Top 20 Fantasy Series of All Time

[@mikesbookreviews]

This is an incredible amount of homework. As someone who works in finance and has a special love affair with spreadsheets, I salute thee.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Mike! I appreciate you taking time watching this video and appreciating my spreadsheet skills (although they are quite bad haha!)

[@datAero]

So you play eve online heh ?

[@stanislavstoimenov1729]

@@libraryofaviking One non-native speaker to another, in English substandard skills are described as "poor", not as "bad". Don't allow many native speakers' illiteracy to ruin your English...😝

[@rizwanbhatti5722]

any chance of getting a copy of that spreadsheet lol

[@libraryofaviking]

@@rizwanbhatti5722 It's on my Patreon!

[@syamantakdutta]

Twilight getting a point higher than PERCY JACKSON makes me feel uneasy

[@libraryofaviking]

Hahah same!

[@nicoleterego]

Exactly

[@specialknees6798]

Percy Jackson has to be the greatest YA series ever imo

[@jerms6642]

@@specialknees6798 the original series was good but all the books after that have been repetitive and predictable

[@specialknees6798]

@@jerms6642 yeah I tried many times to get into the sequel series and I just couldn’t do it. It just lacks the charm of the original series(which came, in large part from Percy’s narration and the novelty of the premise), and I simply don’t care about any of the characters.

[@JESTDIE_]

2:57 - Ranking 19 (3 series) Ash and Sand By Richard Nell The Dandelion Dynasty By Ken Liu The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula Le Guin 4:05 - Rank 17 (2 series) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss 4:42 - Rank 15 (2 series) Books of Babel by Josiah Bancroft The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin 5:31 - Rank 14 Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams 6:01 - Rank 13 The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee 6:42 - Rank 11 (2 series) The Poppy War Trilogy by R.F. Kuang The Gentleman's Bastard by Scott Lynch 7:18 - Rank 10 The Grate Coats by Sebastien De Castell 7:56 - Rank 9 Discworld by Terry Pratchett 8:22 - Rank 8 Malazan by Steven Erikson and Ian Esslemont 9:00 - Rank 7 The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb 9:30 - Rank 5 (2 series) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin First Law Universe by Joe Abercrombie 10:31 - Rank 4 The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 11:08 - Rank 3 The Banished Lands by John Gwynne 12:01 - Rank 2 Middle earth by J.R.R. Tolkien 12:26 - Rank 1 Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson

[@louisblackforester]

The Greatcoat series by Sebastien De Castell

[@sergiovasconcelos6961]

What's ranked #20????

[@reydarouaghi6288]

This might be the most fascinating fantasy series ranking I have seen on KZbin. Nice work man I would have loved to see the full list you made maybe linked in the description.

[@libraryofaviking]

Glad you enjoyed it! I really appreciate the kind words! The full list is on my Patreon!

[@AL8INOCARE8EAR]

Just got back into reading a couple months ago starting with the Stormlight Archive, about to start Oathbringer. I've read more in the last 2 months than I have in the last 7ish years, and I'm loving every second of it. Thank you Brandon Sanderson

[@jacobb.]

Agreed. Sanderson sparks the reading fire. I fondly remember my first read through of Stormlight. Great reads.

[@ShyFly1000]

Sanderson is king! Seriously though. Once you’ve read through the entire cosmere you will wish you could go back to before you read them for the first time to gain that magical feeling all over again. 😊

[@EzekielPrellus]

Oathbringer disappointed me. Loved Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, but OB just didn't move me like the first two.

[@zerozedzaki]

@@EzekielPrellus agreed

[@KaliBerg]

Stormlight just brought me back into reading too! When you finish all the books that are out and need to fill the void, start the Mistborn series by Sanderson. So so good.

[@ogreman2229]

I’m surprised that Raymond Fiest doesn’t ever get mentioned in these lists. I understand his writing is a little light than some people prefer but he has created such an incredible world and some amazing characters along the way.

[@libraryofaviking]

Interesting observation! There is definitely a receny bias in this list!

[@nostalgiafan8836]

wow i didnt even think of it

[@louisbrown4620]

Agreed. The Riftwar Saga is so good. Feist is always off these lists. And, it’s BS.

[@fejrskov]

Agreed I also love him and Magician was my first ever fantasy book read. What I have heard from several booktubers is that his writing is somewhat old school and that they more prefer the more modern language of newer authors.

[@kyle18934]

I can understand the rift war saga not being in the list. some are a bit light as you said. but the king of ashes series, his new ish series is amazing.

[@Braviary14]

Please do this with Science fiction books! Awesome job btw!!!

[@shiveringchihuahua]

I second this. ^

[@Governor-j4j]

It’s funny how you tell him how awesome of a job he did making this video only after you demand that he spend another 8 more hours to fulfill your request of him doing a science fiction series, almost as if one is more important to you than the other.

[@oneminsol7418]

For sci fic three body is best

[@Irthiza]

@@Governor-j4j you must felt very fulfilled making this comment. Commendable job mate.

[@Irthiza]

@@oneminsol7418 nope, Asimov.

