For readers searching for the game of thrones books in order, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire saga currently consists of five published novels, with two additional books planned for the main story. The series begins with A Game of Thrones and continues through A Dance with Dragons, while The Winds of Winter remains the highly anticipated sixth installment without a confirmed publication date as of the latest update.
The Complete A Song of Ice and Fire Reading Order
The best way to experience Martin’s main saga is to read the published novels in publication order. Each book builds on the characters, political conflicts, family histories, and mysteries introduced previously.
The main sequence is:
- A Game of Thrones — 1996
- A Clash of Kings — 1998
- A Storm of Swords — 2000
- A Feast for Crows — 2005
- A Dance with Dragons — 2011
- The Winds of Winter — forthcoming
- A Dream of Spring — planned
Only the first five books are currently available as completed main-series novels.
1. A Game of Thrones
The story begins in Westeros
Published in 1996, A Game of Thrones introduces readers to Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms, and the powerful families competing for influence and survival.
The Stark family is at the heart of the opening story. Lord Eddard Stark becomes increasingly involved in the dangerous political world surrounding the Iron Throne, while his children begin journeys that eventually take them in very different directions.
At the same time, the book establishes several seemingly separate storylines. Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch at the Wall, Daenerys Targaryen begins life in exile across the Narrow Sea, and rumors of supernatural dangers in the far North gradually become harder to ignore.
One of Martin’s most distinctive choices is the use of multiple viewpoint characters. Instead of telling the entire story through one protagonist, the novel moves between different characters, allowing readers to see the same world from competing perspectives.
The result is a fantasy novel that combines political intrigue, family conflict, warfare, romance, mystery, and supernatural elements.
2. A Clash of Kings
Westeros falls deeper into war
The second novel, A Clash of Kings, was published in 1998 and dramatically increases the scale of the conflict.
Following the upheaval of the first book, multiple factions compete for control of Westeros. Claims to the Iron Throne become increasingly complicated, while alliances form and collapse as different leaders attempt to secure their positions.
The story also expands beyond the political center of King’s Landing. Readers spend more time with characters traveling across Westeros and Essos, while Jon Snow’s experiences north of the Wall reveal more about the threats developing there.
Daenerys’ storyline also continues to evolve as she attempts to understand her position and prepare for a possible return to Westeros.
The second novel makes it clear that the series is not simply a traditional battle between good and evil. Characters have conflicting motivations, and political decisions frequently produce unexpected consequences.
3. A Storm of Swords
One of the saga’s biggest turning points
Published in 2000, A Storm of Swords is the third novel and one of the most consequential installments in the entire saga.
The political struggles become increasingly dangerous, while several major characters face decisions that permanently change their futures. Battles, betrayals, shifting alliances, and personal revelations dominate the narrative.
The book also pushes several major storylines toward dramatic turning points. The struggle among the leading political factions becomes more complicated, Daenerys continues building her power overseas, and the threat surrounding the Wall becomes increasingly significant.
For readers familiar with the television adaptation, this novel contains material that became particularly important during the middle portion of HBO’s Game of Thrones.
However, the book should be treated as its own story rather than simply a written version of the television series. Martin’s characters and plotlines frequently take different directions.
4. A Feast for Crows
The aftermath changes the story
A Feast for Crows arrived in 2005, five years after A Storm of Swords.
The fourth novel has a noticeably different structure. Rather than immediately returning to every major character introduced in the earlier books, Martin concentrates on a particular group of viewpoints and locations.
This allows the novel to explore the consequences of the wars and political upheavals that have already taken place.
Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Brienne of Tarth, Samwell Tarly, and other characters receive substantial attention. Their experiences reveal a Westeros struggling to recover while new political and religious tensions emerge.
The book also gives readers a deeper look at the consequences of prolonged warfare. Victories do not necessarily create stability, and the collapse of old power structures creates opportunities for ambitious new players.
For some readers, the slower and more reflective nature of A Feast for Crows can feel different from the previous installments. Nevertheless, it contains important developments that become increasingly relevant to the larger story.
5. A Dance with Dragons
The latest published main novel
Published in 2011, A Dance with Dragons is currently the newest completed main-series novel.
The fifth book returns to several important characters who were largely absent from A Feast for Crows, including Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and Bran Stark.
The story moves between Westeros and Essos as various characters struggle with political instability, military threats, personal conflicts, and uncertain futures.
The novel also brings several previously separated storylines closer together, although it does not provide a complete conclusion.
Instead, readers are left with numerous unresolved questions. Several major characters face uncertain circumstances, and multiple storylines stop at points designed to continue into the next book.
That unresolved ending is one of the major reasons anticipation for The Winds of Winter remains so strong.
Why A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons Can Be Confusing
New readers sometimes wonder why the fourth and fifth books do not follow every character in a straightforward sequence.
The reason is that Martin divided the material by viewpoint and location during the development of the novels. As a result, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons cover overlapping periods in the overall chronology.
