This isn't your standard "all-time classics of the genre" list. You can find those anywhere. What this list tries to answer is a different question: which fantasy series are actually worth starting right now, in 2025? That means series that are complete (so you can binge without waiting), actively ongoing with a strong and accessible entry point, or simply at a cultural moment where reading them feels timely and exciting.
Fantasy is one of the richest genres for long-term reading investment — but that depth can also make it intimidating. Do you go epic and sprawling, or lean and fast? Literary or propulsive? Romantasy or grimdark? The eight series below cover the full spectrum. Each one earns your time, and none of them will leave you stranded mid-story.
The 8 Best Fantasy Series to Start in 2025
1. The Stormlight Archive — Brandon Sanderson
Widely regarded as the pinnacle of modern epic fantasy, The Stormlight Archive is set on Roshar — a world ravaged by magical storms and ancient enemies returning from myth. Each book runs 1,000+ pages, yet the plotting is so tight that readers routinely describe losing entire weekends to it. Four main books are out, with the fifth and final volume expected to complete the first arc. Sanderson's magic systems are legendarily elegant, and his character work — especially Kaladin's arc across the series — is quietly devastating.
Start with: The Way of Kings2. A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas
ACOTAR transformed what mainstream fantasy romance could be, and it still sits at the top of every TikTok reading list for good reason. The series follows Feyre, a mortal huntress who is dragged into a treacherous world of Fae courts, political intrigue, and magic that costs more than it gives. The first book reads as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast; by the second, it has become something far more ambitious. Five books are out, with enough companion novellas to keep you busy for months.
Start with: A Court of Thorns and Roses3. The Empyrean — Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing arrived in 2023 and immediately became a phenomenon — a fantasy novel with romance-novel pacing, dragon war-college stakes, and a will-they-won't-they tension that kept readers up past midnight. Violet Sorrengail is the general's daughter shoved into a dragon rider program she was never meant to survive, and the series leans hard into that high-pressure, enemies-adjacent dynamic. The sequel Iron Flame expands the world considerably. Two books are out; more are planned. It's the best entry point into fantasy for romance readers who haven't fully crossed over yet.
Start with: Fourth Wing4. Mistborn Era 1 — Brandon Sanderson
If you want to try Sanderson but The Way of Kings feels too big, start here. The original Mistborn trilogy is a complete, self-contained heist-fantasy set in a world where ash falls from the sky and a dark lord has ruled unchallenged for a thousand years. The magic system — Allomancy, which lets users swallow metals to gain powers — is one of the most inventive in the genre. All three books are out, the ending is earned, and the whole trilogy takes roughly the same time as one Stormlight volume. A perfect on-ramp to the larger Cosmere universe.
Start with: The Final Empire5. The Kingkiller Chronicle — Patrick Rothfuss
The prose alone is worth the price of entry. The Name of the Wind follows Kvothe — a legendary figure reduced to hiding as an innkeeper — as he narrates the true story of his life to a traveling scribe. The magic is taught at a university; the romance is heartbreaking; the writing is startlingly beautiful. Two books are out (The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear), and yes, the third is still forthcoming — but both existing books are so immersive and complete-feeling that most readers don't regret starting. Approach it as literary fantasy as much as plot-driven adventure.
Start with: The Name of the Wind6. The Poppy War — R.F. Kuang
One of the most acclaimed fantasy debuts of the past decade, and not for the faint of heart. Rin, a war orphan from the south, earns a place at Nikan's most prestigious military academy — and discovers she may be the most dangerous person alive. Drawing on 20th-century Chinese history (particularly the Second Sino-Japanese War), the trilogy blends shamanic magic with genuine historical atrocity. It's brutal, ambitious, brilliantly structured, and completely unforgettable. The trilogy is complete: The Poppy War, The Dragon Republic, and The Burning God. Kuang has since also published Babel, so there's more to read when you're done.
