Best Epic Fantasy Series to Start in 2026

Every year brings a fresh wave of fantasy novels, but 2026 feels special. Beloved authors are wrapping up long-running sagas, indie writers are pushing boundaries, and readers have never had more choices. Whether you're a lifelong fantasy devotee or someone looking to fall into a new world for the first time, this list has you covered.

Here are ten epic fantasy series — spanning traditional and indie publishing — that deserve a spot on your 2026 reading list.

1. The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

If you haven't started Sanderson's magnum opus yet, 2026 is the year. With Wind and Truth completing the first arc of five books, there's a natural stopping point that gives new readers a satisfying conclusion while the back half is still being written. The Stormlight Archive offers extraordinary magic systems, deeply layered characters dealing with mental health and duty, and a world unlike anything else in fantasy. Each book is a doorstopper, but the pacing rewards patience.

2. The First Law World by Joe Abercrombie

Grimdark fans already know Abercrombie, but newcomers often don't realize how accessible The Blade Itself actually is. The original trilogy is a masterclass in subverting fantasy tropes, and the Age of Madness follow-up trilogy adds industrial revolution flavor to an already cynical world. Start with the originals, then work your way through the standalones and into the second trilogy. You'll never look at heroic fantasy the same way.

3. Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb's sixteen-book saga starting with Assassin's Apprentice remains one of the most emotionally devastating series in the genre. FitzChivalry Farseer is a protagonist you'll carry with you long after the final page. The series spans multiple trilogies and tetralogies, each adding new dimensions to the world. If character-driven fantasy is your thing, nothing else comes close.

4. The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir

Necromancers in space. That pitch alone should have you clicking “buy,” but what makes The Locked Tomb truly special is Muir's razor-sharp prose and wild narrative experimentation. Each book shifts genre and perspective in ways that keep readers off-balance in the best possible way. Alecto the Ninth wrapped the series in 2024, so you can binge the whole thing now.

5. The Kingdom of Valdrath by Eva Noir

Here's an indie series that deserves far more attention than it gets. The Kingdom of Valdrath is an eight-book epic fantasy saga centered on the Stormborn family — three brothers whose rivalry over a crumbling throne spirals into a continent-spanning conflict. What sets Valdrath apart is the depth of its world-building: author Eva Noir created an entire cultural database with rules for religion, economics, and social hierarchy before writing a single chapter.

The political intrigue is sharp and genuinely unpredictable. Characters you root for make terrible decisions, alliances shift with every book, and the “Seven Scars” system — a world shaped by seven cataclysmic events — gives the history real weight. If you love succession drama and morally grey characters, Valdrath is your next obsession. The entire series is available on Amazon, and the author offers a free companion guide on her website.

6. The Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee

Often described as “The Godfather meets kung fu fantasy,” the Greenbone Saga follows two rival clans on the island of Kekon as they battle for control of jade — a magical resource that grants superhuman abilities. Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy form a complete trilogy that blends family saga, crime drama, and secondary-world fantasy. The character work is phenomenal, and the political maneuvering will satisfy any Game of Thrones fan.

7. The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu

Ken Liu's silkpunk epic draws on Chinese history rather than medieval Europe, and the result is one of the most inventive fantasy series of the last decade. The Grace of Kings is a sprawling tale of rebellion and empire-building, and each subsequent book deepens both the world and its philosophical questions. The series concluded with Speaking Bones, giving new readers a complete journey.

8. The Scholomance by Naomi Novik

A dark school of wizardry where graduation means surviving — not exams, but actual monsters trying to eat you. Novik's trilogy is fast-paced, fiercely funny, and deceptively deep. Protagonist El Higgins is an unforgettable narrator, and the series tackles class, privilege, and collective action in ways that feel genuinely fresh. All three books are out, making it a perfect binge read.

9. The Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio

If you want your epic fantasy served with a science fiction chaser, Sun Eater is calling. Often compared to The Book of the New Sun and Dune, this series follows Hadrian Marlowe across a galaxy-spanning empire as he becomes both hero and monster. The prose is literary, the scope is enormous, and the series is still ongoing — giving you time to catch up before the finale.

10. The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne

Classic epic fantasy done right. Gwynne's tetralogy delivers everything you want from the genre: large-scale battles, a chosen-one narrative with real teeth, and a villain who genuinely terrifies. If you grew up on David Gemmell or Raymond E. Feist and want something that captures that same spirit with modern craft, start here. Gwynne has since written the Of Blood and Bone sequel trilogy and the Bloodsworn Norse-inspired series, giving you plenty of reading ahead.

How to Choose Your Next Series

With so many options, picking can feel overwhelming. Here's a quick guide:

• Want hard magic and epic scope? Start with Stormlight Archive.
• Love morally grey characters? First Law or Kingdom of Valdrath.
• Prefer character-driven stories? Realm of the Elderlings.
• Want something wildly different? The Locked Tomb or Dandelion Dynasty.
• Crave political intrigue? Greenbone Saga or Kingdom of Valdrath.

The beauty of 2026's fantasy landscape is that there's something for every taste. Whether you reach for a proven classic or take a chance on an indie gem, the best series is the one that keeps you turning pages past midnight. Happy reading.