What Are The Best Partials Books Series To Read First?

Martha Wells's 'Murderbot Diaries' is perfect for this. Most entries are novellas, so they're quick, satisfying reads. The first four form a solid arc, and while more are coming, each book delivers a complete adventure with emotional growth. Start with 'All Systems Red.' You'll know instantly if it's for you.

I'm going to suggest something older school: Patrick Rothfuss's 'The Kingkiller Chronicle.' Hear me out, because this is a contrarian take. Yes, the wait for the third book is legendary and frustrating. But starting with 'The Name of the Wind' now means you get to experience two of the most beautifully written fantasy novels ever, without the pressure of a rapid release schedule. You can savor Kvothe's story at your own pace, dive into the theories and fan discussions that have built up over years, and really sit with the prose. It's a masterclass in first-person narrative. The frustration is real, but the journey of the first two books is so phenomenally crafted that it's worth stepping into, even knowing the path isn't finished. Sometimes the community speculation is half the fun.

Alright, so I've probably gone overboard trying to read a bunch of partial series over the years. It's a different kind of commitment than starting a finished one. You're basically signing up for the waiting game. My top recommendation, if you want to ease into it, would be Tamsyn Muir's 'The Locked Tomb' series. It's got two books out with more coming, and the thing is, each book feels like its own complete, wild experience. 'Gideon the Ninth' is a self-contained puzzle-box of a novel with a satisfying conclusion, even though bigger mysteries loom. It leaves you desperate for the next one, but not because you were cheated out of an ending—it's because you're just so dang invested in the characters and the world she's built. The sheer stylistic whiplash between the first and second book ('Harrow the Ninth') proves she's not just repeating a formula, which gives me a lot of confidence in the unfinished future.

For a totally different vibe, I'd point you toward N.K. Jemisin's 'Great Cities' duology (so far). 'The City We Became' and 'The World We Make' are incredible, and they function almost as one big story split in two. Because it's a duology, you're not facing a ten-book marathon of waiting. Jemisin is a master world-builder, and the contemporary fantasy setting feels urgent and alive. Starting with a series that the author has signaled is shorter, even if not complete, feels like a safer bet than diving into some sprawling, decade-long epic where the author's pace has slowed. These books are recent, brilliant, and the wait for whatever she does next in that world feels manageable.

Honestly, it depends what you mean by 'best.' If you want the one that'll hook you hardest and make the wait painful but worth it, it's R.F. Kuang's 'Babel.' It's technically a standalone, but she's announced it's the first in 'The Asian Enlightenment' series. Starting with a book that works perfectly on its own is the smartest move. You get a full, devastating, complete story. Any future books will be in the same world but likely with new characters, so the pressure of a cliffhanger is off. It's a low-risk, high-reward entry into an unfinished world. The prose is incredible, the thematic depth is staggering, and you won't feel left hanging if the sequel takes a while. It's the ideal 'first' because it prioritizes your immediate satisfaction.