Start with: The Poppy War7. Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo
Six damaged, brilliant criminals. One impossible heist. A city built on trade and crime that Bardugo renders in exquisite detail. Six of Crows is a fantasy duology that reads with the propulsive pleasure of a thriller — short chapters, multiple POVs, and a plot architecture that rewards patience with payoffs. It's set in the Grishaverse (the same world as Shadow and Bone), but works completely standalone. The found-family dynamics between the six crew members are the real hook; by the time the heist begins, you're terrified for all of them. Both books (Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom) are complete, making this a perfect contained binge.
Start with: Six of Crows8. The First Law — Joe Abercrombie
If you want your fantasy dark, cynical, and absolutely devastating in its deconstruction of heroism, The First Law is where you belong. Abercrombie's world is brutal, politically corrupt, and populated with characters who do terrible things for understandable reasons. The original trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings) is complete and one of the most praised endings in modern grimdark. Three standalone novels and a second trilogy (The Age of Madness) set in the same world mean there's plenty to return to once you're hooked. Warning: no character is safe, and the genre conventions you think you know will not protect you.
Start with: The Blade ItselfHow to Choose Your Fantasy Series
The single biggest mistake new fantasy readers make is picking a series based on hype rather than fit. A book that's right for someone else can be completely wrong for you — not because it's bad, but because fantasy is unusually wide in tone and style. Here's a quick mood-selector to help you narrow it down.
You want comfort and warmth, not darkness: Start with Six of Crows (found family, heist fun) or ACOTAR (romance-forward, emotionally satisfying). Both have stakes and tension, but neither will leave you in a pit of despair.
You want scale and worldbuilding above everything: The Stormlight Archive is built for you. Nothing else in modern fantasy matches the sheer depth of Roshar — the history, the cosmology, the magic theory. Plan to take notes and enjoy it.
You want fast pacing and romance woven in: Fourth Wing is your answer. It's structured like a romance novel inside a fantasy shell — high tension, defined beats, and a pace that refuses to let you put it down. It's also the easiest fantasy read on this list.
You want something shorter and complete: Mistborn Era 1. Three books, tight plotting, a fully resolved story. You'll finish feeling satisfied, and you'll immediately want to read everything else Sanderson has written.
You want literary fiction quality in a fantasy frame: The Name of the Wind or The Poppy War. Both demand more from the reader and give more back. Rothfuss's prose is beautiful; Kuang's historical ambition is staggering.
You want darkness, moral complexity, and zero safety nets: The First Law. Abercrombie will dismantle your expectations and rebuild them into something thornier and more honest. Not comfortable, but deeply rewarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fantasy series to start if I've never read fantasy before?
Fourth Wing (The Empyrean) or Six of Crows are the most accessible starting points. Both have fast pacing, clear stakes, and don't require prior familiarity with fantasy conventions. Fourth Wing in particular reads like a romance novel with dragons — the genre trappings are worn lightly. If you want something slightly more traditional but still gripping, Mistborn Era 1 is the perfect gateway to epic fantasy.
Which fantasy series are completely finished vs. still ongoing?
Completely finished: Mistborn Era 1 (3 books), Six of Crows duology (2 books), The Poppy War trilogy (3 books), The First Law original trilogy (3 books). Ongoing but with strong entry points: The Stormlight Archive (4 of 5 books out), ACOTAR (5 books out, more planned), The Empyrean (2 books out, more planned). The Kingkiller Chronicle (2 of 3 books out — the third has been in progress for many years).
Is ACOTAR appropriate for younger readers, or is it adult fantasy?
ACOTAR is marketed as adult fantasy and does contain explicit content, particularly from the second book onward. The first book reads closer to YA in tone and heat level, but the series escalates. Readers typically recommend it for ages 18+, or mature 16-17 year olds with parental awareness. For younger readers who want the Fae-court aesthetic, the Shadow and Bone trilogy by the same publisher is a cleaner YA alternative.
Related Reading
- Full Stormlight Archive reading order
- ACOTAR series reading order and guide
- The Empyrean series order
- Books like Fourth Wing — if you loved it, try these
- Best book series to binge in 2025 (all genres)
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