game of thrones book review

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A song of fire and ice (a game of thrones) series, common sense media reviewers.

Dark, violent epic upends the usual fantasy clichés.

A Song of Fire and Ice (A Game of Thrones) Series Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

George R.R. Martin creates a medieval fantasy worl

Tradition is important, and promises should be kep

In A Game of Thrones and its sequels, author Georg

From its first scene to its last, A Game of Throne

Although not as prevalent as violence, sex plays a

Think of a swear word, and it's probably used

Adults and teens drink alcohol at court and in pub

Educational Value

George R.R. Martin creates a medieval fantasy world that is nearly overwhelmingly rich in detail. He aims to provide a more "realistic" kind of saga, upending clichés and providing viewpoints of unusual characters.

Positive Messages

Tradition is important, and promises should be kept. It's better to face a problem head-on than to deny that you're in trouble.

Positive Role Models

In A Game of Thrones and its sequels, author George R. R. Martin rarely shows only one side of his characters' personalities. Few of them are all good or all bad. He clearly sympathizes with the members of the Stark family, but each of them is also capable of accessing a dark side.

Violence & Scariness

From its first scene to its last, A Game of Thrones contains violence, which often strikes without warning to the guilty and the innocent alike. There are beheadings, sword fights, wolf attacks, rapes, and death by molten gold. A young boy is thrown out a window. No character is ever safe, and the graphic details of their injuries or deaths are usually provided.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Although not as prevalent as violence, sex plays a large part in A Game of Thrones and its sequels. Cersei and Jaime Lannister engage in an incestuous relationship. Tyrion falls in love with a courtesan. Barely in her teens, Daenerys Targaryen enters into a sexual relationship with an older man before marrying him and becoming pregnant with his child. Sometimes such encounters are described in graphic detail.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Think of a swear word, and it's probably used in A Song of Fire and Ice at some point, from "damn" and "bastard" to "c--t" and "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults and teens drink alcohol at court and in pubs.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Song of Fire and Ice -- adapted for the popular and very mature TV series Game of Thrones -- is a seven-volume fantasy saga by George R.R. Martin , of which only the first five volumes have been published as of April 2016. Set in a magical version of the Middle Ages, it chronicles the exploits of the Stark, Baratheon, Lannister, and Targaryen families as they struggle for power in a deadly civil war. Violence percolates through nearly every scene, including sword fights, beheadings, rapes, wolf attacks, death by molten gold, and more. Sexual content includes an incestuous relationship between a brother and a sister, the marriage of an older man to a teen girl, and a prince's love affair with a courtesan. The language is predictably rough, ranging from "hell" and "damn" to "f--k" and "c--t." If the books were rated as movies are, they would receive a "hard R."

Where to Read

Community reviews.

Parents say (20)
Kids say (58)

Based on 20 parent reviews

A good read, but be cautious

Amazing dark fantasy with great rich story., what's the story.

After his predecessor is murdered, Eddard Stark reluctantly agrees to serve as "the Hand" to his good friend, King Robert Baratheon. His honorable decision has far-reaching consequences for his family. After King Robert dies, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are plunged into civil war, thanks to the plotting of the Lannisters, and the Stark children and their mother are scattered in all directions. Each must find a new way to survive in a rapidly changing world, even as magic grows stronger, a new peril approaches the Wall that protects the kingdoms, and the threat of the ultimate weapon -- tame dragons -- grows in the East.

Is It Any Good?

There have been many fantasy sagas published in the last half century, but few can boast the scope, depth, and attention to detail of A SONG OF FIRE AND ICE. George R. R. Martin is a master plotter, moving his huge cast of characters from one harrowing situation to the next and keeping readers anxious and surprised again and again. Some of the first five volumes work better than others ( A Feast for Crows leaves many readers disappointed), but all add new elements that only increase the complex richness of the narrative.

