Books Like Game of Thrones
I get frequent questions about books like Game of Thrones. High Fantasy books are not a genre I read often, but the books that I have read are fantastic fantasy books that I think are accessible to people who might find high fantasy books intimidating.
Fantasy is one of my favorite genres of books. I was hooked when I read The Hobbit in 4th grade; I embraced my inner dork and haven’t looked back since. And based on the number of TV shows and movies that have recently come out/are slated to grace the screen, as well as Harry Potter having its own award-winning Broadway play and television reboot, fantasy is no longer a “fringe”-type genre.
In particular, I’ve recently seen so many questions like “GOT is over – now what?!” and I’m thrilled to provide some answers to Beyond the Bookends.
The Best High Fantasy Books Like Game of Thrones
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best Adult Book Like Game of Thrones
This Kingdom Will Not Kill by by Ilana Andrews- Jump to Section
Best YA Book Like Game of Thrones
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adayemi- Jump to Section
Best Book Like Game of Thrones to be Adapted
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros- Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Adult High Fantasy Books like Game of Thrones
The Kingdom Will Not Kill Me
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: March 31, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Maggie the Undying #1, Deluxe Edition
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Maggie wakes up and is shocked that she has been transported to Kaie Toren, a city from her favorite dark fantasy series. She has been obsessed with the series for years while waiting for the final book. She knows every character, plot point, and setting.
While she cannot die (she technically can but she comes back to life), her favorite characters can. What starts as a need to get home to her parents, slowly turns into saving the kingdom from a war.
This adult fantasy has the politics of Game of Thrones and the romance of Outlander. Thank you, @Torpublishing, for my copy of this book.
Trigger Warnings
Death, Torture, Rape, Violence
Why Jackie loves it
While Maggie does not technically time travel, this book did give me some Outlander vibes. The politics and characters become increasingly complex as the story continues, but not so much that it becomes too difficult to keep track of. It is explained so well that it is really easy to keep up. And boy will you want to keep turning those pages. There are twists and turns galore. This is one of the best fantasy books I have read all year!
Find this book in: Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Best Fantasy Books of 2026 / Books Like Game of Thrones
Dominion
Author: Jean Kwok
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Silk and Iron Trilogy #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Rubi has no memory after her homeland was destroyed. Now, she is a refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger. She struggles to have enough food and warmth, and depends on her dancing as her way to get by. When she draws the attention of the supreme metal mage, she thinks nothing of it until she comes face to face with a riderless tyger.
She finds herself in a brutal trial where Tygers choose their riders, and the rest are killed. She is drawn into a world she never could have imagined in the hope that she regains her memories of her past.
Trigger Warnings
Attempted sexual assault, violence, torture
Why Jackie loves it
This book is being described as Fourth Wing meets Chinese Mythology, crossed with The Hunger Games, and the description is perfect! There is nothing about this book I did not love. This is an entirely new magic system, but it is not overly complicated. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is the perfect amount of tension without leaving plot holes. The only thing I am upset about is that I have to wait for the next book. What a fantastic first book in a new fantasy series. Thank you, Putman and PRH Audio, for my copy of this book. #gifted
Find this book in: The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / The Best Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Mythology Books / Best Fantasy Books of 2026
Wizard’s First Rule
Author: Terry Goodkind
Year: 1994
Genre: High Fantasy
More info: Sword of Truth Book 1 of 11
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
When Kahlan appears in Richard’s forest asking for help, his world is turned upside down. He is overwhelmed with the grief of losing his father when he is thrown into a battle for survival. Richard soon realizes that his sword may give him insights into his soul and he does not know if he can survive.
Kahlan and Richard bond together in this first book of an epic quest for survival.
Trigger Warnings
Violence, death
Why Jackie loves it
This is the first high fantasy series that I ever read. My brother recommended it, and it became the first book club for my family, with my aunt and cousins as well. These were the only books I read for a year, while i devoured more than 10,000 pages. The romance, fantasy, and magic make the story utterly captivating
Find this book in: Books Like Game of Thrones
Young Adult High Fantasy Series Like Game of Thrones
Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Year: 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Legacy of Orisha, #1
An Instant New York Times Bestseller, A TIME top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time, A New York Times Notable Children’s Books, A Kirkus Prize Finalist
Age Range: 14+
Plot
When magic disappeared from Orisha, Zelie’s world changed forever. When the king ordered all the Maji killed, Zelie was left without a mother or magic. She is on a quest to find revenge and bring magic back to Orisha (Orisha is a mythical Nigeria). This is one of the fantasy books for teens that builds a whole new world and brings young adult fantasy books to a whole new level.
Zelie must use the help of a princess to escape from the crown prince who wants to finish what his father started and erase all magic permanently. This book is filled with magic, spirits, and danger.
Why Jackie loves it
I enjoyed this book which is the first in a fantasy series for Young Adults. I listened to the amazing audiobook and I loved listening to the story the way that the story was intended to sound.
Find this book in: Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books / YA Books About Witches / 15 Novels About Africa / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing / The Best Romance Novels By Genre
Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Year: 2012
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Throne of Glass Book 1 of 7
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This epic book series from Sarah J. Maas was started when Sarah was still a teenager! It’s all about Celaena, an imprisoned assassin who is offered freedom by acting as the champion for Prince Dorian.
As she prepares to earn her freedom in the competition, she begins training sessions with the captain of the guard. As she tries to acclimate to court life, the prince is drawn to her, and a love triangle forms. This series is perfect for YA fantasy lovers. It has everything you want from world-building to plot and great characters.
Why Kirsten loves it
The YA fantasy series gets better and better with each book! It is total must-read if you are looking for books like ACOTAR and a must-read if you love fae books. I am still amazed that Maas wrote this at such a young age
Find this book in: Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses / Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / The Ultimate List of YA Fantasy Books / The Best Books Like Fourth Wing /Adult and YA Fae Books / Royal Fantasy Books
Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Year: 2015
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom Duology
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 12+
Plot
This fantasy duology is set in the Grishaverse, the same universe as Shadow and Bone. Six outcasts come together for a deadly heist. Kaz must assemble a crew that can succeed and make them all rich beyond imagination. To do this, he will need a group of people who might just end up killing each other before they can pull it off.
Why Jackie likes it
I actually liked this duology better than the Shadow and Bone series. This is crazy, I know. I loved the heist aspect, and I really love a fantasy duet!
Find this book in: Fantasy Duology Books / Leigh Bardugo Books in Order / Books like Shadow and Bone / Books With Numbers in the Title
High Fantasy Book Adaptations (or Soon to Be Adapted)
Fourth Wing
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: Empyrean Series Book #1 of 5
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
If you have not heard of this book and love fantasy, this is the book for you. Don’t be intimidated by the length of this dragon book. I started and finished this 528-page bad boy in a day and a half. I cannot remember the last time I did that!
Violet Sorrengail had spent her life studying to be a scribe until her father died and her mother, the commanding general, ordered her to join the dragon riders. Violet will become one of the hundreds of candidates who fight to the death to be a part of this elite group.
Unlike the other candidates who have worked towards this their whole lives, Violet is small and brittle and never meant for this to be her path. And other candidates do not have the children of rebel leaders waiting to take revenge.
This adult fantasy book has everything that you would want in a fantasy from epic world-building to amazing abilities, magical creatures, non-stop action, and romance.
Trigger Warnings
Graphic sexual content, death
Why Jackie loves it
I loved every second. It lives up to the hype and then some. The world-building is amazing and the book pulled me in from the first page. Usually the story begins with an event and the story commences after this catalyst moment. Fourth Wing begins after that crucial moment so I felt I was immersed in the story from page one.
Why Kirsten loves it
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book, but Jackie was right when she told me how much I would love it. Even though I do not usually love world-building, fantasies like this, the plot line and romance throughout this book, kept me hooked the whole time.
Adaptation Information
It’s early days yet, but the rights to turn this book series into a TV series were acquired by Amazon Prime Video. The show will be produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society production company.
Find this book in: Adult Fantasy Books / Fourth Wing Series in Order / Adult Fantasy Romance Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Adult Fantasy Novels / Books Like A Court of Thorns and Roses / Dragon Books for Adults / Books Inspired by The Life of a Showgirl / The Best Romance Novels By Genre
For More Books Like This: The Best Books Like Fourth Wing
Lord of the Rings
Author: J.R.R Tolkein
Year: 1954
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Classic Fantasy and Academy Award-Winning Movie Adaptation
Age Range: 15+
Plot
It is hard to believe that this trilogy was published in 1954. This epic fantasy is the first in a trilogy that has withstood the test of time. In ancient times, on Middle Earth, the elves created the Rings of Power. Sauron, the dark lord, forged his own ring, The One Ring, that ruled over all the others. The ring went missing and was discovered by Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit. Now, Sauron’s power is rising and the only way to stop him is to destroy the ring.
Gandolf the Wizard; Merry, Pippin, and Sam the Hobbits; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gandor (a human); and Aragorn (called Strider initially but is the King of Men), set out together on a quest to destroy the ring. This is the ultimate story of the fight between good and evil and the fight to overcome the evil within.
Trigger Warnings
Death, violence
Why Jackie loves it
This is an epic trilogy with world-building and characters that are timeless. I love that there are not hundreds of characters to keep track of which makes this series feel more readable than some of the other series with generations of characters to remember
Find this book in: Best Classic Novels to Read / Adult Fantasy Novels /Best Long Books over 500 Pages
The Hobbit (or There and Back Again)
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Year: 1937
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Classic Literary Fiction
Age Range:12+
Plot
An introduction to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit was the first high fantasy book that I ever read. Smaug, a dragon, is the main antagonist in this story. This book opened up a whole new world and genre of book.
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys his comfortable life close to home. When a wizard named Gandalf shows up with dwarves on Bibloa’s doorstep, they invite him on a quest. There, he encounters Smaug, a creature named Gollum, and finds a ring that will change his life.
Why Jackie loves it
This YA fantasy is the prelude to the amazing Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is an iconic book which has withstood the test of time.
Find this book in: Dragon Books for Adults / Book Adaptations on Amazon Prime / Graphic Novels / Books for 12-year-olds
Expert Tip
I know so many people who watched Game of Thrones and loved it, but they found the books to be too intimidating. I wanted to make a list of books like Game of Thrones for people who love the characters and storyline but may find it difficult to keep up with THAT many characters and storylines. I totally get it!
I made this list of fantasy books that have elements of high fantasy (epic storylines, complex politics, an abundance of characters) without being too overwhelming or difficult to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some books like Game of Thrones
If you are looking for a new series that has many elements of Game of Thrones, while still being very readable, I would recommend This Kingdom Will Not Kill me by Ilona Andrews.
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Epilogue
Did you find any books like Game of Thrones you are interested in reading?
