This contains spoilers for all books
North of the wall, a group of rangers encounter dead wildlings, frozen in their sleep, though it had not been cold enough. They go to investigate and are met by the Others, pale ice creatures who slay their leader. He rises after and kills the youngest. The last, Gared, flees.
On the way back from watching the execution of Gared who had lost his mind to fear, Robb and Jon find direwolf pups, one for each Stark. Jon convinces Ned to let them keep them, claiming they were sent by the Old Gods as their number match the Stark children. Jon claims to hear a noise and finds a sixth Direwolf, a mute white one, apparently driven away from the others.
In Winterfell, Ned learns that Jon Arryn, the Hand is dead and that King Robert and his entourage are journeying to Winterfell. He offers Ned the job and proposes Joffrey and Sansa marry, as he and Lyanna were due to. Sansa immediately falls for with Joffrey. Jon decides to join the Watch.
Catelyn receives a letter from Lysa claiming the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn and tells Ned he must accept the position. While most of the adults are hunting, Bran sees Jaime and Cersei having sex through their window and is tossed to the ground by Jaime, crippling him. Jon gives Arya a sword, before he leaves with Ben and Tyrion who has decided to go and have a look at the wall.
On the way south, Arya and Joffrey quarrel after she saves Mycah from him. Nymeria has to save her and she humiliates Joffrey by throwing his sword away. Lady is killed for this, by Ned at Cersei's orders after Sansa refuses to tell the truth about what happened. Mycah is killed by Sandor Clegane, earning Arya's hatred. In Winterfell, a knifeman, armed with Valyrian steel, tries to kill Bran, but he is saved by Catelyn and Summer. He wakes after dreaming of a three eyed crow.
Catelyn heads for King's Landing to tell Ned of the attempt on Bran's life, where she is met by Petyr. He claims the dagger was Tyrion's, won in a bet that Jaime would be defeated. Ned hires Syrio Forel to teach Arya the sword. Catching cats in order to improve her balance and agility, Arya gets lost and overhears Varys and Illyrio plotting together and talking about whether the hand must die.
Catelyn encounters Tyrion on her way back north and abducts him, taking him to her sister at the Eyrie. While breastfeeding the six year old Lord Robert, she accuses him of Jon Arryn's murder. He eventually chooses trial by combat, a sellsword, Bronn met on the way being his defender. After victory, they are put on the road for the clans to kill, but Tyrion survives by promising them better weapons
In Pentos, Ilyrio Mopiatis aranges the sale and wedding of Daenerys Targaryen to Khal Drogo in return for vague promises of aid to Viserys. The exciled knight Jorah Mormont offers Viserys his services, whilst spying on them for Varys. On the way to Vaes Dothrak, Mormont changes allegience to her. She goes into the open air to get pregnant under the stars, becoming bolder and more confident, beating back Viserys herself when he attacks her.
Robert orders Dany assasinated when he hears she is pregnant causing Eddard to resign. Jaime and his men attack Ned. They wound Ned and kill Jory. Jaime flees Kings Landing, and Robert insist it goes no further, re-instating Ned before going hunting. Lannister men, under the control of Gregor Clegane attack the riverlands, apparently in retaliation for Tyrion's capture. Ned sends Beric Dondarion and Thoros of Myr to put an end to it. He also decides to send Arya and Sansa back to Winterfell, prompting Sansa to run straight to Cersei and tell. Ned realises that Cersei's children are illegitimate and that Jaime is the true father and warns her to leave.
Robert dies shortly after, from a Cersei induced hunting accident with the aid of Lancel, naming Ned protector and rescinding his order to kill Dany and her child. Renly flees after Ned turns down his offer to help by taking Joffrey into protective custody. Barristan is also taken after hesitating when ordered to arrest Ned.
Ned agrees to take the black and renounce his claims of incest on advice from Varys so as to save Sansa, but is executed on Joffrey's orders. Barristan is stripped of his cloak and flees after Joffrey sends guardsmen to arrest him. Sandor takes his place in the kingsguard though he refuses to swear knights vows and Jaime is named Lord Commander. Joffrey orders the kingsguard to hit Sansa, which they do, except for Sandor and Jaime who is not present.
Robb and his lords march to war to free Ned. He agrees to marry a daughter of Walder Frey, amongst other things to pass the Twins and win the Freys to his cause. In Riverun, Robb is proclaimed king in the north after they learn of Ned's death. Jaime is captured in battle and Tyrion sent to King's Landing to act as hand.
