Chapter 1
The prologue of “A Game of Thrones” introduces us to three men of the Night’s Watch – Will, Gared, and Ser Waymar Royce – who are on a mission beyond the Wall, the massive ice barrier that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the wild lands to the north. The men are searching for wildlings, but they come across something far more sinister – the Others, ice creatures believed to be mere legend. They attack the men, and Ser Waymar Royce is killed. Will manages to escape, but not before witnessing the Others resurrect Royce as a wight, a zombie-like creature.
Chapter 2
The second chapter of the book takes us to Winterfell, the seat of House Stark in the North. We meet Bran, the second youngest of the Stark children, who is climbing a tower against his mother’s wishes. While he’s up there, he witnesses something he shouldn’t – Queen Cersei Lannister, the wife of King Robert Baratheon, having sex with her brother Jaime. To protect their secret, Jaime pushes Bran out of the window, hoping to kill him.
Chapter 3
In the third chapter, we meet Catelyn Stark, the matriarch of House Stark, who has traveled to King’s Landing, the capital city, with her husband Ned, who has been named Hand of the King, the second most powerful position in the Seven Kingdoms. While there, she receives a letter from her sister Lysa, who claims that Jon Arryn, the previous Hand of the King, was murdered by the Lannisters. Catelyn confronts Ned with the letter and urges him to investigate further, which sets off a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences for the entire realm.
Chapter 4
In chapter 4 of “A Game of Thrones,” we are introduced to Jon Snow, the bastard son of Ned Stark, who has joined the Night’s Watch. Jon is struggling to adapt to his new life, which is far more grueling and brutal than he ever imagined. He befriends Samwell Tarly, a fellow recruit who is overweight and cowardly, and helps him to train and become a better fighter.
Chapter 5
The fifth chapter takes us back to Winterfell, where Bran is recovering from his fall. He is visited by his mother, Catelyn, who has returned from King’s Landing with news that Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King, was murdered. Bran is also visited by a mysterious three-eyed crow in his dreams, which leads him to investigate the abandoned tower in which he fell.
Chapter 6
In chapter 6, we return to Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled daughter of the former king, who is married to the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo. She is struggling to adjust to her new life and the harsh customs of the Dothraki, but she begins to develop feelings for Drogo. She also receives three dragon eggs as a wedding gift, which she treasures dearly.
Chapter 7
The seventh chapter takes us back to Winterfell, where Catelyn receives a letter from her sister Lysa, who claims that the Lannisters were behind Jon Arryn’s death and are plotting to kill her son, who is also Ned’s illegitimate child. Catelyn decides to take matters into her own hands and sets off to King’s Landing with her young son Bran and a small retinue of guards, leaving behind her husband Ned and their other children. Along the way, they are ambushed by an assassin who tries to kill Bran, but Catelyn manages to fight him off with the help of her direwolf, Summer.
Chapter 8
In chapter 8 of “A Game of Thrones,” we are introduced to Tyrion Lannister, the youngest and most clever of the Lannister siblings. He arrives at Winterfell on his way back to King’s Landing and spends some time getting to know Jon Snow. He also offers Bran some advice on how to deal with his newfound disability.
Chapter 9
The ninth chapter takes us back to King’s Landing, where Ned Stark is settling into his role as Hand of the King. He meets with the Small Council, a group of advisors to the king, and begins to investigate the death of Jon Arryn. He also meets with the king’s wife, Queen Cersei, and her twin brother Jaime, who are clearly not fond of him.
Chapter 10
In chapter 10, we return to Daenerys Targaryen, who is still struggling to adapt to her new life as a Dothraki queen. She is growing increasingly frustrated with her husband’s lack of interest in her and begins to explore her own sexuality. She also starts to see visions in the flames that seem to suggest a greater destiny for her.
Chapter 11
The eleventh chapter takes us back to Winterfell, where Bran is still recovering from his fall. He is visited by the young Stark ward, Theon Greyjoy, who is something of a troublemaker. Theon tries to convince Bran to go riding with him, but Bran’s mother forbids it. Later, Bran has a dream in which he sees his father in the crypts beneath Winterfell, and he senses that something is wrong.
Chapter 12
The twelfth chapter takes us back to Daenerys Targaryen, who is slowly beginning to assert herself as the khaleesi of the Dothraki. She learns that she is pregnant with Khal Drogo’s child, which gives her a newfound sense of purpose. She also receives a prophecy from a Dothraki witch, which suggests that she is destined for greatness.
Chapter 13
In chapter 13, we return to Catelyn Stark, who has arrived in King’s Landing and is seeking an audience with the king. She meets with Petyr Baelish, a.k.a. Littlefinger, an old friend of hers and Ned’s who now holds a high position in the court. Littlefinger promises to help her, but she is still unsure of his loyalties.
Chapter 14
The fourteenth chapter takes us back to Jon Snow, who is still struggling to fit in with the other recruits at the Night’s Watch. He and his friends discover some ancient ruins beyond the Wall and are attacked by a group of wights. They manage to fight them off, but Jon realizes that the threat of the Others is very real.
Chapter 15
In chapter 15 of “A Game of Thrones,” we return to Eddard Stark, who has uncovered some damning evidence about the Lannisters’ involvement in Jon Arryn’s death. He confronts Cersei with the information, but she denies everything and warns him to stay out of her business. Meanwhile, Ned’s daughter Arya is having trouble adjusting to life in King’s Landing and gets into a fight with Prince Joffrey, who is the eldest son of the king and queen.
Chapter 16:
The sixteenth chapter takes us back to Bran Stark, who is continuing to recover from his fall. He receives a visit from a mysterious stranger who introduces himself as Jojen Reed and claims to have the ability to see the future. Jojen tells Bran that he has a special destiny and that he must learn to control his powers in order to fulfill it.
Chapter 17
In chapter 17, we return to Daenerys Targaryen, who is now heavily pregnant and struggling to keep up with the demands of her new role as khaleesi. She receives a visit from one of her husband’s bloodriders, who tells her that Khal Drogo’s wound has become infected and that he is unlikely to survive. Daenerys seeks out a Dothraki witch for help, but the price of her assistance is steep.
Chapter 18
The eighteenth chapter takes us back to Jon Snow, who is growing increasingly frustrated with his place in the Night’s Watch. He and his friends discover a cache of dragonglass weapons at the Fist of the First Men, which they hope will help them defend against the Others. They also encounter a wildling named Ygritte, who seems to know more about the Others than they do.
Chapter 19
In chapter 19 of “A Game of Thrones,” we return to Eddard Stark, who has made a shocking discovery about the true parentage of King Robert’s children. He confronts Queen Cersei with the information and gives her a chance to flee the city, but she refuses. Meanwhile, Ned’s daughter Sansa has fallen in love with Prince Joffrey and is oblivious to the danger that her family is in.
Chapter 20
The twentieth chapter takes us back to Tyrion Lannister, who is still at Winterfell. He has a tense encounter with Catelyn Stark, who accuses him of trying to kill her son Bran. Tyrion denies the charge and offers to help Catelyn find the true culprit, but she is still suspicious of him. Meanwhile, Bran has a series of vivid dreams in which he sees a three-eyed raven and an ancient weirwood tree.
