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10 Books Like Game of Thrones Series To Read For Epic Fantasy Fans

November 10, 2022
Books like Game of Thrones

The epic fantasy A Song of Ice and Fire series and its first novel The Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin is known by many as the best epic fantasy series ever written. The massively successful show also called The Game of Thrones, the series A Song of Ice and Fire has also had a strong pull on people to read the books. Recently, the divisive end of the show and the unfinished book series has left fans desperate for more. We have curated a list of 10 books like Game of Thrones to fill your void.

The first book Game of Thrones in the series A Song of Ice and Fire was released in 1996 and written by  George R. R. Martin. Set in 12,000 BC, this series is regarded as one of the greatest epics of the modern era. The first book is filled with actions of lust, rage, betrayal, terror and revenge. ‘The Lannister’ and ‘The Stark’ families are the main focus of the story. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, this adventurous tale of magic, politics, supernatural forces and power excite the readers and leave them wanting more. The dark period of the winter season approaches Weteros.

The novels received high critical acclaim and were also adapted into a TV Series on HBO called Game of Thrones, which brought record high viewership making it one of the most successful shows of all time. This series has great character development with incredible protagonists like John Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. This is a show that made the world reminiscent of Mediaeval Europe unflinchingly cool.  If you read books like Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin and want to read more books that build a world as iconic as Westeros, this list is for you.

Buy A Song of Ice and Fire (7 Volumes) on Amazon 

List of Books Like Game of Thrones 

  1. The Iron King by Maurice Druon 
  2. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien 
  3. A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons
  4. The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley
  5. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
  6. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
  7. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
  8. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  9. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
  10. Shadow and Bone by leigh Bardugo

Here’s why these 10 books are like Game of Thrones

1. The Iron King by Maurice Druon

The Iron King is the first novel from the series The Accursed Kings. Written and published originally in French, Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings) is the work of the french author Maurice Druon. George R.R. Martin, taking heavy inspiration from this series, calls The Accursed Kings the original Game of Thrones. The Iron King was first published in 1955 and sets up a story based on real historic events. 

The book, The Iron King deals with the story and a few scandals of the King of France, Philip IV ‘The Fair’ who ruled from 1268 to 1314. Druon narrates the scandals like the destruction of the Order of Knights Templar and the adultery of the two daughters-in-law. Druon’s series has recently found a newly gained popularity in major bookstores, even though it has been criticised for a lack of character growth. The elements of the series that inspired R.R. Martin are worth reading. If you are looking for books like Game of Thrones, you must read Maurice Druon’s The Iron King.

 Buy The Accused Kings on Amazon US

2. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien  

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring ( The first volume of the series) was published in 1954 by J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien began writing it to serve as a sequel to his popular children’s book The Hobbit but ended up expanding it into a series of its own. The Lord of the Rings fictional series contains 3 volumes, 6 books in total. The books are set in Middle-earth, second age 1500-1701. 

The title The Lord of the Rings refers to the villain of the story, the Dark Lord Sauron. He created a singular ring called ‘One Ring’ or ‘Ruling Ring’ to rule all other rings of power. The Lord of the Rings contains people like Hobbits, Elves, Men, Dwarves, Wizards, and Orcs. The series is a saga of heroic people that set out to save the world from the evil Dark Lord, Sauron. The Lord of the Rings series has been estimated to sell over 150 million copies worldwide making it the most commercially successful piece of literature of all time. If you still haven’t read The Lord of the Rings series and are looking for books like Game of Thrones, you must read them now.

Buy Lord of The Rings Box set on Amazon US

3. A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons

A Chorus of Dragons is a science-fiction and fantasy book series by Jenn Lyons that began in 2019. The series contains 5 books: The Ruin of Kings (2019), The Name of All Things (2019), The Memory of Souls (2020), The House of Always (2021) and The Disord of Gods (2022). This epic fantasy series, A Chorus of Dragons begins and sets up a story about a long-lost royal, Kihrin whose fate is tied to the future of the Empire of Quur. 

The story is full of demons, rogue gods and monsters and dragons. The first book The Ruin of Kings (2019) combines prophecies and magic in an epic fantasy of imperial politics. The fantastically written story of the young hero stepping into an intriguing complex world is truly fascinating to read. If you are on the look out for books like Game of Thrones, you are sure to enjoy this fairly new series A Chorus of Dragons.

Buy A Chorus of Dragons 5 book series on Amazon US

4. The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley

Brian Staveley is known for writing epic fantasy novels, and The Empire’s Ruin is the first book from his series Ashes of the Unhewn Throne. It is a spin-off series from Chronicles of Unhewn Throne. The book sets up a story in the Annurian Empire.

The elite soldiers, The Kettral were the glory of the Annurian Empire. Now the empire is dying and with it, the Kettral’s numbers have also declined. The Kenta gates that grant the empire access to vast lands have also failed. The soldier Grenna Sharpe is assigned a mission that could make it possible to restore the empire to its former glory. The Ashes of the Unhewn Throne create a brilliantly engrossing world, it is action-packed story and the characters are phenomenally written. If you’re searching for books like Game of Thrones, The Empire’s Ruin is a perfect fit for you.

