In the aftermath of a devastating battle, the fate of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance, beset by threats from all sides. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen-the last of the Targaryen dynasty-rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys is surrounded by thousands of enemies, many of whom are on the run. As they gather, a young man embarks on his own quest for the queen, with a different goal in mind.

Tyrion Lannister, a fugitive from Westeros with a bounty on his head, also makes his way toward Daenerys. But his new allies on this journey are not the random group they seem; among them lurks a man who could end Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever.

Meanwhile, to the north, a formidable wall of ice and stone rises-a structure whose strength is derived solely from the might of its guardians. There, Jon Snow-the 998th Commander of the Night's Watch-faces his greatest challenge yet. Formidable enemies lurk not only within the Watch but also beyond the Wall, in the land of the Ice Creatures.

From every angle, bitter rivalries flare up anew, close betrayals are committed, and a vast multitude of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, confront seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fall, while others will grow stronger in the darkness. But in a time of rising turmoil, the waves of fate and politics will inevitably lead to the greatest dance of all.