If you’re trying to make sense of the Game of Thrones books—how many there are, the correct reading order, what each book is about, and why The Winds of Winter is still not out—you’re in the right place.
This complete guide covers the A Song of Ice and Fire series (often called the Game of Thrones books), key companion titles, game of thrones books release dates, and answers to the most-asked questions.
How many Game of Thrones books are there?
- The series everyone calls the Game of Thrones books is officially titled A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin.
- Published main novels: 5
- Planned total main novels: 7
- Forthcoming books: The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring (no official release dates as of 2025)
- Notable companion works: The Tales of Dunk and Egg (prequel novellas), The World of Ice & Fire (encyclopedic history), and Fire & Blood, Volume 1 (Targaryen history; basis for House of the Dragon)
Game of Thrones Books in Order (Best Reading Order)
First-time readers should follow publication order. It preserves how plotlines and reveals were designed to unfold and avoids timeline confusion introduced by some companion books.
Main series (A Song of Ice and Fire) in publication order
- A Game of Thrones (1996) — George R. R. Martin
- A Clash of Kings (1998) — George R. R. Martin
- A Storm of Swords (2000) — George R. R. Martin
- A Feast for Crows (2005) — George R. R. Martin
- A Dance with Dragons (2011) — George R. R. Martin
- The Winds of Winter (forthcoming) — George R. R. Martin
- A Dream of Spring (planned) — George R. R. Martin
Optional reads and where they fit
- The Tales of Dunk and Egg (The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, The Mystery Knight): Prequels set ~90 years before A Game of Thrones. Best read after you’ve started the main series (e.g., after Book 1 or between Books 2–3) to appreciate callbacks.
- The World of Ice & Fire: An illustrated compendium of lore. Safe to read any time after Book 1 for background, though it contains mild context spoilers.
- Fire & Blood, Volume 1: A deep dive into Targaryen history (Aegon’s Conquest through the Dance of the Dragons). Read after you’ve begun the main series, or anytime if you’re watching House of the Dragon.
Game of Thrones Books Release Dates Timeline
Main series
- 1996 — A Game of Thrones
- 1998 — A Clash of Kings
- 2000 — A Storm of Swords
- 2005 — A Feast for Crows
- 2011 — A Dance with Dragons
- The Winds of Winter — No official release date announced as of 2025
- A Dream of Spring — Planned
Companions and related works
- 1998 — The Hedge Knight (Dunk and Egg novella)
- 2003 — The Sworn Sword (Dunk and Egg novella)
- 2010 — The Mystery Knight (Dunk and Egg novella)
- 2014 — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (collection of the three novellas)
- 2014 — The World of Ice & Fire (with Elio M. García Jr. and Linda Antonsson)
- 2018 — Fire & Blood, Volume 1
Summaries of Each Main Novel (with Author)
Note: All main novels are written by George R. R. Martin. Summaries below are spoiler-light and focus on each book’s scope, themes, and major movements.
A Game of Thrones (1996) — George R. R. Martin
The Stark family’s discovery of direwolf pups foreshadows a world where old powers stir again. In King’s Landing, political maneuvering intensifies when Ned Stark becomes Hand to his old friend, King Robert.
Far to the east, Daenerys Targaryen begins a perilous journey with the Dothraki, while at the Wall, the Night’s Watch senses a forgotten threat beyond the haunted forest. Told through multiple points of view (POVs), this opening volume blends court intrigue with frontier survival and sets the moral ambiguity that defines the series.
A Clash of Kings (1998) — George R. R. Martin
With the realm fractured, rival claimants to the Iron Throne ignite the War of the Five Kings. Stannis Baratheon embraces the red priestess Melisandre and her unsettling magic, while Tyrion Lannister plays a dangerous game as Hand of the King in a city on the brink.
Theon Greyjoy’s choices reverberate across the North, and Arya’s road grows darker. Meanwhile, Daenerys navigates the great cities of the east as her dragons grow, hinting at a destiny that could reorder the world.
A Storm of Swords (2000) — George R. R. Martin
Often praised as the series’ most explosive installment, this book delivers seismic betrayals and decisive battles that forever reshape Westeros.
The Night’s Watch fights for survival against wildlings and worse; Jaime Lannister’s arc deepens in unexpected ways; and the political balance tilts through notorious events at court and in the Riverlands.
Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys wages a moral and tactical campaign against slavery, weighing conquest against justice.
A Feast for Crows (2005) — George R. R. Martin
After the tumult of A Storm of Swords, the narrative narrows to focus on the Seven Kingdoms’ battered south and the Ironborn.
Cersei Lannister’s perspective exposes paranoia and short-sighted rule as she seeks to secure power. Brienne’s quest examines the costs of chivalry in a broken land, while Dorne’s long game and the Iron Islands’ ambitions surface.
