My Top 10 Fantasy Series of All Time | As Of 2024

[@samiurai0]

I'm a simple man. I see a top ten by Mike, I click on it at the speed of light.

[@currangill430]

Same 😂

[@gordonfelesina3170]

lol😂

[@Justjustinp]

Same. He is one of the most underrated book KZbinrs on the platform.

[@MarcS24-058]

Totaly agree with your opinion on Harry Potter. I read it last year, as a 19 year old, and absolutely loved it. My grandma of 72 is reading it right now and is loving it!

[@TheDopekitty]

I used to love it until JKR turned out to be a terrible person

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

@@TheDopekittyyou mean a normal person with common sense who stands up to the trans cult?

[@ghostparty2062]

​@@GeorgeZimmermenjk believes that women exist. Crazy right! 😂

[@luissimoes2645]

@@TheDopekitty I don't think that her having an opinion that contrary to a lot other people makes her a terrible person. And even if it did, that would not change the fact that the series she wrote is one of the best of all time. It is my favourite fantasy series since I was a child and I never loved the author per se, but I loved and continue to love the series and what it stands for. Even if she changed and became a worse person than she was, that does not change the series at all. In other words, never loved her before, don't love her now, will always love Harry Potter.

[@slynkadink2416]

@@GeorgeZimmermen You mean a woman who compares all trans people to rapists, advocates against autistic people having rights, writes antisemitic tropes into her novels, insults other cis women for looking like men, insults intersex people, happily casts men who abuse their wives and more? I guess you're right that that is all sadly normal these days, but it shouldn't be.

[@FranzBinder20]

I totally agree. People are starting to lose interest in Asoiaf because it has been a long time since the last release, the books aren't getting finished and the show finale sucked, but these five books are still incredibly good!

[@Usernameforsf]

Are they?? I was such a big fan of the show (still not over the finale), but I have never been sure if I should try the books, mainly because I feel that I know all the spoilers. Should I try them anyway?

[@jpr8955]

​@@Usernameforsf yes ,you should,I was in same positiok as you,the first two book are kinda similar to the first seasons,but after that the books are really different and much more complex

[@LeoSkyro]

​@@UsernameforsfI mean this respectfully, but you dont know anything. There are entire plots, dozens of characters, areas explored in the books that did not even exist in the show, and what was there, was portrayed from kinda meh to disastrously bad. The series is probably never going to be completed, or even get another book, but they're still worth it

[@krisztianpapp5107]

@@Usernameforsf I've done similarly with other adaptation/books and except for a few very special cases, books are always worth reading if you love the adaptation. It just gives you so much more depth that cannot be done on the TV screen. In case of Asoiaf, Book 3 is just peak fantasy, Martin pretty much outdid himself with that one. Many people dislike Book 4 due to the fact that Book 4 and 5 are in the same timeline but POVs are separated, and the more popular POVs were in Book 5. This meant that people had to wait 11 years to read about Jon/Tyrion/Danny again. Jokes on them, now 13 years have passed since book 5. Anyways book 4 is also great.

[@Usernameforsf]

@@LeoSkyro wow! They sound great! I really should give them a try then :)

[@giants8585]

ASOIAF will always be my favorite. It was my first love. I thought that it would lessen my enjoyment of other books since it was my first time reading fantasy but no. And it still stands the test of time with me now that I’m 200+ deep in to SF&F. Best dialogue, best characters.

[@krislimpus]

Thank you for talking about Harry Potter... A lot of youtubers gloss over it or there's zero mention of it in top fantasy lists for whatever reason but I tell people like you were saying that there will never be another time when masses of people camp out at book stores until mid-night. Kids don't even like to read these days. As a kid in high school who didn't like reading I stayed up until 4 in the morning opening night reading and that feeling of wonder and magic is something I've never found again. The casual reader was captured into this world. The emotions of this book if you were waiting for the next one to come out and were reading them before the movies came out just hit different.

[@TheDopekitty]

People are avoiding Harry Potter because JKR is a massively transphobic person trying to remove support for transgender people

[@connorbiglane3238]

My top 5 because I just got back into fantasy 2 years ago 1. Malazan 2. A song of ice and fire 3. First Law 4. Mistborn 5. Ranger’s Apprentice (went unbelievably hard when I was 11)

[@user-zi9vv7us6i]

Brooo i forgot about Rangers Apprentice i used to be obsessed

[@joedoe7572]

Ranger's Apprentice is so good

[@ssj4rit]

Halt was a boss in Ranger’s Apprentice.

