Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice #1) by George R.R. Martin

 Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R. R. Martin
Published: August 26th 2005 by Spectra
Book Description:
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 forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.

Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells 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; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Unparalleled in scope and execution, A Game of Thrones is one of those rare reading experiences that catch you up from the opening pages, won’t let you go until the end, and leave you yearning for more

My Thoughts:

And I finally started my journey to the land of Westeros where everything you can imagine existing in the time of Kings exists. (Wow that ryhmed). Kings, Castles, Walls, Magic, Dragons and very well established and interesting characters. Those are the things that you will expect when reading Game of Thrones.

Basically, I first heard this , or rather watched it as the famous HBO TV Series with the same name. During my sloth vacation in 2011, I decided to watch it since everybody was talking about it. And it did not fail me that time. I was so enamored by this world and its characters that I vowed to myself that I should probably read this and see the origin. But something held me back. Due to my bad experience of trying to read The Lord of the Rings (it was so boring because of all the details e.g. JP son of blank son of blank.......) So I expected it to be the same with Game of Thrones. But thankfully, I browsed over it one day and it was actually an easy read.

So here I am one day on Costco here in Montreal and there was a box set whose price was cheaper compared to the bookstore here. So I bought it and started reading it.

First thing is that it was an easy read. Even though it is lengthy and full of details, those details are easy to understand and very important. When you read them you are transported to the book itself. That is how rich this book is. Really really loved it when I was reading it.

Second, this books is told alternately by different POV mainly by the Stark Family. What I love about the way George wrote this characters is that their personality leaps from the book into your mind. He established his characters so well that you will be able to remember them amidst of the numerous people in this kingdom.

Third is that this book there's not much physical fight but they fought with their wits and minds. I like that. That is something that is hard to write and if you succeed the fruits will be delicious and George did that.

All in all this  was really a good start in A Song of Fire and Ice Series. And I can indulge myself I will tell to you my top 5 characters and probably you can compare it to yours :D

1. Daenerys
2. Tyrion
3. Arya
4. Jon
5. Catelyn

I give this book a grand 5 whales

  



14 comments:

  1. This is one or rare occasions when I'm watching the TV show before reading the actual book. My friend is crazy about this TV show and I had to watch it. xD I'm glad you liked the book.

    PS. Nice blog :) You have a new follower now :)

    Tanja @ Ja Ĩitam, a ti?

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    1. thank you for the follow :D and really both books and TV is great :D hehe
      _JP

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  2. I really want to watch the TV show and read the books, but I'm still not sure if I want to read it in English or Dutch. I was also bored out of my mind with LOTR, so I'm happy that you liked this one! I think I will like it too :) Great review.

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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    1. thank goodness I was not the only one who got bored over LOTR book. I was sure someone here would kill me by saying it
      I think it will be best to watch the TV show first then read the books :D -JP

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  3. Although I don't plan on reading the books I love the TV show! Can't wait for it to return in April. ^^ My friend told me that they've done a pretty good job of fitting the first book into season 1 so that's awesome! Great review. :D

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    1. yes. almost everything is the same on season 1 with the first book. and also yes march 31 2013 season 3, woohoo cant wait -JP

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  4. Anonymous7:29 AM

    I also felt the same hesitation you had back then. I have thought that maybe this is one of those books that are ornamented by fancy and detailed writings! Because I just can't stand reading it. But thank goodness it's not one of those books. Your review made me want to read it so badly! Great great review!

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    1. I hope my review is applicable to you too when you decide to read it. I mean it is still long and there is still a possibiity you might not like it. crossing my fingers and hopes that you like it -JP

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  5. Honestly, I doubt I would even be interested in this book if it wasn't for the TV series. While I'm not a huge fan of the latter, I have seen it a few times and like it well enough to be curious about the books. :) I own a copy of this one and look forward to finally starting it. Great review, Danielle!

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  6. Great review! :) I like the same characters, though Jon is my number one. At least for now. :D

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    1. Jon is a well established character nice number 1 character :D -JP

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  7. I haven't watched the TV show, but I like the sound of the books. I'm glad to hear its an easy read and that the characters are great!

    Jesse @ Pretty In Fiction

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    1. urging you to watch it hehe :D -JP

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