Part One of the highly anticipated fifth volume of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest epic work of the modern age. Tyrion Lannister, having killed his father, and wrongfully accused of killing his nephew, King Joffrey, has escaped from Kings Landing with a price on his head. To the north lies the great Wall of ice and stone a structure only as strong as those guarding it. Eddard Stark\'s bastard son Jon Snow has been elected 998th Lord Commander of the Nights Watch. But Jon has enemies both inside and beyond the Wall. And in the east Daenerys Targaryen struggles to hold a city built on dreams and dust..