Books Like Game of Thrones: 20 Gritty Fantasy Reads

If you love the gritty intrigue and morally complex world of Game of Thrones, you know the appeal of a fantasy that isn’t afraid to show blood, betrayal, and flawed heroes. Boos like Game of Thrones don’t come along every day, but in this post we’ve curated our favourites.

Full disclosure: I’m also a dark fantasy author – my own novel The Blood of Tharta follows a cursed land and conflicted champions – but that’s just me sharing a fellow fan’s excitement, not a sales pitch.

In the spirit of the genre, here are 20 dark and epic fantasy novels – newer hits and underrated gems as well as a few classics – that Game of Thrones readers are likely to enjoy. Each entry includes a concise overview and why it scratches that GoT itch. Whether it’s ruthless politics, epic battles, or characters driven by revenge, these books deliver the “grimdark” tone and rich worldbuilding many GOT fans crave.

1. The Blade Itself

by Joe Abercrombie

Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy opener plunges readers into a brutal, blood-soaked world. Three very different figures – a cruel nobleman-turned-soldier, Logen Ninefingers the infamous northern barbarian, and Sand dan Glokta, a crippled inquisitor – are thrown together by fate. Their paths collide amid wars, dark magic, and conspiracies. The story is notable for its gritty realism and morally gray characters. Glokta in particular, a torturer and skeptic haunted by his own pain, embodies the novel’s grim tone . The Blade Itself never sanitizes violence or suspense; instead, it keeps you on edge about who will survive each brutal encounter . Game of Thrones fans will appreciate Abercrombie’s black humor and unflinching depiction of a world where no one is safe – very much in line with Martin’s style. (In short: if you liked the unpredictability and dark comedy of Westeros, Abercrombie delivers it fully.)

2. Prince of Thorns

by Mark Lawrence

This is the first volume of Lawrence’s Broken Empire trilogy, and it wastes no time setting a savage tone. It follows Jorg Ancrath, a teenager turned ruthless warlord after horrible childhood losses. In a post-apocalyptic medieval world, Jorg leads a band of savage outlaws called the “Brothers” on a bloody quest for power. Along the way he confronts dark magic and undead horrors (yes, zombies are in Broken Empire) while slicing through enemies with brutal efficiency . The prose doesn’t shy from gore: as one review warns, this series is “not for the faint of heart” . Fans of Game of Thrones will recognize Jorg as a classic grimdark antihero – charismatic yet horrifying – and a world where no one (even children and monstrous villains) is off-limits for violence. The mix of political scheming and graphic revenge (Jorg’s vendetta against the nobility who wronged him) creates a compellingly twisted epic in the vein of Martin’s darker moments .

3. Red Sister

by Mark Lawrence

Also from Lawrence, this is the first book in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy. It introduces Nona Grey, a fierce young orphan taken to the Convent of Sweet Mercy – a training school for assassin-nuns. Immediately we see Nona thrown into deadly combat trials and conspiracies, even as she hides secrets of her own past . The convent itself is a grim, monastic battlefield where novice “Sisters” train in magic and the blade, and nothing is off-limits for the girls in training. Lawrence weaves a fast-paced coming-of-age tale that’s unexpectedly brutal (think Harry Potter meets GOT on combat steroids). Despite a school setting, Red Sister stays firmly adult in tone : the stakes grow as external politics and dark forces encroach on the convent. Game of Thrones readers will enjoy the strong, determined heroine and the quiet brew of tension between friends and foes alike. The novel’s intrigue – powerful enemies outside the walls and traitors within – echoes the conspiracies of Westeros, making it a thrilling fit for readers who like intense training under pressure and hidden agendas .

4. The Poppy War

by R.F. Kuang

A modern entry in grimdark fantasy, The Poppy War is set in a China-inspired empire on the brink of war. We follow Rin, a poor war orphan who wins a spot at the elite Sinegard Military Academy . There, political rivalries and foreign threats loom just as much as martial training. When a brutal war erupts, Rin discovers terrifying shamanic powers linked to the gods of fire (the Phoenix). Kuang’s book spares no detail in its depiction of wartime atrocities and genocide, paralleling real-world 20th-century history . This is unflinching grimdark, even setting (after the first book) a morally harrowing choice for the heroine. Fans of Game of Thrones will appreciate the epic war scale and complex power struggles – whether it’s the imperial court or the battlefield – combined with a richly-drawn non-Western setting. Rin’s journey (from student to unwilling super-weapon) involves ruthless tactical gambits and betrayals, very much like the desperate gambles seen in Martin’s saga . It’s grim, epic, and utterly addictive for readers who like their fantasy realistic and devastating.

