My Top 10 Fantasy Series For Beginners

[@ajburgs1121]

You have to take in account that Christopher Paolini was a teenager when he wrote the first book in the series ( Eragon ) and as you get to book 3/4 his writing gets better. But considering how young he was when he started that series, it is very commendable.

[@roxieswonderousworld]

You don't want to know how many times I habe reread Harry Potter. I grew up on these books. I read Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as a kid.

[@JohnnyValmaggia]

I'm going to be a little entitled here. This is my list: - If you are coming from Game of Thrones and want something of the same tone, but without the lackluster ending, go Abercrombie. First Law. - Mistborn is a great introduction to what fantasy has been up to these past few years. Besides, everybody loves a heist. - The Witcher Saga is also a great introduction, especially the short stories which are a much smaller commitment compared to a trilogy, that the genre is kind of stuffed with anyway. (Yes, I am aware both my previous recommendations are trilogies, shut up). - Book of the Ancestor, because I just love it. - Diskworld for the wacky friend that knows enough about the genre to appreciate the tropes. - And Lord of the Rings if they want the classic approach, although I'd start with modern fantasy for the average friend. As much as I love Tolkien, every other entry on this list is easier to get into and different enough to set the hook right, then we slowly reel them in. By the time they realize it, it will already be to late. We will bring them all and in the shadows bind them. Trust me, this elf looking dude told me it works, gave me a Ring too.

[@warrenwise8798]

I think Harry Potter is the perfect introduction to fantasy...while I’ve read “better” series, I haven’t read anything I enjoyed more.

[@myopicandlost]

What exactly do you mean by that?

[@myopicandlost]

In regards to Better VS. Enjoyment ?

[@Darkstar_Dayne]

​@@myopicandlost Sometimes good things are hard like reading Lord Of The Rings

[@myopicandlost]

@@Darkstar_Dayne ahhhh. so by better you mean according to , for lack of a better term, gate keepers or snobs? Hence the " " ?lol

[@Gnochigremlin]

I just dont realy enjoy the first 3 books they made better movies tbh but books 4-7 are masterpieces

[@vicdelta31415]

For a beginner series I would definitely recommend Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. I know it's a bit childish at times, it is middle grade fantasy after all. But the universe is extremely rich and if you are interested in mythology I would definitely call it a quintessential read.

[@Page_max]

I absolutely hated the Percy Jackson series......very overrated.

[@carter1528]

L

[@Exhausted.Hobbit]

@@Page_max it is overrated for a reason. lmao hating on something popular doesn't make it bad.

[@looming_]

It's great for a toddler yes.

[@james-eq7cx]

It's just copied from Harry Potter with mixture of boring Greek mythology

[@zn12914]

The inheritance cycle was the stepping stone from LoTR into the broader genre of fantasy for me in middle school. It's an awesome pick, for beginners it doesn't deserve all the criticism!

[@Remeran]

I started with Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga. To this day I go back to it every once and a while. It's amazing!

[@KrisOdonoghue]

I read that after Harry potter. It was great and silverthorn is one of my favourite books ever.. honoured enemy is also an amazing standalone set during this saga. I'm really not sure why but I have up on Feist half way through the serpentwar saga

[@hopeprevails3213]

@@KrisOdonoghue Serpentwar's final two books are some of the best Feist has written imho. The first half is very slow and kinda random, so I suggest you give it a second try. The next trilogies are a mixed bag, but there's some serious gold in there, plus a lot of fascinating lore. Man, I love Feist. Lotsa nostalgia.

[@Remeran]

@@hopeprevails3213 yeah there's some good in pretty much the whole 30 book cycle. The last series that I outright loved from him is conclave of shadows. IMO Magician all the way up to exiles return are incredible. I'll include the empire series with Jenny wurts

[@hopeprevails3213]

@@Remeran I loved his Chaoswar too! Thought it was a great ending trilogy. The ones inbetween are kinda hit and miss though. Still enjoyable, but nonetheless.

[@Remeran]

@@hopeprevails3213 loved chaoswar too in its own way. My copy of Magicians end is sitting pretty right next to my grim oak press copy of Magician and silverthorn.

[@carlwilliams9642]

Absolutely chuffed that Chronicles of Narnia is at the top of the list. It was my introduction to fantasy and when I have kids will be their introduction to fantasy. I would also highly recommend The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. It has a similar reading level to Narnia and is just as charming.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s the perfect launching point for young readers.

[@peterdesmidt8742]

The Chronicles of Prydain was the first fantasy series that I ever read...back in 5th grade, I think.

[@Scottlp2]

@@peterdesmidt8742 there is human wisdom in it as well.

[@MsBokashi]

“Best fantasy series for beginners” certainly depends on the age when you start. My father read me Winnie the Pooh (a child’s forest fantasy) at age 5&6 then LOTH at age 7&8. Narnia followed by The Chronicles of Prydain were my first self reads at age 7&8 and there has been no looking back. Recommending a starting place for adults is another thing. But I have reread Prydain as an adult and still find it wonderful.

