Summary: In today's article, I have handpicked 20 of the best epic fantasy books that offer unforgettable characters, thrilling plots, and immersive worlds. Here are my top 3:
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
TOP 20: Best Epic Fantasy Books
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- Magician by Raymond E. Feist
- The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
- The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
- The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
- The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
- The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
- The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence
- The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
- The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
- City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
- Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- Eragon by Christopher Paolini
1. The Lord of the Rings
- Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
- About: A young hobbit, Frodo, embarks on a journey to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron.
- Style of writing: Descriptive, formal, and immersive, with rich world-building and ancient languages.
- Length: ~450,000 words (trilogy)
- Year written: 1954-1955
- Emotional impact: Timeless, with themes of friendship, sacrifice, and hope.
- Difficulty level: Moderate to High
- Why read it: It’s the foundation of modern fantasy with unforgettable characters and deep lore.
2. A Game of Thrones
- Author: George R.R. Martin
- About: Follows various noble families vying for the Iron Throne in a world full of political intrigue, war, and magic.
- Style of writing: Detailed, complex, with multiple viewpoints and unpredictable twists.
- Length: ~298,000 words
- Year written: 1996
- Emotional impact: Shocking moments and morally gray characters leave a deep emotional impact.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: Dark fantasy with intricate plots and complex characters.
3. The Name of the Wind
- Author: Patrick Rothfuss
- About: Chronicles the life of Kvothe, from orphaned child to legendary figure, exploring his journey as a magician and musician.
- Style of writing: Lyrical, poetic, and introspective with a focus on character development.
- Length: ~250,000 words
- Year written: 2007
- Emotional impact: Deep exploration of loss, love, and personal growth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Beautiful prose and a compelling protagonist.
4. Magician
- Author: Raymond E. Feist
- About: A young magician’s apprentice becomes involved in an interdimensional war between two worlds.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, focusing on action, magic, and world-building.
- Length: ~250,000 words
- Year written: 1982
- Emotional impact: High emotional stakes in coming-of-age and war.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Classic high fantasy with magical battles and epic adventures.
5. The Malazan Book of the Fallen
- Author: Steven Erikson
- About: A ten-book series set in a complex world of gods, soldiers, and magic, starting with Gardens of the Moon.
- Style of writing: Dense, intricate, and fast-moving.
- Length: Gardens of the Moon ~160,000 words, total series over 5 million words.
- Year written: 1999
- Emotional impact: Awe-inspiring and heartbreaking with complex characters.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: Deep world-building and a challenge for dedicated fantasy readers.
6. The Inheritance Cycle
- Author: Christopher Paolini
- About: A farm boy, Eragon, discovers a dragon egg and becomes a Dragon Rider, fighting an oppressive empire.
- Style of writing: Accessible and action-focused.
- Length: ~300,000 words
- Year written: 2002
- Emotional impact: Themes of rebellion and personal growth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Classic fantasy adventure with dragons and coming-of-age elements.
7. The Sword of Truth
- Author: Terry Goodkind
- About: Richard Cypher becomes entangled in a battle between good and evil with the help of powerful magic.
- Style of writing: Philosophical, with themes of freedom and morality.
- Length: ~280,000 words
- Year written: 1994
- Emotional impact: Delves into freedom, love, and moral choices.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A mix of magic, action, and deep philosophical themes.
8. The Broken Earth Trilogy
- Author: N.K. Jemisin
- About: Set in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by seismic events, focusing on survival and the power of oppression.
- Style of writing: Lyrical, thought-provoking, with multiple perspectives.
- Length: The Fifth Season ~160,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: Deep emotional resonance, especially around trauma and resilience.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: Award-winning, with social commentary and innovative world-building.
9. The Stormlight Archive
- Author: Brandon Sanderson
- About: A high fantasy series set in a world ravaged by magical storms, following multiple characters and ancient orders.
- Style of writing: Detailed, with intricate magic systems and character-driven narratives.
- Length: The Way of Kings ~400,000 words
- Year written: 2010
- Emotional impact: Powerful, with deep character arcs and themes of honor, duty, and sacrifice.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: Sanderson’s epic world-building and character-driven stories are unmissable for fantasy fans.
10. The Wheel of Time
- Author: Robert Jordan
- About: A 14-book series following Rand al'Thor, the prophesied hero, as he battles the Dark One.
- Style of writing: Rich, with multiple perspectives and deep lore.
- Length: The Eye of the World ~250,000 words, total series over 4 million words.
- Year written: 1990
- Emotional impact: Vast emotional highs and lows, dealing with destiny and sacrifice.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: A long, detailed series with complex characters and expansive world-building.
11. The First Law Trilogy
- Author: Joe Abercrombie
- About: A gritty, darkly humorous series beginning with The Blade Itself, where morally gray characters battle in a brutal, politically charged world.
- Style of writing: Gritty, fast-paced, and filled with dark humor.