This book series is certainly not for sensitive readers. The language is rough, the violence is brutal, and the sexual content sometimes veers into the perverse (including brother-sister incest). But readers with the maturity to handle adult material will be amply rewarded. Martin is a serious storyteller of the first order, and A Song of Fire and Ice is his masterwork.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why fantasy sagas have become so popular in books, in movies, and on TV. What aspects of them appeal most to readers and viewers?

Why do some writers choose to include profanity in their dialogue and descriptions? Does it add a sense of realism to emotionally charged situations?

What role does violence play in the story? Would some of the characters be better off if they had not resorted to violence so quickly?

Book Details

Author : George R.R. Martin
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : Bantam Books
Publication date : March 30, 1996
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 15 - 18
Number of pages : 835
Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Last updated : September 19, 2021

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A GAME OF THRONES

From the a song of ice and fire series , vol. 1.

by George R.R. Martin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 12, 1996

After a long silence ( Portraits of his Children , stories, 1987), the author of the cult novel The Armageddon Rag (1983) returns with the first of a fantasy series entitled, insipidly enough, A Song of Ice and Fire. In the Seven Kingdoms, where the unpredictable seasons may last decades, three powerful families allied themselves in order to smash the ruling Targaryens and depose their Mad King, Aerys II. Robert Baratheon claimed the throne and took to wife Tywin Lannister's daughter, Cersei; Ned Stark returned north to gloomy Winterfell with its massive, ancient Wall farther to the north that keeps wildings and unspeakable creatures from invading. Some years later, Robert, now drunk and grossly fat, asks Ned to come south and help him govern; reluctantly, since he mistrusts the treacherous Lannisters, Ned complies. Honorable Ned soon finds himself caught up in a whirl of plots, espionage, whispers, and double-dealing and learns to his horror that the royal heir, Joffrey, isn't Robert's son at all but, rather, the product of an incestuous union between the Queen and her brother Jaime—who murdered the Mad King and earned the infamous nickname Kingslayer. Ned attempts to bargain with Cersei and steels himself to tell Robert—but too late. Swiftly the Lannisters murder the King, consign Ned to a dungeon, and prepare to seize the throne, opposed only by the remaining Starks and Baratheons. On the mainland, meanwhile, the brutal and stupid Viserys Targaryen sells his sister Dany to a barbarian horse-warrior in return for a promise of armies to help him reconquer the Seven Kingdoms. A vast, rich saga, with splendid characters and an intricate plot flawlessly articulated against a backdrop of real depth and texture. Still, after 672 dense pages, were you expecting a satisfying resolution? You won't get it: Be prepared for a lengthy series with an indefinitely deferred conclusion.

Pub Date: Aug. 12, 1996

ISBN: 0-553-10354-7

Page Count: 672

Publisher: Spectra/Bantam

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1996

FANTASY | EPIC FANTASY

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THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA

by TJ Klune ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy.

A tightly wound caseworker is pushed out of his comfort zone when he’s sent to observe a remote orphanage for magical children.

Linus Baker loves rules, which makes him perfectly suited for his job as a midlevel bureaucrat working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, where he investigates orphanages for children who can do things like make objects float, who have tails or feathers, and even those who are young witches. Linus clings to the notion that his job is about saving children from cruel or dangerous homes, but really he’s a cog in a government machine that treats magical children as second-class citizens. When Extremely Upper Management sends for Linus, he learns that his next assignment is a mission to an island orphanage for especially dangerous kids. He is to stay on the island for a month and write reports for Extremely Upper Management, which warns him to be especially meticulous in his observations. When he reaches the island, he meets extraordinary kids like Talia the gnome, Theodore the wyvern, and Chauncey, an amorphous blob whose parentage is unknown. The proprietor of the orphanage is a strange but charming man named Arthur, who makes it clear to Linus that he will do anything in his power to give his charges a loving home on the island. As Linus spends more time with Arthur and the kids, he starts to question a world that would shun them for being different, and he even develops romantic feelings for Arthur. Lambda Literary Award–winning author Klune ( The Art of Breathing , 2019, etc.) has a knack for creating endearing characters, and readers will grow to love Arthur and the orphans alongside Linus. Linus himself is a lovable protagonist despite his prickliness, and Klune aptly handles his evolving feelings and morals. The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up.

