Hey!
I’m Tom. Fantasy nerd, book nerd, video game nerd… basically just a nerd! And now this nerd is in way over his head and trying to do something he’s always wanted to do, write a book of his own.
Always an introverted member of the vast fantasy community, I consume the content but never contribute myself. I want to change that. I want to get to know you and take you with me as I continue this journey toward finishing (and hopefully one day publishing) my first book.
Some of my favorite content, whether from booktubers or blog writers, are rankings. So, I thought what better way to tell you a bit about myself than by ranking the stories we love, both fantasy and otherwise, that have shaped me into the reader and writer I am today.
Without further ado, lets do some ranking!
#10 – Beowulf
If this pick came as a surprise to you, you’re not alone. I even surprised myself with this entry.
I first read Beowulf in the 3rd grade, aged about 8. I was weird, I know! Introduced to a passage of the story by my 3rd grade teacher while learning about poems, I was enthralled with the adventures of the titular character and soon begged my parents to buy me the modern-English translation of the entire thing.
Over-the-top characters undertaking unimaginable feats. Conflict between good and evil. The tale of Beowulf is what set my metaphorical feet on the path to loving stories of epic adventure.
#9 – The Bone Series by Jeff Smith
These early picks also seem to share the theme of being stories I read in elementary and into high school.
One of my most beloved series of that time period was the collection of Bone comics (I consider them graphic novels). This was probably the first series I read through multiple times.
The characters are lovable, the conflict is grand, and our protagonists are Bones! This was also my first exposure to elements of prophecy in fantasy, and I loved the way the story gave the readers peeks all throughout the series before bringing it together.
#8 – The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist
I didn’t discover this massive universe until The Darkwar Saga, the 8th series in the ‘Cycle’. And, to be honest, I picked it up the first book because I liked the cover (hooded swordsmen all in black facing off against armored guards in what appears to be a large throne room).
I loved the fast-paced, clandestine nature of the plotline in Flight of the Nighthawks, that first book in the saga.
The series as a whole was my first introduction to, what I considered, a truly hardcore magic system. It also introduced me to things like court intrigue and politics in fantasy.
#7 – Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Novik’s Temeraire series combines two of my favorite things: Napoleonic Europe and dragons.
She did an excellent job of making me as a reader feel the bond shared by the lead protagonist and his dragon. More than that, I was captured by the battles that unfolded on an epic scale and were taken to the skies over Europe.
I loved everything from how different dragons were used differently in battle to the details of how riders moved around those dragons on the fly.
I’ve heard great things from the fantasy community about her newer work, Uprooted, and I can’t wait to read more of her.
#6 – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Not fantasy, though there is a magic-like wonder about some of the feats of the main character in this classic, the story Dumas crafted is another that has brought me back for read-through after read-through. Coincidentally this tale of love, betrayal and revenge also takes place in Napoleonic Europe.
Disguises, poison, intrigue and mystery, this book has it all. The Count himself would certainly make my Top 5 Protagonists Ever Read list.
There might not be another story on this list that I would recommend more than The Count of Monte Cristo.
#5 – The Witcher by Anderzej Sapkowski
Kicking off the top 5 we have The Witcher.
This is also the first entry where I’m talking more than just books. From the books, to the games, and now the Netflix series, I can’t even fathom how many hours I have spent in the world created in this series.
One of my favorite elements with this pick is the repurposing of fairy tales and folklore throughout The Witcher universe. The world as a whole is dark yet vibrant. The characters are lovable yet flawed.
The books strike the right balance, and the two most recent adaptations (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt & the Netflix series) have been great.
#4 – A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin / Game of Thrones (HBO)
I struggled with this pick.
On one hand, there are the books. Martin crafted a fantastic world chock-full of characters that I love. And while I appreciate the books, and did enjoy the first three immensely, I don’t know if I would say I love them.
On the other, we have the show. I started watching way back when the first episode premiered in 2011 and re-watched the whole thing before every new season. I loved the TV series, and while I’ve never felt the last two seasons were quite as bad as most people seem to, they definitely were a disappointment.
If the TV series had finished stronger, this may well have come in a bit higher in my rankings. Hopefully the books can do the job the show did not.
#3 – The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
“How in the Light is WoT only third!?” I’m sure many of you are asking your screens right now.
The truth is, I somehow only found out that this massive, genre-defining series existed at the start of 2019. One day, as I was looking for a new series to pick up, I stumbled across a YouTube video by Daniel Greene (fantastic booktuber – I highly recommend checking him out) where he was ranking his favorite series. My life as a reader changed forever.
While I admit it has its share of faults, I still love just about everything when it comes to Wheel of Time. The rich world, the deep histories, the incredible magic system, and, most of all, the characters.
The way Jordan has captured my imagination over the last year was the spark that has motivated me to write myself.
Currently about half-way through the 12th book, I am almost positive this series will have climbed by the time I am done. Maybe all the way to #1.
#2 – The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
It may surprise a few that this comes in so high, or even on this list at all. It’s a popular series, but you don’t often see it come up in ranking videos or lists.
This is the only series on this list that I’ve lost track of how many times I have read it. A lot of the impact this trilogy has had on me as a reader and a writer probably comes down to timing. I first read these books in late elementary and early high school and I just couldn’t put them down. I lived and breathed the world Weeks created every time I cracked the cover. I still do.
The Night Angel Trilogy was really the first time I was exposed to a dark, gritty fantasy world, and I loved it! Add magic-wielding assassins to a world like that, or any world really, and I’m hooked.
#1 – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Last, but certainly not least (first, in fact), we have the one to rule them all.
Or at least, the one that started it all for me. If my dad had never read this series to my brother and I as kids, who knows if I would even be a fantasy fan today!
From multiple read-throughs once I was old enough to read them on my own, to throwing on one of the films every single time I stayed home “sick” from school, The Lord of the Rings made me love epic fantasy and it will always hold a special place in my heart and mind.
What stories have shaped you? Have any thoughts on my picks or maybe some recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments!
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