At the end of A Song of Ice and Fire, the story resolves around several converging arcs in Westeros and beyond. Daenerys Targaryen conquers King’s Landing but is killed by Jon Snow, who is revealed as Aegon Targaryen. Bran Stark becomes the ruler chosen by the lords, Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand, and surviving Stark, Targaryen, and other figures rebuild the realm while Grey Worm and the freedmen depart. This evergreen overview explains the book endings, how they differ from the television finale, and what the fates of Jon, Daenerys, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Tyrion, and others mean for the world George R. R. Martin has built.
The Final Books and Major Plot Convergence
A Dance with Dragons and the planned subsequent volumes drive toward a convergence in King’s Landing, where Daenerys’s forces meet the remnants of Cersei’s power. The Others are pushed back, key players gather, and long-running political and military threads culminate in a handful of decisive chapters. Martin continues to balance massive ensemble storytelling while narrowing on outcomes that resolve North, Crown, and Iron Throne arcs.
How the Books End Differ From the Show
The books are unfinished, so the television series presents the only filmed conclusion. Many deviations exist, including earlier deaths, altered timelines, and condensed character journeys. The written ending plan, as Martin has shared in interviews and sample chapters, retains more complex political maneuvering, greater reliance on prophecy and interpretation, and longer-term consequences for major actions. The show streamlines the cast and pace; the books aim for intricate cause-and-effect across continents and generations.
Core Endings: The Fates of Main Characters
By the planned conclusion, most primary characters reach definitive outcomes that reflect their arcs. Some rise to new stations, some fall, and a few recede into legend. Below is a concise reference of what the published material and credible reports indicate for leading figures in the saga.
Daenerys Targaryen
After conquering King’s Landing, Daenerys is killed by Jon Snow. In the books, Jon’s lineage as Aegon Targaryen is central to her expectations and his identity, underscoring the tragedy of their roles.
Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen)
Jon ultimately kills Daenerys and is sent north of the Wall, fulfilling his Stark identity and the promise he made to protect the realm from threats beyond it.
Bran Stark
Bran becomes the king chosen by the lords, serving as a dispassionate, memory-bound ruler whose value lies in his vast knowledge and detachment from old feuds.
Sansa Stark
Sansa rules the North independently, having secured its sovereignty and stability after years of struggle and loss.
Arya Stark
Arya sails west to explore what lies beyond the known world, consistent with her journey as a seeker of experience and truth.
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion serves as Hand to Bran, leveraging his political acumen to help guide the rebuilt realm and counsel the new ruler.
Grey Worm
Grey Worm leads the freedmen away to establish their own society, reflecting his role as a leader of the displaced and his bond with Missandei’s legacy.
Key Outcomes at a Glance
| Character | Book Ending Status | Notes and Context |
|---|---|---|
| Daenerys Targaryen | Dead | Killed by Jon in King’s Landing; her legacy shapes the realm’s future. |
| Jon Snow (Aegon Targaryen) | Sent north of the Wall | Exiled after killing Daenerys; returns to Stark roots. |
| Bran Stark | Became King | Elected by lords; serves as an omniscient, detached ruler. |
| Sansa Stark | Rules the North | Independent North; secure sovereignty and governance. |
| Arya Stark | Sailed west | Continues exploration beyond Westeros. |
| Tyrion Lannister | Hand to Bran | Counsel and administration in the new court. |
| Grey Worm | Seeks new community and justice beyond Westeros. |
Thematic Conclusions and Worldbuilding
The books emphasize cycles of power, the costs of war, and the interplay of prophecy and choice. Bran’s kingship reflects a move toward governance rooted in memory and oversight, while the fates of Stark siblings highlight themes of family, responsibility, and personal freedom. The departure of the freedmen points to unresolved questions about identity and justice, and Arya’s voyage leaves open the possibility of discovery and transformation beyond known maps. Daenerys’s arc serves as a cautionary element about power, liberation, and the seduction of destiny.
Differences Between Planned Book Endings and the Television Finale
In the televised conclusion, key events occur sooner and with different participants, producing a compressed resolution. Jon returns to the North and rules with Sansa, whereas the books intend a more politically nuanced arrangement with Bran on the throne. Daenerys’s death and Jon’s exile are consistent foundations, but surrounding political maneuvers, timelines, and character involvement vary. Martin’s outline suggests a longer, more deliberative process for councils, succession, and rebuilding, with greater attention to the mechanics of ruling and the consequences of each major decision.
What Remains Uncertain and Still in Progress
Because The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring are unpublished, certain outcomes could shift. Martin has sometimes revised characters’ paths between statements, and final volumes may introduce new variables that alter how power is shared and how the realm is structured. What is consistent across interviews, samples, and reported plans is an emphasis on consequences, a slower political rhythm, and a canvas in which Stark, Targaryen, and other legacies must negotiate a fragile peace.
Why These Endings Matter for the Series
The conclusions are designed to echo the series’ preoccupations with history, legacy, and the weight of decisions. Rather than a single heroic coronation, the planned finale distributes influence among multiple figures and institutions, suggesting that stability will arise from compromise and memory rather than conquest alone. The fates of Jon, Daenerys, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Tyrion, and the freedmen collectively close a multi-narrative saga while leaving room for reflection on how power should be held and questioned.
Wrap-Up and Forward Look
What happens at the end of the Game of Thrones books is, above all, about the cost of war, the complexities of governance, and how individuals reconcile personal desires with the needs of the realm. While the books remain unfinished, the planned outcomes point to a world reshaped by loss and compromise, with Bran’s election, Jon’s exile, and the departure of the freedmen underscoring that rebuilding is as complex as destruction. As Martin completes the series, these endpoints may refine further, but the thematic throughlines of memory, responsibility, and consequence are likely to endure.