Arya flees Kingslanding, killing a stableboy who tries to stop her and is caught by Yoren, who takes her with him.. Goldcloaks come to arrest Gendry, but are forced away. She dreams of danger and wakes to find they are under attack by Ser Amory. Yoren refuses to yield and a fight ensues, during which Arya kills a number of the men after them. They are forced to flee, but she pauses to give Jaqen an axe to free him and the two chained with him from fire which threatens them.
Yoren is killed, Lommy injured and the children are abandoned by the remaining adults. Gendry tells Arya he has realised she is a girl and she tells him who she is. They are captured amd Lommy is killed as he cannot walk. Needle taken from Arya.
Tyrion arrives at Joff’s nameday tourney where Dontos turns up drunk. Sansa stops Joff from having him killed and instead suggests he should be made a fool. He meets with Janos and sends him to the wall for his part in killing Ned, and his general coruption.
Tyrion learns Varys knew about the incest but kept the secret to himself. Sansa meets Dontos in the Godswood, where he promises to help her escape. Tyrion visits Hallyne and orders wildfire and sets the town's smiths making a chain. He sends Cersei's redcloaks to Riverrun with Cleos as part of a plot to free Jaime. He humiliates Ser Alliser when he asks for men for the Wall.
Tyrion threatens to tell Joffrey that Lancel killed Robert in order to bed Cersei, at which Lancel agrees to be Tyrion's spy on Cersei. Joff has Sansa beaten and stripped because he learns Robb beat Ser Stafford Lannister. Tyrion stops it and promises her he will send her home once the North is won. He learns that the Tyrells and their bannermen have not gone over to Stannis and reasons they might be won to the Lannister cause. Petyr travels to do the work. Myrcella is sent to Dorne as part of the agreement to win Dorne. Cersei sends Tommen to Lord Gyles to keep him away from Tyrion. Lancel warns Tyrion who has Jacelyn Bywater intercept them on the way. Tyrion decides to take Shae to court as Lollys’ maid.
Arya is taken to Harrenhal with other captives. She sees Jaqen, Rorge and Biter with Ser Amory's men when they arrive at the castle. Jaqen recognises her and tells her she has three deaths as she took three from the Red God. He refuses to help her more than that. She chooses Chyswick and Weese as the first two. Northern captives arrive in Harrenhall but Lord Cley, the only one likely to recognise her dies.
She chooses Jaqen as her third death and makes him help her free the captives in return for unsaying his name. He tells that because men died when the Northerners were freed, she has had her three and that he has to die. By some magic he changes his appearance totally, telling her she could learn, but would have to come with him. He gives her a coin and tells her to show it to any man from Braavos and use the phrase "Valar Morghulis" if she should ever wish to find him again. Roose Bolton arrives to take charge, having done a deal with the Brave Companions, who change sides. Ser Amory is thrown into the bear pit. Arya is taken on as Roose's page, but doesn't like him and convinces Gendry and Hot Pie to escape with her, killing one of Bolton's men in order to get out.
Meera and Jojen arrive in Winterfell and repledge the loyalty of House Reed. Jojen says he was sent to Bran in a dream and encourages him to open his third eye. He tells Bran he has prophetic dreams and tells him of one. Jojen claims the sea will come to Winterfell and drown many.
Theon arrives in the Iron Islands to find his father doesn't trust him and they argue. He is humiliated by his sister who he unwittingly tries to bed. He sends Dagmar to Torrhen's square as a diversion, to get Ser Rodrick away from Winterfell, which he takes. Osha and Ramsey Snow, who is in prison masquerading as a serving man swear to him. Bran and Rickon flee with Osha and the Reeds and Theon is unable to find them.
Ramsey suggest killing two boys of a similar age and pretending it is Bran and Rickon. Theon does this, later killing his own men to cover his crime and is plagued by unwelcome thoughts of what Ned would have thought of it. Winterfell comes under seige when Ser Rodrick returns. Ramsey says he might be able to win Bolton support so Theon sends him off. When he returns, he kills the Northmen and the Iron Islanders, taking both by surprise, killing all the men in Winterfell. After they leave, Meera and Jojen, who had been hiding in the crypts, take Bran North with Hodor and Osha goes off with Rickon. Catelyn hears that Bran and Rickon are dead and takes Brienne to see Jaime, where they talk.
Cressen decides Melisandre is a bad influence on Stannis and prepares poison. Both drink it, but only he dies. Stannis and Melisandre burn the Sept at Dragonstone. He takes a burned sword from the fire and calls it Lightbringer. Stannis sends letters telling everyone about Cersei’s incest.
