I love fantasy – I don’t think that’s breaking news for anybody reading this blog if you’ve been here before. However, I do have a bit of a problem with starting fantasy series’ and then possibly not finishing them. This isn’t because I don’t want to, it’s more due to the fact that I pick up another new fantasy series before I start any sequels.
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I love starting new series which is a problem as it means I often don’t finish many. However, there are a few fantasy series that I know I definitely want to finish as I’m fallen in love with the books I’ve read so far.
The catch here is that the books have to have a completed series or enough books where I know I won’t get to the final book until the last comes out.
Therefore, below are five fantasy series I desperately want to finish at some point over the coming years.
The Wheel of Time series
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and later on Brandon Sanderson is one of the most epic in the genre. At 14 books long and spanning over decades of publishing, this series has almost every aspect of a fantasy series you could need. It apparently notoriously has some weaker books in the middle where it doesn’t feel like a lot is happening and they can be a slog, however, they pick up again with Sanderson taking up the writing after Jordan’s death.
The Wheel of Time focuses on a group of heroes and their journey to defeat all of the evils across the land. Rand Al’Thor is the Dragon Reborn (the chosen one) and his companions and friends all have their own abilities too. They take part in wars, battles, politics, betrayal, heroism and all of the great fantasy tropes you’d like to see in a fantasy series. The last book in the series I read was the fifth (Fires of Heaven) so at some point, I need to pick up Lord of Chaos.
I feel like, as a fantasy fan, completing the Wheel of Time is a must for me at some point in my life.
You can read my review of the first book in the series, The Eye of the World here.
Start your Wheel of Time journey by picking of The Eye of the World from Amazon here.
Malazan Book of the Fallen series
Another absolute epic in the fantasy genre is the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. It’s currently ten books long, however, Erikson has confirmed on Twitter that he’s writing another. However, after only having finished Garden of the Moon recently, I doubt I’m going to be reading the 11th book in a series that has over 7,000 pages already.
The first book was confusing and challenging but ultimately a great read that made me desperately want to read the rest of the series, so this is one I’ll be looking at continuing throughout the year. It’s a story that drops you right into the middle of a war with cultures, races, peoples and events that it gives you very little background on. if you’re willing to check some Wikis and reread some pages, it will be worth your time.
Check out my review of Gardens of the Moon from a few weeks ago
Start the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by picking up Gardens of the Moon from Amazon.
The Farseer Trilogy (and subsequent trilogies)
I started the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb earlier this year with The Assassin’s Apprentice. It was a book (and trilogy really) that I’d heard so much about that I knew I had to jump into it. It was brilliant, it was exciting and it is another series I know I was to get my teeth into.
The Assassin’s Apprentice focuses on Fitz and his journey from a homeless orphaned boy to making a name for himself. With the help of those around him who see his potential, he grows to become a commanding and strong young man. However, he has magic that is shunned by many and so he has to keep this a secret. However, some know and some fear him.
The first book I found a tad underwhelming but I understand they get much better and there are other subsequent trilogies which follow Fitz right through to old age. This sounds right up my street – I love following people through their journies.
Read my review of The Assassin’s Apprentice
Pick up your own copy of The Assassin’s Apprentice here.
The Green Bone Saga
The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee is probably the series on this list that may be the least well-known within the fantasy genre. It’s one of the most unique fantasy series that I’ve read. It’s set around a unique Asian-inspired modern fantasy world (imagine The Godfather meets Asian history). There are some magical elements to it, but it doesn’t feature a vast amount.
Essentially the story is based on different family dynasties and how they deal with the lives and deaths of their own families and those of others around them. Incorporated into this is the trade of Jade – a rare material that gives those without powers abilities they didn’t know they had. And for those who already have abilities, it enhances their power – it is likely the equivalent of some form of the high-end performance-enhancing drug in our world.
I’ve read the first two books in the series and just have the final to read. Throughout both books, I loved the world, I loved the families and I desperately wanted them to turn it into a TV series – it would work perfectly.
Read my review of Jade City and Jade War.
Start your Greenbone saga by picking up Jade City from Amazon.
The Witcher series
Last and by absolutely no means least, The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski is the final fantasy series I can think of that I’m desperate to continue and inevitably finish. It’s a series that has recently shot to more popularity with the great TV series starring Henry Cavill. The TV series takes inspiration from the stories, monsters and people in the book.
The book series starts with some short stories of the tales of The Witcher but a few books (starting with Blood of Elves) in then switches to an overarching narrative that sees a far larger world open up.
I’ve read three of the main books and the three previous books too which feature the shorter stories. Therefore, the next book I need to pick up is The Tower of Swallows.
It’s a world filled with magical creatures, dark stories and a reference to almost every legend you can think of, in some form or another.
Read my review of The Last Wish here.
Start your Witcher series by picking up The Last Wish from Amazon. Or you can skip the first three books and start with Blood of Elves here.
So have you read my of these books? Which fantasy series would you recommend I start so I can add them to this list? Have you finished any of these and would recommend finishing them first? Let me know either via my social media channels or by commenting below!
