If you’re looking for the game of thrones books in order for audiobooks, the simplest answer is: listen in publication order. That is also the best order for first-time listeners.
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
For a first pass, don’t rearrange the series into a timeline order or jump to side material first. The main saga works best when you let the story build the way it was written.
Quick Reading Order
The core audiobook path for A Song of Ice and Fire is the same order most readers use on the page:
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
That order is the cleanest choice for Audible listeners, Kindle readers, and anyone who wants the least confusing route through the series. It keeps the world-building, character introductions, and shifting power struggles in the order George R. R. Martin intended.
The one thing that trips up newcomers is the fourth and fifth books. They overlap in time and focus on different threads, so some longtime fans talk about special combined reading orders. Those are optional. For a first listen, stick with publication order.
Best Order for Beginners
For beginners, publication order is not just the default — it’s the best order.
The reason is simple: the series is dense, the cast is large, and the audiobook format can make it harder to jump around without losing your footing. Starting with book one gives you the foundation first: the major houses, the world rules, and the tone of the whole saga.
A beginner-friendly approach looks like this:
- Start with A Game of Thrones.
- Continue straight through books 2 and 3.
- Keep A Feast for Crows before A Dance with Dragons.
- Save prequels, companion books, and fan-made mixed orders for later.
If you’re using Audible and Kindle together, keep the same order in both formats. That way you can switch between listening and reading without re-learning the structure.
The biggest beginner mistake is trying to be “chronological” too early. In this series, publication order is smoother, easier to follow, and usually more satisfying on a first run.
Book-by-Book Guide
Here’s a spoiler-free guide to what each main audiobook contributes.
| # | Title | Spoiler-free takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Game of Thrones | The best starting point. It introduces the main world, families, and central tensions. |
| 2 | A Clash of Kings | The story widens and the conflict becomes more complicated across more of the realm. |
| 3 | A Storm of Swords | A major expansion in scope and momentum. Many listeners find this where the series becomes especially addictive. |
| 4 | A Feast for Crows | The focus narrows onto different regions and viewpoints, which can feel distinct on audio but still important. |
| 5 | A Dance with Dragons | Brings back other threads and continues the larger story in a way that makes more sense after book 4. |
A few audiobook-specific notes help here:
- Book 1 is the easiest place to learn the voices, names, and house relationships.
- Books 2 and 3 reward steady listening because the series gets busier.
- Books 4 and 5 are best kept in order, even if you hear fans talk about swapping them around.
If you only remember one thing: don’t skip ahead. The books are written to layer on top of each other, not as stand-alone episodes.
Should You Read or Listen?
For this series, both work. The better choice depends on how you like to process a lot of names, factions, and locations.
Choose the audiobook if you:
- commute, drive, walk, or multitask a lot
- like immersive narration for long fantasy series
- want an easier way to keep momentum going through a big saga
Choose the book or Kindle edition if you:
- prefer to skim back for names and family lines
- want to study maps, appendices, or house references
- like highlighting and note-taking while you read
For most people, the best practical setup is audio first, text as backup. You can listen on Audible and use Kindle or Amazon’s print editions when you want to double-check who’s who. That hybrid approach is especially helpful with a sprawling fantasy series like this one.
If you’re new to long series, audiobook listening can actually reduce friction. You don’t have to “find time” to sit down with a giant novel. You just keep the story moving.
Where the Show or Movie Fits
For this franchise, the screen version most people mean is the HBO series, not a movie. There isn’t a standalone movie to slot into the reading order.
The show begins with the world and setup from A Game of Thrones, then eventually moves on its own path. Because of that, the cleanest spoiler-light approach is to start the books first or read and watch book one alongside season one if that’s your style.
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
| Screen version | Where it fits | Best practical move |
|---|---|---|
| HBO’s Game of Thrones | Adaptation of the early saga that starts with the first book | Read or listen to A Game of Thrones first if you want the purest book-first experience |
If you already saw the show, you can still enjoy the audiobooks from the beginning. The books give you more internal detail, different pacing, and a deeper sense of the world, even when you know the broad setup.
The show is a companion path, not a replacement for the audiobook order.
Best Starting Point
If you want the shortest answer possible: start with A Game of Thrones.
That is the best starting point for:
- first-time readers
- audiobook listeners
- people who already watched the series
- fans who want a clean, no-confusion entry into the saga
If you are unsure whether the series is for you, commit to just the first audiobook. It gives you the tone of the world without requiring any prior knowledge. If the story clicks, keep going in order. If not, you can stop without having skipped around.
For next-step listening or reading, these guides may also help:
- A Song of Ice and Fire reading order
- Game of Thrones watch order
- House of the Dragon books in order
- books like Game of Thrones
- best fantasy audiobooks for beginners
- fantasy series to listen to on Audible
- how to start a long fantasy series
FAQ
What is the correct order of the Game of Thrones books for audiobooks?
Listen in this order: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons.
Is publication order the best order for beginners?
Yes. For first-time listeners, publication order is the easiest and clearest way to follow the story.
Do I need to read prequels or companion books first?
No. Start with the five main novels first. Save prequels and companion material for later.
Should I watch the show before listening to the books?
You can, but you do not need to. If you want the cleanest book-first experience, start with the first audiobook before the show.
Can I mix Audible and Kindle while reading the series?
Yes. That is a practical way to handle a long, name-heavy fantasy saga. Just keep the same order in both formats.
Why do people say books 4 and 5 are tricky?
Because they overlap in time and focus on different threads. That’s why beginners should keep them in publication order instead of trying a fan-made rearrangement.