A Game of Thrones
Score Modern
What it's about
Lord Eddard Stark rules the cold North and wants nothing to do with the royal court. Then his old friend King Robert names him Hand of the King, and Ned rides south into a capital full of schemers, where honor is a weakness and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. His family splits, treachery spreads, and across the sea the exiled heir of the deposed Dragon King has come of age and wants the Iron Throne back.
Why it's worth reading
It's the book that remade modern fantasy: grown-up politics, characters you love who aren't safe, and a world that feels as solid as history. It was a Nebula Award finalist and has spent 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2011.
You'll love it if you liked
The Eye of the World, The Fifth Season or Red Rising
Good to know
It's the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire, and the series isn't finished. It's long, violent and has a big cast, but the chapters follow one character at a time, which makes it easy to keep track.
Quick answers
Is A Game of Thrones worth reading?
Yes. It's the book that remade modern fantasy: grown-up politics, characters you love who aren't safe, and a world that feels as solid as history. It ranks #4 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 96.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Game of Thrones about?
Lord Eddard Stark rules the cold North and wants nothing to do with the royal court. Then his old friend King Robert names him Hand of the King, and Ned rides south into a capital full of schemers, where honor is a weakness and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. His family splits, treachery spreads, and across the sea the exiled heir of the deposed Dragon King has come of age and wants the Iron Throne back.
How long does it take to read A Game of Thrones?
About 17 hours (694 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Game of Thrones?
If you liked it, try The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin or Red Rising by Pierce Brown.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics82 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller96 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Nebula Award finalist (1997). On the PBS Great American Read list.
Where it ranks
- #2 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #2 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #4 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- 150 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2011
Shortlisted
- Nebula Award finalist (1997)
- Hugo Award finalist (2012, for A Dance with Dragons)
On the lists
- PBS Great American Read
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