[@KofiKrules]

My love for fantasy started with John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series. The world isn’t very complex and the stories and battles are very enjoyable, as are the characters. Very good starting place for a younger audience. (10-12 years old, depending on reading level). I read these books throughout middle school and high school and it’s the very reason I still enjoy reading today. Give it a shot!

[@KofiKrules]

Generally very short reads until about books 7 or 8. 16 in total, two not available in the US.

[@chop6326]

Same here! Started in 4th grade with these books in the middle school library and finished them all by the time I moved to high school such a charming series.

[@YankDrWhoFan1993]

It’s literally the series that made me enjoy reading. I hated the books we were forced to read in school and a friend bought me a copy of Ruins of Gorman and told me to just give it a try. I devoured the books (icebound land had just come out) I couldn’t believe I actually ENJOYED reading and Flanagan would actually respond to emails it made me love the series that much more. To this day it’s still one of my favorites.

[@liquiddragon795]

Great series with a good number of books

[@LightningRaven42]

The Dresden Files is definitely a great introduction, because each book carries the reader slowly through the world and there's only one character to follow despite the amount of factions. It also doesn't throw you in an entirely new world, it only makes ours far more magical. It's a great introductory series. But the best part for me? It is fun thrill ride that doesn't compromise in character and plot. It's all the fun of a action-focused story, but without the contrived plot and/or characters. By books 6 or 7 you'll feel like the characters are your friends and the only thing you'll want is for them to be happy... Only for Mr. Butcher crush your feelings. And you'll like it.

[@levvellene7246]

It's a fun series! I kept buying the books for a long time, but I can't remember when I stopped, or why... Too funny, while also being to unbelievbable, maybe?

[@LightningRaven42]

@@levvellene7246 I don't know what you mean by unbelievable.One of the best aspects of the series for me are how tight the plot and character motivations are. The battles are also very well handled, managing to keep Dresden on tough situations but without requiring contrivance to get him out of it. Most of the time, when he needs to get bailed out, it's coming from allies already established in the narrative (which isn't that often anyways). Also, if there's one thing we can expect from this series is consequences. There's a whole book dedicated to them.

[@moonbot7613]

Great to hear. Im about to start Full Moon and loved Storm Front despite most not enjoying it much as I did.

[@widdershins5383]

Codex of Alera is a full-on fantasy, also needs a gawddamn follow up series, it was phenomenal lol

[@mikesbookreviews]

Hey bookworms! Have any suggestions I didn’t mention? Please drop them in the comments below.

[@nicolashernandezvidal6040]

Apart from the hobbit, Harry Potter and Narnia, I would say A tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz and anything by rick riordan

[@melissayoung1060]

To beginners in fantasy (especially younger), I recommend Dragon Lance Chronicles series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I think for urban fantasy Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. It has a similar vibe as Dresden Files world, but centered more on werewolves, shifters, and fey ("Oh my!").

[@vtrproductions8994]

I started with the gunslinger maybe not the best starting place but I liked it quite a lot

[@mikesbookreviews]

Seems a really odd reason to dislike a video. But okay. Thanks for watching.

[@Terkoo1]

The Belgariad is a very simple story but I enjoyed it immensely. Great series for beginners.

[@derrisreaditbefore]

An oldie but a goodie - The Belgariad by David Eddings. very accessible for young readers, and enjoyable for older ones too :)

[@Jaeno311]

I loved that series. Would recommend

[@thenell871]

Absolutely. This is the series that got me into fantasy when I was about 10. It's so full of clichés that fantasy veterans would probably hate it, but as an introductory fantasy series it's fantastic.

[@hhinorth]

It was also one of the first fantasy series that I read as a kid.

[@shanyavirasinghe8591]

This was the series that pulled me into reading fantasy as an adult. Adored it

[@timothywinters2357]

Totally agree

[@maxkronader5225]

Dragon riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. It's a blend of fantasy and sci-fi, but anything where people ride dragons is far more fantasy than it is anything else. Good for younger readers.

[@annajohansson3707]

Susan Coopers The dark rising series is sadly forgotten. My favorite as a kid and I still loved it when I did a reread a couple of years ago.

[@asfaloth12]

Great to see another Dark is Rising fan! I read it a few years back, and enjoyed it.

[@Yesica1993]

Love it!

[@kiwi2000uk]

Likewise

[@illuminatelair8084]

Mistborn is the first series i recommended to a newcomer.... its perfect. a close second would be the First Law trilogy (although that may be too adult for younger readers)

[@mkgnlgt]

Love that the Dresden Files is on this list, it’s a thoroughly likeable cast of characters and the mythology is deep but opens up slowly, great place to start, especially for the adults out there!