[@gordonfelesina3170]

The justification for pick number five had me rolling😂

[@thejovinater8620]

Ranger's Apprentice is amazing great shout

[@goonerquinn4670]

Love your take on Harry Potter. I’ll never get tired of re reading those books

[@dinocollins720]

same!!!

[@TobyCatVA]

When people say "I have never seen or read any HP." I just feel sorry for them, missing the ride as the Thestrals start off with my carriage, again.

[@TheDopekitty]

JKR is a transphobe

[@TobyCatVA]

@HaroonHamza-wj6dq Did you just have a stroke?

[@Alex-jo6rb]

I never get sick of these videos

[@bradkrick8254]

Great call on HP. I grew up with them and then reread last year again in my 30s with kids and I was wrecked by some parts. Hit different as an adult

[@stringydev]

What I love the most about ASOIAF is use of the magic. It would’ve been so easy to flood Westeros with a tonne of magic and fantastical things everywhere. Instead, George uses magic sparingly but so powerfully. Almost makes me feel like Westeros could’ve actually been real place! Such a shame that the story will probably never be finished.

[@timothyzeiler2902]

can you do a top 10 tv shows of all time?

[@angelaholmes8888]

Great idea

[@kingzzz6509]

He did top 15 sci-fi shows of all time. It’s on the ‘Off The Books’ playlist, as well as Mike’s Media Reviews. But it is just sci-fi.

[@michaeljdauben]

I read Harry Potter when I was in my 30s and loved it. I was reading it at the same time as my god daughter, and we talked about it as we read each book. It will always have a place in my heart, for that reason.

[@asdfasdf5695]

I would include Robert E. Howard's fantasy universe, including Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane, & Bran Mak Morn. One of the greatest writers who ever lived.

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

Conan and the other REH characters are timeless I highly suggest younger readers check them out. 👍

[@Cloudindustries]

Found you through your Dresden reviews and I've been here since. Glad it made the list.

[@averypettigrewfrenchhorn1670]

Was glad to hear about you continuing Malazan, I'm looking to start it this year and wondered your thoughts since you haven't talked about it in a while. Absolutely agree with Song of Ice and Fire, I reread the whole series last year and it's just so good! I think your praising Storm of Swords is actually what got me into your channel since that book is just amazing. I recommend Jemisen's Broken Earth trilogy if you haven't read it yet, we read it for my book club and I enjoyed the world building.

[@moonbot7613]

Nice list Mike- I’d say my Top 5 are 1. Five Warrior Angels 2. Bloodsworn 3. DiscWorld 4. Malazan 5. Immortal Technique- I can’t decide on the last 5 for a top 10

[@Mermer-16]

Always interesting to see how people's lists change over time. And always a delight to watch your videos and heard your insights!

[@aureliananghel7236]

0. Lord of the Rings 1. Malazan (All Erikson and Esslemont books) 2. A song of Ice and Fire 3. First Law 4. Earthsea books 5. Black Company series 6. Wheel of time 7. Book of the New Sun 8. Witcher 9. Kingkiller Chronicle

[@balance1619]

Ye I was shocked Witcher is not even mentioned. It’s top 3 for me…geralt is the most badass main character I’ve ever read about in fantasy. I also loved the game which makes me more biased towards it but yeah, it’s gotta be on the list.

[@someothercharacter]

I'd like to see more people who missed out on the Harry Potter craze read the books. If you like fantasy, they are worth a look.

[@Yungshamgod]

1. Malazan 2. Book of the New Sun (honestly felt like a total clash between fantasy and sci/fi, so it's hard to distinguish) 3. Discworld 4. A Song of Ice and Fire 5. First Law

[@itsagoddam.pandamic]

I used to judge people that had Harry Potter in their favorites...reread it this year and finally finished the last book... the series is definitely in my top 5 lol

[@Astropuppers]

GRRM's prose can be really addictive. Especially in Clash of Kings.

[@mindysbookjourney]

What a great list of favorites. Realm of the Elderlings, Stormlight Archives, The Dark Tower, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and A Song of Ice and Fire are all on my list as well.

[@sourabhnphadke]

My top 1) The first law 2) Discworld 3) Dresden files 4) Stormlight archives 5) Harry Potter

[@Selitos676]

I love this list! My top 10 in no order is Stormlight archive, WoT, Divine Cities, the winternight trilogy, roots of chaos, first law, broken earth, kingkiller, the bound and the broken, and the Nevermoor series. I can’t wait to read malazan and more of Dresden!

