After a strong first season, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has come to a close — and it's a good thing HBO has already greenlit season 2, as the Game of Thrones spinoff will undoubtedly leave viewers wanting more. Those feeling particularly impatient can read George R.R. Martin's other two Dunk and Egg novellas, which will serve as the foundation for the show's future. After that, however, they'll need to find new ways to fill the void.
There are some fitting fantasy shows to check out after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, but there are also great books to follow Dunk and Egg's story with. While none of them are perfect replacements, they all capture at least one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' strengths. From another collection of stories following an unlikely but compelling fantasy hero to a more dark and outlandish romp, these books can scratch a similar itch.
1. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
If you read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and want another compilation of interconnected fantasy adventures, The Last Wish is a solid choice. The first stop for those reading Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books, The Last Wish establishes Geralt of Rivia's character and the world of the Continent prior to the main story. While Geralt and Dunk are very different characters, they're similar in the sense that they're flawed and unlikely heroes — and they both end up with greater destinies after taking an extraordinary child under their wing.
That journey isn't captured in The Last Wish, just set up, but the shorter, episodic adventures that focus on character development over plot will appeal to fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms nonetheless. And if they choose to continue the series, they'll find a few more similarities. More importatly, they'll have lots of reading to tide them over until A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 finally arrives.
2. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman
Before recommending Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires, it's worth noting that the 2012 book leans more horror than A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, making it a darker read. For those on board with that shift, the book offers a central character dynamic and more grounded personal story, both of which feel reminiscent of the Game of Thrones spinoff.
Between Two Fires follows a disgraced knight and an orphaned girl, who warns him of a war on heaven approaching. He agrees to accompany and protect her, setting up a dynamic that fans of Dunk and Egg's unlikely bond will enjoy — and putting our knight on the road towards redemption. He's more flawed than Dunk, but he's forced to grapple with similar questions, like what it means to be chivalrous. And his part in a larger conflict is mostly due to a child who's more special than she appears, giving this a familiar framework for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans.
3. The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe
Gene Wolfe's The Wizard Knight is a couple of decades old, but it's arguably still the best option for anyone looking to follow a boy who grows into an experienced and skilled knight — well, after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, that is. Wolfe's protagonist differs from Dunk in one major way: he starts as a teenager living in America, then finds himself thrown into a fantasy world. This adds a portal element to this story that's missing from Martin's, but Abe still faces a similar growth journey.
The Wizard Knight's hero is transformed into an adult and given a quest to find a powerful sword, and it's a mission he's not initially cut out for. Abe is forced to grow up quickly and learn the ropes of knighthood, and while Dunk gets more time and a mentor to help him master such things, he's also pushed from an innocent and inexperienced figure to a more capable and assured one.
4. Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan
Theft of Swords, a compilation of the first two books in Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, is another option for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fans. It follows a duo that is, admittedly, quite different from Martin's — but the back-and-forth of two charming characters is there. It also kicks off a series of contained adventures that eventually paint a larger picture, leaning into the blend of episodic storytelling and larger meaning that Martin's novellas nail.
Theft of Swords' leads are a mercenary whose knightly order has gone extinct, as well as a thief, and the book sees them framed for the murder of the king. They escape death and are forced on an adventure that's bigger than the jobs they're used to. From there, the series spins out and sees them tackling heists and solving mysteries, before larger, kingdom-shaking events force them into an epic conflict. Their adventures don't resemble Dunk and Egg's at first glance, but they strike the right balance between storytelling with more personal stakes and narratives with a larger impact.
5. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Fans of George R.R. Martin's books should read Joe Abercrombie more generally, and The Devils should be the first stop for those riding the high of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Be warned: The Devils is a lot darker than A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and its characters are more flawed than Dunk and Egg. It also takes on multiple POVs and has a larger scope than Martin's novellas.
That said, The Devils sends its characters on the road, which gives its adventure a similar feel to Dunk and Egg's travels. It also deals with transporting hidden royalty, and it tackles the notion of what it means to be honorable, taking the time to unpack the glamorized view of heroes, knighthood, and chivalry. Its approach isn't a perfect 1:1 comparison to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but I'd argue both stories dismantle popular fantasy tropes, taking a hard look at the realities of them instead.