You loved Cersei and Arya. You need more complicated women. Head to The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu. It’s silkpunk—imagine ancient China with airships and giant war kites. The women scheme, fight, and build empires. One of them literally gets a dragon’s perspective through surgery. No, I’m not kidding. The politics are dense, like reading a chess match. But if you like long cons and family feuds, you’ll be obsessed.
For a quicker fix: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. It’s a reimagining of the rise of the Ming Dynasty, with a gender-bending peasant who steals a dead brother’s destiny. The ambition is savage. The violence is poetic. The main character is as ruthless as Littlefinger, but with a soul (maybe). You’ll root for her. Then you’ll question your own morals.
13 Books That Are Similar To Game of Thrones For Fans - GoBookMart
