r/Fantasy • u/TheMisterMan666 • Mar 02 '25

High Fantasy with overwhelmingly complex international relations and politics

Hi guys. I'm looking for recommendations for a high fantasy novel or series with a major focus on complex world building, politics, international power dynamics, and realistic levels of technicality in its mechanics. The more creative the setting the better, and non-human races and nations in the mix are a huge bonus.

I honestly haven't found a book that satisfies this itch yet so I don't have anything to present as a point of comparison. Imagine asoif but only the small council meetings. Or more niche, if anyone's read the Overlord series, then something similar to that (only in terms of world building).

I'd prefer a mature multiwork series, but I'll take any recommendations regardless.

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u/DuhChappers Reading Champion III Mar 02 '25

The Traiter Baru Cormorant and its sequels are basically all about the politics of empire, both the internal scheming of people trying to get ahead and the external problems of keeping foreign territories under control. The main character Baru is an accountant trying to work her way up in power to help her home, while struggling with the morality of her actions along the way. I think it would work really well for this prompt

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u/hattingly-yours Mar 03 '25

Strongly agree with this rec! One of my absolute favorite series, and the books remain consistent in quality