The tale is told through the eyes of ten main characters, plus a one-off prologue POV and a one-off epilogue POV character, for a total of 12 narrators.
- Prologue: Chett, a brother and hound-keeper of the Night's Watch
- Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Imprisoned by the Starks.
- Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark, a sworn brother of the Night's Watch
- Catelyn Stark, of House Tully, widow of Lord Eddard Stark, mother of Robb Stark
- Tyrion Lannister, youngest son of Tywin Lannister, a dwarf, brother of Jaime and Cersei Lannister
- Sansa Stark, eldest daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark
- Arya Stark, youngest daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark
- Bran Stark, son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, heir to Winterfell and the North
- Samwell Tarly, cowardly son of Lord Randyll Tarly, a sworn brother of the Night's Watch
- Davos Seaworth, a smuggler turned knight in the service of King Stannis Baratheon
- Daenerys Targaryen, exiled Queen of Westeros, of the Targaryen dynasty
- Epilogue: Merrett Frey, a member of the numerous Frey family.
