This week, Game of Thrones fans the world over are wondering what will happen on the show's Sunday finale. Will Danaerys ultimately assume the Iron Throne? Will Jon Snow's true parentage become public? And whatever happens, will it be any good?

We're asking different questions: What should teen viewers read when it's over? And what about kids familiar with the phenomenon but too young for the content in the HBO show and George R. R. Martin's books? Whether they're looking for a dark fantasy to dive into or they aren't quite ready for the tales of Westeros (like 15-year-old GoT star Bella Ramsey, whose parents won't let her watch), here are some Middle Grade and YA readalikes perfect for fans and newcomers, replete with medieval worlds, political intrique, and even a dragon or two.

For more recommendations, check out our roundups of dragon books and woke sci-fi and fantasy.

For Lyanna Mormonts

"Shadow Magic" series by Joshua Khan

KHAN, Joshua. Shadow Magic. illus. by Ben Hibon. 336p. Disney-Hyperion. Apr. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781484732724.

Gr 4-6 –Normally, getting purchased by an executioner wouldn’t be a good thing. For Thorn, however, it’s the beginning of a thrilling adventure. Captured while out looking for his missing father, Thorn is taken by new owner Tyburn to the kingdom where he serves as executioner. Arriving at Castle Gloom in Gehenna, Thorn meets 13-year-old Lady Lily Shadow, the last surviving member of the ruling family of House Shadow, one of six ancient families of sorcerers. The rest of Lily’s family, save for one drunken uncle, have been brutally murdered, and she is a reluctant ruler. Betrothed sight unseen to the son of a rival ruler in the name of peace, Lily is also a reluctant bride-to-be. A sudden death quickly throws Thorn, Lily, and their friend, K’Leef, into a maelstrom of mistaken identities, murder, magic, necromancy, and narrow escapes. Thorn’s skill with animals, evidenced by his relationship with an elderly, gigantic, voraciously hungry bat named Hades, proves invaluable. Working together but never losing sight of their individual objectives, Thorn and Lily uncover surprising truths about their families. The book’s hand-drawn map is a helpful resource. Occasional black-and-white illustrations appear throughout. The bat flip-book feature is a fun surprise. Despite the gloomy setting, this book vibrates with hope. VERDICT Short chapters filled with action, appealing characters, and cliff-hanger endings make this fantasy the kind of book readers will find hard to put down. Recommended for all middle grade collections. —Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY 

Watch our 30-Second Book Talk

"Thrones and Bones" series by Lou Anders

ANDERS, Lou. Frostborn. illus. by Justin Gerard. 320p. (Thrones and Bones: Bk. 1). Crown. Aug. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780385387781.

Gr 5–8—Karn would rather be playing his beloved board game, "thrones and bones," than learning to become hauld of his father's farm, which has been passed down many generations. He meets Thianna, a half-giant, half-human girl who longs to fit in with the club-wielding frost giants, the only community she's ever known. When a tragedy reminiscent of Shakespeare's Hamlet occurs, the two pair up in order to survive. They soon realize the danger that they're in and that they need each other's unique skills to survive. Aside from the sometimes difficult-to-decipher Norse names, the language is quite easy to understand and that, coupled with the shorter-than-your-average-fantasy length, makes this an excellent choice for readers new to the genre. The themes of staying true to oneself, teamwork, and individuality will resonate with readers. Fans of Matthew Kirby's Icefall (Scholastic, 2011) who bemoaned the lack of magic in that book will enjoy this new series. A good addition to a fantasy collection with potential for future entries. —Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library

The Flight of Swans by Sarah McGuire

448p. Carolrhoda. Oct. 2018. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781512440270.

