Life
I am going to be 100 percent honest with you right now: I didn't start reading Game of Thrones until after watching the first three seasons and getting so danged mad at The Red Wedding that I felt that I needed to mentally prepare myself for season four. I thought I didn't like high fantasy — big mistake — but I've found a ton that I adore. If you're like me and wondering how to fill the George R.R. Martin hole in your heart after the season finale, here are 10 books to read if you like Game of Thrones.
I have personally read and vetted all of these books on my list. Some of them have a little romance, some are murders, deaths, and mayhem from page one until "The End." I try to steer clear of books with a lot of sexual assault (Thrones notwithstanding) and books that become overtly misogynist — a problem with a lot of high fantasy. I just love books with a feminist heroine, black and brown characters, and scenarios that are new and rich. Think of everything you love at King's Landing, only give them 100 percent more Missandei, and 100 percent fewer tables full of white dudes making all the decisions at the end of the series. (Yes, I know Brienne is an awesome woman, but I hate what they did to her at the end and I will fight you over it if you disagree.)