12 Fantasy Books with Political Intrigue to Add to Your TBR

Recently updated on July 14th, 2024 at 11:25 am

Looking for fantasy books with political intrigue? These 12 books with court intrigue will leave you on the edge of your seat.

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Political intrigue. War Strategy. An unprepared person thrust into a position of power. Something about court or political intrigue is so gripping.

Reading court or politics at play in books is fascinating. A character who has to navigate the tricky world of politics, war and rebellion.

Whether its heirs overtaking the throne, kingdoms rebelling or tyrant rulers – you’re in luck. Here are the best fantasy books with political intrigue.

Read on for the best fantasy books with political intrigue

The best fantasy books with political intrigue

1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The political and court intrigue in the Folk of Air series. We follow Jude, a character who must navigate the tricky world of fae politics. Plus it includes an enemies to lovers romance, royals and forest imagery.

Holly Black is seriously amazing at writing a killer plot twist. The Cruel Prince and Wicked King both open with a bang and keep you hooked throughout.  

The Cruel Prince follows Jude who is a human. As a child, she gets kidnapped with her two sisters. She’s taken to live with the hidden world of the fae. They live in the woods in a secret world concealed from humans. 

Jude grows up wanting to be like the wicked fae she lives with. 

There are also only 3 books in the series. And none of them are too long. So it makes the series more manageable. It also features an incredible enemies to lovers trope. If you like books with fae and forest vibes then you should read this.

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Sarah J Maas trash knows how to write compelling court and political intrigue. In this series, the political tension between the warring courts is gripping. And adds a captivating twist to this retelling.

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It follows Feyre. She is really poor and lives with her father and two sisters. She has to hunt to care for the family.

One day she sees a deer and can’t resist killing it to sell. But it was actually a faerie she murdered. And the owner comes to kidnap her to live at the castle as punishment.

It is a bit slow. Sarah J Maas does dump a lot of information about the fantasy world on you. But stay with it – I promise you it gets so much better. The second book is definitely the best in the series where many of my favourite characters are introduced.

If you enjoy slow burn romance then you’ll love this trilogy. It has one of the best fantasy slow burn enemies to lovers romances. (Check out this blog post for books similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses).

3.She Who Became The Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

She Who Became The Sun is an epic historical fantasy. Pitched as Mulan meets Song of Achilles. But it’s also much more than that. 

While it does have light fantasy, this focuses heavily on history and the politics in China.

Set in a famine-stricken village in China in the year 1345.  Two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, is only as expected.

But then a bandit attack orphans the children. And Zhu Chongba dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice.

If you’re after Sapphic historical fiction, check out my article on historical Sapphic books.

4. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

The Jasmine Throne has beautiful worldbuilding, a captive princess and epic political intrigue. It took me a couple of reads to appreciate this. So it’s not for beginners to fantasy. But if you’re a seasoned fantasy reader, you will love the political undertones and rebellion in this fantasy novel.

Malini has been imprisoned by her dictator brother and spends her days isolated in Hirana, an ancient temple. 

Priya, a maidservant,  makes the treacherous journey to the top of Hirana every night.

She cleans Malini’s chambers. And she is thrilled to be anonymous. Especially if it keeps her dangerous secret safe. 

But Malini accidentally witnesses Priya’s true nature. And their destinies become irrevocably tangled.

This book is full of epic worldbuilding, magic and morally grey lesbians.  If you like magic, rebellion and court intrigue then you should pick this up.

5. The Poppy Wars by R.F. Kuang

Searching for books with political intrigue? The Poppy Wars is perfect. This historical fantasy draws its plot and politics from mid-20th-century China.  And an atmosphere inspired by the Song dynasty.

It follows Rin. She aces the Keju – a test to find the most talented youth to learn at Academies. And it was a huge shock when she gets into Sinegard – an elite military school in Nikan.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not easy. And Rin discovers she possesses a lethal aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. But mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

The epic worldbuilding, detailed history and politics make this historical fantasy gripping. The pace and intriguing mysteries will leave you on the very edge of your seat.

