Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for the House of the Dragon Season 3 finale.

House of the Dragon‘s story has been largely devoted to the brewing civil war within House Targaryen, but there’s another family of Valyrian noble blood that has been making their own moves behind the scenes. Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) may not have much he can leave his descendants after the brutal Battle of the Gullet, but he can offer the protection of his name. After his request for Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) to legitimize his sons, Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Addam (Clinton Liberty) of Hull, is ultimately denied, Corlys steps down from his role as Hand, recommending Alyn in his place.

It’s a move that proves to be a bit of “culture shock” for the former sailor, as Salim tells Collider, but in the beginning, Alyn’s perspective does lead to some helpful change at King’s Landing — like the solution of cats to deal with the Red Keep’s pesky rat problem. Yet not even the actor himself could have expected where Alyn’s story was heading, culminating in the Season 3 finale, when Rhaenyra orders her Hand to kill the High Septon (Simon Chandler), an act that Salim refers to as “make-or-break” and hints could have major ramifications for Alyn’s position and his most important relationships, including Addam and Baela (Bethany Antonia).

COLLIDER: We’re going to get into the finale, but first, I wanted to ask what you enjoyed about filming the small council scenes this season. You have to keep such a straight face while there’s so much going on in those moments.

ABUBAKAR SALIM: Ridiculousness. The whole thing is hilarious, because that’s the first time I’ve ever been in those scenes. I’m so used to working on the dock and being outside, using my hands. Just sitting down and being in this room where all these heavyweights are going at each other, I feel a bit out of depth. The one thing I’d say that was a lot of fun was really just watching them all work. As an actor, you get a lot from watching so many people do their thing. I was just in awe most of the time. Trying to remember when to come in most of the time, which was pretty funny.

I know people are likely going to be buzzing about the High Septon scene. Before we talk about it from a character perspective, what was your reaction to reading it in the script?

SALIM: That’s a big move. It’s like killing the Pope. It’s kind of insane. It was really punchy. The fact that [Rhaenyra] uses Alyn, that was what really blew my mind. I remember talking with Ryan [Condal] about it and being like, “Sure, Rhaenyra might have her own ideas of what religion is and where she’s at, but I’m the common folk. You’re putting that in Alyn’s hands. You’re having him kill the priest.”

It was hard to actually figure out why Alyn would do it. There’s the moment, obviously, when Rhaenyra convinces him and says, “You’re of a higher power.” Rather than necessarily thinking, “Yeah, I am of a high power,” it’s more of a sense of, “No, this lady has gone loco, and she will kill me if I don’t do this.”

Abubakar Salim Discusses Alyn’s “Make-or-Break” Act in ‘House of the Dragon’s Season 3 Finale

“There is absolutely the feeling that this is all above his pay grade, way above his station.”

Image via HBO

In terms of Alyn’s overall dynamic with Rhaenyra, he takes his father’s place when Corlys decides to leave King’s Landing due to frustration and feeling like he’s been betrayed by Rhaenyra’s refusal to grant legitimacy to Addam and Alyn. Did you try to play any of the buildup to the High Septon scene as Alyn having doubts about Rhaenyra’s intentions, even if he’s not expressing them out loud?

SALIM: Absolutely. I think there’s a perspective that Alyn brings to this where he hasn’t come with a silver spoon, so there is a reality check here. There is absolutely the feeling that this is all above his pay grade, way above his station. For me, it was important to make sense of it. To jump from a sea boy to a councilman is massive. It’s like pulling a farmer out to be a politician. Sure, they’ll bring their own perspective and their own elements, and they might actually have more of a better understanding, to a degree, of what the people want. But it’s a culture shock because it’s a completely different language.

That’s something that I really wanted to try and capture and emulate: how it evolves and escalates quickly. That was quite difficult to wrap my head around, as an actor, but it’s at a time when everything is so tricky and on edge, so it makes sense for things to just happen.

Before that, Addam comes to Alyn and brings up Aegon’s reappearance and concerns about Rhaenyra’s state of mind. How much of Alyn is hearing him in that moment? It takes on a more ominous feeling in hindsight, knowing what happens with the Septon.

SALIM: Whereas Addam is very impulsive and just goes for it. Alyn’s just a bit more measured and patient. It makes me feel excited to see where it goes next season, because that’s such a big move. It’s such a huge move, and it’s a make-or-break for a lot of people, particularly for Alyn.

The conversation with Addam is an interesting one. It’s funny, though, because it is loaded with so many other elements and context that sometimes it’s hard for the brothers to even see through the weeds of one another. If the Baela element wasn’t actually a part of it all, there would’ve been a very different conversation, and it would’ve been a very measured one. Because there is just so much emotion going on, it’s made into a bigger thing.

Well, I was going to bring up the Baela of it all, because that hadn’t happened the last time we spoke about the show. Baela and Alyn’s story goes in a very specific direction in Fire & Blood, and the breadcrumbs are dropped this season leading up to the moment when the kiss happens. How did you and Bethany [Antonia] want to approach both the kiss and the deeper emotions at play beneath it?

SALIM: There are so many points of view in this show. To have a buildup of something that important and that powerful, it needs time. The obstacle that we had was that there’s so little time for the amount of story content that needs to be said and shared. When I was talking to Bethany about it, I remember we were also trying to wrap our heads around it. We knew it was coming.

The truth is, because of the time we’re in — of war, pain, grief — you could do anything. I remember my own grief of losing my dad, and the actions and the things that I did were almost like it wasn’t me, in a weird way, but then it was at the same time. There is so much emotion and grief emanating in the space, in the world itself. Alyn thought he had lost his father. [Corlys] comes back and gives Alyn a name. He’s then put into this new position. His brother is flying a death machine. Baela’s lost her betrothed. She’s just losing people left, right, and center. It isn’t just Jace; it’s Corlys’ wife [Rhaena] as well. She even lost her own mother.

I think that’s where it comes from. There is an element of almost seeing a kindred spirit in that. The one thing that I have always said, even after losing my dad, is that when you meet someone else who’s lost someone that they hold dearly, you’re on a different wavelength. You have a different connection and resonance with them because there is an element of understanding, of a level you’ve entered that no one else is at unless they’ve experienced something akin to it.

It doesn’t have to be a parent. It can be a pet. It can be a loved one. It can be a job. But there is something deep that has no explanation, which is why an action like Alyn kissing Baela made sense. That’s where we approached it. It was an element of real deep connection. We’re not human now; we’re animals, and we are hurting, and there is only each other that we have here. Alyn can’t talk to his brother, really, because he’s doing his own thing. His father is just difficult to even connect with. No way is he going to try and open himself up to Rhaenyra. Who else have we got here?

Addam does put feelers out, at one point, to see if Baela is interested in him. Where do you think Alyn would stand on his brother potentially being his romantic rival?

SALIM: It’s such a crazy time. Anything can happen. That’s why it’s so boggling and weird, and kind of left field. There is just no time to process anything. I don’t think even Alyn sees him as a rival. We’re all drinking the weird Kool-Aid, and it’s really affecting us all. We’re in war, and people say stupid things in war, or in pain, or in desperation. It isn’t even about him seeing him as a rival. It’s almost like, “What? Where did that come from?”