- Length: The Blade Itself ~200,000 words
- Year written: 2006
- Emotional impact: The series is emotionally intense, offering deep character arcs and moral ambiguity.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of grimdark fantasy and morally complex characters.
12. The Broken Empire Trilogy
- Author: Mark Lawrence
- About: The story follows the ruthless anti-hero Jorg Ancrath on his quest for power, beginning with Prince of Thorns.
- Style of writing: Dark, poetic, and introspective with a strong focus on the main character’s internal struggle.
- Length: Prince of Thorns ~120,000 words
- Year written: 2011
- Emotional impact: Leaves a lasting impact due to its brutal themes and exploration of revenge, trauma, and power.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: If you enjoy anti-heroes and dark, psychological fantasy, this trilogy is a must-read.
13. The Lightbringer Series
- Author: Brent Weeks
- About: A series beginning with The Black Prism, where magic is based on the manipulation of light, and the story follows a powerful and morally conflicted hero.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, with a focus on action and complex magic systems.
- Length: The Black Prism ~160,000 words
- Year written: 2010
- Emotional impact: The series explores themes of sacrifice and redemption, with high emotional stakes.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A unique take on magic and a strong, morally complex protagonist.
14. The Kingkiller Chronicle
- Author: Patrick Rothfuss
- About: The series follows Kvothe, a legendary figure recounting his life from humble beginnings to a renowned magician and musician.
- Style of writing: Poetic and introspective, with a heavy focus on character development.
- Length: The Name of the Wind ~250,000 words
- Year written: 2007
- Emotional impact: Deeply emotional, with themes of loss, love, and the pursuit of greatness.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Beautiful prose and a compelling, tragic protagonist make this a standout in the genre.
15. City of Stairs
- Author: Robert Jackson Bennett
- About: A detective story set in a world where gods have been overthrown and the protagonist uncovers dark secrets in a city filled with political intrigue.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, atmospheric, with a blend of mystery and fantasy.
- Length: ~125,000 words
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: It has a subtle but powerful impact, especially in terms of its world-building and exploration of power and religion.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of urban fantasy with a mix of mystery, politics, and divine intrigue.
16. The Blade Itself
- Author: Joe Abercrombie
- About: The first book in The First Law Trilogy, following a series of morally gray characters as they navigate a brutal and politically charged world.
- Style of writing: Gritty, with dark humor and complex character studies.
- Length: ~200,000 words
- Year written: 2006
- Emotional impact: The characters’ struggles with morality and power are intense and thought-provoking.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of grimdark fantasy with complex characters and morally ambiguous storylines.
17. The Fifth Season
- Author: N.K. Jemisin
- About: In a world plagued by apocalyptic seismic events, The Fifth Season follows three main characters as they survive and try to rebuild society.
- Style of writing: Lyrical and innovative, with multiple narrative perspectives.
- Length: ~160,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: Profound and emotional, particularly with themes of trauma, survival, and oppression.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: It’s a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional fantasy tropes and explores deep societal issues.
18. Gardens of the Moon
- Author: Steven Erikson
- About: The first book in The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, set in a world filled with gods, magic, and warfare.
- Style of writing: Dense, complex, and fast-moving, with an expansive cast of characters.
- Length: ~160,000 words
- Year written: 1999
- Emotional impact: A deeply immersive experience with high stakes and dramatic shifts.
- Difficulty level: High
- Why read it: For fans who enjoy complex, epic tales with intricate world-building and a vast array of characters.
19. The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Author: Scott Lynch
- About: Set in the city of Camorr, this book follows Locke Lamora, a master thief and con artist, as he navigates the dangerous underworld while pulling off elaborate heists.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, witty, and full of clever dialogue with a focus on elaborate heists and criminal intrigue.
- Length: ~190,000 words
- Year written: 2006
- Emotional impact: It’s a thrilling and sometimes darkly humorous story with a deep emotional connection to its characters and their struggles.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For readers who enjoy heist stories, witty characters, and a richly built fantasy world full of twists.
20. Eragon
- Author: Christopher Paolini
- About: A young farm boy named Eragon discovers a dragon egg and is thrust into the role of a Dragon Rider, fighting an empire that rules through fear.
- Style of writing: Accessible, fast-paced, with a focus on action and adventure.
- Length: ~150,000 words
- Year written: 2002
- Emotional impact: Themes of self-discovery, rebellion, and the bond between dragon and rider create an emotional connection.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For a classic fantasy adventure filled with magic, dragons, and coming-of-age themes.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, I think epic fantasy is the perfect genre for anyone looking to get lost in immersive worlds full of magic, adventure, and unforgettable characters. Out of all the amazing books out there, The Lord of the Rings, A Game of Thrones, and The Name of the Wind are, in my opinion, essential reads. Tolkien’s classic laid the groundwork for modern fantasy, Martin’s series grabbed me with its unpredictable political twists, and Rothfuss’ beautifully written tale offers such a personal, magical experience. For me, these three books are a great starting point if you want to dive into the best of epic fantasy.
