There is perhaps no better way to escape the doldrums of quarantine captivity than an epic journey into a brand-new fantasy series. An intricately constructed world built just for you. Ready to whisk you away to destinations hitherto unknown. A sprawling land of imagination full of new heroes and epic quests. In this section, I’ve included some of my favorite Epic Fantasy series. I’ve left out some obvious ones (Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia) because, well, they’re obvious. And if you’re wondering where Harry Dresden and his ilk are, I’m saving Urban Fantasy for another day. I have included a few series that are well known to avid fantasy readers for the benefit of the newer readers among us who may just be delving into the genre. (Or for you old-hat fantasy fans who may have a blind spot in your nerddom.) Enjoy.
- The Wheel of Time: Robert Jordan’s tale about the Dragon Reborn was the first adult fantasy series I read after falling in love with Lord of the Rings. Like Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time is due to have its own show on Amazon next year. And while the series does not exactly break the mold when it comes to fantasy tropes, the world is rich enough for you to forgive its more formulaic “chosen one” versus “ancient evil” plot. This series starts out strong, lags a bit in the middle, then finishes with aplomb. This will be hit or miss for most of you, but with fourteen books and a prequel, its worth picking up the first book and seeing if you get into it.
- Mistborn Saga: The Mistborn Saga (as of now) actually consists of two trilogies set on the same world three hundred years apart. The first trilogy starts out with a band of thieves attempting to overthrow an all-powerful tyrant. The second is a magic-meets-the-industrial-revolution serial killer mystery. Both are brilliant. The writing is excellent, and this series features perhaps the most creative and original magic system ever put to page. It subverts tropes at every turn, and just when you think you’ve got a handle on which direction the plot is headed, you find out just how deeply ignorant you really were. For my money, Brandon Sanderson is the best all-around fantasy writer alive today, and he certainly is at the top of his game here.
- The First Law Trilogy: This series feels like it’s giving the middle finger at all times. I’m not always clear on to whom the finger is being offered, but to be honest, I don’t really care. Joe Abercrombie’s dark humor and complicated characters make this series a poster child for the “grimdark” subgenre of fantasy books. The main characters aren’t good, sometimes they’re not even likable, but they certainly keep your interest. This is a different kind of fantasy novel and not for those who prefer an old fashioned good versus evil throwdown.
- The Realm of the Elderlings: Robin Hobb’s sprawling epic begins with the Farseer Trilogy and a royal bastard named Fitz, who is brought into the royal family to be their secret assassin. The series is rife with political machinations and courtly intrigue, but still has plenty of action and old school questing to keep fantasy purists happy. In fact, this series does an excellent job of balancing grimmer more realistic takes of modern fantasy books with the high fantasy tropes commonly associated with the post-Tolkien era—definitely a series for dog lovers and fans of assassinations.
- Gentlemen Bastards: Scott Lynch’s fantasy series about a group of con artists led by the irascible Locke Lamora is something you don’t often find in the fantasy genre: unique. In a genre overstuffed with chosen ones, prophecies, and ancient evils, Lynch carves out an entirely new fantasy sub-genre: the caper. This is for everyone who thought Ocean’s Eleven didn’t have enough swordplay. It’s a great, fun read that has appeal to readers of all tastes.
- The Chronicles of Amber: A classic of the fantasy genre, this series can be a bit divisive amongst fantasy readers. While it can be sluggish in places, taken as a whole, the series is a fantastic and addicting read that will keep you forever searching for more stories from this world(s). The first book was published back in 1970, so this series is often overlooked by modern audiences. With ten books in the main series and multiple supplemental stories, this is well worth your time—a must-read for fans of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.
- The Broken Earth Trilogy: N. K. Jemisin can bring it. Her first fantasy trilogy, Inheritance, was a decent debut; but this outing shows a master coming into her own power. The dystopian fantasy series manages to create end-of-the-world stakes while keeping the story rooted in a very personal journey. Jemisin’s style isn’t for everyone, but if you’re getting tired of reading fantasy epics written by old white dudes, this is undoubtedly worthy of your attention.
- Avalon: Known primarily for The Mists of Avalon, the first book in the series, Marion Zimmer Bradley’s re-telling of Arthurian lore from the perspective of its female participants adds depth and perspective to one of the great myths of human history. While dressed up in trappings of magic and court intrigue, these are really a series of novels showing women doing what they need to do to protect their people and their culture. A compelling, must-read for any gender, but definitely a comfort read for any ladies looking for a dose of female empowerment.
- Malazan Book of the Fallen: With sixteen books spanning multiple continents and thousands of years, this series is one of the great achievements in high fantasy. A nuanced world where every character has depth and nothing happens simply for the sake of the plot. You might need to buy a compendium to keep everything straight, but it’s worth it to absolutely lose yourself in this world. If you are the kind of person who reads all the supplemental material about your favorite fandom, then this is the series for you to obsess over for the next few months.
- Discworld: I’ll end on a lighter note. The Discworld series is comprised of forty-one books, all taking place on the eponymous Discworld. Some of these stories are stand-alone adventures. Some share characters or events. While others form their own little series within a series. All of them are pure comedy gold. Terry Pratchett was one of the great contributors to the fantasy genre, proving that there was room in the market for something other than stuffy elves and long-lost kings. It helps to know a bit about the genre to get the jokes and subversions in the text, but it’s not necessary. If you are a fan of Good Omens, these are the books for you