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

Dec 25, 2009 Gaijinmama rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

I went into this having seen the first two seasons of the TV show, so some of the suspense was gone.
Didn't matter a whit. I could hardly put the book down and pretty much binge-read the last 300 pages over a three-day weekend. Family? sleep? work? what's that?
Indeed, it was all I could do not to plow right into the next volume of the series, but I'm making myself take a break to process it.

The story is just plain non-stop irresistible brilliance. In more than 800 pages, not a single word is wast I went into this having seen the first two seasons of the TV show, so some of the suspense was gone.
Didn't matter a whit. I could hardly put the book down and pretty much binge-read the last 300 pages over a three-day weekend. Family? sleep? work? what's that?
Indeed, it was all I could do not to plow right into the next volume of the series, but I'm making myself take a break to process it.

The story is just plain non-stop irresistible brilliance. In more than 800 pages, not a single word is wasted. More importantly in my view, the characters are believable and complex. The bad guys have some redeeming qualities, and the good guys have some grey areas and do some unlikeable stuff. They're people, not superheroes, and that's what kept me riveted in their story.
Hands down, my favorite character is Tyrion, The Imp. I'd say he's the anti-hero of the whole darn thing. As far as I'm concerned, this is really his story. Kinda like Star Wars is really about Han Solo, not that boring Luke Skywalker, right? Tyrion isn't exactly a good guy but he is smart, shows compassion in spite of himself, generally does the right thing when it matters, and oh. my.gods. does he have a sense of humor!! Between him and Petyr Baelish( who really is a scumbag, but endearing nonetheless) I found myself giggling at all sorts of inappropriate moments.
Warning: in case you've been hiding under a rock, let's just say things get a bit violent here and there. I'm not at all squeamish, but this book contains some truly sick and twisted stuff that pushed even my limits. What makes it even more upsetting, is that it's portrayed realistically. There is no cruelty in this book that hasn't actually been done to someone at some point in history.
Same goes for the magical aspects of the story. Magic exists in this world, but it comes at a price, and people still have to deal with the consequences of their actions, or deal with the fall-out of other people's actions (Catelyn Stark, a word please!! In my office, now!!).
People survive by using their brains. And sometimes bad things happen to good people.
Maybe I'll grab the next book and dive right in, after all. ...more

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Jul 31, 2008 Stamatia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-keeper

I have been reading this in my short holiday in Kos island. A most engrossing read, not easy to plogh through but rewarding, with a satisfying menagerie of characters where no one is entirely a hero or entirely a villain and shades of grey are the norm. I like that in a writer, when he gives me real people in a fantasy setting. I'm pretty happy with the fact that this is the first in a series. I hope the rest of them are as good. ...more

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Sep 27, 2009 Joe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, swearing, read-multiple-times

I really went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars for my rating of this book - I could have easily gone with 5 - the book was incredible - but there was enough right toward the end that pulled it down. However, this IS a series and I'm already reading the second book, which picks up right where this one left off, and if the story picks back up, I may just revise this up to 5 because the story is great.

This series has been classified in the fantasy genre, and I suppose thats probably the closest I really went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars for my rating of this book - I could have easily gone with 5 - the book was incredible - but there was enough right toward the end that pulled it down. However, this IS a series and I'm already reading the second book, which picks up right where this one left off, and if the story picks back up, I may just revise this up to 5 because the story is great.

This series has been classified in the fantasy genre, and I suppose thats probably the closest you could name, but it's definitely not traditional fantasy - no magic/wizards, no elves/dwarves or other races sharing the land, etc., but there are references to some of those things having existed in the past. The story is really just a story of the struggles and intrigues of several noble families and their positioning for power in the changing political climate of the (fictional) realm, but there are very few of the supernatural elements present in other works of fantasy that would mark this as something other than a period political fiction.

The character development is incredible - in fact, its central to the structure of the book (and the series) as each chapter tells a different part of the story from the perspective of a different character. Each character feels very real, and while clear protagonists and antagonists eventually develop, there isn't any of the "absulute virtue vs. absolute evil" that you see all too often where the hero is the very epitome of good and right and virtue, as well as physical beauty, and the villain is ugly evil-incarnate with no shred of goodness or truth. Very seldom are things so black and white, and Martin's world and plot admirably includes a lot of gray (though it does start to separate and break down toward the end).