[@troncatch]

I love your shirt! I'm so jealous of your Red Rising paraphernalia. Where are you getting all of it? Great video. Never get tired of these lists.

[@cloudbloom]

Dude it feels pretty great to have found your channel years ago when you first started your wheel of time read and to see it in your top ten. I've read it six times and there's still so much to unpack in that series that I pick up on rereads. I just wish you continued Berserk without taking a break for so long, it's easy to forget everything that happens if you put it down partway through but I'm happy that you at least got through a good chunk of it. I'm about one third of the way through book 3 of the First Law trilogy and I like the series a lot but for some reason it didn't feel like it grabbed me as much as I thought it would from what I've heard about it. Book two honestly was kind of "meh" for the most part, sure there were some very cool moments but it wasn't as great as I was hoping. I will say though that the characters are amazing, I don't think I've ever related to a character more than I have with Glokta and not in the good ways haha. I'm 40 now and I've had a lot of major physical issues and surgeries throughout my life that left me with many physical scars and missing body parts. At 19 I had cancer which required a major jaw surgery including removing an entire 14 inch section of leg bone from my left tibia, which had me limping with a cane for nine months and I still have to be careful with how much weight I put on my leg. The right side of my jaw from the center to my right ear was removed, teeth and all (I had a large malignant tumor in my jaw so the tibia I mentioned was grafted as a replacement jaw and is held with a titanium chain, the x-rays of it look crazy). Five years later i was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and that caused many many issues including erosion of tooth enamel, so I had to have nine teeth pulled and now i have dentures up top. This is along with missing teeth on the entire lower right side of my mouth from the cancer surgery, so I truly understand Glokta when he's talking about missing teeth🤣 Throw in a ruptured intestine last year that almost killed me so there's another major surgery with months of recovery and the list goes on. I should stop rambling now about my problems but the point stands that I truly sympathize with my man Glokta, I just don't share his proclivity for "enhanced interrogation" techniques😅 Anyway sorry for the T.M.I., just wanted to throw in a comment to not only show my appreciation for what you've done with this channel but to explain a bit on why the character of Glokta really resonates with me. Thanks for all you do here Mike I'm a big fan, much love🙏

[@tamerahmet4645]

I respect that you put A Song Of Ice and Fire at number 1 despite it not being finished. I believe if GRRM finishes strong with the last two books then I'm not sure anything in fantasy will ever top it. It's an amazing world that GRRM created. Come on, George! Please finish the series!

[@kingzzz6509]

I think my Top 10 is probably: 1. Harry Potter 2. The Faithful and the Fallen 3. The Wheel of Time 4. The Lord of the Rings 5. Riyria Revelations 6. The Chronicles of Conan 7. The Dresden Files 8. Mistborn Era 1 9. The Legends of Drizzt 10. The Chronicles of Narnia I think it’ll change a lot over time, but that’s it for now.

[@verosnotebook]

There is something about HP. I was an adult already when they were coming out and as addicted. AND I actually went to Waterstones on Piccadilly and queued overnight for the last book. It was magical. So many people, of all ages, from all around the world, all there for the same thing. The atmosphere was unreal, and I got my book at 2 am. Still remember fondly 😊

[@akellerhouse83]

I can't make a top 10 list in order. But my favorite series include: The Expanse, Outlander, Dresden Files, RotE, Stormlight, Malazan, Dark Tower, the Empire trilogy by Janny Wurtz and Raymond Feist, WoT, and...I guess I can throw in First Law. I used to love ASoIaF. I'm just burned out from that world. I couldn't even finish HotD.

[@Jrdn357]

You should totally finish HotD, the show is so amazing, it really makes up for season 8 of GoT. Episode 8 of HotD in particular is so emotional and beautifully devastating.

[@akellerhouse83]

@Jrdn357 ugh! I know. Lol. I actually watched the first 7 episodes and then I got stuck. I just decided to back off for awhile and try again in a year or so.

[@sleepevenbetter]

Mike!!!! Your channel is a treasure chest. So much insight. Thank you. Currently reading Lonesome Dove (loving it so far), and I’ll be reading Blackwater next. From Miami with massive props. Big up, champion. 💪🏼🍻

[@Mermer-16]

I also read Lonesome Dove per his recommendation. It's not a book I'd normally pick up, but his reading tastes and mine are pretty similar, so I gave it a shot, and yes, it's great! Enjoy!

[@Talking_Story]

Yeahhhhh! We now share a number 1!! Awesome list Mike.