5. The Black Company

by Glen Cook

This classic 1984 series (the first novel The Black Company) is a forebear of modern grimdark. It follows an elite mercenary unit known only as the Black Company as they serve the Lady, a powerful sorceress ruling a shadowy empire . Narrated by Croaker, the company’s physician and historian, the story details decades of war, espionage, and mysticism from the viewpoint of ordinary soldiers . The tone is famously matter-of-fact: brutal battles, betrayals, and magic happen with grim routine. For GOT fans, this series is a must-read precursor: it pioneered the idea of fantasy from the bottom of the food chain, where heroes are flawed mercenaries and even “evil” rulers are seen in shades of gray . Battles are depicted in gritty detail, and loyalties shift as often as alliances in Westeros. The series covers a huge span of history (40 years of the Company’s life) , and its complex tale of power and revolt – plus memorable magics and monsters – makes it resonate strongly with the savage realism that Martin fans love.

6. The Witcher Saga

by Andrzej Sapkowski

This Polish fantasy series (beginning with the short story collection The Last Wish and the novels that follow, starting with Blood of Elves) has become a global phenomenon (thanks partly to video games and a Netflix series). It centers on Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter (“witcher”) roaming a grim Continent rife with political plots. Witchers are humans given alchemical enhancements and trained to fight deadly beasts, and Geralt’s adventures blend folklore horror with court intrigue . The tone is mature and sardonic: kings and sorcerers scheme, non-humans (elves, dwarves) face prejudice, and moral lines are blurred. Though more fairy-tale than Martin’s medieval setting, the series shares Game of Thrones’ cynicism and complex politics. As The Witcher wiki notes, it revolves around Geralt’s life as a monster hunter with superhuman abilities . Readers will find in Sapkowski’s world a similarly hostile landscape – complete with betrayals, shifting loyalties, and adult themes – that go beyond simple good-vs-evil. In short, if you like gritty quests with an anti-hero who tolerates no injustice (even in a fantasy world), The Witcher Saga is a perfect next stop.

7. The Traitor Baru Cormorant

by Seth Dickinson

An epic of political intrigue, Traitor Baru Cormorant follows Baru, a prodigy from a small Pacific island. Her homeland has been colonized by the imperial power of Falcrest (nicknamed the Masquerade), and Baru vows revenge . To enact it, she learns the Masquerade’s own systems of power from the inside. Over the course of the novel, Baru rises through the empire’s bureaucracy – eventually becoming its chief accountant – using her brilliant mind to manipulate economics and politics . The prose is sharp, and the plot is a slow burn of court intrigue: there are decadent royal courts, puritanical overlords, and brutal punishments for dissent. Fans of Game of Thrones will be hooked by the detailed scheming and moral complexity. Baru must make terrible choices (her efforts to crush rebellions by triggering famine test her ethics), which echoes Martin’s theme that sometimes playing the game can cost your soul. In essence, Traitor Baru Cormorant is the “power politics” fantasy par excellence – the way characters vie for control of an empire in this book will certainly appeal to readers who love the layers of manipulation and revenge in GOT .

8. City of Stairs

by Robert Jackson Bennett

This novel opens in the ruined city of Bulikov (once a god-blessed empire, now conquered) – a setting that Game of Thrones fans will find intriguingly exotic. We follow Shara Komayd, a diplomat-spy sent by the new occupying power to investigate the murder of a historian . Bulikov is steeped in dead-god magic, and Komayd’s investigation uncovers ancient secrets and dangerous conspirators. The story combines mystery, mythology, and political thriller: Shara’s sharp wits and her giant bodyguard Sigrud (brutally fierce – one reviewer even compares him to a Joe Abercrombie warrior ) must navigate betrayal on all sides. Critics praise Bennett’s worldbuilding (a convincing blend of Tsarist Russia and Mughal India vibes ) and the novel’s compelling pacing. For GOT readers, City of Stairs offers a similarly layered political struggle – just in a world where gods have died rather than dragons. The clash of cultures and the high stakes of royal powerplay make this book a smart, thrilling pick for fans seeking intrigue and shocks in a fresh setting .

