The cultural phenomenon that is Song Of Ice And Fire series. A Game Of Thrones redefined high fantasy in many ways and later provided the plot for season 1 of the hit HBO series. The first book contains all of the best moments from its small-screen adaptation, as well as other scenes with fan-favorite characters that didn't make it to the show.
A Game Of Thrones introduced fans to Tyrion Lannister, the Stark family, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and other familiar faces in Westeros. Like its show counterpart, the first book in the acclaimed series is packed with shocking moments that rocked the fandom.
Jaime Pushes Bran From The Tower
Early in the book, George RR Martin shocks readers with the attempted murder of Bran Stark. The free-spirited 8-year-old accidentally glimpses evidence of Jaime and Cersei Lannister's incestuous relationship whilst climbing the walls of Winterfell. To protect their secret, Jaime throws the young boy from a tower.
Bran's fall causes him to go into a coma and paralyzes him from the waist down. It is the first act of violence that leads to war between House Stark and House Lannister.
Catelyn Arrests Tyrion
The tension between the Starks and Lannisters escalates with Tyrion's shocking arrest and his trial at the Eyrie. Whilst traveling incognito from King's Landing to Winterfell, Catelyn Stark is outed by Tyrion. Catelyn is forced to act quickly, but luckily she's in the Riverlands where her father is liege lord, so she rallies her father's bannermen to arrest the Lannister lord.
Tyrion's arrest is his first true taste of conflict in the series. Unable to buy his freedom from Catelyn and Lysa Arryn, he is forced to use his wit, intellect, and flare for linguistics to spare him from the Moon Door.
Viserys Gets His Crown
Readers meet Daenerys and Viserys, the last surviving children of House Targaryen, early in A Game Of Thrones. In Dany's first chapter, Viserys arranges her marriage to Khal Drogo with Magister Illyrio, with the abusive relationship between the siblings quickly becoming apparent.
In another shocking twist, Daenerys grows to love Drogo and becomes stronger with the Dothraki. The Khal kills Viserys with molten gold when the crazed Targaryen threatens his sister and her unborn child.
Lady's Death
Another shocking - and much more upsetting - death in the first book includes the execution of Lady, Sansa Stark's direwolf. From her first chapter, Sansa's differences from her sister are made clear. She is courteous and traditionally feminine, eager to impress the Lannisters and become Joffrey's queen.
Unfortunately, Sansa's direwolf pays for the actions of Arya's. Joffrey attacks Arya whilst traveling on the Kingsroad, though he is promptly subdued by Nymeria. Cersei demands justice; when Nymeria cannot be found, Lady is condemned to death instead.
Arya Overhears Magister Illyrio And Varys Scheming
The Starks walk directly into the jaws of danger when they reach King's Landing. Characters such as Littlefinger and Cersei scheme behind Robert's back, but the true danger proves to be Varys and Magister Illyrio, who plot to destabilize the realm.
Arya's training with Syrio Forel takes her below the Red Keep into the cavernous hall of dragon skulls. Whilst there, she overhears a shocking conversation between Illyrio and Varys that includes a dangerous plot against Ned Stark.
Joffrey Executes Ned
Few readers saw Ned Stark's death coming from the beginning of the series. Throughout A Game Of Thrones, the Stark patriarch is presented as the story's main character. Ned has 15 chapters in the book and drives the primary plot between the Starks and Lannisters in King's Landing.
Martin made the shocking choice to kill his protagonist by including Joffrey's execution of Ned. The landscape of the series shifts completely, as Robb Stark rushes to fill his father's shoes.
Robb Becomes King In The North
Following Ned's arrest, Robb Stark is forced to call the northern banners and lead an attack against the Lannisters. Robb successfully captures Jaime after defeating his rivals at the Whispering Wood. The Young Wolf impresses his people, who proclaim him the King in the North after Ned's death.
Robb's coronation makes him the first Northern king in over 300 hundred years. With the Targaryens overthrown and King Robert dead, the North vows to never bend the knee to the Iron Throne's sovereignty again.
Wights Attack Jon Snow
Jon Snow's journey in the true north begins in the first book when he leaves Winterfell to the Night's Watch. At the Wall, Jon gradually discovers the truth about the real dangers lurking in the Lands of Always Winter when he is attacked by the reanimated corpses of his Night's Watch brothers.
Ghost alerts Jon to the wights, who readers are introduced to in the book's prologue. The future Lord Commander saves Jeor Mormont, who gifts him with his iconic Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw.
Khal Drogo's Downfall
Khal Drogo declines rapidly following his brief fight with rival Khal Ogo. The Dothraki warlord receives a chest wound that worries Daenerys. The pregnant Khaleesi urges Mirri Maz Durr to cure her husband in return for Dany saving the Lhazareen women from the Dothraki.
In another shocking turn of events, Mirri turns on Daenerys and sacrifices her unborn son, Rhaego, in a blood magic ritual. The mighty Khal falls from his immense position of power quickly, spelling certain doom for his Targaryen bride.
Daenerys Hatches The Dragons
A Game Of Thrones concludes with one of the most shocking events of the series; the birth of Dany's dragons. In her final chapter of the book, Daenerys places her dragon eggs on Khal Drogo's funeral pyre and sacrifices Mirri Maz Durr to the flames. The Khaleesi walks into the inferno only to survive the fire and emerge with three baby dragons.
The final chapter is an answering parallel to the prologue. The book opens with the discovery of the White Walkers and ends with the birth of dragons. A Game Of Thrones remains jam-packed with shocking moments that paved the way for the television show.