These 8 Fantasy Book Series Began With A First Novel That’s 10/10

A first book can make or break a fantasy series, as it can determine whether readers continue with the story or drop it altogether. Obviously, it’s important to make a good first impression, especially when it comes to world-building, magic systems, and characters. But even series that strive to make an impact in book one can take time to find their footing. It’s not that common for a story to start off with a bang, with the first book establishing itself as a 10/10 read right out of the gate.

Of course, that makes it even more exciting when a fantasy series does kick off with a solid first installment, setting the stage for even better things to come. In some cases, such novels lead to fantasy series where every book is a 10/10. However, even if they don’t keep that momentum, a perfect beginning ensures that readers remain invested from start to finish. This is why so many series with great first books go on to become huge hits.

8

The Lord Of The Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien

First Book: The Fellowship Of The Ring (1954)

It probably goes without saying, but J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has a 10/10 first book (though it was initially written as a single entity). In most bookstores, readers will find Tolkien’s masterpiece split into three novels, with The Fellowship of the Ring marking the beginning of the story. The Fellowship of the Ring makes for a stunning beginning, capturing the magic of Middle-earth while driving home the darker stakes of Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring.

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The Two Towers and The Return of the King are also 10/10 reads, and they arguably bring the story to even greater heights than book one. However, The Fellowship of the Ring holds its own against its sequels, with its quest narrative feeling distinctly charming and lighthearted and setting it apart. It’s hard to imagine reading the first part of Tolkien’s story and not being compelled to pick up the rest of it. There’s a reason LOTR is a fantasy series that’s considered a masterpiece, and it’s because all three installments stick the landing.

7

A Song Of Ice And Fire By George R.R. Martin

First Book: A Game Of Thrones (1996)

A Song of Ice and Fire wastes no time throwing readers into George R.R. Martin’s world, which is expansive and immersive from the beginning of book one. Martin’s large cast of characters and detailed descriptions of Westeros can be overwhelming at first, but they’re the sign of a well-crafted story. And that’s not all the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire has going for it. A Game of Thrones may not be the best novel in Martin’s series — that honor goes to A Storm of Swords — but it lands near the top of a ranking of all the books.

A Game of Thrones subverts expectations with its tragic ending, and it packs a powerful emotional punch. Even the lead-up to Ned’s death is full of heavy political tension and compelling character moments, all of which will hook viewers throughout the lengthy fantasy novel. Needless to say, ASOIAF has a stronger start than many other popular series in the genre. The first book is just as gripping as the HBO show’s first season, and both hint at even greater things to come.

6

Mistborn Era 1 By Brandon Sanderson

First Book: Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)

Brandon Sanderson managed to write two fantasy series where every book is 10/10, and Mistborn Era 1 is one of them. The first Mistborn trilogy maintains a high quality all the way through, but it never quite tops the first installment. There’s something special about Mistborn: The Final Empire, which masterfully blends elements of the dystopian and sci-fi genres into its fantasy setting. It also introduces one of the coolest magic systems in modern fantasy, has a great found family dynamic, and sees its leads taking on an impossible, heist-like mission.

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There’s so much to love about Mistborn: The Final Empire, and while the latter books successfully expand the world and raise the stakes of Sanderson’s story, they don’t fully recapture its magic. All three books have important things to say about oppression and standing up against it, but that message is clearest in book one. The characters’ connections are also at their most fresh and entertaining in the opening installment, and the fight sequences are hugely impressive (though those never really let up).

5

The Poppy War Series By R.F. Kuang

First Book: The Poppy War (2018)

R.F. Kuang gets a lot of attention for 2022’s Babel and her upcoming 2025 release, Katabasis, but the author’s career took off with The Poppy War trilogy. A gritty fantasy story that draws heavily from the real history of the Second Sino-Japanese War, The Poppy War takes an unflinching approach to such violence. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s masterfully crafted, and the series will remain with readers long after they’ve put it down. And its overall quality stems from its impressive first book, as 2018’s The Poppy War has very few flaws to speak of.