Buy The Empire’s Ruin on Amazon

5. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

The Dragonbone Chair is a fantasy fiction novel written by Tad Williams, The Dragonbone Chair is the first book of the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn Trilogy.  Set in the peaceful land of Osten Ard, The Dragonbone Chair witnesses a war fueled by powers of dark sorcery about to make its way to Osten Ard.  

A kitchen boy from the royal castle called Simon becomes the unlikely apprentice to a league that will be sent on a quest that offers Osten Ard the only hope for salvation. Simon must leave his home behind and face enemies that are more dangerous than any Osten Ard has ever seen. The trilogy incorporates the classical elements of an epic quest with an unlikely hero and yet excellently produces a world where the traditional fantasy elements show up in new ways. If you are looking to watch books similar to Game of Thrones then The Dragonbone Chair and its sequels are worth a read.

 Buy Memory, Sorrow and Thorn Trilogy on Amazon

Also Read: Books like Dune

6. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 

The Way of Kings is the first installation of the epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archives by New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson. Published in 2010, the first book The Way of Kings begins with the victory achieved by Heralds, the leaders of the Knights Radiant. 

For years Heralds waged a war against a race of monsters called Voidbringers, to protect humanity. The point of view of the story keeps revolving around main characters like Kaladin, Shallan Davar and a few minor characters. The book, The Way of Kings staggeringly captures the epic grandiosity and scope of the world. The Stormlight Archives’s The Way of Kings is one of the best epic fantasy books like Game of Thrones you can read. 

Buy The Stormlight Archives 4 book set on Amazon

7. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

The first book of the high-fantasy series The Wheel of Time, The Eye of the World was written by Robert Jordan and published in 1990. The critics have praised the tones and the themes of friendship, corruption and power. The series The Eye of the World has been compared with The Lord of the Rings for its elements of similarities. The Wheel of Time was adapted into a show of the same title in 2021 on Amazon Prime. 

The story of The Eye of the World follows the protagonists’ Rand al’Thor, Matrim, Perrin, Egwene and Nynaeve after Emond’s Field (their residence) is attacked by enemy soldiers Trollocs. Jordan effectively creates a large unthinkable world filled with dangers with a thrilling quest for glory. The themes of The Eye of the World are akin to those of George R. R. Martin’s series. And so if you want to read books like Game of Thrones, definitely check this one out. 

Buy The Wheel of Time 14 book series on Amazon US

8. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

Marlon James wrote the fantasy novel Black Leopard, Red Wolf and published it in 2019. A part of the planned Black Star Trilogy, this first book Black Leopard, Red Wolf honours African history and mythology. The novel has already been optioned for a screen adaptation by Micheal B Jordan. 

The story follows a hunter named Tracker as he finds the missing boy with the help of a ragtag group of mercenaries. Black Leopard, Red Wolf has been called one of the best stories written in recent years. Themes of social hierarchy and political tensions between two warring states are rewarding to read. The story is structured in picaresque form and is a wholly-immersive experience of wild adventures. You will thoroughly enjoy reading Black Leopard, Red Wolf  if you’re searching for books like Game of Thrones.

 Buy Black Leopard, Red Wolf on Amazon

9. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a young adult dystopian fantasy series. The first book was published in 2015 and the series ended with its final installation in 2019. 

There is a clear separation of groups in the country called Nora, Silvers are the elites in possession of god-like powers and Reds are the commoners ruled by the Silvers. Following the story of Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old girl from Reds, she lives in poverty and does not believe that anything will change, that is until she finds herself working in the Silver palace.

Mare discovers that in spite of being a Red she possesses a superpower of her own, the Silver Palace quickly try to cover up the situation by announcing her in front of the common people as a long-lost Silver princess now being engaged to a Silver prince. Mare’s journey of staying true to herself while being involved in this sensitive situation with people she hates only opens her up to dangerous circumstances filled with betrayal and lies. If you are bored and looking for engaging books to read, Red Queen is one of the most exciting books similar to Game of Thrones you can read.

Buy The Red Queen Collection book 1-5 on Amazon

Also Read: Books like I’m Thinking of Ending Things

10. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Another novel series by a New York Times bestselling author, Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo follows the life of a soldier Alina Starkov, in the Kingdom of Ravka. Alina discovers she has magical abilities and trains with Grisha, the country’s magical military elite. Alina falls under the spell of the Darkling, a dangerous leader. 

Now the Kingdom of Tavka is surrounded by enemies and being split in two by Shadow Fold, a darkness crawling with monsters feasting human flesh. Alina becomes the singular hope for the Kingdom. The world of the Shadow and Bone trilogy is unique and rich in detail. The series is worth reading if you are looking for books similar to Game of Thrones.

Buy Shadow and Bone trilogy on Amazon

Honourable Mentions 

Here are a few fantasy books like Game of Thrones that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless:

  1. The Broken Empire Series by Mark Lawrence 
  2. The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
  3. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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