Over the past 27 years, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of modern fantasy literature. This epic saga has captured the public's imagination through its series of bestselling novels and HBO's highly acclaimed adaptation, Game of Thrones. The cultural impact continues to thrive with the success of the follow-up series, House of the Dragon, now fully available to stream in its second season. This presents an excellent opportunity to explore the rich world of Westeros as envisioned by its creator.

For those yet to embark on this literary journey, or even for seasoned fans looking to revisit the source material, we've crafted a comprehensive guide on how to read all the Game of Thrones books 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 speculate on potential endings. However, there's uncertainty about whether Martin will complete the series himself.

In addition to the main saga, Martin has enriched the universe with several companion works. These include three Dunk & Egg novellas (collected in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2015), three Targaryen-focused novellas (which were expanded into Fire & Blood in 2018), and a comprehensive world guide titled The World of Ice & Fire.

Game of Thrones Book Sets

For fans who appreciate physical media, collecting the Game of Thrones books as a set is a rewarding experience. The most visually appealing set is the leather-bound edition, currently available at a discount during Amazon's book sale.

A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set

52 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

With newcomers in mind, these plot summaries are designed to be spoiler-light, focusing on broad plot points and character introductions.

1. Fire & Blood

Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones

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Fire & Blood serves as the historical backdrop for HBO's House of the Dragon, detailing the 300-year reign of House Targaryen in Westeros. Unlike the main novels, Fire & Blood is narrated by Archmaester Gyldayn, who recounts the Targaryen dynasty from a historical perspective, starting 300 years before A Game of Thrones and covering the first 150 years of their rule. The second volume will explore the remaining years of their reign.

Every Dragon in Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon

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Fire & Blood encompasses the reigns of six Targaryen rulers, starting with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros. It includes the pivotal period known as The Dance of the Dragons, the focus of House of the Dragon. This volume also incorporates and expands on three previously published 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 Rise of the Dragon offers a condensed, illustrated version of Fire & Blood.

2. 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 inspire the next Game of Thrones TV adaptation. While not essential for the main saga, they offer delightful additional adventures in the Seven Kingdoms.

The novellas included are: 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 introduced readers to the intricate world of Westeros and its surrounding regions. Set during Robert Baratheon's reign, following his rebellion against the Targaryens, it ignites the War of the Five Kings, where five men vie for the Iron Throne. Themes of political intrigue, betrayal, and familial conflict are central to this narrative.

Every IGN Game of Thrones Review

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The story unfolds through alternating points of view, featuring characters like Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, their children Sansa, Arya, and Bran, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen across the Narrow Sea in Essos.

4. A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings

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A Clash of Kings continues the War of the Five Kings, with the contenders rallying their forces. The Lannisters consolidate power in King's Landing, Jon Snow journeys north of the Wall, and Daenerys navigates her path in a foreign land. Key point-of-view characters include Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Jon, Tyrion, Daenerys, Theon Greyjoy, and Davos Seaworth.

5. A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords

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In A Storm of Swords, the War of the Five Kings nears its conclusion, though some conflicts persist. The Stark children face various challenges, Jon Snow ventures beyond the Wall, and Daenerys learns leadership in the East. The point-of-view characters are Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Jon, Tyrion, Daenerys, Davos, Jaime Lannister, and Samwell Tarly.

6. A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows

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A Feast for Crows picks up where A Storm of Swords left off, running concurrently with A Dance with Dragons. It focuses on characters in King's Landing, the Iron Islands, and Dorne, as winter descends on Westeros. Key point-of-view characters include Sansa, Arya, Jaime, Samwell, Cersei Lannister, Brienne of Tarth, and others from the Iron Islands and Dorne.

Martin split the narrative into two books due to its expansive nature, each focusing on different characters rather than different parts of the story.

7. A Dance with Dragons

A Dance with Dragons

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A Dance with Dragons reintroduces the characters absent from A Feast for Crows, continuing the story from A Storm of Swords. It eventually surpasses the events of A Feast for Crows, making it the furthest in the series' timeline. Key characters include Jon, Tyrion, Daenerys, Bran, Arya, Theon, and others navigating new challenges and power dynamics.

A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011, and fans have been eagerly awaiting The Winds of Winter for over a decade.

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 A Song of Ice and Fire series. It serves as an excellent reference, filled with illustrations and a detailed history from the Dawn Age to Robert's Rebellion. It includes family trees for major houses and information on the Seven Kingdoms, the Free Cities, and beyond.

The Iron Throne as depicted by artist Marc Simonetti in The World of Ice & Fire (Image: George R.R. Martin)

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)

All marked with an asterisk () are part of the main A Song of Ice and Fire series.*

Upcoming Game of Thrones Books

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition

Martin has announced the upcoming release of A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition, set for November 4, 2025. This follows the illustrated edition of the third book and adds to the visually rich collection of the series.

Out November 4, 2025

A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition

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The Winds of Winter

The sixth book in the series, The Winds of Winter, will continue the saga from A Dance with Dragons. Martin has shared preview chapters and blog posts, indicating point-of-view chapters from Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, Theon, and others. Despite being 13 years late, Martin assures fans that it remains a priority, with an estimated length of over 1,500 pages.

A Dream of Spring

The final book, tentatively titled A Dream of Spring, awaits completion and publication.

Fire & Blood Volume 2

Martin is also working on the second volume of Fire & Blood, which will cover the remaining 150 years of the Targaryen dynasty.

Future Dunk & Egg Novellas

Martin plans to write more Dunk & Egg novellas, though these will follow the completion of The Winds of Winter. The fourth novella, set in Winterfell and involving the Stark women, remains unfinished as of 2024. Another novella, tentatively titled The Village Hero, is set in the Riverlands. Martin has outlined several more potential stories, including The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, and The Lord Commander.

An HBO series based on Dunk & Egg, titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is in development, with the first season adapting The Hedge Knight. The show, led by Steve Conrad, is expected to premiere on Max and HBO in late 2025.

For more, check out the best fantasy books reading list or pick up one of the best reading lights.