9. The Fifth Season

by N.K. Jemisin

Jemisin’s award-winning fantasy throws you into a world called the Stillness, where apocalyptic “Fifth Seasons” periodically ravage civilization. It follows three women (Essun, Damaya, Syenite) at different points in time, all of whom possess the power to manipulate the earth (they are “orogenes”) . When Essun’s family is torn apart by an unprecedented cataclysm that she indirectly causes, she embarks on a quest through the ruins of society. The novel is bleak and intense: communities fracture under fear and superstition, and people with power are brutally oppressed for the public good. The Fifth Season excels at showing how a society in collapse breeds cruelty and desperate choices. GOT readers will relate to the intricate worldbuilding and the sense that even individuals of immense power are trapped by politics (here, the Empire’s treatment of orogenes resembles systematic oppression). With its lush prose and harrowing plot, this is sci-fi-infused fantasy that echoes Game of Thrones’ gravity – epic scope, familial tragedy, and moral ambiguity all at world-ending scale .

10. Mistborn: The Final Empire

by Brandon Sanderson

Set in a dark, ash-covered world, The Final Empire (first of the Mistborn trilogy) starts a thousand years after a prophesied hero became an immortal tyrant known as the Lord Ruler . Under his rule, ash falls constantly, and the noble houses (each secretly endowed with metal-based magic) oppress the downtrodden skaa. The story follows Vin, a street urchin who discovers she has the rare power of a Mistborn – an allomancer who can “burn” metals for abilities. She joins a band of rebels plotting to overthrow the Lord Ruler. This novel stands out for its innovative magic system (metal-pushing powers) and a feeling of hopeless oppression that gives way to rebellion. Game of Thrones fans will enjoy Mistborn’s high-stakes heist and insurgency storyline – think the liberation of the Westerosi North but with superpowers. The plot is full of twists, betrayals, and a sense that victory is never assured. While Sanderson’s tone is a bit more hopeful than GOT, the blend of action, desperation, and clever villains makes it a thrilling companion for fans of epic fantasy revolutions .

11. Gardens of the Moon

by Steven Erikson

The first book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series is a colossal epic of war and sorcery. It follows multiple characters – imperial soldiers, mages, and rebels – as the Malazan Empire’s legions besiege the free city of Darujhistan . Erikson throws the reader into a vast world of gods and ascendants, military clashes, and arcane secret orders. The tone is dark and complex: no protagonist is purely heroic, and victories often come at staggering cost. Critics praise Erikson for his high-stakes struggles for power on a continental scale . Game of Thrones fans will recognize this scope of interlocking plots and morally ambiguous characters: empires and cults clash, city streets become battlefields, and each twist reveals a deeper layer of the mystery. It’s not an easy read, but the payoff is immense: Malazan is often compared favorably to ASOIAF for its depth. If you crave gob-smacking battles, dark sorcery, and as many POVs as Westeros has kings, Gardens of the Moon delivers on an even grander scale .

12. The Lies of Locke Lamora

by Scott Lynch

Though more caper than pure war tale, Locke Lamora’s adventures in the city of Camorr are perfect for fans of clever scheming and gritty city politics. Locke is a master thief and con artist leading a group called the Gentleman Bastards . By day they pretend to be small-time pickpockets; by night they pull off elaborate heists on nobility. But when a mysterious criminal mastermind known as the Gray King rises and threatens Camorr’s underworld, Locke and his gang find themselves in a deadly game of one-upmanship with slimy gang lords and corrupt officials. The novel is often rollicking and witty at first, but it takes many dark turns. Its tone remains adult and tense, with several shocking twists. GOT enthusiasts will love the richly detailed city (inspired by Renaissance Venice) and the brutal politics hiding behind Locke’s schemes. Loyalty among thieves is tested, and vengeance comes in full measure – think of Locke’s band as antiheroes in pursuit of justice on their own terms. The intricate plotting and out-and-out brutality (and the very real risk to the thieves) ensure this swashbuckling fantasy still carries a grim undertone that Westeros fans appreciate .

