Best fantasy audiobook series

There are seven books in the series, click on it below to get a free audible trial through Amazon, or read more below.

These books are pure magic and a benchmark in the genre. J.K. Rowling takes a classic idea of young children heading to boarding school, and put’s it on it’s head, generally we would expect all the exciting things to happen while on holiday – but not this time. The Harry Potter audiobooks series may have been written and narrated with children in mind, but that hasn’t stopped thousands of mums and dads giving the first book in the series a five star rating. Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone is an introduction into a world of of optimism and hope, where anything is possible. As a result, this book speaks to a younger audience naturally, however this is a must listen for everyone. How could you not want to live in a world like that?! The books are creative and fun.

The series has been narrated by both Stephen Fry and Jim Dale. Both are excellent, and it often depends on personal preference. I recommend Stephen Fry personally. Please see the sample.

There are three books in this series, click on it below to get a free audible trial through Amazon, or read more below.
The First Law series for audiobook is one of the best epic fantasy series I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. These books are dark. Very dark. If your humor is as black as mine, and you don’t mind if a character gets an axe to the head occasionally, then this series is for you.

The series is narrated by Steven Pacey. Pacey, is an incredible narrator. I don’t think Joe Abercrombie could have asked for anyone better. At times it’s hard to believe it’s one man creating all those voices. Pacey does a great job of bringing the characters to life, with expert pace and varied narration, he makes this good book series into an epic audiobook series

There are fifteen books in this series,  the first five are within the slider below, with a list at the bottom of all books, click on an image below to get a free audible trial through Amazon, or read more below.
The Wheel of Time is a series of high fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, The Wheel of Time spanned fourteen volumes, in addition to a prequel novel and a companion book. Jordan began writing the first volume, The Eye of the World, in 1984. It was published in January 1990.

The Wheel of Time is fantastically epic, intricately complex, more detailed and elaborate than you can imagine, while being both engaging and satisfying. The first books are very strong.

The audiobooks are primarily narrated by Michael Kramer. Michael Kramer is an award winning American audiobook narrator. Kramer has recorded many fantasy audiobooks. With Kramers dramatization, rich character diversification and smooth crisp voice you will sink into this series like nothing else before.

The Lord of the Rings is regarded as some of the best books ever written, beginning innocently and then taking a plunge into a much darker world. The Fellowship gives us a glimpse into the intricate and beautifully crafted world that is Middle Earth.

The audiobooks are narrated by Robert Inglis and Martin Shaw. I recommend the Rob Inglis version. Rob strikes the perfect note in his narrations; again, his voice is suited towards the old fashioned narration. Robs versions of the Lord of the Rings, and the Hobbit are a little more read than dramatised, but the character range is definitely amazing in the Lord of the Rings. Some people can find Rob a little dry, but I find this was mainly due to the books rather than the narrator. I think if you are looking for a narrator to read you the Tolkien classics, you have no better choice than Rob.

I really love the Game of Thrones audiobooks. Lots of people do. Of course epic fantasy will never be a ‘one size fits all’ genre, but there is no harm in at least giving these audiobooks a try. The twists and turns in the storyline, even though I knew what was going to happen, that didn’t stop the plot twists having any effect! People will often listen to their favourite audiobooks over and over again because they continue to have an effect on them. Game of Thrones is like that, knowing the plot doesn’t take any of the excitement away.

There are only little hints of magic in Game of Thrones which adds flavor to the story and reminds us that this is in fact a fantasy novel. The dire-wolves I especially liked, although Johns albino wolf is slightly too convenient. The hints of prophecy and visions are interesting too, but the presence of magic in the story is so slight it can’t be easily used to help a struggling character out.

The opening is also great. Personally I really love it when an author drops in a little ‘prologue’ just to give you a taste of what’s in store. Well thought out and beautifully read by Roy Dotrice, the scenes and characters are incredibly easy to visualize. Not to mention the opening is a tad creepy, so bonus points there.

The audiobooks are narrated by Roy Dotrice. His narration earned him a second place in the Guinness Book of Records for creating the largest number of characters voiced in an audiobook. He managed to voice 224 different characters. Dotrice’s favourite character to voice is Tyrion and claimed that he managed to keep up with all the different voices he created by keeping a cheat sheet as well as listening to his previous interpretations of the characters. Dotrice’s range of voices and accents is impressive. Each character is easily distinguishable and perfectly represented. Although Dotrice does fall a little into the love/hate category, Game of Thrones has been the only fantasy audiobook series he has narrated to date.