Gr 5–8—For fans of reworked fairy tales, McGuire takes on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans." Princess Andaryn, aka Ryn, is the youngest in her family, which includes her widower father and her six older brothers. When her father remarries a beautiful witch who enchants him and the rest of the kingdom, they are all in jeopardy. A showdown with the witch puts Ryn's prince brothers into danger, so the princess strikes a bargain with her stepmother: to spare her brothers' lives, Ryn must remain silent for six years. During that time, her brothers will live as swans. Now Ryn must run away and try to discover how to thwart the evil queen before the six years are up—all without endangering the lives of her brothers. Darker than most contemporary reworkings of classic tales, McGuire hews closely to the source material and keeps it in the original time and place. It is refreshing to see the princess (and youngest sibling at that) save the princes. She is clever, courageous, and persistent, and she experiences much growth and maturity as the novel progresses. At first, the identities of the brothers seem confusing, but they are written distinctly enough that readers will be able to tell them apart as the story progresses. There is some violence and romance, yet nothing too intense, making it an acceptable choice for older elementary and middle school students, especially those interested in the world of Game of Thrones, but not mature enough to watch the show. VERDICT A finely crafted and compelling fairy-tale retelling. Hand to voracious fantasy readers and fans of Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale. —Kate Nafz, Fair Lawn Public Library, NJ

"Six of Crows" series by Leigh Bardugo

BARDUGO, Leigh. Six of Crows. 480p. ebook available. Holt. Sept. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781627792127.

Gr 7 Up–Bardugo has created a wildly imaginative story of six children who have been commissioned to pull off the greatest heist of all time. They are to nab the creator of jurda parem, a highly addictive product that enhances the innate paranormal powers of the Grisha peoples, in the hopes of creating weapons of war that will upset the balance of power and destroy the economies of rival governments. Kaz, the hero of the story and mastermind of the plot, recruits five other young people to aid in his quest for revenge for the loss of his brother and the promise of vast wealth. Taking what could have been stock characters of young adult fiction—the loner, the rebel, the outcast, and the con artist, the author has fashioned fully fleshed out, dynamic protagonists who will engage and enchant readers. What a thrill it is to return to the world she created with her popular “Grisha Trilogy” (Holt). While the unresolved ending may frustrate some teens, the promise of a sequel will give them hope that this unsettling, captivating, magical journey will continue. —Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK  

Read our teen reviewer's thoughts.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi

304p. Penguin/Razorbill. Oct. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780448493909.

Gr 7 Up –In the walled city of Kos, the royal family makes the laws, but the Mages are the enforcers. Mages often call upon the “aki” to purify the royals by eating their sins. Taj is the best aki in Kos, and when he is called to eat the king’s sin, he becomes involved in a covert operation to take over the city. Told from the perspective of Taj, this debut novel is set in a mythical world where sins take the form of shadow beasts and become tattoos on the skin of the sin-eaters. Onyebuchi’s world-building is strong, and the details leap off the page; readers will witness the poverty, smell the delicious food, and feel the physical pain of being a sin-eater. However, the author spells out the motives of the antagonists and the reasons for characters’ behaviors, rather than letting teens infer them from the text. The romance between Taj and the princess is charming but too quick. Although this work is full of desperate people in dire situations, the narrative lacks intensity and reads more like a prequel than a series opener. Still, this title has strong female characters and a beautiful and well-crafted setting and absolutely fills the void of diversity in YA fantasy fiction. VERDICT A good choice for most fantasy collections. —Dawn Abron, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

480p. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. Feb. 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062652850.

Gr 7 Up—In an unusual blend of sci-fi and fantasy, this series opener (inspired by the story of Anastasia) rotates narration among an unusually large cast of characters. The central character, Ana, is accompanied by her "metal" sidekick D09, who is rapidly failing due to malware. Meanwhile, the heir to the Iron Crown must be located—one who can touch the crown without it rusting is a true heir to the emperor. There is a presumed heir, Erik, unlikable in that entitled-gentry-kid sort of way, but nobody has ever seen him touch the crown. Readers will stake their money on the younger brother, Robb, and will initially ship Robb with Ana—until it is revealed that Robb really only has eyes for Jaxx, the maverick "star kisser," who has the inherited ability to see the future. As the plot twists on, a past plague is revealed along with a sinister plan to conscript an army. With the inclusion of androids, the definition of humanity is a resounding theme. The book runs long, but the short chapters will draw readers in and the rich backstory gives them plenty to chew on. VERDICT A great choice for fans of Victoria Aveyard's "Red Queen" trilogy and for young readers looking for a hint of Game of Thrones that won't burn their eyeballs with overt sexuality. —Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

JugHead Vol. 1 by Chip Zdarsky

illus. by Erica Henderson. 168p. Archie Comics. Jul. 2016. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781627388931.

