[book-info]
A Game of Thrones and the A Song of Ice and Fire series are books I’ve known about for a long time, but have been very reluctant to read. Have you seen the size of them?! Very daunting, and I don’t usually like to read long books. However, I finally gave in to the temptations and bought the box set. Immediately I started reading, and immediately I was sucked into the world of Westeros and I am now completely obsessed.
A Game of Thrones is the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin and is set in a high-fantasy world where betrayal and treachery aren’t uncommon. Although there’s a lot of information to take in, Martin has created an incredible world where it is easy to feel as if you are the characters, walking in their footsteps and speaking their words. It’s difficult to describe it exactly because it’s better to discover the plot for yourself – I really don’t want to spoil anything!
There are vivid arrays of characters, all extremely realistic. Even the characters you’re supposed to hate are easy to like because they have motivations and this is what makes A Game of Thrones really stand out. Every person has flaws, not just ‘the bad guys,’ and every character in this novel has them too which makes it impossible to trust anyone, even the people you think you’re supposed to.
That said, I do have a few favourite characters. Daenerys Targaryen is the character I completely fell in love with. Can I be her please? She’s everything you could wish for in a character and more, and I loved seeing her character growth as the novel progressed. I found myself longing for more of her chapters because they were just so good.
The novel is written in third person from the perspectives of a number of different characters, which can be rather confusing at first but you do get used to it after a while. Just a warning: Don’t get too close to any of the characters, because they will most likely die. George R. R. Martin isn’t afraid of death!
Whilst an adult novel (it’s extremely violently and sexually graphic so if you’re squeamish I’d beware), I enjoyed the change from YA to adult and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and watch the TV show.
Book in a tweet: Thrilling, completely enthralling and complex, A Game of Thrones will draw you into the world of Westeros and not let you go.