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There’s no shortage of great modern fantasy books for kids to immerse themselves in, but millennials’ childhoods were defined by several specific series. Like other generations, many millennials were introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books and C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series in school. These classics make great entry-points into the fantasy genre, but they’re old enough that their influence spans multiple generations.
By contrast, there are several fantasy series that made their debuts as millennials were coming of age, cementing themselves in the cohort’s consciousness. Millennials grew up alongside these narratives, so they hold a special place in these readers’ hearts. Whether they transported millennials to magic schools or introduced them to vampire romances, these books played an important role in their most formative years — and likely informed their fictional preferences long after.
5
Harry Potter
By J.K. Rowling
If there’s a single fantasy series that defined millennials’ childhoods, it has to be Harry Potter. The Harry Potter books became a pop culture phenomenon in the early 2000s, introducing readers to the now iconic Wizarding World and the Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter gave millennials a detailed fantasy world to immerse themselves in, and it took them on a journey alongside characters who were growing up at the same rate they were. It also featured timeless themes and lessons that allowed the story to resonate with its audience long after they’d come of age.
Harry Potter had such a huge impact on millennials that it became a running gag that they still identify themselves using their Hogwarts houses, even as adults.
Harry Potter had such a huge impact on millennials that it became a running gag that they still identify themselves using their Hogwarts houses, even as adults. While controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling has dimmed the excitement surrounding the series for some members of this generation, Harry Potter shaped many of their childhoods. For some, it kickstarted their love of the fantasy genre. For others, it got them into reading overall.
4
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
By Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & the Olympians may have surfaced too late for older millennials, but the younger side of the generation were just the right age to enjoy Percy’s demigod shenanigans. Like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson cemented itself with iconic locations and relatable characters — and it really pulled readers in with Percy’s distinctive voice. Riordan offered readers a hero whose differences were his greatest strength, and he also infused that hero’s narrative with creativity and comedy.
While Percy Jackson was a hit among millennials and Gen Z, it got enough attention during the former’s formative years to define their taste in fantasy.
The Percy Jackson books’ unique take on Greek mythology made it stand out among other children’s fantasy books at the time, and it quickly became a widely recognized franchise. This continued as Riordan released spinoff series, and Disney’s Percy Jackson TV show is reigniting the enthusiasm surrounding this story. While Percy Jackson was a hit among millennials and Gen Z, it got enough attention during the former’s formative years to define their taste in fantasy.
3
The Inheritance Cycle
By Christopher Paolini
The 2006 Eragon movie may have been a box office failure, but the book was a hit among millennial readers, many of whom were in middle school or high school when the first installment came out. Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle was aimed at young teens, but its detailed world-building, charming characters, and political stakes proved appealing even to older readers. It was the perfect fantasy story to reach a wide audience, and as with many children’s fantasy books, it allowed these readers to evolve alongside its story and characters.
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Many millennials still look back on Eragon fondly, and the fact that Paolini has added to the world since the original series’ ending in 2011’s Inheritance keeps the excitement alive. Eragon is supposed to be getting a TV adaptation on Disney+, so the story could reach new generations soon enough. However, it will remain a nostalgic piece of millennials’ childhoods, with many of them likely to tune in as well.
2
Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer
Twilight is a series that came out while many millennials were in high school or college, and plenty of them got drawn into the vampire craze that followed its debut. With “Team Edward vs. Team Jacob” being a regular topic of conversation around the book’s release, it was difficult for anyone to avoid the impact Twilight had on pop culture. For younger millennials, it was one of their earliest encounters with fantasy romance books. And even for older, more seasoned readers, it was so popular that you just had to see what the hype was all about.
Twilight had a divisive reputation even when the books were coming out, but many millennials look back on the source material and their adaptations with nostalgia.
Twilight had a divisive reputation even when the books were coming out, but many millennials look back on the source material and their adaptations with nostalgia. Whether they laughed at Twilight during their childhoods or genuinely adored it, Stephenie Meyer’s story was a significant part of their formative years.
1
His Dark Materials
By Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy was published from 1995 to 2000, making it an ideal fantasy read for millennials — and many of them immersed themselves in Lyra Belacqua’s prophesied journey with ease. Pullman’s intriguing world-building, compelling female lead, and daemon concept made The Golden Compass a must-read during the ’90s and early 2000s. The book and its sequels felt timeless, like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, but they offered a more modern take for those growing up at the time.
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Pullman’s story is still looked back on kindly, with HBO’s His Dark Materials adaptation being one of the most underrated additions to the fantasy genre in recent years. The books may not be as frequently discussed decades later, but they’re still a great gateway to the genre — and they’re well worth revisiting.
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