Gr 7 Up—Archie Andrews's best friend gets his own revamped series in this collection of the first six issues of the Jughead comics. The asexual teen who loves all things burgers and video games rallies his friends against the sinister Principal Strange, who has taken over Riverdale High by usurping Principal Weatherbee's position and replacing the faculty with his own army of incredibly strict teachers. The usually apathetic Jughead is spurred into action when the cafeteria's offerings of lasagna and burgers are replaced with a tasteless and healthy gruel. Filled with the madcap imaginings of the title character, including superhero and secret spy vignettes, an Archie-esque Game of Thrones sequence, and lots of visits to Pop's Diner, this volume presents one madcap adventure after another. Zdarsky captures the spirit of the well-known cast while injecting modern sensibilities through dialogue and attitude. Henderson's energetic and dynamic art connects brilliantly with the humor and pace of each chapter. The far-fetched plot befits Jughead's personality, complete with robots, pirates, and lots of food. This installment's back matter also includes variant covers, characters sketches, excerpts of the creators' original scripts, and a sneak peek of Archie Vol. 2. VERDICT Another winning entry in the reimagined Archie comics world. —Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal

The Shadow Game series by Amanda Foody

FOODY, Amanda. Ace of Shades. 416p. Harlequin Teen. Apr. 2018. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781335692290.

Gr 9 Up—"If I'm not home in two months, I'm dead." Enne's adoptive mother Lourdes had told her. Four months later, Enne has left her finishing school to sail for New Reynes: the "City of Sin" and her mother's last-known destination. New Reynes is the domain of street lords, gamblers, and con artists. With effort, Enne locates a young street lord named Levi whom Lourdes once helped. Levi doubts that Enne, raised as a proper young lady, will be able to handle life in New Reynes long enough to discover her mother's fate. Enne secures Levi's help with a promise of money, however, and Enne is more resilient than she first appears. Yet she becomes entangled in the corrupt dealings of her new employer, a Mafia donna, and Enne must fulfill her new obligations while desperately searching for Lourdes. The political situation is also complicated in this alternate world, where each person by default has two "talents," one from each parent. The world in this promising series debut is dark but enticing. Readers who have little interest in casinos may initially be hesitant to pick this one up, but will be quickly drawn in by the intrigue if they do. The plot twists pleasingly, and character development is well crafted. Enne's growth is apparent and complements Levi's emerging realization that he cannot do everything alone. VERDICT Recommend to teens interested in but not quite ready for Game of Thrones. A solid purchase for medium and large libraries. —Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL 

For Brienne of Tarths

Legacy of Orisha series by Tomi Adeyemi

ADEYEMI, Tomi. Children of Blood and Bone. 544p. Holt. Mar. 2018. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250170972.

