Best Fantasy Book Each Year Since 1990

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Want to talk about how wrong i am? Join the discord! discord.gg/SbrEfnzKht

[@moonbot7613]

Ya did great. Are you gonna do another viewers favorite book for us that missed it?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@moonbot7613 Eventually, but not anytime soon. And it will probably be "favorite series" as opposed to individual book.

[@moonbot7613]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews cool beanz!

[@anilmlalwani]

35 yrs of reading in 1 video. Wow!! This video deserves to be on ur homepage.

[@larryhodge3107]

Here is my favorites over those same years; we share a lot of them. 1990: The Great Hunt by Jordan 1991: The Dragon Reborn by Jordan 1992: The Shadow Rising by Jordan 1993: The Fires of Heaven by Jordan 1994: Lord of Chaos by Jordan 1995: Belgarath the Sorceress by Eddings 1996: The Legend of Deathwalker by Gemmell 1997: Polgara the Sorceress by Eddings 1998: A Clash of Kings by Martin 1999: Sword in the Storm by Gemmell 2000: A Storm of Swords by Martin 2001: Memories of Ice by Erikson 2002: House of Chains by Erikson 2003: White Wolf by Gemmell 2004: The Swords of Knight & Day by Gemmell 2005: Knife of Dreams by Jordan 2006: The Bonehunters by Erikson 2007: The Name of the Wind by Rothfuss 2008: The Last Argument of Kings by Abercrombie 2009: The Gathering Storm by Jordan/Sanderson 2010: The Way of Kings by Sanderson 2011: The Heroes by Abercrombie 2012: Red Country by Abercrombie 2013: A Memory of Light by Jordan/Sanderson 2014: Words of Radiance by Sanderson 2015: Ruin by Gwynne 2016: Wrath by Gwynne 2017: Oathbringer by Sanderson 2018: A Time of Dread by Gwynne 2019: A Little Hatred by Abercrombie 2020: Rhythm of War by Sanderson 2021, 2022 & 2023: Haven’t read anything this new yet though several are on my TBR. Still working on catching up from that big reading slump I had so I'm behind.

[@cragsclaw]

I like most of your list, except for anything by Jordan. Never took to him. I'd probably put some Raymond E Feist in those early slots.

[@morning_dew922]

Thank you sharing

[@josephwilson-doan4163]

I wanna see your folder full of book cover jpegs 😂

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

It made me so mad I deleted it immediately upon uploading.

[@davidmorales8793]

And exclusively low quality images

[@blandface9957]

Just got this video in my recommendations and I have to say I really like it! As someone who is still fairly new to fantasy and hasn't read too much I really love how well read you are in this genre, would love to get to your level some day 🙏

[@rjmoore44]

Keep doin ‘em like this man great quality video! And I gained a new perceptive on all these fantasy series I’ve read and looked into

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Thank you!

[@Thestashdowndiaries]

This was really helpful. I'm getting back into reading daily again and, having looked back at my favourite books of all time, I realized that my favourite genre is fantasy. So I've been watching a ton of book recommendations to find out which series and authors I should put on my TBR. There a so many! Which is a good thing. You brought up a few that other youtubers haven't really spoken about

[@Lizzard570]

I really enjoy your channel, specially that you don't have any spoilers in your videos. I'm just a few pages into the first Wheel of Time book and your reviews have encouraged me to continue reading

[@sasapejcin3568]

That book was boring af and badly written! Gave it two stars and didn't continue with the series!

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video! Thanks! You never run out of excellent video ideas!

[@TechPrepEd]

Excellent video as always. Man I wish I could read faster - you’ve given me a ton of titles I want to try. 😊 thanks for continuing to produce great content!

[@RICHIEV333]

Can we give a 1990 Award to Robert Jordan for putting out two books in one year.

[@hippitro]

then what to do w Terry Pratchett?

[@RICHIEV333]

@@hippitro Good point

[@alibinqauizhiersarapuddin7860]

Brandon Sanderson put out 4 books this year

[@DennisHeikki]

@@alibinqauizhiersarapuddin7860he deserves awards too! although let's be honest, Sanderson has ghost writers, Jordan doesn't.... he got Sanderson instead i suppose, but that was after the 90s

[@Joaquim.Oliveira]

Loved the idea of this video and I was here guessing about which ones would b the second place books ..

