It should go with out saying that this is my personal opinion. It's very hard to narrow down the books to 10, so because of that I have started out with 5 honorable mentions.
5 Honorable Mentions...
Brent Weeks
The Night Angel
3 book trilogiy
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson
3 book trilogiy
Black Company
Glen Cook
10 book series
The Lightbringer
Brent Weeks
5 book series
Acts of Caine
Matthew Stover
3 book trilogiy
#10 King Killer Chronicles
Patrick Rothfuss
3 book trilogiy
One of the best and most popular writers right now. He is being compared to GRRM. His first book in this series "Name of the Wind" has been one of the best reviewed books in decades. So far only 2 of 3 have been written. But there are talks of media(movie, tv series) that could be slowing down the 3rd book. I expect it to be out soon though.
Kvothe is a famous and very powerful mage. He tells a story of his youth as a prodigy in magical university. Exploits, adventures, expulsion all make up a small part of his tale.
I could easily see this series climbing to the #1 spot. As it stands I have only read the first book, and that was enough to get into #6. I have faith that Ruthfuss can finish this book better than it began.
#9 Prince of Nothing
R Scott Bakker
3 book trilogiy
Dark, deep, philosophical trilogy. This trilogy is part of a larger overall series called "The Second Apocalypse".
Master manipulators. Dark magic. Evil powerful demons. Intrigue. Epic battles. This series has it all. It is similar to Malazan in its philosophical and dark nature, but the plot lines are linear and not nearly as confusing. If you have similar tastes, you will not be disappointed in this book.
Resource Links
Resource Links
#8 Red Rising
Pierce Brown
3 book trilogiy
More Sci-Fi than fantasy. I was definitely not expecting to like this book as much as I did. So many great moments. Amazing highs and lows, great characters, prose, pacing.
It is in many ways the sci-fi equivalent of the farmboy with the powerful destiny.
Humanity has evolved into separate "colors". Each color was made for a specific task. And the Golds rule all with an iron fist. A lowborn red is set on a path to change society, hopefully for the better.
Resource Links
#7 Rift War Saga
Raymond E Feist
4 book series
A classic. I read this one a little earlier in my reading career, so it's possible this doesn't hold up as well to the test of time. But I will recommend to anyone to read at least the first book Magician Apprentice and Magician Master. Written as one, split into two. If you liked those, I would urge you to finish the Saga which is only 2 more books.
It's the typical kind of farmboy becomes amazing story. Standard in the time it was written. Though there are some scenes that are very powerful that make this story work so well.
Resource Links
#6 A Song of Ice and Fire
George RR Martin
7 book series
By far the most popular fantasy title since Lord of the Rings. And not for no reason, well deserved. Some of the best fantasy ever written. Most know this as "Game of Thrones". Which is the title of the first book in the series.
Kingdom at war, political intrigue. The unexpected happening at every turn. Dragons from old. And waiting in the cold darkness of the north, are the White Walkers. If you have not read this...what are you doing?? Go...now...
Resource Links
#5 Malazan Book of the Fallen
Steven Erikson
10 book series+
This will be some of the most epic fantasy writing you will ever read. The scope of this series is masterful. Near genius level, imo. The characters are larger than life. Deep, dark, confusing(in a good way). Nobody should call themselves a fantasy reader if they have not read at least the first 2 books of this series. If you can stop after reading the 2nd book, I applaud you.
Gods, ascendants, humans all co-exist and in turn try and manipulate each other. World breakers battling the elements. World scaling battles, dragons of old, creatures of nightmare, and some soldiers who just know how to fight a war. You will not go wrong with reading this series.
Erikson created this world with his friend Ian Cameron Esslemont. ICE has written many companion novels for this series. You can choose to just read the original 10 and that's perfectly acceptable. Or you can read the entire Malazan world, which includes roughly 15books as I write this.
Resource Links
Click here for Official Website
Click here for strongly suggested reading order.
Click here for the TOR re-read. (great to follow along with while reading)
#4 Wheel of Time
Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
14 book series
Another classic. Must read for any new or old fantasy reader. Books 1-5 are some of the best fantasy you can read. 6-11 suffer, and it's finished up masterfully.
Another coming of age, farm boy conquers the world type setting. It is definitely much more than that and has set many bars when it comes to fantasy. Along with Tolkien's LOTR, this has been one of the most influential fantasy's to date.
Resource Links
#3 Stormlight Archive (The Cosmere)
Brandon Sanderson
10 total. Two 5book series.
Brandon Sanderson is one of the prolific authors of our time. He is constantly writing, and constantly putting out top quality material. Stormlight is another example.
While I was reading Way of Kings, book1. I thought to myself "If the second book is as good as this, it might become my #1 series!". Well, the second book(Words of Radiance) wasn't as good. It was better! I felt as if the 3rd book, Oathbringer, took a step back. Not too far, as it was also good.
We only have 3 books out of 5. And then there will be another planned set of 5(for now). So it's hard to explain with out spoilers. But the planet they are on(Roshar) is beset with storms. Specifically the High Storm.
WoK. The first book focuses on Kaladin. Fiercely loyal with a will of steel. He is forced to undergo trials that would break any other man. These trials transform him into something the world hasn't seen in a long time.
WoR. The second book focuses on Shallan. She also had a very traumatic childhood and is a bit broken because of it, though she hides it well. She is on a journey to steal a powerful amulet owned by one of the most powerful women in the world.
OB. The 3rd book focuses on Dalinar. Warlord, High Prince of War, God of War...etc. One of the most feared battle tested warriors on the planet. The Black Thorn. He cares nothing except for the next battle. He does not lose. But he has grown up, aged, and is not quite what he used to be. There's a good reason for that, very good reason...but alas you must read and find out why.
#2 First Law Trilogy
Joe Abercombie
3 book trilogy
The king of grimdark. Imagine the incredible hulk was a barbarian and an amazing writer wrote a story of his life. Logen Ninefingers is that man. Sometimes, in his darkest hours, he becomes The Bloody Nine. And boy is he bloody. None bloodier.
Great characters, great plot, great action. Powerful moments. Grimdark at its peak. It's brutal and gritty, and it just works. I know there are people who pinpoint flaws in any book, but I do not see one in this series. It's main focus is a torturer "Glokta" and a northern barbarian "Logen". Their journey through the coming war and everything in between. Throw in some scheming wizards and cannibalism...and you got an amazing story.
I can't recommend this series enough! If you have any sort of similar taste, please give this a try.
“There are few men with more blood on their hands than me. None, that I know of. The Bloody-Nine they call me, my enemies, and there’s a lot of ’em. Always more enemies, and fewer friends. Blood gets you nothing but more blood. It follows me now, always, like my shadow, and like my shadow I can never be free of it. I should never be free of it. I’ve earned it. I’ve deserved it. I’ve sought it out. Such is my punishment.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself
#1 Cradle
Will Wight
12 book series
Unanimously considered the #1 Progression Fantasy available. These are quick fun reads. Progression fantasy is all about becoming more powerful.
Lindon is from a small village cut off from the rest of the world. He discovers early in his life that he has no innate talent for the sacred arts. He is unsouled, therefore forbidden from learning a path.
The series is, obviously, all about the characters getting stronger. But it is so much more than that. Simply training won't be enough. Not when the vastness of the universe and all the power within it are discovered.
I can't recommend this enough. If you like anime, read this. If you just want a fun, quick, easy read, read this. If you don't think you will like it, read it discover how wrong you are.
Resource Links