10 Books About Rival Siblings
Sibling relationships are complicated, intense, and deeply personal—but when rivalry takes center stage, the stakes become explosive. Whether it’s a battle for a throne, a clash of ideologies, or a grudge that spans generations, these stories explore the razor-thin line between love and rivalry.
From epic power struggles to emotional betrayals, these 10 books about rival siblings will keep you hooked, heartbroken, and hungry for more.
1. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
🐉 A Divided Bloodline and the Fate of the World
In this sweeping epic, twin sisters are separated by centuries of history and clashing beliefs—one raised to worship dragons, the other sworn to destroy them. As an ancient enemy rises, their rivalry threatens to tear the world apart… or save it.
📖 Read if you love: High-stakes fantasy, legendary dragons, and powerful women.
2. These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
🔪 A Blood Feud Between Sibling-Run Gangs
In 1920s Shanghai, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov lead rival gangs—but their blood feud goes beyond romance. Within Juliette’s family, rivalries among siblings and cousins make the struggle for control even more dangerous. Loyalty is a weapon, and betrayal is inevitable.
📖 Read if you love: Gritty historical fantasy, Shakespearean retellings, and star-crossed enemies.
3. House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas
🌙 A Sister’s Grief and the Shadow of Betrayal
Bryce Quinlan had a complicated but fiercely loving bond with her younger brother, Ruhn. But as secrets unravel, their relationship is tested by power struggles, supernatural conflicts, and buried betrayals that could destroy them both.
📖 Read if you love: Urban fantasy, high-stakes mysteries, and family drama with a side of romance.
4. One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
👑 Three Sisters, One Throne, and Only One Can Survive
Triplet sisters—each with deadly magical abilities—are raised to kill one another for the throne of their island kingdom. As they come of age, love, politics, and deception make their inevitable battle even more complex. Who will outwit the others?
📖 Read if you love: Dark fantasy, ruthless political intrigue, and morally gray heroines.
5. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
⚔️ A Dynasty Torn Apart by Power and Betrayal
Few books capture sibling rivalry on such an epic scale as this one. From Cersei and Tyrion Lannister’s brutal hatred to the tragic fall of the Stark siblings, the battle for power in Westeros is as much a family affair as it is a war for the throne.
📖 Read if you love: Epic fantasy, deadly family betrayals, and ruthless ambition.
6. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
🔥 A Chosen One and a Rival She Can’t Escape
Rin and her adoptive brother start as allies, but as war and power twist them, they become bitter rivals, each believing they are on the right side of history. Can blood ties survive when nations are at stake?
📖 Read if you love: Dark war epics, morally complex protagonists, and devastating betrayals.
7. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
⚡ A Princess and Her Exiled Brother on Opposing Sides
Amari, a rebel, and Inan, a prince, have opposite views on magic—one fights to restore it, the other to destroy it. Their battle becomes a war between love, duty, and destiny as their choices shape the fate of their kingdom.
📖 Read if you love: West African mythology, high-stakes quests, and fierce sibling dynamics.
8. The Wicked King by Holly Black
🖤 Sisters Who Fight for Power in a Deadly Faerie Court
Jude and her twin sister, Taryn, were raised among scheming fae nobles. But while Jude fights for power, Taryn plays the long game, making choices that betray blood and loyalty alike. Their rivalry is as twisted as it is fascinating.
📖 Read if you love: Faerie court politics, betrayals that cut deep, and fierce female leads.
9. The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross
📜 A Lost Princess and the Brother Who Stands in Her Way
When Brienna discovers she is the long-lost heir to a kingdom, she expects a hero’s welcome—but her brother, the current ruler, has other plans. Their battle becomes a game of wits, secrets, and unexpected alliances.
📖 Read if you love: Political intrigue, slow-burning tension, and a heroine who fights for her destiny.
10. The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons
🐉 A Boy Caught Between Two Rival Sibling Dynasties
Kihrin discovers he is the lost heir of a powerful family—but not just one. Two feuding bloodlines claim him as their own, each using him as a pawn in a war centuries in the making. Who can he trust when both sides seek to control him?
📖 Read if you love: Mind-bending twists, tangled family politics, and reluctant heroes caught in destiny’s snare.
Blood Runs Thick… But So Does Rivalry 🩸🔥
Whether they are fighting for thrones, survival, or revenge, these rival siblings remind us that family bonds can be both a blessing and a curse. Which of these books will you pick up first? Or do you have a favorite sibling rivalry story to recommend? Let’s talk in the comments! 📖💬
