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The fantasy genre has some of the most beloved book franchises of all time, with The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter remaining firm favorites for younger and older audiences alike. Interestingly enough, some of these famous franchises tend to come in trilogies, like The Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials, Mistborn, etc. Perhaps trilogies might be one of the ultimate ways of organizing fantasy worlds, given the success of these famous franchises.
But, it seems that no matter what decade, the charm that fantasy has over the public will not dissipate. Although older fantasy books have been given more acclaim, newer fantasy releases have also been able to ensnare the public. Many of these are trilogies, and prove the former idea that trilogies might be one of the best ways to introduce new worlds to the public, as some of them are the most incredible book releases of the past ten years.
The Daevabad Trilogy Keeps Readers on the Edge of Their Seats
The true definition of a nail-biter, The Daevabad Trilogy was written by S.A. Chakraborty and released from 2017 to 2020. It is comprised of: The City of Brass, The Kingdom of Copper, and The Empire of Gold, and follows a world built on Islamic mythology. The city of Daevabad is a magical one filled with unusual creatures and beautiful details, but it is also seemingly always on the brink of civil war. The series is known for worldbuilding and intriguing characters that are forced to endure complex situations with no "right" way out, but it is best known for its politics and pacing.
With betrayals, curses, and unspoken alliances around every corner (and sometimes a romance or two, because who doesn't love a good enemies-to-lovers trope), readers are kept on the edge of their seats as the world twists and turns around the politics surrounding different tribes. Parallels to the real world include conversations around colonialism, what it means to have power, how religion can impact decisions, and how decisions from years ago can haunt current generations. It is deeply introspective and a breath of fresh air in a world where fantasy is dominated by European-centered worlds.
The Bloodsworn Saga Gives Readers an Immersive World Inspired by Norse Mythology
This fantasy trilogy inspired by Norse mythology has already caught Hollywood's eye, even though the books were only just released recently, from 2021 to 2025. The books, The Shadow of the Gods, The Hunger of the Gods, and The Fury of the Gods, take place in a land that is recovering from battle. Hundreds of years have passed since the gods killed each other, and the humans that remain have to navigate a world without their gods, while also dealing with the fact that the bones of these gods and their descendants still carry magic.
It's a fascinating, albeit morbid, world to be placed into as a reader. And yet, the distinctly Norse themes and inspirations help author John Gwynne orient the reader in the universe, making the worldbuilding seamless and easy to absorb, while still detailed and interesting. The characters are Viking-like, and the female characters, in particular, are very impressive and well-crafted. There are monsters and witches, expansive battle scenes, and threats around every corner, all while paced out in a quick but still immersive way.
The Age of Madness Trilogy Shows the Reality of Industrialization and Revolution
A sequel trilogy of sorts, following Joe Abercrombie's original series The First Law, The Age of Madness trilogy picks up 30 years after the storyline from The First Law ends. Although the world might be the same, the majority of characters, situations, and controversies are vastly different. In this time, magic and tradition are pitted against a new age of industry. With parallels to the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution, workers begin to rise against the government and the upper class, and a revolution breaks out.
The trilogy, released from 2019 to 2021, contains the books: A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace, and The Wisdom of Crowds. Another notable addition to the grimdark genre of fantasy that Abercrombie is synonymous with, the characters feel deeply grounded, with their evolutions feeling extremely realistic to what happens when people lack power, are given power, and/or have power taken away.
Readers rejoice that the established world isn't set in stone; it moves and evolves with the times and its people, keeping an engaging and highly interesting pace throughout. Choices have consequences, and the world doesn't allow that reality to halt for anyone, not even the book's protagonists.
The Green Bone Saga Has a Magic System Unique to the Fantasy Genre
Each released two years apart from 2017 to 2021, TheGreen Bone Saga comprises the books Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy. Although the books, written by Fonda Lee, were released relatively close together (especially in the notoriously long wait time of fantasy), the timeline they span within the world covers decades. This gives viewers more investment in the books as the stakes and consequences play out in a realistic, often worrying, way.
In the world of The Green Bone Saga, jade can grant users magical abilities. The problem is that only certain bloodlines can use jade in this way and be granted these abilities. At the beginning of the saga, viewers follow the Kaul family and their battle against rival crime families as they attempt to build their influence in the world, around the fact that they can use jade. However, soon it is revealed that a drug has been created to allow others to use jade, and the ramifications of that go beyond anything that anyone could have expected.
What begins as a petty crime on the island of Kekon, surrounding the families who can use jade, soon expands into a worldwide conflict, where governments attempt to get their hands on the island's jade. World economics, politics, and warfare all change regarding this issue, echoing themes that readers can see in their day-to-day lives. Then, there's also the fact that this world is deeply engaging and fun, with action scenes filled with martial arts and a crime family that struggles with its morality and decisions.
The Broken Earth Trilogy Is One of the Most Famous Masterpieces of the Science Fantasy Genre
This series is a gem in the realm of fantasy, sci-fi, and science fantasy due to the fact that it is the first (currently the only) trilogy to win the Hugo Award for each consecutive year it was released. The books, written by N.K. Jemisin wrote The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky, with one released each year from 2016 to 2018. Besides being one of the finest examples of science fantasy to date, The Broken Earth trilogy has layers of depth that come naturally both with what readers understand about humanity and with what the author shows readers about the world.
The trilogy follows a world devastated by multiple weather apocalypses, called the Fifth Seasons. In this world, humanity has dwindled to small communities where survival is paramount. To this end, governments seek to control a group of altered humans who are geokinetic, allowing them to alter the very foundations of the earth with earthquakes and other natural disasters. Once controlled, they are forced to help a society that fears them and looks down on them, rendering them virtually enslaved, although they are vital to survival.
Learning about the unique magic system of The Broken Earth trilogy may be the most fun, but the part that resonates most deeply with readers has to do with morality and what it means to be powerful. The worldbuilding is expansive and fascinating, and the way the protagonists and their points of view are written is masterful. The social themes are heavy in a way that they should be, to be realistic, but they help ingrain readers in the world and even bring hope where it could bring distance instead.
