Best Fantasy Series to Start This Year

Key takeaways

• Fantasy series can represent a daunting commitment, some running a dozen or more books, so picking the right entry point matters.
• Here's a list sorted by exactly how big a commitment each series actually requires, plus my honest take on why starting with a completed series is often the safer bet, and where a great ongoing series is still worth the risk.

Why does committing to an ongoing fantasy series carry real risk compared to a completed one?

Because an unfinished series leaves you vulnerable to an author's writing pace, health, or changing priorities, which has left several beloved fantasy series famously unfinished or subject to years-long, sometimes decade-long gaps between installments, leaving readers in real, prolonged limbo.

If you want a complete, satisfying trilogy

The Broken Earth trilogy, N.K. Jemisin. A groundbreaking, complete fantasy trilogy that swept major awards for its innovative structure, alternating perspectives, and original approach to magic and world-building.

The Poppy War trilogy, R.F. Kuang. A brutal, historically-grounded fantasy that reaches a complete, if difficult, conclusion, drawing directly on real 20th century Chinese history for its darker themes.

If you want a longer, ongoing commitment with real romantic elements

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas. An ongoing romantasy series with genuine world-building depth alongside its central relationships, with new installments still being released and a strong, consistent publication track record.

The Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan. A massive, completed series, finished by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's death, offering a real epic commitment with guaranteed closure across its full fourteen-book run.

If you want something shorter and more contained

The Name of the Wind and its sequel, Patrick Rothfuss. beloved for its prose and world-building, though be aware the final book in the trilogy has faced years of delays with no confirmed release date.

Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson. A well-plotted, complete original trilogy with real payoff by its conclusion, and Sanderson has continued the broader world in additional series for readers who want more afterward.

If you want an epic, world-spanning saga

The Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson. A massive, ongoing epic with real thematic ambition, though Sanderson's unusually reliable, prolific output makes the wait between installments considerably less risky than most authors in this category.

A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin. one of the most influential modern fantasy series, though it remains famously, significantly incomplete, worth knowing upfront before committing emotionally to its still-unresolved story.

If you want something shorter and more accessible as a genuine entry point

The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman. An accessible, complete standalone fantasy novel, a good low-commitment entry point if you're unsure about diving into a full series yet.

My honest opinion on why starting with a completed series is often the wiser choice

I think the emotional investment required by fantasy world-building deserves a guaranteed payoff, and committing to an unfinished series, however good the existing books are, carries real risk of indefinite limbo that a completed series simply avoids, a risk that's played out painfully for fans of certain famously delayed franchises.

Should you avoid ongoing series entirely, given the risk of indefinite waits?

Not necessarily, some ongoing series, like A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Stormlight Archive, have a strong enough release track record that the risk feels manageable, while others, like The Name of the Wind, carry more real uncertainty worth knowing about upfront before you invest emotionally.

How can I tell whether an author is likely to finish their series in a reasonable timeframe?

Look at their actual publication history rather than promises, an author with a consistent, multi-book track record of regular releases is a better bet than one whose most recent book took many years longer than announced, regardless of how good the existing material is.

Frequently asked questions

What's a complete, acclaimed fantasy trilogy to start with? The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin is a strong pick, complete and widely celebrated for its innovative structure.

Is The Wheel of Time actually finished? Yes, completed by Brandon Sanderson after original author Robert Jordan's death, offering guaranteed closure.

Why is The Name of the Wind considered a riskier series to start? Its final planned book has faced years of delays with no confirmed release date, leaving the trilogy currently incomplete.

Is it better to start a completed or an ongoing fantasy series? Completed series carry less risk of indefinite limbo, though some ongoing series have strong enough release records to feel manageable.

Is A Song of Ice and Fire worth starting given it's incomplete? It's influential, but worth knowing upfront that it remains significantly, famously unresolved before committing emotionally.

How can I judge whether an ongoing series is a safe bet? Look at the author's actual publication track record rather than announced plans or promises.

Want to discover your next great fantasy read?

Our book recommendation quiz can help you find something new that fits your mood.