What to read next
10 books like A Dance with Dragons
Jon and Daenerys discover that ruling requires compromises heroism never prepared them for, while Theon receives the series' most painful reconstruction of identity. The picks below take that appeal in different directions.
Read our review of A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin.
Best matches
Three strong places to start
If you only want three picks, start here.
Best overall
Fastest read
Best alternative
Choose by reading mood
Where to start
For the fastest read
A Storm of Swords
BalancedFor the darkest read
Alchemised
DarkFor the strongest romance
The Immortal Rules
MinimalFor the easiest entry
Wind and Truth
AccessibleThe full shortlist
Why each book belongs here
See what each pick shares with A Dance with Dragons, and where it goes in a different direction.
1
A Feast for Crows
- Pace
- Measured
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Why this matches
- Different because
- Feast covers parallel regions and should be read before or alongside Dance for the full postwar picture.
2
A Storm of Swords
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Moderate
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Storm provides far stronger structural payoff and shows how much the later series has expanded.
3
Wind and Truth
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Wind and Truth is also enormous and continuity-heavy, but delivers the end-of-arc climax Dance withholds.
4
A Clash of Kings
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Moderate
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Moderate
5
The Immortal Rules
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Moderate
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Accessible
6
Fire and Blood
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Accessible
7
A Christmas Carol
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Moderate
8
The Cloud Roads
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Accessible
9
Witch King
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Minimal
- Difficulty
- Moderate
10
Alchemised
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Dark
- Romance
- Significant
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Side-by-side
Pace, darkness, romance, and difficulty
| Book | Pace | Darkness | Romance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Dance with Dragons | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Moderate |
| A Feast for Crows | Measured | Gentle | Minimal | Moderate |
| A Storm of Swords | Balanced | Moderate | Minimal | Accessible |
| Wind and Truth | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Accessible |
| A Clash of Kings | Balanced | Moderate | Minimal | Moderate |
| The Immortal Rules | Balanced | Moderate | Minimal | Accessible |
| Fire and Blood | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Accessible |
| A Christmas Carol | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Moderate |
| The Cloud Roads | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Accessible |
| Witch King | Balanced | Gentle | Minimal | Moderate |
| Alchemised | Balanced | Dark | Significant | Accessible |
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