So you want to dive into Westeros. You’ve probably seen the dragons on HBO, heard the "Winter is Coming" memes for a decade, and now you’re ready for the heavy lifting—the actual ink-and-paper meat of the story. But then you look at the shelf. There are the five "main" books. Then there’s a giant textbook about Targaryens. Then there’s a collection of stories about a tall knight and a bald kid.
It’s a lot. Naturally, your brain says, "Hey, let's just do this logically. Let's find the game of thrones books chronological order and start at the beginning of history."
Honestly? That might be the worst way to experience this world for the first time.
Don't get me wrong. I love a good timeline. But George R.R. Martin didn't write these things like a straight line. He wrote them like a puzzle. If you start with the "earliest" events, you're basically reading a fake history book before you even know why the world matters. It’s like studying the architectural blueprints of a house before you’ve even walked through the front door.
The Literal Timeline: From Aegon to Jon Snow
If you are absolutely dead-set on reading everything in the order it happened—maybe you’re on a re-read or you just like suffering—here is how the history of Westeros actually flows.
The Targaryen Era (300 to 150 years before the show)
Basically, everything starts with Fire & Blood. Now, keep in mind, this isn't a novel. It’s written by a fictional "Archmaester" who is piecing together history from different (and often lying) sources. It starts with Aegon the Conqueror burning everything to the ground to unite the Seven Kingdoms and ends midway through the Targaryen dynasty. If you’ve watched House of the Dragon, this is your source material. It covers the "Dance of the Dragons" civil war in brutal detail.
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The Dunk and Egg Years (90 years before the show)
Next up is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. This is a collection of three novellas: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. These are fantastic. They are much lighter in tone than the main series—sort of. It follows a massive, honest knight named Dunk and his squire, Egg. Small spoiler: Egg is actually Prince Aegon Targaryen, who eventually becomes King Aegon V. These stories are essential because they show you what Westeros looks like when it's "peaceful," which makes the later chaos feel much heavier.
The War of the Five Kings (The "Main" Story)
Finally, you hit the books everyone knows. This is where the game of thrones books chronological order gets slightly messy because the last two books actually happen at the same time.
- A Game of Thrones (The start of it all)
- A Clash of Kings (The war kicks off)
- A Storm of Swords (The one where everyone dies)
- A Feast for Crows / A Dance with Dragons
Wait, why are those last two together? Basically, the fourth book, A Feast for Crows, only follows half the characters (mostly in the South and the Iron Islands). The fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, follows the other half (Jon, Tyrion, Daenerys) during that same window of time. Eventually, Dance overtakes Feast and moves the whole story forward.
Why the "True" Chronological Order is Kind of a Mess
If you pick up Fire & Blood first, you are going to be hit with a wall of names that sound identical. Aegon, Aemon, Aemond, Aegon II, Aegon III. It’s a lot. Without the context of the main books, these people are just names on a page.
In A Game of Thrones, when a character mentions "The Mad King" or "Rhaegar," it’s a mystery. You’re uncovering the past along with the characters. If you read chronologically, you already know the ending of the mystery. It sucks the air out of the room.
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The same goes for the novellas. Seeing a young, innocent "Egg" is only powerful because you know the tragedy of what happens to his descendants 90 years later.
The "Master" Chronological Reading Order
If you really want to be a completionist and you’ve already read the series once, there is a way to blend the books. This is the "God Mode" of the game of thrones books chronological order.
Some fans have created lists like "Boiled Leather" or "A Feast with Dragons." These are custom chapter-by-chapter reading orders that weave A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons into one giant, 2,000-page mega-novel. It fixes the timeline issues, but man, it is a physical workout just flipping between the two books on your lap.
The "All-In" List
- Fire & Blood (The first half of the Targaryen history)
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (The Dunk and Egg tales)
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows AND A Dance with Dragons (Read concurrently using a fan guide)
What About the "World of Ice and Fire"?
There’s also a big coffee table book called The World of Ice & Fire. Do not—I repeat, do not—try to "read" this in chronological order with the rest. It covers everything from the dawn of time to the current era. It’s a reference guide. Use it when you forget who the Lannisters’ great-grandfather was, but don’t try to slot it into a reading marathon. You’ll burn out before you hit the first dragon.
Actionable Tips for New Readers
If you’re just starting, forget the timeline for a second. Start with A Game of Thrones. It was published in 1996 for a reason. It’s the hook.
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Once you finish the third book, A Storm of Swords, that is the perfect time to take a "history break." Read A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms then. It’ll give you a breather from the trauma of the main plot and give you much-needed context for the political mess that happens in books four and five.
Save Fire & Blood for the very end. It’s the dessert. Or maybe the homework you actually enjoy once you’re already obsessed with the subject.
To keep it simple:
- Buy the main five books first.
- If you find yourself wondering "Wait, who are these Targaryens anyway?", grab Fire & Blood.
- If you want a story that feels more like a classic knight adventure, go with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
No matter what order you choose, just remember: George still hasn't finished The Winds of Winter. So, take your time. You've got plenty of it.
Your next move: Pick up a copy of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Even if you've seen the show, these stories are the most underrated parts of Martin's world and will change how you view the entire Targaryen bloodline.