13. Promise of Blood

(Powder Mage #1) by Brian McClellan

Entering slightly newer territory, this trilogy opener introduces a “flintlock fantasy” setting where muskets and magic coexist. The story begins in the kingdom of Adro, right after Field Marshal Tamas stages a bloody coup to overthrow the decadent monarchy . With the king and his cabal assassinated, Adro teeters on chaos. The novel follows three main players: Tamas himself; his sharpshooter son Taniel (a powerful Powder Mage who can manipulate gunpowder); and Adamat, a city constable caught between loyalties. The mix is explosive: court intrigues collide with open warfare, and even sorcerers (the Privileged nobility) face threats from soldiers with bullets and revolutionaries. Fans of Game of Thrones will be drawn to the revolutionary atmosphere and clashing factions. The book blends epic battlefield scenes with detective-like investigation (Adamat delves into secret conspiracies), and everyone from Kings to paupers faces danger. It’s dark and fast-paced, with moral ambiguity – Tamas’s rebellion is bloody, and power falls into uncertain hands. In short, it has the high-stakes politics of Westeros plus the novelty of gunpowder magic .

14. The Night Angel Trilogy

by Brent Weeks

Brent Weeks delivers grim fantasy with a side of assassins. In The Way of Shadows (book 1), we meet Azoth, a teen living in the slums of a corrupt city. Azoth becomes the apprentice of Durzo Blint, the city’s legendary assassin, and earns a new name: Kylar Stern. Kylar trains in deadly arts and eventually uncovers a dark immortal magic called the “wetboy” powers that can render its user unseen and nearly invincible. The tone of this series is extremely dark: expect graphic violence, political backstabbing, and dangerous love interests. Much of the intrigue unfolds in shadowy alleys and palace corridors, as war looms. Game of Thrones readers will recognize familiar beats: an oppressed underclass, scheming royal factions, and the question of what a killer does with his soul. Kylar himself struggles between duty and mercy, reminiscent of Martin’s conflicted characters. The trilogy’s relentless action and moral conflicts (e.g. whether to save friends or kill enemies) provide the same adrenaline-fueled pages as Martin’s battles – making Night Angel a great fit for fans seeking fast-paced darkness and assassins’ gambits .

15. Empire of the Vampire

by Jay Kristoff

This illustrated novel is a newer blockbuster in dark fantasy. It’s set in a world plunged into eternal night (after a cataclysmic event called Daysdeath) . Humanity is now hunted by vampires that rule from throne rooms. The story is framed as a memoir by Gabriel de Leon, known as the last Silver Saint (vampire hunter). Gabriel has killed the vampire king, and now in chains awaits execution – but first he recounts how he rose from orphan to warrior-monastic order to face the undying Empress and her vampire legions . The tone is unrelentingly grim: this is a blood-soaked epical where heroes fall and monstrous vampires pull the strings of nations. Game of Thrones fans will appreciate the scale of the despair (imagine Westeros after a war with creatures of the night) and the gritty style of Kristoff’s writing. The book packs in epic battles, ritual magic, and surprisingly tender moments – but always against a backdrop of cruelty and hopelessness. If you enjoy GOT’s darker, horror-tinged moments (and even a tragic antihero narrator), Empire of the Vampire will quench that appetite with its own blend of gothic fantasy horror .

16. The Long Price Quartet

by Daniel Abraham

In this more subtle dark fantasy, Abraham constructs a richly strange world. Set in the city-state of Saraykeht, the story revolves around poets who can bind concept-spirits called andats into human forms and powers. The quartet (starting with A Shadow in Summer) covers decades of political turmoil. Though it begins quietly, the saga grows extraordinarily grim: betrayal, economic collapse, and a devastating war lead to personal and national tragedies. One of the central figures, a gifted young poet named Osidian, makes choices that wreck nations in his pursuit of ambition. Game of Thrones readers will find Abraham’s world equally complex: the politics of Saraykeht are Byzantine, and every victory has a dark cost. The themes of accountability and the price of power run deep. While lighter on gore, this series earns its “dark” label through emotional depth and the sense of a world that often drowns in its own shadow – fitting perfectly for readers who savor GOT’s exploration of power’s corrupting influence.

