Top 10 best Fantasy Series (2024 update)

[@lauds4]

Petition for a video of Matt ranting about Malazan

[@slidenaway]

cosigned

[@andrewp319]

+1

[@davidnilsson7733]

Yes, please. If I were making videos for KZbin there would be almost daily uploads of me just thinking about the series aloud (i think about Beak every day

[@smhd55sahilbagnikar46]

Signed

[@jedeo299]

Would love it! Got into these books because of his enthusiasm

[@RyanCahillAuthor]

Matt, to even scratch this list is a bit snickers (nuts - heh). There's something about the words "Of all time" that is a bit surreal. Thanks for giving the series a chance and thanks for loving stories so damn much!

[@neerajcherukuri4052]

You absolutely deserve it man!

[@Avery-ec4lt]

My top ten. 1. Stormlight - the world is my favorite character and that is the highest praise i could give any series. 2. The Faithful and the Fallen - just brilliantly executed from start to finish. Classic fantasy told well. 3. The Bound and The Broken - book one is rough but stick with it. The series is incredible. 3. Sun Eater - hasn't missed yet. Matt you are spot on. Its like Dune but better. 4. Malazan - not finished with it yet but I love it. 6. The Five Warrior Angels series - this one gets better the more i think about it. I really want more people to read this one. 7. ASOIAF- could change if it gets finished. 8. First Law - needs better worldbuilding but i enjoy the charcter work. 9. Wheel of time - not perfect but its really worth the investment. I love how long the series is ( the longer the better). 10. Harry Potter - I really love this universe and the books make me feel at home. Its comfort food for the soul!

[@RambergKruse]

Did you find book 1 of The Bound and The Broken a little meh? I really enjoyed the start, but at the end it just seemed to be a generic fantasy with all the classic tropes. I didn't continue on with book 2.

[@leandromaceira7668]

@@RambergKruse I reccomend at least trying book 2 as it really picks up after a bit (around 40%) and becomes its own unique story, most people had the same issue as you. If you don't enjoy the series by book 2 then stop

[@albertnewtonify]

For the comfort alone Harry Potter will make into my Top 3. Why do we read anyways!? Feeling good and cozy is utmost important to me ❄️

[@grn7522]

As long as Cahill can stick the landing and continues writing great stories within that world, I think his star will skyrocket. His popularity is still homegrown on socials.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

He deserves it!

[@dragonsandwarts5644]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviewshe keeps popping up on lists for best ten. Why is he self published? I respect that, but is it because of how horrible the publishing world is?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@dragonsandwarts5644 No idea why he is self published.

[@chokog2446]

The only one I can't agree with.,.

[@randallk6812]

A storm of swords is hands down the greatest fantasy book ever written in my opinion. The pacing, character progression, payoff and shock value just work beautifully. It also works as a great end point if you don't feel like the last two books.

[@-clyx-2907]

Good to know. I'm currently reading it

[@beckylanaway51]

Yes I agree!!

[@isaachernandez3100]

I think the dance of dragons really picks up from SoS unlike crows which is affable and skippable

[@erenjeager6583]

hot take- a feast for dragons (combined order) is better than sos

[@thomashays9332]

Storm is the greatest book in fantasy for me w/o a doubt.

[@storky1456]

Love the video Matt! I have just started my Malazan journey this past few months and it has been incredible. I am currently on Memories of Ice which honestly might go down as my top favorite fantasy book of all time haha it just starts off soooooo strong

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah Memories of Ice is something SPECIAL! Enjoy!

[@thenell871]

It's funny considering how often I disagree with your opinions on certain books, but this Top 10 list is perhaps the most "in sync" with my own personal tastes. Everything on here is something I either already have read and loved, or know I almost certainly will when I get around to it

[@jessezigg]

I read The Farseer Trilogy in January, entirely on your recommendation. I loved it immensely, and I'm realy looking forward to continuing with the series.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

YAY!

