Guide to Reading Game of Thrones Books in Chronological Order

A Song of Ice and Fire stands as a landmark in fantasy literature, captivating readers for nearly three decades. George R.R. Martin’s epic series gained global fame through its bestselling novels and HBO’s wildly successful adaptation. The saga’s cultural impact endures, fueled by HBO’s acclaimed spin-off, House of the Dragon.

With House of the Dragon: Season 2 now streaming, it’s the perfect moment to explore the source material and immerse yourself in Westeros as envisioned by its creator. For those new to A Song of Ice and Fire and its companion works, this guide outlines how to read all Game of Thrones books in chronological order.

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How Many Books Are in the Game of Thrones Series?

George R.R. Martin has released five novels in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. He is currently working on two additional volumes: The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. While these remain unfinished, some fans have used AI tools like ChatGPT to speculate on possible endings for the saga. Uncertainty lingers among readers about whether Martin will complete the series himself.

Martin has also published several companion works, including three Dunk & Egg novellas (compiled in 2015’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), three Targaryen-focused novellas (expanded in 2018’s Fire & Blood), and a comprehensive world guide called The World of Ice & Fire. Details on these follow below.

Game of Thrones Book Collections

For fans of physical books, collecting the Game of Thrones series as a set is a great option. Several book sets are available for purchase, but the leather-bound edition, currently featured in Amazon’s book sale, stands out as a stunning display piece.

A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set

Contains the set of 5 books.$85.00 save 46%$46.00 at Amazon

How to Read Game of Thrones Books in Chronological Order

Designed for newcomers, these concise plot summaries include only minor spoilers, such as general story arcs and character introductions.

1. Fire & Blood

Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones

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Fire & Blood, the foundation for HBO’s House of the Dragon, chronicles the 300-year rule of House Targaryen in Westeros. Unlike the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, it’s presented as a historical account by Gyldayn, an archmaester of the Citadel who lived during the later Targaryen era and into Robert Baratheon’s reign.

While Gyldayn’s writing aligns with the start of A Song of Ice and Fire, the events he describes begin 300 years before A Game of Thrones, covering roughly 150 years. The remaining 150 years of Targaryen history are expected to be explored in Fire & Blood Volume 2.

Every Dragon in Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon

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Fire & Blood covers the reigns of six Targaryen kings, starting with Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros. It includes the pivotal event known as The Dying of the Dragons (or The Dance of the Dragons), which is the central story of House of the Dragon.

Fire & Blood incorporates and expands on three earlier novellas by Martin: The Princess and the Queen, or, the Blacks and the Greens (2013), The Rogue Prince (2014), and The Sons of the Dragon (2017).

The Rise of the Dragon, a recently released illustrated and condensed version of Fire & Blood, offers a visually rich alternative.

2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms collects three novellas featuring Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a hedge knight, and his squire, Aegon V Targaryen (Egg). Set approximately 90 years before A Game of Thrones, their stories will inspire the upcoming HBO series, also titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

While not essential to the main series, these novellas offer thrilling adventures and fresh perspectives on the Seven Kingdoms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms includes The Hedge Knight (1998), The Sworn Sword (2003), and The Mystery Knight (2010).

3. A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones

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Published in 1996, A Game of Thrones launched the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It introduces readers to Westeros, its key families, and a vivid cast of heroes and villains.

Set during Robert Baratheon’s reign after his rebellion ended the Targaryen dynasty, the novel ignites the War of the Five Kings, where five men vie for the Iron Throne. Political intrigue, betrayal, family conflict, and violence define the story—recurring themes throughout the series.

Every IGN Game of Thrones Review

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The narrative alternates between multiple points of view. Excluding the prologue, the perspective characters are Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, whose arc unfolds across the Narrow Sea in Essos.

Martin’s novella Blood of the Dragon reuses material from Daenerys’ chapters in A Game of Thrones, so it’s omitted here.

4. A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings

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A Clash of Kings advances the War of the Five Kings. Rival kings muster their forces, the Lannisters tighten their grip on King’s Landing, Jon Snow ventures north of the Wall with the Night’s Watch, and Daenerys navigates a distant land.

Excluding the prologue, the point-of-view characters are Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Theon Greyjoy, and Davos Seaworth.

5. A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords

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The third novel, A Storm of Swords, largely concludes the War of the Five Kings, though some rival claims and conflicts persist.

As war fades in the Seven Kingdoms, the Stark children face challenges near and far, Jon Snow journeys with wildlings beyond the Wall, and Daenerys hones her leadership in the East.

