Ancestor had me intrigued from page one, and rooting for Nona soon thereafter. The magic school is one of my favorite, with its location, curriculum, and teachers all winning my heart in no time. The pacing and plot twists were divine, and I ugly cried more than once. Cannot recommend it enough.
Demon Cycle is a refreshing concept executed brilliantly. I was reticent to tackle the book that takes place in the dessert, but loved the culture described because the traditions were so different and the juxtaposition of the main characters was incredibly powerful. As for the ending? *chef’s kiss*
Saint of Steel is full of humor and brilliance, as are all of Kingfisher’s books. Talk about #authorgoals. This series deals with religion, belonging, self love, other kinds of love, and politics. Each book follows a different paladin, so technically you can read them as standalones.
Wheel of Time is a classic for a reason. I read this more than a decade ago, and I still think of and miss the characters. Epic.
Folk of the Air features – like many of Black’s books – the trickster kind of fae whose world is parallel to ours and where all sorts of unspoken rules can easily doom humans. It’s not my favorite of Black’s work, but I still devoured it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
These are but a drop in the ocean
These are authors that I’ve come to love, such that I’ll read anything they write. But of course, there are almost endless great series and authors out there.
There’s a decent mix of male and female writers represented above. However, I could improve my cultural diversity – so that’s my homework. Although there’s one indie author listed above, I might do another list of just indie author series, because there are some amazing ones out there!
And I might have to share some of my favorite unfinished series, because diving in from the first book is a great way to support authors, regardless of how they are published.
In terms of finished series though, what are YOUR favorites? If one isn’t mentioned, recommendations are always welcome!
Ps. If you’re wondering about the header / featured image? It’s a reminder to myself of why I shouldn’t use Canva after 11pm.