@setphasersonstun: Tolkien’s works, First Law trilogy, Wheel of Time series, Outlander series, and Poison Study.

It’s kind of like saying that they’re similar to aSoIaF in the way you’d say (borrowing Miccaeli’s phrasing here) apples and oranges are alike: they’re all within the fantasy genre, but there are distinguishing factors about the series that set them apart.

I’m sure most people have read Tolkien’s works already, aside from LotR and the Hobbit I really enjoyed the Silmarillion and Tolkien’s translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo (they are all published in one volume together) - they aren’t exactly fantasy, but they are some great Arthurian-esque fare.

The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercromie! These are also told in a POV way, there are three main characters and about 9 (I’m guesstimating here) POV characters. It’s been compared to GRRM because good doesn’t necessarily win, the characters aren’t black and white (they all have their own motivations that drive the story), and while there is magic, it doesn’t rely on it - there’s politics and all of that.

I really like it, it’s got a sarcastic crippled torturer, an arrogant nobleman who eventually matures and evolves, a barbarian warlord, angry soldiers, angrier magicians, and some pretty strong female characters.

I’d probably recommend the rest of Joe Abecrombie’s work, I have yet to start on the rest of it (I’m actually still on the 3rd First Law book :P), but the rest of his books are all set in the same universe and I’ve been told that they are excellent. :)

Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. I started on it months ago and haven’t gotten around to picking it up, but I think if you like aSoIaF you should be able to like it as well, there is a large cast of characters, although there is a lot more magic involved. I have heard that the series drags on, however, and gets tedious as it does so, but I’m not at that point yet, so. :P

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon! ALL MICCAELI’S FAULT, TBH, SHE IS A TERRIBLE INFLUENCE It’s kind of hard to classify Outlander, as it involves time travel, a great wealth of history, romance. The only huge fantasy aspect is time travel, but there is lots of detail about history (and medical practices) in the book that is fascinating. Like aSoIaF, they’re huge books and are an ongoing series, but I have yet to meet someone who has read the books and not liked it - they’re absolutely wonderful and very, very good.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder! Ahhhh this book. It’s also a fantasy, about a young woman about to be executed for murder who is offered a job as the Commander’s food taster. I love love love it, it’s got political intrigue (that’s been compared to GRRM’s), very strong female characters, magic, mystery, fighting scenes, and a very subtle but lovely love story.

@diggthaat: It’s from the 22 minute feature that HBO was supposed to air tonight but was generous enough to upload on Friday. :) Here.

@morsmordre-x: Ummmmmm Ceren bb WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, your stuff is gorgeous!! But ahh tyty sweetie for your kind words! :’)