For over 27 years, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire has cemented its place as a landmark work of fantasy. This epic book series soared into popular culture, first through its bestselling novels and then with HBO’s remarkably successful adaptation. Its cultural impact continues to thrive, fueled by excellent spin-off series like House of the Dragon and the eagerly anticipated Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
With the third season of House of the Dragon and the new A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms both slated for release in 2026, there’s never been a better moment to immerse yourself in the rich source material and experience Westeros exactly as its creator envisioned it. If you’re new to the world of A Song of Ice and Fire novels and their essential companion books, this guide provides the perfect chronological roadmap for your journey.
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- Chronological Reading Order
- Release Date Order
- Anticipated Future Releases
How Many Books Make Up the Game of Thrones Universe?
George R.R. Martin has currently released five primary novels in his epic A Song of Ice and Fire saga. He is actively working on the two concluding volumes: The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. However, despite their continued development, many fans express concern that these highly anticipated installments may never reach completion.
Beyond the main series, Martin has also enriched the world with several compelling companion works. These include three delightful Dunk & Egg novellas (later compiled into 2015’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), three novellas centered on the Targaryen dynasty (expanded and collected in 2018’s Fire & Blood), and an extensive world compendium titled The World of Ice & Fire. We’ll delve deeper into each of these below.
Collecting the Saga: Game of Thrones Book Sets
For those who cherish physical books, investing in a complete Game of Thrones book set offers a fantastic way to experience the saga. While various collections are available, the beautifully crafted leather-bound editions are particularly stunning and designed to be a centerpiece on any bookshelf.
How to Read the Game of Thrones Books in Chronological Order
With series newcomers in mind, these brief plot synopses contain only mild spoilers such as broad plot points and character introductions.
1. Fire & Blood
Fire & Blood, which serves as the source material for HBO’s House of the Dragon, recounts the 300-year reign of House Targaryen in Westeros. Unlike the main A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Fire & Blood is not told from the perspective of direct participants. Instead, it’s presented as historical chronicles by Archmaester Gyldayn of the Citadel, who lived during the latter part of the Targaryen era, transitioning into Robert Baratheon’s reign.
While Gyldayn’s writing occurs near the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire (ASoIaF), the events he details start 300 years before A Game of Thrones and cover approximately 150 years. The second 150 years of Targaryen rule are expected to be explored in Fire & Blood Volume 2.
Fire & Blood chronicles the lives of six Targaryen rulers, beginning with Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros. Within this 150-year period, the devastating civil war known as The Dying of the Dragons (or The Dance of the Dragons) takes place, which is the central narrative of HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Fire & Blood incorporates and expands upon three earlier ASoIaF 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).
Furthermore, The Rise of the Dragon is a more recent, condensed, and beautifully illustrated adaptation of Fire & Blood.
2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms collects three novellas that follow the adventures of a humble hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), and his young squire, Aegon V Targaryen (Egg). Their story is set roughly 90 years before the pivotal events of A Game of Thrones, and this collection will serve as the foundation for the upcoming Game of Thrones TV adaptation, also titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
While not strictly part of the main novel series, these novellas offer a captivating glimpse into the Seven Kingdoms from a fresh perspective and are highly recommended for fans seeking more stories from this rich universe.
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
Published in 1996, A Game of Thrones is the inaugural novel in the ASoIaF series and the epic tale’s starting point. It introduces readers to the vast world of Westeros, its neighboring regions, the powerful noble families, and a memorable cast of heroes and villains.
A Game of Thrones begins during the reign of Robert Baratheon, after the conclusion of Robert’s Rebellion and the downfall of the Targaryen dynasty. The narrative quickly ignites the War of the Five Kings, where numerous contenders vie for the coveted Iron Throne. This sets the stage for a brutal cycle of political intrigue, betrayals, family conflicts, and widespread bloodshed – themes that define the entire ASoIaF saga.
The story unfolds through alternating point-of-view chapters. Excluding the prologue, the primary characters whose perspectives we follow in A Game of Thrones are Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, whose journey begins across the Narrow Sea in the eastern continent of Essos.
It’s worth noting that Martin’s novella Blood of the Dragon contains material largely re-purposed from the Daenerys chapters in A Game of Thrones, which is why it’s not included as a separate entry in this chronological list.
4. A Clash of Kings
A Clash of Kings continues the relentless War of the Five Kings. The declared kings rally their forces, the Lannisters strive to consolidate their authority in King’s Landing, Jon Snow marches north of the Wall with the Night’s Watch, and Daenerys navigates the complexities of a foreign land.
Excluding the prologue, the point-of-view characters in A Clash of Kings include Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Theon Greyjoy, and Davos Seaworth.
5. A Storm of Swords
The third ASoIaF novel, A Storm of Swords, largely concludes the War of the Five Kings, though some lingering claimants and conflicts persist.
As the major war in the Seven Kingdoms subsides, the Stark children face new challenges both near and far, while Jon Snow ventures deep into the wildling territories beyond the Wall. In the East, Daenerys continues her journey of leadership and self-discovery.
Excluding the prologue and epilogue, the point-of-view characters in A Storm of Swords 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, hence its exclusion from this list.