[@JauntyScarecrow]

I'd recommend Discworld for everyone, but especially beginners. It's a large series of short novels that are easy to read but also full of depth and humor. There are many places you can start, and you could pick up most of the books in the series and you won't be too lost, but "Mort", "Guards, Guards!", and "Small Gods" are generally agreed to be good entry points.

[@Matt-sl1wg]

I'm not sure Discworld is a good recommendation for beginners... I mean, they aren't difficult reads and I'm sure beginners would enjoy them at face value, but they are full of fantasy in-jokes. I think some (many?) of those in-jokes when he's mocking common fantasy tropes would be missed by beginners.

[@JauntyScarecrow]

@@Matt-sl1wg That's mostly true only for the Rincewind books. The Watch mainly comments on modern social issues/conflict, The Witches comment on classical literature and myths, Death & Susan comments on philosophy and religion, and the Industrial Revolution comments on technological and social progress. There's tropes scattered in throughout, but they're mostly ones that have permeated pop culture to such a degree as to be popular knowledge eg. vampires and werewolves not liking each other, or dwarves living in mines. I don't think the average reader would be lost reading any of the books after Equal Rites or maybe Eric, which is one of the reasons it's usually suggested to start with Mort.

[@Matt-sl1wg]

@@JauntyScarecrow Fair enough, I'm early in the series still as I've been reading in published order as a break from Malazan. I think they could be recommended as a lighter read to ANYONE, so I think with some extra thought and context I probably agree with you after all.

[@Marscandy1]

You really have to love absurdist fantasy to appreciate Discworld. Although, if you’re going to begin your fantasy journey with Discworld, start with “Guards! Guards!” Not with “The Color of Magic” and “The light Fantastic” like I did. Trust me.

[@cosmo588]

I’m a newish High fantasy reader, and I’ve just started Discworld and I love it! Ive started with The Colour of Magic, and I’m really enjoying it so far.

[@derekduran9086]

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony, first book in the Xanth series from of the 70’s/80’s, was my introduction into the Fantasy genre back in high school. Basic, but wonderful with everyone/everything in this world (shaped like Florida) either being a person able to cast a certain magic spell or being a magical entity themselves. This has alway been a Fantasy favorite, and have waited for a movie for 40 years!

[@michaelokeke4976]

Mike, I love , Narnia, The Hobbit and LOTR and I am currently on Winters Heart (Wheel of Time no. 9). I remember reading Harry Potter as a teenager.

[@henrymoore5086]

Only thing I would add would be the Chronicles of Prydain. Great series for kids. That was my Harry Potter. Read them when was 14 and loved them all. Dragonlance could also be added.

[@TheBookCure]

Some great introductory works! Shannara was my first lengthy fantasy series as a kid, and I still have fond memories of reading them! I think that the Dark Elf Trilogy is a fun starting point as well.

[@julieserres9713]

I LOVE the Dresden files!!!!!! I read the first couple, then listened to the rest on Audio book..James Masters is AWESOME with the narration.. really brings the story to life!!!

[@cmmosher8035]

I think I would start with stand alone books like Neverending Story or The Last Unicorn. Dresden is probably a really good series since it's grounded in our world but you get eased into the fantastical elements that some nonfans have told my turn them off.

[@txy9911]

I started with asoiaf as I was 14 and for me it was a great entry point. But because of it, I never read YA😂

[@MetalGildarts]

Lol that’s like starting playing video games with Grand Theft Auto

[@bobgdn]

It’s refreshing to see the original Conan talked about! I was obsessed with those books as a younger lad and I seriously want to do a reread sometime soon.

[@mikesbookreviews]

The Conan comics captivated me as a youngster.

[@bobgdn]

@@mikesbookreviews The occasional boobs that Savage Sword had were quite exciting for adolescent me. LOL.

[@noiceman]

You have to do a re-read. I recently read all of the short stories for the first time a few years back and it's my favorite series of all time now.

[@whyonthefall5373]

@@mikesbookreviews I'm curious to know about your opinions on the Elric saga? Its pretty old, and its first introduction to America was apparently in a 70's comic book with Conan

[@No1emilybrowningfan]

Love the stuff you mentioned. Ones I would suggest is the Redwall series by Brian Jacques (great for young kids) Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials. Raymond E Feists Riftwar series is a good one too

[@Alkemisti]

_The Gentleman Bastard Sequence_ by Scott Lynch might be a good place to start.

[@TheHikingReader]

This was a great topic! The Dragonlance Chronicles are the first that got me hooked on fantasy books when I was a teenager. Then I branched out to some other Dragonlance before picking up the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings just before I turned 20. Then I really fell off the fantasy radar for about 20 years and just now enjoying it again and thanks to the online community I've discovered so many new favorites out there!

[@ataridc]

Dragonlance or RA Salvatore would be excellent teen entry points. I read all the main DL books and at least the first few trilogies in the Forgotten Realms drizzt novels. The one down side is they are so breezy and light that it doesn't really prepare you for deeper reads but it works for easing you into stuff like asoiaf, first law and Brandon Sanderson

[@AudioEpics]

@@ataridc After years of reading fantasy, I have to say I actually enjoy Dragonlance more than Sanderson at this point.