Gr 9 Up–Zélie Adebola, 17, remembers the night of the raid in her village 11 years earlier. Her mama was chained by her neck and lynched with other maji by the forces of ruthless King Saran of Orisha. King Saran hates magic and considers it the source of all evil, so he targets and exterminates the maji, who worship ancestors and practice magic. Now, they live hopelessly as servants, slaves, stockers, and prisoners. Zélie strives to bring back magic in Orisha, so she becomes the main target of King Saran’s maji cleansing campaign. She sets out on her spiritual journey with her athletic brother Tzain and pet lioness Nailah. They encounter an unexpected ally. Princess Amari of Orisha escapes from her estate of Lagose after witnessing the murder of Binta, her maji best friend and handmaiden, at her father’s merciless hands. Zélie, Tzain, and Amari go on the run to restore magic in Orisha. Adeyemi’s debut and series opener is a revelation. She has brilliantly woven the Yoruba language and culture into a complex and epic tale. Readers will appreciate the intergenerational cast. Teens won’t feel lost in this lengthy tome because of the excellent use of flashbacks and backstories. The violence can be extreme at times, but it doesn’t feel exploitative, and themes of female empowerment make this especially relevant. VERDICT This extraordinary literary work offers a refreshing YA fantasy with an all–West African cast of characters that should be on every shelf. —Donald Peebles, Brooklyn Public Library  

Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett

512p. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. May 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062652669.

Gr 9 Up—In this expansive fantasy world of dragons, magic, and mystery, no one can be trusted. This is especially true for Kate, an outcast paying for her father's sin—a failed assassination attempt of a high king. Now she lives on the dangerous margins of society as a courier riding around the kingdom attempting to survive in a world filled with flightless dragons called nightdrakes. Kate has one advantage—the magical power to control the minds of animals. Her strange world is turned even more so when she falls in love with Corwin, the king's son. As nightdrakes become an increasing threat, the kingdom is thrown into turmoil and Kate and Corwin are caught in the middle. Arnett invites readers into a complex world with its own vocabulary. The chapters alternate between the stories of Kate and Corwin. These dual perspectives offer teens a depth of understanding of each of these characters' inner lives. The author has a knack for writing for young adults and molding real-life situations into this engaging story of magic and young love. VERDICT Recommended for young fans of Game of Thrones and those who enjoy fast-paced and exciting fantasy. —Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA

The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black

BLACK, HOLLY. The Cruel Prince. 384p. ­Little, Brown. Jan. 2018. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780316310277.

Gr 9 Up –Human Jude has been raised along with her twin, Taryn, and half-sibling, Vivi, in Faerieland by Madoc, the faerie who murdered her parents. This intricate realm is filled with beautiful, blood-thirsty, playful, and powerful faeries who seem to have no patience or use for humans beyond enslaving them with magic. Despite this, Jude is determined to earn respect and a place in it all by becoming a knight. First in a planned trilogy, this YA fantasy features a political scramble reminiscent of Game of Thrones, with spies, manipulation, romance, swordplay, betrayal, and an intoxicating darkness that manages to enrapture Jude and readers. Black has created a brutal and captivating world, filled with complex characters and their intricate and layered relationships. Jude is a mighty heroine; strong, smart, cunning, and yet completely vulnerable. Teens meet her as she’s no longer interested in restraining her emotions and actions and is willing to give up anything in order to work for what she wants, which makes for a powerful and dangerous damsel getting herself out of distress. VERDICT Another fantastic, deeply engaging, and all-consuming work from Black that belongs on all YA shelves. —Emily Moore, Camden County Library System, NJ

Check out the audiobook review.

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

544p. Viking. May 2018. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780425290217.

Blood of Gods and Royals series by Eleanor Herman

HERMAN, Eleanor. Legacy of Kings. 464p. (Blood of Gods and Royals: Bk. 1). Harlequin Teen. Sept. 2015. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780373211722; ebk. ISBN 9781460390894.

Gr 9 Up—Multiple characters share the limelight in a fast-paced historical fantasy chronicling the rise of Alexander the Great. Sixteen-year-old Alexander wants to leave the kingdom with his best friend Hephaestion to find the Fountain of Youth and prove himself a man and capable leader. Kat seeks to kill Queen Olympias to avenge her mother, but stumbles upon a revelation about her own birth and the magical abilities she keeps secret. Jacob will do anything to win Kat's love, even if it means siding with the enemy. Zofia, Alexander's Persian fiancée, steals away from her father's palace and risks her life to find the Spirit Eaters, who can change her destiny and give her the life, and love, she desires. So many points of view may leave readers confused about what exactly is happening in the narrative, but most likely won't mind in the face of liberal amounts of action, romance, and conspiracy. Kat is a smart, tough heroine, Heph a loyal friend, and Alexander a likable young leader intent on proving himself. These well-developed characters make up for the other relatively flat, two-dimensional ones, and as their stories intertwine and the action ramps up, teens will eagerly continue turning pages. VERDICT While those looking for deeper, more complete work and characters may feel unsatisfied, action and fantasy lovers will gobble it up. —Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Rise of the Empress series by Julie C. Dao

