Top 10 Most Overrated Fantasy Book Series

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥: (I get a commission when you use the links)

00:00 | Intro
00:49 | #10
01:47 | #9
02:55 | #8
04:41 | #7
06:54 | #6
10:00 | #5
12:15 | #4
14:23 | #3
16:47 | #2
19:55 | #1

[MattsFantasyBookReviews]

And yes...I am aware that the #4 image is blocking my face the whole time. But I'm sticking with it!

[rogercline]

Based on your inclusion of books I've read and loved on this list, I'm left with no other option but to use this as my reading guide for the foreseeable future.

[superpheemy]

A friend of mine once shared the movie "Casablanca" with a friend who'd never seen the film. When Bogart talks about the start of a beautiful friendship, and the screen faded to black, she told my friend, "It was OK, but everything in it was just a cliche." LotR is similar to that, and that quality is what makes it nearly impossible to be overrated. Tolkien changed literary worldbuilding. Most every fantasy series, that has come after has either been an iteration of this story, or it is a direct reaction to this story. I'd argue that Lord of the Rings is *outside* of the realm of comparison so far as rating story goes. Now, it may not be to everyone's tastes. Hell, Michael Moorcock is very critical of its pacing and stakes. It's not the action-adventure. But it is *DEEP*. Every time I've read through Lord of the Rings (and I've been doing so for the majority of my life), there's something new I discover. A relationship, an evolution, another piece of backstory. LotR rewards multiple readings, from multiple perspectives. So, you mentioned you were gonna get dragged on something in this list. There's my drag.

[ShelfCentered]

I appreciate your honesty and I'm glad you took this shot/gamble. Great video. I disagree with a number of your picks, but not with your reasons for not liking them. The ones that stand out are Lord of the Rings and Dresden. I absolutely love them both, but they worked so well for me. Not everyone will have my experience. Seriously, great video and hope you don't lose anyone over this. These types of opinion videos should be celebrated.

[Grae]

I also have to say that as far as Tolkien, I think for a lot of people (at least it was for me) the first 'fantasy' series I ever read. It got me started on this journey. So I think that if just for that it will always hold a very special place in my heart, and my bookshelf.

[SpecialP]

Lotr is revolutionary. It's a tale about a journey where a simple person sets out to destroy a power and not gain it for himself.
Tolkien did not start the fantasy genre, but he refined it he brought a bit of everything from Norse mythology, epic poems such Beowulf other old English literature and created this epic world . Modern fantasy would not be what it is today without Tolkien.
Granted, I see where you are coming from if it was released today it would not be as highly rated as let's say malazan series. But in 60 years malazan might be regarded differently as well.

[marionpoliquin]

About the twist in Broken Earth. I firmly think we are meant to figure it out before the end. I think that N. K. Jemisin was indeed clever in letting us find out at each step of the way. I think this is intended, because finding out in no way lessens the impact of the last pages of the first book, wherehas a Shyamalan style ending would be completely ruined.

[marilise]

I’m currently in the third book of the Broken Earth trilogy and these are the most depressing books I have ever read. I read somewhere that people like it for it’s uniqueness, using geology and psychology, but for me it’s just depressing.

[RovingBiologist]

I appreciate your honest reviews. And to answer your Tolkien question, yes they’re my favorite fantasy series. Not because they are the best, but because they were the first truly epic fantasy series I read, and started me down 35 years of fantasy literature. Have I read better? Yes. But none have the same impact as your first love :)

[luisfilipecaldeira]

Thanks for keeping it real and not being afraid of being honest, as allways really great video keep it up!

[Jakeization]

I'm 100% with you on Jemisin. I liked some of her world-building, but generally speaking, she is a terrible writer. I really wanted to like her, but was thoroughly disappointed. Her foray into magical realism in The City We Became might actually qualify as the most pretentiously written book I have ever attempted to read.
I also agree with you on Sullivan and Lawerence. Even though I strongly disagree with you about LOTR . . I understand why you included it and liked the format of this video 🙂 Keep up the good work sir! Always good to hear honest fantasy reviews

[jarltrippin]

I love LOTR but if I'm being 100% honest, I _always_ struggle on Two Towers part 2. I love the long, detailed journeys through Middle Earth where Tolkien, with his beautiful prose, describes this rustic ancient land. It really gives you the sense that magic still lingers in every corner. The world _is_ a character, one that keeps me engaged...then the latter end of Two Towers is spent in this bleak wasteland, and I have to admit that it does lose a lot of its magic for me at that point

Gonna have to disagree with it being overrated, but I absolutely see your point.

[bybookandbone]

Loved the video, disagree with several entries of course but I love genuine opinions <3 I wasn't aware that the Murderbot series was so expensive! I'd wanted to read them

[elliotchapman]

Personally I love Mistborn era 2. I loved how they expanded the world from the first era, I actually prefer the magic system in this one compare to era 1, yes the stories are short but they’re as long as I think they need them to be, and ultimately, it’s just a lot of fun. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I prefer it to era 1, but saying it’s bad is a hard disagree with me.

[Marek_Illy]

Well the part about Dresden and woman seems to be the biggest struggle of many people with the series and honestly it didn’t bother me at all but I can understand that if you don’t like that part of the books it would be quite hard to continue the series 😂

Personally I love it.

[Paromita_M]

A very fair assessment of the books I've read - The Goblin Emperor, The Poppy War (Book 1 only) and The Books of Babel but I respectfully disagree about LOTR.
I reread it earlier this year and it holds up as one of the all-time greats imo. YMMV of course.

[ida-mariamyntti]

I found your channel when youtube recommended me your review about the Fifth Season. I was reading it at the time and watched your review, said aloud THANK YOU and dnf’d the book about 80 % in. This book tries so hard to be something unique but being SO boring. The story is all over the place and tries too hard in every aspect of storytelling. And you can see the plot twists coming. How could you not when the writingstyle gives them away? Hugo awards? This was one of those books that makes you think that did you really read the same book that everybody else did? Keep up the great work, you have an amazing channel!

[teabearchurchill]

Okay, seriously...
While you're busy criticizing a book that's closing in on 100 years old and the single most beloved fantasy series Ever... Try to quit rolling your eyes like a 13-year-old girl.

Also, just to say: Saying that LotR is "overrated" is just stupid. You may as well start off by saying you think "Macbeth" or "Hamlet" are overrated.

[VicRibeiro]

Again, the cool thing about opinions, we can all have them 🙂Right?

Hmm, I really enjoyed The Broken Empire, and I loved The Red Queen's War. I also really enjoyed the short story collection, Road Brothers, that contains stories about characters from these two trilogies. The main trilogies reflect two sides of a coin, exploring different types of main characters. I think it was really well done.
But, I get that it isn't for everyone.

Ooh... Mistborn Era 2.... That is a hot take. I loved it. (then again, I love westerns). Did you get the play on words though? About Wax and Wayne?

.... LOTR?
L O T R?
Ok, now I want to go and flip tables... Sorry, you lost me at this point.

Dresden Files.... What... -_- yip, you have really lost me on this one man...

[rpriske]

(stunned) You include both the greatest fantasy series of all time, without which this video wouldn't even exist AND arguably the best modern fantasy series (or at least of this century) and call it a trash heap?

I guess I want be looking to you for recommendations! :)