[@shadowoflugia]

I got a friend to read the Dandelion Dynasty, and we were kind of regularly texting while they were reading the Wall of Storms 😊

[@Ascendsean35]

I like the little animation pictures you add while you're describing the book. appreciate that extra effort to give us a visual of the world

[@MsBalhara]

Wheel of time is my fav till now. Finished this feb after 15 months.. One book per month One day when I will be brave enough. I pick malazan

[@noname3609]

I need to finish Wot too,I feel the same about Malazan ! :))

[@ColdfFlare]

Read the wandering inn ❤

[@assassin415]

Be quick not for those worried about stormlight finishing the 5th book already has a release date and is stated to be the last book of the current main characters before time skipping in book 6 to other pov characters so book 5 is sort in a way the final book

[@Shelf-Esteem]

Man I have to finally read some Ryan Cahill this year!

[@peak9358]

Ive just caught up to the latest chapter in the Wandering Inn website and now there is a void since the gaps between chapters are so long. Im having story withdrawals

[@jessezigg]

I'm actually dreading getting to that point. I'm about to begin book 9 (Tears of Liscor). I've been reading since Nov 2023, and I'm certain I'll "finish" the series this year. And I'm already SAD about that! I hope with everything in me that the series continues to grow!

[@peak9358]

@@jessezigg oh the series will definitely grow, my friend. The website where they post the rest of chapters are way ahead of the books released in Amazon and such, so there's a lot more of TWI coming for you. Depending on how much you like some characters though, you might find some of the upcoming books tedious or not interesting.

[@liakay-ne7yz]

Reading Stormlight Archive books right now and loving it.

[@MrAelin]

John Gwynne is mostly known in the English speaking community. It hasn't been translated yet to European languages. At least the faithful and the fallen. Same happens with Tchaikovsky.

[@LordNovaPrime1]

This list exemplifies exactly why I watch you Matt. The first 5 series i thoroughly dislike (other than Wandering Inn, i like it but currently dislike the main girl) and the rest i love (minus Dandelion i havent read it yet). You got a good range of stuff and i never know if ill agree or not but its always entertaining!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Lol

[@FunFantasyBooks]

I need to give The Wandering Inn a try! The first time I heard it was because of you, and although I am a bit scared of the sheer size of the series, it feels like it's worth it!

[@KRSorba]

The Wandering Inn a tough recommendation, especially since the first few books are suuuper rough. Saying "it gets good I promise" on a series the length of TWI is usually too much of a stretch for people, but the sheer amount of setup and satisfying payoff is *chef's kiss*. To give you an idea, we are JUST NOW getting the payoff for something set up in book 2 and has been slowly building. Personally I think it's one of the greatest series of all time.

[@lydiarey262]

Sun Eater is such a superb series. Just got my copy of Disquiet Gods and I can't wait to start reading it. Every book is fantastic and the scope of the story is absolutely massive. Hadrian Marlowe is also one of the most realistic and compelling characters I've read in a while. Also, great list!!

[@huangpeter5053]

Fantastic list! I do have some issues getting into Dandelion Dynasty though. I picked the first book up some years ago with the impression that Ken Liu did the Three Body Problem tanslation which is one of my favourite series of all time. As you mentioned, the first book in DD is very much a fantasy retelling of the rising of Han Dynasty, and I picked that idea up only a few chapters in. However, I see no credits in that book mentioning about this sense of referencing and I was shocked. Almost every character in the story(apart from the deities) has one-to-one mapping to an actual historical figure and the plot was like 90% similar. That pretty much stopped me from further reading. I have seen the series makes it to many's top 10 series and now that you mentioned the following books will be different perhaps I would give it another try. Still curious on what's your thought of the retelling and whether you would justify it as only a reference or ...? (I tried not to give serious accusation but it was my honest thought)

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah, I think part of what I love is that I am NOT familiar with that time period, so it didn't feel like a ripoff to me at all.

[@strawberryorange3755]

I am also thinking if I should read it or not, many Chinese reviewers are saying it’s a complete ripoff.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

@@strawberryorange3755 The first book is a retelling of that event. Books 2-4 do a totally different thing.

