And so, dear reader, you have wandered through the seven kingdoms and found yourself bereft—for the tale of Westeros has grown silent, and your heart yearns for new adventures. Take comfort, for I shall be your guide through fifteen magnificent realms that await your eager imagination. These are stories of crowns and conspiracies, of swords and sorcery, each one a worthy companion for those who have loved the brutal beauty of A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon
Here is a delicious secret: George R.R. Martin himself called this “the original Game of Thrones.” Set in fourteenth-century France, this seven-book saga follows the cursed Capetian dynasty after King Philip the Fair condemns the Knights Templar to flames. The Grand Master’s dying curse echoes through generations—bringing scandal, murder, and treachery to every crowned head who follows. There are strangled queens and poisoned crowns, ambitious nobles and scheming women who pull the strings of kings. Though it lacks dragons, it possesses something perhaps more terrifying: every word of it is rooted in true history.
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
If you have ever wondered what Westeros might feel like through a darker looking glass, here is your answer. Joe Abercrombie presents a world where heroes are as scarce as summer snows—featuring Logen Ninefingers, a barbarian trying to escape his violent past; Glokta, a torturer whose sharp wit matches his cruelty; and Jezal, a nobleman whose vanity knows no bounds. These are not characters who triumph through virtue. They stumble, they fail, and sometimes they do terrible things. The battles are brutal, the humor is wicked, and the ending shall leave you breathless with its audacity.
The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
In the Six Duchies, young FitzChivalry Farseer—a king’s bastard, much like our dear Jon Snow—learns the art of assassination while navigating palace intrigue. Robin Hobb writes with such tenderness for her characters that you shall feel every wound Fitz suffers, every betrayal that cuts him. George R.R. Martin himself praised Hobb’s work as “diamonds in a sea of zircons.” This is a more intimate tale than the sprawling wars of Westeros, following one life through its extraordinary journey. The magic is subtle, the villains are memorable, and the bond between Fitz and his wolf, Nighteyes, will break your heart in the loveliest way.
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams
This is the series that helped inspire Martin himself to write A Song of Ice and Fire. Young Simon, a kitchen boy in the great castle of the Hayholt, finds his comfortable world shattered when civil war tears the kingdom apart. An ancient evil stirs—the undead Storm King who threatens all living things—and only the mystery of three magical swords offers hope. Tad Williams crafted a world of impossible depth, from icy mountain peaks to ancient forests where the immortal Sithi still walk. The journey is long (the final book had to be split into two volumes), but patient readers shall be rewarded with one of fantasy’s greatest achievements.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
What if the Dark Lord won? Brandon Sanderson answers this delightfully wicked question with a world shrouded in ash and ruled by an immortal tyrant for a thousand years. Enter Vin, a street urchin who discovers she possesses Allomancy—the ability to burn metals for magical powers. Alongside the charismatic rebel Kelsier, she joins a heist to overthrow an empire. The magic system is brilliantly inventive, the plot twists are devastating, and Sanderson weaves themes of hope and sacrifice through every chapter. Though the tone differs from Westeros’s grim realism, the stakes feel equally monumental.
The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher—a monster hunter enhanced by mutations who wanders a morally gray world taking contracts on dangerous creatures. But the true monsters, as in Westeros, often wear human faces. Drawing from Polish mythology and reimagining classic fairy tales with delicious darkness, Andrzej Sapkowski created something wholly original. Geralt is surprisingly philosophical, debating morality with his bard companion Dandelion while navigating wars between kingdoms. The series blends short stories and longer novels, offering both intimate adventures and epic scope.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
On the world of Roshar, magical storms scour the landscape, and ancient knights called Radiants have been gone for centuries. Sanderson weaves together the stories of Kaladin, a slave-soldier; Shallan, a scholar with secrets; and Dalinar, a warlord haunted by his past. Each novel runs over a thousand pages, yet the intricate magic system and deeply personal character journeys justify every word. This is fantasy on its grandest scale—a series that promises ten volumes and delivers on ambition with each installment. Wind and Truth, the fifth book, arrived in 2024 to conclude the first arc.
