10 of the best book series of all time

Enjoying a book series allows you to dive deeper into the fictional world and learn more about the characters the author develops. Book series come in a wide variety of genres, from historical fiction to epic fantasy to young adult literature to science fiction.

If you’re looking for the next great book series to fill up your reading list, here are 10 of the best book series of all time for you to consider.

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Make sure to add these great book series to your reading list.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

This world-famous fantasy series features seven novels. In the first book, author J.K. Rowling introduces us to the main character, Harry Potter, who learns he’s a wizard. He goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Throughout his education, Harry meets numerous good and evil wizards and tries to prevent Lord Voldemort, the wizard who killed his parents, from regaining power and destroying the wizarding world.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy as the sequel to his other book, The Hobbit. However, the story ended up being much longer than he had initially predicted, and that’s how one of the most famous epic fantasy series came to be.

Sauron, the trilogy’s main antagonist, forged the One Ring to rule all other Rings of Power given to Elves, Men, and Dwarves. The One Ring gets lost and later ends up in the hands of Bilbo Baggins. He gives it to Frodo and tells him he needs to go to Mount Doom and destroy it. The trilogy follows Frodo’s path through Middle Earth and the obstacles he needs to overcome to fulfill his mission.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

This fantasy series written by Christian author C.S. Lewis is set in the fictional land of Narnia. Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy end up in Narnia after discovering a secret passage in a magic wardrobe. They learn that the White Witch has ruled the land for decades and destroyed everything beautiful. The four embark on a mission to return peace to Narnia with the help of the majestic lion named Aslan. While this is the story of the first novel, the seven other Chronicles of Narnia books feature many more characters and adventures in the world of Narnia.

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

This historical fiction series is one of the best-selling book series of all time. It follows the story of Claire, a married British nurse. She travels through time and ends up in Scotland in the 18th century, where she meets a highland warrior named Jamie Fraser, falls in love, and gets married again. This unusual plot is filled with adventures, excitement, and twists.

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin’s series of epic fantasy novels centers on the power struggle for the Iron Throne after the death of King Robert in the first book, A Game of Thrones—which is where the popular HBO TV series got its name. Several Westeros families want the throne for themselves, and the hunger for power brings out the worst and the best in people. This series still hasn’t been completed, so you don’t have to worry about finishing it and having nothing left to read yet.

The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett

This fantasy book series is set in Discworld, a flat planet balanced on the backs of four elephants standing on a large turtle’s back. The series comprises 41 novels, each dealing with different characters and events. In the Discworld universe, you’ll meet dwarves, wizards, trolls, dragons, and many other unusual creatures.

The Divergent series by Veronica Roth

Set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, this New York Times best seller coming-of-age series contains three parts. It focuses on Tris, a girl who can’t seem to fit in, who ventures out by herself to find her place. However, she isn’t prepared for the brutal world that awaits her. In addition to the trilogy, there is the book Four: A Divergent Collection, a collection of short stories told from the perspective of one of the trilogy’s main characters Tobias.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collin’s trilogy is set in a dystopian world where two people from each of the 12 districts are chosen to compete in the Hunger Games and fight to the death every year. There can only be one winner, so the participants, called the Tributes, do everything they can to survive. The Games become more interesting when Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl, volunteers to take her sister Primrose’s place in the competition.

Goosebumps by R.L. Stine

This is a great book series of children’s horror fiction novels that depict kids or young adults being exposed to different scary situations and finding their way out. The author characterizes the series as scary but also funny, and many children worldwide love reading it. Stine was often inspired by other literary classics, so it’s no surprise we can see characters like Slappy the Dummy, who was inspired by Pinocchio.

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King

In Stephen King’s dark fantasy series, readers follow the story of Rolan Deschain, the last gunslinger of the Mid-World. He travels across the post-apocalyptic landscape searching for a magical structure, also known as The Dark Tower. The author often calls the series his magnum opus.

Honorable mentions

Hungry for more series than these? Other good book series you should explore are His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Twilight by Stephenie Mayer, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

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FAQ

What is the #1 best-selling book series of all time?

The Harry Potter series is the best-selling book series of all time, with more than 500 million copies sold.

Which book series have great films?

People can find many of their favorite book series in the form of a movie. Some of these series are Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Hunger Games.

Why should I commit to a book series?

You should commit to a book series because you’ll be able to immerse yourself deep into exciting stories, discover new worlds from the imaginations of different authors, and get to know the complexities of many beloved characters.