How to read A Song of Ice and Fire books in order

A Song of Ice and Fire is one of the biggest fantasy stories of all time, and if you want to read it, there are a few things you need to know.

An Introduction to the Game of Thrones books

What many people know as the Game of Thrones, thanks to the highly successful TV show, is, in fact, called A Song of Ice and Fire. It is a story written by George R.R. Martin, and the series started in 1996. It is an epic fantasy series, and the first book is called A Game of Thrones. While initially, G.R.R. Martin planned for it to be a trilogy, the story grew, and it is planned for it to have seven novels at the moment.

Author of the books

The author of the series is George Raymond Richard Martin, but many people know him as GRRM. He was born in 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey, and A Song of Ice and Fire is his most famous series. He received numerous awards, and fans from all over the world are eager to know how the story ends. Of course, they could see the version of the ending in the HBO series Game of Thrones, which ran between 2011 and 2019.

Discovering the writing of George R. R. Martin

If you are interested in reading G.R.R. Martin’s stories, A Song of Ice and Fire is just one of many options you can explore. He published his first story in 1971, and it was called The Hero. Over the years, Martin experimented with different genres. His first novel came out in 1977, it’s called Dying of the Light, and it is a science fiction story. Fevre Dream focuses on vampires, The Armageddon Rag is a mystery novel, and there are many great books to read.

In what order should I read A Song of Ice and Fire series?

Of course, if you want to start with the biggest story Martin wrote, you should still know a proper reading order. This is the best way to learn more about Essos, the House of Stark, Jon Snow, the Iron Throne, Winterfell, King Aegon, Wildlings, the Night’s Watch, Lannisters, Daenerys Targaryen, Greyjoys, and all other characters, is by starting at the beginning. Each chapter is from a different point of view, and you will get to see the world through the eyes of Sansa Stark, Bran Stark, Arya Stark, Cersei, Jaime Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, and others, and learn about Joffrey Baratheon, the War of the Five Kings, and so on.

Publication order of A Song of Ice and Fire books

There are currently five books in the series.

• 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 (TBA)
• A Dream of Spring (TBA)

The last two books in the series are not yet published, and it remains to be seen when they will come out. Martin claims he is near the end of The Winds of Winter, but there is still no release date. The only thing fans can do is continue waiting and hoping that the next book will arrive soon.

Chronological order of A Song of Ice and Fire books

Those that are interested in exploring the world described in A Song of Ice and Fire series can choose to focus solely on novels or go for the other books included in it. And both options are good. But if you want to experience the story in a chronological event, you will not start with A Game of Thrones. This means that the story will start even before Eddard Stark is born. But it will give you more details about the history of the Targaryen and the Kingdoms of Westeros.

• Fire and Blood (2018)
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015)
• 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)

While the main series follows the events in chronological order, Fire and Blood and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are prequel stories, and the events happening before A Game of Thrones book. Fire and Blood is also the main inspiration behind the House of the Dragon prequel series. The series and the book explore the early days of the House Targaryen. And parts of the show are set in King’s Landing.

A Song of Ice and Fire: the novellas & companions books

There are also a couple of novellas and companion books that expand the story of A Song of Ice and Fire even further, and they are worth checking out while you are waiting for The Winds of Winter.

• The Hedge Knight (1998)
• The Sworn Sword (2003)
• The Mystery Knight (2010)
• The Princess and the Queen (2013)
• The World of Ice & Fire (2014)
• The Rogue Prince (2014)
• The Sons of the Dragon (2017)

It is worth mentioning that The Princess and the Queen is also known as the Blacks and the Greens, and The Rogue Prince is also titled a King’s Brother. The Hedge Knight was published in Tales of Dunk and Egg, and The World of Ice and Fire is a reference book.

A Song of Ice and Fire audiobooks

One of the simplest ways to go through the entire story is to listen to audiobooks. And there are a few ways to do it. Needless to say, listening to audiobooks and learning about the Targaryen dynasty and stories will help you avoid spoilers.

Listen to more fantasy fiction with Speechify

Speechify is one of the best platforms for listening to audiobooks, and it is easy to use. You can install it on any type of device you have, regardless of the operating system. The app also offers a rich library you can explore, filled with not only fantasy but other genres as well. Whether you wish to listen to crime novels by Charlaine Harris or romance reads by Nora Roberts, you’ll never run out of something exciting to read with Speechify. Speechify also offers the latest titles, as well as all-time classics. Whether you want bestsellers or the newest additions, Speechify Audiobooks is the best available option. Download the app today and listen to your first premium audiobook, such as The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones, for free.

FAQ

How many books are in A Song of Ice and Fire series?

There are currently five books in the book series, and two are on the way. However, there is no publication date for either of the forthcoming books.

What is the first book in the Game of Thrones series?

A Game of Thrones book is the first story in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It is also the name of the TV show adaptation.

Which book is the longest in A Song of Ice and Fire series?

The longest book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series is A Dance with Dragons, which was published in 2011. The book has 1056 pages, but Martin claims that the upcoming The Winds of Winter will be even longer.