[@inbracedefeat]

I recently finished Mistborn book 1 on a whim after hearing so many good things about it. First book since high school forced reading. Less than 2 weeks later I’m almost done with book 2, have book 3 already purchased… and the entire storm light archive waiting to be read!!! I’ve read more in the last month than the last 7 years and have no intention of slowing down. Thanks Sanderson! UPDATE- 11/24/2022 I have finished now finished way of kings!! Kaladin is my dog man I loved his chapters and watching him grow was great. Shallan's story was the least captivating for most of the book but had arguably the best ending. Dalinar was just a badass when the book started and was a bad ass when the book ended. His kids are cool too. 10/10 GREAT READ CANT WAIT TO START WoR! UPDATE- 1/12/2023 I have now finished WoR. I took a break from reading during the holidays but WOW. WoR is officially the best book I've ever read. Roshar is the most well developed world I've ever been exposed to. Sanderson's writing is tight, even for 1000+ pages I never felt like a scene was going on too long or I got bored with a section. Kaladin's trauma was captivating and watching his relationship with Sil was amazing. Dalinar continues to be the biggest badass in the book, and watching him struggle in unfamiliar territory was great. Shallan tho.... SHALLAN wow. She is the star of this book and at times I wished the whole book was just her chapters. I think I might take a break from Sanderson for a bit to take it all in and read Jade City or The Blade Itself. Excited to start both series.

[@snowman9631]

The stormlight archives is the magnum opus of the cosmere and while I wouldnt say it requires you to read the others it greatly enhances the experience if you have read all the other main entries in the cosmere. I would say read mistborn, elantris and warbreaker before touching it.

[@nibblitman]

As a fair warning Stormlight archive could just be renamed as Emotional Damage in book form. Also it is the most connected of his books so I would probably read at least Elantris and Warbreaker before going into it

[@chaserwilliams1]

I started with Mistborn (both the Vin saga and the Wax and Wayne saga) and I’m currently on the 2nd Stormlight book. Both have been awesome, and I can see why they are so highly ranked.

[@immasurvivor]

a tip: Read his entire fantasy bibliography (Cosmere) in order of publishing, I wont say anything more than that because I dont want to give anything away, just trust me and do it^^

[@snowman9631]

@@immasurvivor you can read anything pre stormlight in any order you want and it won't change anything

[@marques_asecas5894]

My brother, who is a huge reader, and knowing that I'm a die hard Tolkien fan, bought me some of the books mentioned in this video, yet I didn't read them yet. I'm going through a rough time and watching you motivated me into letting myself get lost again into the marvelous depths of fantasy stories.

[@libraryofaviking]

I am sorry to hear you are going through a rough time! I hope you will feel better soon and enjoy these books! All the best!

[@RPRsChannel]

*_Consequences of watching this video is that I just purchased the following:_* *_Richard Nell's Ash & Sand Series, The Dandelion Dynasty Series by Ken Liu._*

[@spencer_72]

Seems like a good repercussion to me. X)

[@tspruell94]

Anytime i'm watching booktube this be happenin 🤣

[@billylionisnotagoat]

add The First Law Trilogy to that lol

[@davidodonovan6141]

They have now made my list as well lol

[@RichardNellAuthor]

What a cool video idea! Very pleased to make such an august list. I've long said you booktubers/bloggers are doing heroic work to separate wheat from chaff. Long may it continue.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Richard! I appreciate it! Also congratulations on the success of your series!

[@Ironworthstriking]

Now I gotta check out your books!

[@thomaswhigham5610]

❤

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Very cool concept for a video, and you did a great job explaining your methodology, Johan. Of the self-published books I've read, Kings of Paradise definitely deserves to be on this list. Kingkiller Chronicle is likely suffering from the long delay to book three, but it if comes out, I would not be shocked to see it rise on the lists. That's high praise for Jade Legacy, which I hope to read soon. #10 was indeed a surprise to me, but everything that followed in the top ten, including #3 (it's a BookTube darling, for sure), makes sense. Thanks for the fun video!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Philip! That is very kind of you. I need to give Kings of Paradise a read! I hope you will pick up The Green Bone Saga soon! Best wishes.

[@ignacioniveiro5471]

I loved the Greatcoats. The final book was a bit over the top, but always fun and exciting

[@dylanhicks4771]

The king killer chronicals are awful books. Patrick Rothfuss is an awful writer

[@KipIngram]

Dude - you put a lot of work into this - thank you for sharing the fruits of that labor with us. That's a real service to the community.

[@reece478]

AHHH Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and the Greatcoats are in the top twenty! They're two of my top series, but feel quite obscure from the general reading realm, so very happy to see them up there! Also, I've really been appreciating your 'booktube compilation/analysis' videos so far - they're so fascinating and interesting to watch 🤗

[@libraryofaviking]

I really need to give Memory, Sorrow and Thorn a read! Thank you Verise. I appreciate it!

[@Sa1d1n]

@@libraryofaviking it was one of my first ever fantasy books that I read when I was 11, though I got the German translation at the time. Arguably the single best translation I've ever read; it was so good that I actually struggle to read the books in English now.

[@HurtyTeefs]

M,S&T is probably my #1 favorite of all time

[@chrisl5922]

Thanks for the video! There are a couple of series you mentioned that I will give a try. I'm really surprised to not see the Dresden Files in the top 20!

[@Johanna_reads]

Wow, this was an incredible project with some fascinating results! I’ve been too nervous to do a top fantasy series video, and it seems like there are some interesting trends. Amazing work on this!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Johanna! I would love to see your top 10 favourite fantasy list!

