The 2000s were a pivotal decade for the fantasy genre, with several books standing out as laying the foundation for much of what is popular today. It is impossible to discuss fantasy without mentioning JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Books and how they have established a significant number of common ideas in the genre. Much of the 20th century saw fantasy books written as emulations of Tolkien’s novelsAs this was the perceived concept of the genre.
Only in the last decade of the 20th century, authors such as Robert Jordan, George RR Martin and more began to provide works that questioned this idea. The gradual shift from their work to the best fantasy books of the last decade, including the work of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J Maas and RF Kuang, is fascinating to examine, and the exceptional fantasy books of the 2000s are crucial in this regard. The dimensions of The Best fantasy books include genre impact, general narrative quality, and broader cultural impact.
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The gathering storm
The Wheel of Time, Book 12
The gathering storm is technically Brandon Sanderson’s first entry here, but it’s considered under the umbrella of Robert Jordan, as The Wheel of Time is still his world. After getting off to an unbelievable start with the first few volumes in the 1990s, The Wheel of Time Saw some lol in the 2000s with less appreciated installments like Winter’s heart and Crossroads of Twilight. With Jordan’s sudden passing, The gathering storm was a pivotal band for the series.
The Wheel of Time Importantly challenged a genre norms set by Tolkien, which was stretching imagination beyond the confines of the trilogy format. The release of fourteen books in Robert Jordan’s series makes it one of the greatest achievements in the fantasy genre as a long-form medium. Not only is The gathering storm One of the best books in The Wheel of Time series, but it too Reaffirms the merits of Jordan’s long-term planning, proving that his epic is unparalleled in scale.
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The last Olympian
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5
Rick Riordan’s fifth entry to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a YA fantasy book, but the cultural impact of the series cannot be ignored. Second only to Harry Potter in 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 Olympian Bears the heavy weight of providing an ending to his series, and it delivers in every regard.
The last Olympian was the culmination of one of the most popular YA fantasy series ever written and deserves its lasting acclaim.
Rick Riordan accomplished two major feats with The last Olympian. First, he completed a build for a popular fantasy book series that will appeal to its young readers. secondly, He told such an iconic story that its appeal would not fade with age, confirming that stories written for younger audiences could be sophisticatedEmotionally engaging, and offer lasting value. The last Olympian was the culmination of one of the most popular YA fantasy series ever written and deserves its lasting acclaim.
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Memories of ice
Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 3
Malazan Book of the Fallen is an epic fantasy series considered for its deep 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, because it will all be worth it. with that said, Memories of ice Is not the book where everything comes together and makes sense, but it is the volume where the reader can realize that it doesn’t matter because they are having a great time anyway.
The first two volumes of Molasses have decent Goodreads scores, but the drastic improvement to a ridiculously impressive 4.46/5 stars signifies just how incredible Memories of ice Is. Steven Erikson’s books may not be as widely read as other fantasy authors, but they are Some of the most well-written and well-plotted in 21st-century fantasy, with beautifully written characters.
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Fool’s errand
Towny Man, Book 1
Robin Hobb’s most widely read work is the Farseer Trilogywhich came out in the 1990s. however, Her most acclaimed series is the sequel Towny man Trilogy, which began with Fool’s errand in 2001. This saga is a continuation of Fitz’s story of the Farseer TrilogyBut was praised for elevating the material, expanding on the character development of the originals.
Robin Hobb is one of those rare fantasy authors who use a first-person perspective, so readers are fully integrated into Fitz’s life. Although he is an excellent character in both trilogies, following him as an adult years later Fool’s errand is generally preferred for mature readers, allowing for an often more mature narrative perspective and narrative ideas. Robin Hobb is one of the masters of character-oriented workBecause she has an understanding and empathy for her protagonists that few authors have.
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Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn, Book 1
Brandon Sanderson is widely regarded as a champion of modern fantasy, and has The way of kings Had he been released a year earlier, he would have found his position closer to the top. with that said, Mistborn may not be Sanderson’s magnum opus, but it’s still an outstanding modern fantasy series that was massively influential And is still the author’s most widely read work after over a dozen later novels.