Age of Iron pulls you in from the beginning with a battle and doesn’t let go until Sean Barrett utters the final word. I especially loved the opening which makes the audiobook seem like an account of true events. In a word: intense. Whenever I thought that the story had calmed down for a bit, there would be a spanner thrown in the works and everything would fall apart. I loved this. It kept me interested, it kept the story moving and i certainly wasn’t expecting some of the plot twists. A round of applause to Watson who has managed to create some amazing fight scenes and some unique trials for the characters to face. There were so many things that I just didn’t see coming and I was kept guessing most of the way through. I loved the action and I loved the characters.

The epic series of audiobooks are narrated by Sean Barrett. Barrett’s low, gritty tones are perfect for the bloodthirsty and rugged universes of fantasy novels. He also does a fabulous Scottish accent. Barrett becomes deeply involved in the story he tells, racing along with the action and emphasising the excitement of a scene. Barrett is highly regarded amongst voice actors and the majority of the books he reads are rated very highly, particularly the fantasy novels. The best sellers below are all part of an amazing epic fantasy series, which are highly rated, and a must listen!

This story unfolds naturally but subtly. Slowly but surely it engulfs you in a most epic journey. I really appreciate this book because I feel as though it started right where it needed to.

I like this book because it some what reminds me of a Joe Abercrombie novel (a favorite author of mine), in terms of the story line, the magic, mystery, epic battles and intrigue.  It does not have many character perspectives, but in this case it does not detract – each story to their own. This is a definite must listen if you love a good epic series with rich and complex characters.

This epic fantasy audiobook series is narrated Steven Brand. He really has bought these characters to life with his performance and range of character voices. His narration is solid, pleasant, and effectively read. It's like hearing a fireside story read by a master story teller. Although, in comparison to some of the other narrators above/ below, I would say he is a little below their standard.

What if the hero of prophecy fails? What kind of world results when the Dark Lord is in charge? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises and magical martial-arts action that begins in Mistborn. The audiobooks are primarily narrated by Michael Kramer. Michael Kramer is an award winning American audiobook narrator. Kramer has recorded many fantasy audiobooks, such as the Wheel of Time (which is also amazing). With Kramers dramatization, rich character diversification and smooth crisp voice you will sink into this series like nothing else before.

The books are written as a first person narrative from the perspective of the main character, private investigator and wizard Harry Dresden, as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in modern-day Chicago. Butcher's original proposed title for the first novel was Semiautomagic, which sums up the series' balance of fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction.

The Audiobooks are narrated by James Marsters. Marsters is something special, he has a huge theatre background which means he has the sheer stamina to do unabridged novels. He also had a fabulous voice. His narrations are clear and clean with great pronunciation. I think his voice is suited to the contemporary audiobook – it may be the accent, but that’s just me. Marsters from what i hear has fantastic memory too, he remembers how he portrayed the characters from the earlier work, and his repetitions of characters flow nicely, it’s never fun as a listener to head to the next in the series and find the characters have different voices. You need to listen to these books!

Widely acclaimed for his work completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time saga, Brandon Sanderson now begins a grand cycle of his own, one every bit as ambitious and immersive.
Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. One such war rages on the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where 10 armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The Books are primarily narrated by Michael Kramer. Michael Kramer is an award winning American audiobook narrator. Kramer has recorded many fantasy audiobooks, such as The Wheel Of Time (there’s no coincidence he’s in here more than once). With Kramers dramatization, rich character diversification and smooth crisp voice you will sink into this series like nothing else before. Kate Reading also does a fantastic job giving strong and rich female characters. Below is an excerpt of Michael Kramer reading the first book.

With unforgettable characters, a sweeping backdrop, and passionate storytelling, this is a fantasy debut to rival that of Robert Jordan. Filled with adventure and bloodshed, pageantry and piracy, mystery and menace, Assassin's Apprentice is the story of a royal house and the young man who is destined to chart its course through tempests of change. Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal household by his father's gruff stableman. An outcast whose existence has forced his father to abdicate his claim on the throne, Fitz is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in the young man's blood is a heritage of magic, the talent called the Skill, as well as another, even more mysterious ability.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts and leave behind the zombie-like husks of the townspeople to prowl the countryside, Fitz is growing toward manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission, a mission that poses as much a threat to himself as it does for his target---for Fitz is a threat to the throne...but he may also be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

The Books are narrated by Paul Boehmer . Boehmer has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway, and regionally across the country. He has also worked in film and television, including The Thomas Crown Affair, three Star Trek movies, and Frasier. Paul is most proud of his award-winning unabridged recording of Moby Dick. He holds a BFA in acting from Southern Methodist University and an MFA in acting from the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware.