[@Nierlyyy]

Ruocchio does in fact love writing. He's like a mini Sanderson lol. Book 7 is around 40% done and he's also working on another collection of short stories. I think another Novella as while but I'm not 100% certain on that

[@victariondrownedmemory9886]

Great video as usual brother! im going to check out a few of these that i hadnt read yet! hoping we get news about winds of winter soon, im optimistic haha ! im looking for an excuse to re-read ASOIAF after I finish The Five Warrior Angels Series, may your blade stay sharp!

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Todd here. Great list Matt!. I'm giving Bakker another try this year. I tried The Darkness That Comes Before years ago I thought the writing was pretenious, I couldnt tell what was going on. now that I've had others on youtube make videos on the series explaining it. I bought the first trilogy and going to be reading it after I finish Durfee's Trilogy. I started of Blood and Fire I enjoy the first couple chapters. I read the first few chapters of The Way of Kings enjoyed that as well.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Hey Todd, thank you! Enjoy your reads!

[@federicogiana]

I know I'm a bit late and you probably know this already, but to understand the "Prince of Nothing" trilogy, you have to think it as a sequel of Frank Herbert's Dune. That's how Bakker initially weaved the plot, when he was a teenager, then he built on it.

[@ToddsBookTube91]

@@federicogiana thanks for your comment and imput

[@shorne8398]

You kill it on these videos! You do not miss with recommendations! Thank you for doing this, saved me a lot of time getting straight to the best out there

[@oliviertrudel2384]

reading midnight tides rn, feels different than the rest of the series yet but couldnt really explain why, the vibe is just different but its good so far, curious about where the story is going

[@asymptoticspatula]

I struggled a little starting MT. I took a few months off and restarted it. Once I hit about 30% through it really hooked me.

[@oliviertrudel2384]

@@asymptoticspatula yeah not saying it's bad, i read a few dozen pages today and it hooked me even more, tehol is funny as shit and the plot is very intriguing. for the first time im really feeling that malazan confusion but its not too bad

[@Ignore14]

I just finished it, great story.

[@nazimelmardi]

It’s usually ends up as one of the best book in the series. For some the best. And of course it’s different. They never heard of the empire, it’s not at the same state of development in culture etc.. the empire there is a very different world view. SE managed to capture that not everyone looks to the world the same way. Just like Europeans/USA vs Asia. The mindset to the story changes. But loved the characters in it.

[@jessezigg]

I'm so excited that TWI is moving up! It's all *your* fault that I'm so very addicted to th 18:21 is series. 😂 I'm about to begin Tears Of Liscor. I'm currently reading something else, but TWI is always on my mind! I can't stop thinking about it, and I can't wait to get back to it. It's absolutely amazing. The first book was a little slow, at the beginning. Now it's rushing by ... there are so many story lines and so many incredible battles! I just cannot get enough of it!

[@solstice5303]

What do you think about Tears Of Liscor? For me is one of the best climax i have ever read in my life

[@noname3609]

Loved this Matt,thank you for recommending me so many amazing series ! :D

[@jeff8835]

Hey Matt, oh man, this is one of a few videos that helped me form the enthusiasm needed to really begin my fantasy series journey on June 16, 2024, lots of series to look forward to, hope to live out the rest of my days enriched by this amazing genre, and excellent reviewers like you who will guide me to the good stuff. Thank you!!

[@mickhoran]

If you would hurry up and finish the Prince of Nothing and Aspect Emperor series by R Scott Bakker, they would be an easy number 1. Thing is you already know after reading just the first in the series so not quite sure what is holding you back

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I'm in the middle of like 20 series lol. I did just finish the 2nd Prince of Nothing book, review coming soon!

[@mickhoran]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviewslooking forward to it. It’s a complex series so best not to leave too much time between books.

[@kingzzz6509]

I think everyone’s so sad with A Song of Ice and Fire not being finished, but there are so many other series those people would enjoy: 1. The Faithful and the Fallen 2. The Bound and the Broken 3. The Realm of the Elderlings 4. Malazan: Book of the Fallen 5. The First Law Just to name a few. They aren’t the same as A Song of Ice and Fire, but I think it can scratch that itch.