Pub Date: March 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-250-21728-8

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Tor

Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019

GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | FANTASY

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by TJ Klune

Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE

by Samantha Shannon ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 26, 2019

A celebration of fantasy that melds modern ideology with classic tropes. More of these dragons, please.

After 1,000 years of peace, whispers that “the Nameless One will return” ignite the spark that sets the world order aflame.

No, the Nameless One is not a new nickname for Voldemort. Here, evil takes the shape of fire-breathing dragons—beasts that feed off chaos and imbalance—set on destroying humankind. The leader of these creatures, the Nameless One, has been trapped in the Abyss for ages after having been severely wounded by the sword Ascalon wielded by Galian Berethnet. These events brought about the current order: Virtudom, the kingdom set up by Berethnet, is a pious society that considers all dragons evil. In the East, dragons are worshiped as gods—but not the fire-breathing type. These dragons channel the power of water and are said to be born of stars. They forge a connection with humans by taking riders. In the South, an entirely different way of thinking exists. There, a society of female mages called the Priory worships the Mother. They don’t believe that the Berethnet line, continued by generations of queens, is the sacred key to keeping the Nameless One at bay. This means he could return—and soon. “Do you not see? It is a cycle.” The one thing uniting all corners of the world is fear. Representatives of each belief system—Queen Sabran the Ninth of Virtudom, hopeful dragon rider Tané of the East, and Ead Duryan, mage of the Priory from the South—are linked by the common goal of keeping the Nameless One trapped at any cost. This world of female warriors and leaders feels natural, and while there is a “chosen one” aspect to the tale, it’s far from the main point. Shannon’s depth of imagination and worldbuilding are impressive, as this 800-pager is filled not only with legend, but also with satisfying twists that turn legend on its head. Shannon isn’t new to this game of complex storytelling. Her Bone Season novels ( The Song Rising , 2017, etc.) navigate a multilayered society of clairvoyants. Here, Shannon chooses a more traditional view of magic, where light fights against dark, earth against sky, and fire against water. Through these classic pairings, an entirely fresh and addicting tale is born. Shannon may favor detailed explication over keeping a steady pace, but the epic converging of plotlines at the end is enough to forgive.

Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-63557-029-8

Page Count: 848

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019

GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | FANTASY | EPIC FANTASY

More by Samantha Shannon

by Samantha Shannon

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A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and...

A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1

About the Book

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 and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is 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; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords . As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 by George R. R. Martin

Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Genres: Fantasy , Fiction
Paperback: 720 pages
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN-10: 0553386794
ISBN-13: 9780553386790

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A Game of Thrones: Book Review

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Most people are fans of the Game of Thrones show (not including the last season) but the books by George R.R. Martin is where the adventure all started. Keep reading to learn about the epic fantasy world of A Game of Thrones.

A Game of Thrones Summary

After Jon Arryn’s death, King Robert Baratheon approaches Eddard “Ned Stark,” the “King of the North” to become the next “Hand of the King.” After discussing it with his family, Ned decides to take the position. But tragedy befalls Bran Stark when he is pushed out the window of a tower after seeing Queen Cersei Lannister having sex with her twin brother Jaime Lannister.

Bran does not remember what happened before he falls and cannot use his legs anymore. Ned travels to the capital city of Westeros, King’s Landing with his daughters Arya and Sansa. When they arrive in King’s Landing, Ned learns that Jon Arryan’s death was not an “accident.

After learning how bad it has gotten in King’s Landing, Ned uses all his power to try to fix the problems at hand. The King is irresponsible and Queen Cersei is plotting something. Can Ned hold the kingdom together or will it tear his friendship and his family apart?

