Bestselling Fantasy Series: Top Epic Tales That Define the Genre

When people talk about the bestselling fantasy series, epic narratives set in imagined worlds with magic, heroes, and ancient conflicts. Also known as high fantasy series, these stories don’t just entertain—they build cultures, inspire films, and turn readers into lifelong fans. The biggest ones aren’t just popular—they’re landmarks. One series alone has sold over 150 million copies, changed how fantasy is written, and still dominates bookshelves decades after its first page.

It’s not just about sales numbers. The Lord of the Rings, the foundational fantasy epic by J.R.R. Tolkien set the template: a reluctant hero, a dark lord, a fellowship, and a world so detailed it feels real. Other series like Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin’s gritty political drama wrapped in dragons and betrayal, and Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan’s sprawling 14-book saga of destiny and cycles followed, each adding their own flavor—more violence, more politics, more magic systems. These aren’t just books. They’re entire universes people live in, re-read, and argue about for years.

What makes a fantasy series stick? It’s not just dragons or swords. It’s characters you feel like you’ve known your whole life. It’s rules for magic that make sense. It’s stakes that matter—not just the fate of a kingdom, but the soul of the person carrying the burden. The best ones don’t end when you close the book. They stay with you. And that’s why the top-selling fantasy series keep selling, year after year, generation after generation.

Below, you’ll find real insights into what makes these series work, why some books get stolen more than others (yes, even fantasy), and how to tell if a fantasy book is truly great—or just loud. Whether you’re new to the genre or you’ve read every page of every epic, there’s something here that’ll make you look at these stories differently.