There’s nothing like afantasyending that lingers in my mind longer after I’ve finished it. As a young adult who loves storytelling more than anything, I’ll commonly cite fantasy tales likeThe Lord of the Ringsmovie seriesand theHarry Potterbooks as the foundation for what’s become my life and career. These stories provide needed escapism while also allowing me introspection and perspective on various aspects of real life, andit’s the narratives that come to an emotional close that have the longest-lasting impact.
Between original novels, television adaptations, and original fantasy films, there are so many stories in the genre that have stuck with me. To me,the most powerful endings are those that are bittersweet, like Brandon Sanderson’sMistborntrilogy or the aforementionedLord of the Rings.I enjoy sad art. But I’ll also add fantasy books that gave me inspiration with their endings, maybe through storytelling ingenuity or through an ending that was actually profoundly happy, orfantasy books with insane plot twiststhat blew my mind.
10The Way Of Kings
The First Book Of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive
WithWind and Truthjust a couple of months away, it seems strange to cite the first book in Brandon Sanderson’sThe Stormlight Archiveas having the ending I can’t stop thinking about. And yet, 2010’sThe Way of Kingsholds such a special place in me. I’ve detailed whyWords of Radianceis largely consideredthe bestStormlight Archivebookand the author’s magnum opus, butas an enormous Kaladin fan, the first volume is the one that holds my personal affinity.
I’m Desperate For One Stormlight Archive Story That Probably Won’t Happen Until The 2030s (At Best)
I can’t wait for one particular Stormlight Archive arc, but according to Brandon Sanderson’s plans, it’s still potentially over a decade away.
Few authors can compare to Sanderson in his ability to make you care so deeply about his characters.The Way of Kingsgets off to a slow start, but that slow-burn narrative allowed me to subconsciously build a meaningful, empathetic connection to Kaladin and his plight, to where his save-the-day moment in the climax caused me to grin ear to ear in celebration. I was ready to weep the moment he led Bridge Four to rescue Dalinar, butwhat really seals the deal is how the Kholin highprince responds to it, exchanging his invaluable Shardblade for Kaladin’s freedom.
9His Dark Materials
The Final Season Of HBO’s Philip Pullman Adaptation
Recent years have seen numerous attempts to recreate the magic ofGame of Thronesby bringing a beloved fantasy work to life on television. Ironically, the only one that’s actually been widely acclaimed by critics and audiences is the one that’s received the least attention, and that’sHis Dark Materials. The show’s three seasons establish a massive, multi-dimensional, world-altering conflict, butthe essence of the story comes down to Lyra, the main character.
“The Botanic Garden” received some criticism for being far less climactic than the penultimate war episode, but I found it to be a beautiful conclusion to Lyra’s arc, which was always the emotional core and centerpiece of the show. By the end, the plot is a bit convoluted, but what the HBO adaptation does so excellently istease the possibility of a happy ending before ripping it away, leaving behind a bittersweet but necessary conclusion.
8The Hero Of Ages
The Third Book Of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy
Brandon Sanderson proved to be a master of endings with theMistborntrilogy, delivering twist after twist throughout the climax until the fateful conclusion. Something I’ve always been impressed by about his work is how he continuously increases the stakes with more powerful enemies to the point where the antagonist is essentially a god, and yet, it never feels shoehorned in when the hero comes out on top. He’sexcellent at laying out mechanics so that loopholes, like Vin’s earring, are carefully plottedand believable.
I’m Worried That The Mistborn Movie Might Have Already Made Its Biggest Mistake
I’m hoping for the best out of a Mistborn adaptation, but I’m skeptical about one significant aspect that Brandon Sanderson has settled on.
Of course, what’s most notable about the hero’s victory inThe Hero of Agesis the sacrifice that comes with it. Vin and Elend’s romance is steadily built throughout the trilogy, making it extremely devastating to hear that they both die in battle and are buried next to each other.The visualization of them lying dead in a flowerbed has remained with countless readersand has been the subject of some wonderful pieces of fan art, and it speaks to the level of care Sanderson puts into each character.
7Jade Legacy
The Third Book Of Fonda Lee’s The Green Bone Saga
If you’re not caught up on Fonda Lee’sThe Green Bone Saga, now is the time to do so. It’s far from the typical fantasy based on medieval Europe, but rather a fictional East Asian-inspired realm that combines an incredible magic system with mid-twentieth-century technology in a plot centered around gang warfare. This saga is theperfect representation of modern fantasy and proves that the genre has infinite possibilities when not confined to the restrictions of being Tolkien-esque.
Like with Sanderson’s stories, Fonda Lee is an absolute pro at making the reader feel a deep emotional connection with her characters. ByJade Legacy, Lee creates a feeling of intense anxiety building toward the trilogy’s ending, and the final events, while worthwhile, will have the reader grieving in a way that very few fantasy series can rival. I greatly admire Lee’s ability to create such a soul-crushing narrative, as her work has been ingrained in my head since.
6The Wizard Of Oz
An All-Time Classic Movie
The Wizard of Ozis the first movie I remember seeing, so nostalgia is certainly an element at play here. Regardless, I still find it to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing, gorgeous movies ever made and a foundational fantasy story.The Wizard of Ozis one of those films that’s managed to remain timeless, with asimplistic but beautiful story about home and belonging that’s been used as the blueprint for numerous moviesthat have come after it.