The book splits the sprawling cast with A Dance with Dragons, telling parallel halves of one massive middle act.
A Dance with Dragons (2011) — George R. R. Martin
Running in tandem with A Feast for Crows, this volume follows Jon Snow’s political tightrope at the Wall, Tyrion’s odyssey eastward, and Daenerys’ struggle to rule Meereen amid insurgency and competing loyalties.
The North’s mysteries deepen around Stannis and the Boltons, and several key characters converge toward the same theaters of war. Themes of leadership, compromise, and the price of peace underpin the slow burn toward the frozen dangers that loom beyond politics.
Companion Books and Novellas (Authors and Quick Summaries)
The Tales of Dunk and Egg — George R. R. Martin
- The Hedge Knight (1998), The Sworn Sword (2003), The Mystery Knight (2010); collected as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2014).
- Summary: A century before the main saga, a humble hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his squire Egg (the future King Aegon V) roam a less politically fraught Westeros. Their adventures are lighter in tone, packed with heart, tournaments, and quiet revelations that enrich House histories and foreshadow later events.
The World of Ice & Fire (2014) — George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García Jr., Linda Antonsson
- Summary: An illustrated encyclopedia of the world, spanning the Dawn Age to Robert’s Rebellion, with sections on the Seven Kingdoms, Essos, major houses, timelines, artifacts, and myth. Ideal as a reference between chapters or between books; it clarifies context without replacing the main narrative.
Fire & Blood, Volume 1 (2018) — George R. R. Martin
- Summary: A “maester’s chronicle” of House Targaryen from Aegon’s Conquest to the end of the Dance of the Dragons. Framed as in-world history, it reads differently from the novels—more archival and sometimes contradictory—making it a fascinating companion for fans of dragons, succession politics, and the show House of the Dragon.
FAQs
Are there 5 or 7 books in Game of Thrones?
There are 5 published main novels in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, which most readers call the Game of Thrones books. George R. R. Martin has planned 7 main novels in total.
The remaining two—The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring—do not have official release dates as of 2025. In addition, several companion works expand the lore.
What is the correct order to read Game of Thrones books?
Read the main series in publication order:
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons Then continue with The Winds of Winter when it’s released, followed by A Dream of Spring. Optional companions—Dunk and Egg, The World of Ice & Fire, and Fire & Blood—fit comfortably after you’ve started the main novels.
Why are The Winds of Winter delayed?
The series’ scope and complexity require extensive drafting, restructuring, and rewrites to keep dozens of POV threads coherent and satisfying. George R. R. Martin also balances other commitments (like editorial work, adaptations, and companion histories), which can slow progress.
As of 2025, there’s no official release date. The most reliable updates come directly from the author’s website.
Is Game of Thrones a hard read?
It’s moderately challenging. The prose is clear, but the cast is large, timelines interweave, and political dynamics are intricate. Mature themes and moral ambiguity add weight. Many first-time readers find success with:
- A character list or app-based guide at hand
- Referring to maps for travel arcs
- Taking a short break between books to reset
- Choosing audiobooks if dense chapters feel slow
Reading Tips, Editions, and Audiobooks
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Tips for new readers:
- Start with A Game of Thrones and commit through A Clash of Kings before deciding if the series is for you; the world blossoms after the foundations are set.
- Don’t worry if you can’t memorize every house sigil—focus on POV characters and their immediate stakes.
- Use a spoiler-free companion map to track journeys; geography matters to strategy and pacing.
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Recommended editions:
- Standard paperbacks are portable and affordable for binge reading.
- Hardcovers and illustrated editions (select volumes) are great for collectors and visual learners.
- Box sets help you keep the first five together; eBooks offer built-in dictionaries and search.
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Audiobooks:
- US releases are narrated by Roy Dotrice for the first five novels, noted for distinct character voices.
- Sample the audiobook before committing; some listeners prefer alternating print and audio to maintain momentum during travel or chores.
Sources, Further Reading, and Where to Buy
Retailers and libraries
- Major retailers: Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones
- Audiobooks: Audible, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Libro.fm
- Libraries: Check OverDrive/Libby or Hoopla for digital loans of the Game of Thrones books
Related reading on our site
- A Song of Ice and Fire reading order (deep dive)
- House Targaryen timeline and the Dance of the Dragons explained
- Differences between the Game of Thrones TV show and the books
- Dunk and Egg reading order and where it fits
Conclusion
Whether you call them the Game of Thrones books or A Song of Ice and Fire, the core experience is the same: a sweeping, character-driven epic where every victory has a price. Read in publication order, use companions to enrich (not replace) the story, and keep an eye on the author’s site for The Winds of Winter updates. When the cold winds rise, you’ll be ready.