[@titantv4567]

I think if you were caught up, Sun Eater would be higher on the list.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah I'm sure it will

[@PapiChuloooo669]

Facts. Sun Eater is my goat at the moment and I don’t see it getting beat out by anything for a while

[@LadyKestrel23]

Yaaaay! Matt you are my new hero!!! ❤❤. Just found your videos. My husband has just started it and gets everything 100%. Annoys me lol. They really do get better after the first read! I think I might mispronounce malazan. Been trying to get people to read these for awhile. So nice other people respect these books too. ❤❤

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yay, that's awesome! Also...virtually EVERYONE mispronounces Malazan, no worries on that front!

[@LadyKestrel23]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews 😆😆

[@skywalker80316]

I enjoy your videos, Matt! I’m fairly new to fantasy, and many of these series are on my TBR. I’m not ready for Malazan yet, though!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah not the best series to get back into fantasy with! Try it after you have read some more stuff :)

[@laraschauble]

​@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Hi Matt...this might be long.. I read the Malazan Books...It was the first MAJOR book series I decided to try...I needed to challenge myself to see if I could read a multiple book series..so Malazan was my first...I enjoyed it overall...but will admit..some segments were dragged out a bit too much...I would still recommend the series to anyone...and if they decide to do read it...I tell them give it a week break between each book because it is ALOT to read and it took me a little over a year to complete the series...but worth it... 🙂🥰 I also recommend The Faithful and The Fallen books..I ABSOLUTELY LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!! ❤❤ It would be a dream come true if a movie for each book was made...like Lord Of The Rings 😁 Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on book series to read.. P.S. I read the Game of Thrones books..but was told not to bother watching the show....I have only watched clips on KZbin...which is what got me to buy the books 🙂

[@laraschauble]

@skywalker80316...when you're ready to dive into the book series..I hope you enjoy them..I also commented above regarding pacing yourself when reading the books 🙂 Happy Reading!! ❤

[@skywalker80316]

@@laraschauble thanks for the tip! It will likely be a while before I try to read Malazan, but when I do I will pace myself. I am fairly new to fantasy and my TBR is huge. The Faithful and the Fallen is on my TBR though! Sounds like you really liked it.

[@favrewanab]

My list has changed a lot this year as well. The top 5 are the same series but the order changed some. The back half is almost completely different with 4 new entries and one falling a couple spots. Falling out this past year were: The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon, Mistborn Era 1 by Sanderson, The Faithful & the Fallen and The Belgariad/Malloreon by David Eddings (these last two had been in my top 10 for 30 years; Paksenarrion had been there for over 20). My current top 10: 10. The Covenant of Steel by Anthony Ryan (this one is the most likely to change; I'm not done with the last book yet so this is kind of speculation honestly) 9. Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (down from #6; will probably drop out next year because it will never be finished; same reason ASOIAF hasn't been in my top 10 in several years) 8. Broken Empire/Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence (I combine these two because while they have different POV characters they have elements of the same overall narrative) 7. The Band by Nicolaus Eames (added just after your video last year; I'm hoping this doesn't join KC & ASOIAF as something great that is never finished) 6. Mistborn Era 2 (I'm one of the few who likes this one much more that Era 1; just liked the characters in this one so much better) 5. Malazan Book of the Fallen (down one spot; not because I like it less just something moved up ahead of it once I read more of the series) 4. Drenai Saga by David Gemmell (down one spot; been in my top 10 for nearly 30 years and I don't think this one is in any danger of falling out anytime soon) 3. First Law universe (this one moved up two spots; as you said Abercrombie does some of the best character work I've ever read) 2. Stormlight Archive (no change here) 1. Wheel of Time (been my #1 since 1997 and I don't see it ever changing) I'm also fixing to read The Bound and the Broken next up after I finish CoT so maybe it will make an appearance in my top 10 next year. I've also got both Sun Eater and Dandelion Dynasty on my TBR but I won't get to them this year. I don't have any plans for Wandering Inn; just too much and I like the feel of physical books as well. Also I read the first two Farseer books and it just wasn't for me unfortunately. I posted under a different account the last year or so; KZbin had locked me out of this account for some reason so I had to make another. Then suddenly a few weeks ago it reversed; I'm back on this one and locked out of the other one, lol. Glad I didn't have any videos uploaded or anything, lol.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

That's a great list. Enjoy your reads!

