There’snothing more satisfying than a dense fantasy novel that rewards the reader for paying close attention. Great fantasy comes in all shapes and sizes, and many of the most beloved books and series contain enormous ensemble casts that can be difficult to sift through and memorize. Beyond that, the reader is expected to memorize a fresh world with original political and cultural systems, all while an often complicated, multi-layered plot unfolds. Epics likeGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firebook seriesrequire a distinct level of attention and understanding, and that knowledge pays off.
In the case of long-form fantasy likeThe Wheel of Timebook series, narratives will often take multiple installments to form. Then, a book comes along that utilizes the massive build-up and knocks it all down with pivotal plot twists or reveals.Consider famous events like the Red Wedding or great plot twists in the Mistborn sagaand how the author leaves subtle clues in place. These books are incredibly fun to re-read, but they can be even more fulfilling for those who pay attention astutely, to begin with, examining the hints laid out and compiling the pieces.
These descriptions will avoid direct explanations of major spoilers, but they will mention the occurrences of plot twists and how the books set them up.
10Words Of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive
Words of Radianceis not only commonly considered the best book inThe Stormlight Archiveseries; it’s arguablyBrandon Sanderson’s best bookaltogether. Brandon Sanderson introduces audiences to a complex fantasy world in Roshar, and there’s such a vast amount of lore that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of every character detail and plot point. ButSanderson loves to tease his readers, and there are plenty of indicators along the way for where the narrative is heading.
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WhatWords of Radiancedoes so well is take the narratives established inThe Way of Kingsand expand upon them by bringing its characters together. In doing so,Words of Radianceallows forsome of the series' most significant character reveals, particularly pertaining to Kaladin and Shallan.The Stormlight Archiveis more character-driven than other epic fantasy series, and the novel will be fulfilling for those who’ve paid careful attention to the main cast.
9The Light Of All That Falls
The Licanius Trilogy
James Islington’sThe Licanius Trilogyis a popular series in contemporary fantasy, and they’reoften praised for their frequent plot twists. For those who really love a meandering fantasy story that constantly keeps the reader on their toes, each book in the saga could fit the criteria.The Light of All That Fallsis the best-reviewed book on the series by readers on Goodreads, boasting an impressive 4.4/5 stars, much of which is due to its powerful ending.
The Light of All That Falls’ending is celebrated for being hard to predict, but those who carefully followed the four converging viewpoints might be able to put the pieces together. Islington carefully weaves his narrative, and the final volume, though shocking, is entirely fulfilling of the narrative he establishes. Oppositely to Sanderson,The Licanius Trilogyis more plot-driven than character-driven, for readers who are more interested in that aspect of fantasy.
8The Shadow Rising
The Wheel Of Time
The Wheel of Timebook series can be a challenge to get through, given its slower pacing and massive length. Book 4,The Shadow Rising, is commonly considered the peak of the series, and it’s easily one of the most fulfilling literary experiences. Of course, this book sees varying threads across the world ofThe Wheel of Time, and there’s always a rewarding experience in being able to follow the extensive plotlines Robert Jordan creates.
The novel contains one of the biggest plot twists in its Tar Valon plotline. Cleverly, the book opens with the perspective of Min, a girl who’s capable of seeing visions of the future, envisioning terrible, violent things happening, establishing the perfect lead-in for what’s coming.There are ultimately about three game-changing climaxes throughout the novel, all of which are foreshadowed and have a long-lasting impact on the series.
7The Crippled God
Malazan Book Of The Fallen
When asking a well-read fantasy lover where to start with complex fantasy, chances are they’ll sayMalazan Book of the Fallen.It’s developed its reputation for being relentlessly convoluted, with a sprawling series of events and a massive cast of characterscushioned by minimal to no exposition. Progressing through all ten volumes ofMalazanis an achievement for any reader, but fully understanding what Steven Erikson’s story is about is even more impressive.
The ending ofThe Crippled Godis worth reading for any fantasy lover, as it’s so thematically rich and narratively sophisticated, with a profound, bittersweet resolution. Trying to piece together the events ofMalazan’splot is a challenge, but what’s ultimately important is the thematic depth Steven Erikson explores, which makes the complexity exceedingly worthwhile.
6Assassin’s Apprentice
The Farseer Trilogy
Robin Hobb’sThe Farseer Trilogyis another set of fantasy novels that offer a truly emotional experience. In this case, it’s the first book,Assassin’s Apprentice, that makes up for its slow pacing with an excellent finish.Assassin’s Apprenticeoffers dense,complex fantasy paired with hard-hitting emotional resonance.
