As a teenager, I had a habit of staying up all night to finish books, but no series kept me awake into the early hours more than A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin.I do not think any other fantasy book has ever gripped me the way this one did as I was constantly on edge, desperate to know whether my favourite characters would survive.
It has been 14 years since those sleepless nights spent reading the last published book in the series, and this week marks six years since Game of Thrones aired its final episode.It has been a incredibly long time since we got any new material and with no sign of Winds of Winter coming out soon, it is perfectly understandable to be getting impatient. Over the years I have read countless fantasy books trying to scratch that Westeros itch, and here are a few series I really enjoyed that just might captivate you too.
The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie
The First Law series is at the very top of my list as it follows three well-crafted but complex characters who you are constantly guessing if they are the villains or heroes of the story.
Logen Ninefingers seems like a friendly barbarian at first, but his true nature surfaces when he’s cornered in a fight. Captain Jezal dan Luthar is a vain nobleman who dreams of glory but panics when faced with real battle. Meanwhile, Inquisitor Glokta, a bitter torturer, somehow ends up being the funniest character in the whole series.
If Tyrion Lannister was your favourite character while watching Game of Thrones then I think you will love The First Law series. You will be left thinking about these morally grey characters long after you finish the story.
The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
If Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch were your favourite part of Game of Thrones, then I guarantee you will love The Witcher series. Geralt of Rivia is a monster hunter who must navigate war, political intrigue, and creatures far more complex than they first appear, all while following his organisation’s rules to remain neutral.
The Witcher is a far more personal story than Game of Thrones with just a handful of characters, but you end up loving all of them, and the series was completed in the late 1990s so you do not need to worry about not getting an ending.
What is great about the Witcher is that the first few books are a collection of short stories, so it is very easy to understand the world. It is best to start with ‘The Last Wish’ stories, but if you want to jump into the bigger series then begin with ‘Blood of Elves.’
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
If you love Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons in Game of Thrones then I think you will really enjoy Priory of the Orange Tree.
The story unfolds in a world divided among different kingdomsm – such as the dragon fearing West which believes its royal family keeps the worst of these evil creatures away, and the dragon revering East which sees them as sacred beings to ride into battle.
It is believed that an ancient dragon called the Nameless One is waking up and the story follows multiple characters as the kingdoms try to ally together despite their differences.
Like in Game of Thrones, the story follows multiple characters from across the world such as Queen Sabran, who is under pressure to marry and Tané, an Eastern woman who dreams of becoming a dragon rider.
If you want something with interesting female characters, secret societies, political intrigue and of course dragons then it is worth reading about this fascinating world. Fair warning though – it is almost 900 pages long so may be better to get on Kindle if you have one.
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Maia is the youngest and disgraced son of the Emperor, exiled because of his goblin heritage. But when the rest of the royal family is wiped out, he is suddenly forced to inherit a throne he is entirely unprepared for.
The series follow more of the day-to-day life at court which and follows a character trying to be kind and not lose himself in a very rigid environment where the wrong political choice could result in his death.
What I really liked about The Goblin Emperor is the themes are more hopeful and optimistic, which is different from Game of Thrones but is a nice break from the bleakness of Westeros.
If you really like Brienne of Tarth or Samwell Tarly as characters in Game of Thrones then I think you should pick up The Goblin Emperor.