[@DoNotLookDown]

I'm really struggling to pick up a new series after catching up with Dungeon Crawler Carl. I started Book 2 of Cradle and I'm just bored out of my mind currently. I'm not that far into it but it's not grabbing me so far. Idk if that's because DCC was so energetic that other series just seem tame in comparison? Carl and Princess Donut are a tough act to follow with how chaotic and crazy they are.

[@ianwhite5471]

DCC is incredible but don't give up on Cradle. It gets crazy pretty soon. I have reread several times and always skip the first 2-3 books because they are slow (but good to read once). I think DCC is better but not by much when you complete Cradle.

[@anilmlalwani]

What rank would u give to Scott Bakker series?

[@wandOfnobleWood]

Thanks a lot, sir... I've only gone on to read the Will of the many and the last horizon series (up to book 3) within weeks of watching this video, and they were pretty great!!...

[@Thefantasybookwarrior]

I’m only halfway through the Malazan BOTF and I already regard it as my top series…… I also love Book of the New Sun, Red Rising, Stormlight Archive, Empire of the vampire/damned, and I’m starting the Dandelion Dynasty sometime soon.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Awesome list, enjoy!

[@NCSDFL]

Matt, nice list. I'm a big Jordan, Gwynne fan. Stephen R. Donaldson "Lord Fouls Bane" got me into Fantasy. Try that and see what you think. Cheers

[@dracul74]

Nice list. Not a First Law fan, but did think Glotka was an interesting character. The middle two Faithful and Fallen books are some of my fantasy favs... especially loved Rhin, Envis, Camlin and Corban

[@aarondavid826]

Haven't read much fantasy only the big ones, Potter, GOT, LOTR. Just started Mistborn, i think my first where i haven't seen a show or movie version first.

[@valliyarnl]

i'm so proud of myself for knowing the top three :)))

[@TanisPav]

I really hope they make an adaptation of The First Law series. It would be on a level close to game of thrones television.

[@zivkourosevic3940]

Big kudos for giving Malazan Book of the Fallen its just due. It stands alone for scale and you said it well when you mentioned prose that makes you think. When I read it I remember texting multiple sentences to various friends of mine. From all walks of life. It was that powerful. Huge yes. Confusing yes. Epic redefined. Worth it? Absolutely.

[@ColdfFlare]

The wandering inn just... keeps getting... better. It's insanity

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah, so far I have to agree. Can't imagine what it will be like when I catch up!

[@solstice5303]

It's really crazy how i get "all coming together" and i think it's the best i have read BUT always Pirateaba cook something better(totally insane). Reading TWI become part of my life bow

[@deepstatethrombosis]

Great list! If you wanna read a great throwback, boy with a stick to a king with a sword epic series, you should read The Belgariod and The Malloreon by David Eddings. Also, Eddings' Elenium and Tamuli series are SO good and fun!! I'd love to know your opinion on them. Take care!

[@bradschwartz9084]

Wall of storms is probably my favorite book of all time. About ready to finish the series and start speaking bones. Dandelion Dynasty is simply incredible!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah, it's absolutely incredible!

[@geherrit1989]

Really weird description on Stormlight Archive tbh. For example i never really considered that this series might take a really long time to finish - yeah the series is going to be long and with the upcoming book we are only half way there - but Brandon Sanderson is a beast with writing many books. I´d say more fans complain wether ASoIaF and Kingkiller Chronicles will ever get finished than that Stormlight Archive might take a while. And on the topic what Brandon and his works make feel so special - he has these moments of Glory like no other.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

So many awesome picks! The only ones I haven’t read are Wandering Inn and the Cahill one (which I’ll be getting into soon). Just finishing up Grace of Kings now and am excited to get into bk 2!