[@kathydavis1312]

I just brought the first Malazan book. I am currently listening to The Gala of The Reaper. Just so gorgeous the world and characters. I just love it.

[@CoverswithCassidy]

This was such a fun concept!!!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Thank you Cassidy!

[@davidschrodt507]

Great video. Loved the concept. Have you ever read Melanie Rawn? I think you would really enjoy her Dragon Prince series. Very few book tubers have done any review of this series and they need some love.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

No - never. But I'll check it out!

[@NZAnimeManga]

Great video! Interesting to see how its changed since the last time!

[@bardsandbooks]

Great video, Matt! I haven’t even read ASOIAF yet but I knew Storm of Swords was getting it! Seems to be unanimously given high praise. RIP Deadhouse Gates 😅 I’m assuming you loved it too since Malazan dominated this list

[@HunterHilly]

Literally stumbled across your old recording of this last night and watched. Excited to rewatch it 😂

[@NerdBookReview]

I think I would have chosen the same book in every year of the 90's. Huge fan of WoT myself. 6 full reads and 3 audiobook rounds. I've also read Malazan a couple of times and along with WoT did 3 audiobook rounds the last 3 years(Bonehunters is my favorite). GoT first got me into Grimdark and I then just devoured every Black Company book. This month I'll read my first Robin Hobb book.

[@JLchevz]

Excellent video!! So much fun to watch

[@yelisieimurai]

This video is dope, Matt. Btw I glad that first three novels of GRRMartin won in their years, I am so big fan of these.

[@nilulal545]

Omg!! The description of the video was intriguing enough for me to jump in here!! All for it 🙌 wheel of time i agree most books are just so amazing and came to learn about Brandon Sandersons work another favorite author ❤❤

[@carnissa]

Amazing video. Thanks, Matt!

[@kumarsalib722]

I laughed so hard at the Name of the Wind snub.

[@afaqahmad2806]

Keep up the great work, Matt!

[@extraneoustitled5103]

As somehow who values chacacter writing far far above everything else I find it criminal that you only gave Joe Abercrombie one victory with Last Argument of kings. Lol. I understand your reasonings though. That said this was a wonderful video. I appreciate the time you put into each video you do and I'm going to continue watching your videos. You've gotten me to pick up many books I never knew about. Soon I plan on Reading the Tide Child Trilogy based on your videos. Keep up the good work! :)

[@Paulmills74]

Excellent video, thank you. A few new series for me to look at.

[@jasond2334]

For the 1990s, I would have liked to see things like Good Omens, the Rowan, Prince of Chaos, Wizard's First Rule, any of the Taltos '90s installments of the series get nominations, even if not wins.

[@modalsahil9999]

Very cool video. Ive read maybe 1% of these books yet it was really entertaining

[@TheCosmerenaut1]

Matt love all the best fantasy books videos. Great stuff!

[@geoffjohnston6066]

This list and video was 🔥🔥🔥 Great stuff, Matt

[@MrSekeeroMan]

Great video. Really enjoy these list videos frm time to time 👍🏻

[@cavendar24]

Thanks for this walk through time. Some of these books I read when they came out, some of them I learned about only recently. I think I was about 90% accurate in predicting your picks. I think I've watched too many of your videos.

[@skulbowd4312]

I was reading a lot of David Gemmell back in the 1990's and really loved them. I wonder if you ever tried them, Matt?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I read the first three drenai books!

[@mickdarcy3063]

I appreciate this format! It helps remind me of the time line of how these were released. Still have not read Robin Hobb. One day!

[@johnsparegrave5996]

I'm not a horrible person.I cried my eyes out reading Robin Hobb. Funny how fantasy quality improves over time.

[@faustianbargains]

Love this Matt! Really great!

[@JamesKelly-p5n]

I just watched you video. The moment when you go I just like books made me smile so much because I am the same

[@professionalthirdculturekid]

Loved seeing Robin Hobb and Terry Pratchett in this list!!

[@kelleyceccato7025]

2003: I was rooting so hard for Monstrous Regiment, but there was some tough competition in that year. Okay, I give in: I'm going to have to start Malazan. Would you recommend print or audiobook for this one?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Definitely print. The audiobook will be WAY too confusing since there are so many different characters.

