Review: A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

"Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. 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.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. 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

This book was all around amazing. I wish I'd have read this sooner and not have left it sitting on my bookshelf for almost a year !

The setting of this book was breath taking. The seven kingdoms were described with such detail that I really felt myself submerged in the world of the characters. I felt the setting to be a little Tolkien-esque when I first started the book, but I can see now that this setting is totally independent and different from the world of  Tolkiens books.

 Another aspect I loved about the world of the book was the politics in the book and the slight historical side to the setting. I loved learning about the different lords and their ranking in terms of the seven kingdoms, and about the Hand and the King and their roles in society.


At first when I started the book I felt a little intimidated. This book is quite a large one . There was also so much detail, many different POV's and story lines all at once. I was a little worried that I may not be able to absorb all this information and as a result not enjoy the novel. But I didn't get lost and quickly felt myself keeping up with every twist and character.


Another thing about this book is that I didn't think I would grow as close to the characters of this novel. Yet when I did, they began to feel so real to me. Characters I loved; Jon Snow, Arya, Bran, Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Daenarys and Khal Drogo. All of the characters in this novel are unique. Some I grew to loathe; Cersei and Joffrey, and others I loved from the beginning; Tyrion and Jon Snow. Another interesting thing about the characters is that the book is told from a different characters Point Of View (POV) every chapter. I really thought this to be unique as I have never read a book told from so many POV's or a book with so many main characters that are children / teenagers. I really enjoyed this aspect as it gave the reader a real sense of the corruption of some characters from the innocent eyes of a child.


The plot of this book was so interesting and gripping that I feel the blurb on the back of the book doesn't do it justice. The plot is gripping, fast-paced, action packed and filled with so many plot twists that I didn't see coming ! The novel never dragged or slowed as the reader is hooked from the first sentence of the prologue.  

The novel is filled with detailed descriptions of places, characters and the world that I feel George R.R Martin has really done the best possible with this novel. I loved the humour thrown into the serious moments, Tyrion was great character for this !


The Direwolves are awesome ! I have to say that this book is not for younger readers. If you are younger than fifteen, I wouldn't recommend you reading this novel as it contains; scenes of rape, prostitution, gore, incest, bloody and graphic violence and imagery etc.,

I really want to read A Clash Of Kings, the second book in the series, and have already downloaded it for my Kindle. Fingers Crossed I get to it soon!