Abubakar Salim Discusses Alyn’s Reaction to a Potential Succession Conflict in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 4

“The people, the sailors, would rather follow him than Joffrey.”

Image via HBO

In the finale, Alyn publicly declares himself as Corlys’ heir. I spoke about it with Steve [Toussaint], and he said Corlys would be proud, because it’s something he wanted anyway. He mentioned something I hadn’t even considered, though, which is that Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey might still be in line to claim Driftmark. Where do you think Alyn’s instinct to publicly assert himself as Lord of the Tides stems from, and how is he going to deal with a potential succession conflict heading into Season 4?

SALIM: Alyn’s approach is very much led by his father’s mentality in regards to… I don’t know if you can recall, but in Season 2, Corlys essentially tells Alyn that he’s too hard. He’s too cold. That people, they don’t see him as friendly. I think there is something really important learned there, which is it’s about the people. It’s about what the people believe and what the people think and what they feel. They are the ones who elect the leader, no one else. When Alyn comes out with it and says, “This is what it is,” he knows as well as his father, as well as the people, know that this makes sense. This is who he is.

His instinct or his impulse to take a stand and be like, “This is my right,” in a way, is because he’s seen enough now. He’s been through enough. His father has given him his name even when he has nothing. That’s a very different fuel than it was beforehand. In regards to the element of succession, we’re not talking about a throne here. We’re talking about nothing. There’s nothing there anymore. So, you can have Driftmark, but are you going to do anything about it?

I think there is an element of confidence that Alyn has where he knows what he can do. The people, the sailors, would rather follow him than Joffrey. Really, truly, there is no value in Driftmark apart from the name. I don’t think that someone like Rhaenyra, or these people who are used to material value, are used to the idea of dragons, are really going to care for it. If they really did, it’s silly because there’s nothing there. So, I think that’s where the confidence comes from for Alyn. There’s no contest. There is no contest.

All three seasons of House of the Dragon are now streaming on HBO Max.

Some of the most beloved romance TV shows right now have been adapted from romance books, from Bridgerton, to Heated Rivalry, to Off Campus. Great romance books, especially when they’re part of an ongoing series, are the perfect foundation for television shows. They have complex and nuanced characters, unique settings that readers can get lost in, and well-developed main romances that fans can easily root for. As such, when these books become TV shows, their worlds feel more live-in, and their characters feel especially real.

Romance fans have already proven that they’ll show up for adaptations of their favorite books, and there are a number of upcoming TV adaptations for fans to look forward to. From books being adapted for the first time into TV shows, to existing series getting the next book adapted, to previously adapted series getting a new TV adaptation, these are romance books to read before their upcoming adaptations.

‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1813)

Image via T. Egerton/Whitehall

Jane Austen‘s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice, has already been adapted a number of times, both in direct adaptations for television and film, as well as in modern movies inspired by the novel. It was previously adapted as a limited series in 1995 starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and now, it will be adapted once again as a series coming to Netflix this fall. The iconic novel tells the story of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, a young woman living in England in the late 18th century. Lizzie never wants to marry unless it’s for love, even as she’s being pressured for financial reasons.

Then, of course, Lizzie meets Fitzwilliam Darcy, a wealthy man who makes a terrible first impression on her. The two initially can’t stand each other, but they keep crossing paths, and they start to change their minds about each other along the way. Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and it will be exciting to see how the latest adaptation brings a new spin to the centuries-old story. The upcoming 2026 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice stars Emma Corrin as Lizzie and Jack Lowden as Darcy. It has yet to set an official release date, but Netflix released an official teaser for the series back in February.

‘Mile High’ (2023)

Image via Hodder

Mile High by Liz Tomforde is the first book in Tomforde’s massively popular Windy City series, and hockey romance fans should read the book before its upcoming television adaptation. Mile High follows the romance between notorious and widely-hated NHL player Evan Zanders and Stevie Shay, the new flight attendant for his team’s private plane. Stevie is wary of Zanders, based on both his reputation and his attitude, and he is no fonder of her.

Still, Zanders and Stevie start to get to know each other through frequent shared flights, and they slowly start to change their minds about each other. As announced by Deadline back in May, Amazon MGM Studios is developing the Windy City series, with Tomforde set to executive produce the show. Prime Video has previously had a great deal of success with romance series, including The Summer I Turned Pretty, Off Campus, and Every Year After. As such, Windy City is set to be the streamer’s next big hit, and romance fans should catch up on the books before the series’ eventual release.

‘Cleat Cute’ (2023)

Image via Griffin

Deadline also announced this past spring that Amazon MGM studios is developing Meryl Wilsner‘s sapphic soccer romance, Cleat Cute, into a TV series called Playing the Field. Cleat Cute tells the love story of two teammates who play for the U.S. Women’s National team: veteran Grace Henderson, and the up-and-coming Phoebe Matthews. Grace has been the team’s star player for a decade, but when she’s injured, Phoebe takes over her spot in her place.

Ahead of the World Cup, Grace and Phoebe start to develop feelings for each other, knowing that only one of them will ultimately be able to play in their position. Playing the Field will still focus primarily on Grace and Phoebe’s romance, but some changes have already been made ahead of the upcoming series. It is going to be an ensemble comedy centered on four teammates – including Grace and Phoebe, of course – who all play for New Orleans’ women’s soccer team, the fictional Crescent City.

‘Shatter Me’ (2011)

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Shatter Me is the first book in Tahereh Mafi‘s dystopian young adult series of the same name, and Variety announced back in June that Warner Bros. will be adapting the series as a television show. Shatter Me follows Juliette Ferrars, a teenage girl who’s been imprisoned in isolation for almost a year. Juliette never meant to hurt anyone, but her skin is lethal to anyone she touches. The outside world is ruled by a harsh regime called The Reestablishment, the ones responsible for punishing Juliette.

Everything changes for Juliette when she gets a cellmate: a former childhood classmate, Adam, who was always kind to her. Soon, Juliette and Adam are brought out of their cell. The Reestablishment, as led by the cruel and ambitious Aaron Warner, is interested in using her as a weapon. Despite all that is being offered to her, though, Juliette is against everything that The Reestablishment stands for. Shatter Me is a fast-paced and gripping dystopian series with a phenomenal central love triangle that spans multiple books. Romance fans will enjoy the high stakes of the setting, and how it plays a role in Juliette’s very complicated romantic feelings for her two respective love interests. For those who enjoy a great love triangle, Shatter Me is the perfect next read. Both love interests are well-written and complex, and there are valid reasons to root for each of these romances.