[@dailyelevation2813]

The Wandering Inn keeps increasing in quality over time, despite being 13 million words in. It's insane.

[@danyer9699]

@@dailyelevation2813 is such a epic series. soo good!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Hope you love book 2 of dandelion!

[@pamjournalcreate]

I love your enthusiasm…. i really do have some catching up to do. Are you doing a malazan reread on patreon?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

No, it's free on discord.

[@Mightyjordy]

I still have a few series on this list thay i havent touched, but i mostly agree. Stormlight is my current favorite, but im really excited to move on to Grace of Kings once im done with Sun Eater. Im on Demon in White and its good but still feels a bit over hyped to me. Also Liveship Traders is one of my favorite trilogies ever, but i have a hard time ranking it so high because it's just so darn slow and has very little plot despite it being one of the most tense things ive ever read

[@paragon1782]

I’m sorry but I tried to read a grace of kings but the characters and dialogue was so simplistic to me that I gave up on it. I’m going to try again to actually finish it and at least start the 2nd book before I quit it for good.

[@dinocollins720]

Stormlight "the good guys win" I am very scared when you say that lol. I think book 5 is going to be very sad and the end of part 1 will be the good guys losing. Read Stormlight Way of Kings Prime and it has a terribly devastating ending. Sanderson is going to crush us all mark my words haha

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah, but I just KNOW book 10 is going to end with a very positive feeling.

[@dinocollins720]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews haha okay that’s a good point 😂

[@taylor-kenny]

Malazan is Post Modern Fantasy, it is an incredible work of art.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yeah that's the term!

[@TF-lk6co]

Well I guess I have my TBR for the next ten years.

[@ricardojeronimo5750]

Great list Mat , I’m currently in the last book “ assassin’s fate “ of robin hobb , all the best with the channel

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

Fun list 🙌🏼 I have only finished F & F, and First Law. These are brilliant. Dont hate but I've tried to read GoT three times and i just dont jive with his style. I do love the first book in DD and Malazan so i will finish those. I'm halfway through Daughters' War and it has only solidified Black Tongue Thief as an all tme favorite. Greenbone is a favorite as well as Dragonblood Assassin, Raven's Shadow, and Dragons of Terra. Grave of Empires, Kagen the Damned, and Dragon Riders of Pern round out a list 🤔

[@AngraFantasy47]

Nothing is like Malazan. Great vídeo!

[@yanivbroder4884]

This was very nice. Keep up the good work, I like your view on things, so Kudos 👌

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Thanks so much!

[@tsult81]

Thank you. Inspiring. My personal fav AA Attanasio's Radix Tetrad

[@Whathappened875]

Add sirloin to ramen

[@coldfire2198]

Have you read Shadow of the Apt? Thoughts?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Read the first two and loved them. Reading the 3rd in a week or so.

[@coldfire2198]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews fantastic! I’m on 5 and really enjoyed them. Ready 8 of your top 10- looking forward to reading the other two mentioned. Couldn’t agree with you enough about Malazan

[@NerdBookReview]

I would include a bunch of these but I've recently gotten into LitRPG and I could not do Wandering Inn, the first several hundred pages is just Erin fretting.

[@ColdfFlare]

About fun stuff though 😅 also the first book takes place over a few months. I'm sure you'd still be fretting after being transferred to a fantasy world. But i get that it's not for everyon.

[@ianwhite5471]

I agree. The beginning almost turned it into a DNF for me. I thought Erin was the stupidest person ever but It literally gets better almost every chapter and she stopped being annoying eventually.

[@wesleyrodgers886]

Fritz leiber. ❤❤❤❤ Fafhrd and gray mouser. Maybe as I'm (much) older.

[@somatraseng]

Your top 2 are my top 2 as well

[@darrylseymour]

A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE BABY!!!

[@rayreid6460]

Ever read never hero ?

[@artheathen]

Abercrombie’s Sharp Ends is outstanding. It is part of First Law too….Have you read it? It is my fav of all the first law books

[@artheathen]

Oh..I see you call it a short story collection rather than a stand alone. Sorry. It’s just that it is so fun to read and such a fun listen. The audio book is perfect!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Haven't read it yet, I definitely need to!

