The 2000s were a pivotal decade for the fantasy genre, with some books standing out in how they laid the foundation for much of what’s popular today. It’s impossible to discuss fantasy without mentioningJ.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsbooksand how they established a significant number of the commonplace ideas in the genre.Much of the 20th century saw fantasy books written as emulations of Tolkien’s novels, as this was the perceived notion of the genre.
It wasn’t until the latter decades of the 20th century that authors like Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, and more began to deliver works that questioned that notion. The gradual shift from their work to thebest fantasy books of the past decade, including the works of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas, and R.F. Kuang, is fascinating to examine, and the exceptional fantasy books of the 2000s are crucial in that regard. The qualities ofthebest fantasy books include genre impact, general narrative quality, and broader cultural impact.
10The Gathering Storm
The Wheel Of Time, Book 12
The Gathering Stormis technically Brandon Sanderson’s first entry here, but this one is counted under the umbrella of Robert Jordan, asThe Wheel of Timeis still his world. After getting off to an unbelievable start with the first several volumes in the 1990s,The Wheel of Timesaw some lull in the 2000s with less appreciated installments likeWinter’s Heart andCrossroads of Twilight. With Jordan’s sudden passing,The Gathering Stormwas a pivotal volume for the series.
The Wheel of Timeimportantly challenged a genre norm set by Tolkien, which was stretching fantasy beyond the confines of the trilogy format. The release of fourteen books in Robert Jordan’s series makes it one of the most immense achievements in the fantasy genre as a long-form medium. Not only isThe Gathering Stormone of the best books inThe Wheel of Timeseries, but it alsoreaffirms the merits of Jordan’s long-term planning, proving that his epic is unparalleled in scale.
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9The Last Olympian
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5
Rick Riordan’s fifth entry to thePercy Jackson and the Olympiansseries is a YA fantasy book, but the cultural impact of this series can’t be ignored. Second only toHarry Potterin this regard,Riordan’s saga introduced millions of young readers during this era to the genre, creating lifelong book lovers, mythology fans, and fantasy addicts.The Last Olympiancarries the heavy weight of providing an ending to his series, and it delivers in every regard.
The Last Olympianwas the culmination of one of the most popular YA fantasy series ever written and deserves its lasting acclaim.
Rick Riordan accomplished two major feats withThe Last Olympian. First, he concluded an arc for a beloved fantasy book series that would appeal to its young readers. Second,he told such an iconic story that its appeal wouldn’t dissipate with age, affirming that narratives written for younger audiences could be sophisticated, emotionally engaging, and offer lasting value.The Last Olympianwas the culmination of one of the most popular YA fantasy series ever written and deserves its lasting acclaim.
8Memories of Ice
Malazan Book Of The Fallen, Book 3
Malazan Book of the Fallenis an epic fantasy series regarded for its intense complexity. Most reviews will warn readers of the vast confusion that comes with reading book 1, Gardens of the Moon, guiding them to stick with it as it will all become worthwhile. With that being said,Memories of Iceis not the book where everything comes together and makes sense, but it is the volume where the reader may realize it doesn’t matter because they’re having a terrific time anyway.
The first two volumes ofMalazanhave decent Goodreads scores, but the drastic improvement to a ridiculously impressive 4.46/5 stars signifies just how incredibleMemories of Iceis. Steven Erikson’s books may not be as widely read as other fantasy authors, but they’resome of the most well-written and well-plotted in 21st-century fantasy, with beautifully written characters.
7Fool’s Errand
Tawny Man, Book 1
Robin Hobb’s most widely read work is theFarseer Trilogy, which was released in the 1990s. However,her most acclaimed series is the sequelTawny Mantrilogy, which began withFool’s Errandin 2001. This saga is a continuation of Fitz’s story from theFarseer Trilogy, but is praised for elevating the material, expanding on the character development from the originals.
Robin Hobb is one of the rare fantasy authors who utilize a first-person perspective, so readers are fully ingratiated into the life of Fitz. While he’s an excellent character in both trilogies, following him as an adult years later inFool’s Errandis generally preferable for adult readers, allowing for an often more mature narrative perspective and storytelling ideas.Robin Hobb is one of the masters of character-oriented work, as she possesses an understanding and empathy toward her protagonists that few authors possess.
6Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn, Book 1
Brandon Sanderson is widely perceived as a champion of modern fantasy, and hadThe Way of Kingsbeen released a year earlier, he would’ve found his entry closer to the top. With that being said,Mistbornmay not be Sanderson’s magnum opus, but it’s still an outstanding modern fantasy series that’s been massively influentialand is still the author’s most widely read work after over a dozen subsequent novels.
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With threeMistbornbooks being released in the 2000s,The Final Empiretakes the crown as the number one installment in the series. The novel is quintessential Sanderson, with a complex, mechanical magic system, one of the best villains in theCosmere book universein The Lord Ruler, and some of the most well-written fantasy protagonists of the decade.Sanderson is practically unrivaled in character arcs that balance the internal and external, exploring tangible emotional journeys that perfectly coincide with the challenges of massive fantastical narratives.