[@kelleyceccato7025]

Thank you!@@MattsFantasyBookReviews

[@reaper2r]

1991 is a tough one for me! I love The Dragon Reborn but Reaper Man made me cry😅 Edit: oh my god 1992 is between The Shadow Rising and Small GODS?!? I couldn’t imagine trying to choose between these. You have a tough job

[@michaelbaziotis8287]

Matt, My comments are an attempt to obtain your sponsorship. Hi, my name is Michael, and I am a Pirateaba-aholic. And I am a member of the NBA, (Narcotic Books Anonymous) I began consuming The Wandering Inn late last year from a booktube pusher named Matt. He convinced me to take my first Pirateaba hit, and I've been an addicted junkie of The Wandering Inn ever since! Matt, I can't thank you enough! Because I have no intention of ever quitting this sweet literary drug created by Pirateaba, I humbly request Matt, that you be my sponsor as you are the ultimate reason for my addiction! Please never stop pushing your sweet literary content! As your videos are almost as addictive as your recommendations!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I accept. But only if you sponsor me as well.

[@Zivilin]

i need to catch up to my reading of my tbr. I couldn't do a list like this because it would be missing a lot of modern fantasy after 2012. Had a big reading slump in the 2010s. 😅

[@MaxFidler]

Especially early on, I really love Shallan. I am not sure I get why people find her so annoying.

[@Frostybite100]

No David Gemmell? Have you read any of his books? Surely you came across Drenai or Rigante series?

[@DanExploresBooks]

Just finished Sub-book 3 of Reapers Gale. It is so dang good! And is starting to help me understand so much of the big picture stuff going on.... I think. But i'm an idiot. A lot of lightbulb.... or candle.... moments. Way too many other books on this list I have yet to get to.

[@greyowlaudio]

Doing a yearly book award is a really cool idea. Like Oscars but better lol

[@zenithmalhotra4172]

this is a wonderful video idea!

[@darrenrouselle180]

I know I've asked you before but I'm still wondering if The Wandering Inn will ever be released in book form. I wont read electronically so I really need this series in book form. Please give me some hope because it sounds awesome. Love your channel and thanks again.

[@Ultimatesadventures]

Ive asked before here too and some kind user told me the problem is a lack of interest from publishers.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

The first book will get a kickstarter soon. But after that it remains to be seen!

[@NICKREADSFANTASY]

Love this video!

[@DrMetalpin]

Shadow Rising is so awesome though. :( I like Small Gods too though.

[@thomassteenkamp4575]

I also don't get the shallan hate. She is absolutely fantastic in book 2 and 3. On the other hand kaladin is great in book 1 and really boring in the other ones

[@gauravshahi6334]

Really boring? Are you dumb or smtn?

[@thebrothersgwynne]

Awesome idea for a video!

[@kriswager]

Great video - it shows me that we have entirely different tastes in Fantasy, so there is no need for me to follow this channel.

[@donaldpratt2296]

2004, 2007, and 2010 give me the feeling you’ve never read the Instrumentalities of the Night series by Glen Cook.

[@Talking_Story]

Great List! This took some work I bet.

[@jaygrewal]

Recently read the whole cradle series and I really liked it.please recommend me something to scratch that cradle itch.

[@rebelbelle1388]

Honestly The Shadow Rising is my favorite Jordan book, besides the first. The Great Hunt was solid as well, but I really didn't find The Dragon Reborn all that interesting, and Fires of Heaven was just a SLOG. (I would have given the trophy to The Last Wish for sure!)

[@MegaBaltimoreravensf]

Holy crap, A Storm of Swords must be something special if you picked it over DG which i liked more than MoI! Maybe i should give ASOIAF an another try.

[@yelisieimurai]

A Storm of swords is magnificent

[@JLchevz]

Yeah honestly as good as DG or MOI are, ASOS is something else, maybe it comes to preference but those twists, secrets, character decisions and unrelenting insane pace is unmatched by anything IMHO again maybe its preference

[@MegaBaltimoreravensf]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, folks. I have been avoiding books 2-5 because the 1st book came off rather uneventful because I have seen the show.

[@jf6822]

A Storm of Swords might be the best fantasy book ever written what are you even talking about?

[@benja6902]

Fun trip down memory lane

[@guyreurtt3860]

I remember watching the video not too long ago and a reboot was uploaded like a week later😂

[@seanhalpin87]

I knew lonesome crown was gonna win 2022. Top 5 book ive read

[@dustinwood6119]

And the nominees are...To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, Lord of the Flies, and any book from Malazen. And the winner is...Malazen!!

