The second-book syndrome for trilogies or quartets. This can be frustrating for many readers, as a series may start off promising, only to fail to meet expectations in its latter novels.

Thankfully, several amazing fantasy books defy this trend, keeping pace with its initially phenomenal world-building and storytelling throughout. This isn't an easy feat either, as most novels will experience a lull in the narrative at some point throughout the series' run. While many of these popular fantasy authors have more than one successful series, I feel that certain fantasy novels represent the best of the best in of overall reading experience, character development, and a compelling narrative.

8 Mistborn Era One

Written By Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn Era 1 is a three-book epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, starting with The Final Empire, followed by The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages. The series is also a common starting point for readers to begin exploring the author's 24-book interconnected universe known as the Cosmere. Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series is a 10/10 across the board, and the overall narrative told throughout all three books is nothing short of brilliant.

The world Sanderson builds in Mistborn is full of compelling, well-developed characters and a deeply immersive magic system, and it incorporates themes of tyrannical governments, unjust class systems, and overall faith in one another. Mistborn's protagonists, Kelsier and Vin, are incredibly likable, and the character relationships that develop are well-thought-out—which is a great feat given how large the cast of the series is. This series' magic system of allomancy, a metal-based magic, also continues to evolve throughout each book and makes the novels even more unputdownable as the high-stakes action builds.

7 The First Law Series

Written By Joe Abercrombie

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is one of the best grimdark fantasy novels — meaning the story is set in a harsh, brutal environment and is quite cynical and nihilistic in nature. The series is very character-driven, and while many of its characters are often morally ambiguous or deeply flawed, Abercrombie's writing helps readers to understand their motives and own perspectives of the world. The first book in the series, The Blade Itself, acts as a deep dive into its characters and ultimately sets up the enticing narrative found in Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings.

The story focuses on three different protagonists: Logan Ninefingers, an expert warrior; Jezel dan Luthar, a wealthy nobleman; and Sand dan Glokta, a former champion swordsman turned torturer. Each of these characters challenges the typical archetypes seen in fantasy novels, and the way in which Abercrombie develops them over time lends to the success of the series overall. The narrative throughout all three books is captivating and will prove itself to be a five-star read across the board.

6 The Green Bone Saga

Written By Fonda Lee

The Green Bone Saga, by Fonda Lee, is a three-book series best described as a godfather-esque gangster drama set in a unique urban fantasy setting. The story follows the Kaul family, who are the leaders of the No Peak clan — one of two rivaling clans in the city of Kekon — and have the ability to wield power through Jade stones, a magical substance that will grant its wearers enhanced martial fighting abilities. The narrative perfectly blends its traditional fantastical elements with its gang-like clan dynamics, giving the series an almost "real world" feel.

Lee's storytelling is nothing short of amazing, and all three books prove themselves to be exceptional.

All three books in the series, Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy, tell the story of the Kaul family over the course of thirty years, and by the end of the series, readers have experienced its characters make several mistakes and have watched them grow and evolve. The Green Bone Saga's ending is just as good as its start, and Jade Legacy's conclusion is incredibly unpredictable and emotionally charged. Lee's storytelling is nothing short of amazing, and all three books prove themselves to be exceptional.

5 Liveship Traders Trilogy

Written By Robin Hobb

Honestly, any of Robin Hobb's books from the Realm of the Elderlings could fit on this list, but I think readers can unanimously agree that the Liveship Traders trilogy is her most-loved and easily a 10/10 series from start to finish. The Liveship Traders is the second trilogy in Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings and follows Althea Vestrit, who sets off to reclaim her family's liveship and her birthright after it has been unjustly given to another. A liveship is a ship made of Wizardwood, which contains a magical substance that gives the ship powers and a sentience.

The Liveship Traders trilogy is so highly regarded not only because of its one-of-a-kind magic system but also for its vastly complex characters. There are several characters throughout this series who are either deeply loved or deeply hated, and it's impressive that Hobb's writing is able to draw out such strong emotions in her readers. The storytelling throughout is phenomenal and explores themes of gender equality, political turmoil, slavery, and the toxicity of abuse, and in my opinion, there's no part of the series that lets the reader down.

4 Red Rising Series

Written By Pierce Brown

While Pierce Brown's seven-book saga is still unfinished, Red Rising as a whole is already set up to become a faultless series. The Red Rising Saga is technically split into two parts, with the original trilogy, Red Rising, Golden Sun, and Morning Star, following the early escapades of Darrow's life and the beginning of a decades-long uprising that will continue into the latter half of the series. In a series so long, it can be easy for readers to lose interest or find a lull in the narrative, but such is not the case for Red Rising.

Brown's narrative throughout all six of the currently published Red Rising novels is engaging and nonrepetitive, keeping readers on their toes and unsuspecting of many of Red Rising's plot twists. Its strong cast of characters, thrilling — and incredibly well-written — action sequences, and vivid world-building make the series so easy to digest. Given that the series thus far has checked every box in what makes a truly fantastic series, I have no doubt that Red God, the seventh and final novel, will easily match the standards its predecessors have set.

3 The Faithful And The Fallen

Written By John Gwynne

John Gwynne's The Faithful and the Fallen is a four-book series that draws heavily upon Norse mythology. Each book in this series serves a purpose in developing and stretching the main narrative, and Gwynne does an excellent job of keeping readers engaged and grasping for more with every book's conclusion. The plot, centering around the Banished Lands and a looming prophecy that foretells the end of the world, is full of high-stakes— and rather cinematic — action sequences, emotionally evocative storytelling, and easily beloved characters.

The series incorporates many elements found in a classic epic fantasy, similar to that of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, in which Gwynne builds out intriguing world-building lore and includes a magic system that rests upon magical objects rather than an innate power gifted to its characters. The four-book series, made up of Malice, Valor, Ruin, and Wrath, is, in my opinion, near perfect, and each book is deserving of a five-star rating.

2 Broken Earth Trilogy

Written By N.K. Jemisin

N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy is one of the best genre-defying sci-fi fantasy book series and is totally worth reading. Some readers have a hard time getting into this series because the story is told in the second person, which understandably can be confusing, but pushing through the initial shock is more than rewarding by the end. The first novel in the series, The Fifth Season, kicks off as a cataclysmic event — known as the fifth season — propels readers into a post-apocalyptic world that is covered in darkness.

The story then follows the lives of three strong women who must fight not only to survive in a dying world but also against those who wish for dominance over what little remains in the land. Jemisin's world-building can be rather intense and take a minute to fully understand, but the creative storytelling is what truly keeps readers engaged and makes the reading experience for each book in the series a 10/10.

1 The Bloodsworn Saga

Written By John Gwynne

Another example of John Gwynne's superior storytelling skills comes from The Bloodsworn Saga, which has rightfully received a lot of hype in recent months — especially as the final novel in the series, The Fury of the Gods, was considered to be one of the best fantasy book releases of 2024. The series, once again, takes inspiration from Norse mythology, and Gwynne vividly paints a story about vengeance, betrayal, and survival in a world shadowed by its dead gods.

While each book in the series just continues to get better than the last, each novel deserves to be praised for its unprecedented reading experience. Each book is a faultless read, but its superbly executed character arcs, cinematic battle scenes, and compelling revenge plot play a major role in the series' success. If you enjoy reading about imperfect characters and mythical creatures, this series should definitely be at the top of your fantasy TBR.