As many of you know, the books are long and has a lot of characters. There is always a lot going on. So much that Martin strongly believed his books would never be made into a tv show before HBO came along and changed that narrative.

I saw the show first and then decided to read the books. When I learned how good the books were, I knew I had to read them all. If you love the show, then you should read the books because there is so much that doesn’t make the show. And as you may or may not know, the tv show went a different direction near the end.

The one bad part about the A Song of Ice and Fire series is that is it still ongoing. Martin is still finishing up the last two novels in the series and who knows how long that will take. It has been a decade since the last novel has been released. Otherwise, the series is great!

I strongly recommend this book if you love fantasy books. Not many books have this much detail and are still a great read. It has redefined the fantasy genre and rightfully so!

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Im watching the show now and im loving it. I will probably read the books after i finish the show…

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Thank you for the like… hey Ahaqir I bet I have a zombie book you have yet to read1?!?! (right now I do still have it in my possession in case you have not and are interested) its called zombie island and you should be able to find a review in a search on my Multiscreen blog. Here’s the direct link https://multiscreenmotivision.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/zombieisland/

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A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 1)

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 where 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, a vengeance mad boy has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities beyong the sea. Heir of the mad Dragon King deposed by Robert, he claims the Iron Throne.

Ever since my entry into the heady and wonderful peaks of fantasy literature following the release of the Fellowship of the Ring movie in 2001, I have been hard pressed to find an author greater than the inimitable J.R.R. Tolkien. Robin Hobb’s ‘Realm of the Elderlings’ story tops it in terms of pure enjoyment for me, and Terry Pratchett writes with such skill he too edges out Tolkien. But both authors have fallen short of the sheer scope that Tolkien envisioned and, successfully, created.

Since then, I have only come across two authors who have come close to envisioning and successfully carrying out their literary creations to match Tolkien; Steven Erikson and George R. R. Martin.

Martin’s epic fantasy series, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire,’ has managed to – in both scope and creativity, not to mention simple writing ability – capture and recreate the story that started in Martin’s head. Some authors try, and fail miserably. Some capture and recreate perfectly, but the author’s scope is minimal.

For Martin though, in scope, creativity, and writing ability, A Song of Ice and Fire is everything you want in an epic fantasy tale.

The first book, ‘A Game of Thrones,’ was first released in 1996, and since then another three books have been released, with the fifth hopefully to be released this year (2009). Set in a world very akin to our own medieval history, specifically the English War of the Roses, A Game of Thrones introduces us to one of the greatest (and largest) character lists around.

The story is told from eight perspectives. Each perspective is held within a chapter which, when the characters move away from each other, allows the author to continually leave minor cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter.

While six of the characters from this first book are from the same family, the perspective is shifted around in preceding books. Death is commonplace, almost to the point of horror, but conducted in such a way that it, sadly, reminds us of our own bloody histories. Martin does not shy away from the death, rape and plunder that would have been norm for the setting and in doing so provides a much more complete story.

Mindless destruction is often the cause for character splits and confrontations, and by the end of the book characters you assumed you would be attached too for some time are left headless, gutless or simply gone.

Throughout the entire series Martin focuses almost primarily upon one continent. However there is one character, Daenerys Targaryen, who has been forced to flee to a separate continent as a young girl. At first I remember feeling disorientated and a little slighted at seemingly being provided this perspective which seemed nothing short of pointless. However as I have continued to read, she has become one of my favourite characters.

‘A Game of Thrones’ is without a doubt one of the most involved and simultaneously enjoyable books I have ever read. Dense to the point of labour, but captivating well past my bed time, Martin knows exactly where to draw the line between lots of information and tedious boredom.

If you like Tolkien, or if you like the idea of an epic fantasy series, then you must pick up ‘A Game of Thrones’ as soon as possible. Martin’s ability to create a world both entertaining and disastrously realistic is nothing short of mind numbingly brilliant. Joshua S Hill

The novel, A Game of Thrones, begins with an encounter with supernatural beings; this may give a false impression as to what will come. As the story begins to unfold, the theme moves strongly into the area of political intrigue and this forthcoming war that will happen as a result. The fantasy element, while always there plays only a minor role in the majority of the rest of the book.

