Top 10 Fantasy Series of All Time (2019 Update) 

What’s your top ten??

1:25 First Law 2:35 Stormlight Archive 3:47 Lightbringer 4:50 Dark Tower 6:00 Mistborn 7:05 Gentleman Bastard 8:40 Lord of the Rings 10:35 A song of Ice and Fire 12:36 Witcher 14:18 duh

Absolutely no one: Daniel Greene: Did someone say Wheel of Time?

10. I 9. haven’t 8. read 7. enough 6. to 5. make 4. a 3. valid 2. list 1. Wheel of Time

By the way, Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy is like ASOIAF, but better. When it is finally discovered by the English-speaking audience, it will be such a major hit.

Love that the Witcher is #2 for you. I recently finished the books and wow, they're all so good in their own way and they've really gotten up there with my favorite fantasy books.

It's nice to see so much Malazan on these comment lists, would love to see a booktuber that puts out Malazan content to the extent Daniel does with his love of the Wheel of time series

Dude just thank you so much for expanding this realm for me.

Thank you so much for the Wheel of Time recommendation. Absolutely loving it!

i'm gonna read the wheel of time because of you. i actually read the eye of the world's prologue yesterday i can't wait to read some more after i'm done with my finals lol

1. The Hobbit/lotr 2. A song of Ice and fire 3. Stormlight archive 4. Chronicles of Narnia 5. His dark materials 6. Discworld 7. Wheel of Time 8. The dark tower 9. Harry Potter 10. Alice in Wonderland

I’m excited to check out some of these! I used to read a lot of fantasy but due to lack of time I haven’t read nearly as much in the last decade. Now, I mostly consume through audio books which is really helping satisfy that urge to experience truly great stories! I’m currently loving Brandon Sanderson, my favorite is the original Mistborn trilogy. But loving the others as well

I picked up “Mistborn: The Final Empire” after the video you and Merphy did together. I am LOVING IT, and I’m only four chapters in. Excited to pick up some of these other series when I’m done with this one.

The inheritance cycle does not get enough love. Such a great entry into the fantasy genre

I was actually shocked that Stormlight Archive was so LOW.

Dude the dark tower is great reading, and from what I can tell from where you are in the series, it just starting to get good, the best is yet to come. Injoy my friend

Just stumbled on your channel today, and really enjoy your take on the genre. I started reading WoT back in 1992 with a group of college buddies, and have re-read it multiple times. I agree that it is the top of its class. Also became a fan of Sanderson as a result of his involvement in that project. Love having the audiobooks playing in the background while I work. I have a couple of young teenage sons, and that's about when I started reading fantasy. Once I started, I never looked back. It's not the only genre I read, but it is my favorite. My first venture into fantasy was Lloyd Alexander's 'The Chronicles of Prydain'. Loved that as a kid, and was a great, accessible intro to the genre for a 12 year old. Which is why my current 12 year old is loving it so much. A couple other very simple, very easy reads early on were The Belgariad and the Riftwar Saga. Loved those two, and my 15 year old is engrossed in Magician Master right now. Love to see them embracing the genre as much as I did when I was young. While it's not exactly mainstream, I do also enjoy re-reading Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams. And I also hated Wizard's First Rule. Tried the second book to give things a chance, but it was equally disappointing.

1. Lord of the Rings 2. A Song of Ice and Fire 3. Malazan 4. Dark Tower 5. The Witcher 6. Broken Empire 7. Stormlight Archive 8. Kingkiller Chronicles 9. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn 10. Realm of the Elderlings

I just read Jim Butcher's 'Furies of Calderon' series, and was very impressed by it! If you like the other series on this list, i highly recommend it as well. In addition his 'The Aeronaut's Windlass' is a magnificent gleaming steampunk/fantasy gem as well.

You know it’s going to stay consistent! With three books it’s already put it self up to at least top five (talking about storm light)

I knew from the very beginning what was going to be number one. You've always said so highly of the Wheel of Time. I do have the first book on my shelf and I am very excited to read it.

Main point of this list is basically to show opinions change. If you ask me a week from now, the list will be different. Everything is ballpark of course!

My top 10 would be: 1. Stormlight Archive 2. Wheel of Time 3. Berserk (The manga) 4. Malazan 5. ASoIaF 6. Kingkiller 7. Lightbringer 8. Mistborn era I 9. Lord of the Rings and Silmarillion 10. Discworld

Thanks for helping me find Wheel Of Time. I haven't been this much into a book for years! Last time was when I ready GOT years ago and LOTR when I was a teenager.