‘The Long Game’ (2022)

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Heated Rivalry exploded after its premiere last fall, and fans are champing at the bit for the hit hockey romance show’s next season. The series follows the years-long secret romance between rival NHL players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). The first season of the show followed the events of Heated Rivalry, the first book about Shane and Ilya, and the second novel in Rachel Reid‘s Game Changers series. Season 2 is set to follow the events of The Long Game, the second book about Shane and Ilya, and the sixth book overall in the Game Changers series. Whereas Heated Rivalry is about the journey towards Shane and Ilya ultimately getting together and professing their love for each other, The Long Game is about what comes next.

The Long Game picks up a few years after the end of Heated Rivalry. Shane and Ilya are in a serious and deeply committed relationship, but they still have to keep it a secret from most of the rest of the world, even after Scott Hunter changed things for LGBTQ+ athletes in the NHL forever. After all, Shane and Ilya are still regularly and publicly competing against each other, even though Ilya now plays for the Ottawa Centaurs – and the two have a public friendship as co-founders of the Irina Foundation. The Long Game explores Shane and Ilya’s struggle to balance the growing seriousness of their relationship with their love for their careers. It also gives attention to both their mental health, as well as the toll that the secrecy takes on them and their relationships. Production is slated to start on Heated Rivalry soon, so for fans of the show who haven’t yet read The Long Game, now is the perfect time to catch up on the book.

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Heated Rivalry

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November 28, 2025

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Crave

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Jacob Tierney

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  Connor Storrie

  Ilya Rozanov

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  Hudson Williams

  Shane Hollander

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The Wire isn’t just one of the greatest television shows of all time, but remains one of the most accurate. The series was created by David Simon, a former journalist who used his own experiences writing about crime, government, and education in Baltimore to create a complex story that addressed every level of infrastructure; the series earned praise from both sides of the political aisle, as both President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain admitted to being fans of the show during the 2008 Presidential election. Although many of the characters that appeared in The Wire were based on real people, a scene from the show’s third season has become a popular reference for political pundits and reporters.

In the Season 3 episode “Straight and True,” Stringer Bell (Idris Elba) organizes a conspiracy among the various drug kingpins in Baltimore to all buy from the same dealer, which would prevent further violence from breaking out in the midst of feuds. Although he cleverly manages to frame himself as a legitimate businessman, Stringer humorously questions a colleague if he’s “taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy,” and points out how ridiculous it would be to leave behind a paper trail. Although it’s a brief line intended to showcase the character’s intelligence, Stringer Bell’s advice has become increasingly relevant when applied to many recent political scandals.

What Is “The Stringer Bell Rule” on ‘The Wire’?

“The Stringer Bell Rule” was coined as a phrase used to describe the documentation of activity that could be subjected to legal review within a criminal case. Stringer understands that the proposition that he has made might be able to slide past the attention of Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) and the other cops as long as they don’t have hard proof that the kingpins were working together; it would otherwise be very challenging to find evidence that a secret handshake deal was carried out. Reporter Matthew Zeitlin made a reference to Stringer’s comments during the investigation of unethical and illegal practices by J.P. Morgan in 2013; after a spreadsheet that listed various alleged crimes was found amidst the ongoing scandal, Zeitlin joked that the company should have followed Stringer Bell’s theory and “not put it down in writing.”

Stringer’s references to criminal conspiracies were again brought up during the aftermath of the 2016 Presidential election, in which evidence was found that linked the campaign of President Donald Trump to attempts by Russian hackers to influence the results of the voting and perpetuate propaganda. After The Washington Reporter released an article that revealed that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort during a meeting with Russian billionaires tied to the Kremlin merely two weeks ahead of the election, The New Republic reporter Alex Shepherd commented that “a lot of people close to Donald Trump seem to have put what they were doing in writing,” reflecting an ignorance of Stringer’s edict. The term “Stringer Bell Rule” was later coined in an article for The Atlantic, which expressed shock that Roger Stone’s arrest for obstruction of justice had relied on a hard paper trail from meeting notes.

Stringer Bell’s advice ironically does not save him in The Wire, as his leadership position is undermined when Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris) is released from prison and begins to initiate a war on the young kingpin Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector). While Stringer realizes that it is far easier to conduct criminal activity if it is done under the guise of professionalism, Avon is so intent on getting revenge on Marlon that he ignores this advice. Stringer is ultimately cut out of his position of authority for suggesting a more pragmatic approach, and is executed by Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) during the shocking penultimate episode of Season 3.

‘The Wire’ Influenced Real World Politics

Image via HBO

The Wire’s influence on both television and politics was not initially evident, as the series received surprisingly low ratings during its initial run on HBO, where it was often dwarfed in popularity by The Sopranos. Despite being ignored by the Primetime Emmy Awards in most categories (as it famously never received a nomination for Best Drama Series), The Wire only grew in complexity as it continued to air. Season 2 examined the fundamentals of the drug trade and its impact on the trading port. Season 3 showed how these events fueled political campaigns, Season 4 emphasized the importance of protecting children, and the fifth and final season served as an homage to Simon’s own experiences as a journalist. While the material was often quite technical, viewers who stuck with The Wire ended up being more informed about the nature of real-world issues.

The Wire also helped dismantle some common excuses for the lack of progress by revealing the complexities involved in the war on drugs. The series showed the barriers that many users, dealers, and victims faced when trying to be acclimated into society, as social stigmas and protective laws helped keep many communities segregated. Although it may have been easier to point a finger at one single villain that could be defeated, Simon explored how there were those within the government, organized crime, and law enforcement that served as an impediment to progress. This would become a theme that he would continue to explore within his other projects for HBO, including the brilliant biographical series Show Me A Hero with Oscar Isaac and the crime thriller We Own This City with Jon Bernthal.

Stringer Bell may be the most influential character on The Wire, as the acclaim that Elba earned for his performance helped him earn subsequent roles in many popular films and franchises. Stringer subverted expectations of what a drug kingpin looked like, as he was an educated, eloquent leader whose aura of professionalism somehow made him feel more terrifying. It’s a little ironic that Stringer was designed to be a more “realistic” antagonist, but that some of the real criminals to emerge within recent news cycles have proven to be far more over-the-top.

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2002 – 2008-00-00

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HBO

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Directors

Ernest R. Dickerson, Ed Bianchi, Steve Shill, Clark Johnson, Daniel Attias, Agnieszka Holland, Tim Van Patten, Alex Zakrzewski, Anthony Hemingway, Brad Anderson, Clement Virgo, Elodie Keene, Peter Medak, Rob Bailey, Seith Mann, Christine Moore, David Platt, Dominic West, Gloria Muzio, Jim McKay, Leslie Libman, Milcho Manchevski, Robert F. Colesberry, Thomas J. Wright

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Richard Price, Joy Lusco, Rafael Alvarez, Dennis Lehane, David Mills, William F. Zorzi, Kia Corthron

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The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger purposefully kept her circle small during her incarceration.

“Bravo stood by me when I went through a lot,” Karen, 63, told E! News on Tuesday, August 4, recalling her recent jail sentence. “I often credit the courage that I had from the training I had as a Housewife to make it through and to get sober and to be clean.”

According to Karen, executive producer Andy Cohen was on the shortlist of friends she was able to maintain contact with during her sentence.