Dorothy and each of her companions offer something to say about life and self-belief, and the euphoric, dream-like world of Oz translates those ideas in a profoundly magical way
The ending ofThe Wizard of Ozoffers a rather straight-forward life message; there’s no place like home. Its message can be rephrased in so many different ways, but Dorothy and each of her companions offer something to say about life and self-belief, and the euphoric, dream-like world of Oz translates those ideas in a profoundly magical way. Itsuniversal themes make it an outstanding piece that has something different to offer for viewers of all ages, and it never loses its charm.
5Last Argument Of Kings
The Third Book Of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy
While Brandon Sanderson’sMistborntrilogy ending was bittersweet,Joe Abercrombie’sThe First Lawseries brought me almost nothing but dread. While there are still several books afterLast Argument of Kings, it delivers a feeling of finality through helplessness. Abercrombie challenged everything I thought I knew about what fantasy books could be, and his third volume felt like betrayal through subversion in the best way possible.
As I said, I enjoy sad art, and even more than that, I like to be challenged by what I’m consuming. Whatever expectations I’d grown to have about fantasy from characters like Gandalf and Aragorn were hurled upside down by Abercrombie’s Bayaz and Logen Ninefingers. Rather than someone stepping up to save the day,Last Argument of Kingssuggests that everything is bad, and therefore, everything will stay bad. Yet, it’s made worthwhile by Abercrombie’s beautiful studies of humanity throughout, that distinguish his work as being cynical rather than outright nihilistic.
4The Half-Blood Prince
The Sixth Movie In The Harry Potter Series
I could easily talk about the prominence of theHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsbook as an ending to the whole series and how much of an impact those novels had on my life and the fantasy genre. There’s certainly something to say about the weight of so many character deaths in the final volume. But for the purpose of variety,the film adaptation ofThe Half-Blood Princemovie rattled mein an entirely different way.
When so many massive movie franchises feel identical in each installment, the disparity between theinstallments in theHarry Potterfilm seriesis incredibly impressive. There’s gradual change throughout, butThe Half-Blood Princehas the most drastic shift in tone, as it’s the first one where Hogwarts no longer feels safe. Not only do we lose Dumbledore, but there’s a feeling of betrayal from Snape and Malfoy that made me realize how dark of a series it really was.
3Howl’s Moving Castle
The Beloved Studio Ghibli Animated Film
The films of Hayao Miyazaki are some of the best cinematic portrayals of the fantasy genre, andHowl’s Moving Castlestands out as my favorite. Based on the book of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, thefilm truly embraces the aesthetic beauty of a strange, mystical world, keeping its magical elements and world-building largely mysteriousso it can instead prioritize the characters.
15 Best Non-Ghibli Anime Movies That Feel Like Studio Ghibli Movie
These non-Ghibli movies warm the heart, touch on deep themes just like Hayao Miyazaki’s works, and feel as if they were made by Studio Ghibli.
Howl’s Moving Castle’sending has stuck with me for decades as one of the most visually stunning and heartfelt pieces of fantasy fiction out there. It’s the type of story that’s so grandiose and epic at times that it feels like it might have a more powerful, complex message. In essence, Miyazaki’s film is a love story; it’sa fairly simplistic fairytale that touches the heart in a potent way, and it’s a story every fantasy lover will enjoy for its artistic richness and sentimentality.
2Game Of Thrones - Season 6
The Acclaimed HBO Adaptation’s Best Finale
Alright, so theGame of Thronesseason 6 finale, “The Winds of Winter,” obviously isn’t the show’s ending, but it isanending. This episode came at a very particular in-between time for the iconic HBO show, asseason 6 was after the show had passed the books in material but before viewers realized that was going to be a problem. While I was mildly aggravated about Dorne at the time,Game of Throneswas still my favorite ongoing show and I had every hope for what was to come. The season 6 finale totally blew my mind.
maybe it’s because it was the last timeGame of Throneswas truly great.
This is undoubtedly thebest finale in theGame of Thronesuniverse, from the Sept of Baelor’s explosion to the reveal about Jon’s parentage to him becoming King in the North to Daenerysfinallyheading to Westeros. It’s got everything and posed such high promise at the time. Perhaps it still lingers with me because it’s the closest thing toThe Winds of WinterI have. Or maybe it’s because it was the last timeGame of Throneswas truly great.
1The Return Of The King
The Third Book Of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
I’d like to preface my explanation forThe Return of the Kingby briefly stating that Peter Jackson’sLOTRtrilogy was, in many ways, my introduction to the genre and one of my longest-lasting loves as a movie fan. By the time I got around to reading Tolkien’s original books, I was already a massive fan of the story, which can be either advantageous or unfavorable when turning to the original source material. In this case,my preexisting admiration and deep-rooted connection to the characters contributed toTRotKbeing one of the most emotional journeys I’ve ever had with fiction.
From “Mount Doom” to “The Grey Havens,” there’s scarcely a prolonged segment that doesn’t make me well up with tears.
It’s hilarious to me thatTheReturn of the King’smovie endingis often teased for having so many endings. That’s nothing to the six enormous epilogue chapters that follow the destruction of the One Ring in the book, detailing the Fellowship’s long journey home. From “Mount Doom” to “The Grey Havens,” there’s scarcely a prolonged segment that doesn’t make me well up with tears. Tolkien’s third novel providesthe perfect, bittersweet conclusion to one of the most beautiful studies of friendship ever written, and its ending solidifies it as a story that will inspire me forever.