Robb sends Catelyn to meet with Renly. When she arrives, she watches Brienne win the mellee, beating Loras with a trick to take the last place in Renly's Rainbowguard. She tries to talk Renly into a council to decide who should be king when she learns of the incest, but he is not interested. They return to his tent but while she and Brienne are with him, he is killed by a shadow. She convinces Robar that Brienne is not to blame and they flee. Brienne swears her sword to Catelyn. They arrive in Riverrun, where they see Lannister men, hanged for trying to free Jaime.
Many of Renly's men go over to Stannis. Stannis goes on to Storm's End where he demands Edric, but Cortney Penrose refuses to hand him over, offering single combat instead. Davos rows Melisandre near to Storm's End and watches as she gives birth to a shadow Stannis which kills Cortney and Stannis takes the castle.
Stannis' fleet sails and is blocked from retreat by a chain raised across the river. It is then burnt by wildfire. Tyrion leads sorties to help defend the city. Ser Mandon attacks and nearly kills Tyrion, but he is saved by Pod. Sandor deserts, unable to cope with all the fire. Stannis' army is smashed from both sides by Tyrells and Lannisters. Joff agrees to put aside Sansa and marry Maergery, Petyr is named Lord Paramount of the Trident. Tyrion wakes and sets Bronn to find out about Ser Mandon. He visits Tywin and asks to be acknowledged as heir. Tywin refuses. To win the vale, Petyr agrees to marry Lysa and miss Joffrey's wedding. Tyrion is set as Master of Coin.
Davos survives and returns to Dragonstone where he is arrested by Ser Axell as he intends to kill Melisandre. Ser Alester joins him for trying to negotiate a surrender and to marry Shireen to Tommen. Davos is made a Lord and also Hand, so learns to read. Melisandre wants to burn Edric, but Stannis refuses and they throw leeches on a fire to represent the false kings.
Sansa visits Maergery. While Butterbumps makes a lot of noise, she tells Ollena the truth about Joffrey. They say they wish to marry her to Willas. She worries that Loras will kill Joffrey if he hurts Maergery and of course, blabs to Dontos she is to marry Willas. When it is revealed that Sansa and Willas are to wed, Tyrion is told to marry Sansa and Cersei to marry Willas. Joffrey tells her he'll have her anyway and insists on a bedding ceremony. Tyrion refuses and threatens to geld him. He decides to wait until Sansa is ready and willing before consumating the marriage. The Tyrells refuse to marry Cersei. The Dornish arrive and Tyrion is dismayed that Oberyn has come, not Doran and that he has brought Ellaria. Oberyn says he is there for justice.
Brienne and Cleos take Jaime, who Catelyn has released for his oath that he will return Arya and Sansa back to Kingslanding. Jaime attacks Brienne with his sword. He expects to win easily, but is amazed that she is stronger than him. The Brave Companions catch them fighting and chop of Jaime's sword hand. He decides to die until Brienne accuses him of cowardice. He tells her how he killed Aerys to save King's Landing from his madness. They talk with Roose. He tells them Robb has lost and should bend knee. He sends Jaime on and keeps Brienne in Harrenhal. On the way, he dreams of Brienne and decides to go back for her. She is in the bear pit and he jumps in, forcing Bolton's men to kill the bear to save him.
When Robb returns to Riverrun, the Freys leave and Catelyn learns he is married. She encourages him to send away Jeyne's uncle, Ser Rolph when she learns Grey Wind doesn't like him. Robb is furious with Edmure for attacking Tywin and ruining his plans. Willem Lannister and Tion Frey are murdered by Rickard Karstark, who is executed by Robb, losing the Karstark men. Lord Hoster dies and Edmure agrees to marry a Frey to salvage their alliegence. Robb tells Catelyn Jon is to be his heir and had his lords fix their seal to his decision on who is to succeed him. He sends some of his men north as part of his plan to retake Moat Cailin.
At the Twins, Grey Wind growls at the Freys and is left outside. Black Walder and Ser Ryman are unfriendly. Edmure likes Roslin, but she is not happy. They learn Perwyn and Olyvar, her full siblings who had spent a lot of time with Robb are away. After the bedding, the Freys turn. Robb is killed as is Catelyn after she murders Jinglebells, one of Lord Frey's grandchildren.
Arya dreams she is a wolf, killing mummers. She is captured by the Brotherhood. Harwin arrives and she reveals who she truly is, at which they decide she is a hostage. Hot Pie stays behind when they leave. Other men return with Sandor as a prisoner. They have no crime to accuse him of till Arya brings up Mycah. Beric decides on trial by combat, asking R'hllor to take sides. He cuts himself and his sword takes fire. He is winning until his sword breaks and Sandor kills him, being burnt in the process. Thoros brings Beric back. Sandor is proclaimed innocent.