“Andy was one of the few people that I allowed to talk to me inside while I was paying my dues, which I needed to do,” she revealed on Tuesday. “He was so lovely and so supportive. I adore him. I love him. I am so happy to be a part of his team and his family.”

Karen was arrested in 2024 for driving under the influence and was sentenced to two years in jail with one year suspended. The Bravo star was ultimately released in September 2025, six months before her scheduled release date.

Following her release, Karen returned to RHOP but declined to appear on the upcoming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.

“The offer was made. I thought for my sobriety, ‘Take it slow,’ because I was planning on coming back to [RHOP for] season 11,” Karen exclusively told Us on Tuesday at the UGT premiere in New York CIty. “I didn’t want to overdo it, so I’m here to cheer and support. I can’t wait to see it with you guys.”

Karen, best known as the “Grande Dame” of Potomac, stressed to Us that she wanted to ease back into the Bravoverse while focusing on her health.

“I’m very proud to be a part of this family, and I earned my place to be [in] it,” she explained. “The fact that they recognized me and supported my decision to just stay low for a minute and continue to heal was so, so loving and so supportive. I’m so grateful.”

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When RHOP picks up cameras for season 11, Karen hopes to further showcase her growth and progress.

“I’m so happy. I encourage anyone that’s struggling to face it and get the help they need, and walk through it. Come out on the other side. It’s wonderful,” she said of sobriety, noting that her castmates had her back. “They were so loving and supportive. You know, we’re messy, so come for me. I can handle it. That’s me. But when they understood my commitment to my sobriety, I think they got on board with it. I’d like to think so. Let’s watch it together. If they come for me, then I will address it at the reunion.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is revealing a new chapter in her private life as she continues to represent New York City’s 14th congressional district.

“Hey everyone, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted to stories, but I think it’s a good time to kind of dive back in again — it’s August recess and I think it’s good for you all to hear a little bit more from me directly,” the congresswoman, 36, said via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, August, 8, adding that she is “having some things happen” in her life that she wants to “share more” with her followers amid her “reflective mood.”

“I want to share with you all a decision that is very personal that I have made that has taken me time to consider, weigh and save up for,” she continued, “And it is of a sensitive matter and a personal matter and usually I keep my private life quite private, but I have made the decision to start freezing my eggs.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who was 29 when she was sworn into Congress after becoming the youngest woman elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, is currently engaged to her longtime partner Riley Roberts. The congresswoman admitted that her decision to freeze her eggs — one she plans to document for her social media followers — was due, in part, to near-constant speculation she will one-day be a frontrunner for the Democratic nominee for president.

Related: Julianne Hough Documents Egg-Freezing Journey: ‘Never Simple’

Julianne Hough is opening up about an incredibly personal process: she’s freezing her eggs. “I just want to take a moment to say thank you to Dr. Carolyn Alexander and the incredible team at SCRC. Navigating fertility is never simple, especially with endometriosis and my own personal timeline and hopes around having children… but with […]

“The media will run up and ask a question like, ‘Are you going to run for this? or, ‘Are you going to run for that?’ And it’s almost through this very two-dimensional craven understanding or ambitious understanding of power,” she explained. “When I think a lot of us actually approach these considerations or these decisions through the larger context of our lives as whole human beings and what is happening in our lives as whole human beings.”

Ocasio-Cortez — a common target of President Donald Trump and members of the Republican party — also acknowledged that “strangely” there is a “political risk” or potential “political tax” to her candidly sharing her egg-freezing journey.

“People don’t go down those rabbit holes and fixate on them for men in terms of their decision the way they do for women,” she added. “And I’m not here to, like, talk about what’s fair or unfair in this context — this is just the world that we live in today, and so I’m aware that just by me choosing to not keep this private there may be a consequence.”

She continued, “But you know what, I’m OK with that. This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life and if people want to make assumptions about my decision, let them make those assumptions – I feel empowered to make this choice. I think it’s a very privileged position that I’ve been able to be able to make. And it’s also a result of, I think, changes in technology that have also made it more financially accessible.”

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Related: Jennifer Aniston Reflects on 20-Year Journey to ‘Pursue’ Having Kids

Jennifer Aniston is shutting down the widespread “narrative” about why she hasn’t started a family throughout her years in the spotlight. The 56-year-old Friends alum addressed the speculation about her private life in a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar UK, published Wednesday, October 8. “They didn’t know my story, or what I’d been going through […]

The congresswoman went on to reveal that she took her “first shot this morning” and will have to take multiple injections as part of the egg-freezing process on Sunday, August 9, before her scheduled appearance on an ABC morning show.

“I’m going to be delivering an interview on national television and it’s in the morning and I have to take my shot because of the timing of it,” she said. “I’m gonna be taking my shots in the green room before my interview. And I want you all to see that because women can do anything, and I think it’s badass that I’m gonna be, you know, giving myself shots in the green room, get my glam on, roll out talk about international events, domestic policy, elections, pop out, live my life, do my thing.”

She continued, “If we want community we have to raise our hand and be community for each other, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Former congressman Eric Swalwell had a reported fling with President Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, when she was a 22-year-old intern working on Capitol Hill.

A Thursday, August 6, report published by Sources Say News, a popular Capitol Hill blog, revealed the alleged relationship between Swalwell, 45, and Katie, now 34.

According to the report, the pair engaged in a “sexual relationship” roughly a decade ago — before she married her husband, the current White House deputy chief of staff, at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., on February 16, 2020.

Stephen, who also serves as a homeland security advisor to Trump, 80, reportedly did not know about his wife’s previous relationship with Swalwell.

Katie seemingly confirmed the reported romance via X on Thursday, writing, “I was an intern working on Capitol Hill.” (Us has reached out to Katie, former congressman Swalwell and the White House for comment.)

Many politicians and pundits on both sides of the political aisle are pointing to the pair’s reported tryst as another example of the disgraced congressman’s illicit conduct while in office. Swalwell, a Democrat elected to represent California’s 14th Congressional District in 2023, ended his bid for California governor and subsequently resigned from office earlier this year after multiple women accused the former politician of sexual misconduct, including harassment, sexual assault and rape. (Swalwell has denied the allegations while admitting he engaged in extramarital relationships.)

“As someone who doesn’t normally believe all women, I believe her — and the many lined up behind her,” Katie wrote via X in April while sharing the then-congressman’s response to the allegations. “Eric Swalwell’s behavior was the worst kept secret on Capitol Hill. I’m positive she was not the only intern.”

Katie, for her part, went on to serve as the communications director for Vice President Mike Pence from 2020 to 2020 after previously serving as his press secretary. She later entered the world of political podcasting while welcoming four children with Stephen: daughter Mackenzie Jay and sons Jackson Grant, Hudson Monroe and Hawthorne Hayes.