[@dinocollins720]

Recency bias has to play a major role in this

[@specialknees6798]

I mean Sanderson is a fucking titan in fantasy. He practically owns the genre right now. I’m sure the enthusiasm will wane eventually, but the dude’s work is absolutely and consistently solid, and often phenomenal.

[@dinocollins720]

@@specialknees6798 Yeah Sanderson is my favorite author. I took his class at college. He's the best!

[@specialknees6798]

@@dinocollins720 oh wow that’s so sick dude! I love his online lectures and I’d kill to take his class.

[@dinocollins720]

@@specialknees6798 Yeah it was pretty sweet! So are you a writer or just a fantasy fan interested in hearing about the process like I am?

[@Lanfairya]

It absolutely does. 10 of the series mentioned got their start in the '10's. You also have a bunch that got their start late 90's, early 00's. But who is on booktube? Gen-z and Millennials. These are books that I loved as a teen and made me fall in love with the fantasy genre, like Wheel of Time and I'm sure for most of booktube this is the case. I'd be curious to know what several Boomers and Gen-xers would say and then re-do the rankings. My gut says that Sanderson probably wouldn't be at the top of the list anymore but Tolkien, Wheel of Time and Song of Ice and Fire would still rank up there. Tolkien would probably take the top spot to the point I'd put money on it. Sanderson would probably get shaken down a few pegs, Harry Potter would probably be off, Tad Williams would probably jump up and there would probably be books I haven't even heard of on that list.

[@DrakkanWoW]

This is awesome. I am surprised but not surprised about Malazan's ranking. It is tough... but so rewarding and amazing. Definitely need to be paying close attention, but it is so good!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Drakkan! Definitely need to pay close attention!

[@paulianhodgson]

I’m busy working my way thru this series now

[@keenanwalsh1049]

Thanks for doing the research and sharing. It’s definitely has stuff on my to be read list, glad the Cosmere came out on top. I agree with you Brandon is going to be the next generation defining author.

[@libraryofaviking]

I am glad you enjoyed it! Absolutely! Sanderson is everywhere!

[@pitakon]

The next? I'm pretty sure he already is.

[@EmilynWood]

I'm guessing the reason the Chronicles of Narnia wasn't mentioned is because it is more a fairy tale series than fantasy--though technically that fits into fantasy. I think that when most people say fantasy, they're talking about either Young Adult fantasy or plain adult fantasy. Chronicles of Narnia are definitely great works of literature, but in a way they're almost in their own genre/category because of their depth.

[@flamingflamingo76]

I actually watched some other booktubers' top 10 lists and Narnia was on their honorable mentions but not in their top 10 so I guess that's why Narnia didn't make it into this list.

[@EmilynWood]

@@flamingflamingo76 That's quite possible too.

[@davidodonovan6141]

Though I enjoyed reading them. The hidden religious messages would put me off ranking them highly in a fantasy list

[@vicckyyy2001]

@@davidodonovan6141 Everyone's uneasy with that huh

[@davidodonovan6141]

@@vicckyyy2001 where did I say everyone I referred to myself only,

[@WPharolin]

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, escpecially The Dragonbone Chair, is old school fantasy at it's best. You're in for a treat.

[@sanjithechef]

The Green Bone saga is my all time favourite - it’s so good, one of the few I will re-read one day after I get to some of the others on this list. Great video!

[@aquariumjournal449]

Memory Sorrow and Thorn is incredible. It pacing is slow, but it's character building and world building is amazing. I've read the series five times. Also after thirty years, author Tad Williams has returned to the world of Osten Ard, with four new books. The new series is called, The Last King of Osten Ard.

[@libraryofaviking]

That is high praise! Hopefully I will get to it someday!

[@SnickersnackDaggerclaw]

I think that more recent series have an advantage for this kind of ranking, as do longer series. More recent series will be in the minds of more book tubers because the release of a book is a news event all book tubers are aware of, and such series are currently being marketed. Longer series will get a higher ranking because book tubers who have read the whole series will have more time and effort invested in the series.

[@thebrothersgwynne]

This was a fantastic idea! What a list! Love Realm of the Elderlings, The Greatcoats, First Law, LotR, and of course, awesome to see The Faithful and the Fallen 😍 Will

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! So many great series! Fantastic to see TFATF this high 👏

[@Mierla406]

I’m not surprised about any of this ranking: you did wonderful.

[@snoozyk9503]

I’m new to books in general and started off with the wheel of time lol 😭 currently on book 5 but I can’t wait to start the Cosmere

[@spencer_72]

Enjoy your journey!

[@krycegames]

Diving into fantasy I read stormlight and mistborn first, but quickly read wheel of time after. Both were amazing but there is something special about getting that ending for wheel of time. We’ll have to wait a bit to get the same from the cosmere

[@snowman9631]

When you get to the cosmere you should start with mistborn then move onto the others. Save the stormlight archives till you have atleast read all the other main entries in the cosmere.

[@snoozyk9503]

@@snowman9631 I have read the first 3 mistborn books already but have not read any other early ones, but I plan on reading everything before the stormlight archive

[@nostalgiafan8836]

WoT can go very slow and from book 7 ....Perfect time to pick another series as a palette cleanser

[@christopherbean4009]

Watching this has got me excited to get into some new reading after thinking I might need some decompressing time from all the books I've read recently

[@TheTrueRandomGamer]

That Dark Tower placement is criminal.

