Best Fantasy Series to Start This Year
TL;DR — Fantasy series can represent a genuinely 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 genuinely great ongoing series is still worth the risk.
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Take the quizWhy does committing to an ongoing fantasy series carry real risk compared to a completed one?
Because an unfinished series leaves you genuinely 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 genuinely complete, satisfying trilogy
The Broken Earth trilogy, N.K. Jemisin. A genuinely groundbreaking, complete fantasy trilogy that swept major awards for its innovative structure, alternating perspectives, and genuinely original approach to magic and world-building.
The Poppy War trilogy, R.F. Kuang. A genuinely 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 genuinely 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 genuinely shorter and more contained
The Name of the Wind and its sequel, Patrick Rothfuss. Genuinely 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 genuinely 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 a genuinely epic, world-spanning saga
The Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson. A genuinely 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. Genuinely 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. A genuinely 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 genuinely 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 genuinely 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 genuinely 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 genuinely 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 genuinely 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.
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