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Related: What to Know About Eric Swalwell‘s Misconduct Scandal and Investigation

Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing sexual assault allegations from multiple women, a Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation and calls from top Democrats to end his campaign for California governor. Four women — including a former staffer who claims the politician raped her — accused Swalwell in April 2026 of sexual misconduct and harassment. Swalwell has categorically […]

Shortly after the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Katie had to publicly defend her husband after photos appeared to show the adviser using his then-pregnant wife as a human shield during the chaos.

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“They could not give Stephen Miller a good news cycle if they tried,” Katie said during an April 27 appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle. “They had to make me a target.”

She continued at the time, “To that I would say, Stephen did a phenomenal job and he was behind me and protecting not only me, but our baby.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Elijah Wood and The Lord of the Rings cast recently reunited, proving you can always journey back to the Shire.

“The band’s all here,” Sean Astin wrote via Instagram on Saturday, August 8, snapping a selfie from a recent gathering with Wood, 45, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan.

Monaghan, 49, shared another image from the cast’s low-key reunion, revealing the group dined at La Royal in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

“Four Halflings. Three cocktails. Two desserts. ONE great night of conversation. More to come,” Monaghan teased of the evening. “#becurious shoutout to the couple [photobombing] in the back. Well played. Thank you @laroyal_cambridge.”

Related: ‘Lord of the Rings’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Author J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series The Lord of the Rings made its big screen debut in 2001 with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — and the rest is history. Like Tolkien’s books, the early aughts film followed a hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as he embarks upon a journey […]

Wood, Astin, 55, Boyd, 57, and Monaghan starred in the big-screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic Lord of the Rings franchise. The first movie, which premiered in 2001, followed hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wood) on a journey to destroy the One Ring to help save Middle-earth from the evil powers of Dark Lord Sauron.

In the years since wrapping the LOTR series, Wood has largely stepped back from the limelight to enjoy a more private family life. (Wood and his longtime partner, Mette-Marie Kongsved, are parents of two.)

“We’re well out of toddlerville and they’ve entered kid-dom. It’s incredible,” Wood told The Times of London in a March profile, noting his children have yet to watch his LOTR work. “They have not, but only because I genuinely don’t think they’re old enough. I feel like it might be appropriate when they are 8.”

Wood previously revealed that he loved how “all-consuming” fatherhood had become.

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Related: ‘Lord of the Rings’ Cast’s Honest Quotes About Being Underpaid

Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom are among the Lord of the Rings stars who have claimed they were underpaid on the billion-dollar franchise. Director Peter Jackson spared no expense on special effects for his adaptation of the hugely influential works of fantasy writer J. R. R. Tolkien — the trilogy reportedly had a […]

“The silver lining of the pandemic has been that it’s enabled me to enjoy fatherhood in a way I might not have done,” he told The Guardian in 2021. “My son was born seven or eight months before lockdown, so we’ve had this kind of unbelievable, uninterrupted family time that we’re probably never going to have again.”

Wood also recently stepped back into acting, joining Samara Weaving’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come horror movie.

“I think of it as an action movie with comedic elements. Yes, it does have trappings of a horror. There are literally exploding bodies,” Wood noted to The Times earlier this year of his latest project. “But, the reason that horror never goes away is that, as a society, we always have something to be afraid of in real life, but horror is a safe way to experience fear because nothing’s actually going to happen. It’s cathartic.”

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for the House of the Dragon Season 3 finale.

Although House of the Dragon has primarily told the story of the brewing civil war between various members of House Targaryen over the course of its three seasons, another family of Valyrian noble blood has been quietly on the rise. While it might seem as though the Sea Snake himself, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), doesn’t have much to his name, especially in the devastating aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, he does have more than one heir he wants to carry on his legacy. Unfortunately, his request for Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) to legitimize his sons, Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Addam (Clinton Liberty) of Hull, is denied, but Corlys doesn’t have the opportunity to make the queen see reason when he finds himself in the clutches of Ormund (James Norton) and the Hightower army.

However, even in chains, the Sea Snake is a force to be reckoned with, from holding sway over a room of his kidnappers to intervening when Gwayne (Freddie Fox) tries to use him as a bargaining chip with Daemon (Matt Smith). Before the premiere of the Season 3 finale, Collider spoke with Toussaint about embracing Corlys’ biggest strengths as a diplomat, the experience of filming those brutal and bloody Tumbleton battle scenes, how Corlys might react to Alyn publicly declaring himself as a Velaryon, and more.

COLLIDER: Last time we talked, it was about the Gullet, but little did I know how much was in store for Corlys for the rest of the season. I did have a question for you about the finger. Did you have to do a hand cast, or did the special effects team use photos of your hands to create that?

STEVE TOUSSAINT: Yeah, that’s my finger. They did a cast. In fact, I think that might’ve been how I learned that my finger was being cut off. It must’ve been in the script, but I do remember there was a day I went on set, and they were like, “Oh, special effects are here, and they want to do a cast of your hand.” I was like, “Why?” They were like, “Because of your finger.”

Steve Toussaint Explains Why Corlys Never Really Loses His Power in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

“I don’t know whether he has ever been a prisoner before, but Corlys has been through an awful lot…”

Image via HBO

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In terms of how Corlys’ storyline plays out this season, the episode where he gets taken by Ormund’s men is a big deviation from the book. What the subsequent episodes really do a good job of emphasizing is that Corlys might be a prisoner, but he’s still got authority even when he’s literally standing in chains. In the finale, Gwayne tries to use Corlys to broker peace with Daemon, and then Corlys takes over the negotiations! What did you really enjoy about getting to show that diplomatic side of the character and how he really steps up in that moment to be the voice of peace and reason?

TOUSSAINT: I liked the whole arc of it, actually, because I think there is something about Corlys and the way that he… I mean, obviously, his reputation and the way he holds himself, that just demands respect from people. It’s a joy when you’re working with people like James [Norton] and Freddie [Fox] because they naturally just play that. Corlys never really loses his power, even though he is in chains.

One of the joys about that scene was particularly when, as you said, Gwayne is trying to relay his plan, and then at one point, Corlys just goes, “Shut up.” It makes part of what Gwayne’s saying make sense. Also, I think at this point, Corlys is just tired of futile wars, tired of the bloodletting, and he’s trying desperately to, like most parents, leave a better world for his sons, his now newly recognized sons, than they began with. I don’t know whether he has ever been a prisoner before, but Corlys has been through an awful lot, and I don’t think this is the first time someone has pointed a knife or a sword at him. You know what I mean? When you’ve been through so much, you’re like “Nothing’s that bad, really.” When people recognize that, it can be liberating.

Do you know if the moment when Corlys looks at Gwayne to give him more slack on the chain was in the script, or something that you all came up with in rehearsing the scene?

TOUSSAINT: That was organic. That wasn’t in the script. My natural tendency was to step forward and speak closer to Daemon because he and Corlys know each other, and in this situation, Gwayne is the outsider. Initially, when we rehearsed it, I did step forward, but obviously, Freddie had his foot on the chain, and so we just went with it. I looked at him, and he went with it, being the good, flexible actor that he is, and we kept it in subsequent takes.

There is that element of Gwayne clearly respecting Corlys and his experience, too.

