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Quick answer: If you liked Fire and Blood, try A Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron King, Wolf Hall and The Hollow Crown. They share the mix of dynasties, betrayals and political drama.
George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood reads like a history book of the Targaryen kings, written as if by an in-world historian. Readers who like it usually want one of two things: more Westeros, or the real history that inspired it. These 15 books cover both, from Martin's own spin-offs to novels and histories of medieval and Tudor power struggles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | readers who want the main story |
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | George R.R. Martin | Adult | readers who want a shorter Westeros read |
| The World of Ice & Fire | George R.R. Martin, Elio García and Linda Antonsson | Adult | lore lovers |
| The Silmarillion | J.R.R. Tolkien | Adult | readers who like invented history |
| The Iron King | Maurice Druon | Adult | readers who want the inspiration |
| Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel | Adult | readers who like court intrigue |
| The Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett | Adult | readers who like epics |
| I, Claudius | Robert Graves | Adult | readers who love scheming families |
| The Last Kingdom | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | readers who like action |
| Stormbird | Conn Iggulden | Adult | readers who want the Wars of the Roses |
| Dynasty | Tom Holland | Adult | readers who want narrative history |
| The Plantagenets | Dan Jones | Adult | readers who like medieval kings |
| The Hollow Crown | Dan Jones | Adult | readers who want the real thing |
| The White Queen | Philippa Gregory | Adult | readers who like historical fiction |
| Shōgun | James Clavell | Adult | readers who like long sagas |
1. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire introduces the Starks, Lannisters and Targaryens in a struggle for the Iron Throne. The story that gave the world its context.
Best for: readers who want the main story.
2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin
Three novellas follow Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg about ninety years before the main series. Lighter, warm and full of adventure.
Best for: readers who want a shorter Westeros read.
3. The World of Ice & Fire by George R.R. Martin, Elio García and Linda Antonsson
A large illustrated guide to the history, houses and lands of Westeros. A good reference for anyone who loves lore.
Best for: lore lovers.
4. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien's mythic history of Middle-earth, from creation through the wars of elves and men. Dense, but rewarding for history lovers.
Best for: readers who like invented history.
5. The Iron King by Maurice Druon
The first of The Accursed Kings, set in 14th-century France, follows King Philip the Fair and a curse that doom his line. Martin has called it the original Game of Thrones.
Best for: readers who want the inspiration.
6. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell rises in Henry VIII's court in this award-winning novel. Sharp, intimate and full of political danger.
Best for: readers who like court intrigue.
7. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
A master builder, a monk and a noble family struggle over a cathedral in 12th-century England. Long, gripping and emotional.
Best for: readers who like epics.
8. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
Claudius narrates the poisonings and plots of the early Roman emperors. A witty, dark classic.
Best for: readers who love scheming families.
9. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Uhtred, a Saxon boy raised by Danes, fights in the wars to create England under King Alfred. Fast battle scenes.
Best for: readers who like action.
10. Stormbird by Conn Iggulden
The first book of the Wars of the Roses series follows King Henry VI and the factions that began the long civil war. This is the real history behind Martin's saga.
Best for: readers who want the Wars of the Roses.
11. Dynasty by Tom Holland
Holland tells the story of the Caesars from Augustus to Nero. Written like a novel, with plots and deaths.
Best for: readers who want narrative history.
12. The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
The kings who forged England in the 12th to 14th centuries, from Henry II to Richard II. Lively and readable.
Best for: readers who like medieval kings.
13. The Hollow Crown by Dan Jones
Jones tells the story of the Wars of the Roses with a focus on family feuds and betrayals. Published in the UK as The Wars of the Roses.
Best for: readers who want the real thing.
14. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Elizabeth Woodville rises from a commoner to Queen of England during the Wars of the Roses. Historical romance with politics.
Best for: readers who like historical fiction.
15. Shōgun by James Clavell
An English pilot arrives in feudal Japan and gets caught in a power struggle among warlords. Epic in scale and detail.
Best for: readers who like long sagas.
How to Choose
If you want more Westeros, start with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, then read A Game of Thrones. For real history that resembles Martin's, try The Hollow Crown, Stormbird and The Iron King. For gripping fiction in the same mold, pick Wolf Hall, The Pillars of the Earth or I, Claudius. If you want a lighter history, start with Dan Jones.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fire and Blood a novel?
It is a fictional history, written as if by a maester. It has no single hero and reads like a chronicle.
Do I need to read Game of Thrones first?
No. It is set about 300 years before and can be read on its own, though fans of the main series will catch more references.
Which real history inspired it?
Martin has cited the Wars of the Roses and Maurice Druon's The Accursed Kings as influences.