Books have been a source of escape from reality for readers into magical worlds, distant galaxies, and gripping human dramas. Considering the Goodreads suggestions and trending book-tok social media hype, let us dive into such 15 must reads that define timeless storytelling.
Fantasy novel series
1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – This is one of the most famous series of all time. It has seven epic books that follows a teenage wizard's adventure at Hogwarts, true friendship, bravery, and magic.
2. The Stormlight Archive written by Brandon Sanderson –It’s a grand epic series with unique magic, kingdoms at war, and rich character developments. It’s first book starts with The Way of Kings.
3. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin – Famous for politically intriguing and moral ambiguity, it chronicles around hvicious struggles for power in Westeros.
4. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – It is very popular among the youth, and it consists of “romance " combining fae politics, magical combat, and lusty romance.
5. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – A cornerstone of high-end fantasy, this classic trilogy sees Frodo embark on a mission to destroy the One Ring.
Science fiction genre
6. Dune by Frank Herbert – A science fiction classic interweaving politics, ecology, and religion on the desert world of Arrakis.
7. The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells – It’s an award-winning series following a self aware robot seeking autonomy and identity.
8. The Expanse by James S.A. Corey – Space opera and mystery mix starting with Leviathan Wakes.
Thriller and Mystery Genre
9. Dept. Q series by Jussi Adler Olsen – A detective and his colleagues clear cold cases using humor and determination.
10. The Millennium series by Stieg Larsson – The series beings with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, an intense crime investigation.
11. Jack Reacher series by Lee Child – A high-octane, action-packed series featuring a solitary ex-military wanderer.
Historical fiction
12. The Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett – Medieval life sensationally brought alive over generations in The Pillars of the Earth.
13. The Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian – Naval battles and camaraderie throughout the Napoleonic Wars.
Contemporary and Literary Fiction
14. The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante – A gritty portrait of lifelong friendship and class conflict in Naples.
15. Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean series – A dragon rider "romantasy," starting with Fourth Wing and following up with 2025's Onyx Storm hit.
Whether you're in the mood for epic plots, thrillers, or richly human literary fiction, these 15 fictional series have the limitless ways stories can thrill, inspire, and move us.