6. Babel by R.F. Kuang

Another R.F Kuang book. But I had to include this. R.F. Kuang weaves political issues expertly into the fantasy plotline. This dark fantasy discusses the power of language and the evils of authoritarianism. All wrapped up in a stunning academic setting.

It follows Robin Swift. Orphaned by cholera, The mysterious Professor Lovell brings him to London.

There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek and Chinese. All to prepare for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation.  Known as Babel.

Babel is the world’s centre for translation and magic. Silverworking is the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation. And it uses enchanted silver bars.

So what’s the point?

Well it has made the British unparalleled in power. Likewise, its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia. 

Dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power. The problem is, as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland.

If you enjoy dark academia fantasy books, such as The Magicians or The Atlas Six, you will adore this fantasy book. Highly recommend picking this up.

7. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

This is a recent read for me after it was chosen as the monthly book for the fantasy book club I attend. And it would be perfect if you’re after fantasy books with political intrigue. It features rebellion, scheming, and political intrigue balanced with romance.

It follows Elspeth Spindle. She needs more than luck to stay safe in the kingdom of Blunder. She needs a monster. She calls him Nightmare – the ancient spirit trapped in her head. He protects her.

But nothing comes for free, especially magic.

And when Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman, her life takes a drastic turn. And she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it.

And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.

Romance is an excellent way to balance courtly intrigue and politics. Particularly if you’re newer to fantasy.

8. Crier’s War by Nina Varela

Crier’s War is an epic urban fantasy novel with a f/f romance. It’s set in the Kingdom of Rabu and follows Ayla. It also has an intriguing political subplot.

A War has ravaged the kingdom of Rabu. The Automae took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.

Ayla is a human servant who is rising the ranks at the House of Soverign. She dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter – the beautiful Lady Crier.

Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father.

Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla

9. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes is an incredible fantasy series with worldbuilding inspired by Ancient Rome. A badass female heroine, an adventure plot and a dystopian society. What’s not to love.

The politics mainly revolves around war and rebellion. Plus it has one of the BEST slow burn enemies to lovers romances.

An Ember in the Ashes opens with Laia. She has found an illegal sketchbook belonging to her brother.  The empire comes and takes away her brother. So she must locate the resistance and go on a perilous mission to save him.

The book opens with a punch and it’s fast-paced throughout. The opening makes you really emotionally invested. Laia goes to extraordinary lengths and becomes a slave in order to save her brother. There is so much at stake that it leaves you on the edge of your seat.

10. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone combines a fast-paced, action-packed plot with magical West Africa inspired world-building. The book opens in a world where magic has disappeared.

There used to be magic in Orïsha. Zélie remembers how powerful her reaper mother was. But one-night magic disappears and Zelie is left without hope.

She now has to bring back the magic with the help of a runaway princess. Orïsha is full of danger everywhere. But Zeéie’s greatest danger is herself.

Children of Blood and Bone has much in common with Legendborn – A strong female lead and magic. I loved Zélie instantly and the world building is enchanting.

But Children of Blood and Bone also explores much darker themes such as racially charged violence. And that makes it a really powerful read.

11. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I feel like many of the recommendations for fantasy books with political intrigue or politics focused on medieval or historical fantasy. So I wanted to include a more contemporary fantasy book with political intrigue. The Red Queen is a dystopian fantasy book with courtly intrigue and magic.

In this dystopian novel, blood defines your status.

Reds are commoners. 

But silvers are the elite and have superpowers.

The main character is red. But she has superpowers.

The Red Queen has received thousands of five stars reviews and was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. I can see why!

The plot and the twists in this book left me on the edge of my seat! A thrilling read and an excellent choice for Katniss fans.

12. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

You can’t recommend fantasy books with political intrigue without mentioning Game of Thrones. This series is an undertaking. The books are chunky and it’s a long series. But if you’re a fan of politics and scheming, then this is a must-read.

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. Summers can last for decades and winter a lifetime. And winter is returning.

In the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall.

To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne.

At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

This series is definitely not suitable for beginners to fantasy or if you’re looking for something easy to read. There is intense, sweeping worldbuilding and many POVs. However, for fantasy lovers, the counter plots, tragedy and betrayal will leave you on the edge of your seat.

This post was all about fantasy books with political intrigue

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