[@praetorxyn]

I was about to flip tables if A Memory of Light and Assassin's Fate didn't win!

[@charlesburge2564]

Deadhouse Gates had the unfortunate situation to be in the same year as a Storm of Swords, otherwise it surely would have won. I honestly don't know if ASoS could lose to almost anything. Also holy crap 2006 is STACKED

[@ashleyholbird4287]

The Gathering Storm is a masterpiece. Its the best WoT book

[@dinocollins720]

haha I was dying when you said you love book 2s. I was like dont you love last books, and don't you love first books? haha 😂

[@dustinwood6119]

Erikson writing an apology letter to an ex girlfriend about being a douche on a napkin for the win.

[@seanhalpin87]

Just an fyi i bekieve that the term grimdark comes from the Warhammer 40k universe, im pretty sure

[@Nerdcrusher]

Starts with 1990. Doesn't include "Tigana".

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Wasn't a big fan. I also didn't include "Good Omens".

[@Br1cht]

1991: Black Sun Rising by C. S. Friedman

[@thomascleveland]

A great nominee for 1990 would have been Tigana.

[@kumarsalib722]

Please add year indexes.

[@wackybigd7065]

I love Shallan

[@paolabuffa7043]

Robb, Jordan and Pratchett🎉

[@swisswatermethod1781]

Out of the original ten books, I don’t think there’s a bad Malazan book in my opinion. I don’t really get all the negative feedback, people who dnf etc

[@larry-xm3lp]

I loved them all except Midnight Tides. The nearly complete change in cast and the drastic shift in tone was just too much for me. If it hadn't have been a Malazan book or if it hadn't been smack dab in th3 middle of the series I might feel a little but differently. I don't think I would have liked it even then but I probably wouldn't completely hate it like I do.

[@DrevvDman]

So glad to see Michael J Sullivan in here. He is my favorite author currently. Book five of the Riyria Revelations was my favorite. It nearly had me screaming in excitment at the twist toward the end.

[@noname3609]

You just put Small gods above Shadow Rising 😮 Wasn't Oathbringer released in 2017?Haven't seen it 😁

[@LordNovaPrime1]

Well I can tell you Shadow Rising and Oathbringer would have been my picks since those are my two favorite fantasy books lol but still stiff competition so understandable

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Oathbringer was 2017, I just didn't have it as my top 4.

[@LordNovaPrime1]

@MattsFantasyBookReviews hey its my favorite book and I get it. Lots of great books that year. Hard to pick lol

[@berserker8884]

Man 2003 really had to be one of the worst years if Crossroads ended up in nominees

[@johnaristotle3736]

Where's RA Salvatore? Jaraxle rocks!

[@redgiant970]

Damn '98 was a stacked year

[@redgiant970]

I wrote this before I saw '06 and my god was '06 a ridiculous year for fantasy

[@nordamoddev1038]

Dam... 2006 was a great year!

[@primalbaaha6979]

Enjoyable video.

[@jamestriplett5854]

wow i've read a lot of these.

[@larryhodge3107]

Reaper's Gale ahead of Name of the Wind AND Before They Are Hanged!?!?!?!?!?!?! What madness is this?!?! Lol! My HATE for Midnight Tides is all encompassing but I actually liked RG. Loved Fid & the marines here especially. But it is nowhere close to either NotW or BTAH. Not the same level at all.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I loved both those books, but I had pretty major problems with them that I didn't have with Reaper'a Gale.

[@larryhodge3107]

You have actually got more WoT books as your favorite than Malazan, lol. 7 to 6. You coming over to the other side? The right side! Lol.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Less competition those years! :)

[@Br1cht]

2012 Best Book: A Throne of Bones by V. Day I cannot fathom that people avoid that true Masterpiece just because his politics, read it sub-rosa if you have to but read it. Most authors are displaying weird behavior and doltish manners but we are in a very odd place now with self-appointed Commissars so what can we do? The writing is topnotch and beats GRRR Martin in complexity and worldbuilding IMO.

[@mercutiobr3814]

I am a HUGE fan of the WoT, but in 1991 witches abroad is better, IMO.

