本册故事由七国之王劳勃·拜拉席恩狩猎期间遭遇意外、挚友首相艾德·史塔克因识破兰尼斯特的血统秘密而遭封口开始。同时，琼恩·雪诺在长城与众弟兄宣誓成为守夜人，作为司令官的事务官。与此同时在另一边，丹妮莉丝终于赢得卓戈卡奥和族人信任，预言她会身怀“骑在世界之巅的骏马”。同时，罗柏·史塔克和母亲凯特琳聚集众封臣南下讨伐兰尼斯特。小儿子布兰·史塔克坐镇临冬城，在坠下高墙后他开始显现出通灵才能。

本册故事中，现任首相艾德·史塔克全力调查前首相琼恩·艾林之死。随着调查的展开，嫌疑逐渐指向了兰尼斯特家族，他们甚至蓄谋借比武大会除掉劳勃国王，险些得手。艾德逐渐意识到，权力的暗中争斗远远超出了自己的想象。另一方面，凯特琳·史塔克夫人把提利昂·兰尼斯特抓到鹰巢城关了起来，认为他就是行刺儿子布兰的凶手，提利昂则想尽办法证明自己的清白。因为拒绝追捕怀孕的丹妮莉丝·坦格利安，艾德被劳勃国王革职驱逐，而后被詹姆·兰尼斯特因为提利昂被捕之事截留，身陷危险之中。

The War of the Five Kings is drawing to a close, but new intrigues and plots are in motion, and the surviving factions must contend with enemies not only outside their ranks, but within.

Duplicity and treachery...nobility and honor...conquest and triumph...and, of course, dragons. In Season 3, family and loyalty are the overarching themes as many critical storylines from the first two seasons come to a brutal head. Meanwhile, the Lannisters maintain their hold on King's Landing, though stirrings in the North threaten to alter the balance of power; Robb Stark, King of the North, faces a major calamity as he tries to build on his victories; a massive army of wildlings led by Mance Rayder march for the Wall; and Daenerys Targaryen--reunited with her dragons--attempts to raise an army in her quest for the Iron Throne.