TOUSSAINT: That’s it, yeah.

As soon as we heard the name Tumbleton, I think fans of the book really knew where that storyline was probably heading. Corlys is also, at one point, in the line of fire when Ulf decides to join the battle on Silverwing, and then flips sides in a way no one expected — which is to say, he just starts blasting indiscriminately. What was it like to really film those sequences where you’re still in chains but having to dodge dragonfire at the same time?

TOUSSAINT: The director, Andrij [Parekh], would just say, “Up there, there’s the dragon, so that’s where you run.” You kind of think to yourself, at this moment, it’s about survival mode. What we tried to portray is that Corlys looks up, he sees the dragon, he recognizes it, he knows it’s Ulf, and so initially, it’s, “Oh, we’re going to be fine.” And then, Ulf does what he does, and you haven’t got time for recriminations. You don’t have time for what’s going to happen to him when we get him back to King’s Landing. You just have to survive. That was the overriding feeling, as we did that sequence.

Corlys starts the episode as the Hightowers’ prisoner. He technically ends the episode as Daemon’s prisoner, but he’s really not being treated like any old prisoner, right? I’m thinking of the scene where Daemon is hacking and slicing his way through Tumbleton, and then Corlys is actually the one who goes to collect him, in a way. Though I was very worried, for a moment, that Daemon would end up stabbing Corlys.

TOUSSAINT: On the one hand, it was great just as a performer, because of the level of detail that these guys put in. We had all these corpses lying around everywhere, and then people just wandering around and so forth. In that sense, it was great to get you into that mood. Story-wise, for Corlys, he looks at Daemon, and I think at that moment, Daemon is on a death wish. After that explosion, he’s got up [and] he’s literally just looking for fights. He wants to be cut down, basically. I think Corlys recognizes that and decides that he’s going to save [Daemon] from himself. There will still be war tomorrow, and Daemon is a great tool for the realm.

The idea that Daemon could swing around and just indiscriminately hack away at Corlys was obviously a very real danger. But it’s Corlys, man. He didn’t even think about it. I think it’s the reason why we did it that way — where he grabs hold of [Daemon], and then there’s a moment when they’re just looking into each other’s eyes, where Daemon is trying to remember where he is and what’s going on. Matt Smith, he’s brilliant. It was great, and I’m glad that it comes across that way as well, because that was the hope.

Steve Toussaint Explains Why Rhaenyra’s Actions in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Are a “Betrayal” for Corlys

“He believes her claim is correct, but, at the same time, this is what he’s lost.”

Image via HBO

The big conflict between Corlys and Rhaenyra this season was her refusal to legitimize Alyn and Addam, and that’s really the inciting incident for why he decides to step down as Hand and leave King’s Landing. Where does Corlys’ frustration stem from the most? Is it the refusal itself? Is it the inherent hypocrisy beneath that? Because he very publicly confronts her about the birth of her first three sons.

TOUSSAINT: Primarily, it is this sense of betrayal for him. It’s a sense of righteous indignation. Because the fact is he was part of the thing when she initially presented them with these two boys who clearly were not of his blood. But he was like, “Okay, fine. We’ll go with that.” For him, before that scene happens, he’s sitting somewhere in that bustle waiting, and he’s going through what he’s been through, who he’s lost — his house, his wife, all of that in the cause of this queen. He believes her claim is correct, but, at the same time, this is what he’s lost. “I don’t ask for riches, I don’t ask any of that, but just do this for my boys, because that’s all I have left to give them.” For Corlys, it’s like, “You can’t even do that after you’ve seen what I’ve been through.” And he doesn’t hear her say, “I can’t do it just yet.” He just hears, “No.”

So I think that’s where he is. And then, as you said, that becomes the impetus for him. “I’m going to go out, and I’m going to mop up the survivors from the Gullet, and I’m going to hang them from trees, and hopefully that will assuage my rage.” I don’t think it does, but there are no more pirates left, so he’s got to go home, and then he gets kidnapped.

In light of all that, one moment in the finale that I wanted to get your reaction to as well is Alyn publicly declaring himself as Corlys’ heir. What do you think Corlys’ reaction is going to be, looking ahead to the next season?

TOUSSAINT: Corlys would be glad. That’s what he thinks it should be. Somebody asked me today, or posited the idea that, actually, Joffrey is the heir to Driftmark. That’s very interesting. That’s another cause for conflict, because Corlys would name Alyn his heir, so Alyn taking that mantle on is like, “Yes, of course. You’re my son.” He would also think it might then force Rhaenyra’s hand.

All three seasons of House of the Dragon are now streaming on HBO Max.

Ariana Madix does not hold all the cards for her “Love Island” hosting gig return, but the constant chatter is catching her attention.

The media personality is reacting to circulating rumors that her future on the hit dating show as the host is uncertain, emphasizing that the signal on her end is mostly one of ignorance about the way forward.

Ariana Madix’s time on the USA version of the dating show has been nothing short of a phenomenal run, which has now earned her first Emmy Award nomination for hosting a show.

The reality star sat down in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly to give her verdict on news that has been filtering around about her position as host on the dating show becoming vacant next season.

Madix admitted to seeing the rumors, but noted that she is still in the dark about what will happen next season, although her spot as “Love Island Games” host next year is already secured.

Touching on the constant concerns from fans about her job, Madix declared, “I do wonder about that sometimes. People on social media have been saying that every year, and I always wonder where that comes from.”

She, however, appreciated the care from her fans, choosing to see it as a sign that she is a favorite among the viewers and they all want her back for positive reasons. Madix confessed to Us Weekly that so far, nothing has been said about that part of her career to the media or the fans, so the reports remain largely unfounded.

The ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Alum Reflected On Her Role In The ‘Love Island USA’ Meteoric Rise

In July, the outlet shared that Madix responded to a fan on TikTok when she gave a closer look into moments behind the scenes when filming the season 8 finale for “Love Island USA.” The curious fan had sought to know if it would be Madix’s last time strutting into that villa as the one in charge, to which she quickly countered.

A month before that, Madix had spoken about the role she played in the success of the dating show, especially because it took off around the time she became the host. She continued to The Hollywood Reporter in June that her emergence sandwiched between other pivotal factors really cooked the perfect storm for peak entertainment.

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The reality star also praised “Love Island USA” for its ability to turn contestants into stars, expressing her excitement to finally see the franchise receiving recognition for the enormous effort required to produce episodes at such a rapid pace. Madix bragged that as far as she is concerned, no other show is doing what the dating show is doing as regards their turnover rate.

Ariana Madix Gave A Full Look Into Her Pre-Hosting Ritual

Prior to her return to Fiji to host an episode of the show in June, Madix revealed that she crosses some important things off her list physically and mentally. She reflected on doing a lot of work in the gym, and that happens throughout the year to help her feel confident, sexy, and walk into the villa like a boss.

Several shots of Madix walking inside the villa dressed to the nines and flaunting her curves were often the highlight of the episodes for the viewers and the contestants. 