[@Aaarqhev]

No.1 Well deserved for ASOIAF, it’s just on another levels imo.

[@dinocollins720]

I might be a little confused how you organized it Mike. I'm not totally sure, but why is Faithful and the Fallen separated from A Blood and Bone but Mistborn Era 1 not separated from Era 2? Why did you group all of Mistborn as 1 single series? Is it just because of the title? I feel like Mistborn 2 series are more different than Faithful an d the Fallen 2 series.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

1: Manifest Delusions 2: The Second Apocalypse 3: Berserk 4: The Dark Tower 5: The Eternal Champion 6: Conan 7: Song of Ice and Fire 8: First Law 9: Black Company 10: (The Belgariad & Harry Potter, I have a soft spot for these two lol)

[@jabbaspalace508]

Have u tried Kull by K. e. Wagner? Its a bit kike conan. Very overlooked by some. If u haven't its worth a read if u can find a paperback

[@nancismith7705]

The Belgariad is my all time favorite!

[@kallen10101]

A Storm of Swords is perfection

[@noname3609]

10.King Killer Chronicles 9.Lord of The Rings 8.Mistborn Era 1 7.Drenai Saga (Druss novels only) 6.Bloodsworn Saga (Potentially in top 5 after I read the Fury of the Gods) 5.Asoiaf 4.Wheel of Time 3.Stormlight Archive 2.The Faithful and The fallen + Of Blood and Bone 1.The First Law World 0.The whole cosmere > anything in fantasy ... too many awesome books :D

[@heidi6281]

Your comments on Wheel of Time was perfect! 😘 Thank you so much!!!! WOT needs booktube love at the moment! So many haters out there who put it down and they have not even read it!!

[@sharenbeveridge3220]

I've read nearly all of these and wholeheartedly agree. I think The Bound and the Broken will stand the test of time for sure. Dresden Files are fun, funny fantasy stories with a flair and I love them. I always said I couldn't do grim dark, but when you recommended The First Law trilogy it was a game changer. Powered through every book like a maniac! The Faithful and the Fallen was another fantastic series. Thanks for all the great recommendations, keep them coming!

[@Maximus0623]

ASOIAF is #1 for me, and there is no close second. The plot, characters and world building are all amazing. I don’t expect to ever read other books as good as those. I think the only way it gets finished is if another author completes it after GRRM’s death, similar to Sanderson with WoT.

[@EchoFlux]

Similar to how Brandon Sanderson finished the Wheel of Time for Robert Jordan. Do you think that Joe Abercrombie would be a great choice to finish A Song of Ice and Fire?

[@fantasyfamily4]

Oooohhhhh!!!! 😮

[@Siddhii_]

I cannot stop talking about ASOIAF either, my favourite of all time as well!

[@FreezVy]

I wish i could read something similar but really there is none

[@zazenbo]

hey man thanks! I'm a 29 year old Dark Tower fan, massive Stephen King universe fan, trying to branch out and finally read other *real* fantasy series. So far it's been tough for me to adjust my mindset since The Dark Tower series sort of spoiled me with all its variety. So far, the coolest world since Dark Tower that's sucked me right in has been Discworld

[@heidi6281]

LOTR will forever be number one!!!

[@esmayrosalyne]

Nothing beats a good top 10 list! Hope to see Bound and the Broken break into the official list someday, it deserves the love! And can't blame you for putting ASOIAF on number one, I read that for the first time last year and it is just as good as I had been led to believe. Great picks!

[@bruceh1660]

My top 10 1. ASOIAF 2. First law 3. Wheel of time 4. Faithful and the Fallen 5. Storm light Archive 6. Malazan (Only on book 4 will probably be top 3 when I’m done) 7. The Dark Tower 8. Empire of the vampire (will probably move up when it’s completed) 9. Bloodsworn saga 10. Riyeria Revelations

[@Jackie.Daytona]

Mike - I'm not a fantasy reader (or a reader in general) but I stumbled upon your 3 years ago and you brought to the First Law and I can't thank you enough. Keep up the good work.