[@libraryofaviking]

I would have ranked it in my top 10!

[@libraryofaviking]

@sami I definitely think The Gunslinger is the weakest book! I would recommend giving Drawing of the Three a try and if you don't enjoy it then it is probably not for you!

[@TheTrueRandomGamer]

@sami I loved it. But the rest of the series isn't written in the same style, so you might enjoy the next book more.

[@staceyb.5878]

I agree, it would be in my top 5!

[@kyrilson71]

Agreed. It’s in my top 10

[@karstenkutterer]

Thanks for this! I found a couple more series to add to my list! I was not surprised at all by the top 2 haha

[@ToriTalks2]

I'm shocked by John Gwynne's series, but not in a bad way!!! I'm working through book 2 right now and I have a lot of respect for John Gwynne as a person and a writer. I know he's been getting a lot of love on fantasy booktube and I'm so glad to see it.

[@libraryofaviking]

I was also really surprised by how popular it is! I hope you will enjoy the rest of the series!

[@joshwilson1128]

I kept looking at your bookshelf noticing the commentaries and then Martin Lloyd Jones!

[@Stizum824]

I literally did this same thing about a month ago. My process was just slightly different, but incredibly similar and my results were almost identical!

[@libraryofaviking]

That is awesome! 🙌

[@spacecadetrik21]

First up, great video, thanks for all the effort on this one. I think you can tell a lot about the demographics of BookTube by these lists. It's really interesting to see who is missing, particularly a lot of the authors from 60's to the 90's who heavily influenced, and drove forward the genre, when it was not at all that popular. Michael Moorcock, Freda Warrington, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond Feist, Alan Dean Foster, David Gemmell among many others. I was lucky to have a substitute English teacher for a year who took my love of fantasy fiction and encouraged me to read a broader range of work.

[@warehousegames4945]

Will be checking several of these out, I was super surprised that the wandering inn was not mentioned

[@dylanlindsey3282]

This was great! Would you consider doing the same sort of list for science fiction?

[@drthespian]

Definitely a great video. There’s a number of series here I’d never heard of and now want to tackle. Thanks

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you for watching!

[@Bloomgirl_books]

I cannot believe that The Dark Tower isn’t in the top 10, let alone the top 20! But great video! It was definitely interesting to see what every one else loves. I am excited to see John Gwynne getting so much love!

[@libraryofaviking]

I would definitely put it in my top 10! Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@nikolagregic7709]

They have forgotten the face of their father.

[@Bloomgirl_books]

@@nikolagregic7709 YES! 🙌

[@thatfatguy7591]

Oof thanks for reminding me. I'm on book 6 but put it off to read Cormac McCarthy and then went on a reading binge through most of this books. Tile for me to remember the face of my father.

[@niklasstahl98]

I don't think most people see The Dark Tower as a typical 'Fantasy' book, it's pretty unique and weird in its genre, so I guess it got pretty few mentions

[@johnbartholf777]

Great video! I've added a lot of books to my list to read, and I thought I was running out of ideas. Turns out I needn't have feared :) One quibble though, grouping all of Brandon Sanderson's works as one is a bit misleading because, while the series are in the "Cosmere," they are not _really_ connected and exist independently of each other. I get why you had to do it this way though. I better get to reading. I have a lot of books to get through. Thanks! (That said, every list of great fantasy should include Ray Feist and Garth Nix. Sometimes, quite often actually, booktubers choose "trendy" over excellent.)

[@martinomattuzzi7031]

I would love to see, one day, the Ghormenghast trilogy have the love and respect it deserves. Also, I would have put The Sandman in my personal list, but I'm not sure if it can be categorized into Fantasy

[@kenaustinardenol1338]

Got a few nice suggestions from here, just started in the Coshmere Universe. There is so much around in the Fantasy world and its just all about personal taste, isn't it? I my bookcase you find a few other series. My favorite is The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson. Other series are Amber by Zelazny, Shannara by Brooks, The many-Colored Land by Julian May, Lyonesse by Jack Vance and the Dreamers by Eddings

[@iamfishmind]

it's bothersome that standalone novels don't get much recognition in booktube. I think it takes a great deal of skill to create an engaging fantasy world, develop characters and execute a plot in under a thousand pages. Imajica comes to mind.

[@pramshukumai7436]

I have genuinely no idea what you are talking about. Sanderson is one of the most popular writers in booktube. The only reason you may feel different is because not all booktube channels are fantasy based and so they haven’t read it yet.

[@iamfishmind]

@@pramshukumai7436 what

[@iamfishmind]

@@pramshukumai7436 Imajica is by Clive Barker. to use your own phrase: I have genuinely no idea what you are talking about. oh wow you thought "standalone" was "Sanderson," is that it?

[@pramshukumai7436]

@@iamfishmind omgggg I’m so sorry. I’m dyslexic so I just schemed through and interpreted standalone as Sanderson. Also very true, probably has to do with people getting more engagement out of a series compared to a standalone.

[@iamfishmind]

@@pramshukumai7436 lol all good it gave me a laugh

[@WhatCassRead]

Wowwwww!! Such an incredible list, and thank you so much for doing all the dirty work! This had several surprises, and I was also excited to see John Gwynne ranked so high! And, I'm honored you picked my video as part of your research!!!

