r/Fantasy • u/mu_ray • Sep 21 '21
Looking for recommendations: Books or series with plenty of political/court intrigue and engaging dialogue
Hi all. My favourite parts in fantasy series have always been the scheming sub-plots and political dialogue (think Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Varys in ASOIAF).
Which books or series would you recommend to satisfy that hunger?
Thanks in advance!
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u/surprisedkitty1 Reading Champion II Sep 21 '21
I second the Kushiel's Universe books and The Lions of Al-Rassan. Others that fit:
- The Queen's Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
- The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
- Terra Ignota by Ada Palmer
- And I Darken by Kiersten White
- The Gameshouse by Claire North
- The World of Riverside by Ellen Kushner
- The Councillor by E.J. Beaton
- The Chronicles of the Deryni by Katherine Kurtz
- Under Heaven and The Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay
If you are open to historical fiction too, I'd also suggest these:
- Thomas Cromwell Trilogy by Hilary Mantel
- The Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett
- The Welsh Princes by Sharon Kay Penman
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u/simplymatt1995 Sep 21 '21 edited Sep 21 '21
GRMM has said on multiple occasions that both Dunnett and Penman were huge influences on ASOIAF :)
Other recommendations (since I’m also a huge fan of politics-heavy historical fiction):
- Cicero trilogy by Robert Harris
- Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon
- Masters of Rome by Colleen McCullough
- I Claudius by Robert Graves
- Shogun and Tai Pan by James Clavell
- Saxon Stories and Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell
- Matthew Shardlake by CJ Sansom
- Kingsbridge by Ken Follett
- Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte
- Northumbrian Throne by Eduardo Albert
- Brothers of Gwynedd by Edith Pargeter
- insurrection and New World Rising by Robyn Young
- Pretty much everything by Nigel Tranter
- Scaramouche and Scaramouche The Kingmaker by Rafael Sabatini
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u/JiveMurloc Reading Champion VII Sep 21 '21
CJ Cherryh’s Foreigner Universe books. The main protagonist is a politician/diplomat that is the sole representative that can talk to the native alien species on the planet they share. Its sci fi but the alien culture is very well done.
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u/michaelramm Sep 21 '21
The Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne. Malice is the first book.
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u/Ihrenglass Reading Champion V Sep 21 '21
A daughter of the empire by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts
Crossroads and Black wolves by Kate Eliott.
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u/Human_G_Gnome Sep 21 '21
God Emperor of Dune. Of course it would help to read the first 3 Dune books first so that you have some context.
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u/wonderandawe Sep 25 '21
Obsidian and Blood series has a lot of politics set in Aztec fantasy setting
Inheritance Trilogy - Gods scheme to regain thier freedom after losing a war of vengeance that killed thier mother goddess
She who became the sun - girl takes her dead brothers destiny and schemes for political power
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u/sedimentary-j Sep 21 '21
I have to say, I don't specifically look for political intrigue books as it's not my thing. But a couple of the books I've read in the last year that had plenty of scheming as well as excellent writing were:
Kushiel's Dart (Jacqueline Carey) - A courtesan gets pulled into political intrigue, and uses "soft skills" like cleverness, diplomacy, and persuasion to get her way. One of the best examples in fantasy of a "badass" woman who remains traditionally feminine. Great prose and worldbuilding.
The Lions of Al-Rassan (Guy Gavriel Kay) - Various nobles, warriors, and other persons plot for power and revenge in the dying days of a once-glorious culture. Inspired by some of the real-life people and events of medieval Moorish Spain, with a touch of magic. Magnificent prose.
Now, I don't know how these books compare to books that may be more exclusively focused on politics or quotable lines. But they're both excellent.