Epic Fantasy Book Series Similar to A Song of Ice and Fire or The Lord of the Rings
Requirements:
Has multiple POVs or a wide cast of characters
Features rich history and detailed worldbuilding
Includes either morally gray characters or classic good vs. evil
Ideally has more than one book (I’m in it for the long haul)
Doesn’t shy away from darker or more mature themes (but not grimdark just for the sake of it)
Extra Details:
I’m looking for immersive, well-written fantasy with deep worldbuilding, complex characters, and political intrigue. I loved the gritty realism and shifting alliances in A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as the mythic scope and lore of The Lord of the Rings. It'd be ideal if the series is finished — but if it’s still ongoing and worth the wait, I’m all ears. What are your must-read fantasy series in this vein?
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. If you want deep lore, gods walking among mortals, massive battles, and a cast so huge it makes ASOIAF look small, this is it. It's dense, philosophical, and confusing at times — but incredibly rewarding if you stick with it.
Check out The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.
If A Song of Ice and Fire had a sardonic younger brother with a sharper tongue and a grudge against hero tropes, it’d be The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. The world is bleak, the politics are brutal, and the characters? All deeply flawed, unpredictable, and painfully human.
There’s no clear "good guy" — just people trying to survive, climb the ladder, or burn the whole system down. You’ve got a crippled torturer who ends up being the most interesting character in the series, a barbarian warrior with anger issues and unexpected wisdom, and a self-obsessed nobleman who you somehow end up rooting for. The dialogue is razor-sharp and darkly hilarious, and the subversion of classic fantasy tropes is incredibly satisfying.
Abercrombie’s biggest strength is character work — you may not love them, but you get them. And once you're done with the trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings), there's a whole bunch of standalone follow-ups and a second trilogy set in the same world that’s just as good (if not better). Definitely worth diving into if you like ASOIAF’s grittiness but wish it moved at a faster pace.
Epic Fantasy Book Series Similar to A Song of Ice and Fire or The Lord of the Rings
Has multiple POVs or a wide cast of characters
Features rich history and detailed worldbuilding
Includes either morally gray characters or classic good vs. evil
Ideally has more than one book (I’m in it for the long haul)
Doesn’t shy away from darker or more mature themes (but not grimdark just for the sake of it)
I’m looking for immersive, well-written fantasy with deep worldbuilding, complex characters, and political intrigue. I loved the gritty realism and shifting alliances in A Song of Ice and Fire, as well as the mythic scope and lore of The Lord of the Rings. It'd be ideal if the series is finished — but if it’s still ongoing and worth the wait, I’m all ears. What are your must-read fantasy series in this vein?
Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. If you want deep lore, gods walking among mortals, massive battles, and a cast so huge it makes ASOIAF look small, this is it. It's dense, philosophical, and confusing at times — but incredibly rewarding if you stick with it.
Check out The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.
If A Song of Ice and Fire had a sardonic younger brother with a sharper tongue and a grudge against hero tropes, it’d be The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. The world is bleak, the politics are brutal, and the characters? All deeply flawed, unpredictable, and painfully human.
There’s no clear "good guy" — just people trying to survive, climb the ladder, or burn the whole system down. You’ve got a crippled torturer who ends up being the most interesting character in the series, a barbarian warrior with anger issues and unexpected wisdom, and a self-obsessed nobleman who you somehow end up rooting for. The dialogue is razor-sharp and darkly hilarious, and the subversion of classic fantasy tropes is incredibly satisfying.
Abercrombie’s biggest strength is character work — you may not love them, but you get them. And once you're done with the trilogy (The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, Last Argument of Kings), there's a whole bunch of standalone follow-ups and a second trilogy set in the same world that’s just as good (if not better). Definitely worth diving into if you like ASOIAF’s grittiness but wish it moved at a faster pace.