The book characters you haven't met on Game of Thrones

Along with "They killed her?" and "I bloody love Tyrion", "Who's he?" is one of the more common utterances to hear during an episode of HBO's Game of Thrones.

Yet despite wielding one of the longest credit lists in modern television, there are still a whole raft of characters that only appear in George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.

As we enjoy watching season five of Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire addict Adam Whitehead has partnered with HarperVoyager UK to provide a concise guide to those characters who won't be making a journey from the books to the TV show. From mysterious elk riders to the extended Greyjoy family, these are some of the stars of the wider world of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Arianne Martell

Title: Princess of Dorne

House: Martell

Motto: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken

Status: Alive

Arianne Martell is the eldest child of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne. Under Dorne's law of equal primogeniture, Arianne is also Doran's heir. At almost four-and-twenty, Arianne is still unwed, despite her great beauty, with none of her father's proposed matches winning her favour. Unhappy about her uncle Oberyn's death and her father's avowed plans to supplant her with her brother Quentyn, Arianne plots to punish the Lannisters and drive Dorne into war. When Arianne learns her father's true plans, she instead enthusiastically supports them.

Quentyn Martell

Title: Prince of Dorne

House: Martell

Motto: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken

Status: Alive

Quentyn is the middle child of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, and his eldest son. As Dorne practises equal primogeniture (unlike anywhere else in Westeros), Quentyn's elder sister Arianne stands to inherit the rule of Dorne. Quentyn has instead spent many years as a ward of Lord Yronwood, learning about the art of rulership from him. Quentyn has recently been sent on a secret mission to the easterly continent of Essos, to his sister's great suspicion.

Gerold Dayne

Title: Ser, the Knight of High Hermitage

House: Dayne

Motto (personal): I Am Of The Night

Status: Alive

Ser Gerold Dayne is the Knight of High Hermitage in Dorne, a cadet branch of the more famous House Dayne of Starfall. A renowned knight and swordsman, Gerold is noted for his ambition, cruelty and ruthlessness. He has adopted the nickname ‘Darkstar’ and is angered by Prince Doran's reluctance to avenge the death of his brother and sister at the hands of the Lannisters.

Euron Greyjoy

Title: Captain

House: Greyjoy

Motto: We Do Not Sow

Status: Alive

Euron Greyjoy, known as Crow's Eye, is the younger brother of Balon, King of the Iron Islands, uncle to Theon Greyjoy. He is a black-hearted pirate and reaver whose ship the Silence flies ominous black sails and is feared in every port from Pyke to Asshai. Fearless and ruthless, Euron is famed for his unpredictable moods and lack of piety. He was exiled from the Iron Islands for seizing one of his brother Victarion's salt wives without his consent.

Victarion Greyjoy

Title: Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet

House: Greyjoy

Motto: We Do Not Sow

Status: Alive

Victarion Greyjoy is the second of three living brothers to Balon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands, and uncle to Theon Greyjoy. Victarion is tall, a hulking bear of a man, famed for his ferocity in combat and his use of an immense battleaxe. He is a loyal follower of Balon and despises Euron, who defiled one of Victarion's salt wives without his permission.

Aeron Greyjoy

Title: Priest of the Drowned God

House: Greyjoy

Motto: We Do Not Sow

Status: Alive

Aeron ‘Damphair’ Greyjoy is the youngest brother of Balon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands, and also uncle to Theon Greyjoy. Aeron was once a wastrel who found salvation in the arms of the Drowned God and now serves as one of his priests. Aeron's piety and faith is revered throughout the Iron Islands.

Marwyn

Title: Archmaester

Allegiance: Masters of the Citadel

Status: Alive

Marwyn is an archmaester of the Citadel, famed for his knowledge of history, legends, mysteries and magic. Unlike many of his colleagues, Marwyn has practical experience of the subjects he is interested in and has travelled to the eastern lands of Essos. Considered eccentric by many of his fellows, whom he refers to as ‘sheep’, Marwyn recently departed Oldtown for Slaver's Bay, pursuing stories of the return of dragons to the world.

Jon Connington

Title: Hand of the King (former)

House: Connington

Status: Alive

Jon Connington was once the Lord of Griffin's Roost and a constant companion and friend of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. During Robert's Rebellion, the Mad King (Aerys II) appointed Connington as his Hand. Connington nearly ended the war at a stroke when he cornered Robert Baratheon at Stoney Sept. However, newly-arrived Tully and Stark forces crushed Connington's men during the Battle of the Bells and Robert escaped. For this failure, Jon was exiled to Essos, where it was reported he had drunk himself to death.

Coldhands

Title: Unknown

Motto: Unknown

Status: Uncertain

A mysterious entity of unknown origin, Coldhands appears to be a man but always goes heavily hooded and is reluctant to show his true face. Riding a massive elk, Coldhands lends aid and succour to travellers north of the Wall. He is a sworn enemy of the Others and their undead servants, and is allied to the three-eyed crow.

Jeyne Poole

House: Poole

Status: Alive

Jeyne Poole was one of Sansa Stark's ladies-in-waiting in Winterfell and later at King's Landing. After Eddard Stark's arrest and execution, Jeyne was kept a captive at Queen Cersei's command. Lord Tywin concocted a scheme to disguise Jeyne as the long-missing Arya Stark and send her north to marry Ramsay Bolton to help secure the Boltons' claim to Winterfell and the North. At Winterfell Jeyne employs the reluctant help of Theon Greyjoy in trying to escape.

Start your reading journey now with A Song of Ice and Fire – HarperVoyager 

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A Dance with Dragons: After the Feast