Cover of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

5 book recommendations

Books Like “A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin

If you crave the ruthless political intrigue, morally gray characters, and sprawling, gritty worldbuilding of George R.R. Martin's epic masterpiece, you are in the right place. Step into new realms of dynastic warfare, dark magic, and high-stakes drama. Explore our handpicked recommendations below and discover your next unforgettable fantasy read.

  1. Cover of The Iron King by Maurice Druon

    Cover not available

    The Iron King

    by Maurice Druon

    'This is the original game of thrones' George R.R. Martin

    From the publishers that brought you A Game of Thrones comes the series that inspired George R.R. Martin's epic work.

    "Accursed! Accursed! You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation!"

    The Iron King - Philip the Fair - is as cold and silent, as handsome and unblinking as a statue. He governs his realm with an iron hand, but he cannot rule his own family: his sons are weak and their wives adulterous; while his red-blooded daughter Isabella is unhappily married to an English king who prefers the company of men.

    A web of scandal, murder and intrigue is weaving itself around the Iron King; but his downfall will come from an unexpected quarter. Bent on the persecution of the rich and powerful Knights Templar, Philip sentences Grand Master Jacques Molay to be burned at the stake, thus drawing down upon himself a curse that will destroy his entire dynasty...

    Why it's similar

    Like A Game of Thrones, it focuses on ruthless dynastic rivalries, lethal court intrigue, and morally grey nobles fighting for power in a medieval monarchy. Both narratives ground their conflicts in the real-world brutality and political complexities of European feudal history.

    What's different

    It is straight historical fiction set in 14th-century France, meaning it completely lacks supernatural entities, fantastical beasts, and invented geography.

  2. Cover of The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

    Cover not available

    The Blade Itself

    by Joe Abercrombie

    The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie.

    Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies.

    Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules.

    Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it.

    Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult.

    Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood.

    Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

    First Law Trilogy
    The Blade Itself
    Before They Are Hanged
    Last Argument of Kings

    For more from Joe Abercrombie, check out:

    Novels in the First Law world
    Best Served Cold
    The Heroes
    Red Country

    Why it's similar

    Both novels define the grimdark fantasy subgenre through visceral violence, subverted heroic tropes, and morally ambiguous viewpoint characters navigating political conspiracy. They also share a low-magic setting where overt sorcery is rare, mysterious, and dangerous.

    What's different

    Abercrombie relies heavily on cynical, dark character humor and a narrower, more character-driven scope compared to Martin's sprawling continental warfare.

  3. Cover of The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

    Cover not available

    The Grace of Kings

    by Ken Liu

    One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time

    Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards. Hailed as one of the best books of 2015 by NPR.

    Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions—two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

    Fans of intrigue, intimate plots, and action will find a new series to embrace in the Dandelion Dynasty.

    Why it's similar

    Both stories depict the bloody collapse of an imperial order and the subsequent civil war fought by ambitious leaders, complex alliances, and treacherous advisors. Each emphasizes the immense moral compromises required to gain and maintain political rule.

    What's different

    Liu utilizes an East Asian-inspired silkpunk aesthetic and an overarching, mythic oral-epic narrative voice rather than Martin's gritty, close-third-person European feudal realism.

  4. Cover of The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

    Cover not available

    The Eye of the World

    by Robert Jordan

    The Eye of the World, the first novel in Robert Jordan's #1 New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time®, follows Moiraine Damodred as she arrives in Emond's Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One.

    The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

    When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the Two Rivers seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.

    Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters. The last six books in series were all instant #1 New York Times bestsellers, and The Eye of the World was named one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read.

    The Wheel of Time®
    New Spring: The Novel
    #1 The Eye of the World
    #2 The Great Hunt
    #3 The Dragon Reborn
    #4 The Shadow Rising
    #5 The Fires of Heaven
    #6 Lord of Chaos
    #7 A Crown of Swords
    #8 The Path of Daggers
    #9 Winter's Heart
    #10 Crossroads of Twilight
    #11 Knife of Dreams

    By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
    #12 The Gathering Storm
    #13 Towers of Midnight
    #14 A Memory of Light

    By Robert Jordan and Teresa Patterson
    The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time

    By Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons
    The Wheel of Time Companion

    By Robert Jordan and Amy Romanczuk
    Patterns of the Wheel: Coloring Art Based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time

    At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    Why it's similar

    Both are large-scale fantasy openings that introduce a vast world, competing powers, ancient threats, and a cast of characters spread across different locations. Each uses prophecy, shifting alliances, and a sense of history shaping present events.

    What's different

    The narrative is more straightforwardly heroic at the start and less openly ruthless in its treatment of politics and power. It leans more heavily toward a classic quest structure than the grim, factional maneuvering of A Game of Thrones.

  5. Cover of The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

    Cover not available

    The Lies of Locke Lamora

    by Scott Lynch

    The first book of the epic fantasy caper Gentleman Bastard Sequence about a roguish group of conmen, which George R. R. Martin says “captured me right on the first page and never let me go.”

    “If you haven’t read [The Lies of Locke Lamora], you should. If you have read it, you should probably read it again.”—Patrick Rothfuss

    An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges relentless danger, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentlemen Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

    Don’t miss any of Scott Lynch’s epic fantasy Gentleman Bastard Sequence:
    THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA • RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES • THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES

    Why it's similar

    Both are adult fantasy with sharp dialogue, dangerous power struggles, and a vividly realized setting where class and authority are constantly contested. Each combines intrigue, violence, and complex social order rather than simple good-versus-evil conflict.

    What's different

    Its center of gravity is a city-based heist plot rather than a sprawling kingdom-level struggle for a throne. The tone is more playful and mercantile, with more emphasis on scams, cons, and criminal camaraderie.

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