Praise forThe Farseer Trilogycommonly highlights the relationship between Fitz and Burrich as being incredibly rich and nuanced. Hobb utilizes a rare first-person perspective, allowing the reader to truly be integrated into Fitz’s life, and it contributes to the rewarding experience. A major aspect of following Fitz in the first-person is that he’s not the most reliable narrator. It’s easy to follow what he’s saying and feeling, but the most astute readers will notice what hedoesn’tsee, which makes the series so rewarding.
5Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter
The final volume of theHarry Potterseries is among the most widely read fantasy books ever, and it maximizes on everything that’s come before. Throughout the series,Severus Snape is the biggest question mark, with his loyalties constantly being questioned. Harry is convinced he’s a villain inThe Sorcerer’s Stone, and his trust in the professor continues to meander as the series progresses.
The Half-blood Princesees Snape commit an unspeakable act, leading to his role in the final volume of the series.The twists inThe Deathly Hallowswill reshape one’s entire view of theHarry Potterbooks, and it’s fascinating to reflect on how clues and motivations had been laid out throughout each novel. There are several reasons why millions of fans continue to re-read theHarry Potterseries religiously, and one is that the ending is executed perfectly.
4The Return Of The King
The Lord Of The Rings
“The Scouring of the Shire” is well known for being the most significant chapter left out of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy
J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsbooksaren’t the first saga one might think of in terms of plot twists. Compared to the likes ofA Song of Ice & Fire, Tolkien’s books are regarded as being rather straightforward, with black-and-white heroes and villains. But that’s whyreadingThe Return of the King, especially after having seen the movies, is such an effectively rewarding experience,as the ending completely shifts one’s perspective on the saga.
“The Scouring of the Shire” is well known for being the most significant chapter left out of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, and that’s because it drastically changes the ending of the final volume. Rather than the hobbits returning to peace in the Shire, they return to a fresh new conflict, leading to another final battle.The Return of the Kingdoesn’t reward its reader for paying attention to plot elements that build toward a twist but instead for paying attention to what the quest and the story have always been about.
3Last Argument of Kings
The First Law
One of the numerous brilliant aspects ofThe First Lawtrilogy is that Joe Abercrombie doesn’t really ever stop to tell the reader what’s going on.Some narratives are fairly direct, but they don’t all piece together until the third volume,Last Argument of Kings, when the multi-decade scheming efforts of a major character are revealed.The First Lawchallenges its readers to follow some despicable characters, but what’s surprising is the amount one ends up rooting for them against even worse antagonists.
Joe Abercrombie wrote all three volumes before any were published, so the clues for every reveal are plotted carefully
Due to the lingering effect ofThe Lord of the Rings, the reader spends much ofThe First Lawtrilogy inclined to trust the wise wizard, even though he’s clearly keeping some secrets. This leaves so much of the trilogy’s understanding in the hands of Bayaz, whose motives are unclear from the beginning. Joe Abercrombie wrote all three volumes before any were published, so the clues for every reveal are plotted carefully, andit all ties together in such a neat way that it leaves the reader simultaneously depressed and impressed.
2The Final Empire
Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson is among the most popular contemporary fantasy readers, and much of his success has ridden on the lasting impact of his most widely read work.Mistbornisn’t quite as dark asA Song of Ice & FireorThe First Law, but its third volume delivers an excellently crafted bittersweet fantasy ending, leaving a lasting emotional effect. Few authors can make their readers care about the protagonists as Sanderson does, heightening the impact ofThe Final Empire.
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Perhaps what’s most impressive about Sanderson’s novels is how he sets up his heroes against insurmountable odds but puts them in positions to overcome their antagonists in believable ways. At the start of the trilogy,it’s difficult to imagine Vin rising up to be such a powerful hero, and while her strength increases organically, the final tool at her disposal has been carefully planted all along, leading to a major plot twist in the climax.
1A Storm Of Swords
A Song Of Ice & Fire
While the future ofA Song of Ice & Fireremains uncertain,A Storm of Swordsis still undoubtedly one of the best and most prolific works of fantasy ever written. There’s simply so much to unpack, with several plot threads established inA Game of Thronespaying off in insane ways. Between the Red Wedding, the Purple Wedding, and the Mountain & Viper fight, there are so many climactic, game-changing moments in this volume.
One of the best parts of George R.R. Martin’s writing is thathe sets up massive threads but leaves clues and symbolism available for the reader to piece everything together. The Red Wedding may be arguably the most shocking fantasy book plot twist ever, but the truly incredible part is reflecting on how blatant the foreshadowing is. Martin practically laid out the details in Daenerys' House of the Undying vision, but it’s nearly impossible to comprehend such a twist until it actually happens.
