Fantastical Court Intrigue

Empires and kingdoms rise and fall. Immerse yourself in political and courtly intrigue within fantasy worlds.
Updated September 19, 2022
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A game of thrones
Martin, George R. R.
Paper Book
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES--THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON   Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece. A GAME OF THRONES  
Assassin's apprentice
Hobb, Robin
Paper Book
"Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb's books are diamonds in a sea of zircons."--George R. R. Martin    Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated as an...
Mistborn : the final empire
Sanderson, Brandon
Paper Book
From #1New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action. For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in...
Graceling
Cashore, Kristin.
Paper Book
Discover the Graceling Realm in this unforgettable, award-winning novel from bestselling author Kristin Cashore. A New York Times bestseller * ALA Best Book for Young Adults * Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature Winner * Publishers Weekly, School Library...
Throne of glass
Maas, Sarah J.
Paper Book
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion....
Red Queen
Aveyard, Victoria
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times bestselling series! Red Queen, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard, is a sweeping tale of power, intrigue, and betrayal, perfect for fans of Lauren Robert's Powerless and George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series. Mare Barrow's world is...
Elantris
Sanderson, Brandon
Paper Book
The exciting debut novel of bestselling epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, Elantris! Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all....
The cruel prince
Black, Holly
Paper Book
By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue. Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will...
An ember in the ashes
Tahir, Sabaa
Paper Book
BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES * One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy and 100 Best YA Books of All Time * People's Choice Award winner * Bustle's Best Young Adult Book "This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human...
The hundred thousand kingdoms
Jemisin, N. K.
Paper Book
After her mother's mysterious death, a young woman is summoned to the floating city of Sky in order to claim a royal inheritance she never knew existed in the first book in this award-winning fantasy trilogy from the NYT bestselling author of The Fifth Season. Yeine...
Daughter of the empire
Feist, Raymond E.
Paper Book
An epic tale of adventure and intrigue,Daughter of the Empireis fantasy of the highest order by two of the most talented writers in the field today. Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan.Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni...
The priory of the orange tree
Shannon, Samantha
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling "epic feminist fantasy perfect for fans of Game of Thrones" (Bustle). NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY: AMAZON (Top 100 Editors Picks and Science Fiction and Fantasy) * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * BOOKPAGE...
Grave mercy
LaFevers, Robin
Paper Book
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed...
The city of brass
Chakraborty, S. A.
Paper Book
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Library Journal | Vulture | The Verge | SYFYWire Step into The City of Brass, the spellbinding debut from S. A. Chakraborty, an imaginative alchemy of The Golem and the Jinni, The Grace of Kings,...
Prince of thorns
Lawrence, Mark
Paper Book
BOOK ONE IN THE BROKEN EMPIRE TRILOGY "Prince of Thorns deserves attention as the work of an iconoclast who seems determined to turn that familiar thing, Medievalesque Fantasy Trilogy, entirely on its head."--Locus  When he was nine, he watched as...
The queen of the Tearling : a novel
Johansen, Erika
Paper Book
"Call it The Hunger Games of Thrones. Erika Johansen's debut novel is a genre mashup: medieval fantasy meets dystopian future. . . . The setting, combined with Johansen's deft hand with character and plotting, really does work. . . . An addictive and enjoyable adventure. . . . The Tear is...
The false prince
Nielsen, Jennifer A.
Paper Book
A modern classic by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince thrills with wild twists and turns, danger and deceit, and the revelation of hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end. In a discontented kingdom,...
The goblin emperor
Addison, Katherine.
Paper Book
The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only...
The Queen of Attolia
Turner, Megan Whalen
Paper Book
Discover the world of the Queen’s Thief New York Times-bestselling author Megan Whalen Turner’s entrancing and award-winning Queen’s Thief novels bring to life the world of the epics and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides...
King of scars
Bardugo, Leigh
Paper Book
A LOCUS AWARD FINALIST! See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone -- Season 2 streaming now! Discover what comes next for daring rogue Nikolai in King of Scars, the start of this captivating new...
A memory called empire
Martine, Arkady
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel A Locus, and Nebula Award nominee for 2019An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 An Esquire Best Sci-Fi Book of All Time A Guardian Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of 2019 and "Not...