Madix continued that she also gets to work on her confidence in general because, as a host, balancing empathy and control of the room is an important aspect of getting the job done. The host stated, “Because when I go in there, there’s no producers there. It’s just me; I’m in charge. So I need to come in having that confidence for sure.”

Madix got candid about the opportunity to lead the show, describing the feeling as that of creative fulfillment because she enjoys connecting with the islanders every season, and she intends to do it for a long time.

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The 41-Year-Old’s ‘Love Island’ Obsession Paid Off With First Ever Emmy Nomination

The Blast noted that fans who followed Madix during her “Vanderpump Rules” days would testify how much of a super fan of the dating show she was. Cameras often captured Madix trying to convince her ex, Tom Sandoval, to watch the dating show with her.

When the call finally came in from her team, informing her about her Emmy nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program, Madix was over the moon. She recalled walking over to the phone half asleep and returning to bed before eventually realizing the magnitude of her latest achievement.

The reality TV star was elated to be nominated alongside some formidable competitors in her category, such as “Survivor” host Jeff Probst, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” host RuPaul Charles, “The Traitors” host Alan Cumming, and “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish.

Madix took over hosting duties for “Love Island USA” from actress and “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland in 2024. She initially made her debut on the show as a VIP guest on the 5th season of the show after producers watched an episode of “Vanderpump Rules” where she raved about her obsession with the show.

Ariana Madix Promised A ‘Love Island USA’ Reunion Alongside Andy Cohen

The eighth season of the dating show crowned Bryce Dettloff and Trinity Tatum as the winners to take home the $100,000 grand prize. As noted by The Blast, Carl Schmidt and Aniya Harvey came second, followed by Sincere Rhea and Melanie Moreno in third place, and Zach Georgiou and Kayda Bosse as the fourth couple.

The season, which came with its own drama, including the removal of one of the contestants, Alannah Keyser, due to a video of her using a racial slur in the past resurfacing, is now set to host a reunion. Former contestants even communicated their favorite picks to take home the whopping six-figure check.

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According to Madix in the finale episode, she will be taking the wheel with Andy Cohen to gather the contestants in one room and ask some juicy questions about their lives inside and outside the villa. The reunion will be available on Peacock on August 31.

Will Ariana Madix take the fans for a spin on the show’s 9th season?

Nothing comes close to the rush of finishing a good book series. By the final page, the characters feel like close friends, and readers have no idea what to do with life for at least a couple of days. Movies and television can also tell incredible stories, but they rarely match the experience of living with the same characters across thousands of pages.

Of course, many of the series on this list have been turned into massive movies and brilliant television franchises. However, reading the books still hits differently, especially because they contain entire characters, histories, and storylines that never make it to the screen, and even if they did, they just don’t hit the same. To fix that, here are the best book series of all time, ranked by how well they pull the readers into their worlds.

10

‘Artemis Fowl’ (2001–2012)

Image via Hyperion Books

The Artemis Fowl series is messy, chaotic, and complex. Eoin Colfer’s eight-book series follows the cold and creepily intelligent Artemis Fowl II, heir to an Irish criminal family, as he discovers that fairies are real. Now, instead of freaking out, the 12-year-old immediately starts thinking about how to steal their gold. The catch is that these fairies are not harmless creatures with tiny wings as one would expect. Instead, they are heavily armed, technologically advanced, and capable of matching Artemis at almost every turn. Along the way, the central character crosses paths with Holly Short, an elf officer in the Lower Elements Police, whom he kidnaps and holds for ransom inside Fowl Manor. However, as the story progresses, Holly goes from being his prisoner to one of his closest allies, and their dynamic is the heart of the series.

The Artemis Fowl books follow one magical disaster after the other, but the real reason the series holds up is the protagonist himself. The series follows his journey from villain to hero, without ever feeling forced. The readers grow alongside Artemis as he learns to let go of his arrogant and manipulative ways. The change is slow, but boy, is it rewarding. Most people write Coller’s series off as children’s stories, but the way they combine humor, fantasy, science fiction, and crime is a treat for readers of all ages.

9

‘The Hunger Games’ (2008–Present)

Image via Scholastic Corporation

It feels like Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series becomes more relevant every year. The original trilogy follows Katniss Everdeen, a teenager from the impoverished District 12 who volunteers for the Hunger Games to save her younger sister. Alongside fellow tribute Peeta Mellark, she enters an arena designed to pit children against one another and fight to the death while the wealthy citizens of the Capitol watch from the comfort of their homes. The series begins as a survival story which gradually expands into a sharp satire on capitalism, celebrity culture, and propaganda.

Katniss is easily one of the most compelling young adult protagonists of all time, and her gradual transformation into the face of a rebellion is a fascinating journey to follow. Collins understands the weight of this narrative, but ensures that the readers never lose sight of the fact that all of these people participating in The Hunger Games are victims long before they step into the arena. The way Collins expands Panem and its history is a masterclass in worldbuilding. Not just the original books, but even the more recent prequels feel like meaningful additions to this story that the entire world is familiar with at this point. Every Hunger Games book is heartbreaking, thrilling, and eye-opening in how it reflects the real world. There’s plenty of dystopian fiction out there, but nothing comes close to The Hunger Games.

8

‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ (1950–1956)

Image via C. S. Lewis / HarperCollins

C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia was the first real doorway into fantasy for so many generations. The seven-book series follows the Pevensie siblings, who were evacuated from London during World War II and sent to live at Professor Digory Kirke’s large country house in rural England to escape the bombings. However, their world changes when Lucy steps through a wardrobe at the old property and discovers Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures ruled by the White Witch. Soon enough, the siblings find themselves pulled into a battle alongside the great lion Aslan that will decide the entire kingdom’s future.

The books move across different periods in the kingdom’s history and take the characters across dangerous seas, underground worlds, and even back to the very creation of Narnia. This enormous timeline is one of the reasons why the series never ceases to feel magical. The children grow older, but the series never loses its sense of wonder. There’s no denying that not every entry is equally strong, but the series as a whole creates a world that feels immersive and never-ending. Lewis never explains every corner of Narnia, and that mystery is part of its appeal. Above all that, The Chronicles of Narnia helped define modern children’s fantasy, which is why it definitely belongs on this list.

7

‘Dune’ (1965–1985)

Image via Chilton Books

If there was ever a time to read Frank Herbert’s Dune series, it’s now. The science-fiction epic is a six-book saga that begins with Paul Atreides, the young heir to a powerful family sent to govern Arrakis, the only planet where the valuable spice melange is found. Now, Arrakis is a brutal desert filled with giant sandworms, deadly politics, and the Fremen, who have survived there for generations. Things take a turn when House Atreides is betrayed, and Paul escapes into the desert to begin the journey that will turn him into the feared religious leader Muad’Dib.