[@stuarthalverson]

I am so sad the Fred Saberhagen's Book of Sword or Book of Lost Swords series seems to be forgotten or not reached by so many. Purchase the first book of Swords at a book store instead of Goosebumps like everyone else my age, back in the 90s, and it's the reason I became enthralled with reading.

[@steve-ageddondark-lord-of-4426]

Thanks 'Library Of A Viking' for compiling this survey. As a bookaholic, I appreciate finding some new books. Two series that I did not see mentioned I would recommend to someone. First is Kane by Karl Edward Wagner. My favorite of the sword & sorcery genre. For the urban fantasy genre, I recommend the 'Alex Verus' saga by Bendict Jacka. Top of my list for urban fantasy by a wide margin.

[@coltaine503]

I think the reason The Dresden Files didn't make the list is probably because it is set in present day Chicago. That said Butcher has done an incredible amount of world building and magic construction. I haven't read all of these series yet (Abercrombie is high on my list to read) and so for now Malazan is number one. Just mind-boggling in philosophical complexity, characters created, empathy.

[@BummerSlug]

First, thank you for this. I appreciate the work you put in. I’m not sure if the ranking point system is appropriate but I love the roll up. Second, thank you sir!

[@katherineeaster5799]

I'm glad The Gentleman Bastards series is getting some notice. Maybe if people keep talking about it, he'll finish writing book 4. Unlikely, but I can dream.

[@josephbaughman6772]

Right? It doesn't need to blow my mind. I just want some goddamn resolution. The longer I wait the more I'll be disappointed.... Hopefully not

[@writeheroics7490]

This is the kind of research I've been meaning to do. Thanks for doing the 'heavy lifting' and putting this list together.

[@williamcurcio7367]

Memory Sorrow and Thorn is, without a doubt, my favorite fantasy series of all time. Not only is Tad Williams's writing beyond beautiful but the story is phenomenal as well. Malazan is a masterpiece too IMO.

[@conoredwards4423]

So cool seeing all of those Bible commentaries behind you!

[@libraryofaviking]

It's my father-in-law's books! I am currently away from home!

[@Greyswood]

How about the Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny? OK, they are old but still a good read and fab characters. That would be in my top 10.

[@maremaritza]

I've just started reading it on a whim, I know absolutely nothing about it, hopefully I'll like it 🤞

[@JimCaputoMusic]

That makes my top three ...easily.

[@mandydepp86]

I loved this video, it's the best book ranking I have ever seen. And the amount of work you just put in it is astonishing! Good job! (I'm also very happy because the Cosmere is my absolute favourite one)

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@socman002]

Magican was my favourite, but ... I haven't read many others, so I look fowards to the books on this list. Still, Magician will be my favourite afterwards - childhood nostalgia surpasses all objective opinions. Thanks for the vid. :)

[@libraryofaviking]

I definitely need to give The Magician a read soon! Thank you for watching Sean!

[@kuzeykarayel3402]

Wow, this is an incredible analysis of the top fantasy series according to BookTube! Your dedication and thoroughness in watching 20 different booktubers' lists and compiling the rankings is commendable. It's fascinating to see the variety of series mentioned and how they were ranked based on points. Your attention to detail, such as making slight adjustments for certain lists and combining series for easier classification, shows your commitment to creating an accurate and comprehensive list. I appreciate the surprises you shared along the way, like the Witcher's lower ranking despite its popular adaptation and games, as well as the absence of series like the Dresden Files and the Dark Tower in the top 20. It's also interesting to see how certain series received only one or two points, while others rose higher in popularity. I'm thrilled to see some lesser-known series breaking into the top 20, such as "Ash and Sand" by Richard Nell, a self-published grimdark series. It's a testament to the power of independent authors and the recognition they deserve. Similarly, the rise of "The Dandelion Dynasty" by Ken Liu and the timeless classic "Earthsea Cycle" by Ursula K. Le Guin in popularity is delightful to witness. It's no surprise that "Harry Potter" holds a significant position in the rankings, given its immense influence on the fantasy genre. However, it's unexpected to see "The Kingkiller Chronicle" by Patrick Rothfuss and "The Books of Babel" by Josiah Bancroft sharing the 17th spot. The fact that "The Kingkiller Chronicle" isn't ranked higher due to its unfinished status is understandable, yet it still showcases the impact of Rothfuss's storytelling. "The Broken Earth Trilogy" by N.K. Jemisin's inclusion in the top 20 aligns with its consecutive award wins and widespread acclaim. I'm excited to see it for myself, as it's on my TBR list. Another intriguing addition is "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" by Tad Williams, known for inspiring "A Song of Ice and Fire." I'll definitely be checking it out. I'm thrilled to see "The Green Bone Saga" by Fonda Lee on the 13th spot, as it's one of your all-time favorite series. Your enthusiasm for its unique blend of the Godfather-esque narrative set in a modern Asian setting has piqued my curiosity, and I'll be adding it to my reading list. The surprises keep coming with "The Greatcoats" by Sebastien de Castell making it to the top 10. Although you personally had mixed feelings about it, the high rankings it received from those who mentioned it have contributed to its placement. It's interesting to see the wide range of opinions among readers. Finally, I must state that your dedication to providing accurate rankings and sharing surprises along the way has made this an incredibly informative and entertaining watch. Thank you for sharing this list of the top fantasy series according to BookTube and congratulations!

