Game of Thrones

A lot of people think the books are better. They go deeper into the characters and include way more detail. You also get inside people’s heads, which the show can’t really do.

But the show was great early on. It brought the world to life and made it easier to follow. The later seasons felt rushed, though. And the books aren’t finished yet, so there’s no full ending to compare. So it depends on what you want.

The main A Song of Ice and Fire series doesn't have to be read in a complicated order. Just follow the publication order, which is the most straightforward way to go. Here's the list:

1. A Game of Thrones (1996)
2. A Clash of Kings (1998)
3. A Storm of Swords (2000)
4. A Feast for Crows (2005)
5. A Dance with Dragons (2011)

That's the core five books published so far. A sixth book, The Winds of Winter, is still being written, and a seventh, A Dream of Spring, is planned to finish the series.

A quick heads-up about books four and five: they happen around the same time but follow different characters. Some readers like to read them together in one big combined order, but reading them one after the other works fine too.

If you want to explore the world beyond the main story, there are a few other books you can read after the main series. They're optional, but they add a lot of history and lore:

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: This is a collection of three novellas about a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg. They're set about 90 years before A Game of Thrones. A good place to start if you want more stories in the world but something a bit lighter.

Fire & Blood: This is a history book about House Targaryen, written from an in-universe perspective. It covers the events that lead up to the main series and is the basis for the House of the Dragon TV show. It reads more like a real history book, so it's best saved for after you're already invested in the world.

The World of Ice & Fire: This is an illustrated reference book that acts as a comprehensive guide to the history and geography of Westeros. Another one for deep lore enthusiasts.