Best New Fantasy Book Series To Get Hooked On
Books that belong to the fantasy genre are those that feature magical, mystical, and supernatural components (usually prominently) in the story, world, and plot that do not exist in reality.
Having found myself stuck at home a lot this year, I was in dire need of some escapism from said reality, and these fantasy series came out at just the right time.
Here are the 9 best fantasy book series to help you escape to a whole new fantasy world.
1. Ashes of the Unhewn Throne Trilogy by Brian Staveley
Latest Book: Empire’s Ruin (1st in the trilogy).
Released July 2021.
Goodreads: 4.41
Set in the same world as Staveley’s other series Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, his new book Empire’s Ruin is the first in his new epic fantasy trilogy Ashes of the Unhewn Throne. With the Annurian Empire falling apart, the Kettral having been destroyed from within, and the Kenta gates that made teleportation across the lands possible no longer functioning, things aren’t looking great.
To save it all, it’s up to Gwenna Sharpe, one of the remaining Kettral, to travel to the edge of the world and find the nesting grounds of the giant war hawks. If she overcomes these obstacles, she may just be able to restore the Kettral forces to their former glory and take a big step in getting the Empire back to the power it once possessed.
This of course can’t be done without the Kentra gates, but not to worry, word has it that Akiil, a once monk now con man, could be the key to repairing them.
Unfortunately, time isn’t on their side though, and to make matters worse an all-powerful ancient race may be resurfaced.
'Brian Staveley's storytelling gets more epic with every book, and The Empire's Ruin takes it to a whole new level' - Pierce Brown, author of Red Rising
'An aching, bruised, white-knuckled symphony' - Max Gladstone, author of This Is How You Lose the Time War
2. A Chorus of Dragons Series by Jenn Lyons
Latest Book: The House of Always (4th in series)
Released May 2021
Av. Goodreads: 4.10
Kihrin is an orphan, the apprentice of a bard, a thief, and, oh yeah, not actually an orphan at all but the son of a disgraced prince (go figure). Far from making his life easier, being a prince brings with it a whole host of problems, the main one being his new family. With various members of his family trying to use him for their own personal gain and ambitions, Kihrin is in a decidedly uncomfortable spot, however, escaping from them only seems to make matters worse.
As it turns out Kihrin is also the centre of an ancient prophesy and everyone from Gods to dragons wants him for themselves.
All this leads Kihrin to conclude that maybe he is not the one who will save the empire, but the one to destroy it.
'What an extraordinary book . . . enthralling and deeply, deeply satisfying. I loved it' - Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians
'A fantastic page-turner with a heady blend of great characters' - John Gwynne, author of A Time of Dread
3. Edinburgh Nights Series by T. L. Huchu
Latest book: The Library of the Dead (1st in series)
Released February 2021
Goodreads: 3.67
In an alternate Edinburgh lives 14yr-old high school drop-out Ropa, using her talents as a ghostalker to support herself, her grandmother, and a pet fox. Her skills are serving her well, and everything is fine until the ghosts reveal that someone is bewitching children leaving them mere husks of themselves.
Well, Ropa can’t just leave this person alone, especially when they’re attacking children on her turf, but as she investigates further, she gets a lot more than she was prepared for. Delving deep into the secrets kept by Edinburgh and those in it, finding an occult library, dark magic, and getting a little too close to death for comfort, Ropa combines her Zimbabwean magic and Scottish rationale to solve the case. But is she putting herself in danger too?
'A fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written' - Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London
'One of the strangest and most compelling fantasy worlds you'll see all year' – SFX
4. The Nameless Republic series by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Latest book: Son of the Storm (1st in series)
Released May 2021
Goodreads: 3.86
Danso, mixed-race academic fighting to escape the caste he was born into, believes that there is more to the world than the city of Bassa and the walls surrounding it and the forbidden stories people aren’t supposed to know about suggesting he’s right. So, instead of following Bassa’s hierarchical system and fulfilling his potential to become an accomplished scholar, he set out to find these forgotten tales-much to the chagrin of the Bassai Elite.
What he didn’t expect to find was a warrior who is able to use impossible magic, sending him on a path to discovering Bassa’s most closely kept secrets. Armed with the knowledge of Bassa’s history, he ventures outside the city walls, while his discovery puts the entire Empire in jeopardy.
"Everything I love in a fantasy novel. Damn good stuff!" —Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings
'One of the most promising new voices in the growing coterie of African SFF writers.' – Wired
5. Sistersong by Lucy Holland
Latest book: currently writing a companion novel
Released April 2021
Goodreads: 4.07
A historical fantasy novel set in 535AD in the kingdom of Dumnonia, Sistersong follows the journeys of King Cador’s daughters, Riva, Keyne, and Sinne. All three yearn for different things, love, restoration, identity, and all three fear that they will remain prisoners for the rest of their days.
Kept safely in the hold away from the invading Saxons, the sisters’ days are anything but what they want until the day ash starts falling from the sky. With the ash arrive Myrddhin, and Tristan, one a magician, the other a warrior, are both capable of causing a rift between the sisters.
To avoid being caught up in a story they never believed they would be part of, full of romance, betrayal, and death, Riva, Keyne, and Sinne must take control of their lives and Britain’s future.
