8 science fiction book series to read if you love Dune

The Ravence Trilogy by Aparna Verma

The first book in Aparna Verma's Ravence Trilogy, The Phoenix King, released last year, and of all the books I've read in recent memory, there are aspects to this one that reminded me a lot of Dune without feeling even the tiniest bit derivative. The Phoenix King is technically science fantasy; it doesn't take place in space or rely on your usual sci-fi trappings, but instead is set on the fantastical world of Sayon, which utilizes fantasy elements as well as cool tech-like hovercraft and pulse rifles.

The story of The Phoenix King primarily takes place in the desert kingdom of Ravence, where a centuries-old prophecy is on the verge of being realized, with major ramifications for the future of its people in the offing. The princess Elena is at the heart of these events, along with an assassin named Yassen, who is desperate to escape a terrorist organization which has steered his life for years. Each of them has their own struggles, but there's also a strong romantic element as events force them together, sometimes to their great (smoldering) frustration.

The Phoenix King draws heavily on Indian mythology and culture, which makes it feel distinctively different from Dune's clear Middle Eastern influences. At the same time, I can't think of too many other novels which so effectively combine a fantastical desert setting with cool technology, the machinations of powerful nations, and looming prophecies which are very much a double-edged sword. If you love Dune but wish for something new and fresh at the same time, The Phoenix King may be just the sort of book you're looking for.

As of this writing, only the first book in Verma's trilogy has been released. Two more forthcoming books are expected to round out the story of Elena and her companions.