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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteGeorge R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is often called the Game of Thrones book series, but the published books do not all belong to the same kind of story. The five main novels follow the central political and supernatural conflict; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a collection of prequel novellas; and Fire & Blood is an in-world Targaryen history.
For a first-time reader, the best route is straightforward: read the five main novels in publication order, then move to the prequel material if you want more Westerosi history.
The main Game of Thrones books in order
The series’ official title is A Song of Ice and Fire. The five published novels should be read in the order they were released:
- 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)
This is the recommended order for almost everyone. Martin introduces the setting, dynasties, rivalries and historical mysteries gradually, so reading the novels as published preserves the intended progression of information.
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1. A Game of Thrones
The opening novel establishes the major families and locations, including the Starks in the North, the Lannisters in the west, King’s Landing, the Wall and Daenerys Targaryen’s exile across the Narrow Sea. It is the essential starting point even if you have already watched the television adaptation.
2. A Clash of Kings
The struggle for the Iron Throne expands into open conflict. The second book follows several competing claims to power while deepening the stories beyond King’s Landing and introducing new pressures from the sea, the North and the supernatural forces gathering at the edge of the known world.
3. A Storm of Swords
The third novel is the longest and one of the most consequential books in the series. It pays off several conflicts established in the first two volumes, making it particularly important not to skip or replace with a summary.
4. A Feast for Crows
This book changes the series’ distribution of viewpoint characters. It concentrates heavily on Westeros while several characters who were prominent in the previous novels are absent or appear only indirectly. That structure is deliberate, and it works best when the book is read in its published position.
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5. A Dance with Dragons
The fifth published novel returns to a number of characters and regions not covered in A Feast for Crows. Together, the fourth and fifth books cover a broad period of the same continuing story, but they are published as separate novels and should normally be read one after the other.
What should you read after the five novels?
Once you finish the main sequence, the simplest optional continuation is:
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- Now the monumental saga gets the royal treatment it deserves, with each book wrapped in bound leather-cloth covers and packaged together in an elegant display case. This one-of-a-kind boxed set includes: A GAME OF THRONES A CLASH OF KINGS A STORM OF SWORDS A FEAST FOR CROWS A DANCE WITH DRAGONS "One of the best series in the history of fantasy."-- Los Angeles Times Winter is coming.
- st of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow.
- Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse--unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances.
- Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister--the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Fire & Blood
That produces this practical reading order:
A Game of Thrones → A Clash of Kings → A Storm of Swords → A Feast for Crows → A Dance with Dragons → A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms → Fire & Blood
The two later books are not unfinished installments in the main plot. They are optional prequel works with different formats and purposes.
Where A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fits
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms collects three Dunk and Egg novellas:
- The Hedge Knight
- The Sworn Sword
- The Mystery Knight
The stories take place nearly a century before A Game of Thrones. They follow Ser Duncan the Tall, a young hedge knight, and Egg, his noble but disguised companion. The collection was first published in English on October 6, 2015.
You do not need to track down the original anthology appearances in Legends, Legends II or Warriors. The three novellas are available together in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
For most readers, it is best saved until after the five main novels. It can also be read first if you specifically want to begin with an earlier period of Westerosi history, but doing so introduces the world through a smaller, more episodic story rather than through the central saga.
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Where Fire & Blood fits
Fire & Blood is set approximately 300 years before A Game of Thrones and traces the history of the Targaryen dynasty from Aegon the Conqueror’s arrival in Westeros through the Dance of the Dragons.
It is important to know what kind of book this is. Martin describes it as an “imaginary history,” not a conventional novel. It is presented as a historical account assembled from competing sources, so it does not read like a standard character-by-character narrative.
Recommended placement depends on your reason for reading:
| Reader | Best placement |
|---|---|
| First-time reader of the series | After all five main novels |
| Reader mainly interested in Targaryens | It can be read first, though it is not the best introduction to the main saga |
| Reader following historical chronology | Before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and the five main novels |
The shorter stories The Princess and the Queen and The Rogue Prince are not required extra stops if you read Fire & Blood. They are abridged or partial versions of historical material that is covered more fully in the Targaryen history project.
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Is chronological order better?
Usually, no. Publication order is the better first-read experience because the companion books assume that you are already familiar with Westeros and can reveal historical information before the novels introduce it.
If you have already read the main series or prefer to follow the broad chronology of the published fiction, use this order:
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- Fire & Blood — approximately 300 years before the main series
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — nearly a century before the main series
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
This is a chronology of the published Westeros fiction, not a requirement for understanding the core story.
Books that are related but not part of the reading sequence
Several other publications expand the setting without being additional novels in the main series:
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- The World of Ice & Fire — an illustrated reference and history book written by George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson.
- The Lands of Ice and Fire — a collection of maps.
- A Feast of Ice and Fire — a companion cookbook, not a narrative installment.
- Graphic novels — adaptations of the novels or novellas rather than new entries in the story.
- Television tie-in editions — alternate editions of the novels, not separate books.
These can be useful reference material, but none needs to be inserted between the five main novels.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the status of The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring?
The main series is not complete. As of August 9, 2026, the fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons, remains the latest published main-series book.
The Winds of Winter is planned as Book 6, followed by A Dream of Spring as Book 7. Both remain listed by Martin as forthcoming, and neither has a verified official publication date. A retailer listing, alleged leak or fan prediction is not confirmation of a release.
Do not leave a gap in your current reading plan for either book. Read the five available novels first, then treat the two announced titles as future additions rather than as books that can currently be placed in the sequence.
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The best order in one line
For a first read, start with the five novels in publication order: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. After that, read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and then Fire & Blood if you want the prequel stories and Targaryen history.
For publication information, consult George R. R. Martin’s official bibliography and the Penguin Random House series page.
FAQ
What is the correct order to read the Game of Thrones books?
Read the five main novels in publication order: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons.
Should I read Fire & Blood before A Game of Thrones?
Usually not. First-time readers should read Fire & Blood after the five main novels. It is an in-world Targaryen history rather than a conventional novel, and it works better once you know the main setting.
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It takes place nearly a century before A Game of Thrones and collects three Dunk and Egg novellas. Read it after the five main novels for the most accessible first experience, or before them if you want a chronological route.
Are The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring available?
No. As of August 9, 2026, neither planned novel has been published, and no verified official release date has been announced.
The Bottom Line
For most readers: A Game of Thrones → A Clash of Kings → A Storm of Swords → A Feast for Crows → A Dance with Dragons. Then read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Fire & Blood as optional prequel material. The two remaining main-series books are still forthcoming.
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