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Quick answer: If you loved A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, try The Iron King by Maurice Druon, The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin.
A Game of Thrones and the TV series it inspired made gritty, political fantasy mainstream. While fans wait for The Winds of Winter, there’s plenty to read. The books below share its power struggles, morally complex characters, epic scope and medieval settings. Some are fantasy and some are historical fiction that inspired Martin. Many include violence and sexual content.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones changed fantasy with its morally gray characters, shocking deaths and realistic politics. George R. R. Martin tells the story through many points of view, from the honorable Ned Stark to the scheming Lannisters and the exiled Daenerys. No one is safe, and every choice has consequences. If you loved the political intrigue, the gritty realism or the sprawling cast, these picks will keep you hooked.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about A Game of Thrones: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire & Blood | George R. R. Martin | Fantasy | More Westeros |
| The Iron King | Maurice Druon | Historical fiction | Martin’s inspiration |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark fantasy | Morally gray characters |
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Epic fantasy | Huge casts and worlds |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Epic fantasy | Long epic series |
| The Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett | Historical fiction | Medieval politics |
| Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel | Historical fiction | Real court intrigue |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree | Samantha Shannon | Epic fantasy | Dragons and queens |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Fantasy | Immersive storytelling |
| The Last Kingdom | Bernard Cornwell | Historical fiction | Battles and loyalties |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Epic fantasy | Vast, complex epics |
| The Darkness That Comes Before | R. Scott Bakker | Grimdark fantasy | Dark philosophy |
| The Poppy War | R. F. Kuang | Fantasy | War and its costs |
| The Sword of Kaigen | M. L. Wang | Fantasy | Family and war |
| Blood of Elves | Andrzej Sapkowski | Fantasy | Morally gray heroes |
1. Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin
Martin’s history of the Targaryen dynasty inspired House of the Dragon.
2. The Iron King by Maurice Druon
Martin called The Accursed Kings the original Game of Thrones. It follows real French kings and a curse.
3. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A torturer, a barbarian and a vain nobleman are caught up in war and politics.
4. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
A war-torn world full of storms, oaths and multiple viewpoints.
5. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
The first Wheel of Time book follows villagers drawn into a world-shaping battle.
6. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The building of a cathedral during a civil war in 12th-century England.
7. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell rises in Henry VIII’s court. It’s brilliant and won the Booker.
8. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A standalone epic with dragons, queens and ancient evil.
9. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A legendary wizard tells the story of his life.
10. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
A Saxon boy raised by Danes fights in Viking-age England.
11. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
An empire’s war is told through many characters and gods. It’s challenging but rewarding.
12. The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
A holy war gathers as a mysterious monk manipulates everyone. It’s very dark.
13. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
A war orphan becomes a powerful, dangerous weapon in a brutal war.
14. The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang
A family of warriors faces invasion. It’s a standalone with incredible fights.
15. Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
The Witcher Geralt protects a princess with dangerous powers.
How to Pick Your Next Read After A Game of Thrones
- Want more Westeros? Fire & Blood and the Dunk and Egg stories.
- Want Martin’s inspiration? The Iron King.
- Want gritty fantasy? The First Law and The Poppy War.
- Want real history? Wolf Hall and The Pillars of the Earth.
- Want a huge series? The Wheel of Time.
- Check content. Many of these are violent and mature.
Related: books like The Name of the Wind and best books on the Wars of the Roses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after A Game of Thrones?
Try The Iron King, The Blade Itself, The Way of Kings or Wolf Hall.
What inspired A Game of Thrones?
George R. R. Martin has cited the Wars of the Roses and Maurice Druon’s The Accursed Kings as inspirations.
Is The Wheel of Time like Game of Thrones?
Both are long, epic series with large casts, though The Wheel of Time is more traditional fantasy.