Books like 'Game of Thrones' to tide you over while you wait for 'Winds of Winter'
Expecting new 'Game of Thrones' books anytime soon? You know nothing, Jon Snow!
It's been over a decade since George R.R. Martin last published a book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series, but fantasy fans have been well fed with the show (though perhaps left hungry by that last season) and 'House of the Dragon' spin-off series. Martin is currently working on his next novel, 'The Winds of Winter,' but calls it 'the curse of my life.'
In an interview with TIME following his pictures with real-life dire wolves, Martin said, 'There's no doubt 'Winds of Winter' is 13 years late. I'm still working on it. I have periods where I make progress and then other things divert my attention.'
Books like 'Game of Thrones'
If you're far too impatient to wait for 'The Winds of Winter' and Season 3 of 'House of the Dragon,' check out these seven high fantasy books with similar themes to 'Game of Thrones.'
'Assassin's Apprentice' by Robin Hobb
Martin himself called this 'fantasy as it ought to be written." The first book of the Farseer trilogy follows a prince's bastard son who is treated as an outcast by all except for the king. King Shrewd secretly trains young Fitz as an assassin, harnessing his ancestral magic. Now grown up, he's thrust into dangerous missions where he's both the key to saving the kingdom and the biggest threat to the throne.
'The Dragon's Path' by Daniel Abraham
Also loved by Martin is 'The Dragon's Path,' which follows the paths of three characters that lead to a looming all-out war. Marcus has sworn off the battlefield, but when his men are conscripted, he'll have to get creative to stay out of a battle he wants no part of. Cithrin is an orphan tasked with smuggling gold across a war zone, fluent in the secret language of commerce. And Geder is simply a pawn, the heir of a noble house and a lacking soldier who'd rather wax philosophical than wield a sword.
'To Shape a Dragon's Breath' by Moniquill Blackgoose
If Daenerys and her dragons were your favorite part of 'Game of Thrones,' you might like 'To Shape a Dragon's Breath.' The story follows 15-year-old Anequs who finds and bonds with a dragon hatchling. She's revered by her Indigenous community, who haven't seen a dragon in generations. But the Anglish conquerors of her land have different ideas about how to raise a dragon – ideas that don't involve Anequs at all. Reluctantly, they let her enroll in Anglish dragon school, but at a cost. If she doesn't succeed, they'll kill her dragon.
'The Ruin of Kings' by Jenn Lyons
In the first book of the 'Chorus of Dragons' trilogy, a man who grows up in the slums discovers he's a long-lost prince, the son of a treasonous royal. Suddenly, Kihrin finds himself swept up and essentially imprisoned by his new family, who harbor ruthless political ambitions. As he gains a new understanding of the world and what the storybooks of his childhood lied about, he'll have to understand whether he's meant to save the world or destroy it.
'The Emperor's Blades' by Brian Staveley
If you're still mourning Ned Stark, 'The Emperor's Blades' might be for you. The story starts after the emperor of Annur is murdered and follows his three children as they live out the destinies he set for them. Kaden, the heir, remains sequestered in a remote monastery where he must master an ancient power. Valyn is training as an elite soldier oceans away. And Minister Adare is determined to prove herself to her people, but she'll stop at nothing to avenge her father.
'The Grace of Kings' by Ken Liu
Loved the warring houses in 'Game of Thrones'? Try 'The Dandelion Dynasty' series, which starts as two unlikely friends come together to rebel against tyranny. Charming bandit Kuni and fearless, royal-born Mata become allies after an adventure filled with fighting armies, airships and shapeshifting gods. But once they've overthrown the emperor, they're left on different sides of the new order as rivals.
'She Who Became the Sun' by Shelley Parker-Chan
'She Who Became the Sun' is perfect for 'Game of Thrones' fans seeking fantasy with vengeance and political stakes. Set in 1345 China under harsh Mongol rule, two children in the Zhu family are given two very different fates – their eighth-born son is destined for greatness, while their second daughter is destined for nothingness. But after a bandit attack leaves the children orphaned, the son dies. The girl must use her brother's identity to escape death, avoid her fate and rise to power.
Still looking for the right book? USA TODAY Books has you covered.
Taste is subjective, and USA TODAY Books has plenty of genres to recommend. If dystopian sci-fi is your thing, check out the books we suggest reading after "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown. If you want something with lower stakes and loveable characters, see if a "cozy mystery" or "cozy fantasy" book is for you. Or, take a look at our most anticipated reads of summer 2025. If you want the most popular titles, check out USA TODAY's Best-selling Booklist.
Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.
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