[@shannon2123]

I would recommend the Pellinor series! It’s a lesser known Australian book series but has beautiful worldbuilding and I found the strong female protagonist to be very relatable as a teen in high school. The lore, magic system, and writing just get better the further you go in the series. With that said, the amount of characters aren’t overwhelming and it’s easy to get into. The Abhorsen series is another SUPER read.

[@Eriksheart]

When I was in high school we were required to read The Hobbit and that is what got me into the world of fantasy.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Same. Best thing that happened in junior high.

[@mjdaniel8710]

My freshman year our high school had a science fiction reading class and that is where I found Tolkien, CS Lewis and Bradbury, my favorite class by far

[@jctmanu]

I started with The Hobbit and then read The Belgariad by David Eddings. No books before or since gripped me like that series did. It launched my eternal love of fantasy.

[@endlessstudent3512]

loved the begariad as well as the following malloreon saga. Its nice to see some people still remember it. Much easier to read as LotR, which I do not count as beginner fantasy at all, especially for those who do not have strong affinity for fantasy in the first place. For me the first LotR book was extrenely dry and i needed 7 (!) tries to finish book 1. The other 2 are then easy but boy did i fight wirh the first one. And i wasn't a beginner.

[@danielpetrone3696]

Easiest to hardest 1)Chronicles of Narnia 2)Lord of the Rings 3)Sword of Shannara 4)Harry Potter 5)Inheritance Cycle 6)Conan 7)Riyria Revelation 8)Dresden Files 9)Mistborn 10)The faithful and the Fallen

[@booknerds9528]

My first fantasy series was the Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock. Went on to read his other series as well (Hawkmoon, Chorum, Eternal Champion). Those were pretty fun, accessible fantasy stories.

[@aliciasorenson3807]

Ryiria Revelations is one of my favorite fantasy series! His characters are just so so good and well done. I'm currently working through the 3,000 year prequel Legends of the First Empire and loving it.

[@MrTheCDCRASH]

I think Memory Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams is also a great start. It‘s got the classic Fantasy vibe but was one of the first series to slightly subvert the tropes. Therefore it‘s something new readers to the genre will have no difficulty to start with and it still feels fresh to this date. Of course, it‘s also simply a beautifully written and epic story!

[@joe_sales]

Can’t believe he didn’t talk about this one, I love these peices (and the follow on trilogy that’s still being written) almost like family

[@SamPegg90]

I always recommend His Dark Materials first - they are super readable and engaging as well as addressing some big themes but in an easily digestible way. I also tend to suggest some Neil Gaiman as his worlds are either set in ours or in a nice fairy tale style. His writing is lovely and the stories feel so real it’s easy to pick up. Would be interested in a similar video of ‘harder’ fantasy or something like a ‘fantasy for more experienced readers’!!

[@jimmyallen8210]

Dark Elf Trilogy - R.A. Salvatore Fun read, great characters, awesome world to explore.

[@littlevahn]

Salvatore was defiantly my first real introduction to fantasy after the Hobbit. Good stuff.

[@JosesAmazingWorlds]

Ice Wind Dale > Dark Elf

[@dukeisgrimnur7605]

I didn’t really like the entire forgotten realms series but I loved the dark elf trilogy

[@clairegetscrafty]

Dark Elf trilogy is an excellent intro series. Drizzt is 1000% my favourite fantasy character ever.

[@stephenmcdonald9859]

I loved the whole RA series up until the companions ummmm separate. Can’t believe no one talks more about this fun series. Got me into fantasy hard in my early 20s.

[@djsuth7727]

Good recommendations, Mike. I'd also suggest Raymond Feist's Riftwar series particularly the first two trilogies.

[@Merrick]

rereading those right now, great series that really builds on itself, see a big influence on Stormlight Archive and even ASOIAF.

[@cmmosher8035]

They are fun stories. I read them back in the 90s and I just picked up the first series up again to reread them

[@Rogue_VI]

Riftwar is great.

[@troychurch5064]

Absolutely. Great series to start

[@GraceDionneReads]

I don't regret my fantasy journey, but sometimes I wish I had seen a video like this as a teenager. At like 16 years old I jumped straight from Harry Potter to A Song of Ice and Fire... and I enjoyed it! But I had no idea of about all the fantasy options out there and I definitely could have made my learning curve a little less steep.

[@animeshorts8404]

Same for me from Harry to Malazan

[@dhruvbharija172]

Which one did you like more ?!?! A song of ice and fire or hp ?!?!

[@TheCosmerenaut1]

I started at 12 with the way of kings 😂

[@MrMcraph19]

Great list! I’d maybe add the books of earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin and his dark materials by Philip Pullman

[@JosesAmazingWorlds]

I actually think that Earthsea is not a very good introduction at all. It’s more of a meditation in a fantasy setting than a really epic fantasy hero story.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I've yet to read Earthsea or HDM. So it certainly wasn't shade. I just don't want to be the type to recommend series I haven't started yet.

