Over the past 27 years, George R.R. Martin's *A Song of Ice and Fire* has become a landmark in the realm of fantasy fiction. This epic saga has not only captivated readers through its series of bestselling novels but has also left an indelible mark on pop culture, thanks to HBO's groundbreaking adaptation and its successful follow-up series, *House of the Dragon*. With all episodes of *House of the Dragon: Season 2* now available for streaming, it's the perfect time to delve into the rich tapestry of Westeros through the eyes of its creator. For those yet to embark on this literary journey, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to read all the *Game of Thrones* books in chronological order.
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George R.R. Martin has published five novels in his A Song of Ice and Fire saga. He is currently working on two more volumes, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. While fans eagerly await these final books, some have even turned to AI, like ChatGPT, to speculate on potential endings. However, there's uncertainty about whether Martin will ever complete the series himself.
Martin has also enriched the A Song of Ice and Fire universe with several companion works, including three Dunk & Egg novellas (collected in 2015's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), three Targaryan-focused novellas (expanded in 2018's Fire & Blood), and a world compendium titled The World of Ice & Fire. Let's explore these in more detail below.
For those who cherish physical books, purchasing a set is a great way to immerse yourself in the Game of Thrones universe. Among the various sets available, the leather-bound edition, currently on sale at Amazon, is particularly noteworthy for its aesthetic appeal.
Contains the set of 5 books. $85.00 save 46% $46.00 at Amazon
These brief plot synopses are designed for newcomers and contain only mild spoilers, focusing on broad plot points and character introductions.
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Fire & Blood serves as the source material for HBO’s House of the Dragon. It chronicles the 300-year reign of House Targaryen in Westeros. Unlike the main A Song of Ice and Fire series, Fire & Blood is presented as a historical account penned by Archmaester Gyldayn, who lived towards the end of the Targaryen rule and into Robert Baratheon’s time.
The narrative spans roughly 150 years, beginning with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros and covering significant events like The Dance of the Dragons, which is depicted in House of the Dragon. Fire & Blood incorporates and expands on three previously published Targaryen-focused novellas: The Princess and the Queen (2013), The Rogue Prince (2014), and The Sons of the Dragon (2017). A condensed and illustrated version, The Rise of the Dragon, was recently published.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms compiles three novellas featuring Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and his squire Aegon V Targaryen (Egg). Set about 90 years before A Game of Thrones, these stories will form the basis for the next Game of Thrones TV adaptation, also titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
While not essential to the main storyline, these novellas offer additional adventures and perspectives within the Seven Kingdoms. The collection includes The Hedge Knight (1998), The Sworn Sword (2003), and The Mystery Knight (2010).
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A Game of Thrones, published in 1996, is the inaugural novel of the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It introduces readers to the world of Westeros, its regions, prominent families, and the myriad characters that populate the saga.
Set during Robert Baratheon's reign, the story follows the aftermath of Robert’s Rebellion and the fall of the Targaryen dynasty, setting the stage for the War of the Five Kings. The narrative alternates between various point-of-view characters, including Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, whose journey unfolds across the Narrow Sea in Essos.
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A Clash of Kings continues the saga, focusing on the ongoing War of the Five Kings. As various factions vie for control, the Lannisters consolidate their power in King’s Landing, Jon Snow ventures north of the Wall with the Night’s Watch, and Daenerys navigates the challenges of a foreign land.
The point-of-view characters in this novel, excluding the prologue, include Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Theon Greyjoy, and Davos Seaworth.
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The third novel, A Storm of Swords, sees the War of the Five Kings nearing its end, though some conflicts persist. As peace begins to settle in the Seven Kingdoms, the Stark children face new challenges, Jon Snow explores beyond the Wall, and Daenerys learns to lead her people.
The point-of-view characters, excluding the prologue and epilogue, are Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Davos Seaworth, Jaime Lannister, and Samwell Tarly.
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A Feast for Crows picks up where A Storm of Swords left off and runs concurrently with A Dance with Dragons. It focuses on characters in King’s Landing, the Iron Islands, and Dorne, while key figures like Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen are reserved for the subsequent book.
Due to the expansive nature of the story, Martin split the narrative into two volumes, with A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons each covering different characters and regions. The point-of-view characters in A Feast for Crows, excluding the prologue, include Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Jaime Lannister, Samwell Tarly, Cersei Lannister, Brienne of Tarth, Aeron Greyjoy, Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, Asha Greyjoy, Areo Hotah, and Arys Oakheart.
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A Dance with Dragons reintroduces the beloved characters missing from A Feast for Crows and continues the narrative from A Storm of Swords. Martin describes A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons as parallel novels, divided geographically rather than chronologically, though A Dance with Dragons eventually surpasses A Feast for Crows in the timeline.
In this book, the Night’s Watch undergoes leadership changes, Daenerys grapples with the responsibilities of power, the Greyjoys venture east, and new claimants to the Iron Throne emerge. The point-of-view characters, excluding the prologue and epilogue, include Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Bran Stark, Arya Stark, Theon Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, Davos Seaworth, Barriston Selmy, Asha Greyjoy, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Jon Connington, Victarion Greyjoy, Areo Hotah, and Melisandre.
A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011, and fans have been eagerly awaiting The Winds of Winter for over a decade.
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The World of Ice & Fire is a comprehensive companion to the A Song of Ice and Fire series. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the history of Martin's world, from the arrival of the First Men during the Dawn Age to the Targaryen reign and Robert’s Rebellion. It includes family trees, detailed information on the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, the Free Cities of Essos, and beyond.
The Iron Throne as depicted by artist Marc Simonetti in The World of Ice & Fire (Image: George R.R. Martin)
Martin recently unveiled the cover for the next illustrated edition of A Song of Ice and Fire. A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition is scheduled for release on November 4, 2025, following the illustrated edition of the third book.
Out November 4, 2025
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Martin has two more novels planned to complete his seven-book saga. The Winds of Winter, the sixth book, will continue the story from A Dance with Dragons. Martin has shared several preview chapters and blogs, confirming point-of-view chapters for characters like Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, Theon, and Barriston Selmy.
Despite being "13 years late," Martin assures fans that The Winds of Winter remains a priority. He has reported being 75% done with the manuscript, which he predicts will exceed 1,500 pages.
The final book in the series, tentatively titled A Dream of Spring, is yet to be published.
Martin is also working on the second volume of Fire & Blood, which will cover the remaining 150 years of the Targaryen dynasty's 300-year reign.
Martin has expressed his desire to write more Dunk & Egg novellas, though these will not be published until after The Winds of Winter. He has outlined plans for stories set in Winterfell and the Riverlands, tentatively titled The She-Wolves and The Village Hero, respectively. Additionally, he has ideas for other adventures with potential titles like The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, and The Lord Commander.
An HBO series based on the Dunk & Egg novellas, titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is in development, with Season 1 adapting The Hedge Knight. The show, led by Steve Conrad, is slated to premiere on Max and HBO in late 2025.
For more reading options, explore the best fantasy books list or invest in one of the best reading lights to enhance your reading experience.
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