'Sistersong is a fresh and gripping retelling of an ancient tale. Set in a realistic, gritty world, the nuanced, compelling characters are the heart of this story about family, love, loyalty, and identity. I loved it' - John Gwynne
'Rooted in history but shot through with surprises, this takes ancient British myth and gives it a wonderfully fresh twist. The book combines timely themes around our lost connection with nature, the fluidity of identity and the power of claiming your own story with a haunting atmosphere and a rollicking pace. Lucy Holland is a brilliantly assured storyteller' - Molly Flatt
6. The Blood Sworn Saga by John Gwynne
Latest book: The Shadow of the Gods (1st in series)
Released May 2021
Goodreads: 4.41
In a world inspired by Norse mythology, the land of Vigrið has been ruined by the Gods who have induced their own self-destruction. However, the Gods’ bones still contain an immense power for those courageous, or rash enough to pursue it.
So, a new world is being born with Jarls thirsting for power and monsters roaming in the wilderness, and rumours of war travel across the lands. 300 years after the death of the Gods, it falls to three people to shape the world’s destiny.
The huntress, Orka, trying to complete a perilous quest, Elvar, a woman of noble birth who has cast aside her advantages to seek glory in battle, and Varg a thrall out for revenge.
'A satisfying and riveting read. The well-realised characters move against a backdrop of a world stunning in its immensity. It's everything I've come to expect from a John Gwynne book' - Robin Hobb
'A masterfully crafted, brutally compelling Norse-inspired epic' - Anthony Ryan
7. The Invisible Library Series by Genevieve Cogman
Latest book: The Dark Archive (7th in series)
Released November 2020
Av. Goodreads: 4.06
Irene and her assistant Kai work at a library; however, it’s not as boring as it may sound because this isn’t just any old library, and Irene isn’t just any old librarian. Irene works as a spy collecting fiction from alternate realities for the library to harvest. (think Indiana Jones with books and multiple realities).
On her next mission, she and Kai are sent to an alternate London to procure a dangerous book, but when they arrive the book has already been stolen, and London’s underground gangs are prepared to do anything to get their hands on it.
If that wasn’t enough, in this world the very laws of nature have been corrupted allowing supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic to come into existence.
And to top it off, her assistant Kai is hiding secrets of his own.
‘I absolutely loved this ... flavored with truly unique mythology and a dash of the eldritch. Such clever, creepy, elaborate worldbuilding and snarky, sexy-smart characters’ - N.K. Jemisin
‘A dazzling bibliophilic debut’ - Charles Stross
8. The Age of Madness series by Joe Abercrombie
Latest book: The Trouble with peace (2nd in series)
Released September 2020
Av. Goodreads: 4.55
In a fantasy world where it is actually the technology that is on the rise, three very different people are striving to achieve their missions.
Leo Dan Brock is struggling to earn repute on the battlefield, fighting with Stour Nightfall’s armies on Angland’s borders. He expects aid from Prince Orso, son of King Jezal, but the Prince is infamous for letting people down.
A financier, socialite, and daughter of the most formidable man in the entire Union, Savine dan Glokta aim to wrestle her way to the top of the societal hierarchy using any means necessary, but the fury of the slums can’t be tamed money this time.
Although the power of machines is growing, magic isn’t dying out so easily, and along with the hill woman, Insern-i-Phail (who may not be completely sane), Rikke fights a battle of her own. A possessor of the Long Eye, she grapples to gain command over her ability to see into the future, as well as the possibility of changing it, despite the First of the Magi’s supervision.
'A tale of brute force and subtle magic set in a world on the cusp of an industrial revolution ... a vivid and jolting tale.' - Robin Hobb
'The books are good, really good. They pulled me in. Well-developed world. Unique, compelling characters. I like them so much that when I got to the end of the second book and found out the third book wasn't going to be out in the US for another three months, I experienced a fit of rage, then a fit of depression, then I ate some lunch and had a bit of lay down' - Patrick Rothfuss on the First Law trilogy
9. Teixcalaan Series by Arkady Martine
Latest book: A Desolation Called Peace (2nd in series)
Released March 2021
Av. Goodreads: 4.27
Mahit Dzmare is the new ambassador for a small but feisty mining station in the middle of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire, only to have it revealed that the former ambassador was murdered, but no one will admit it.
Anxious to avoid being the next to die, and save her station from the ruthless Teixcalaan expansion, Mahit has to work out who the killer is. However, this is not as easy to do as it seems (I mean it already seems quite daunting if you ask me), immersed in a new and exciting alien culture full of wonders and curiosities, Mahit must prevent herself from getting side-tracked and pulled in completely.
Besides Mahit has her own secrets, one of which could spell the end for the station and her way of living, or save them from destruction.
'Stunning sci-fi debut. An ambassador from a small space station has to survive in the capital of a galactic empire where everyone seems to want her dead. Add in a great will-they-won't-they wlw romantic interest. Awesome.' - Rick Riordan
'A Memory Called Empire is a murder mystery wrapped up in a political space opera and deeply immerses the reader in a unique culture and society. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to what Martine does next.' - Martha Wells
So, there they are. Plenty of books to keep you company on holiday, or in the evening with a nice glass of wine.