[@shannon2123]

I think you would love Ursula Le Guin’s work! Earthsea has a very unique take on the fantasy genre (all I can say because I don’t want to get into spoilers). The books aren’t long so it would probably be a fast read too if you need some video content :)

[@brianschmitzer6722]

@@mikesbookreviews Wow! I'm really surprised that someone with your library hasn't read that one yet.. Not slamming you, I'm just surprised. Everybody has a series or novel that they haven't read yet.. But you should definitely fix that soon. It's a classic.

[@lacyborg4961]

The Queen's Theif Series by Megan Whalen Turner. As well as a few of Tamara Pierce's series. These and the star wars EU were the only Fantasy I read from Tolkein 15 years ago to following along with Malazan read along today. I still own and reread them.

[@zanthusprime4355]

I always recommend Terry Pratchett's Discworld. I've read them all, have them all and have enjoyed them immensely.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

With the exception of Riyria, which I haven’t read yet, these are all familiar and beloved titles for me, and they’re excellent recommendations for newcomers to fantasy. I’ve also started recommending The Faithful and the Fallen as a great introduction to the genre. I’ll have to try Riyria someday. Thanks, Mike!

[@jackmckenzie926]

You have to try Riyria. Royce and Hadrian are two of the best fiction characters out there.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@jackmckenzie926 it’s now on my gigantic TBR!

[@warrenwiley5656]

@@jackmckenzie926 No, they aren't. They are cliché character tropes that are interchangeable by the end. Fafhad & the Grey Mouser stories which they are rip-offs of are where many of the fantasy stereotypes within Reyria Revelations came from.

[@jackmckenzie926]

@@warrenwiley5656 well I think they are.

[@mechagenkigaijin]

Great list. My picks would be, in middle school I read Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and Piers Anthony's Xanth series. I feel like both are those series are easy for beginners. In college I read The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.

[@Matt-sl1wg]

Anything by R.A. Salvatore is a fantastic place to start as a new fantasy reader. In particular Icewind Dale or the Dark Elf Trilogy.

[@CatrionaReads]

Totally agree about Eragon, I loved that series when I read it in my mid-teens and I'm sure that tackling that was what gave me the confidence to attempt ASOIAF at 18/19

[@Ashwgun]

Great list, couldn't agree more overall, except for no Wheel of Time on list, but I respect your opinion. There are a couple I have never read, but I may someday. Thanks for another great list

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

Hey there Mike. My first introduction to fantasy was the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I am right there with you on Harry Potter and the Sword of Shannara series. The Lord of the Rings is fantastic too. Also, I wanted to give you a reading update too. I am now on chapter 7 and I am 20% into A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. After I finished reading and listening to the Prologue, I do feel like I am in a bit of a slog, but I am still eager to see what will happen next.

[@mikesbookreviews]

OMG I can’t believe I forgot Redwall...

[@ChurchWorshipandvideo]

@@mikesbookreviews Redwall was one my earliest series. I think I'd read the Hobbit and some LOTR but this series I read over a dozen of these books. It's great!

[@tomcollins2971]

Redwall, my absolute gateway into SFF. I remember spending a precious book voucher (back when they were paper money), on the first book and quickly devoured all of them. I laughed, cried, and cheered my way through every book.

[@pattyj716]

The Belgariad and The Mallorean by David Eddings. My favorite since they first came out.

[@mikebruce3933]

Legend by David Gemmell would be a good start. Highly readable style makes it a real page turner. Mostly takes place in a single location with a small number of central characters. It's a satisfying standalone but can also serve as an introduction to the full series. It's regarded as a classic for a reason Mike. Ask yer man John Gwynne, I'm sure he'd agree 😊

[@jamesfetcho6315]

Love this, but why always Legend? He( David Gemmell)has way better books. Plus it's not even the 1st book for the series. Just was curious.

[@Glowingfed]

@@jamesfetcho6315 it was the first book he wrote for the series, so it makes sense as an introduction

[@jamesfetcho6315]

@@Glowingfed but it's not the 1st in the series. I hear what you're saying, but its 1. Not his best ( feel bad saying that) not that it's bad. . 2. Everytime someone mentions him ....that's all anyone brings up. Like that's his only book.

[@Glowingfed]

@@jamesfetcho6315 that’s fair, but it makes a perfect introduction to the common themes from gemmels books. The storm crow series works too

[@jtjr26]

For me, my gateway into fantasy was the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

[@debracollins2435]

I started reading fantasy with this series and fell in love. Now, I believe I own all of the books in the series

[@dakotabikes]

Same as me! I was gifted the Chronicles trilogy in middle school. Fell in love with Dragonlance and Krynn. Still my favorite series/books today, very nostalgic and I’m attached to the characters!

