Surviving the Wait: What to Read While Waiting for George R.R. Martin
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It has become a running joke in the fantasy community, but the pain is real. We are all waiting for The Winds of Winter.
George R.R. Martin redefined epic fantasy, proving that readers absolutely have the appetite for thousands of pages of complex political maneuvering, brutal betrayals, and morally gray characters. But the wait between books leaves a massive, dragon-sized hole in our reading schedules.
So, what do you do while you wait? You find other authors who are doing it just as well (and who publish a little faster). If you love the gritty, high-stakes world of Westeros, here are two series that will scratch that exact same itch.
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
If you want morally gray characters, Abercrombie is the undisputed king of the modern grimdark genre. His characters are deeply flawed, often terrible people who you somehow end up rooting for. Start with The Blade Itself. The dialogue is sharp, the action is brutal, and the pacing is relentless. Grab the trilogy here: The First Law Trilogy boxed set.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
If it's the sheer scale and deep world-building of A Song of Ice and Fire that you miss, Sanderson is your guy. It's less cynical than Martin's work, but the world of Roshar is incredibly vast, and the magic system is a masterclass in fantasy writing. Plus, Sanderson is famous for actually hitting his publishing deadlines. Start the epic here: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
If and when The Winds of Winter finally gets a confirmed release date, the internet will undoubtedly explode. But to make sure you get the notification directly in your inbox the second it is real, just add George R.R. Martin to your Bleepia tracking list.
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