Read the three Dunk and Egg novellas in this order: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, then The Mystery Knight. The simplest way to read them is in the collected volume A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which contains all three stories.
What order should I read the books in?
- The Hedge Knight — the first story, introducing hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and his young squire, Egg.
- The Sworn Sword — the second story.
- The Mystery Knight — the third story.
George R. R. Martin’s official site identifies the first three Dunk and Egg stories, and the publisher’s listing describes the collection that brings them together.
Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms one book or three?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is the title of the collection, not a fourth story to read before the others. It gathers the three novellas in the sequence above. Look for the collected book by George R. R. Martin if you want all three in one volume.
The stories originally appeared in different anthologies: Martin says The Hedge Knight first appeared in Robert Silverberg’s Legends, and The Sworn Sword in Legends II. The collection provides a straightforward way to read them together.
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Do I need to read A Song of Ice and Fire first?
No. The Dunk and Egg stories are prequels set nearly a century before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, and their collected volume can be read on its own. If your goal is specifically to follow Dunk and Egg, start with The Hedge Knight. If you want to begin with the main saga’s original opening, start instead with A Game of Thrones. The official sources establish the prequel setting and the collected stories, but do not prescribe one universal reading order for every book in the wider fictional world.
How should I choose an edition?
Before buying or borrowing, check that the listing is for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and includes all three novellas. Editions may differ by format and illustrations; neither print nor ebook is required to understand the stories.
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The publisher lists an HBO tie-in edition. Martin’s site also lists a separate full-color graphic novel of The Mystery Knight. That graphic novel is an alternate format for one of the three stories, not a fourth installment or a book you need to add after the collection. Prices, stock, and format availability can change, so check the current retailer or library listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the television adaptation change the reading order?
No. Warner Bros. Discovery’s official pressroom provides episode synopses for the television project A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but the adaptation does not change the printed sequence. If the show prompted you to try the books, begin with The Hedge Knight.
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