The Top 30 Fiction Books & Series Ranked by Reviews

See an Overview of this Rating System and Algorithm Here

Top 10

#1 Michael O’Brien’s Island of the World

4.65

Island of the World is the story of a child born in 1933 into the turbulent world of the Balkans and tracing his life into the third millennium. The central character is Josip Lasta, the son of an impoverished school teacher in a remote village high in the mountains of the Bosnian interior. As the novel begins, World War II is underway and the entire region of Yugoslavia is torn by conflicting factions: German and Italian occupying armies, and the rebel forces that resist them—the fascist Ustashe, Serb nationalist Chetniks, and Communist Partisans…

#2 Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive Books 1-4 (Unfinished Series)

4.59 avg.

Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy cycle tells the story of Roshar, a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten 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…

#3 Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea

4.51

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

#4 Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale

4.46

France, 1939 – In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France … but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them…

#5 Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga Books 1-4

4.42 avg.

Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice…

#6 Tove Foss Ford’s Weaving Man (Prophecy 1)

4.38

On a midwinter night on the planet Eirdon, a young man who is the greatest assassin of his time is summoned to the Royal Palace of Erdahn. He expects to be rewarded for completing a difficult and dangerous mission that has ensured the future security of his country, Mordania. Instead, he is given a newborn baby princess, second in line to the throne of Mordania. By the orders of the Queen, he is sent to a distant royal estate to raise her according to the severe and pitiless standards of the Royal House…

#7 J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series 1-7

4.32 avg.

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley – a great big swollen spoiled bully…

#8 Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles Books 1-2 (Unfinished Series)

4.32 avg.

My name is Kvothe. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day…

#9 Robin Hobb’s Fitz and the Fool Trilogy

4.30 avg.

FitzChivalry—royal bastard and former king’s assassin—has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire. Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become…

#10 Shirtaloon’s He Who Fights With Monsters Books 1-3 (Unfinished Series)

4.28 avg.

It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it’s hard to be good when all your powers are evil. He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters…and that’s just on the first day…