A Song of Ice and Fire has firmly established itself as a landmark work of fiction over the last 27 years. George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy saga captured the world's attention through a series of bestselling novels and HBO's groundbreaking adaptation, Game of Thrones. The series' cultural impact continues to thrive, bolstered by the success of HBO's follow-up, House of the Dragon.
With the complete second season of House of the Dragon now available to stream, it's the perfect time to immerse yourself in the source material and experience Westeros as envisioned by its creator. For those new to A Song of Ice and Fire and its companion books, we've crafted this guide to help you navigate the series in chronological order.
Jump to:
- Game of Thrones books in chronological order
- Game of Thrones books by release date
- Upcoming GoT books
How Many Game of Thrones Books Are There in the Series?
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 used AI tools like ChatGPT to imagine potential endings. However, there remains uncertainty about whether Martin will complete the series himself.
Additionally, Martin has enriched the ASoIaF universe with several companion works, including three Dunk & Egg novellas (collected in 2015's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), three Targaryen-focused novellas (collected and expanded in 2018's Fire & Blood), and a comprehensive world compendium titled The World of Ice & Fire. More details on these works follow.
Game of Thrones Book Sets
For enthusiasts of physical books, acquiring a set of Game of Thrones novels can be a delightful experience. Several sets are available, but the most aesthetically pleasing is the leather-bound edition, currently on sale at Amazon.
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 the Game of Thrones Books in Chronological Order
The following plot summaries are crafted with newcomers in mind, containing only mild spoilers such as broad plot points and character introductions.
- Fire & Blood
Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones
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Fire & Blood, the source material for HBO's House of the Dragon, chronicles the 300-year reign of House Targaryen in Westeros. Unlike the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Fire & Blood is presented as a historical account by Archmaester Gyldayn, who lived near the end of the Targaryen dynasty and into Robert Baratheon's rule.
Though Gyldayn's narrative begins around the start of ASoIaF, the events he describes span the first 150 years of Targaryen rule, starting with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros. The second volume of Fire & Blood is expected to cover the remaining 150 years.
Every Dragon in Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon
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Fire & Blood encompasses the reigns of six Targaryen monarchs and includes the pivotal event known as The Dance of the Dragons, which is depicted in House of the Dragon. This book also expands upon three previously published ASoIaF novellas: The Princess and the Queen, or, the Blacks and the Greens (2013), The Rogue Prince (2014), and The Sons of the Dragon (2017). The recently published The Rise of the Dragon offers a condensed, illustrated version of Fire & Blood.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
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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 approximately 90 years before A Game of Thrones, these stories will serve as the basis for the upcoming TV adaptation, also titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
While not essential to the main narrative, these novellas offer delightful additional adventures in the Seven Kingdoms. The collection includes The Hedge Knight (1998), The Sworn Sword (2003), and The Mystery Knight (2010).
- A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones
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Published in 1996, A Game of Thrones is the inaugural novel of the ASoIaF series. It introduces readers to the world of Westeros, its key families, and a host of vibrant characters. Set during Robert Baratheon's reign, following Robert's Rebellion and the fall of the Targaryens, it ignites the War of the Five Kings, where five contenders vie for the Iron Throne. Themes of political intrigue, betrayal, familial conflict, and violence permeate the story.
Every IGN Game of Thrones Review
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The narrative unfolds through alternating points of view, featuring characters like Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, whose journey takes place across the Narrow Sea in Essos.
Martin's novella Blood of the Dragon is largely repurposed material from the Daenerys chapters in A Game of Thrones and is thus excluded from this list.
- A Clash of Kings
A Clash of Kings
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A Clash of Kings continues the saga of the War of the Five Kings. As the various claimants rally their forces, the Lannisters consolidate power in King's Landing, Jon Snow ventures beyond the Wall, and Daenerys navigates the challenges of a foreign land.
The point-of-view characters in this book, excluding the prologue, are Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Theon Greyjoy, and Davos Seaworth.