[@faithhammond10]

My personal top five would be (from five to one) - Earthsea, His Dark Materials, The Winter night trilogy, Realm of the Elderlings, LOTR. I've only read the Mistborn trilogy and really didn't care for it so can't agree with the top spot, but definitely motivated to try Gwynne's series now. Great video!

[@libraryofaviking]

That's a great list! I need to give The Winter Night trilogy a read! Thank you for watching!

[@marshallrogers9128]

I would encourage you to give The Stormlight Archive a try even if you didn’t enjoy Mistborn. It is far superior in my opinion, and was a blast to read.

[@aidaneyre3430]

That's kinda like saying 'I read the Hobbit and didn't really care for it, so I'm not a big fan of Middle Earth' Like, Mistborn is good but no one is ranking Sanderson #1 for Mistborn, they're doing it because of the Stormlight Archive. If I were going only off the Mistborn trilogy, Sanderson definitely doesn't make the top ten, but the Stormlight Archive is easily my number 1 series.

[@faithhammond10]

@@aidaneyre3430 Meh, typically when I read three books from an author, books I see highly praised by their fans and I don't like the writing style, the plot or the characters, I'm not going to give them any more time. I've very rarely seen anyone comment that these books were weak, but Sanderson's writing gets better, they seem highly regarded in their own right. I like both the Hobbit and LOTR, the style is different, but both were enjoyable. Sanderson just isn't for me, the Mormon influence was incredibly obvious and distracting.

[@aidaneyre3430]

@@faithhammond10 Fair enough. I will say that every single complaint you have is done better in Stormlight (especially the characters by a long shot), but I won't lose any sleep if you aren't willing to give them a try.

[@marduktr]

Thank you very much for your research. I have watched 3 booktubers top list videos and I was suprised to see that none of them mentioned R A Salvatore's books!

[@nathancooper22]

I am surprised to see the banished lands at 3. I don’t know why as it’s my number 1 series ever but wasn’t sure if it was as highly regarded by so many people. It thoroughly deserves the spot though

[@libraryofaviking]

I was also very surprised by how high it ranked!

[@caseyknolla8419]

My exact reaction to the letter. Awesome to see John Gwynne getting so much recognition.

[@stephanierhodes1921]

I never comment on videos, but this one absolutely deserves a comment and like. Fantastic concept and gives me a great video to reference when deciding how to read through some of these massive series. In the midst of Brandon Sanderson's world currently and it is AMAZING!

[@libraryofaviking]

Aww thank you so much Stephanie! That is really kind of you!

[@mountainoverthefool1556]

It's really good to see the broken earth trilogy has a large fan base. It was my favourite fantasy series until I read The stormlight archive

[@libraryofaviking]

I am hoping to start it soon!

[@b0rne_of_the_underground]

Thought this was a great ranking and creative way of going about it. This was helpful for someone like myself trying to dive back into fantasy. Gonna add a lot of these to be my TBR!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@brianl610]

I can’t believe Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth wasn’t on the list!

[@kamnell5237]

I came here to say this lol. Richard is literally one of the greatest hero's ever written. I was told I would love the wheel of time because of my love for the sword of truth but to be honest I just did not like Rand and disliking the main hero kinda taints the series for me.

[@markofascribe9528]

Wow, certainly a few surprises there, and plenty that I haven't read/heard of/thought about. Appreciate your time and stats work compiling this.

[@libraryofaviking]

Definitely lots of surprises! Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@kyra5783]

I discovered Sanderson during COVID. Basically grabbed a series off the shelf at the bookstore with amazing art that reminded me of Wheel of Time. That book was The Way of Kings and I read it in two days when my power was out. Immediately brought Words of Radiance. Now, after some time apart due to the less-enjoyable parts of life, I've made my way back to Oathbringer! Warning spoilers below... Warning again for people who read too fast and continued to the next sentence.... Spoiler: Wit and Kaladin are my favorite characters and I'm worried for their fates in Stormlight 5 because of rumors and hints. Kaladin is a very special character to me for multiple reasons. It's complicated, trying to word how much I care for this character, but, in short, he brought me out of depression. I listen to the story of Fleet every time I feel it return, to help me overcome the invasive thoughts. I've heard this story over 40 times and never tire from Wit saying "ah forgot myself for a moment sorry let me make it more appropriate for you. A piece of wet slime and a disgusting crab thing with 17 legs slunk across the rocks together on an insufferably rainy day". I laugh aloud every single freaking time, no matter where I am (which can get me into trouble). But its Fleet's resilience that is inspiring, its a trait Kaladin seems to share, even after the lowest points and breakdowns. Sanderson has to be a truly amazing writer to make such characters and to weave a story within a story. He has all of my respect.

[@BartasRapowanie]

👍

[@mikeoath9541]

SPOILER ALERT: If you like Wit it is time to pick up more books from the Cosmere and try to spot him in it. He can be seen more. Also if you read Mistborn and then MIstborn Era 2 you might find another character you like as much as you like Wit.

[@kirstypollock6811]

I can't get into Sanderson. Pages of video game mechanics nerding with the magic is the most off-putting part for me, but I just don't click with the characters either.

[@ClassicBooksandMusic]

Fantastic video my man! Clearly put the work in!

[@KeytarArgonian]

Oh no the Belgariad below Twilight? Thats insane I love the Belgariad, I’m genuinely shocked it’s so low!

