“If You Think This Has A Happy Ending, You Haven’t Been Paying Attention.”
George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones is one of the most significant fantasy series of all time. Its combination of fantastical world-building changed the game for fantasy writers, with its adaption on the small screen bringing its epic tale of Medieval-style battles, black magic, zombies and dragons to life in an epic way.
However, the genius of Game of Thrones is also in its political intrigue and the scheming that also comes with the players across Westeros. Martin famously based the series on the Wars of the Roses from British history, and the shocking betrayals of the likes of the Starks still leave an impact on readers even now. Let’s check out the best epic fantasy books like Game of Thrones at What We Reading!
A Time Of Dread (Of Blood And Bone #1) – John Gwynne
If you loved the sweeping battle scenes and pseudo-medieval settings of Game of Thrones, you will love John Gwynne’s Of Blood and Bone series. A Time of Dread is the first entry in the series and introduces readers to warrior angels named the Ben-Elim.
Having vanquished a demon horde, they have ruled the Banished Lands. However, as three different narrators living across these lands stumble upon mutilated corpses and evidence of black magic, they begin to realise this mighty horde lurking in the shadows is waiting for their time to rise again…
The Empire’s Ruin (Ashes Of The Unhewn Throne #1) – Brian Staveley
The debut entry in the Ashes of the Unhewn Throne trilogy, The Empire’s Ruin introduces readers to the The Kettral. An elite band of warriors in the once-mighty Annurian Empire, these soldiers were famed for riding war hawks into battle.
But, with the empire facing near collapse, one of its remaining soldiers is given a mission that will either see her emerge a champion, or doom her homeland. Brian Staveley’s The Empire’s Ruin follows Gwenna Sharpe as she treks to the edge of the world to a land that warps and poisons all who travel there.
The Ruin Of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons #1) – Jenn Lyons
If you loved the dragons in Game of Thrones, Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons is the perfect series for you! In The Ruin of Kings, the series’ debut entry, readers are introduced to Kihrin, a bard’s apprentice living in the slums in Quur.
But, after stealing from the wrong house, he finds himself being used as a pawn for one of the land’s most power-hungry families. Claimed as a long-lost prince for the region, Kihrin finds himself introduced to all manner of things he once thought impossible. With dragons, demons and ancient magic all at play, it turns out Kihrin’s destiny isn’t to unite his kingdom but destroy it.
The Eye Of The World (The Wheel of Time #1) – Robert Jordan
The number one bestseller from Robert Jordan, The Eye of the World is the debut entry in The Wheel of Time series. This epic fantasy tale follows Moiraine Damodred as he embarks on a quest into Two Rivers in search of the one prophesied to stand against the dreaded Dark One, a malevolent entity hellbent on bringing about chaos and destruction.
With magic, world-building and plenty of epic twists and turns, readers follow five of the villagers as a vicious band of half-men, half-beasts descend upon them.
Starborn (The Worldmaker Trilogy #1) – Lucy Hounsom
Lucy Hounsom’s Worldmaker Trilogy follows Kyndra in a fantastical coming-of-age tale set across a richly-detailed expansive world. One of the best books like Game of Thrones, features superbly created characters making believable mistakes, breaking the typical formula that comes with the fantasy genre.
Starborn, the first entry in the series, sets the scene with Kyndra disrupting an ancient ceremony in her home village. Two strangers, wielding incredible magic, come to her rescue and whisk her away from the suspicious community she resides in. Together, they swiftly transport her to the concealed sanctuary known as Naris. There, she begins to experience haunting visions of a great war in the past and embarks on a number of gruelling trials designed to unlock her true, frightening potential.
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The Blade Itself (The First Law #1) – Joe Abercrombie
The first entry in The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie, consisting of three novels and three standalone books in the same world. Like the world of Game of Thrones, The First Law is filled with badass female protagonists and complex character arcs.
Bad people do good things and good people prove to be capable of great horrors. In the series’ opening story, we join four characters on an exciting adventure filled with hidden plots, intense conspiracies, and the intriguing question of how easily we can distinguish between a ‘hero’ and a ‘villain’.
Prince Of Thorns (The Broken Empire #1) – Mark Lawrence
Nominated for Best Fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards, Prince of Thorns is the perfect book for anyone who loved the Arya Stark development across Game of Thrones.
The first entry in The Broken Empire trilogy introduces readers to Jorg Ancrath, a former privileged boy now wild and running a band out of outlaws. Mark Lawrence’s debut novel is a compelling dive into a brutal and sometimes beautiful world, following a remarkable young man as he forges his way to becoming a mighty Emperor.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
