Epic Fantasy
Four and a half stars
Outside the protective walls of a medieval society, dark forces are at work. In this foreign land, the long summer is coming to an end, and winter is on its way. It is a critical time for the king, whose adviser has suddenly passed away. His power is weakening as a new threat rises in the east and those closest to him plot betrayal. Lord Eddard Stark is called to be the king's new Hand, a position which places him and his family at the center of everything. Secrets are kept, battles are fought, and enemies are made as the characters strive to win the throne.
So I was confused for about the first 100 pages - there's like, a million characters and plot lines, and the novel kind of throws you into all of it. But I also liked the lack of explanations, it made the story feel more natural, more realistic. It's a bit of a longer book, but it really lets you get in touch with the characters and become absorbed in the world. And I think my favourite part was the characters themselves - they're each so beautifully complex with their own relationships, motives, and secrets. You just get so deep into their experiences - I was surprised by how passionate I became about some of them (cough Joffrey). Each chapter gives you a different perspective, which can get a little confusing and frustrating, but the stories are so overlapping that you don't lose the flow of them. And Martin is able to write in such an engaging way; it's clear and descriptive, and it's got that medieval feel to it that fits perfectly with the genre. You can tell he must have done cussloads of research, and that really makes it feel authentic. Everything about the book just comes together so beautifully, and you can't help but fall into this world of manipulation, betrayal, and war.
“When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.”
Finish the series: A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
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