I’m sorry if this has been asked before, but searching the spoiler threads is dangerous, and I couldn’t find another topic similarly.
With season 4 of Game of Thrones finished, I’ve decided I’d like to start reading the books. However, I think I’d like to keep the TV series spoiler free (for the most part), and read further books when that stuff has been finished in the series. From what I understand, Season 4 ends roughly in line with the end of book 3 (with a few things from books 4 and 5, but not much). Would I be safe reading the first three books and stopping if I don’t want major spoilers for the future TV seasons?
Before the present season they had stayed more or less true to the chronology. This season, they have delved into 4 and 5 along with the second half of ASOS. I would stick with the first three books.
There are two events at the end of ASOS that would be spoiled in you read all the way through.
A podcast I listen to is doing what you’re doing, reading the book after the season. One of the fans gave them this list (Hapa Kamikaze: Photo) of what they can read before season 5 of the show. I haven’t confirmed it, but it looks right.
The link shows the titles of a couple chapters from books 4 and 5. I don’t think they’re spoilers, but if you’re a super super stickler about when people are POV characters, then I guess that’s a spoiler.
If you are serious about not wanting anything spoiled, read books 1-3 except the epilogue in book 3. You would also need to avoid any chapters on the Night’s Watch after Stannis attacks the wildlings. (there is at least one Jon chapter and maybe a Samwell) There are a few more chapters in book 3 covering that storyline that we haven’t seen in the show yet.
One thing to keep in mind, though, the story was originally told in book form so you really aren’t “spoiling” anything no matter how far you read. But I can understand if you are enjoying the HBO show as an “unsullied” and want to keep that experience going. The show changes a lot of stuff too, so you can never be sure if it will carry over.
I’m almost halfway through the 5th book. I’ve noticed things in the TV show that I’ve only just read. I’ve also seen things that I don’t remember reading, but they didn’t seem spoiler-y. And of course, there are changes. Bran’s reaching the tree with the guy in it, for example. The troupe were accompanied on their journey to the tree by another character in the book, who didn’t appear in the TV show. And the Arya/The Hound scene at the end of the TV series is different from what’s in book 4.
The jist of it is, there are things in the show that are spoilers for the next book, and things from three books ago we haven’t seen yet. And some things are just plain different.
Checked the link, I am not sure what is supposed to be spoiled in the Jaime chapter, I just glanced through it and didn’t see anything. It covers the Oathkeeper thing with Brienne, which is definitely part of season 4.
I wouldn’t bother with reading a few select chapters from books 4 & 5 that have already been covered by the show. But this is going to get a lot trickier after next season. You’ll probably have to wait until HBO airs s5 and s6 before reading book 4.
Jon getting made Lord Commander and turning down Stannis’ offer to make him a Stark
Balon Greyjoy dying
Someone already mentioned the first one, but as far as I know no one has mentioned the second one as being something that hasn’t been revealed in the show yet.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone, and the list is cool too. I’ll have to see how into the books I am before I finish the third book. I don’t think I’d have a problem with spoiling a few plot points here and there, but it wouldn’t want to read about Dany being eaten by one of her dragons or Sansa marrying Tommen before killing him with a knife she carved from her own leg bone.
I started A Game of Thrones last night, and it’s odd to have so many dead people be alive.
Ah, ok. That is a very minor plot point IMO and certainly not worth skipping a very important chapter in Jaime’s character development. There are TONS of details like this within many chapters that could end up being “spoilers” if they are mentioned later in the series, it’s impossible to avoid everything that hasn’t been on-screen because the books are sooooo much denser and filled with more characters and plot points. We have no way of knowing what may or may not be included in future episodes.
This is every episode of the show mapped out in chapters of the books. So, if you want to make sure you’re not spoiled, only read the chapters that are blackened.
