For many of us, Game of Thrones—HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s critically acclaimed A Song of Ice and Fire novels—gave us a taste of fierce power politics, courtly collusions and terrifying battle sequences, unfolding in a medieval fantasy world filled with dragons, zombies and witchcraft. Then in 2022, we returned to Westeros with House of the Dragon, a prequel series that depicts a vicious civil war between the members of the ruling, dragon-riding Targaryen dynasty, which ultimately leads to their decline.
Inflected with an ever-looming sense of tragedy and violence, and populated by morally grey characters forced to make difficult choices, the series makes for an intensely immersive watch. Drawing upon actual European history, Martin’s grimdark world illuminates the darker side of human nature that has driven the engines of the past—and present. It is perhaps what makes historical fantasy tales filled with political maneuvering and backstabbing so compelling—no character is completely virtuous or villainous, the lines between good and evil are blurred, and happy endings (if possible at all) come at a cost.
So, if you’re in the mood for intricately plotted novels, heady with political intrigue and subterfuge, these books should keep you occupied as you wait for the next episode of House of the Dragon to drop!
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Fire and Blood
If House of Dragon has piqued your attention and you’re restless to know about what happens to your favorite characters, you can straight up devour Fire and Blood—the first half of a proposed two-volume history of the Targaryen dynasty. It covers all the events in House of the Dragon, including the deadly war of succession referred to as The Dance of the Dragons.
Some of the material in Fire and Blood was published in abridged versions in earlier anthologies, and the book reads as if written by a historian, collating multiple unreliable accounts of events long past into a coherent narrative—a very different reading experience from Martin’s usual multiple POV-chapters.
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
Lovers of hard fantasy will definitely enjoy Traitor Baru Cormorant (the first novel in Seth Dickinson’s The Masquerade series), which deftly tackles anticolonial themes in a refreshing and utterly captivating way.
The novel follows the exploits of Baru who patiently watches her island get conquered and its cultures effaced as she joins hands with the empire—only to subvert it from within. But the secrecy and scheming come at a very severe cost and Baru ends up paying dearly for her calculating risks and ruthless choices with her own capacity for empathy.
With a tragic slow-burn sapphic romance subtly woven into the political maneuvering and geopolitical chess games, Traitor Baru Cormorant makes for an unsettling but deeply memorable read. And if you’re in the mood for something that is less heavy but also draws from history with plenty of magic and a happier sapphic love story, you can try The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.
The Serpent's Egg
If you’re looking for a shorter read with a focus on courtly intrigue and some sorcery, look for a copy of The Serpent’s Egg by Caroline Stevermer.
It’s intensely enjoyable with a page-turning plot about preventing the murder of the queen, where none of the members of the court can be trusted. Like in Martin’s novels, the magical elements in Stevermer’s book are minor, though the story definitely has a medieval fantasy feel with charming characterization and will keep you guessing till the last page.
The King of Attolia (The Queen's Thief Book 3)
The third novel in the Queen’s Thief series aimed at a YA audience, King of Attolia focuses on Eugenides, once a master thief who then lost his hand, then married the woman he loved to become the king of a realm he never wanted—and it seems the realm doesn’t want him either.
Costis, a young guard, is unwittingly drawn into the nefarious power politics at court, and yet, as his disdain for the new king slowly morphs into respect, we the readers are left to admire at how skillfully Turner unravels the plot threads into a surprising yet satisfying conclusion.
If you enjoyed this one, I’d also recommend you check out Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn. It’s also rife with courtly intrigue but centered more on female characters.
Ill Met in the Arena
Ill Met in the Arena by Dave Duncan: Now for those who prefer their courtly machinations be accompanied by a generous serving of magic, Dave Duncan’s Ill Met in the Arena promises to be a satisfying and delicious meal. The story takes the gender essentialist conceit that “women are brainy while men are brawny” as the literal premise for a science fantasy world where women have the power to read minds while men have superhuman strength and can teleport to different places.
In this matriarchal society, men compete for the favors of high-ranking women by participating in gladiatorial contests—reminiscent of medieval tournaments—but bolstered by psychic powers, and wherein two men, the older Quirt and the younger Humate are embroiled in a family conspiracy. With interesting characters and a plot filled with twists and turns, this Dave Duncan novel is an entertaining and exhilarating read.
The Curse of Chalion
One of my favorite medieval fantasy books, The Curse of Chalion has it all—courtly intrigue, romance, ancient curses, and religious magic—which makes for an utterly gripping reading experience.
The story follows the chivalric Cazaril who returns to an accursed noble household as a tutor but is unwittingly tasked with saving the kingdom even if he has to make great personal sacrifices to do so. Cazaril’s loyalties are fiercely tested at every turn, yet he remains faithful, a paragon of virtue that will appeal to readers with a fondness for character-driven prose.
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