[@emmettfitz-hume9408]

Robert E. Howard's writing chops were serious, serious stuff. That guy could say more in a sentence than many writers say in a chapter. His prose could shift between brutal/visceral to elegant effortlessly. And I am *definitely* not a 'prose guy'. Prose is usually lost on me. I typically just want a great story and a plot that moves, with some characters I like.

[@thatsci-firogue]

Percy Jackson is a great starting point.

[@gregorygraham3145]

I got hooked off of one of your videos. You know your craft and please keep going. You make my work shifts alot smoother guy. Thank you!

[@Merrick]

I'd say Riftwar Saga (1982 i believe) except that's setting the bar high. Great Classic Fantasy with scifi and horror mixed in. A little bit of weird sexual stuff, which was weird in the 80s, but a great series and you can really see the influence on Stormlight and ASOIAF.

[@tanjavandermeer3522]

I love many of the authors mentioned here, Anne McCaffrey (Pern), Mercedes Lackey (Valdemar), David Eddings (Belgariad, Mallorean) and many more. My tip is Katherine Kurtz, the Deryni series. A great series for beginners in fantasy!

[@gypsyboomer]

You got Good Stuff here. Might want to add Ursula K. Le Guin's EARTHSEA series, Anne McCaffery's PERN series, R.E. Feist's RIFTWAR and maybe REDWALL by B. Jacques. As a side note, I think Tolkien will turn new fantasy reader off because of the writing, as you pointed out; Terry Brooks just sucks to me and Mistbourne left me cold after book 2, DNF the series. Keep it up.

[@wyluli-dt9wv]

For younger readers a great starting point would be The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. They're easy to read and are a wonderful way to get kids into Fantasy. I cut my teeth on The Hobbit and Howard's Conan stories but if I could choose a new beginning for myself it would have been the CoP.

[@plungeybabie]

Totally agree with the number 1 pick. I would recommend David Gemmell's Drenai series to anyone but especially beginners, nice short but impactful and standalone books.

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

I love Druss and Skillganon

[@plungeybabie]

@@jeremydanchuk1897 aw, no love for Waylander? :D

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

@@plungeybabie he is cool too

[@trlspann]

I’d recommend David Gemmell’s works as well. “Legend” and the other Drenai books in particular are a good jumping off point. Super characters on epic adventures and easily digestible world building.

[@mrwhale7351]

I would put in Redwall. That was my intro to fantasy as a kid.

[@joshuafowler883]

All great suggestions. I would also suggest David Eddings' books. After Terry Brooks that was where I was lead to. They are tropey for sure but exciting.

[@fejferek]

My first fantasy book was by Mercedes Lackey - she writes awesome fantasy books for teenagers!

[@iWizard]

I would definitely say David Eddings' Belgariad. Definitely easy to read, relies on those tropes, etc. But his prose is beautiful and if you're new to fantasy he's enjoyable and easy to digest.

[@Jonny01Boy]

And here, I just finished Gardens of the Moon with < 20 books under my belt. What a ride! Thanks for the list, I really want to get to Malice soon.

[@waldo8791]

I was born 1991 and as a kid I read Narnia, Harry Potter, and the Hobbit/ LoTR. Plus all the other literature they have you read in school. I stopped reading for about 10 years and now in 2020/2021 I'm reading more than I have ever read. Since the beginning of 2021 I have read 7 books. I finished the Witcher series, that I started in 2020. The first era of Mistborn, I read and enjoyed the books so much. Now I am reading Warbreaker and I'm going to read Stormlight archive, after reading his other stand alone and the second era of Mistborn. I am hooked for sure. My bookshelves are going to be full with the Witcher books and Brandon Sanderson.

[@michaelpantalone171]

Surprised Kings of the Wyld didn't make it on the list, but all the good D&D Campaign like stories are good. The Drizzt Books, specifically the first two trilogies - Icewind Dale and the Darkelf Triology are really good starting points. Dragonlance Chronicles although they're kinda for a younger audience too...

[@seekeroftruth1970]

Is it though? Dragonlance was the first time I encountered sex in the D&D realm.

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

This is a good list. I would add the Belgarad and the Elenium by David Eddings, great beginner fantasy. For elementary aged children I would recommend Redwall.

[@warrenwiley5656]

The Belgariad series is a great first time series, one of my favorites that I enjoy going back to regularly. But The Mallorean was 2 books stretched out into 7 to make money off the readership.

[@stuart1346]

His Dark Materials is a great one and don’t listen to people who say the ending isn’t good it’s amazing

[@josefineli4604]

Yeeess!! It was my first fantasy read except for HP, and it absolutely blew my mind. Other kids dreamt about getting a letter from Hogwarts, I just wanted to have my own daimon. Still one of my favorite stories, it really holds up even as an adult in my opinion.

