A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)

by George R.R. Martin

NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES—THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON
 
Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece.

A GAME OF THRONES
 
In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the North of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
 
A GAME OF THRONES • A CLASH OF KINGS • A STORM OF SWORDS • A FEAST FOR CROWS • A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

Reviewed by inlibrisveritas on

5 of 5 stars

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I originally grabbed this book on a whim from the library…and after a few chapters it just sat there and I kept renewing it even though I hadn’t touched it. Then I found Jenna’s Ice and Fire Readalong and I finally sat down to read it, by which point I was out of renewals and had a week to get it done. It sounds like a crazy undertaking but it turned out to be addicting and every bit the page turner.

I’ll admit to being skeptical when I first started and I think that’s why it took me so long to get into it, because at first it just feels like every other epic fantasy. It’s not flashy or written like some flowery prize winning classic, and I wasn’t impressed. However I came to appreciate how the feel of the novel changed depending on which POV we were in, by which there are seven different point of views in this which alternate each chapter. It sounds insane, I mean how does someone keep up with seven different povs AND keep up with all the side characters at the same time? Honestly, I have no idea…but I did. It’s not for the meek that’s for sure. Each POV takes on the voice of that person and we see what they see, how they see it, and what they feel. In some ways the narrators are unreliable because you don’t get hard truths until it is laid down as without any doubt as a truth. You see allies in one chapter only to find them enemies in another. Some narrators are young (Bran, Sansa, Arya,Daenerys and Jon) and others are older (Tyrion, Catelyn, and Eddard), and no one character sounds like another. It is clear who they are and how they feel.

In truth I know most of the people who are still alive in the newest book coming out, so in some ways I wasn’t surprised when someone died and I made sure not to get too attached to certain characters. However it was really hard because even knowing their fates I really came to love some characters and Martin was not merciful when he snatched them away, but others I practically wiggled with excitement because I knew they were going to get what they deserved and there were quite a few that I wanted to punch or shake. I loved Arya, Daenerys, and Tyrion’s chapters the most. Arya Stark is a wild girl who definitely reminds me of myself a bit. She doesn’t like the gentle activities fit for her station as the daughter of a lord and would much rather play with the boys, learn to fight or explore. Tyrion Lannister is a dwarf who despite constant jeers has flourished under the negative attention. He’s more than a little confident, though is coupled with some doubt, incredibly smart, and witty. He’s the sort of person who will readily insult you and then if you find yourself offended give you some of the greatest advice ever. I loved seeing both side of him, though he definitely had moments where I was less than thrilled. Then there is Daenerys. Words can’t even begin to describe my love for this woman, seriously…if she were real I’d be willing to follow her to the ends of the Earth. In truth she is very young, only thirteen at the start of the book, but after a very troubling and meek beginning she grows into someone who is worth admiring and she does it in a year. I loved seeing her find her voice, stand up for what she believed in, and allowing no one to tell her what she could and couldn’t do.

I wish I could tell you everything that happens in this, because I honestly need to vent, but I can’t because that would ruin the fun of it. I can tell you the wide scope of the book though. This book doesn’t set out black and white boundaries, everything is in shades of grey. These characters are human and humans have layers, reasons and problems. There is some romance, a lot of action and fighting, a ton of political intrigue, seemingly magical and supernatural forces/beings, and a lot of time seeing humans be human. This book has all the details I love in high fantasy, but it doesn’t just dump the info and never mention it again, all things are relevant to the things occurring even if they seem like they might just be a childish rant or dream.

With the first book under my belt I have no doubt in my mind that I will be continuing this series and that I will watch the show. One book is not nearly enough especially not with that amazing ending. If you love high fantasy and you’re not afraid of really thick books I urge you to grab a copy of this, because I feel it is worth the time. On to the next!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 March, 2014: Finished reading
  • 8 March, 2014: Reviewed