[@ImperialStriver26]

@Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews Why didn't you nominate any of the Harry Potter books?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Haven't read them!

[@ImperialStriver26]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Make sure to review them after you get around to finally reading them

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@ImperialStriver26 I'm reading the first one with my 7 year old daughter. We are going to review it together when we finish.

[@dustinwood6119]

The Lord of the Rings, the Bible, and Red Rising series. The winner is...anything by Erikson.

[@ryhmetravila8085]

I can't really think of a statement a KZbinr has made that I disagree with more then Brandon Sanderson is a better writer than Robert Jordan. Not even freaking close. In a list of however many of my top writers Sanderson would be a minimum of five spots below Jordan.

[@larry-xm3lp]

A lot of people prefer Sanderson's WoT books to Jordan's. I'm not one of those people and completely agree with you that Jordan was clearly better than Sanderson. But those that think Sanderson is better definitely exist.

[@ryhmetravila8085]

@@larry-xm3lp I'm sure. And it's not really a surprise that I disagree with Matt on this. There are a number of his cakes that I could not agree with less. Still enjoy his content

[@sasapejcin3568]

@@ryhmetravila8085 I've read first book in WOT and gave up because it was badly written and so slow and boring!

[@boredymcboredface8624]

Managed the start of wandering inn and had to drop it after the third real world reference main character complaining “oh I really want a Pepsi / coke” or some sh!t like that. Woke up in a fantasy land tropes are garbage and need to stop…

[@cal_esc]

sheeesh i have a lot to read 😅😂

[@johnaristotle3736]

The Way of Kings was torture! That idiot carrying that bridge!

[@Fabulist]

I kind of skipped around, but it looks like the only Fantasy you read is in the subgenre of Epic Fantasy. Jade War is the only one that stood out as slightly different. I mean, plenty of these are terrific books by solid authors, but where is the variety? Like The Golem & The Jinni (2013)? Or Elatsoe (2020)? The Apocalypse Door (2002)? Dreams Underfoot (1993)? I’m not trying to cast aspersions, and we each like what we like, but this list really feels like a very narrow slice of what’s being offered in Fantasy. If you’d titled the video “Best Epic Fantasy Each Year Since 1990”, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I definitely read a ton of Grimdark and litrpg

[@Rhand007]

Terry Pratchett, Ken Liu and Jim Butcher are hardly Epic Fantasy, just to name a few authors. I honestly never heard of any of your mentioned books* and The Apocalypse Door has less than 100 ratings over 20 years on Goodreads. Are you James D MacDonald trying to plug your own book by any chance? (*besides The Golem & The Jinni)

[@dougtricarico8344]

Grace of Kings by Ken Liu is definitely in the Epic Fantasy mold. I only saw one Dresden Files book and it wasn’t chosen as one of Matt’s favorites. As far as you not hearing about the books I mentioned, your ignorance of the genre isn’t my problem. Do you also complain that you’ve never heard of Cheryl Wheeler, Sweet or Radiohead because you only listen to Top 40 pop music? Expand your horizons.

[@parkeroneilbryant]

Nice

[@yeahnaaa292]

Damn. Third Place again.

[@Skulldir]

first

[@aidenhoaglund7329]

First😎

[@NathanDunning-s6l]

This list is so bad it's actually a little sad. Watching the first half (when I tapped out), it's painfully clear that Matt has no idea what was being written in those years. He has his 5 authors and that's it. There's just no breadth of experience there, which makes the list useless. I mean, I have my obscure favorites (C.S Friedman) like everyone else, but somehow none of: Lois McMaster Bujold Guy Gavriel Kay Steven Brust Orsen Scott Card Barbara Hambly L.E Modesitt Mercedes Lackey Harry Turtledove Raymond Feist (with or without Janny Wurts) C.J Cherryh were even mentioned. And that's just the big names from my favorites - I'm not a Tim Powers fan, but he sure won a lot of awards in the era. For the record, I'm a Jim Butcher fan, owning all his books. But I think even he would put Curse of Chalion and Lord of Emperors over Grave Peril, since he has advised new readers to skip it.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I know there are other books, I just haven't read them.

[@larry-xm3lp]

I've read at least one book from most of those and none of them made my list either. Just because someone's else list doesn't match with yours doesn't mean it's useless or bad. Your opinion is both however.

[@sasapejcin3568]

He put books that he had read!