DAO, Julie C. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. 384 p. ebook available. Philomel. Oct. 2017. Tr. 18.99 ISBN 9781524738297

Gr 10 Up—The first volume in the "Rise of the Empress" series, Dao builds the world of Feng Lu, five kingdoms ruled by the Dragon Lords through their earthly descendants. Xifeng is raised by her aunt Guma in desolate poverty. Guma instills in the child that she's meant for greater things than being a simple peasant. Xifeng has courtly manners and an education that will enable her rise to rule the kingdoms. Guma practices dark magic and welcomes the Serpent God who will lead Xifeng to greatness. The girl leaves her village for a life in the palace and must learn to balance cruelty with intelligence. Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy "Game of Thrones" fans. The magical elements are few and slow to develop in the beginning; the setting and unfolding of the plot is based in East Asian storytelling and drama. Uneven writing is confusing in chapters, but the reimagining of the Evil Queen story will entice fans of antiheroine journeys. VERDICT Violent and gory descriptions place this strong choice on high school crossover to adult fantasy shelves. —Pamela Thompson, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School, El Paso, TX

Take a look at our starred audiobook review.

"And I Darken" series by Kiersten White

WHITE, Kiersten. And I Darken. 496p. ebook available. Delacorte. Jun. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780553522310; lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780553522327.

Gr 10 Up—The first in a trilogy from best-selling author White, this historical adventure set in the mid-15th century tells the story of Lada and Radu, the children of Vlad Dracul, prince of Wallachia (modern-day Romania). Shouldered with the inescapable curse of being female and the unrelenting burden of her beautiful, sensitive, and physically inept brother, Radu, Lada is perpetually spoiling for a fight. When her father tries to secure his throne by giving the children as hostages to the Ottoman Empire, Lada and Radu must find a way to survive and thrive in a world where no one cares if they live or die. They befriend the young Ottoman heir Mehmet, and the three form a bond of friendship that saves their lives and ultimately shapes their adult destinies. Full of sword fights, assassination plots, and palace intrigues, this novel is ambitious in scope and concept and reveals a fascinating, important, and somewhat obscure slice of history. Compared to White's painstaking development of her characters and the fantastic world they inhabit early in the novel, the ending sequence that sets up the next book in the series seems rather abrupt and haphazard. However, as a whole, the novel is breathtakingly good. The brutality and carnality of this time and place in history are faithfully rendered here, making the volume more appropriate for older teen readers. VERDICT Highly recommended for all high school collections. —Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior College, Brenham, TX

In this epic fantasy retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear, the king of Innis Lear is obsessed with prophesies, but this fixation has stolen much of the magic from the land. The prosperity of the people disappears soon after. Now the king must name his successor. Gaela, the oldest, is the rightful heir to Innis Lear. Regan, the second child, is a manipulator and also seeks the crown. Elia, the youngest, is a priest of star magic and the king's secret favorite. Thus, the three sisters vie for the same crown. At more than 500 pages, this book has plenty of room for complex character development; even villains are given sympathetic qualities. Readers will savor this lyrical tale. Intricate world-building and descriptions of various types of magic add to the measured pace. Though teens need not have read King Lear to enjoy the novel, those with some familiarity with the play will get the most out of this read. VERDICT Give to fans of Kendare Blake's Three Dark Crowns, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," or George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. —Jenni Frencham, formerly at Columbus Public Library, WI