When you try to wrap your head around the sheer breadth of the Epic Fantasy landscape, you soon realize that even reading the most popular and acclaimed book series will take you a lifetime. And we all know that to-be-read list isn’t getting shorter.
At this point, most would opt to stick to the names that have stood the test of time. Books that not only celebrated the speculative tradition but redefined the entertainment industry and pop culture on a large scale. And sure, there is nothing wrong with this approach, but what if there were a myriad of amazing books — some even genuinely better than the supposed quintessential tour de force storytellers out there — that you’d be missing out on just because you decided to play it safe?
You understand where I’m going with this, of course. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most underrated yet acclaimed fantasy book series in history to give you a taste of the storytelling feats a few daring authors have pulled off at the outskirts of this imaginative enterprise.
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
You’d find yourself in no shortage of book readers eager to sing the praises of Malazan Book of the Fallen as one of the most ambitious fictional worlds out there, but the fact remains that Steven Erikson’s spiraling grimdark fantasy tale is still not as popular as you’d expect a narrative of this caliber to be. Reading Malazan is a viciously difficult undertaking in and of itself, but if you manage it, it will end up changing more than just the way you view life.
The Black Company by Glen Cook
Many contemporary writers — especially in the grimdark scene — would cite Glen Cook as one of their huge inspirations. Yet when all is said and done, his Magnum opus, The Black Company, remains relatively obscure. If you’re craving a military fantasy tale spearheaded by memorable characters, then you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than The Black Company. Be forewarned, though; the book is a slow-burner, so you have to bring yourself to power through the first 100 pages.
The Drenai Series by David Gemmell
Consisting of 11 novels, The Drenai Series by David Gemmell is often cited as one of the most influential works of fantasy after Tolkien, but rarely do we see it get the recognition it deserves. Every novel in this series, starting with 1984’s Legend, is self-contained and centers around a particular conflict and period in the Drenai world. The story is about heroism, moral philosophy, and existential musings tied into a fictional world resembling medieval Europe. If you love the works of such writers as Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson, and Mark Lawrence, it might interest you to know that all of them have taken inspiration from David Gemmell.
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
A lot of readers might feel as though fantasy is taking itself way too seriously nowadays. Remember the simple times when we had a Hobbit going on unlikely adventures, facing dragons, and living to tell the tale? Well, if you miss the subtle brilliance of those early stories, then The Chronicles of Prydain is the series you need to pick up immediately. Consisting of 5 books, Prydain revolves around a young assistant pig-keeper named Taran who dreams of adventure, and he soon grows to learn that his own journey is riddled with more than just heroism and excitement.
The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny is one of the biggest names in speculative fiction and a writer whose voice informed much of the tropes in both fantasy and sci-fi in the ‘70s. Zelazny’s best-known series is The Chronicles of Amber, a meta-story taking place in the realms of Amber, Chaos, and the Shadow worlds in between, one of which is our own Earth. The Chronicles of Amber has been hugely influential in the world of fantasy, and it’s not just the story’s allusions to William Shakespeare that have turned it into a timeless tale.
The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
James Islington is a new voice in the Epic Fantasy genre, but he’s managed to work up quite the hype maelstrom despite his rather fresh entry. The Licanius Trilogy involves a looming war and an ancient prophecy, which is the bread and butter of every traditional fantasy story. But what makes The Licanius Trilogy unique is its intricate worldbuilding. You might be confused at first, but things will start to make sense by the time you reach the finish line, and the payoff is going to be worth every minute you spend in this world.
The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
Opinions about The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne are usually a mixed bag; you either absolutely love these books to the point that they become some of your all-time favorites, or you hate them with a passion. Titled Malice, Valour, Ruin, and Wrath, this tetralogy might not have a whole lot of originality going for it, mostly finding itself in the generic trope-filled section of the fantasy shelf, but Gwynne’s confident prose and characterization make it work. Besides, the man writes some of the best action you’re ever going to see in Epic Fantasy.
The Fire Sacraments by Robert V.S. Redick
The first book in The Fire Sacraments series by Robert V.S. Redick is titled Master Assassins, promptly making you roll your eyes and dismiss it out of hand because you’ve seen the premise, or even the title, dozens of times already. But then, you’d be making one of the gravest mistakes in your literary lifetime because just about the only thing that’s mediocre about The Fire Sacraments is its title. This is currently one of the most underrated fantasy books out there, and I have almost no doubt that it’s going to blow up considerably in the years to come.
The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay
If you want a Lord of the Rings clone that comes anywhere close to those same literary, storytelling, and world-building heights, you have to read Guy Gavriel Kay. The Fionavar Tapestry is a severely underrated fantasy series that’s constantly paying homage to Tolkien and other respectable traditional High Fantasy books of yore. It also helps that Gavriel Kay actually worked with Christopher Tolkien to edit The Silmarillion back in the late ‘70s. If you’re having trouble finding a voice that can scratch that particular Middle-earth itch, The Fionavar Tapestry is your best bet.
The Powder Mage by Brian McClellan
There aren’t a lot of examples of what the High Fantasy community has come to refer to as “flintlock” fantasy. Suppose the genre is defined by its reliance on the so-called sword and sorcery. In that case, flintlock fantasy books like Promise of Blood, a part of Brian McClellan’s The Powder Mage, take viewers into the near future, where gunpowder is changing the face of society forever. If you want a fantasy book series with a unique world-building angle, then The Powder Mage trilogy is for you.
Published: Aug 3, 2024 11:34 am