Always an absolute pleasure to watch your videos D, thank you.

1. The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit 2. Harry Potter There, that’s all I’ve ever read. I’m very excited to get deeper into this genre, and this channel has helped me a lot! I’m listening to “The Eye of the World” and am starting “Mistborn” next week.

I have just started the first Mistborn Book as my first ever Audio Book, finished the Prologue. Good so far

Thank you, I'm trying to find something to read after the disappointing and unsatisfactory end of the cerqe du freak book series, and you have helped me tremendously.

I love these lists, I've always loved fantasy, but I decided to read this genre exclusively this year. Lists like these have been very helpful in finding the gems within the the genre. I've read enough that I'm considering reading The Wheel of Time. The length of the series is intimidating, but you've made it sound well worth the time it takes to read them. I completely understand why the Witcher series is so high on the list. The books definitely couldn't stand up to some of the modern fantasy series, but the world it's set in is so well done. The characters and their relationships are executed well, and the plot itself is so satisfying throughout the series. I knew it would be one of my favorites when I finished Baptism of Fire.

When you finish the last book of the dark tower I need a reaction video for you. That book changed the way i felt about the whole series.

I can’t explain enough how the wheel of time shaped my child hood and has changed my view of the world. At some times I feel as the Wheel of time is the thing I hold most dear to my heart and love the most (to the exception/tied with family members). Words cannot express how much I love each and every one of these books. If you are reading this comment and have not read it, R E A D I T. Even if you don’t have money. Get money. Read it. If you don’t find the first three books the most amazing (Which you will definitely like the first two at least) once you get to the fourth you will never be able to stop reading. I use to stay up all night reading and hid the book in my textbooks at school. I can’t express how much these books mean to me.

Thanks Daniel - WOT, LOTR & ASoIaF I've read (many, many times...). Just started reading Stormlight (and LOVING it...), thanks to you. This now gives me an amazing future reading list..

Started my second attempt at reading TWoT this week because of you. First time I got distracted but now im gonna plow through these babies 😎😎😎😎

When you’ve finished the Dark Tower series, there’s another book “the wind through the keyhole” written after the main series that takes place between books 4-5

I'm shocked and disappointed that four slots weren't reserved for The Belgariad, The Mallorean, The Elenium, and The Tamuli! What's up with that? A story so good it was worth telling four times! Four true epics of visiting all the map locations! Ok, I confess that I'm not all that shocked or disappointed.

I absolutely love everything on this list i've read so i probably have to read the rest now, too..

The pure depth is what makes asoiaf my favorite of all time. The world is just so amazingly thoughtout and complex. I also looooove the mysterious elements of its magic and gods, where we see the magic through the eyes of unknowing humans and are therefore not getting all the i formation we would like. It just pulls you in soooo much

1. Malazan 2. Stormlight Archives 3. WOT 4. ASOIAF 5. Dark Tower 6. Gentlemen Bastards 7. LOTR 8. Mistborn era 1 9. Kingkiller 10. Warbreaker

Don't be so rude to past Daniel. He hadn't ascended to Greene Daniel level yet. George RR Martin's ambitions to create stories outside of ASOIAF are great. I love that he's getting into the world of video games. If it's as good as Witcher 3, then I know I'll play the heck out of it.

Wheel of time led me to sanderson... instantly fell in love with the stormlight archive, still have yet to read mistborn but its at the top of my need to list

Thank you for your tips! Great video :D

Here's mine: 1. The Full Tolkien Legendarium 2. A Wheel of Time 3. Malazan Book of the Fallen 4. A Song of Ice and Fire (might go up or down depending on how it ends) 5. Narnia (would place Lord of the Rings tied here if it's just the trilogy) 6. Mistborn and Stormlight 7. Earthsea 8. Discworld and Prydain tied 9. Shannara 10. Witcher (I hate the author but the books are growing on me)

I have a weird position on 'Mistborn' Era 01. Basically, each individual novel has flaws, but as one big story its flawless, particularly in the execution of the plot threads and foreshadowing.

Hey just found your channel. I haven’t taken the time to create a ranking but I appreciate yours. You mentioned a couple of series I haven’t read but based on your list I have to check out!

Stormlight would definitely be my number 1, but I get that it not being even close to finished hurts it's chances. Love the video!