[@mihailopopovic4759]

What about LotR?

[@kev792]

What's the reddit thread that he keeps mentioning? Is there a link?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Google this: r/Fantasy Top Novels 2023: Results!

[@kev792]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews wow that was a quick response! Thanks!🙏🏾

[@ivaninp]

Matt your recommendations made me found out that I don't like fight heavy books. Neither Malazan ,nor Ryan Cahill ,nor John Gwynne are working for me. Espeshaly The bound and the broken is ridiculous - There is a battle or a fight in every single chapter. If you listen to the audio books - At the end of book 1 ,the prequel novella and start of book 2 there is 8 hours long fight sequence. This is book 1 not book 14 of the wheel of time !

[@liamblake1614]

When I was 18 and looking to move on from my YA Maximum Ride and Eragon books I googled fantasy series (before booktube) and got Malazan and Black company. It….didnt work at the time hahaha but now at 31 I want revisit them

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Do it!

[@dinocollins720]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@NoCoverCharge]

Dragonlance Drizzit Elric Should be on this list

[@mihaylov-ai-art]

Have you read "The Elric Saga" by Michael Moorcock? I am on the second volume and I like it very much. There is more story in a 300-page book than 1200 pages of Stormlight Archive bricks.

[@jaimeosbourn3616]

Great series

[@rik8510]

Can you just read stormlight without reading the other cosmere novels?

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Yup! :)

[@IbbyMelbourne]

"I dont even know what type of fantasy Malazan is. It's like crazy fantasy, or something?" 😂 Malazan, the progenitor of the crazy fantasy genre!

[@egilgarberg9893]

can any explain to me why many tells suneater is a fantasy series? Im primarily a fantasy reader, and for me fantasy is medeival ish time with magic.While scifi is futureish with science.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Sun Eater involves people with magic, and it is set in outer space. Thus....sci-fantasy.

[@nazimelmardi]

Dresden Files? Harry Potter? green bone saga? Dark Tower? Etc… no. Fantasy doesn’t need medieval setting. And that only was a modern list. Vampire stories? From Dracula to Interview with the Vampire?

[@egilgarberg9893]

@@nazimelmardi yes yes, only tried to make an easy outline for comparison.

[@nazimelmardi]

@@egilgarberg9893 ok but that has magic. And tbh sci-fi should be based on (at least) some sort of science that goes into fiction. As for example even Dune has very serious science behind it, involving religion and historical facts and politics that happened before. Sociology too. And of course drugs. Etc… then comes the fiction part. What would happen if… Now here the science is very thin it’s closer to a fantasy in space that’s it. What Sanderson is trying to achieve later with Cosmere the only difference is that they mention some earth things. So it’s technically based on this world. But reads like that Sanderson plan. If you ask some scifi readers back then - not long ago - they would only accept Three-Body Problem as scifi from the new books.

[@davidnilsson7733]

I think there's something wrong with me. I think I'm the only person on the planet who didn't like First Law... Maybe the problem was that I read First Law while taking a break with Malazan, which is just another ballpark entirely. Felt like taking a break from chess to play tic tac toe

[@giants8585]

Think I have 7 of these in my top 10.

[@morebimbeloblue3657]

Planning to read realm of elderlings but - spoilers I know that molly and fritz end up together. Is it still extremely enjoyable in your opinion if this sub plot is removed

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

No big deal.

[@TeamCarbos]

Sanderson is on there but no Tad Williams, Janny Wurts, R Scott Bakker, Glen Cook or Ian C Esslemont? Weird

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Esslemont is on there. Cook is top 20, not 10. Not a Tad Williams fan. Like the one Wurts book I read but haven't read a series yet (will be reading one this year). Bakker will undoubtedly be on the list next year as I am reading more of his stuff and loving it.