This is the first book in a number released by Scott Lynch following the story of orphan Locke Lamora and his adventures in his less moral dealings as a con man. The story is fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Think Ocean’s Eleven, but in ancient venice, an ancient venice that was once home to ancient aliens who left much of their structures behind. This isn’t traditional high fantasy though. It will appeal to high fantasy lovers, but also to people who have never read fantasy in their lives. It is, in short, stupendous.A word of warning however, the story is very crude. I have learn’t many insults which is intend to make use of, including ‘you look like hammered shit’, which was a favorite of mine. The biggest warning however is that this story is addictive. You will learn to care about these characters and want to know what happens next. I am testament to this having listened to three books of this series in three weeks.The books are narrated by Michael Page. One of the greatest things about this series for audiobook is the narration. Michael Page gives us a performance to die for, one that i consider the best I have heard – bar maybe Steven Pacey’s rendition of the first law series. Michael Page’s character diversification, accents, and dramatization is mind blowing. For example, Locke is a con man, he is constantly in disguise changing accents and names. Michael Page’s consistency was insane and with out it, this book could have been very confusing for listeners.

Earth is dying. Thousands of workers, who live in the vast caves beneath Mars, mine the precious elements that will make the planet habitable. They are Earth's only hope. Until the day Darrow learns that it's a lie. Mars has been habitable - and inhabited - for generations. Darrow disguises himself and infiltrates their society, intent on taking them down. But the surface is a battlefield - and Darrow isn't the only one with an agenda.

Red Rising is a fantastic series. This is one of my favorite listens. Brown creates believable characters, both good and bad, that are complex and struggle with life and death choices. There are some lighthearted moments which help ease the tension, but not many. I've read some comparing this to Hunger Games, which is a stretch I believe. Maybe some elements such as overcoming oppression and injustice but everything else is quite different. The narration was one of the best I've heard. I loved hearing Gerard Reynolds representation of Darrow mature with the character over the course of the trilogy.

Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old - when in actuality, he's twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he's hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power - plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish - to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

The beloved first novel in Tad Williams' classic fantasy series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, first published in 1988 and now available as an unabridged audiobook for the first time.

Kitchen-boy Simon is bored, restless, and 14 years old - a dangerous combination. It seems, however, that his life has just taken a turn for the better when he's apprenticed to his castle's resident wizard. As Simon's learning to read and write under Doctor Morgenes' tutelage, forces greater than he could possible imagine are gathering: forces which will change Simon's life - and his world - forever.

Following the death of Good King John, Osten Ard is plunged into civil war as his sons battle for control of the fabled Dragonbone Chair - the country's throne as well as the symbol of its power. Simon is forced to flee the only home he has ever known, a journey which will test him beyond his worst nightmares.

With The Dragonbone Chair, Tad Williams introduced readers to the incredible fantasy world of Osten Ard and kicked off the beloved, internationally best-selling series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn.

Drizzt is, by far, the most iconic drow character in fantasy literature. He's so popular that within the circles of roleplaying gamers, both tabletop and computer, it's a common joke that every drow is a two-sword wielding goodie goodie, despite their race's fierce reputation. Players will name their characters in an homage to Drizzt, just as they might with Legolas or Gandalf. That's some high praise, right there.

Homeland is the first book of the Dark Elf Trilogy and the (truly massive) Legend of Drizzt Saga. While it's not the first appearance of Drizzt, it's the place for new readers to start, because here you'll learn of both his origins and his background. Homeland describes the City of Menzoberranzan, home of the drow, and the struggles for power that take place there.

The sample narration is not from the trilogy, but is an example of both Salvatore's writing and Bevine's narration.

This is the most fun I've had with an audiobook, full stop. One night every building on Earth disappears, and anyone left standing is dropped into an alien game show: an eighteen-level dungeon, broadcast across the galaxy, where the only way out is down.

Carl, an ex-Coast Guard who went outside in his boxers to chase his ex-girlfriend's cat, is our hero. The cat, Princess Donut, a prize-winning Persian who can suddenly talk, steals every scene she's in. It's laugh-out-loud funny one minute and brutal the next, and it has more heart than it has any right to.

The real star is Jeff Hays. He voices hundreds of characters, from Donut to the dungeon's unhinged AI, and every one is distinct. Later books add a few guest voices, but Hays carries it. If you think LitRPG (fantasy with game-style levels and loot) isn't for you, try the sample anyway. This series is one of my all-time favourites.

