Political fantasy replaces the quest with the council chamber. These series are built on succession, alliance and betrayal.
Series in Reading Order
- Fire and Ice by George R. R. Martin — 9 books · 2009–2024
Five published volumes so far, begun 1996. - The Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Eugenides of Attolia; begun 1996. - Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey — 11 books · 2001–2023
Terre d'Ange, a court built on a religious bargain. - Crown of Stars by Kate Elliott — 7 books · 1997–2006
Seven-volume series, 1997-2006. - Empire by Raymond E. Feist — 10 books · 2009–2019
Written with Janny Wurts; the Tsurani world of Kelewan. - The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
The Masquerade series; an accountant dismantles an empire. - Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett — 6 books · 1961–1975
Historical series set in sixteenth-century Europe. - The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
A half-goblin emperor inherits a hostile court.
How to read these series
Numbered entries follow the order the books were published, which is the order the story was written and the safest order for a first read. Where a series has side novels or novellas, reading them in publication order avoids spoilers from later books.
Where the numbers come from
Book counts and publication years on this page are taken from the series entries in the GoBookSeries index. Each title links to the full book list for that series.
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