[@Paromita_M]

Very interesting list. I can do a top 7 series maybe and then it gets all murky. The GOATs 1. LoTR by JRR Tolkien 2. Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake The contemporary greats (because as you said legacy takes time) 3. Harry Potter by J K Rowling 4. Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss (Eyeroll amirite 🤣 but hey we love what we love) The really good 5. Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams 6. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin 7. Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin Some good series which are very well-written and/or have good ideas but something makes it not quite a favourite (not ranked): - The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams - The Books of Babel by Josiah Bancroft (this would have been in my top 5 but the finale...) - The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu - The Lyonesse trilogy by Jack Vance - The Magicians by Lev Grossman - The Five Warrior Angels by Brian Lee Durfee What would I recommend hmm...if you want a bit more literary aligned fantasy, then Lyonesse, Jack Vance is GRRM's favourite writer besides Tolkien. If ASOIAF is your #1, I think The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams is worth a try as is Shadowmarch. He is an excellent writer imo. Happy reading!

[@dewaldtmaritz3372]

Great vid Mike, I just completed a reread of the HP books, just adore the series!

[@johnkeenan1829]

For me it will always be Lord of the Rings followed very quickly by Malazan. I left fantasy many years ago specifically because of Wheel of Time. Got halfway through and said 'nope, not spending any more damn time on this'. Malazan brought me back in and now I'm looking at other series as well.

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

I've been wanting to read The Wheel of Time for years now, but always something gets in my way. I've noticed that despite the fame, many people who have read at least five books in the saga end up saying that the series isn't that good after all, but I've never seen anyone explain why.

[@dragonreborn0806]

Love it man. Song of Ice and Fire was my first big fantasy series. I have been reading others for years (and enjoying mostly all) but still searching for the feeling I got reading about Jon, Dany, Arya, Ned, and the rest of the crew. I do think we will see Winds Of Winter, but Dream Of Spring may be out of the cards.

[@ozzyshreds2017]

Have you read the Lord of the Rings?

[@dragonreborn0806]

@@ozzyshreds2017 oh yes. Multiple times. Love it

[@patrickturner2601]

There’s a lot from the last 20 years that I haven’t read due to life getting in the way, but my top 5 FAVORITE (not necessarily best): 1 - Wheel Of Time - Robert Jordan 2 - Otherland - Tad Williams (many may call it SF but it think it straddles both worlds) 3 - SOIAF - George RR Martin 4 - LOTR - Tolkien 5 - Chronicles Of Prydain - Lloyd Alexander

[@SevenThunderful]

Good call. Otherland is fantastic and I really like all of Tad Williams work.

[@skywalker80316]

I’ve mostly read thrillers and mysteries and am just getting into Sci Fi Fantasy and haven’t read most of these. You’ve basically set me up for a few years of reading! Thank you! Love your channel.

[@Justaguyb5c]

I have a group of friends who all love fantasy and we read a bunch. That being said, if the following books are not on a list in 2024 I would caution whatever list you are reading/watching; - Red Rising - Name of the Wind (king killer chronicles) - Stormlight Archives

[@kristen7623]

Thank you for standing up for Harry Potter. Most of us 30-35 year olds owe our love of reading to JK Rowling but now we…aren’t allowed to acknowledge that? Also shout out to Joe and Stephen Pacey ❤

[@patwebb2375]

Amen!!!

[@TheDopekitty]

Because the creator is a terrible person.

[@Fishbone0826]

Malazan will always be my number one and will never be topped it sucks because now I end up always comparing everything to Malazan and nothing for me scratches the itch Malazan gave me and still does.

[@mattf.3365]

It’s great to see WOT on your list. I feel like the slog criticism is valid but overstated and it seems worse for a lot of new readers because of confirmation bias. I read the series not knowing there’s a slog in the middle so it wasn’t that big of a deal for me. Overall, it’s an amazing series.

[@carlg8828]

Mike’s list is great. I would like to add a few that I haven’t seen mentioned One of my favorites: The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind - falls somewhere between PG-13 and R The Shannara series by Terry Brooks The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

[@threestringsomg]

Phew! Glad I found a fell covenant fan! 👍👍

[@SevenThunderful]

@@threestringsomg Yup good call. The Chronicles of Amber is a great series as well.

[@jeff8835]

Hey Mike, just got to drop you a word, you were the first to plant the seed of fantasy novels for me, and on June 16, 2024 i finally got started. So much to look forward to, thanks so much for being a reliable resource for wading through this densely populated genre, without guides i would be wasting too much time on stuff that would be perhaps not worth spending time in, thanks so much!!!

[@WordsinTime]

I’m currently up to book 5 in The Dark Tower so I’m looking forward to seeing where it ends up on my list!

[@farhad_s]

Always thought only idiots would read an unfinished series. Then I finally read it last year, and realised I was the biggest idiot for not reading A Song of Ice and Fire all these years.