Some fan-created reading guides recommend switching between chapters from both books to create a combined chronological experience. That approach is generally unnecessary for first-time readers.
For a normal first read, the easiest approach is to finish A Feast for Crows and then read A Dance with Dragons in full.
The publication order preserves the structure in which the novels were released and avoids constantly moving between two separate books.
The Winds of Winter: Latest Status
The biggest unanswered question surrounding the series remains The Winds of Winter.
The sixth novel has been in development for many years, but it has not been published. There is currently no confirmed release date.
The latest developments in 2026 have not produced a publication announcement. Martin has continued discussing his workload and writing life, but fans still do not have a firm date for the arrival of the sixth novel.
The wait has now become exceptionally long. A Dance with Dragons was released in 2011, meaning more than 15 years have passed since the last main-series novel reached readers.
Martin has also continued working on projects connected to the wider Westeros universe, including television adaptations and other creative work. That has kept the world active in popular culture even while the central book series remains unfinished.
Readers should therefore be cautious about social-media posts or unofficial reports claiming that The Winds of Winter has suddenly received a release date.
Until an official announcement is made, the sixth book should be regarded as forthcoming rather than scheduled.
What Is A Dream of Spring?
A Dream of Spring is intended to be the seventh and final novel of the main series.
It is planned to follow The Winds of Winter, meaning readers should not expect it to arrive before the sixth book.
Because The Winds of Winter remains unpublished, there is no confirmed publication schedule for A Dream of Spring either.
The planned seven-book structure means the central saga is currently incomplete. Readers who begin the series today can finish the five available novels, but they will still be waiting for the conclusion.
Are There More Books Set in the Same World?
Yes. Martin has created several companion works that expand the history of Westeros and the wider world.
These books are not replacements for the main novels, but they can provide additional background for readers who want to explore the setting more deeply.
Fire & Blood
Fire & Blood explores the history of House Targaryen long before the events of A Game of Thrones.
Written as a fictional historical account, the book covers generations of Targaryen rulers and major events involving the dynasty.
It is especially useful for readers interested in dragons, the Targaryen succession, and the earlier history of Westeros.
The book also became an important source for HBO’s House of the Dragon.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms collects three stories featuring Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk, and his young companion Egg.
These stories take place roughly a century before the main saga and offer a different perspective on Westeros.
The tone is generally more intimate and adventurous than the enormous political narrative of the main novels. The stories are useful companion reading for anyone who wants to explore another period of Martin’s fictional history.
The World of Ice & Fire
The World of Ice & Fire is a companion reference work that explores the history, geography, cultures, and major families of Martin’s fictional world.
It is particularly appealing to readers who enjoy the lore behind the main story.
Unlike the five core novels, however, it is not required reading to understand the central narrative.
Should You Read the Companion Books First?
For someone discovering the series for the first time, the main novels are the best place to begin.
Start with A Game of Thrones and continue through A Dance with Dragons. After that, readers can explore Fire & Blood, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, or The World of Ice & Fire depending on which parts of the universe interest them most.
Starting with the companion books can make the reading experience more complicated because they focus on historical periods far removed from the main story.
The main five novels provide the clearest introduction to Westeros, its families, political system, supernatural mysteries, and major characters.
How the Books Differ From the HBO Series
Although the television series made the world of Westeros globally famous, the books are not identical to the show.
The novels contain more characters, additional political factions, different relationships, and numerous storylines that were changed or removed during adaptation.
Martin’s use of multiple viewpoints also gives readers direct access to characters’ thoughts and motivations in a way television cannot reproduce in the same manner.
The differences become increasingly important as the story progresses. The television series eventually moved beyond the published novels, meaning the ending shown on screen should not automatically be treated as a direct representation of how Martin’s books will conclude.
For that reason, even people who have watched every season of Game of Thrones can discover substantial new material by reading the novels.
How Many Main Books Are Available Right Now?
There are currently five published novels in the central series:
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
Two more books are planned:
- The Winds of Winter
- A Dream of Spring
The distinction between published and planned books is important. Readers may see lists describing the series as seven books, but only five have actually been released.
Best Reading Strategy for New Readers
For someone starting the saga today, the simplest approach remains publication order.
Read the five novels consecutively without trying to reorganize chapters based on fan-created timelines.
Once the main books are complete, decide whether you want to explore the history of the Targaryens, the Dunk and Egg adventures, or the broader lore of the world.
This approach keeps the central narrative easy to follow while leaving the companion material available as additional reading.
Final Reading Order
If you want the game of thrones books in order, follow this sequence:
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
- The Winds of Winter — not yet published
- A Dream of Spring — planned
The five available novels form the foundation of the saga. The final two remain the major pieces still missing from Martin’s planned seven-book story.
As of the latest update, there is still no confirmed publication date for The Winds of Winter. That makes the series an unusual reading experience: readers can explore thousands of pages of one of modern fantasy’s most influential worlds, but the main story remains unfinished.
Have a favorite book, character, or theory about where the story goes next? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for future updates from the world of Westeros.