6. A Feast for Crows
Picking up after the events of the previous novel, A Feast for Crows runs concurrently with the fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons. Several of the series’ most beloved characters – Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen – are reserved for the following book. Instead, A Feast for Crows focuses on new and returning characters engaging in political maneuvers in King’s Landing, the Iron Islands, and Dorne as winter begins its inexorable arrival in Westeros.
Martin himself noted in an afterword for A Feast for Crows that the book grew too large for a single volume. Consequently, the narrative was divided into two books (A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons), with each telling “all the story for half the characters, rather than half the story for all the characters.”
Excluding the prologue, the point-of-view characters in A Feast for Crows 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.
Martin’s novella Arms of the Kraken is largely repurposed material from the Iron Islands chapters in A Feast for Crows, hence its exclusion from this list.
7. A Dance with Dragons
A Dance with Dragons reintroduces the popular point-of-view characters absent from A Feast for Crows and continues the narrative after the events of the third book, A Storm of Swords. As Martin explains in his prelude to A Dance with Dragons, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons are “parallel… divided geographically, rather than chronologically.” However, A Dance with Dragons eventually progresses beyond the timeline of A Feast for Crows, making it the novel set furthest in the ASoIaF chronology.
In A Dance with Dragons, a new Lord Commander takes charge of the Night’s Watch, Daenerys grapples with the immense responsibilities of power, the Greyjoys extend their reach eastward, a Martell ventures dangerously close to peril, Brienne encounters an old acquaintance, Arya deepens her training, Tyrion remains on the run, and a new contender for the Iron Throne emerges.
Excluding the prologue and epilogue, the point-of-view characters in A Dance with Dragons include 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. Dedicated readers have now been waiting 11 years for its highly anticipated follow-up, The Winds of Winter (more on this below).
Bonus: The World of Ice & Fire
The World of Ice & Fire is a comprehensive companion compendium to the ASoIaF novels. It’s a magnificent coffee table book, richly illustrated and offering a profound history of Martin’s world, tracing events back to the arrival of the First Men in Westeros during the Dawn Age (approximately 12,000 years before A Game of Thrones).
The Iron Throne as depicted by artist Marc Simonetti in The World of Ice & Fire (Image: George R.R. Martin)
This extensive history covers the entire Targaryen reign and Robert’s Rebellion. It features detailed family trees for the Targaryens, Starks, and Lannisters, alongside invaluable information about the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, the Free Cities of Essos, and the mysterious lands 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)
*These are the primary A Song of Ice and Fire novels.
Upcoming Game of Thrones Books
A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition
George R.R. Martin recently unveiled the stunning 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, continuing the tradition five years after the third book received its illustrated treatment.
The Winds of Winter
Martin has two novels remaining to complete his planned seven-book A Song of Ice and Fire saga. The sixth and next installment, The Winds of Winter, will directly follow the events of A Dance with Dragons.
Martin has generously shared several blog updates and preview chapters from The Winds of Winter, hinting at point-of-view chapters from fan favorites such as Tyrion, Cersei, Sansa, Arya, Theon, Barristan Selmy, and others.
The author has indicated that with The Winds of Winter, the ASoIaF narrative will diverge significantly from the television series. More recently, Martin acknowledged that the novel, despite being “13 years late,” remains “still a priority.” He openly admits his dissatisfaction with missing deadlines and disappointing fans. Previously, he stated he was 75% complete with Winds and estimated its final length would exceed 1,500 pages.
A Dream of Spring
The highly anticipated final book in the ASoIaF series is tentatively titled A Dream of Spring, pending its completion and publication by Martin.
Fire & Blood Volume 2
In addition to his work on the main saga, Martin has confirmed he is also developing the second volume of Fire & Blood. This comprehensive Targaryen history is planned as a two-part series, with the second volume expected to cover the latter 150 years of the family’s 300-year dynasty.
Future Dunk & Egg Novellas
Martin has also expressed a strong desire to write additional Dunk & Egg novellas. He has stated that these would not be published until he finishes The Winds of Winter, emphasizing that “it has always been [his] intent to write a whole series of novellas about Dunk and Egg, chronicling their entire lives.”
The fourth Dunk & Egg novella, which remains unfinished as of 2024, is set in Winterfell. Martin has hinted that it will involve “a group of formidable Stark wives, widows, mothers, and grandmothers that I dubbed ‘the She-Wolves.’” He added, “The final title, when I finish the story, will be something different. There’s also another Dunk & Egg novella that I’ve got roughed out in my head, with the working title ‘The Village Hero’. That one takes place in the Riverlands. There’s no telling when I will have time to finish either of these, or which one I will write first. I don’t expect I will know more until I’ve delivered The Winds of Winter.”
Martin possesses “notes and fairly specific ideas” for even more Dunk & Egg adventures beyond the tentatively titled She-Wolves and Village Hero. In a comment on his blog, he even suggested potential titles for these future stories: The Sellsword, The Champion, The Kingsguard, The Lord Commander, “and several more in between.”
An HBO series focusing on the duo’s exploits is currently in development, with Season 1 expected to adapt the first novella, The Hedge Knight. Production on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is being overseen by Steve Conrad, known for Prime Video’s Patriot, and the show is anticipated to premiere on Max and HBO in 2026.
For more epic reads, explore our list of the best fantasy books or discover the best reading lights to enhance your next literary adventure.
Jordan Sirani covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer.