The Song of Ice & Fire books are the usual of contemporary fantasy, and it is tough to search out sequence that reside as much as their stage of element and storytelling — however not unattainable. George R.R. Martin’s books are trendy classics for a cause, as they expertly introduce a sprawling and immersive world, a big however fleshed out forged of characters, and a narrative that places a contemporary spin on the style’s conventions.
After all, the success of Recreation of Thrones and the brutal twists and turns of ASOIAF add to the sequence’ attraction. Even with The Winds of Winter delayed, individuals are nonetheless choosing up Martin’s books, wanting to see what all the thrill is about. After they’re completed, they could discover themselves wanting one other high-stakes, all-encompassing fantasy story.
Series like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time are frequent suggestions for followers of A Music of Ice and Fireplace, since they’re additionally influential and thought of fantasy classics. Each are on par with Martin’s work, however these different fantasy ebook sequence are simply as worthwhile.
The Stormlight Archive
By Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson has change into a must-read writer within the fantasy house, and The Stormlight Archive is lauded almost as a lot as sequence like A Music of Ice and Fireplace and The Wheel of Time. Maybe that is no shock, as the primary arc of Sanderson’s sequence contains a huge and immersive world, detailed magic system, and complicated internet of characters — and that is to not point out its connections to his greater Cosmere.
All of Sanderson’s books are worthwhile for fantasy followers, however the sheer scope and ambition of The Stormlight Archive makes it as unbelievable as a sequence like A Music of Ice and Fireplace. Though Wind and Truth proved a divisive ending to the primary half of the sequence, it stays among the best trendy fantasy tales. And with 5 extra books on the horizon, it is poised to get even higher.
The First Legislation
By Joe Abercrombie
Fantasy lovers should not skip Joe Abercrombie’s books, and The First Legislation trilogy completely encapsulates why. Though The Devils makes for a quicker Abercrombie read, his three First Legislation installments paint the image of a world that is as morally advanced and ruthless because the one in A Music of Ice and Fireplace.
For this reason the trilogy tends to attraction to followers of Martin’s work, although it isn’t the one cause. Abercrombie excels at creating fascinating and plausible characters, and he jumps from perspective to perspective impressively. Like Martin, he additionally manages to tie collectively a number of story threads, step by step elevating the stakes as he does.
The Damaged Earth
By N.Ok. Jemisin
The Damaged Earth sequence by N.Ok. Jemisin presents a masterclass in world-building, even when its backdrop is extremely completely different from something present in Martin’s books. However even when The Damaged Earth‘s devastated world would not intently resemble Westeros, it nonetheless presents excessive political stakes based mostly in oppression and conversations of energy.
The Damaged Earth trilogy additionally boasts a various forged of well-wrought characters, most of them simply as advanced as anybody you may meet in Martin’s sequence. Their journeys come collectively in satisfying methods, making this trilogy a must-read for fantasy followers in search of accomplished tales 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 surely’s one that may engross readers simply as a lot as A Music of Ice and Fireplace. Like Martin’s story, Liu’s sequence is very political, exploring what the tip of an empire actually entails — and what it takes to type one thing new as a substitute.
That idea alone makes The Dandelion Dynasty value your time, however its detailed characters and world add to the attraction. Each components profit from a stage of consideration that solely one of the best fantasy writers can accomplish, and Liu proves he is among the many greats with this quartet.
The Realm Of The Elderlings
By Robin Hobb
The Realm of the Elderlings is a saga consisting of a number of completely different sequence, however for the sake of this checklist, we’ll lump Robin Hobb’s whole story collectively — as a result of whereas the Farseer Trilogy could also be as compelling as ASOIAF, The Realm of the Elderlings total is extra comparable when it comes to scope and storytelling experience.
Over the course of the saga, Hobb proves she’s a grasp at tying narrative threads collectively, creating flawed characters, and constructing a wealthy however plausible world. What she does right here is as spectacular as Martin’s work with A Music of Ice and Fireplace, and readers are prone to get simply as wrapped up in it.
Malazan E-book Of The Fallen
By Steven Erikson
Clocking in at 10 books, Steve Erikson’s Malazan E-book of the Fallen is kind of the enterprise — but it surely’s a lengthy fantasy series that’s worth the commitment. Like A Music of Ice and Fireplace, Malazan E-book of the Fallen has a variety of shifting components, one thing that is most likely unavoidable given its size. The world is masterfully crafted, and Erikson brings it to life with spectacular element.
Along with matching Martin’s books when it comes to setting and scope — and surpassing at instances — Malazan E-book of the Fallen is even darker. The sequence is not for the faint of coronary heart, but it surely does embrace hopeful themes and well-placed humor. All in all, it is a fantastic alternative for anybody in search of a good longer journey than ASOIAF.
Roots Of Chaos
By Samantha Shannon
The Roots of Chaos would not supply a linear narrative like most fantasy sequence, however Samantha Shannon’s books are all interconnected — and her means to shift from one time interval to the subsequent illustrates the robust grasp she has on her fictional world. The Priory of the Orange Tree has a fancy setting and expansive forged of characters, setting it as much as be as immersive as a sequence like ASOIAF.
However such components can rapidly go awry if an writer would not know how you can deal with them. Thankfully, Shannon repeatedly proves that she does. The political dynamics, existential threats, and trigger and impact seen from the prequels to the unique story all make this sequence really feel epic and plausible. It is a must-read for fantasy followers, particularly these in search of more books with dragons.
The Inexperienced Bone Saga
By Fonda Lee
The Inexperienced Bone Saga is extra city fantasy than excessive fantasy, but it surely nonetheless manages to be as unbelievable as A Music of Ice and Fireplace. And regardless of the apparent variations, Fonda Lee’s sequence nonetheless presents nice political intrigue and familial drama. The battle between the sequence’ foremost clans is filled with gripping drama, which is complemented by its well-crafted characters and distinct magic system.
That magic system lends itself to nice motion sequences, too, which followers of Martin’s sequence will little doubt admire. And Jade Legacy delivers among the best conclusions in a fantasy story, confirming the journey is worth it. For sure, The Inexperienced Bone Saga is the right learn whereas fantasy followers await one other much-anticipated ending…
The Burning
By Evan Winter
Evan Winter’s The Burning is not completed but, however the first two books within the sequence are promising, demonstrating strengths that recommend it should rival standard sequence like A Music of Ice and Fireplace. Winter wastes no time throwing us into his world, which incorporates dragons, an in depth magic system, and castes that lend themselves to conversations about oppression and energy.
Better threads about energy and struggle are balanced by the primary character’s private journey, which is closely pushed by the need for vengeance. Winter is not afraid to provide readers flawed and plausible characters to comply with, which makes his story as compelling as Martin’s. Solely time will inform if it maintains the identical high quality in future books, although.
The Gentleman Bastard Sequence
By Scott Lynch
These in search of sequence as ruthless as A Music of Ice and Fireplace would most likely take pleasure in The Gentleman Bastard Sequence, as Scott Lynch’s sequence is not afraid to place its characters on the road — even when it means ripping readers’ hearts out within the course of. The darkish and atmospheric world is plausible, as are the flawed and often-desperate characters it produces.
Lynch’s sequence begins out with a a lot smaller scope than ASOIAF, however the writer expands the world in a satisfying means within the later books. The fantastical components additionally change into extra outstanding as time goes on, giving this one thing else in widespread with A Music of Ice and Fireplace. There is no telling after we’ll get the subsequent sequel, but it surely’s a fantastic fantasy story to learn after Martin’s sequence.