17. The Red Knight

by Miles Cameron

For fans who like large-scale medieval warfare with dark overtones, The Red Knight is a strong pick. It follows Gabriel de León (no relation to the vampire hunter!), a mercenary captain fighting invading dragon-like monsters called Baneblood in a war-torn kingdom. Gabriel – the titular Red Knight – is a vengeful war hero who’s both charismatic and ruthless. The novel delivers intense battlefield scenes and gritty realism: armor is dented by arrows, comrades die in droves, and commanders make impossible choices. The empire’s politics – with scheming nobles and a conquering tyrant – are as intricate as any in Westeros. Fans of Game of Thrones will appreciate the authentic feeling of medieval combat and alliances at play, as well as Gabriel’s moral ambiguity (he’s heroic but not without ruthless flaws). Cameron’s book feels like watching Braveheart directed by George R.R. Martin – plenty of glory, but a cold aftertaste.

18. Malice

by John Gwynne

This is the first of The Faithful and the Fallen series. It begins in an idyllic rural kingdom that soon finds itself under siege by fearsome barbarian hordes. Multiple POVs cross paths: from proud young warriors to royal princes, and even a shape-shifting monster. The novel builds a classic epic narrative with a grim edge: prophecies of doom, betrayals from within, and the hint of demonic influence. While Gwynne’s style is more traditionally heroic than Martin’s cynical tone, Malice still delivers plenty of tension and violence. Readers of Game of Thrones will enjoy the old-school epic battles and the shifting tides of warfare (like Westeros against the Others), as well as characters tested by honor and revenge. It’s less political intrigue and more good-versus-evil with personal vendettas, but the very high stakes and ferocity of combat will resonate with fans of grand fantasy sagas .

19. Tower Lord

by Anthony Ryan (Raven’s Shadow #2)

If you discovered Blood Song or missed it, Tower Lord continues the grim saga of Vaelin Al Sorna. Picking up years later, Vaelin is now a knight-commander in the Emperor’s army and has a son he’s hidden from the world. The peaceful reign is shattered by invasion, leading Vaelin on another warpath. Like its predecessor, this book blends epic warfare with intense family drama and betrayal. Vaelin’s once noble faith in his emperor is tested; he must face harsh truths and again commit hard deeds. For GOT fans, Tower Lord offers what many thrill-seekers want: immense armies clashing, castles in flames, and a hero haunted by the cost of survival. The familial elements (a warrior torn between duty and protecting kin) also echo the Lannister/Stark conflicts, appealing directly to readers who love layered personal stakes within epic war stories.

20. Child of Fire

by Richard A. Knaak (Legends of Diablo: Demonic isles #1)

Venturing into darker fantasy blended with horror, this underappreciated novel opens on a brutal island full of demons and despair. It follows Zara, the daughter of a witch-doctor-king, as she struggles to protect her kingdom from invading hellish forces. The tone is unrelentingly grim – think monsters from the Diablo game come to life in a savage medieval world. Zara must ally with her worst enemies and face personal demons (including a tragic curse on her bloodline) to save her people. Game of Thrones readers who favor the darker, more supernatural corners of Martin’s saga – the elements of horror in the North – will be drawn to Child of Fire’s visceral battles and its theme of sacrificial leadership. It’s an intense stand-alone tale that proves dark fantasy can be as much about inner torment as outward conflict.

Explore New Dark Fantasies:

The 20 novels above are just the beginning. Dark fantasy is richer than ever, with new voices pushing boundaries of world-building and moral complexity. We encourage readers to dive in beyond the well-known titles. There’s always room for another epic. And if your reading list still needs padding, you might give my novel – The Blood of Tharta – a look. It’s a heartfelt effort in this vein, blending curse-bound kingdoms and conflicted heroes in a style that Game of Thrones fans tend to enjoy. Whether you pick up The Blood of Tharta or any of the other titles here, the real win is discovering a story that grips you with its darkness and thrills. Happy reading, and may your fantasy quests be as enthralling as they are dangerous!