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with three Mistborn Books published in the 2000s, The Last Empire Takes 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 the Cosmer book universe in 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 externalExplore tangible emotional journeys that perfectly coincide with the challenges of massively fantastic stories.
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The Lies of Lac Lamora
Gentlemen Bastards, Book 1
Scott Lynch Messrs series is credited as one of the most fun fantasy reading experiences of all time, with The Lies of Lac Lamora Arguably the best in the trilogy. as with MistbornThe novel follows a team of con artists, meaning Readers are treated to fast-paced, witty dialogue between several morally ambiguous characters. For readers who love following characters who are primarily self-interested but still have some morals to them, this is the perfect saga.
The Lies of Lac Lamora Demonstrates perfectly how fantasy has expanded as a medium in the 21st century. One could argue that it is more of a crime thriller novel in a historical-than 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 stories, be it romance, heist or whatever, and Scott Lynch’s series is one of the best examples of this increasing variety.
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The Last Argument of Kings
The First Law, Book 3
While Joe Abercrombie’s books have steadily improved in quality since the 2000s, The third internet to be The first law trilogy is still one of the decade’s most outstanding fantasy achievements. The leap from JRR Tolkien to George RR Martin’s approach to the fantasy genre has been heralded as a tonal shift that largely defined the 2000s and everything else in fantasy, and no book series captures a direct response to that shift as well as The first law.
To start Joe Abercrombie’s The first law Universe, beginning with The blade itself (2006).
The first law It not only asks readers to explore a harsh fantasy environment similar to Martin’s, but also challenges them to embrace an ensemble of characters with a terribly low bar for morality. The first law Features some of the most extraordinary character development of the 21st century, and The Last Argument of Kings is the culmination of that development. This book prompts readers to rethink everything they’ve grown to know about fantasy heroes And wizards in a way that is brutally satisfying.
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Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows
Harry Potter, Book 7
Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows is another YA entry, but again, The cultural impact and influence of the series cannot be stressed enough. The Harry Potter Saga was 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 to run simultaneously with the book releases. When the first movie was released in 2001, JK 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 provide years of passionate speculation. The Deadly Hallows Provided concrete answers to questions about Snape’s loyalty, how Voldemort could be defeated, and provided an Emotionally impactful, hard-hitting ending to arguably the most widely loved fantasy series ever written. Like no other, this book and series have remained in the hearts of millions of fans.
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The name of the wind
The Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
Despite Patrick Rothfuss infamously not finishing his Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy (after), The name of the wind is still easily one of the strongest fantasy books of the 2000s. Rothfuss is often praised for his fantasy prose, a feat rare among modern fantasy writers who are typically criticized for their technical approaches to storytelling. And there’s a reason for that, like Rothfus weaves his stories through an in-world narrator, Kuthe, who keeps the issues constantly entertaining and entertaining..
The name of the wind is 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, exceptionally rare for a debut novel, and it’s that It 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 no other.
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A storm of swords
A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3
Years before HBO Game of Thrones Redefining the fantasy genre for mainstream audiences, George RR Martin’s A Storm of Swords refines it for dedicated book readers. The first two novels in Martin A Song of Ice and Fire Series are terrific and game-changing in their own right, however A storm of swords Shattered expectations of what could be achieved in the medium. ASOIF is the perfect subversion of the genre norms established in The Lord of the RingsAnd the first leg of Martin’s journey culminates with multiple huge climaxes in the third volume.
A storm of swords is not only the best fantasy book of the 2000s; It is Probably the greatest fantasy novel ever written. While Martin’s legacy was under speculation due to the long wait for The winds of winter and the reception to television adaptations of his work, the sheer impact of this novel cannot be understated. Almost a quarter-way into the 21st century, no fantasy novel has managed to replicate the wild success of A storm of swordsAnd it’s not without a lack of trying.