If you have a lot of time on your hands and love reading fantasy book series, I have the perfect list for you. I picked six of the best, longest, and most devastating (at times) fantasy book series that you need to read right now.
While some fantasy die-hards have probably read these books, I'm willing to bet most people haven't! People are busy, and these books are simply so long that you really have to commit to make it through.
Before we begin, I need to say that these are not my favorite fantasy books. They are not the best fantasy book series of all time, although some, including me, might argue that they deserve a spot on the list. I want to emphasize this list is focusing on some of the best long, brutal, and totally worth it book series.
For me, Harry Potter wouldn't deserve a spot on this list because, well, the books aren't that long. I crushed the whole Harry Potter series in a month or less as a kid. You also won't find The Lord of the Rings, because, again, those books aren't that long comparatively.
If you're a fan of fantasy, need a book series to read, and don't mind if you don't finish until next year, we have the perfect book series for you!
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
- The Eye of the World
- The Great Hunt
- The Dragon Reborn
- The Shadow Rising
- The Fires of Heaven
- Lord of Chaos
- A Crown of Swords
- The Path of Daggers
- Winter's Heart
- Crossroads of Twilight
- Knife of Dreams
- The Gathering Storm
- Towers of Midnight
- A Memory of Light
The Wheel of Time is, of course, the first book series on the list! There's no denying how important Robert Jordan's book series is to the genre and the world, in general, too. There's also no denying that this book series is going to take years, most likely, for you to finish.
There are 14 books in The Wheel of Time series, not including a prequel, and they are lengthy. I'm terrible at math, but it's clear that the average length of one book is about 600-700 pages. In comparison, all three of The Lord of the Rings books, combined, total about 1,200 pages. It's a huge commitment, but it's one every fantasy fan can and should make.
Sure, some fans might be more invested in the adventures of Moiraine Damodred and Rand al'Thor than others, but for most people, it's going to take a long time to read. And, that's what it's all about! If Jordan (and later Brandon Sanderson) crafted an incredible story spanning decades, hundreds of locations, and involving hundreds of characters.
If you're a fan of fan of fantasy, The Wheel of Time series is definitely a must-read.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance of Dragons
- The Winds of Winter (not yet released)
- A Dream of Spring (not yet released)
Like The Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin is a massive commitment, but in my experience, it moves a little bit quicker than Robert Jordan’s series. For those who don’t know, A Song of Ice and Fire follows many of the lords, ladies, kings, queens, and others of Westeros as they make their various plays for the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, a major threat to it all grows beyond the wall.
There are five books in A Song of Ice and Fire so far, but Martin has two more books on the way in The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. It’s been 14 years between A Dance of Dragons and The Winds of Winter, and hopefully, that wait will end sooner rather than later.
Overall, A Song of Ice and Fire’s books are longer, on average, than The Wheel of Time, but they are the epitome of long, devastating, and totally worth it. While reading Martin’s series, I’m continually in awe of the scope and scale of the story. Somehow, Martin pulls it all off without sacrificing an ounce of character work and development.
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Name of the Wind
- The Wise Man's Fear
- The Doors of Stone (not yet released)
The Kingkiller Chronicle is one of my favorite fantasy book series! Patrick Rothfuss remains one of the best modern fantasy authors, and this series is just an example of his greatness.
The Kingkiller Chronicle begins with The Name of the Wind, which was published in 2007. It follows the life of Kvothe, a seemingly normal innkeeper with the most epic of epic pasts. Kvothe has lived a life of tragedy, adventure, and much more, and now, he’s finally ready to tell the tale.
We’re still waiting on The Doors of Stone, and have been since The Wise Man’s Fear was published in 2011. Hopefully, we’ll have some news on The Doors of Stone soon, but until then, we’ll be patiently waiting.
Rothfuss has also published other stories set in this world, including The Lightning Tree, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, and The Narrow Road Between Desires.
A Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is another one of my favorite fantasy book series! It does not pop up on a lot of the best fantasy book lists, for one reason or another, but it’s long, brutal, and totally worth it, so it definitely deserves a spot.
Throne of Glass is a seven-book series about an assassin, Celaena Sardothien. After accepting a challenge by the King of Adarlan, Celaena embarks on an adventure that puts her face-to-face with her tragic past that she’s been running from all of her life.
While Throne of Glass isn’t as long as The Wheel of Time or A Song of Ice and Fire, it is equally brutal, especially for a series that gets called YA, and it’s totally worth it. I don’t know anyone who started on the path with Throne of Glass and regretted it after the final book, Kingdom of Ash.
You can also check out a collection of short stories about Celaena’s past in The Assassin’s Blade.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
- The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- The Alloy of Law
- Shadows of Self
- The Bands of Mourning
- The Lost Metal
Of course, a Brandon Sanderson series was going to make this list! The tough choice for me was whether to pick Mistborn or The Stormlight Archive, but in the end, I decided to pick both because, well, they are definitely brutal, very long, and worth your time if you’re a fan of fantasy book series.
Mistborn is up first! It’s one of the most expansive fantasy series of all time, and it’s not over yet. We’re only seven books into what could be a massive series! Mistborn marks the beginning, technically speaking, of Sanderson’s Cosmere. Many of his other books and series, including The Stormlight Archive, take place in Cosmere, as well.
Mistborn, at least the beginning, follows Vin, a teenager who discovers she has unique powers and abilities that, if used correctly, could be the catalyst in stopping the evil tyrant’s reign. It’s hard to describe the plot of a series that spans hundreds of years, but that’s the very basics of where this story begins. The second era of Mistborn is different from the first and takes place after the first four books in the series. Overall, Mistborn skews a little younger than some of the books on the list, but it’s still incredible.
It’s going to be interesting to see if and how Sanderson chooses to break out the next batch of stories for this series, but time will tell!
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Oathbringer
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
I said we have another series from Brandon Sanderson on the list, and we do in the form of The Stormlight Archive!
For those who don’t know, The Stormlight Archive is one of the best fantasy series of all time, and it’s also one of the longest fantasy series that I can remember. All five of the books exceed 1,000 pages, which means you might be reading this for quite some time.
The Stormlight Archive follows several key characters from different walks of life in Roshar. For better or worse, the discovery of powers and threats, new and old, forces Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan to make moves to preserve what they hold near and dear.
I haven’t read all of The Stormlight Archive; it’s simply that long, and it’s hard to find the time, but it definitely deserves a spot on the list.
That's the list of fantasy book series you need to read, even if it takes a very long time!