Whether you consider yourself from house Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, or Targaryen, we have a fantasy book recommendation for you.
Let’s be real, there is no book series quite like A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The level of court intrigue, familial rivalries, betrayal, violence, and ice zombies make it unique and on a level of its own. When looking for a new series to dive into, these fantasy book recs are a good springboard to jump off of while we are coming down to the final episodes of the epic Game of Thrones.
There are certain aspects of A Song of Ice and Fire that can be found in a lot of fantasy book series, such as court intrigue, assassins, dragons, epic battles, found families, backstabbing for personal gain, magic, the dead returning from the living, and self sacrifice.
There are nine Great Houses of Westeros: Stark, Targaryen, Baratheon, Lannister, Arryn, Tully, Greyjoy, Tyrell, and Martell, and all have not only their own sigils, but house mottos and fan perceptions of what it means to be a part of each house. Breaking down these three elements, I’ve come up with these fantasy book recs based on each house.
House Stark Book Recs
Motto: Winter is Coming
Book rec: ‘Alanna: The First Adventure’ by Tamora Pierce
When it comes to books that encompasses everything it means to be a Stark, the first book that comes to mind is Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. Both Alanna and Arya have a lot of similarities at first glance, with Alanna dressing as a boy in order to become a knight. The beginning of Arya’s journey, as she took swordplay lessons disguised as “dance lessons” and was called a boy more than once, it’s no wonder the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce comes to mind.
House Baratheon Book Recs
Motto: Ours is the Fury
Book rec: ‘Priory of the Orange Tree’ by Samantha Shannon
Samantha Shannon’s epic fantasy, Priory of the Orange Tree fits with House Baratheon’s vibe with her depth of lineage throughout Priory in regards to Sabran IX, the thirty-sixth queen of Inys, and the threats those closest to her pose as assassins come ever closer to ending not only her reign, but her family’s hold over Inys.
House Targaryen Book Recs
Motto: Fire & Blood
Book rec: ‘His Majesty’s Dragon’ by Naomi Novik
What better book to encapsulate House Targaryen than His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, whose unique take on dragons and their riders is probably my favorite dragon-centric series to-date. The dragons in the Temeraire series are more sentient than Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, but that’s merely because Temeraire, Lily, and Maximus can speak. Unable to be put down, His Majesty’s Dragon won’t disappoint any House Targaryen fan.
House Lannister Book Recs
Motto: Hear me Roar
Book rec: ‘Assassin’s Apprentice’ by Robin Hobb
Lannisters are known to not only pay their debts, but as being conniving, ruthless, and would do anything to ensure the best for their family. With these characteristics I’ve given House Lannister Assassin’s Apprentice, the first book in the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb. The royal family, the Farseers, have Lannister sized family drama with the first in line for the throne abdicating due to having sired a bastard, the third in line being as petulant as Joffrey Baratheon, along with poisonings abounds that could give the Lannisters themselves a run for their money.
House Arryn Book Recs
Motto: As High as Honor
Book rec: ‘A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms’ by N.K. Jemisin
House Arryn and A Hundred Thousand Kingdoms are similar in a very superficial way: the Arryn’s live in the Eyrie, a stronghold that is thousands of feet above the valley below, while the city-state and palace in the Inheritance series by N.K. Jemisin is called Sky, and you can probably guess why.
House Tully Book Recs
Motto: Family, Duty, Honor
Book rec: ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ by Katherine Arden
With the House Words of “Family, Duty, Honor” the Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden seems like a perfect fit. At first glance The Bear and the Nightingale has a lot of similarities to A Song of Ice and Fire with the long winters, a blue-eyed winter demon, but what reminds me the most of House Tully is Vasilisa’s family matching her off with someone she doesn’t know, much like both Catelyn and Lysa went through when they married into the Stark and Arryn families.
House Greyjoy Book Recs
Motto: We Do Not Sow
Book rec: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Besides both the Greyjoys and A Darker Shade of Magic having bad ass women in them (shout out to both Yara and Lila Bard), I chose ADSoM for House Greyjoy because of not only the House words, but their more known saying: “What is dead may never die” which has a *coughs* lot of meaning within the trilogy by V.E. Schwab.
House Tyrell Book Recs
Motto: Growing Strong
Book rec: ‘Dreamer’s Pool’ by Juliet Marillier
When I think of House Tyrell I think of Margaery and her looks, of Ser Loras, the Knight of Flowers, and Olenna, who had one of the best scenes in Game of Thrones as she spilled her secret. I chose Dreamer’s Pool for House Tyrell because of the fairytale aesthetic of Highgarden. Highgarden itself would fit well within the Blackthorn & Grim series by Juliet Marillier, as would Margaery and Ser Loras.
House Martell Book Recs
Motto: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Book rec: ‘The City of Brass’ by S.A. Chakraborty
It isn’t only the backdrop of The City of Brass that reminds me of House Martell and Dorne, but the Martell family itself brings to mind that of the Qahtani family. The Martell family crest, a Sunspear, makes me think of certain scenes near the end of The City of Brass that are technically spoilers, so make sure you read it!
Related:
– Happy ‘Game of Thrones’ moments to cherish before you watch your faves die
– 6 book series that HBO should adapt to fill ‘Game of Thrones’ void
– ‘Game of Thrones’ characters who got what they deserved
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