[@stuart1346]

Who wouldn’t want a daemon best animal companions ever

[@katieamarsh]

I started reading The Dresden Files this year and am currently reading book 13. I can’t put them down. I got my husband reading them last month and he is on book 5! The first book on audible is kind of meh, but then the reader gets amazing. I explain the early books as books necessary to introduce us to different facets of a huge fantasy world. They books just get better as you go and you feel so immersed in the world.

[@mikesbookreviews]

They are super addictive

[@eroz84]

Wheel of Time was the fourth series I ever read…. Still my favorite. Jordan and Sanderson are so easy to read

[@roccomacchia9125]

I started Wheel of Time earlier this year. I put book 1 down after like 400 pages. I was so bored with the plot. Not much happened. I want to give it another try, maybe I'll enjoy it more. Is the first book just agonizingly slow?

[@Hobosdkcheese]

@@roccomacchia9125 essentially, yea! Book one is slow. He is a slow writer and that’s partly what makes the books lengthy, he over describes everything. But there’s a huge argument to be made he does this for a reason, his over descriptiveness is sometimes for a genuine story purpose. Lord of the rings also can be “dry” in this way and it’s often compared!

[@rapturedmourning]

@@roccomacchia9125 All of the books are agonizingly slow. Jordan/Sanderson are world builders. Character and story eventually happen as a result of 4.4 millions words.

[@alexfrederick3404]

Elfstones of Shannara was the first fantasy I ever read, and I really enjoyed it. Riyria sounds good .... I'll have to try it. Faithfull and the Fallen was fantastic!! What about the Drizzt books?

[@ethanmichael17]

Just picked up the first Dresden book this last weekend! Fantastic video thank you so much. I love your content it's so helpful :)

[@auralealivada]

The Enchanted Forest series by Patricia C. Wrede and pretty much anything by Tamora Pierce were good middle school books. I recently re-read them as an adult and still enjoy them.

[@Bilboswaggins2077]

Conan stories still feel modern to me and I think that’s what makes them so great.

[@PsyKotyK]

Im totally getting the conan book

[@cfosburg]

Here are my ‘intro to fantasy’ novels: Chronicles of Prydain - excellent welsh mythology, great characters, very relatable The Hobbit - an epic adventure Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy - I can’t say enough. I’ve reread these 3 times. They are high fantasy, with rich story telling, memorable characters, and epic quests! Icewind Dale Trilogy - Drizzt is still someone I look up to and want to be like. He is inspiring, thought provoking, and second to none in a fight! This is a fun adventure with Drizzt and his companions. Shannara Series Terry Brooks - as a teenager, this embodied the very essence of what I was looking for in fantasy. Also...I got lots of Shannara vibes when reading the Wheel of Time 1st book.

[@aey8737]

I absolutely loved the Inheritance cycle. I loved the ending. I loved the journey.

[@leezirkle7840]

I am super excited to start Dresden Files. You sold me when you said Spike narrates it. I love Buffy! I don't do audio either, but I love Spike.

[@axtell500]

I second David Eddings Belgariad / Mallorean for beginners

[@3rdwave_emo]

Great list Mike! Just wrapped up LOTR for the first time and moved right to Dresden files. I am absolutely loving it. Just have 100 pages left of book 1 and then right on to book 2. Harry Dresden is a great character and it’s a real page turner. I really want to get to John Gwynn though. On my list.

[@aleszol]

I'd recommend the FableHaven series, it's fun, fast-paced, the characters are really cool, and it has a deep brother and sister dynamics. I started reading it recently, but if I were a kid I'd go crazy about these books, and people don't really talk about them.

[@DamnableReverend]

I started with Tolkien, my dad having read me The Hobbit and then LOTR when I was pretty young. I then went to Narnia -- not LoTR level but at the time I thought it was pretty fun. However as I went on into my teens I pretty much stopped reading fantasy, and it was all the derivative Tolkein-knockoff stuff that made me decide to spurn the genre (yes, I'm afraid I include Shanara in that category). i didn't realy come back to the genre until my early twenties, and the guy who did it for me was jack Vance and his Dying Earth stories, then teh Lyonesse trilogy. Then, Fritz Leiber's Nehwon stories and Robert E. howard;'s Conan and Kull stories. Glad you mentioned Howard in this video! I still haven't really gotten into any 21st century fantasy -- would kind of like to give Malazon a try sometime though, and Joe Abercrombie sounds pretty cool

[@mikem1585]

Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle was my doorway into fantasy and reading in general. I started reading it in middle school and never really looked back from reading or fantasy from there.