Sorcerer to the crown
Cho, Zen.
Paper Book
In this sparkling debut, magic and mayhem clash with the British elite... The Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, one of the most respected organizations throughout all of England, has long been tasked with maintaining magic within His Majesty’s lands. But lately, the...
The grace of kings
Liu, Ken
Paper Book
One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time Two men rebel together against tyranny--and then become rivals--in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards. Wily, charming...
Jade city
Lee, Fonda
Paper Book
* One of TIME's 100 best fantasy books of all time  * One of the best fantasy books of 2017 according to NPR, B&N, Locus,The Verge, and more!  * World Fantasy Award winner  ...
The Raven tower
Leckie, Ann
Paper Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 WORLD FANTASY AWARD Gods meddle in the fates of men, men play with the fates of gods, and a pretender must be cast down from the throne in this masterful first fantasy novel from Ann Leckie, New York Times...
Captive prince
Pacat, C. S.
Paper Book
Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos. But when his half-brother seizes power, Damien is captured, stripped of his identity and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave. For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his...
She who became the sun
Parker-Chan, Shelley
Paper Book
Two-time British Fantasy Award Winner Astounding Award Winner Lambda Literary Award Finalist Hugo Award Finalist Locus Award Finalist A Dragon Award Finalist Otherwise Award Finalist "I loved it."--The New...
The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Vo, Nghi
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Crawford Award! Winner of the 2021 Hugo Award! A Hugo Award-Winning Series! A 2021 Locus Award Finalist A 2021 Ignyte Award Finalist A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist A Book Riot Best Debut Fantasy of All...
The ruin of kings
Lyons, Jenn
Paper Book
A Kirkus Best of Science Fiction and Fantasy pick for 2019!A Library Journal Best Book of 2019! An NPR Favorite Book of 2019! "Everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply, deeply satisfying. I...
The bone shard daughter
Stewart, Andrea
Paper Book
The Bone Shard Daughter is an unmissable debut from a major new voice in epic fantasy -- a stunning tale of magic, mystery, and revolution in which the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her power and her place on the throne. ...
Raybearer
Ifueko, Jordan
Ebook
Fans of Sabaa Tahir and Tomi Adeyemi won't want to miss Raybearer, an instant New York Times bestselling fantasy from breakout YA sensation Jordan Ifueko! Named one of the best books of the year by People magazine, Buzzfeed, New York Public...
A brightness long ago
Kay, Guy Gavriel
Paper Book
From the internationally bestselling author of Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan comes a masterful new novel set in a vivid world evoking early Renaissance Italy and offering an extraordinary cast of characters whose lives come together through destiny, love, and ambition. ...
The Jasmine throne
Suri, Tasha
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2021 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, LIBRARY JOURNAL, BOOKLIST, AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY A ruthless princess and a powerful priestess come...
The Queens of Innis Lear
Gratton, Tessa
Paper Book
Dynasties battle for the crown in Tessa Gratton's debut adult epic fantasy,The Queens of Innis Lear. Three Queens. One crown. All out war. Gaela. Ruthless Commander. I am the rightful heir of Innis Lear. No more will I wait in the...
The last sun
Edwards, K. D.
Paper Book
In this debut novel and series starter, the last member of a murdered House searches for a missing nobleman, and uncovers clues about his own tortured past. Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment's missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island...
An illusion of thieves
Glass, Cate
Paper Book
A ragtag crew with forbidden magic must pull off an elaborate heist and stop a civil war in An Illusion of Thieves, a fantasy adventure from Cate Glass. In Cantagna, being a sorcerer is a death sentence. Romy escapes her hardscrabble upbringing when...
The vanished queen : a novel
Campbell, Lisbeth
Paper Book
A stunning blend of vivid fantasy and political drama, The Vanished Queen is the timely story of a young resistance fighter working to overthrow a totalitarian ruler's regime of terror and lies. "[G]ripping...this is the novel the world needs now" (Kate Heartfield, Nebula Award finalist...
The councillor
Beaton, E. J.
Paper Book
This fantasy novel follows a scholar's quest to choose the next ruler of her nation amidst lies, conspiracy, and assassination When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen's closest friend, is appointed...
Castles in their bones
Sebastian, Laura
Paper Book
A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.   "[A] page-turner that...

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