As a huge fan of fantasy, I have to admit George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series has really made its mark on our culture. But honestly, while incredibly popular, I don’t think Game of Thrones is the absolute best fantasy out there. The series began with A Game of Thrones way back in 1996, and it’s currently five books long, with the last one, A Dance with Dragons, coming out in 2011. I’m still eagerly awaiting the next installment!
The TV adaptation of the first book was an immediate hit for HBO, becoming one of their most popular shows. It’s become so well-known that some people mistakenly believe the show’s title is the name of the entire book series. Although A Song of Ice and Fire is a hugely important and influential fantasy series, other similar books actually sell better.
The Wheel of Time
Author: Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Compared to the more restrained magic in A Song of Ice and Fire, The Wheel of Time offers a richly detailed fantasy world complete with its own unique history, magical abilities, and characters whose destinies are foretold. Robert Jordan launched the popular series in 1990 with The Eye of the World, and after his death in 2007, Brandon Sanderson helped finish the story by co-writing the last three books.
Adapted into a Prime Video series, a popular video game, and a continuing comic book, The Wheel of Time has demonstrated a lasting appeal similar to Game of Thrones. The series is also carefully detailed, making its magical elements accessible even to those new to the fantasy genre.
Night Watch
Author: Sergei Lukyanenko
Many readers know Russian literature through famous novels like Anna Karenina and War and Peace. However, Sergei Lukyanenko created a captivating fantasy series called The Others, consisting of six books. Starting with Night Watch and continuing through Day Watch and Twilight Watch, these novels delve into the realms of light and dark magic, often focusing on conflicts between humans.
Like Game of Thrones, which assumes magic is already part of life, Night Watch delves into what happens after a magical event, rather than the event itself. This focus on the consequences is what makes the story so compelling, and author Sergei Lukyanenko brings it to life with beautiful writing, a richly detailed world, and a unique way of structuring the novel.
Realm of the Elderlings
Author: Robin Hobb
Many book series become classics with just a few installments, but some authors, like the incredibly skilled Robin Hobb, can sustain a story for years without it losing its appeal. This is how the remarkably expansive fantasy series, Realm of the Elderlings, came to be – a saga that unfolded from 1995 to 2017.
Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings consists of four trilogies and one four-book sequence, but the series maintains a consistent feel throughout. Each book still showcases Hobb’s strong focus on characters and her detailed world-building, filled with complex plots, surprising twists, and thoughtful explorations of identity that remain relevant and impactful even years after their initial publication.
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn
Author: Tad Williams
We usually cheer for a book’s hero, but Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series does something different. It gives us viewpoints from many characters, both good and bad. This makes us rethink our feelings and understand everyone on a deeper level, leading to more thoughtful reflection.
Fans of fantasy often praise Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and it’s well-known that Tad Williams’ work heavily influenced the creation of Game of Thrones. However, Williams excels at developing relatable and believable characters, making his stories feel more realistic than those in A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Lord of the Rings
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
While Game of Thrones has been the dominant fantasy series recently, The Lord of the Rings remains the most important fantasy release of the 1900s. Though the core story is told in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien created a much larger world with many other stories and writings.
Although many consider HBO’s Game of Thrones to be one of the greatest TV shows ever made, The Lord of the Rings films are also incredibly impressive. There are significantly more devoted fans of Tolkien’s world than of Game of Thrones, and his writing is likely to be cherished for generations to come.
Earthsea
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea books are a great place to start for anyone new to fantasy. All six books have won awards, including a Newbery Honor and the Nebula Award. The series, appropriately named, follows characters as they explore and learn the secrets of their world—a magical chain of islands.
As a fantasy fan, I’ve seen a lot of Tolkien-inspired worlds, but Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea really stands out. It’s not just about wizards and dragons – though it has those, of course! What makes Earthsea special is how it delves into big questions about who we are, what magic really means, and how we find our place in the world. It’s a series that doesn’t shy away from challenging you, and honestly, I think anyone who reads it will finish the journey a little different than they started.
The Faithful and the Fallen
Author: John Gwynne
John Gwynne’s debut series, The Faithful and the Fallen, while newer than A Game of Thrones, is equally worthy of attention. It skillfully blends familiar fantasy tropes with deeply developed characters and their compelling emotional journeys.
The Faithful and the Fallen is an outstanding fantasy series that consistently gets better with each book. While each title – Malice, Valour, Ruin, and Wrath – is strong on its own, the series truly shines when read as a whole. Considering A Song of Ice and Fire came out over two decades earlier, the quality of Gwynne’s work is even more remarkable.
Crown of Stars
Author: Kate Elliott
High fantasy can sometimes be difficult for new readers, but Kate Elliott’s Crown of Stars series feels surprisingly realistic for a fantasy world. The series, which spans seven books, tells the story of the continent of Novaria. The way this world developed actually reflects many real-world historical conflicts—and how those in power often control people through beliefs and teachings.
Despite its popularity with fans, the fantasy series Crown of Stars hasn’t yet been made into a TV show or movie. Kate Elliott is a highly respected author, and while her most famous work is beloved by those who’ve discovered it, Crown of Stars remains largely unknown to many fantasy readers.
The First Law
Author: Joe Abercrombie
Joe Abercrombie is a highly influential fantasy author known for his excellent book series, and many consider The First Law to be his masterpiece. What started as a three-book story has grown into a much larger world, now including a second trilogy called Age of Madness, three individual novels, and a collection of short stories, all connected and set in the same universe.
| The Original First Law Trilogy | |
|---|---|
| Title | Original Release Year |
| The Blade Itself | 2006 |
| Before They Are Hanged | 2007 |
| Last Argument of Kings | 2008 |
As a huge fantasy fan, I can tell you that Joe Abercrombie really shines, no matter where you start with his First Law books. Whether it’s just the original trilogy or the whole series, his skill is immediately obvious. What I really appreciate is how carefully crafted everything is – even the titles! They perfectly capture the essence of each book, often with clever nods to classic literature or meaningful quotes. It just shows how much thought and depth Abercrombie puts into his storytelling.
Malazan Book of the Fallen
Author: Steven Erikson
While many fantasy series rival A Song of Ice and Fire in quality, Malazan Book of the Fallen is remarkably similar. This expansive world has been the backdrop for numerous novels, including prequels and sequels. The series masterfully blends a huge cast of characters with a richly detailed and intricate world.
Many fans who enjoy A Song of Ice and Fire also love the Malazan Book of the Fallen series because it provides a truly satisfying conclusion. Like A Game of Thrones, it features complex characters and epic storylines, but unlike that series, it actually finishes, making the decade-long read worthwhile.
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2026-03-27 14:12