[@RICHIEV333]

Alongside Narnia, (Which I highly recommend as well) another series a young or new reader might enjoy, is Lloyd Alexander's, 'Chronicles of Prydain' series starting with "The Book of Three"

[@TrippyTheShroom]

Yes! Thank you for mentioning Robert E. Howard! The Conan stories are so fantastic for people wanting to see classic Sword and Sorcery at it's absolute finest and I rarely see people mention them unfortunately. Recommendations for anyone even remotely curious and want to delve into them; I recommend Beyond the Black River, Tower of the Elephant, The Slithering Shadow in that order. Beyond the Black River, in my opinion, is Robert E. Howard's best Conan story top to bottom. Tower of the Elephant is relatively early in Conan's life and ends with a very interesting situation that shows the weird eldritch side of Howard's writing (it's somewhat well known to fans that his setting Lovecraft's settings are shared as they often wrote to one another and developed a bit of a friendship). Slithering Shadow is a guilty pleasure of mine because in all honesty it's extremely trope-y and sorta goofy, but the location that the story revolves around is intriguing as a backdrop and Conan's fight at the end is one of the more intense fights in the entire setting.

[@OwenEdwardsBooks]

My intro series to fantasy were, I guess, the Narniad, Discworld, and the Drenai Cycle by Gemmell (I did a short review of the first one on my channel). I don't know what I'd get my kids to read first - though we already read Narnia, Moomins, Wind in the Willows, and the Psammead books with them.

[@culturefan]

I like Michael Moorcock's Elric Saga pretty well.

[@sjkrum320]

I absolutely loved Sword of Shannara! Yeah it was very derivative, but it was still a pleasurable read for me. And of course if someone hasn't read q ton of fantasy, this won't be an issue for them.

[@shadymaestro]

I was 14 when I started reading fantasy. It was Piers Anthony that popped my fantasy cherry. Grew out of that fast. Started reading David Eddings books then went to Terry Brooks Shannara

[@txy9911]

Mistborn is a great introduction, but U would rather have Warbreaker recommended instead. At least same quality but just 4 POVS and a stand-alone

[@borrisgadget]

When I was younger we didn't have Harry Potter, so one of my earlier series was Discworld by Terry Pratchett.

[@ashleighmikaelson507]

lol, I wrote this comment before you finished what you were saying haha ... but yes, who wouldn't want Spike to tell them an amazing freaking story?! I will most def be getting this series really soon! FYI: James Marsters (Spike from BtVS) actually does the audiobooks for The Dresden Files... this is a series that I want ALL of the Physical books AND the audiobooks lol I loved Buffy growing up (still do) and I was a Spuffy hardcore fan!

[@ad3673]

The best fantasy series of all time is Moorcock's Eternal Champion cycle. Hands down.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Hawkmoon: The Jewel in the Skull!

[@warrenwiley5656]

Yes. M Moorcock gets so little love these days. Elric was one of the earliest anti-heroes in fantasy, and imo only matched by Corwin of Amber by R Zelazny.

[@mikequist1]

I’ve seen many of these “fantasy beginner” videos, but your’s was far and away the best. Picking the Narnia books as the lead off was both brilliant and absolutely correct. If fantasy is new to a reader, then Narnia really is the place to start. And I would recommend reading them in publication order (starting with Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe) rather than the chronological storyline (which puts Magician’s Nephew up front). Lion\Witch\Wardrobe story and relationships really sets the context for the other books and therefore ought to be read first. The Conan books was another brilliant suggestion that other book tubers have neglected. I know of these stories, but haven’t read many of them. However because you have brought them to mind, I’m going to make an effort to search them out. Along those lines (of Robert Howard), may I suggest another older author of fantasy that has long been a favorite of mine, but who doesn’t get much notice nowadays? That author is Edgar Rice Burroughs. His fantasy writing covers a lot of territory including travels to Mars, Venus, Jurassic Park (of sorts) and deepest, darkest Africa. My all time favorites of his are the Barsoom (Martian) books with the swashbuckling John Carter and the loveliest woman on two worlds, Dejah Thoris. The Tarzan books are a close second. Check them out if you haven’t already read them.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks!

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

Omg Edgar Rice Burroughs writing is timeless. So good.

[@TheEricthefruitbat]

I am so glad you put Conan in there, but I would have also mentioned the Fafhrd and Gray Mouse stories of Fritz Leiber - the other originator of sword and sorcery. I am curious about what your 10 stand alone books would be.

[@AlbertTheConjugator]

Love the love for Conan, dude! Conan was really big back in the day. He was up there with Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk.

[@GideonCyn]

I say just jump straight into Sanderson and have him change your life. Then go onto some Abercrombie, some Erikson maybe some young/new adult fantasy with SJM.

[@therabbitholeguild]

Great video! I was under the tyrannical fantasy book regime of my grandmother and Mists of Avalon was introduced a little early on for me. So I truly understand the value of this. Keep up the great work.

[@marsrock316]

The Chronicles of Prydain were my intro in grade school. Maybe that would be more appropriate for a YA list. Then yeah, Conan in my early teens. Also Tarzan (can that be counted as fantasy?).

[@alvarocoronado1644]

I'm surprised Warbreaker isn't usually mentioned as a starter(it's not a series tho). Standalone, colorful, and not so scary to start with. I also tell people they dont need to continue mistborn after the first book, but still, its scary to see already 5 books more in the same series! Great vid!

[@mikesbookreviews]

“Series” is in the title.