Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R.R. Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire
Pages: 835
Published: Aug 6th 1996
Publisher: Bantam
I must say that I love these series. And there is only going to be minor criticism.
I heard about the TV series when they first came out in 2011, the posters were everywhere. Not having Sky however, I had a major problem and couldn't watch it (but believe me, I was dying for it). It had everything I could ask for: fantasy, history, dragons, magic, costumes, castles, royalties. I love that kind of stuff. Guilty.
So I bought the book. I got it at WHSmith for half price for buying The Fault in our Stars as well. This was back in 2012 and my Mum had "forbidden" me to buy a new book unless I finished five because I had a ridiculous amount of unread books at home (I have a book buying problem). I bought them anyways and hid them. Yes, hello, my name is Vendela and I'm a bookaholic.
Anyways, onto the book. I love it. Not having watched the TV series I built my own interpretations of the characters and it was wonderful. The Stark children are younger, which I appreciate because being 14 at the time, they were still older and I could really connect with them. It took me a few chapters to understand which kid was which, but we got there in the end.
The chapters I enjoyed the most were John Snow's, Daenarys and Arya's. They were the easiest to connect to and included less politics. Being fourteen at the time and political debates did not interest me as much as the adventure, love and intrigue. They still don't. The only politics I actuallt truly enjoyed reading about were those involving Tyrion. Tyrion is and will forever remain my favourite character.
However, the chapters I could not stand were Catelyn's. I didn't like her as a character. I understood her, but I didn't like her. I didn't like Bran's too much either. Mainly because there were so many of them and I felt like we weren't getting anywhere. Now, like I mentioned I'm not a big politics fanatic, mainly because at the time I didn't understand a thing about it and couldn't be bother - Ned's chapters were full of politics. I learnt to like it though because A Game of Thrones wouldn't get anywhere without it. A fight between seven kingdoms. WITHOUT POLITICS?! Not possible. Spoiler: I don't think I realized how much I appreciated Ned's character until the very end when I knew that I would see no more of him. I wondered how the series could possibly go on without him. He died after the first book and I got the impression that the story pretty much centred around him. I was wrong.
I love the world. Just like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings it was been so well thought through. Not a plot hole. The fact that it's inspired by pieces of history that I enjoy a lot, like the War of the Roses, makes me understand it better. It was probably the first proper fantasy book i've ever picked up and I've opened up to that genre completely. When I go into bookstores I go straight to that shelf. I always loved fantasy films but never really read anything until I picked this book up and I have been forever changed.
Plot Summary:
Summer span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. his honour weighs him down at court wher a true man does what he will, not what he must... and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.
-as by the book cover
My Rating:10/10
Other books in this Series:
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 1)
A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2)
A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 1)
A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 Part 2)
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4)A Dance with Dragons 1: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 1)
A Dance with Dragons 2: Dreams and Dust (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 5 Part 2)
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