[@lucasbertsche3710]

Just picked up some hard covers of ASOIAF yesterday! I love the show, but I’ve been putting off reading the books for years now. I think it’s about time I change that.

[@ladyfox6705]

Enjoy!

[@paradoxicalbum4489]

I'm really interested in what you will think when you finish your Dark Tower reread. I just finished a reread at the end of last year and I was surprised that I did not dislike book 6 as much as I expected. And the series has grown for me to the point that it is my favorite ending.

[@mkgnlgt]

Like the list, love that the dark tower is on there, underrated for its pure audacity and originality! I’d say Malazan, The First Law and The Dark Tower are my top three, couldn’t decide on any others?! And Tolkien, that third book… is as unique a reading experience as any you’re likely to find???… the finale, the appendices, the languages, it’s like nothing else I have ever read, or probably ever will…

[@favrewanab]

My list has changed a bit in the last couple years as well. I've added a few new entries and some of my old ones have shuffled around; mainly because of the new entries of course but two have fallen because of other reasons. Here is my current list: Honorable mentions: Deed of Paksenarrion, ASOIAF, Mistborn Era 1, Faithful & the Fallen, Chronicles of Thomas Covenant & LotR. All of these have at one time or the other been in my top 10 if only briefly (F&F). Some of them might come back into the top 10 if I ever get around to a reread (Thomas Covenant). But like you I'm getting older and have so many things I want to read, lol. 10. Broken Empire/Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence (new entry this year; I group them together because they tell 2 sides of 1 story) 9. Belgariad/Malloreon by David Eddings (been on my list for over 2 decades but is in danger of falling out as time goes on) 8. Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (this has fallen because it isn't finished; it will probably fall out of top 10 like ASOIAF eventually because of that) 7. The Band by Nicolaus Eames (added last year) 6. Mistborn Era 2 (added this year; I seperate the Era's because they are so different in style and tone) 5. Malazan Book of the Fallen (added in 2022) 4. Drenai Saga by David Gemmell (been a top 10 for over 2 decades and I don't see if falling out anytime soon) 3. First Law (Abercrombie became my favorite living author last year; even ahead of my #2 author if that makes any sense, lol) 2. Stormlight Archive (it's #2 because I like epic fantasy more than grimdark overall but really it's basically a tie) 1. Wheel of Time (has been my #1 series for 27 years and counting and I don't see it changing)

[@jays.8621]

Just browsing the comments and there are some great lists. One thing that i observe is a large recency bias. No mention of Elric of Melnibone, Fafhrd & The Grey Mouser, Robert E. Howard, Guy Gavriel Kay, Raymond E Feist, etc. For the younger or new to fantasy i would say these are all so worth reading. Even just to appreciate the journey the genre has taken.

[@Nick-yq5jf]

Can I include incomplete series? 5. Harry Potter 4. Empire of the Vampire 3. Stormlight Archive 2. ASOIAF 1. Red Rising

[@heidi6281]

When it comes to the Dark Tower I block out book 5,6 & 7. In my mind it ends at Wizard & Glass!!

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

The problem with the last book isn't even the ending, but everything else.

[@Thxlbx]

Have read most of this list, and might have a bit of a different order, but I cannot disagree too much. Top ten lists and discussing differences are always fun. I have three glaring holes in my fantasy read reptoire, and am planning to fill them in late 24 or early 25 after I complete my Sanderson run and devour Stormlight 5 :) Great Video as always!

[@andynonimuss6298]

1- Elric of Melniboné - Michael Moorcock

[@LiLRotum]

I've always been a big fan of Raymond E. Feist's fantasy series--beginning with Magician: Apprentice. I haven't read any of the books in his universe since I was a kid, but if you're looking for something off the beaten path, he's worth a read!

[@rlmccoy252]

A Song of Ice and Fire bored the ever-loving poop out of me. It took me 13 years to finish it because I couldn't stay focused. There were a lot of things that could have been entirely taken out and the story wouldn't have changed. If I didn't have Wiki of Ice and Fire then I wouldn't have had any clue what was going on. If he dies, hopefully he leaves enough notes for Gaiman, Colfer, or Sanderson to finish it up for us.