From there, Dune grows into one of the most ambitious novel series of all time. The books trace Paul’s rise and slowly shift attention to the next generation of the Atreides family. The final two books move even further into the future and allow the series to keep changing its central characters, conflicts, and the world itself. Frank Herbert’s Dune books are complicated, and the odds are never really in anyone’s favor. Whoever controls the spice controls travel, wealth, and ultimately the future, which makes this sprawling battle over one desert planet feel frighteningly believable.

6

‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (1979–1992)

Image via Pan Books

Only Douglas Adams could destroy Earth in the opening pages and still make it feel like the start of a hilarious adventure. His five-book Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series follows ordinary Englishman Arthur Dent, who escapes moments before Earth is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. His rescuer is his best friend Ford Prefect, who turns out to be an alien researcher writing entries for an electronic travel guide. Arthur soon finds himself aboard the Heart of Gold alongside the irresponsible galactic president Zaphod Beeblebrox, the intelligent and capable Trillian, and the depressed robot Marvin.

What ensues is an endless series of cosmic accidents as the group searches for the meaning of life, travels through time, battles enemies, and repeatedly encounters new versions of Earth. Aside from all the comic relief, though, Arthur’s journey takes a surprisingly personal turn as time goes on. Adams ensures that he receives meaningful character arcs while still staying true to the series’ sense of unpredictability. The brilliance of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is that nothing in the story is ever random, even when it appears to be. Adams uses aliens, robots, and impossible technology to satirize bureaucracy, politics, and human arrogance. Few book series have ever felt so refreshingly silly, yet nuanced at the same time.

5

‘Earthsea’ (1968–2001)

Image via Ursula K. Le Guin / Atheneum Books / Harcourt

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The Earthsea Cycle is Ursula K. Le Guin’s six-volume saga that takes place across a vast archipelago where magic depends on knowing the true names of things. The story begins with Ged, a gifted but dangerously proud boy whose attempt to impress his classmates releases a shadow into the world. A Wizard of Earthsea follows him as he learns that power is not about defeating everything he fears, but understanding it. Ged remains important throughout the series, but Earthsea never belongs to him alone. The series keeps introducing new characters and shifting its focus across different parts of the archipelago.

The final books return to familiar characters years later, but approach them from a completely different angle to explore ageing, trauma, and the weakening line between life and death. Earthsea naturally grows beyond Ged’s original journey. Le Guin gradually moves away from traditional stories about powerful wizards and begins focusing on the people those stories often overlook, particularly women, children, and those living without magical power. The books are relatively short, but every adventure hits harder than the last. The later books make the readers reconsider everything the earlier stories taught them, and that evolution is what makes the series so rewarding. The series grows older alongside its characters and the author, and that kind of honesty has always been rare in literature.

4

‘The Dark Tower’ (1982–2012)

Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc.

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The Dark Tower by Stephen King follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger of a fallen kingdom, who is crossing the dying Mid-World in search of the Dark Tower. The Tower stands at the center of existence and holds countless worlds together, but it is slowly being destroyed. Roland believes reaching it is his destiny, although the deeper one gets into the series, the harder it becomes to separate that from obsession. Roland begins this journey alone, but the series truly comes into its own when he finds his companions Eddie, Susannah, and Jake. The larger story is about saving the Tower, but the emotional story is about whether Roland can learn to value the people walking beside him more than the destination ahead.

He is brave, disciplined, and almost impossible to stop, but he is not an easy hero to love. Roland repeatedly sacrifices relationships in the name of his mission before learning the true value of friendship. Not just that, but The Dark Tower books also build a fantastical world with ancient magic alongside robots and a civilization that looks uncomfortably similar to the readers’. As the story continues, it also begins connecting to King’s wider body of work, which turns the Tower into the center of a much larger fictional universe, which is one of its greatest appeals.

3

‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ (1996–Present)

Image via George R. R. Martin / Bantam Books

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George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire has changed pop culture forever. The author gave the world Westeros, a land with thousands of years of history, complicated family trees, forgotten wars, competing religions, and enough political grudges to keep the kingdom fighting forever. However, the series never throws all of that history at readers, but reveals it all through betrayals, marriages, old rivalries, and family legends. The story begins when Eddard Stark leaves his home in Winterfell to become the Hand of King Robert Baratheon. His investigation into the suspicious death of the previous Hand leads him towards a secret capable of destroying the royal family. From there, the conflict spreads across the Seven Kingdoms as the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, Greyjoys, and other powerful families fight for the Iron Throne.

Across the Narrow Sea, the exiled Daenerys Targaryen begins gathering the strength to reclaim her family’s kingdom. Meanwhile, beyond the Wall, an ancient supernatural threat is returning while everyone further south remains distracted by politics. What makes the series so interesting is that no single character owns the narrative. Martin moves between several perspectives to tell a complex story where heroes and villains are never purely good or evil. Of course, the main series is still unfinished, but Martin has continued to expand Westeros with several prequels and spinoffs that are as engaging as the original story. Safe to say, A Song of Ice and Fire changed readers’ expectations of modern fantasy thanks to its ambitious storytelling and unmatched worldbuilding.

2

‘Harry Potter’ (1997–2007)

Image via Scholastic/ Bloomsbury

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J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is so much more than a book series. The seven-book saga captures what it feels like to grow up and fight for what one believes in. The story follows Harry, an orphan raised by his cruel aunt and uncle, who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard. He attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he finally finds friendship, purpose, and a world in which he belongs. However, Harry soon learns that his past is connected to Lord Voldemort, the dark wizard responsible for murdering his parents.

The initial books capture the pure excitement of discovering the magical world with Harry. Moving staircases, enchanted sweets, secret passageways, Quidditch matches, and strange school traditions make Hogwarts feel like a place readers could genuinely live in. Yet every year also brings a new mystery and a new revelation about Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter is one of the very few book series that matures pretty naturally. The story naturally grows darker as Harry, Ron, and Hermione realize how prejudiced and corrupt the magical world can be. Rowling created a world that readers never wanted to leave, and that’s why the series still feels so personal.

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‘The Lord of the Rings’ (1954–1955)

Image via Harper Collins

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The Lord of the Rings is a defining work of modern fantasy, but that’s still an understatement. J.R.R. Tolkien essentially created the blueprint that generations of fantasy writers have been building on ever since. The series is technically one novel published across three volumes. The story begins with Frodo Baggins inheriting a simple gold ring from his uncle Bilbo that just so happens to be the One Ring, created by the Dark Lord Sauron to control the other Rings of Power. The only way to stop Sauron is to carry the Ring into the heart of his kingdom and destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. Frodo sets out to do so with his loyal gardener Sam, but the journey brings together a much larger group known as the Fellowship of the Ring.

Now, Tolkien’s worldbuilding is famously detailed, and Middle-earth has its own languages, legends, along with thousands of years of history. However, it feels real because of how seamlessly the author incorporates all of it into Frodo’s adventures. When the Fellowship separates, the story expands into a much larger war involving fallen kingdoms and ordinary people forced to stand against Sauron’s armies. Despite that, the emotional center of the series remains surprisingly small. That balance between enormous scale and deeply personal courage is what makes The Lord of the Rings as timeless as ever.