The Brotherhood attack a group of Brave Compaions and Gendry decides to stay with them, and is knighted. Arya sees a woman who claims to have visions from the Old Gods. She is scared of Arya who runs but is caught by Sandor. He takes her to the Twins but is forced to flee when fighting breaks out. She blames him at first for not saving Robb and her mother, but after dreaming of pulling a dead Catelyn from a river as a wolf, she accepts she is dead. They meet Polliver and the tickler and fight. She kills the Tickler, but Polliver wounds Sandor before being killed. She takes Needle back off him. She considers killing Sandor, but when she realises it is what he wants she leaves him to suffer. She uses the coin Jaqen gave her to go to Braavos
Tyrion suspects Petyr may have been embezzeling money as the accounts are too complex. Joffrey and Tywin argue. Tywin says Petyr has found Arya and is to marry Ramsey. Tyrion realises Joffrey tries to have Bran killed. Joffrey makes him serve him at the wedding, where he chokes to death. Tyrion empties the wine in the floor. Cersei orders Tyrion's arrest. Dontos takes Sansa away and is killed by Lothor Brune at Petyr's order. She meets Petyr who marries Lysa. He suggests Ollena poisoned Joffrey because she knew that Loras would likely become a second Kingslayer. At the Eyrie, he kisses Sansa, sending Lysa into a rage. He is forced to kill her and blames Marillion, who had already tried to force himself on Sansa.
On their arrival in Kingslanding, Loras demands Brienne's arrest. Jaime refuses to leave the kingsguard to be Tywin's heir. He checks out the other kingsguard members and annoys Cersei by refusing to have sex in the Lord Commander's rooms. He tells Loras to talk to Brienne before judging her.
The trial goes badly for Tyrion, with many witnesses telling rumour and lies and Tyrion not allowed to question them. Kevan tells him Cersei has brought Gregor to be her champion should Tyrion choose trial by combat and suggests he pleads guilty and go to the wall. Tyrion tries to tempt Bronn to fight Gregor for him, but learns Cersei has offered him marriage to Lollys. Oberyn offers to be his champion as he wants to kill Gregor because Gregor killed his sister. Shae testifies against him, telling many lies and he decides on trial by combat.
Tyrion is far from confident when Oberyn says he will use a spear, though suspects the blade to be poisoned. Oberyn is beating Ser Gregor until Gregor admits raping and killing Ellia. Oberyn is overconfident and loses concentration and is killed, though Gregor seems likely to die from his wounds. Jaime sends Brienne to look for Sansa giving her a Valyrian sword, Oathkeeper, made from Ice and telling her the Arya sent to marry Ramsey is a fake. Jaime frees Tyrion with Varys' help and in a crisis of conscience, tells him the truth about Tysha, that she was genuine and not a whore. They argue, Tyrion claiming to have killed Joffrey. Tyrion kills Shae, who was sleeping with Tywin when she calls him her "Lord of Lannister" and Tywin after Tywin keeps calling Tysha a whore.
The kings die and Stannis agrees to burn Edric. Davos, Pylos and others send him away and instead reads Stannis the letter from the watch..
On the wall, Benjen goes missing. He offers to help Grenn making an enemy of Ser Alliser Thorne in the process. Sam arrives and is useless and craven, but Jon and Ghost like him anyway. Jon takes charge of the recruits and forces them to accept Sam, and not to fight him, further earning the wrath of Ser Alliser. He talks Aemon into ensuring that Sam is passed into the stewards and not left in training when he and the others are passed. Sam says his vows in front of the Old Gods, with Jon, claiming the Southern Gods of his family have never done him any good.
North of the wall, Ghost finds a hand and corpses of rangers which have not been eaten or decayed and have pale blue eyes, despite not being that colour when they were alive so are taken back. Jon attacks Ser Alliser with a knife after he calls Ned a traitor, so is placed in a cell. The dead men walk again at night, killing Ser Jaremy Rykker and Jon is forced to burn them to save Lord Mormont. He is given the Mormont family sword, Longclaw
Jon journeys beyond the Wall and sees empty wildling villages. They stay at Craster's, where Sam takes a liking to Gilly, one of Craster's wives, who is pregnant with a boy child. They go on from Craster's and find a hill fort of the first men. Ghost takes Jon a short distance away where they find buried dragonglass, together with a horn and a cloak of a Nightswatchman. Qhorin arrives with his men. Qhorin goes off to investigate what Mance is doing, taking Jon with him. They encounter a group and kill most, but take a woman, Ygritte, captive. Qhorin tells Jon to deal with her, so he frees her. The men are forced to flee the wildlings. They are caught, and Qhorin tells Jon to join them, doing whatever they require of him. They force him and Jon to fight, Jon killing him with Ghost's aid. Ygritte speaks for him and Rattleshirt against and he is allowed to join them.
