Epic Fantasy: The Best Places to Start
Updated 2026-07-17 · 4 books
Epic fantasy can feel like a wall of thousand-page books and unpronounceable maps. It does not have to. The trick is to start with either a self-contained story or the first book of a series that is worth the commitment. These four are the ones we hand to people who say they do not read fantasy, and then watch disappear for a week.
- 1
The Priory of the Orange Tree
Samantha Shannon
Read this if you want everything in one book: Samantha Shannon's standalone epic of queens, dragons and a divided world, all in a single satisfying doorstopper.
AssassinsMagicImaginary places - 2
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
Read this to start a series you can binge: an assassin, a deadly competition and a kingdom, the opening of Sarah J. Maas's eight-book Throne of Glass saga.
AssassinsPrincesCourts and courtiers - 3
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
Read this if you want the romance dialled up: A Court of Thorns and Roses is the book that pulled millions of readers into romantasy.
FantasyLoveBlessing and cursing - 4
A Day of Fallen Night
Samantha Shannon
Read this if Priory hooks you: A Day of Fallen Night returns to the same world centuries earlier, and works as a way in too.
English literature
At a glance
| # | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon |
| 2 | Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas |
| 3 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas |
| 4 | A Day of Fallen Night | Samantha Shannon |
Frequently asked
What is a good first epic fantasy book?
For a complete story in one volume, Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree is ideal. If you would rather start a series, Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses are two of the most popular gateways into the genre.
What is the difference between Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses?
Both are by Sarah J. Maas. Throne of Glass follows an assassin through a long, plot-driven series, while A Court of Thorns and Roses leans harder into romance and is often the entry point for romantasy readers.
Prefer a plain-text version of this list? You can find one here.