Palace Intrigue-Style Fantasy Books to Read After House of the Dragon Season 3
House of the Dragon Season 3 has concluded, leaving us with a two-year wait before we can continue the saga of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and her quest for power. As always, some fans will pass the time by re-reading George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire series or rewatching HBO‘s Game of Thrones for a taste of Westeros. While there are other series to explore, the fantasy genre is vast, and finding stories that align with our preferences can be a challenge—especially if we want to avoid major spoilers. The five book series listed below share key elements with House of the Dragon, making them resonate with fans at this point in the narrative.
Game of Thrones primarily focused on political drama and palace intrigue, with most battles occurring off-screen, while magical elements remained a distant threat. In contrast, House of the Dragon balances these components more effectively—dragons are an everyday reality in Westeros, and warfare is central to the plot. The series below similarly have plots driven by politics, espionage, and human relationships, while delivering ample action.
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‘Between Earth and Sky’ by Rebecca Roanhorse
Image via Saga Press
If you enjoy the concept of flying but are wary of dragons’ fiery breath and ferocity, Rebecca Roanhorse‘s Between Earth and Sky trilogy is perfect for you. This epic fantasy series is set in a world inspired by pre-Columbian Native American culture rather than medieval Europe. The narrative shifts between several point-of-view characters similar to Game of Thrones, providing a broad perspective on this world and its marvels without sacrificing character depth. We follow Xiala, a sailor with magical abilities, Serapio, a mysterious blind young man, and Naranpa, an unlikely young Sun Priest as their paths gradually intertwine.
Between Earth and Sky was published from 2020 to 2024 and consists of three books—Black Sun, Fevered Star, and Mirrored Heavens. The series has received several prestigious awards, including the Hugo for Best Series last year upon its conclusion. All three books are currently available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.
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‘Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn’ by Tad Williams
Image by Michael Whelan via DAW Books
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams significantly influenced Martin when he first crafted A Game of Thrones, and the parallels are evident from the start. This series follows Simon, a teenage boy serving in a castle named Hayholt, the capital of the continent’s most powerful kingdom. He longs for adventure but discovers that it is more challenging than he anticipated when he finally embarks on it.
The scope of the series expands naturally over time, ultimately creating an incredibly vivid depiction of this fictional land called Osten Ard. Williams excels at introducing unexpected magical powers or monsters while simultaneously questioning their impact on the world. Tolkien’s influence is apparent in his worldbuilding as Williams portrays dragons more akin to Smaug than Balerion. Nevertheless, the other forms of magic present in this world compensate for it well enough that die-hard dragon enthusiasts should not overlook this series.
The original Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series consists of four books, but Williams has since completed a sequel series titled The Last King of Osten Ard, with its final volume published in 2024. All titles are currently available in print, digital, and audiobook formats.
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‘The Realm of the Elderings’ by Robin Hobb
Image via Spectra
No matter what aspects you love about the fantasy genre, there is something in theThe Realm of the Elderings series for everyone. This epic collection by Robin Hobb, spanning sixteen books across four trilogies and one quadrilogy, follows interconnected stories set within the same universe over many years. The first trilogy,Farseer, centers on FitzChivalry, a royal bastard growing up in Buckkeep Castle. Although he is not permitted to be part of the court or royal family fully, he cannot stray too far either without becoming a threat. Meanwhile, an unusual wave of naval incursions escalates until Fitz finds himself maturing amidst an all-out war involving magical powers he does not fully comprehend.
The narrative is both heartbreaking and impossible to put down as it shifts perspectives throughout subsequent trilogies. Hobb possesses a remarkable talent for exploring themes of nature, trauma, and her characters’ inner lives. She employs various forms of psychic connections between humans and animals throughout her storytelling. Much like Martin’s work, her magic often comes at such a high cost that it may not be worth utilizing at times. This series is essential reading for fans who appreciate dragons as well as those interested in fantasy politics and power dynamics. All sixteen books are currently available in print, digital formats, and audiobooks.
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‘Elric of Melniboné’ by Michael Moorcock
…Image via Simon & Schuster
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If you are a devoted fan of A Song of Ice and Fire, you should add the Elric of Melniboné series to your reading list since it greatly influenced Martin during his formative years as a writer. Created byMichael Moorcock, Elric first appeared in a story published in 1962 within the magazineNew Edge Sword and Sorcery. His tales were subsequently scattered across various magazines and novels for years before being compiled into four volumes released by Saga Press in 2022. These volumes are now available in print formats as well as digital audiobooks.
The titular character Elric serves as the 428th Emperor of Melniboné—an island nation inhabited by advanced sorcerers who ride dragons and rule with tyranny. For generations,Melniboné has exploited surrounding nations populated by ordinary humans while Elric exhibits unusual empathy towards their struggles. Born frail and physically weak due to anemia , Elric relies on magical substances to maintain his health while projecting strength necessary to claim his throne amidst constant scheming from adversaries . Implementing reforms proves nearly impossible within this entrenched violent society even if Elric sacrifices his well-being to achieve change.
This premise may seem somewhat familiar—Martin’s extinct dragon-riding civilization Valyria clearly drew inspiration from Melniboné , while several prominent Targaryen characters bear resemblance to tragic hero Elric . In his memoirDreamsongs, Martin distinguished between “high fantasy,” akin to Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings, versus “heroic fantasy,” exemplified by Robert E.Howard’sConan the Barbarian.. Elric occupies ground between these two categories , just asA Song of Ice and Fire.
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‘The Green Bone Saga’ by Fonda Lee
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