Excluding the prologue and epilogue, the point-of-view characters are Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Davos Seaworth, Jaime Lannister, and Samwell Tarly.

Martin’s novella Path of the Dragon reuses material from Daenerys’ chapters in A Storm of Swords, so it’s excluded here.

6. A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows

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Following A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows runs parallel to A Dance with Dragons. Key characters like Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen are absent, saved for the next book, which focuses on events at the Wall and across the Narrow Sea. Instead, Feast explores new and returning characters navigating politics in King’s Landing, the Iron Islands, and Dorne as winter descends on Westeros.

“It became clear the book was too large for one volume,” Martin noted in an afterword for A Feast for Crows. Thus, the story was divided into two books—Feast and Dance—each covering all events for select characters rather than splitting the timeline.

Excluding the prologue, the point-of-view characters are 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.

Martin’s novella Arms of the Kraken reuses material from the Iron Islands chapters in A Feast for Crows, so it’s omitted here.

7. A Dance with Dragons

A Dance with Dragons

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A Dance with Dragons reintroduces beloved characters absent from Feast and resumes after A Storm of Swords. As Martin explains in the prelude, Feast and Dance are “parallel… divided geographically, not chronologically.” However, it eventually surpasses Feast, making it the furthest point in the A Song of Ice and Fire timeline.

In A Dance with Dragons, a new Lord Commander leads the Night’s Watch, Daenerys grapples with leadership, the Greyjoys expand eastward, a Martell takes a bold risk, Brienne reconnects with an ally, Arya advances her training, Tyrion evades capture, and a new contender emerges for the Iron Throne.

Excluding the prologue and epilogue, the point-of-view characters are 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.

Published in 2011, A Dance with Dragons has left fans waiting 14 years for The Winds of Winter (more below).

Bonus: The World of Ice & Fire

The World of Ice & Fire

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The World of Ice & Fire is a richly illustrated companion to the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Perfect as a coffee table book, it traces Martin’s world from the arrival of the First Men in Westeros during the Dawn Age (roughly 12,000 years before A Game of Thrones).

This history spans the Targaryen dynasty and Robert’s Rebellion, detailing family trees for the Targaryens, Starks, and Lannisters, plus insights into the Seven Kingdoms, the Free Cities of Essos, and beyond.

How to Read Game of Thrones Books by Release Date

A Game of Thrones* (1996)A Clash of Kings* (1999)A Storm of Swords* (2000)A Feast for Crows* (2005)A Dance with Dragons* (2011)The World of Ice & Fire (2014)A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015)Fire & Blood (2018)

*A Song of Ice and Fire novels

Upcoming Game of Thrones Books

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition

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 slated for release on November 4, 2025, following the illustrated version of the third book by five years.

Out November 4, 2025

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition

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The Winds of Winter

Martin has two remaining novels in his planned seven-book A Song of Ice and Fire series. The sixth book, The Winds of Winter, will continue from A Dance with Dragons.

Martin has shared blog posts and preview chapters for Winds, confirming point-of-view chapters from Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, Theon, Barriston Selmy, and others.

He has noted that The Winds of Winter will diverge further from the HBO series. Recently, Martin called the novel, though “13 years late,” a priority. He previously estimated being 75% complete and projected over 1,500 pages.

A Dream of Spring

The final A Song of Ice and Fire novel, if completed, will be titled A Dream of Spring.

Fire & Blood Volume 2

Beyond the main series, Martin is working on the second volume of Fire & Blood, a two-part history of the Targaryens. This volume is expected to cover the latter 150 years of their 300-year rule.

Future Dunk & Egg Novellas

Martin plans to write more Dunk & Egg novellas, though he has stated these will follow the completion of The Winds of Winter. He intends to chronicle the full lives of Dunk and Egg, with the unfinished fourth novella, set in Winterfell, featuring “a group of formidable Stark wives, widows, mothers, and grandmothers” he calls ‘the She-Wolves.’ Martin noted the final title will differ. Another novella, tentatively titled ‘The Village Hero,’ is set in the Riverlands. Completion timelines remain uncertain until The Winds of Winter is finished.

Martin has “notes and fairly specific ideas” for additional Dunk & Egg stories, with potential titles like The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, The Lord Commander, and others.

An HBO series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, adapting the first novella, The Hedge Knight, is in development under Steve Conrad. It’s set to premiere on Max and HBO in late 2025.

For more, explore the top fantasy books reading list or consider one of the best reading lights.