Lindon is Unsouled. In his clan that makes him the lowest of the low, forbidden from learning the sacred arts that everyone else uses to grow stronger. Then something from beyond the valley shows him how small his world really is, and he sets out to climb as high as anyone ever has.

Cradle is progression fantasy at its best: you watch the hero get stronger step by step, and every step is earned. The books are short for fantasy, eight to sixteen hours each, so they fly by, and each one raises the stakes. It's complete in twelve books, so there's no waiting for an ending.

Travis Baldree is the perfect fit. He reads with a dry, warm humour that suits Lindon's stubbornness and the banter between him and Yerin, and he never lets the big fights drag. It's one of my all-time favourite series.

Twenty years ago the Augurs, the prophets who ruled the land, were overthrown, and the Gifted who served them were bound by strict laws. Davian is a student at one of the schools for the Gifted, and he has an ability no one should have. When something ancient stirs in the north, he, his friend Wirr and Asha are pulled into a war that has been planned for a very long time.

It starts like a classic school-of-magic story and becomes something much bigger. This is a series to pay attention to: small details in the first book matter at the end, and the way the trilogy ties together at the end is hugely satisfying.

Michael Kramer, the voice of The Wheel of Time and The Stormlight Archive, narrates all three books. If you like his steady, serious style, you'll be right at home. It's complete, so you can listen straight through.

Pug is an orphan kitchen boy at the castle of Crydee who becomes the unlikely apprentice of a magician. Then a rift opens between worlds, and an army from the other side, the Tsurani, comes through it. What follows is a war that runs for years, and Pug's life is turned upside down on both sides of the rift.

Magician is the book that started it all, and it's an old-school epic in the best way: a big cast, two worlds and a story that grows up with its characters. If you love it, the Riftwar Cycle runs to thirty books, so you'll be set for a very long time.

Peter Joyce narrates Magician and most of the cycle. His reading is unhurried and very British, and it suits Feist perfectly. Magician is also sold in two parts, Apprentice and Master, read by Nicholas Guy Smith, if you'd rather start smaller.

For as long as anyone can remember, humans have worshipped the Fhrey as gods. The Fhrey are beautiful, powerful and live for thousands of years. Then a man named Raithe does the unthinkable and kills one, and everything changes. With the chieftain's widow Persephone and the young mystic Suri, he is caught at the start of a war that will decide who rules the world.

Michael J. Sullivan writes fantasy that's simply fun to listen to: clear, warm, full of characters you root for, with real stakes and the odd laugh. This series is set thousands of years before his Riyria books, so it's a great place to start, and the six books are complete.

Tim Gerard Reynolds, who also narrates Red Rising, gives every character a voice that sticks. If you enjoy this, the Riyria books in the same world are next.

Horace is a soldier from the West who sails on a crusade against the Akeshian empire. A storm that is no natural storm wrecks his ship, and he wakes up a slave in the land he came to conquer. Then the Akeshians discover he is a sorcerer, and he rises from the slave pens to the queen's court.

What I loved is how grounded it feels. It is a story of war, slavery and power, told through Horace, a gladiator called Jirom and a court spy called Alyra, and none of them get an easy ride. The magic is dangerous, the politics are vicious, and the battles hit hard.

On Audible it comes as a GraphicAudio full-cast production, with music and sound effects, and the later books are split into two parts each. I gave all four books top marks, and it is complete, so you can listen straight through.

Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world, and his magic holds a fragile peace together. Prisms never last long, and he knows he has five years left to do five impossible things. Then he learns he has a son, born in a far-off kingdom after the war that made him Prism, and keeping that secret could tear everything apart.

The magic is built on colour: drafters turn light into solid things, and every colour has its own strengths and costs. It is one of the cleverest magic systems I have come across, and Brent Weeks fills the story with twists that change how you see everything before them.

Simon Vance narrates all five books, and he is superb at the big, scheming characters. The books get longer as they go, and the last one is nearly forty hours, so settle in. It is complete.

For a thousand years a magic barrier, the Arc of Radiance, has kept the kingdom of Tarsynium safe from a world overrun by demons. Owyn Lund, a ranger's apprentice, finds that the Arc has been breached, and hardly anyone believes him. When a village is destroyed, rangers, mages and rebels turn on one another, and Owyn and Zara Dennel, a mage's ward, set out to stop a second Doom.

It is classic fantasy done really well: a young hero, a threat no one will take seriously, and a story that keeps building. The books are short for this genre, at around ten hours each, so it moves quickly and never drags.

Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, the voices of The Wheel of Time, narrate all five books, and they are a joy to listen to together. I rate it top marks. It is complete, and you can buy all five books in one bundle.