Fantasy as a genre is experiencing both its heyday and a slump right now. Game of Thrones transformed the fantasy landscape, encouraging networks and streaming services to spend millions of dollars on original epic fantasy series. Meanwhile, the normalization of typical nerd culture in the last 20 years has meant that fantasy blockbusters are really just blockbusters. However, many of these projects don't reach the heights of the media that they are clearly trying to emulate. 6r4645

Any worthwhile fantasyseries will take readers on an immersive and epic adventure, but not all of them are gripping from beginning to end. Depending on how large and complex a fantasy narrative is, it can be difficult to maintain the tight pacing and payoffs that keep readers hooked. This is even true for titles that are otherwise impressive. With large swathes of world-building and casts of characters to contend with, it's inevitable that things will lull in places. Some of the best fantasy book series of all time have chapters or entire installments that are considered low points.

It has to be said that the fantasy genre is not everyone's cup of magical tea, but even if you are someone who rolls your eyes at knights or sighs at sorcerers or cringes whenever a mystical creature comes on screen, watch these six shows before you give up on the genre for good. Fantasy is a surprisingly difficult genre to define, and though everyone probably knows it when they see it, it's a bit harder to define. Fantasy is a large umbrella that covers everything from folklore to high fantasy to historical fantasy to much more.

In the age of streaming, TV cancellations are far too common — and fantasyand sci-fi shows seem to bear the brunt of the impact, likely due to their budget requirements and large casts. Many fantasy shows have been axed before concluding their original plans, with some of them even ending on agonizing cliffhangers. Most of these cancellations are explained by viewership numbers and negative reviews, but there are a handful of projects whose fates remain surprising.

Joe Abercrombie is among the best modern fantasy authors, with his First Law books still being some of the most-recommended in the genre, nearly two decades after The Blade Itself's publication. It was clear from Abercrombie's first novel that he had a distinct and memorable writing style. He's unafraid to lean into the darkness of his characters and worlds, and his commentary is sharp. However, he still manages to inject witty humor into his stories, balancing their grimdark elements well.

The plot of Christopher Nolan's 2006 movie The Prestigeis fascinating, but one fantasy book actually beat the legendary director to it two years before the film's debut. Nolan is largely known for telling elaborate stories, mostly within the sci-fi genre, with themes that center on time and the nature of reality, all the while highlighting great performances by a select group of actors. His 2006 film is no exception, The Prestige containing the best Nolan twist, to me, within his extensive filmography that continues to shock and amaze audiences.

Fantasy and comedy are two genres that go together amazingly, but not all of them are fairly appreciated in their time. From the Shrek franchise to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, fantasy comedies are a staple of movie fame, making the most out of unrealistic settings by using them to set up some truly absurd jokes. But not every comedic fantasy gets its just dues in its time, and many of them have gone painfully underseen after decades of relative obscurity.

Romantasy is increasingly popular these days, and while this blend of genres predates Sarah J. Maas, the author is partially responsible for it blowing up the way it has. Ten years after the first book's release, Maas' A Court of Thorns & Roses series remains one of the most popular on BookTok. It's one that readers consider the standard and often compare new releases to. ACOTAR isn't the only one of Maas' fantasy series to gain mainstream attention either. Both Throne of Glass and Crescent City are loved in fantasy and romantasy spaces.

Gothic fantasy is a particular fantasy subgenre that features some great hidden gems, very much worth watching despite their relative obscurity. In literature, "gothic" fantasy refers to stories with supernatural elements characterized by dark, dour, or macabre tones and ideas, befitting of the gloomy title. Films that adapt the works of Edgar Allan Poe or Mary Shelley are classic examples of gothic fantasy stories anyone might recognize.

There are many fantasyTV shows that are based on books, but certain titles stand out as being the very best. The most popular fantasy TV shows have great pacing, intriguing storylines, picturesque cinematography, and are all-around enjoyable to watch. However, adaptations are tricky, and not every interpretation of an author’s works for the smaller screen is executed correctly.