World of A Song of Ice and Fire

World Of A Song Of Ice And Fire

The fictional world in which the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin take place is divided into several continents. Most of the story takes place on the continent Westeros, which consists of the Seven Kingdoms and an unmapped area to the north, separated by a massive wall of ice and old magic. The vast continent of Essos lies to the east of Westeros, across the Narrow Sea. The closest foreign nations to Westeros are the Free Cities, a collection of independent city-states along the western edge of this eastern continent. The lands along the southern coastline of the eastern continent, collectively called the Lands of the Summer Sea, include Slavers Bay and the ruins of Valyria, the former home of Westeros's Targaryen kings. To the south of Essos lies the continent of Sothoryos, which in the narrative is largely unexplored.

One of the most visible traits of this fictional world is that the seasons do not pass once per year. Summer and winter can both last many years, and the duration of both can be difficult to predict. The nature and existence of magic is a subject of debate among the characters in this series, with many individuals declining to believe in it. However, as the books progress, it becomes clear that magic does exist in this world (or used to) and is slowly returning.