Credit: Gilderm - SXC.HU (Royalty Free)

Welcome to the year 2014 where fantasy still lives on. This year includes books from Brandon Sanderson, Anthony Ryan, and Brent Weeks. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, all of the books on the list of the most anticipated fantasy books for 2014 are either a continuation or the start of a series. What book are you looking forward to this year? See if it made it in this list.

Here are the ten most anticipated fantasy books for 2014:

Special Mention: The Winds of Winter

Author: George R.R. Martin; Release Date: TBD

The sixth installment of the popular series A Song of Ice and Fire was originally set to release in 2014. However, recent sources have reported that the book could be pushed to release in 2015 or as late as 2017, hence it receiving a special mention instead of a placement on the list. A Song of Ice and Fire has been made even more popular by the award winning HBO original series A Game of Thrones.

10. Skin Game

Author: Jim Butcher; Release Date: July 3, 2014

Skin Game is the fifteenth book in the series The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. The Dresden Files follows Harry Dresden as Chicago's only professional wizard who serves as the Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness.

In Skin Game, Harry must assist one of his biggest enemies in capturing the Holy Grail from Hades himself after the Queen, known as Mab, offered Harry's skills as payment for one of her debts.

Skin Game is set to release July 3rd, 2014.

9. Shadows of Self

Author: Brandon Sanderson; Release Date: TBD in Late 2014

One of today's most popular and masterful fantasy authors, Brandon Sanderson, will appear twice in this list. Shadows of Self is the fifth installment in the highly regarded Mistborn series.

The original trilogy of the Mistborn series contains one of the most unique magical systems in the modern fantasy realm, has a Robinhood-esque feel about them while captivating you with twists and turns that you would never expect.

Shadows of Self takes place in the Alloy era of the Mistborn world and is a sequel to The Alloy of Law, the first book after the original trilogy was released. Brandon states that Shadows of Self will contain the same characters and protagonists as The Alloy of Law, but it will not require the reader to follow in depth plots inbetween the books.

The release date has not been set for Shadows of Self.

8. The Crimson Campaign

Author: Brian McClellan; Release Date: May 6, 2014

The Crimson Campaign is the second novel in The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan. It follows the first novel of the series, Promise of Blood. Main character Tamas is tasked with proctecting his country from an angry god, and Inspector Adamat is focusing on only one person: his wife.

The Crimson Campaign is expected to release May 6, 2014.

7. The Emperor's Blades

Author: Brian Staveley; Release Date: January 14, 2014

The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley is one of two books on this list that is not a installment of a pre-existing series and is the first book of the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series. The story surrounds the three children of a murdered emperor who fight to discover the mystery surrounding his death.

Each of the emperor's children have their own strengths to contribute. The heir, Kaden, spent eight years learning a monk's discipline in a remote monastary where the rituals provide the key to an ancient power. His sister Adare is the Minister of Finance and a fierce politician. Their brother Valyn is training to join a battilion of deadly warriors called the Kettral who fly birds into battle.

The Emperor's Blades is set to release on January 14, 2014.

6. Tower Lord

Author: Anthony Ryan; Release Date: July 1, 2014

Tower Lord is the second book in the Raven's Shadow series by Anthony Ryan. The series follows Vaelin Al Sorna who is considered the greatest warrior of his day who was gifted with what was called the blood-song and is destined a life of battles, both physically and internally.

Tower Lord is set to releease July 1, 2014.

5. Prince of Fools

Author: Mark Lawrence; Release Date: June 3, 2014

Prince of Fools is the second book on the list for highly anticipated fantasy books of 2014 that is the first installment of the series. It is book one of The Red Queen's War series by Mark Lawrance. It follows the story of delinquent Prince Jalan Kendeth, the Red Queen's grandson, who lives a life of gambling, drinking, and women. However, a run in with The Silent Sister sets him on an adventure with a Norse warrior as they set across the Empire to seek the cure to a spell set on Jalan.

Prince of Fools is set in the same world as Lawrence's Broken Empire trilogy and readers will even run into some of the same characters.

Prince of Fools is set to release June 3, 2014.

4. The Thorn of Emberlain

Author: Scott Lynch; Release Date: TBD in Late 2014

The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch is the fourth installment in the Gentlemen Bastard series. The series follows a band of thieves called the Gentlemen Bastards, led by a man called Locke. The Throne of Emberlain follows their plight during a time of civil war that Lacke and his men helped conceive.

The release date for The Thorn of Emberlain is expected to be in November of 2014.

3. The Broken Eye

Author: Brent Weeks; Release Date: August 26, 2014

The third installment of the series Lightbringer by Brent Weeks is The Broken Eye and is number three in the top ten most anticipated fantasy books of 2014. It follows Gavin Guile who is the Prism - the most powerful man in the world. However, the most powerful man in the world is now enslaved on a pirate galley as old gods rise and threaten catastrophe. His son, Kip, now has to rise to the occasion and face a master of shadows alone.

The Broken Eye is set to release August 26, 2014.

2. Words of Radiance

Author: Brandon Sanderson; Release Date: March 4, 2014

Number 2 on the list of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2014 is Words of Radiance and is the second book on the list by Brandon Sanderson. It is also the second book in the series The Stormlight Archive. It takes place in the world of Roshar, a magical and alien world where humans and the Parshendi race are at war.

Words of Radiance is set to release March 4, 2014.

1. Doors of Stone

Author: Patrick Rothfuss; Release Date: TBD

Book #1 of the most anticipated fantasy books of 2014 doesn't even have a release date. In fact, the main reason it made it into 2014's list is due to a 2013 interview where Patrick Rothfuss says that it won't be this year (2013) but it won't be as late as 2015 for the release of Doors of Stone, the third book of The Kingkiller Chronicle series. Will it release this year? Let us hope so!

That wraps it up for 2014's most highly anticipated fantasy books. Which book are you looking forward to the most? Are there any you're really looking forward to that didn't make it on this list?