[@Arizonafrog97]

Great list, Mike! I’m a bit of a newbie when it comes to my fantasy journey but I’ve absolutely loved the Dark Tower, First Law, and FaTF… planning on reading the Bloodsworn Trilogy next in anticipation of the final book later this year! Keep up the great content 👍

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

1 - The Dark Tower (King) 2 - Harry Potter (Rowling) 3 - The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) 4 - The Wheel of Time (Jordan) 5 - A Song of Ice and Fire (Martin) 6 - The War for the Rose Throne (McLean) 7 - The Last War (Shackle) 8 - The Five Warrior Angels (Durfee) 9 - Red Rising (Brown) - I know it's SciFI, but I don't have a top 10 SciFi list. Gotta put it somewhere. 10 - Nevernight (Kristoff) I still have a lot of ongoing series, so this list will probably change in the next 2 years.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Great picks!

[@IzzyZil20]

Harry Potter above the wheel of time and a song and ice? How? I mean, I know it’s a childhood series but again it’s childhood series which has a lot of faults.

[@reixx-_-]

@@IzzyZil20 He's just approaching the situation nostalgically.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

@@IzzyZil20 I like what I like.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

@@reixx-_- Nostalgia has nothing to do with it. I'm currently rereading the series.

[@StephenKenW]

Dune, Enders, and Red Rising have really started an obsession

[@KBaiL]

Brilliant video! I have a question, I'm very new to reading books, I've read LOTR and the hobbit and Harry Potter! I've just started wheel of time this year and I'm 3 books in and loving it......however I want to read some other books can I take a break or should I finish WoT?

[@erickmarrero4848]

I think personally that I would tell you not to read the wheel of time in one sitting or attempted. It’s a great series, but it is very easy to experience burn out with something this long so my advice is get some stuff on the side. Take some breaks if the series becomes grading after a while, take a break, read something else and then come back.

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

You can mix it up with something very different, last month I reread Dune, then I read Messiah , Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune one after the other. I left Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune for a future occasion. So during this month I read a lot of horror and sci-fi short stories, some novels and so on.

[@jdm89s13]

I’m taking the “scenic route” of the Dark Tower series and am a little over a third of the way through (and on Wastelands in the series proper). I’ve just finished the Blade Itself and rushed right into Before They are Hanged. I just started the Eye of the World. So far, I am really enjoying all three of these series. Just amazing worlds, characters and writing. However, I realized just the other day that ASOIAF is truly on another level. I blew through the five books between the 7th and 8th seasons of the show and they were absolutely enthralling. However, like many people, season 8 was a massive let down. On top of that, I got sick of G.R.R.M. constantly saying Winds of Winter was just around the corner and then being let down, so I sort of laid the series to rest in my mind. It had been years since I even thought of it, but getting so into these other series made me want to go back for a quick sample reading of Storm of Swords just to confirm if ASOIAF really was as good as I remembered. It is. It’s in its own league. The character development, the world building, the dialogue, and the overall writing are just superb. I do think we eventually get Winds of Winter one way or another, but I also doubt we’ll get an ending to the book series.

[@jeanluccharbonnel4226]

Very good Top 3 !!! but somehow somewhere Gemmel or Feist are missing ... what do you think ?

[@RedFuryBooks]

I haven't done a top 10 fantasy-specific list, but ours are so similar! I think 7 of these were on my top 10 series, albeit in a different order. But 3 of our top 5 are the same: LOTR, First Law and Dark Tower.

[@laurencesiple]

I started ASOIAF a week after first release. Its been a journey but dont fret GRRM is a red priest it will be finished.

[@Grimscribe732]

I completely agree with ASoIaF, I cannot find any flaws with the series - except for the fact that it is not finished. There is no other series that has a combination of this level of world building AND amazing character writing. I also somewhat soured on it for a while due to the later seasons of the show and waiting for ages for the next book (started reading it somewhere around 2006-ish?), but my re-read last year has fully restored my love for these books. Here is my current Top 10: 1. A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM 2. The First Law by Joe Abercrombie 3. Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher 4. Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee 5. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien 6. Dresden Files by Jim Butcher 7. Ash and Sand Trilogy by Richard Nell 8. Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb 9. Raven's Mark Trilogy by Ed McDonald 10. Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett Honourable mentions: Discworld by Terry Pratchett, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, Lot Lands Saga by Jonathan French, The Dark Elf Trilogy by RA Salvatore, Kingkiller Chronicles by Pat Rothfuss, Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock

[@gdlc2560]

Logan Ninefingers in the First Law is the most interesting thing about the story, and it left me craving to know more and more about him and his powers to my disappointment. Dark tower should be on top of First Law. Don't get me wrong though, the trilogy was great.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

Swap out Stormlight with Royce and Hadrian and you got yourself a great list, Mike! 😂