[@Mermer-16]

What a list! And I am definitely in the minority for not enjoying the Cosmere, lol.

[@crisnice1]

My guesses: 1) Lord of the Rings 2) Cosmere 3) The first law 4) Malazan 5) The Realm of the elderlings Ok, not too bad. I was gonna put WoT in the top 5, but I assumed it was not for everyone. Glad it is

[@libraryofaviking]

Good guess! Not too far off 😊

[@Honken55]

WoT is an easier read than Malazan though. I love Mslazan is my favorite but I can understand people struggling with it. Dident think it would be as high as it was. Thought Harry Potter would be higher but I guess its aimed at younger readers

[@crisnice1]

@@Honken55 my thought process was that when people read Malazan they usually love it and his one of their favorite. Although Wot is easier to get through many people hate the love descriptions. Also it has 14 books, many people won't finish and I don't think they will rank it as favorite without finishing. I'm happy WoT is up there tho. I'll read book 6 soon and I'm really enjoying it

[@RabiyaRavenclaw]

​@@Honken55no, Harry Potter is for everyone, I read it as an adult and loved the series, also this list here is "the current popular fantasy series" "not the most popular fantasy series of all time", or else Narnia would be here and HP would rank higher.

[@rochoa7408]

This is a great recommendations video. I’ll pick up whatever I haven’t read on this list because all the books that I’ve read on this list were 4-5* for me.

[@galacticguardian2783]

Clubbing Mistborn with Stormlight was a mistake.

[@JeeZwriter64]

Thank you! I was looking for a list like this!

[@har5814]

No Chronicles of Narnia? Also Percy Jackson series is a fantastic read. I'm still interested to read all these books from your list.

[@PrinceOfSilla]

Bro I love the bookshelf, love to see the Bibles and commentaries, awesome collection. Keep the faith bro!

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Richard! I was currently abroad when I was recording this video so I used my father-in-law's bookshelf! I am a Christian as well!

[@iHxnson]

I'm surprised the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini wasn't on the list or mentioned. His writing got me into Fantasy and is still one of my favorite series of all time. And now with a TV series green lit I would think it would be up there.

[@kendawgthemasterdude]

Honestly those books don’t hold up, they are pretty poorly written and drag on quite a bit

[@iHxnson]

@@kendawgthemasterdude to each their own

[@BirdMorphingOne]

Most of these booktubers categorize YA separately. That’s why Percy Jackson was also so low

[@H4zardWarning]

I really liked the first 3 books back in the day and they helped get me into reading but when I went to read the 4th I just couldn’t get into it, still haven’t finished that series.

[@benjaminhoffman3848]

The last book ruined the series for me, just the ending of it really. Paolini put that prophecy in the first book so thought he had to fulfill it but I think he could have just said he was transformed so much by the dragon spirits that his destiny changed.

[@you_dropped_something]

i loved Memory, Sorrow and Thorn! some people have mentioned already it's a little slow to start, but there were several moments in this series that struck me as some of the most incredible imagery, that i was outwardly reacting while reading. it became my new fantasy rec after i got everyone i know to read the gentlemen bastard sequence

[@Jbvain]

Love your channel and the concept of this video. However, outside a few heavyweight classics, it seems like there is recency bias within the top 20. I’m curious what this list will look like in five years.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Jeff! Recency bias is definitely impacting this list!

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

Or the newer books more accurately align with people's views of our world today and so are enjoyed more

[@cocomouse332]

Finally got a job where I can listen to headphones while working, and I binged all of the stormlight archive audiobooks within a few months, was hoping to find more fantasy books I could enjoy as an adult when I clicked on this video, and turns out there's a lot I haven't read yet :D thank you!

[@PeterB_]

Given that most lists have mistborn and stormlight as two different entries, it’s no surprise to see a combined Cosmere entry at #1 by a commanding lead. I think it’s well-deserved, honestly, but the way the math was done here left almost no doubt as to what was taking the top spot.

[@wezleey25]

He said if both were in the same list, he would combine them into one and use the highest ranking.

[@Abhinab_Roy]

I think he either took the average or took the higher rating

[@TheRealDC3]

Several others got the same treatment

[@snowman9631]

No he only took whichever had the higher ranking... so if mistborn was #10 and cosmere was #1 he only gave it 10 points not eleven

[@brendanmurphy6161]

Shout out to you for putting together this list! Love the idea

[@garguntoter]

I really like the Riddle Master series by Patricia McKillip and The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson.

[@michaelmacleod2665]

i try not to follow too many people on KZbin but really like your style. Subscribed.

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Michael!

[@cynthiawiley5228]

Not too surprised about Sanderson making it to the top. Tolkien is one of the originals but not everyone enjoys reading his work. I'm actually surprised that Raymond E Feist didn't make it to the top 20.

[@scandlone4847]

Yeah, Sanderson is obvious more approachable, but i tend to think that, for some, the work of Tolkien can be an acquired taste that comes with time...

[@palanthas7063]

Personally I didn't love LOTR when I read it. The prose felt a bit like childish Shakespearean to me and I couldn't really get all that invested in the characters. But there's no denying that it might very well be the greatest fantasy work of all time.

[@gachafiedstreams]

Your channel is becoming one of my favorites very quickly!!!