Some others I really like: First’s Riftwar Edgings’ Belgariad Saberhagen Book of Swords Dragons of Pern Narnia

1: Malazan 2: ASOIF 3: Stormlight Archive 4: Wheel of Time 5: Lord of the Rings 6: The First Law 7: Mistborn 8: Harry Potter That’s all that I’ve completed. Read the first Witcher book and wasn’t crazy about it. I’ve also read about 15 Stephen King novels which I’ve loved, but haven’t gotten around to the Dark Tower yet.

nice man, your next tier list, was looking forward to it ;-D

Yes! Dude you said Witcher and I legit smiled, SO many people overlook the books but my goodness theyre fantastic.

1. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson 2. The Realm of Elderlings by Robin Hobb 3. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 4. Woldbreaker Saga by Kameron Hurley 5. Broken Earth Series by N. K. Jemisin

1. Stormlight Archive 2. Legend of Drizzt 3. Legends of the First Empire 4. Mistborn Era 1 5. Demon Wars Saga List will change eventually. I havent finished Wheel of Time. Havent read Lightbringer or Gentleman Bastards. Want to try Licanius Trilogy.

Thanks for making this video! Other than Asoiaf and the Dark Tower I haven't read anything in the fantasy genre, despite being an avid reader. I'm reading A Wizard of Earthsea now, Eye of the World is next. Thanks for all the suggestions for future reading.

I did not read for a few years besides comics, than found your fantasy news which lead to checking out Top 10 books. Now I’m Hooked back in with Gentlemen Bastards. Wheel of Time next.

Some of my fantasy favorites in no particular order: The Black Company. The Dresden Files. Discworld. The Wildcat Wizard. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Conan the Barbarian. Borderland. Wheel of Time. A Song of Ice and Fire. Codex Alera. The Ascendants of Estorea. The First Law. There are probably a lot more that I'm not thinking of right now. These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Also, there are some on this list that I haven't finished yet or might only have read a small part of yet(I read several books at the same time, and sometimes take long breaks in the middle of books). In that case they are on the list because I like them so far.

Just based purely on how much I enjoyed reading them, and how much each has hooked me, here's my top for anyone who cares. 10.) The Mortal Instruments 9.) The reckoners 8.) LotR 7.) Inheritance Cycle 6.)Stormlight 5.) Malazan 4.)Riftwar Saga 3.)mistborn era 1 2.)ASoIaF 1.) WoT

New sub dude, been loving your reviews and thoughts on the books I have read. Keep up the great word!

Great list! Was sad not to hear Chronicles of Narnia at least mentioned though. Those books were my childhood

The Belgariad/Malorean - David Eddings Shanara series - Terry Brooks Death Gate Cycle Dragonlance

Just discovered this channel. Really glad I did. I'm probably quite a bit older than most commenters here and that along with me having not read any new fantasy in a LONG time (something this video and the comments below is helping me correct!) my list will reflect that. In a way though hopefully I mention something from the past that you young'uns will discover for the first time. :o) 10.Belgarion by David Eddings: Admittedly pretty light fare when compared to the other titles but well written and characters who you come to care deeply about. The villains could use quite a bit of work and some of the world is formulaic but it doesn't stop you from being drawn in with an interesting concept of powerful mages and character driven relationships. In the end its just a fun read. 9. Dark Glory War (and other books) by Michael Stackpole: Interesting cultural concepts in the building of this world. Some very good characters and well written action. Could use more development of some reoccurring characters and other parts of the world but overall a very enjoyable world to read about. 8. Guardians of the Flame by Joel Rosenberg: Take modern day D&D players and transport them as their character into an actual fantasy wold of magic and dragons. Bit of a trope but done with finesse and skill by the writer. Characters with flaws and a well thought out (if not especially deep) world. 7. Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen: The world building could use a lot of work but the scope of the story (when considering the Empire of the East "prequel" interwoven with the "present" stories works well. The concept of the Swords and how they came into being sucks you in. The Swords is such a fantastically well done concept I ran a 5 year D&D campaign based on them. lol Another fun read that unfortunately starts to run out of steam towards the end. 6. Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz: The Deryni are essential the persecuted Marvel mutants in a fantasy world. Stories that span decades and centuries, written by a super talented author who develops fantastic characters, a magic system and a rich deep, thought provoking world. 5. Wheel of Time: Can't really add to whats been said here a hundred times. It has some flaws I have trouble getting past but its overall scope and epicness (I insist thats a word) mean it has to be on the list. 4. Videssos Cycle (and other books in that world) by Harry Turtledove: A Roman legion transported to a world with magic written by an expert in Byzantine history? Yes please. Excellent world building, deep, flawed characters an interesting magic system and a really great villain who you only discover the truth of very slowly as little layers of his story are peeled away. Great stuff. 3. Riftwar Saga (and the continuing books) by Raymond Feist: If you love world and culture building then you have no choice but to enjoy this series. Throw in the fantastic writing of Feist and you have a can't miss series. 2. LotR: I personally enjoy other series more but this was a big building block (as it was for most folks) in my love of fantasy. Its importance is without dispute and though I love other series more it deserves its place near the top of any top 10 list. 1. Conan: I know, not technically a series. Most short stories put together in a series of 12 books edited by De Camp and Carter. These books are what started me on the path of loving fantasy even more than Lord of the Rings. Pulp style sword and sorcery with possibly the greatest and probably most well protagonist of all time. These book helped me love to read and certainly formed my love of the genre.

