10. Sea of Blood:
Wildlings cross the Wall thanks to Jon and Stannis agreeing to let them through, but the Night's Watch revolts and, after Stannis leaves to fight the Boltons, Jon is stabbed by his Black Brothers. Tyrion arrives in Arad Doman, where Bayle Domon and Egeanin capture him, leading him to Nynaeve and Elayne. Egwene gets captured by Elaida during the siege of Tar Valon. Daenerys continues bringing order to Altara, Astapor and Amadicia, planing to invade islands of the Sea Folk and Shadow Coast, but Mat consults her to remember her goal is Westeros, not Westlands. Thom also shows Mat Moiraine's letter. Sam leaves for Oldtown. It is revealed a new counselor came to Cersei in King's Landing, a woman named Nindar, who convinces the Small Council to make peace and alliance with Euron Greyjoy. Rand cleanses saidin, but while doing so experiences a vision, in which he sees the Dark One has hid his most powerful weapon far away: in Westeros, beyond the Wall.
11. Knife of Dreams:
Melisandre brings Jon back from the dead. Stannis loses the fight against the Boltons and gets captured and tortured by them. Euron sends his brother Victarion to Westlands with the Dragonbinder to claim Daenerys' dragons. Mat and Barristan meet gholam that is sent to kill Daenerys. Perrin and Faile reunite, similar to novels. In the dream, Perrin meets Bran and Bloodraven again. Then Bloodraven explains to both of them the truth about the Others. He explains that, unlike Myrddraal, Trollocs and other Shadowspawn, the Others are not mindless beasts completely bound to the will of the Dark One. They willingly made peace with the Last Hero thousands of years ago, hoping they were free from the Dark One. The pact they made included human sacrifices by which the Others would turn human babies into new Others. But these sacrifices ceased and the Others simply want to survive and Shai'tan has promised them he will give them survival. Humans, however promise them only death, and that is why they have started their war.
After much political turmoil, Elayne finally becomes the queen of Andor, with Tyrion counseling her. Elayne feels threatened by Daenerys and her dragons, and aspires to defeat her. Rand then decides to meet with Daenerys. Though, frightened by her dragons, he does not ease his terms: she must be loyal to him until after Tarmon Gai'don is over. In return, he will give her Westeros. Daenerys refuses, mentioning that she saw him in the vision and how he will destroy all thrones of the world. With mission failing, Rand declares that he will do it alone.
12. A Dance with Dragons:
Snow and cold start enveloping the whole world. In the early Winter, Daenerys unleashes her dragons in full for the first time in the battle against Elayne near Whitebridge. All of Westlands, including Mat and her channelers, grow terrified of them, realizing another thing: dragons seem imune to all lesser powerful weaves, but even if not imune, they are far too effective and fast. Victarion finally arrives at Ebou Dar and, on his way, gets into a fight with Mat and Band of the Red Hand. Hearing Mat is in danger, Daenerys mounts Viserion and flies to rescue him. As soon as Victarion sees the dragon in the sky, he blows the horn. Jon, Theon and Sansa reunite at the Wall, and decide that they must free Stannis. With the help of channelers who escaped the Red Wedding, the Battle of the Bastards is won and Ramsay is killed by Jon and Sandor Clegane, while Roose Bolton runs back to King's Landing. Jaime finds Arya and brings her back to Winterfell. Egwene gets the support of Aes Sedai in Tar Valon and reclaims the White Tower. Stannis, freed, decides he must claim the Iron Throne now, or he will have enemies stabbing him in the back while he fights on the North. Howland Reed reveals to Jon the truth of his parentage. Many channelers in Westeros find themselves welcome only in Stannis' army. Sam is still in Oldtown, until an attack by the Ironborn occurs. Nindar, Cersei's advisor, claims they should support Euron Greyjoy and sail east. Throughout the entire novel, Rand is absent, except at the very end, when he lands on the coast of Westeros, like Aegon the Conqueror before him.