Best Fantasy Series Since 2000 (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Picking the next long read is a commitment: a trilogy means weeks with the same characters, and the wrong tone can stall a reader for months. That is why this roundup compares the best fantasy series since 2000 the way the listings describe them, so you can match the series to the reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The First Law Trilogy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Farseer Trilogy Collection	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Inheritance Cycle by Paolini	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Mistborn Boxed Set by Sanderson	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Heavy Metal Collectors Edition	9.2/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The First Law Trilogy

Joe Abercrombie·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The complete First Law trilogy: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, The Last Argument of the Kings.

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Pros

• Complete trilogy in one set
• 1680 pages stated
• Grimdark noir fantasy

Cons

• Dark tone will not suit every reader
• No reading age stated
• No grade level stated

2

The Farseer Trilogy Collection

Robin Hobb·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The complete Farseer Trilogy: Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest.

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Pros

• Complete trilogy in one set
• Assassin and magic storyline
• Six Duchies worldbuilding

Cons

• No page count stated
• No reading age stated
• Slow political build-up stated

3

The Inheritance Cycle by Paolini

Christopher Paolini·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A young farm boy discovers his destiny as a Dragon Rider and fights to restore justice to the empire across four volumes.

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Pros

• Includes all four volumes of the complete saga in one trade paperback boxed set
• The listing states the boxed set features interlocking art across the spines of all four books
• Grade level 7 to 9 matches middle school and early high school reading levels
• Provides an expansive high-fantasy narrative across 880 pages

Cons

• Reading age of 11+ years is marked as from customers rather than publisher stated
• The description mentions battle, heartbreaking loss and sacrifice, reflecting wartime violence
• Trade paperback covers can show wear over repeated readings of long books
• Published in 2012, so it is an older reprint collection

4

Mistborn Boxed Set by Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

In a dark world where ash falls and the Lord Ruler reigns, a crew of rebels attempts an impossible heist.

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Pros

• Collects the complete original three-book trilogy from Tor Fantasy
• Covers the full story arc of Kelsier and Vin against the Lord Ruler
• Published in a unified boxed set edition on March 31, 2020
• High fantasy heist premise offers a distinct magic system

Cons

• Print length is not stated on the listing
• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing
• The description mentions dark themes of slavery, misery and lethal mists
• Collects only Boxed Set I, leaving later Cosmere installments for separate purchase

5

Heavy Metal Collectors Edition

Gerald Potterton·9.2/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Heavy Metal Collector's Edition on DVD, 1 hour and 30 minutes.

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Pros

• Collector's edition
• 1 hour and 30 minutes runtime
• DVD release

Cons

• A film, not a book series
• No book content at all
• DVD format only

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 21 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs completeness of the set, edition detail, value and what each listing states. The First Law leads as a complete trilogy with 1680 pages stated; the Farseer follows as a complete trilogy in a 2021 edition. Mistborn and the Inheritance Cycle rank as boxed sets with sparse listings, and the Heavy Metal DVD trails because it is a film, not a book series.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fantasy series since 2000

Match the tone to the reader

The First Law is described as noir fantasy with a cutting edge: murderous conspiracies, old scores settled, and a sharp line between hero and villain. The Farseer Trilogy is an assassin’s coming-of-age in the Six Duchies, with court politics and animal magic. Both are adult in tone; neither listing states a reading age. For more options in the genre, see the fantasy books section.

Check what the listing actually states

The First Law listing gives the most: three titles, 1680 pages, a November 15, 2016 publication date and an Orbit publisher. The Farseer listing gives three titles and a January 1, 2021 date. The Mistborn and Inheritance Cycle listings give almost nothing beyond the title, so you are buying on the series name alone.

Note the odd one out

The Heavy Metal Collector’s Edition is a DVD with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes, not a book series. It is here because it was in the data, but do not buy it expecting pages.

Before you buy

• Confirm the set is complete: the First Law and Farseer listings name all three books each.
• Check the tone: grimdark and noir are stated for the First Law; nothing here states a reading age.
• Do not expect book content from the Heavy Metal DVD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which series is the longest?

By the listings, the First Law Trilogy: 1680 pages stated. No other listing in this roundup states a page count.

Which are complete trilogies?

The First Law Trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, The Last Argument of the Kings) and the Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin’s Quest).

Is the Heavy Metal Collector’s Edition a book?

No. The listing is a DVD with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It contains no book content.

Which suit younger readers?

None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level. The First Law is described as noir fantasy, so check the tone yourself before buying for a younger reader.

What does the Mistborn listing state?

Very little: the title Mistborn Boxed Set I by Brandon Sanderson. No page count, no publication date, no description.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe First Law Trilogy

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Related lists

Browse the fantasy books section for more series lists.

More lists: browse fantasy books and every fiction list.