#2 totally surprised me.. it's on my wait list prob my most anticipated to start on my wait list

I have felt like I'm a bit out of the loop with fantasy, but I'm familiar with and have read quite a few! I've gotta now take a deeper dive into the series that I haven't read...

I'm old school, the various Michael Moorcock Eternal Champion series - Elric, Corum, Hawkmoon . . .the Mervyn Peake 'Titus Groan' books.

I'm told the Amazon series will feature the forging of the rings in Numeanor. If true, I'm giving it a chance.

I'm not surprised to see Lightbringer drop a few spots on your list. I honestly don't know what to think about Blood Mirror after reading it. It was such a mess. I thoroughly enjoyed Broken Eye though. I just hope the final book will tie things up nicely.

I love the way you talk. Comedic and just fun to watch you. Subscribe, baby!

WoT for me too, I was much younger when the first book came out, so it's sentimental... One author I'm missing is Raymond E. Feist and his amazing early books. The Empire trilogy is probably the best non-medieval fantasy i've ever read, and not many people heard of it.

My top 10 in no particular order: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant The Death Gate Cycle The Dark Elf Trilogy A Man of His Word Mistborn The Wheel of Time As Song of Ice and Fire Memory, Sorrow and Thorn The Farseer Trilogy Lord of the Rings

Mate! I highly recommend you read the Expanse books... you need to talk about more Sci-fi!! Ps awesome videos mate keep up the good work

thanks Daniel and all yall for your lists i just finished lightbringer and i was heartbroken to find out i have to wait till October for the next.

My personal list: 1. Simon R. Green: Hawk and Fisher series 2. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman: Dragonlance Legends 3 R. A. Salvatore: The Dark Elf Trilogy 4. Michael Moorcock: The Corum series 5. Guy Gavriel Kay: The Fionavar Tapestry 6. Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman: Dragonlance Chronicles 7. Troy Denning: Dark Sun Pentaprism series 8. Roger Zelazny: The Chronicles of Amber 9. R.A. Salvatore: Crimson Shadow series 10. Dan Parkinson: Dwarven Nations Series 11. David Niall Wilson: The Grails Covenant Trilogy 12. Terry Brooks: The Shannara Chronicles

Daniel Greene have you read Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series by Tad Williams? It is very underrated and also was very influential back in the 80s. I would love to hear your review.

Im happy to hear my boi Brent Weeks getting some love. Lightbringer is so good

Im a huge Witcher Fan, and similarly agree! One thing I wonder about is, each of his books seem to have a slightly different writing style. Specifically the fourth book in the series following Ciri's and Vysogota's perspectives. I respect the Sapkowski's experimentation within the series as much as the series in itself

1. Malazan 2. First Law 3. ASOIAF 4. Crimson Empire 5. Gentlemen Bastards 6. Stormlight Archives 7. Lightbringer 8. Ryria Revelations/Chronicles 9. Second Apocalypse 10. Farseer Trilogy

1. Realm of the Elderlings 2. Wheel of Time 3. Kingkiller Chronicle 4. ASOIAF 5. The First Law 6. LOTR 7. Deverry Cycle 8. The Belgariad 9. Dragonlance Chronicles 10. The Riftwar Cycle X. (haven't read yet but on 'high hopes' list) Gentlemen Bastards, Mistborn and Malazan

Great list! Here's mine. We only had a couple in common, but I haven't read everything on yours yet. 10. Discworld (Pratchett) 9. The Fionavar Tapestry (Kay) 8. The Empire trilogy (Feist) 7. Lord of the rings (Tolkien) 6. The chronicles of Narnia (Lewis) 5. His dark materials (Pullman) 4. A song of ice and fire (Martin) 3. The dark is rising (Cooper) 2. The wheel of time (Jordan/Sanderson) 1. The magicians (Grossman)

Great video. I’m reading eye of the world thanks to you and loving it. Jordan has a great writing style and I love his characterizations and creativity. I really hope that the Amazon series can capture this series well because if so, we’ve got another big mainstream hit on our hands.