5The Lies Of Locke Lamora
Gentlemen Bastards, Book 1
Scott Lynch’sGentlemen Bastardsseries is credited as one of the most fun fantasy reading experiences of all time, withThe Lies of Locke Lamoraarguably being the best in the trilogy. Like withMistborn, the novel follows a team of con artists, meaningreaders are treated with fast-paced, witty dialogue between some morally ambiguous characters. For readers who love following characters that are primarily self-interested but still have some morality to them, this is the perfect saga.
The Lies of Locke Lamoraperfectly demonstrates how fantasy has expanded as a medium in the 21st century. One could argue that it’s more of a crime thriller novel set in a historical-like fantasy world, showing that not all fantasy books need to be epic fantasy war stories. In the 2020s, the genre is packed with novels that use fantasy settings to tell all different types of narratives, be it romance, heist, or whatever else, and Scott Lynch’s series is one of the best examples of this increasing variety.
4The Last Argument Of Kings
The First Law, Book 3
WhileJoe Abercrombie’s bookscontinuously improve in quality after the 2000s,the third installment to hisThe First Lawtrilogy is still one of the decade’s most outstanding fantasy achievements. The jump from J.R.R. Tolkien to George R.R. Martin’s approach to the fantasy genre has been stated as a tonal shift that largely defined the 2000s and everything after in fantasy, and no book series captures a direct response to that shift as well asThe First Law.
To begin Joe Abercrombie’sThe First Lawuniverse, start withThe Blade Itself(2006).
The First Lawasks the reader not only to explore a harsh fantasy environment akin to Martin’s but also challenges them to embrace an ensemble of characters with a terribly low bar for morality.The First Lawfeatures some of the most extraordinary character development of the 21st century, andThe Last Argument of Kingsis the culmination of that development.This book prompts the reader to rethink everything they’ve grown to know about fantastical heroesand wizards in a way that’s brutally satisfying.
3Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter, Book 7
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsis another YA entry, but again,the cultural impact and influence of this series can’t be stressed enough. TheHarry Pottersagahas been the introductory course to the fantasy genre for millions of readers, and the 2000s saw rising hysteria for the series as the film adaptations began running simultaneously with the book releases. When the first movie was released in 2001, J.K. Rowling still had multiple volumes to complete, resulting in a mass separation for answers that has never been rivaled by another fantasy series.
Like no other, this book and series have remained in the hearts of millions of fans.
This put an enormous amount of pressure on the seventh and final volume to deliver on years of passionate speculation.The Deathly Hallowsprovided concrete answers to questions about Snape’s loyalty, how Voldemort could be defeated, and provided anemotionally impactful, hard-hitting ending to arguably the most widely beloved fantasy series ever written. Like no other, this book and series have remained in the hearts of millions of fans.
2The Name Of The Wind
The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
Despite Patrick Rothfuss infamously not finishing hisKingkiller Chronicletrilogy (yet),The Name of the Windis still easily one of the strongest fantasy books of the 2000s. Rothfuss is often praised for his fantasy prose, a feat that’s rare among modern fantasy writers who are typically criticized for their technical approaches to storytelling. And there’s a reason for this, asRothfuss weaves his stories through an in-world narrator, Kvothe, who keeps matters constantly entertaining and alluring.
The Name of the Windis influential, but its high placement is due to the sheer quality of its fantasy experience. There’s a reason this book has a 4.52 rating on Goodreads, extraordinarily rare for a debut novel, and it’s thatit invites the reader to viscerally experience what it would be like to be a fantasy wizard. The magic system is top-notch, the prose is beautiful and poetic, the world-building is enthralling, and the rare first-person perspective allows for a feeling like none other.
1A Storm Of Swords
A Song Of Ice & Fire, Book 3
Years before HBO’sGame of Thronesredefined the fantasy genre for mainstream audiences, George R.R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords refined it for dedicated book readers. The first two novels inMartin’sA Song of Ice & Fireserieswere terrific and game-changing in their own right, butA Storm of Swordsshattered expectations of what could be accomplished in the medium.ASOIAFis the perfect subversion of the genre norms established inThe Lord of the Rings, and the first leg of Martin’s journey culminates with multiple enormous climaxes in the third volume.
In HBO’sGame of Thrones, the events ofA Storm of Swordsare divided into seasons 3 and 4, demonstrating the scale and sheer number of climactic events in the novel.
A Storm of Swordsis not only the best fantasy book of the 2000s; it’sarguably the greatest fantasy novel ever written. While Martin’s legacy has been under speculation due to thelong wait forThe Winds of Winterand the reception to television adaptations of his work, the sheer impact of this novel can’t go understated. Nearly a quarter-way into the 21st century, no fantasy novel has managed to replicate the audacious success ofA Storm of Swords, and that’s not without a lack of trying.