- A Storm of Swords
A Storm of Swords
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The third novel, A Storm of Swords, concludes the War of the Five Kings, though some conflicts linger. As peace begins to settle in the Seven Kingdoms, the Stark children face various challenges, Jon Snow explores beyond the Wall, and Daenerys learns the art of leadership.
The point-of-view characters in this book, 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.
Martin's novella Path of the Dragon is largely repurposed material from the Daenerys chapters in A Storm of Swords and is thus excluded from this list.
- A Feast for Crows
A Feast for Crows
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Picking up where A Storm of Swords left off, A Feast for Crows runs concurrently with A Dance with Dragons. While key characters like Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen are absent, A Feast for Crows focuses on new and returning characters navigating the political landscape in King's Landing, the Iron Islands, and Dorne as winter descends on Westeros.
Martin split the narrative into two books due to its overwhelming size, with each book telling "all the story for half the characters, rather than half the story for all the characters." The point-of-view characters in A Feast for Crows, excluding the prologue, 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 is largely repurposed material from the Iron Islands chapters in A Feast for Crows and is thus excluded from this list.
- A Dance with Dragons
A Dance with Dragons
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A Dance with Dragons reintroduces the beloved characters missing from A Feast for Crows and continues the story after A Storm of Swords. Martin notes that A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons are parallel novels, divided geographically rather than chronologically, though A Dance with Dragons eventually surpasses A Feast for Crows in the timeline.
In this novel, a new Lord Commander leads the Night's Watch, Daenerys grapples with power, the Greyjoys venture east, a Martell faces peril, Brienne reconnects with an old friend, Arya continues her training, Tyrion is on the run, and a new claimant emerges for the Iron Throne.
The point-of-view characters in A Dance with Dragons, excluding the prologue and epilogue, are Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Bran Stark, Arya Stark, Theon Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, Davos Seaworth, Barristan 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 its sequel, The Winds of Winter, for 11 years.
Bonus: The World of Ice & Fire
The World of Ice and Fire
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The World of Ice & Fire is a comprehensive companion to the ASoIaF novels. This richly illustrated book delves into the history of Martin's world, from the arrival of the First Men in Westeros during the Dawn Age (12,000 years before A Game of Thrones) through the Targaryen reign and Robert's Rebellion.
It includes family trees for the Targaryens, Starks, and Lannisters, and provides detailed information on the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, the Free Cities of Essos, and beyond.
How to Read the 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)
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, set to release on November 4, 2025. This follows the illustrated edition of the third book, released five years prior.
Out November 4, 2025
A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition
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The Winds of Winter
Martin has two more novels planned to complete his seven-book saga. The sixth book, The Winds of Winter, will continue the story from A Dance with Dragons. Martin has shared preview chapters and blog posts about the book, confirming point-of-view chapters from characters like Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, Theon, and Barristan Selmy.
Despite being "13 years late," Martin insists that The Winds of Winter remains a priority. He has claimed to be 75% done with the manuscript, predicting it will exceed 1,500 pages.
A Dream of Spring
The final book in the ASoIaF series is tentatively titled A Dream of Spring, contingent on Martin's completion and publication.
Fire & Blood Volume 2
Martin is also working on the second volume of Fire & Blood, which will cover the second 150 years of the Targaryen dynasty.
Future Dunk & Egg Novellas
Martin has expressed interest in writing more Dunk & Egg novellas, though they will be postponed until after The Winds of Winter is completed. He has outlined plans for stories like She-Wolves, set in Winterfell and involving a group of powerful Stark women, and The Village Hero, set in the Riverlands. Martin also has notes for other potential stories, including The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, and The Lord Commander.
An HBO series adapting the Dunk & Egg adventures, titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is in development, with Season 1 focusing on The Hedge Knight. Led by Steve Conrad, the show is expected to premiere on Max and HBO in late 2025.
For more reading options, explore our list of the best fantasy books or consider purchasing one of the best reading lights.