1. Farseer's Trilogy Trilogy (Realm of the Elderlings?) by Robin Hobb 2. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling 3. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson 4. Dresden Files by Jim Butcher 5. LOTR by J. R. R. Tolkien 6. Discworld by Terry Pratchett 7. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 8. Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch 9. Riyria Revelations by Micheal J. Sullivan 10. Aborsen by Garth Nix

My top 10: 10.Hobbit 9.and 8.the 7.Lord 6.of 5.the 4.Rings 3.mine 2. My own 1.my precious, gollum gollum!!

The Stormlight Archive is the best for me. It's soooo aweeesooome. I love the heralds.

Kingkiller Chronicles all the way! And love love love the Stormlight Archives. Great video, I'm gonna have to add a few more to my list :) Thank you!

Not in any particular order: Elric Saga, Thieve's World, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Lord of the Rings, Myth Adventures, Xanth Series, Incarnations of Immortality, Dragonriders of Pern, Dragonlance Series, Shannara

Thoughts on “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn” by Tad Williams?

I've read fantasy since I was a boy, and somehow I just got around to reading the Wheel of Time with all the extra time I have from quarantining and what not. It's amazing, I'm on Path of Daggers at the moment but I already kinow this series will go on my top shelf of fantasty masterworks, along with the works of Stormlight Archive, Kingkiller, the Bear & The Nightingale series, the Powdermage Trilogy, etc. I love it.

The Night Angel Trilogy and the Beyonders Trilogy both bring some pretty interesting ideas into the genre

1. Narnia (Lewis) 2. Raven Son (Kotar) 3. Winternight (Arden) 4. LOTR (Tolkien) 5. Harry Potter (Rowling) 6. His Dark Materials (Pullman) 7. ASOIAF (Martin) 8. Oz (Baum) 9. Percy Jackson (Riordan) 10. Wheel of Time (Jordan) I like a lot of variety. I find a limit of the worldbuilding too similar to Tolkien, and appreciate it when something different comes a lot (for example, Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy).

If Malazan isn't at least somewhere on the list I can't get behind it.

I was not expecting your #1 pick!!!! ;)

Love your praises of Sandersons work - in this video and others. Also made me sad that apparently I’ve started out with the best of the best :-) Still you list a couple of series here I’d might look in to. If I were to do a top 10 I’d need to add WoT twice. Book form and Audible.

I love top 10 lists but I realised I can't make my own because I haven't read as much fantasy as I would like to xD So top 5 I guess? 1. The Wheel of Time 2. The Stormlight Archive 3. The Witcher 4. The First Law 5. Mistborn I didn't love The Lies of Locke Lamora so I'm not planning on continuing the series any time soon. I can't wait to start Lightbringer though! And yes, LotR is not on the list because I haven't read the books. (same with ASOIAF)

1: stormlight 2: kingkiller 3: gentleman bastards 4: wheel of time 5: mistborn 6: a song of ice and fire 7: realm of the elderlings (haven't finished) 8: first law 9: Lord of the rings 10: harry potter Rated based on enjoyment only, not influence on the genre. Didn't enjoy #9 & 10 as much because I already saw the movies before reading.

Damn you Daniel! I am not done reading the top 10 you did last year, and here is another one! :-D Joke aside, thank you so much for the great content! PS: I find quite interesting the complete swing that happened to Stormlight and to ASOIF, they basically swapped since last time.

I know it's far off but can't wait too see this list redone when Stormlight Archive is finished.

1.Berserk 2.The Dark Tower 3.Stormlight 4. Kingkiller 5.LOTR

My favorite fantasy series is the one I am currently writing

So refreshing to see The Witcher series in your top10 list (as this is the first time I have seen it). It is my all time favorite fantasy book series and the games are my favourite PC games probably :-)

Two fun series I read back in the ‘80s and ‘90s were the Landover series by Terry Brooks and the Wizard in Rhyme series by Christopher Stasheff.

Your number one is truly shocking. :'D Personally I'd put Stormlight much higher but I completely understand your reasoning for keeping it below some other series.

Wizard and Glass is probably the best in The Dark Tower series. Curious to know if it stays in your top 10 after you read the last two books.

I've read the dark tower series about a dozen times(yaay audiobooks!) and you will not be disappointed by the rest of the books. One series that I've always loved and need to revisit is the dragonlance chronicles.