The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
An ancient prophecy foretells a war between angels and demons, and young Corban finds himself caught in the gathering storm. John Gwynne writes battle sequences that pulse with visceral energy, following multiple perspectives across a world where giants walk and ancient evils awaken. The first book, Malice, won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Debut. Though the opening moves slowly, patience rewards readers with an action-packed saga full of memorable characters and heart-breaking betrayals. This is pure epic fantasy, blood-soaked and beautiful.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
In this standalone epic, an ancient dragon called the Nameless One threatens to return and destroy the world. Queens and warriors, dragonriders and mages must unite across divided lands to face the coming darkness. Samantha Shannon created a feminist reimagining of the Saint George legend, featuring diverse kingdoms, both benevolent and malevolent dragons, and richly developed heroines. At eight hundred pages, it offers the scope of a trilogy in one magnificent volume. Those who love the political intrigue and dragon mythology of Westeros shall find much to treasure here.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
For readers who find A Song of Ice and Fire insufficiently complex, Steven Erikson offers ten volumes spanning thousands of years, multiple continents, and over four hundred viewpoint characters. Gods walk among mortals, ancient races war for survival, and empires rise and fall across a canvas of staggering ambition. This is not a series for the faint-hearted—Erikson demands much from his readers and rewards their dedication tenfold. Many consider it the pinnacle of epic fantasy, a completed masterwork that proves even the most ambitious tales can find their ending.
The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu
Ken Liu reimagines the founding of China’s Han Dynasty as epic fantasy, following two unlikely friends—the charming bandit Kuni Garu and the noble warrior Mata Zyndu—as they rebel against a tyrannical emperor. Their friendship shatters into rivalry, and their conflict reshapes the world. Liu invented “silkpunk” to describe his aesthetic: airships of silk and bamboo, weapons of bone and feather, gods who take the forms of nature itself. Time magazine named The Grace of Kings one of the hundred best fantasy books of all time.
A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons
Young Kihrin, a thief raised in the slums, discovers he is heir to a powerful noble house—and also, perhaps, destined to destroy the world. Jenn Lyons tells her tale through nested narratives, with past and present weaving together like threads in a tapestry. Dragons and demons populate a world where gods scheme and prophecies deceive. The five-book series offers intricate plotting that rewards attentive readers and a protagonist whose wit shines even in darkness. Those who enjoy piecing together mysteries alongside their fantasy shall find delight here.
The Masquerade Series by Seth Dickinson
Baru Cormorant’s homeland falls to the Masquerade Empire, and she vows to destroy it from within. Her weapon? Accounting. Seth Dickinson crafted something truly original—a grimdark fantasy where economic policy becomes as deadly as any sword. Baru rises through imperial ranks, manipulating currencies and rebellions alike, sacrificing everything she loves for her ultimate goal. This is fantasy for those who appreciate the political machinations of Westeros, elevated to devastating intellectual heights. The prose is beautiful, the tragedy is profound, and Baru herself is unforgettable.
Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne by Brian Staveley
The emperor is murdered, and his three children—scattered across the world—must survive long enough to discover who killed their father and why. Kaden trains with mysterious monks, Valyn endures brutal military training while flying into battle on giant hawks, and Adare navigates the treacherous imperial court. Brian Staveley blends military fantasy with mystical elements, creating a trilogy that moves at breathless pace. The Emperor’s Blades won the Gemmell Morningstar Award, and the completed trilogy offers satisfying answers to its mysteries.
The Accursed Legacy Awaits
And there you have it, dear reader—fifteen doorways into worlds of wonder and danger. Some offer completed tales for those who cannot bear to wait; others promise ongoing adventures for patient hearts. Each carries something of what made Westeros unforgettable: the intrigue, the moral complexity, the sense that any character might meet their doom at any moment.
The choice, as always, belongs to you. But choose wisely, for once you step through these pages, there is no telling when you shall return.
May your reading be ever adventurous.