Chett and Lark discuss killing Jeor, believing Ottyn Withers would then take the rest back to the wall and they could flee. They are attacked by the Others before they can do anything. Sam kills one of them with his Dragonglass dagger. Some make it to Craster's where a fight breaks out over the amount he gives them. Craster is killed, as is Lord Mormont. He asks Sam to ask Jorah to take the black. Sam leaves, taking Gilly. He breaks the Dragonglass dagger on a wight and is rescued by a man he thinks of as Coldhands. He takes Bran to meet Coldhands before returning to Castle Black after promising not to reveal that Bran is alive.
Jon meets Mance and is accepted after claiming he never felt accepted at Winterfell. He rides south with Tormund to keep away from Rattleshirt. Ygritte joins him. He is attacked by Orells's eagle and sent on ahead with Styr's raiding party. He and Ygritte become lovers to avoid suspicion. South of the wall, Ygritte kills an old man who sees them. They are attacked by Summer and Jon escapes, being wounded in the process.
He warns Mole Town telling them to go north and goes back to Castle Black, where he learns only 12 men made it back. The raiders attack and Jon helps defend the castle. Ygritte and Styr are killed. Donal Noye is killed defending the gate from the North, leaving Jon in charge. He holds it for three days but is arrested when Ser Alliser and Janos Slynt arrive. He attacks Ser Alliser. They send him to kill Mance to prove himself, knowing it will mean his death. He learns Mance believes he has found the Horn of Winter, which they think will cause the wall to collapse. When they are talking, Stannis arrives. The wildlings are defeated and Stannis offers Jon Winterfell as long as he abdandons the Old Gods. He considers this till Ghost returns and he realises Ghost's eyes are those of a weirwood. Sam convinces Ser Denys and Cotter Pike to name Jon the New Lord Commander, to make sure it is not Janos or each other.
Dany's child is prophecised to unite the khals and Viserys is killed by Drogo due to his own stupidity. A man tries to poison her, but is stopped by Jorah and Jhogo. Drogo agrees to conquer Westeros. He is later injured, and refuses to take his medicine so sickens badly. Mirri Maz Duur tells Dany she can give Drogo his life, but takes the child's in return. Dany's men fight Drogo's bloodriders. Drogo lives, but cannot do anything, so Dany kills him and his Khalesar falls apart. Dany burns him and Mirri to give life to her dragon eggs, after which her men agree to be her Bloodriders.
Dany goes west to avoid the Drothkari who used to be with Drogo. After recouperating, she learns Jorah is in love with her. Pyat Pree, Qaithe and Xaro arrive and take her to Quarth. She learns of Robert's death and the fracturing of the seven kingdoms. She sees a firemage performing incredible feats. Quiathe says this is because she brought dragons back into the world. Xaro gives her gifts and people give her other things to view the dragon, but she feels she is going nowhere. Xaro offers marriage, but she learns from Jorah that this is only so he can have one of her dragons. She goes to the House of the Undying at the insistance of Pyat Pree. There, she is attacked by them, and saved by Drogon, who burns them and the house. Pyat atttacks her on the way out, but she is saved by her men. Dany realises she must leave Quarth, but cannot until Illyrio sends her three ships. When they arrive, she is saved from a Sorrowful man by Belwas and Barristan, who have been sent by Illyrio.
Jorah suggests they go to Astapor to buy Unsullied. She agrees to buy them all for all her possesions and a dragon, to Barristan's disgust. Once the transaction is complete she sets her dragons and the unsullied on the slavers, killing them. She takes the city, frees the slaves and kills the remaining slavers. She goes on to Yunkai. She gives them three days to release the slaves or she will conquer them as well. She defeats the Yunkai defenders and goes on to the city, where she is met by a stream of slaves, so leaves the city alone. She leaves, taking with her the two sellsword companies that were defending the city.
Belwas kills Mereen's champion. On the way into the city, they see children nailed up. Barristan saves Dany from Mero and is forced to reveal his identity when he refuses to let Jorah knight him. He reveals Jorah has been spying on Dany. She sends both through the sewers to attack Merreen. She talks to them after. Barristan is forgiven, but Jorah is not repentant enough and is sent away. She decides to stay in Mereren and rule while her dragons grow.
Catelyn is resurrected and with the Brotherhood. They kill Merrett Frey after questioning him about Arya and Sandor.
The Library