Not only does The Poppy War contain harrowing commentary on war and injustice, but it manages to tackle those themes while also delivering great world-building, character work, and an intriguing magic system. There’s a reason it has won several awards, including the Compton Crook Award (via LibraryThing) and the Crawford Award in 2019 (via Locus Online). The book’s success is made even more impressive by it being Kuang’s debut.

4

The Legendborn Cycle By Tracy Deonn

First Book: Legendborn (2020)

Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn Cycle is ongoing, but it has yet to produce a disappointing book — and the first installment paints a clear picture of why the YA fantasy series is so beloved. 2020’s Legendborn takes readers on a journey alongside its heroine, Bree, who discovers a secret Arthurian society at the university she’s attending for her early college program. The Arthurian elements and magic of Legendborn are unique and epic, and they make it a truly memorable read.

In addition to Legendborn‘s great take on Arthurian legend, Deonn’s series masterfully weaves in social commentary and manages to tug at readers’ heartstrings with the connections between characters. The Legendborn Cycle just gets better and better — its newest book, Oathbound, is a testament to that — but it all starts with the first 10/10 novel. The 2020 opener is everything you could want in a fantasy story, and it’s a wonder it hasn’t been adapted for the screen yet.

3

His Dark Materials By Philip Pullman

First Book: The Golden Compass (1995)

His Dark Materials is considered a classic children’s fantasy series, and its strengths continue all the way through its run. But The Golden Compass makes for a great jumping-off point, as the 1995 novel does an impressive job of drawing readers into its world, full of Daemons and Dust. It also establishes Lyra Belacqua as a headstrong and admirable heroine, making it even easier to get invested in her prophecy and plight. Lyra is an especially refreshing protagonist for when Pullman’s books were written, and her story holds up decades after its release.

The ending of The Golden Compass is also surprisingly devastating for a children’s fantasy book, and it sets the stage for the conversations and conflicts of the sequels in a truly stunning way. With The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass upping the stakes, The Golden Compass doesn’t always get the recognition it rightfully deserves. But Pullman’s first His Dark Materials is a 10/10 read, and its sequels managing to match it makes the series all the more impressive.

2

The Broken Earth Trilogy By N.K. Jemisin

First Book: The Fifth Season (2015)

The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin offers the perfect blend of fantasy and sci-fi, and every book in the series is as effective as the last. With all three books boasting above-average Goodreads scores, that probably goes without saying. And the positive reception is well-deserved. It’s hard to find anything quite like The Broken Earth in terms of its unique magic system, complex cast of characters, and distinct backdrop. Book one, The Fifth Season, introduces all these elements of Jemisin’s world in a way that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.

The Fifth Season also does an impressive job of tackling serious subjects through its narrative, from discrimination and oppression to the effects of trauma. This makes it an emotional read, but that ensures the series leaves an impact from the very start. It’s no wonder The Fifth Season won a Hugo Award in 2016; it makes for a powerful beginning to a journey that remains incredible all the way through.

1

The Gentleman Bastard Sequence By Scott Lynch

First Book: The Lies Of Locke Lamora (2006)

Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard Sequence is among the best grimdark fantasy series of all time, and the first installment is easily the strongest. 2006’s The Lies of Locke Lamora may take place in a cruel and unforgiving world, but it still manages to deliver a story full of charm and spirit. This is mostly because of its main characters and the connections between them, which gives an emotional center to the heist story at the book’s core. Of course, the great character writing makes the emotional gut punches of Lynch’s book that much worse.

In addition to great characters, the plotting and pacing of The Lies of Locke Lamora makes for an engaging ride. The dark and atmospheric world Lynch builds will stick with readers, cementing the novel as one of the most impressive fantasy books of the past few decades — and certainly as one of the strongest first installments of a series. If any first book is a 10/10, it’s The Lies of Locke Lamora. Although its sequels are great, they never quite reach its heights.