[@TeamCarbos]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews so happy to hear about Bakker. Only thing that measures with malazan imo. So happy when people like you with reach praises stuff i feel is underrated. Like with sun eater, and look where it is now. Even getting a new hardcover of empire of silence. Have you tried anything else by Glen Cook? In my very unpopular opinion, i find dread empire better than first law. But, very unpopular opinion. Hopefully you'll enjoy Janny Wurts too. Still baffles me about Sanderson tho, some parts are fun, but the books are too bloated to be just fun reads. It is so mediocre and dumbed down. IMO. Shallow 2d characters. IMO. I think its popular bc it is so dumbed down, simple and accessible. And Sanderson himself is so accessible. I feel like he is the odd one out on your list tbh. Love the fact that Bound and Broken is on there. Any other series you are starting/have startet that you feel will be on there in the future? Need more epic fantasy recs, and our taste have like 70-80% overlap

[@josecunha8782]

Since you praised Brian Lee's books so much and finished the series since the last top 10 I was expecting to see it here. Finished the 2nd and IMO bests Faithful and the fallen in almost everything.

[@TeamCarbos]

@@josecunha8782 While I personally agree and think its objectively better, in the creators defence, its all subjective in the end. And, i can sing praise for first law too, but it isnt in my top 10

[@Grimscribe732]

Man, maybe I gotta give The Bound and the Broken another try. Read the first book and thought it was okay, but didn't catch me enough to continue on. Just felt it was a well executed but rather generic story up until that point.

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

The first book isn't great. It becomes amazing from books 2 and onward.

[@Grimscribe732]

@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Yeah, I added book 2 to my TBR for the rest of the year. Book 1 was decent but did not seem like anything special, just generic fantasy executed competently.

[@doodle9090]

Do a book shelf tour

[@giants8585]

How many series do you think you’ve started? I know you’ve read a ton so to crack your top 10 is tough

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

108 different series.

[@Chewbaccafruit]

Everyone I've ever talked to who reaply likes Malazan always describes it as: 🤷🤷🤷 but whatever it is it's hard to read and there's a lot of it

[@caitlinl2750]

I’ve read these all!!!🎉

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Impressive! :)

[@TowerBooks3192]

Ah yes the wandering inn. My favourite slice of life warcrimes fantasy novel

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

lol, it is what it is!

[@cobaltcrusader9841]

REASON TO LIVE DROPPED

[@rafaelaudy3880]

I am watching this video just to check if Dungeon Crawler Carl is there 😂

[@BlendGoldAnimate]

I Audio,d an Abercrombie ... I think the Blade istself ... It was terrible ... There was no plot I could see ... A series of dull events leading nowhere ...

[@ashleyholbird4287]

Just starting video. Cant wait to hear your controversial takes yet again. Always a joy

[@bledeamark]

It still boggles the mind to think that the wandering inn is being written by a single person...

[@RhinoViper]

To me lumping in all of Realm of the Elderlings isn’t much different than lumping all of the Coamere together…which shouldn’t be done. To me, Realm Of the Elderlings is 3 separate series…Fitz and Fool stuff is one, the Mad Ship is another and the Rainwild Stuff is the third. They are all different and don’t “really” relate to each other. But always just a bit pick for me. I see all of the First Law books(both series and standalones) as one series before I would Realm of the Elderlings due to most of the same characters being present(and/or relation) and everything being so related to each other in one way or another.

[@cryptorcd9352]

wtf how did I never know farseer trilogy has more than 3 books in the same universe lol Gotta jump on reading the rest

[@GelidPrince]

I would argue that dungeon crawler carl narrated by jeff hays is the greatest audio book

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

It's certainly up there for me!

[@Ahmed_helmy81]

I think it's easy by now to know that Malazan is number one in every video 😂

[@brycemcmartin3094]

Is there a reason you copied Mikes Books Reviews on your patron member names

[@brycemcmartin3094]

Even the channel name too

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I just chose fantasy names from some of my favorite books. Just looked at his and only one of ours coincide, and it's a name thats probably used by every other fantasy booktuber since it's from the most popular fantasy series. Wuchu talking bout?

[@ithrahmunchswallow468]

I just wanna know who Whacky is? 😉

[@Tinoshke07]

Your new name is from now on, 'Malazan' Matt 😁