[@Ylyrra]

Your reasons for liking the history and who-did-what-to-whom of A Song of Ice and Fire makes me think you'd like the Deverry Cycle by Katherine Kerr, it's a fantastic back-and-forth look through time at the stories of how individuals and their personal decisions can shape history down through the ages because of friendships, rivalries, reconciliations. It's the series I put up there with the Malazan books for not just insanely good worldbuilding, but tying the characters into the world building, but it's at a much more intimate scale than the Malazan books. That lets it focus far more on the richness and detail of the world and "small scale" aspects that makes it feel almost like the Earthsea books, where everything feels so much closer to "a few hundred villagers leading a subsistence lifestyle being what passes for a large settlement" rather than "the Roman Empire revisited".

[@shawngerard]

What is the hybrid reading order for ASOIAF?? About to undertake this series and would love to try it out!

[@weihuang7806]

So glad you finally put A Song of Ice and Fire at the top. This is the way.

[@ulflilienthal8120]

Great list Mike! I am with you on most of them.

[@michaelperry7527]

I am going through WOT a third time but I utilize audio books since my daily drive for work is 3 hours each day.

[@daniel_frazier]

Mike! You’ve got to read the Lyonesse trilogy by Jack Vance, especially since you love ASOIAF so much. Both Vance and Lyonesse were huge influences on Martin and the books are phenomenal.

[@bellaismykitter]

My top 3 is 1, Rift war Saga by Robert E Feist 2, Imager series by LE Modesitt 3, Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hob

[@russelleads2145]

It is really funny sometimes to see what others find amusing!!

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

Personally, The Bartimaeus Trilogy will always hold a very special place in my heart. I think you and your son would have a lot of fun reading it together since you enjoyed Percy Jackson and Harry Potter

[@Yusuyusuf]

a review for the silamrillion someday would be awesome

[@mikesbookreviews]

I’d have to understand it first!

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

@@mikesbookreviews Out of curiosity, have you ever read The Children of Húrin?

[@jamesmoore5469]

In no particular order my favorites are as follows Lotr The elderlings and everything written by Robin Hobb, truly magnificent. Raymond e Feists complete works. Wheel of time series. The dark tower series His dark materials David Eddings series are also well worth checking out for those who haven’t! I need a new gripping series to read, but don’t know where to go!

[@matthewmichaelcrown3643]

FAVORITE CHARACTERS - Flaming Matrim Cauthon and Kaladin Stormblessed BEST SALUTE - Bridge 4 BEST HAIL - Tai'shar Manetheren BEST BACK STORY OF AN ARMY - Band of the Red Hand BEST SPIRITUAL LINE- You cannot have my pain! BEST LINE TO SET UP A BATTLE - Honor is dead. But I'll see what I can do. BEST INSPIRATIONAL LINE - "Brightness, I don't think we are what you think we are." SHALLON - "No, you are not what you think you are". BEST FORGOTTEN SERIES [Fantasy from 1700s] - Dumas- Three Musketeers; 20 Years After... BEST FEMALE MACHO LINE - Journey before destination, you bastard... DISCLAIMER - I am newbie at fantasy.

[@theethicalostrich1388]

Great comment. It managed to encapsulate and make me re-feel many of the best parts from those series.

[@theburritodaddy9384]

Just watched your top 10 Sci-Fi. I just recently got into reading as my girlfriend is very big into it. I started with Hyperion and moved to 2001: A Space Odyssey and just now finished Martian Chronicles. I got a few other books in the log, but her and I are planning on starting The Way of Kings before too long. Anyways, appreciate these videos as you gave me other books to look forward to!

[@theburritodaddy9384]

Mistborn trilogy is on my list as is the Malazan series haha

[@duartelucas5746]

I really think you would benefit a lot from rereading The Silmarillion. It opened up middle-earth to me. It became real, a place with mythology and history. There is nothing like it, to the point that I prefer The Silmarillion and the other books to the LOTR… by a lot.

[@Destinyswarrior]

I feel like you're being very generous to Song of Ice and Fire being at number 1 over literally anything Tolkien lol while I loved Song of Ice and Fire you cannot put aside the fact that the entire series owes it's deepest gratitude to the fact that Tolkien existed. The Lord of the Rings is literal literary masterpiece that set the standard for Fantasy literature for generations to come after it and I feel Martin had a very difficult time trying to live up to that standard. Just my opinion on your opinion.

[@pjlights164]

1 and 2 are correct :) and love the love for HP!