The Song of Ice & Fire books are the standard of modern fantasy, and it’s difficult to find series that live up to their level of detail and storytelling — but not impossible. George R.R. Martin’s books are modern classics for a reason, as they expertly introduce a sprawling and immersive world, a large but fleshed out cast of characters, and a story that puts a fresh spin on the genre’s conventions.
Of course, the success of Game of Thrones and the brutal twists and turns of ASOIAF add to the series’ appeal. Even with The Winds of Winter delayed, people are still picking up Martin’s books, eager to see what all the excitement is about. When they’re finished, they might find themselves wanting another high-stakes, all-encompassing fantasy story.
Series like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time are frequent recommendations for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, since they’re also influential and considered fantasy classics. Both are on par with Martin’s work, but these other fantasy book series are just as worthwhile.
The Stormlight Archive
By Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson has become a must-read author in the fantasy space, and The Stormlight Archive is lauded nearly as much as series like A Song of Ice and Fire and The Wheel of Time. Perhaps that’s no surprise, as the first arc of Sanderson’s series features a massive and immersive world, detailed magic system, and complex web of characters — and that’s not to mention its connections to his greater Cosmere.
All of Sanderson’s books are worthwhile for fantasy fans, but the sheer scope and ambition of The Stormlight Archive makes it as incredible as a series like A Song of Ice and Fire. Although Wind and Truth proved a divisive ending to the first half of the series, it remains one of the best modern fantasy stories. And with five more books on the horizon, it’s poised to get even better.
The First Law
By Joe Abercrombie
Fantasy lovers shouldn’t skip Joe Abercrombie’s books, and The First Law trilogy perfectly encapsulates why. Although The Devils makes for a quicker Abercrombie read, his three First Law installments paint the picture of a world that’s as morally complex and ruthless as the one in A Song of Ice and Fire.
This is why the trilogy tends to appeal to fans of Martin’s work, though it’s not the only reason. Abercrombie excels at creating interesting and believable characters, and he jumps from perspective to perspective impressively. Like Martin, he also manages to tie together multiple story threads, gradually raising the stakes as he does.
The Broken Earth
By N.K. Jemisin
The Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin offers a masterclass in world-building, even if its backdrop is incredibly different from anything found in Martin’s books. But even if The Broken Earth‘s devastated world doesn’t closely resemble Westeros, it still offers high political stakes based in oppression and conversations of power.
The Broken Earth trilogy also boasts a diverse cast of well-wrought characters, most of them just as complex as anyone you’ll meet in Martin’s series. Their journeys come together in satisfying ways, making this trilogy a must-read for fantasy fans looking for completed stories that nail their endings.
The Dandelion Dynasty
By Ken Liu
Ken Liu’s The Dandelion Dynasty is a criminally underrated fantasy book series, but it’s one that will engross readers just as much as A Song of Ice and Fire. Like Martin’s story, Liu’s series is highly political, exploring what the end of an empire truly entails — and what it takes to form something new in its place.
That concept alone makes The Dandelion Dynasty worth your time, but its detailed characters and world add to the appeal. Both elements benefit from a level of attention that only the best fantasy writers can accomplish, and Liu proves he’s among the greats with this quartet.
The Realm Of The Elderlings
By Robin Hobb
The Realm of the Elderlings is a saga consisting of multiple different series, but for the sake of this list, we’ll lump Robin Hobb’s entire story together — because while the Farseer Trilogy may be as compelling as ASOIAF, The Realm of the Elderlings overall is more comparable in terms of scope and storytelling expertise.
Over the course of the saga, Hobb proves she’s a master at tying narrative threads together, developing flawed characters, and building a rich but believable world. What she does here is as impressive as Martin’s work with A Song of Ice and Fire, and readers are likely to get just as wrapped up in it.
Malazan Book Of The Fallen
By Steven Erikson
Clocking in at 10 books, Steve Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen is quite the undertaking — but it’s a lengthy fantasy series that’s worth the commitment. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, Malazan Book of the Fallen has a lot of moving parts, something that’s probably unavoidable given its length. The world is masterfully crafted, and Erikson brings it to life with impressive detail.
In addition to matching Martin’s books in terms of setting and scope — and surpassing at times — Malazan Book of the Fallen is even darker. The series isn’t for the faint of heart, but it does include hopeful themes and well-placed humor. All in all, it’s a great choice for anyone looking for an even longer journey than ASOIAF.
Roots Of Chaos
By Samantha Shannon
The Roots of Chaos doesn’t offer a linear narrative like most fantasy series, but Samantha Shannon’s books are all interconnected — and her ability to shift from one time period to the next illustrates the strong grasp she has on her fictional world. The Priory of the Orange Tree has a complex setting and expansive cast of characters, setting it up to be as immersive as a series like ASOIAF.
But such elements can quickly go awry if an author doesn’t know how to handle them. Fortunately, Shannon repeatedly proves that she does. The political dynamics, existential threats, and cause and effect seen from the prequels to the original story all make this series feel epic and believable. It’s a must-read for fantasy fans, especially those looking for more books with dragons.
The Green Bone Saga
By Fonda Lee
The Green Bone Saga is more urban fantasy than high fantasy, but it still manages to be as incredible as A Song of Ice and Fire. And despite the obvious differences, Fonda Lee’s series still offers great political intrigue and familial drama. The conflict between the series’ main clans is full of gripping drama, which is complemented by its well-crafted characters and distinct magic system.
That magic system lends itself to great action sequences, too, which fans of Martin’s series will no doubt appreciate. And Jade Legacy delivers one of the best conclusions in a fantasy story, confirming the journey is worthwhile. Needless to say, The Green Bone Saga is the perfect read while fantasy fans await another much-anticipated ending…
The Burning
By Evan Winter
Evan Winter’s The Burning isn’t finished yet, but the first two books in the series are promising, demonstrating strengths that suggest it will rival popular series like A Song of Ice and Fire. Winter wastes no time throwing us into his world, which contains dragons, a detailed magic system, and castes that lend themselves to conversations about oppression and power.
Greater threads about power and war are balanced by the main character’s personal journey, which is heavily driven by the desire for vengeance. Winter isn’t afraid to give readers flawed and believable characters to follow, which makes his story as compelling as Martin’s. Only time will tell if it maintains the same quality in future books, though.
The Gentleman Bastard Sequence
By Scott Lynch
Those looking for series as ruthless as A Song of Ice and Fire would probably enjoy The Gentleman Bastard Sequence, as Scott Lynch’s series isn’t afraid to put its characters on the line — even if it means ripping readers’ hearts out in the process. The dark and atmospheric world is believable, as are the flawed and often-desperate characters it produces.
Lynch’s series starts out with a much smaller scope than ASOIAF, but the author expands the world in a satisfying way in the later books. The fantastical elements also become more prominent as time goes on, giving this something else in common with A Song of Ice and Fire. There’s no telling when we’ll get the next sequel, but it’s a great fantasy story to read after Martin’s series.
