A new George R.R. Martin Game of Thrones release lands today.
2026 is a massive year for the fantasy franchise, featuring the releases of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, House of the Dragon season 3, The Mad King stage play, the War for Westeros video game, and the mobile strategy game Dragonfire. This is the first time that the franchise has had two shows release seasons in the same year, while The Mad King is the first official play.
The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”
🐺StarkWinter is Coming
🦁LannisterHear Me Roar
🐉TargaryenFire and Blood
🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury
🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow
01
The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle?
✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly.
02
Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order?
✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family.
03
Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons?
✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born.
04
The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place?
✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines.
05
Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name?
✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series.
06
Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater?
✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place.
07
Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark?
✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself.
08
In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king?
✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall.
✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King.
The Citadel · Results Sealed Your Westeros Record
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Did you claim the Iron Throne — or lose your head?
Now, another release has arrived with the new limited illustrated edition of A Game of Thrones, with just 1,000 copies available as of July 14. Published by the Folio Society, the $2,200 single-volume 872-page edition is being released to commemorate 30 years since Martin’s original novel first came out.
All copies feature Martin’s signature on a limitation label blocked in real gold, original artwork by Jonathan Burton, a clamshell box, “dragon-leather” binding, a rolled map, an introduction by fantasy author Joe Abercrombie, and other exclusive features. Check out images of the limited edition below:
Folio Society editor James Rose released a statement further breaking down the unique features that the edition provides, how they were made, and why the book is a must-have for fans of the franchise:
This volume is so stunning it could have been taken directly from the Citadel library itself. We have been incredibly fortunate to work with the finest British craftspeople on this special 30th anniversary version: from the leather makers who created our incredible dragonskin leather, to the James Cropper paper mill who made our bespoke endpapers, to Ludlow Bookbinders who are binding each volume with care. With a limitation page blocked in real gold, a rolled map and a stunning box — and each copy personally signed by George R. R. Martin himself — this is truly a limited edition worthy of the Iron Throne that absolutely every fan of the series needs in their library.
A Game of Thrones is the first installment in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, which has sold over 90 million copies since 1996. The first book, which is widely regarded as a modern fantasy masterpiece, introduces readers to Westeros, a continent where dangerous supernatural forces stir beyond the protective 700-feet high Wall. Meanwhile, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell receives an offer to become Hand of the King to his friend and the current monarch, Robert Baratheon, as others plot to take the Iron Throne for themselves.
The first novel was adapted into the 10 episodes in season 1 of HBO’s Game of Thrones, which premiered in 2011. The series ran for eight seasons, became an unprecedented and enduring popular culture phenomenon, and received 160 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 59 wins. It paved the way for House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and more Game of Thrones spinoffs that are on the way.
The A Game of Thrones novel was followed by the sequels A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. The sixth book, The Winds of Winter, remains in progress, and will lead into the seventh and final installment, A Dream of Spring. Martin has also published Fire & Blood and the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which respectively serve as the source material for House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Prior to A Game of Thrones, the Folio Society published special editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story, Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle Collection, Madeline Miller’s Circe, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s Books of Earthsea series.
The 30th anniversary A Game of Thrones edition is available for $2,200 exclusively from the Folio Society.
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