[@kinggrantking]

I wonder if you still have the raw data spreadsheet to share? I would like to know the split of votes for Cosmere between Mistborn, Stormlight, etc. I also might call into question the consistency of "combining series set in the same world" when "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" is counted as a separate entity from Osten Ard. Were the other Malazan books counted towards Malazan? Was Fire and Blood counted towards ASOIAF? Were they never mentioned at all so you never had to worry about them? It'd be interesting to know.

[@andreareadstoomuch]

This is awesome! And I can’t help but agree with #1 😊

[@alexeilassistant]

The first earthsea book took me a while to get into then i absolutely devoured the rest of the series. Once the world building was set up the series was just so amazing. Ursula K Leguin is on the top of my list

[@AndyBestHP]

It's cool to hear people are still reading it. The Earthsea books were in our library/reading club in school back in the day, A wizard of Eatrhsea and The Hobbit were the first two fantasy books I read as a kid

[@VperVendetta1992]

The magic those books evoke is unparalleled

[@OnlineSarcasmFails]

I really cant remember a single moment of the first part of book 1. I was so bored I dropped it. How far in before it starts to really feel magical?

[@OnlineSarcasmFails]

@@VperVendetta1992 when does that magic begin? How far into book 1?

[@ashleyedwards3082]

The hype for this video. The ultimate book nerd countdown! Great video!

[@mikebenedict5091]

Tad Williams deserves more love on here. He has written more amazing series' and frankly, should be ranked higher

[@craigbrewster6977]

A great list and some books i wasn't aware of so it was very useful. Some big series missing from here like the Mallorean from David Eddings and the Shannara series by Terry Brooks. I guess a lot of it comes down to different eras

[@joebo7777]

Reread Memory, Sorrow and Thorn last year and it was even better than I remembered. For a series written in 1989 it is so fresh.

[@libraryofaviking]

That is high praise! I really need to give it a read!

[@ArchanaRajasekar]

It's a long time since I read books... I was looking for something in fantasy... U really did your homework.. Such a well curated video.. Thanks loads for all that.. Really cut my research ☺

[@michaelmorgan2111]

Absolutely shocked that Lightbringer wasn’t on here. What a fantastic series that more people need to know about.

[@Psanyi42]

Honestly that is the best book I've read so far. The plot twist are just so cleverly done.

[@shadeofheresy]

Amazing list, guessed a lot of them. I was gobsnzbked to not see Frank Herberts Dune series though. Guess its more sci-fi? No Riftwar by Feist? I really need to pick up more of Brandon Sandersons stuff as I loved the last 3 books of WoT, Elantris and Mistborn. 2nd run of Wheel of time currently ongoing (Book 7 atm) followed by Malazan first....so many books so little time.

[@anabananapopana]

Great listing and video. I really much appreciate the work you put into it. Not suprised Sanderson is no.1, currently planning on reading his books! Would it be possible to publish the whole spreadsheet via google docs or something similar? I think a lot of us would be interested in seeing all the other rankings!

[@Cbrodela]

I second this.

[@dracul74]

I always find ranking of books, art, music entertaining. These are such subjective things that ppl are very passionate about. Loved your process and wish listed a few I haven't read. Was pleasantly surprised and happy for J Gwynn... loved that series.

[@meridesiree7940]

ASOIAF is my favorite fantasy series, glad to see it's top 5 v-v Booktube tends to have a rather insular taste in books that differs quite a lot from my own (i can't stand Brandon Sanderson's work for example lol), so this was interesting to watch!

[@paragon1782]

Which Sanderson books did you try and not like? Was some of it mistborn? Lol

[@meridesiree7940]

@@paragon1782 I tried Mistborn, Way of kings and Elantris. I disliked them all (didn't finish mistborn or way of kings though, but read at least half). I just think his writing is stilted and unimaginative (in his prose) and his dialogue is god awful. He doesn't seem to be much of a character writer, which is usually what i enjoy the most. I did like this one novella i read though, i think it's called The emperors soul!

[@paragon1782]

@@meridesiree7940 gotcha, what are some of your top 5 series?

[@AliveNow3]

​@@meridesiree7940 If you want god-tier prose then you should try Malazan

[@michellesreadingshelf]

Very interesting video! More books to prioritize😆📚

[@libraryofaviking]

Thank you Michelle! Happy reading ☺️

[@terry9819]

I really feel the Midkemia series by Raymond E. Feist are under appreciated, there seem to be so few reviews. Better than Wheel of Time for me.

[@hellgast0]

I agree, but I might be biased since it was one of the first fantasy series i've read.

[@christophersuchy3632]

Maybe parts of it. But he got very repetitive and you can tell he was in it for the money by the end.

[@stevetennispro]

Did you read Daughter of Empire, Servant of Empire, and Mistress of Empire?

[@christophersuchy3632]

@@stevetennispro Me? Everything he's done in Midkemia I've read

[@joshuas1834]

Hey, this is the first I've ever heard of your channel. I liked the video but I subscribed because of your library.

[@rilanaslots5729]

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is definitely a recommendation. I'm surprised that Raymond Feist isn't on the list

[@Ghost-Ghost-Ghost]

Sword of Truth really takes a... dark turn in the second half that many found distasteful. Feist's books were some of my favorites as a kid but I don't think the overall writing holds up to the top 20. I'd definitely put it in the top 40 though.

[@libraryofaviking]

There is definitely a receny bias on this list! Quite surprised as well!