So, four stars but I started on the second right after finishing the first and I have a feeling that once all is said and done, this will occupy a space on my shelves next to some of my other all-time favorites - right up there with Tolkien and Herbert. ...more

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Nov 20, 2010 Alex Telander rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

Journey to Westeros for the first time, with A Game of Thrones, but beware for winter is coming. In the first of George R. R. Martin’s landmark, epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, readers will be introduced to a complex world of many lands and many families, with many characters, but have no fear for Martin tells the story from unique viewpoints of different members of different families, forcing the reader to fit the different pieces of the story together, creating the overall puzzle Journey to Westeros for the first time, with A Game of Thrones, but beware for winter is coming. In the first of George R. R. Martin’s landmark, epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, readers will be introduced to a complex world of many lands and many families, with many characters, but have no fear for Martin tells the story from unique viewpoints of different members of different families, forcing the reader to fit the different pieces of the story together, creating the overall puzzle of plot. Readers will be reminded of everything they love about great fantasy stories, whether they be simple or epic; as well as discovering why George R. R. Martin has earned the title of the “American Tolkien.”

In the world of Westeros, there are Seven Kingdoms, long ago independent, now united under the Iron Throne, but those named king never seem to last long in this world of corrupt, power-hungry families. There are two main families which readers are first introduced to: the Starks and the Lanisters, emulating the Wars of the Roses with the Yorks and Lancasters. With the Starks there is proud and strong Ned, who is to be the King’s Hand to Robert Baratheon, and his determined and caring wife, Catelyn. The sons are Rob, the eldest, Jon Snow, a bastard, Bran who suffers a debilitating accident, and Rickon who is too young to really understand what is going on. The daughters are Sansa, who is a young, fair maiden always looking for her knight in shining armor to whisk her off her feet; and Arya, who is boyish and wants to learn how to fight with a sword, ride a horse into battle, and defend herself. The Lannisters are a different type of family, constantly looking for gain whether it is with land, riches, or power. At the head of the household is the aging Lord Tywin, with his children: the beautiful, blond and blue-eyed Jaime and his twin Cersei – who share much more than a sibling affection – and little Tyrion, a dwarf who has had to fight for everything in his entire life. Cersei is wife to the king, Robert Baratheon, and together they have young Joffrey, heir to the throne, along with Tommen and Myrcella.

While tension builds between the families at King’s landing, far to the north lies the Wall – 700 feet tall and 300 miles long, protecting the Seven Kingdoms from the evils of the far north. There lies myth and legends of demons and ghouls, as well as a landless king. It is here John Snow is sent. To the east in the Free Cities is Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen, the last surviving children of King Aerys II, looking to one day take back the throne that is rightfully theirs.

A Game of Thrones is fantasy at its very best, with lots of complex, interesting characters; moving storylines filled with tension and adventure; a detailed and varied world that is well explored; and an underlying question of who is truly good and who is truly evil in this harsh world.

Originally written on March 14, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

For more reviews, and exclusive interviews, go to BookBanter ...more

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Jan 23, 2010 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

What a great book! I have been putting off reading this book because I assumed it would be another high fantasy series that I wouldn't be able to get into because of elves, gnomes, magic, etc. I was wrong, this book is truly about the game of thrones, the power struggles and intrigue that take place behind the scenes with a fantasy backdrop. This book is a bit confusing in the beginning but twists and turns in the differing storylines kept me reading. I hope that this can be made into a successf ...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Amber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, biblio

Wow...only around 200 pages or so into this, and it's wonderful. Deep, realistic, and intensely political without being dry. I can't wait to read more, and then the rest of the series.

Ok, flash forward, completed the book (and indeed, the rest of the series) as soon as I could.

I've read a lot of fantasy. I've read fluff, and I've read dry, and I've read a modicum of smutty fanfic...but I've never read anything quite like the world that George R. R. Martin weaves around his reader.

Each chapter is ...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Susan rated it really liked it

I am obsessed with the books!

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Nov 12, 2010 Christy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, best-books-ever, favorites

It took me awhile to really pick this up and read it. Once I got started, I couldn't stop. What an amazing world Martin has created. It reminded me some of the Tudor novels I've read, combined with Lord of The Rings and a bit of a murder mystery thrown in. Needless to say, I loved it on many levels and can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Oh one thing I learned from this book: Martin doesn't mind killing off main characters! Man!!! I'm still sad about one of them. ...more

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