A Game of Thrones in not your usual fare, it is hard-hitting and bad things do happen to the good people. Two families take centre stage in a battle for the Throne; the Starks and the Lannisters. The Stark family live in the cold hard North, Winterfell is the seat of their domain. We are, using chapters headlined with the family names, introduced to the Stark family. Once we have familiarised ourselves with the Stark’s, King Robert and his family visit them at Winterfell. King Robert is married to a Lannister, Queen Cersei. The King’s main reason for visiting is to offer Eddard Stark the honour of becoming his Hand (most trusted advisor). Eddard unhappily accepts and he must move to King’s Landing in the South.

Eddard Stark’s young son Bran is injured during the King’s visit, whilst this is originally thought to be an accident that occurred when he was climbing it becomes apparent that the Lannisters played a part in this tragedy.

In an interesting sub-plot Jon Snow, Eddard’s bastard son, joins the “Black” or the “Night’s Watch”, a company of men who’s role is to guard a huge wall of ice in the far North. He is accompanied there by Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf. Although they do not become friends they end up with a grudging respect for each other. Once Jon has pledged himself to the “Black” he must forsake friends, family, marriage and children and his whole life will be spent in the protection of Land.

With Eddard now in place as the King’s Hand, tensions rise between himself and the Lannisters. Then, suddenly one day, the King is killed hunting wild boar and Eddard and the Lannister are drawn into a battle for the throne.

Finally, at the end, the fantasy element once again returns and we are left looking forward to the second instalment.

This is a very good novel, full of twists and turns. It leaves you wanting more and move on to A Clash of Kings. Floresiensis

"Colossal, staggering ... one of the greats" SFX

"Fantasy literature has never shied away from grandeur, but the sheer mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads ... It's ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venemous they could eat the Borgais." Guardian

10/10 An epic, action packed starter from George R. R. Martin.

Buy on Amazon

Reviews by Floresiensis and Joshua S Hill

101 positive reader review(s) for A Game Of Thrones

243 positive reader review(s) in total for the A Song of Ice and Fire series

George RR Martin biography

Natkrit from UK

This movie is very interesting in it's setting and story line. Character development are so smooth they make you attached to the story. I recommend this series to everyone but keep in mind that it is quite dark.

Game of thrones from Kazakhstan

This is the best book I've ever read. It's gripping. It feels like you are in another world. I recommend it.

Eric from America

This is a great book. I enjoy the brutal realism of the characters and the world that Martin has built.

McIntosh from USA

How are they considering Game of Thrones high fantasy? It seems like the perfect example for low fantasy to me. Most of the show revolves around politics and wars, and magic isn't a normal part of everyday life.

Brecken from USA

There are no books I love more than the A Song of Ice and Fire. Honestly, it deserves so much better than a 9.5 (based on books I've seen with higher ratings that don't measure up nearly as high as ASOIAF). I almost exclusively read fantasy and these books are as good as lord of the rings, in a different way (a very different way). The best thing is they are all about character. In fantasy, characterization is often put to the side so that cool battles and fun magic can be explored more. There are only two characters in the entire series that I know are the bad guys, and the author even has me feeling bad for them at some points. Every character feels real, and there are moments where I have hated every one of them, and moments where I have loved them. They all develop over time in ways that you can barely notice until it hits you that, wow, that character isn't evil anymore. There are a million plot lines, and each one is very real. No one cheats, no one can "just do the magic thing" to get out of a situation. Actions have consequences. Our favorite characters die, and the bad ones get to live. It is extremely well written, fast paced in some places and slow in others. The books have a depth that make you want to read the series over and over again so you can find out just what is going on with the characters, and catch all of the hints and symbolism the author puts in there. I will never look at fantasy the same again, this series has changed my world view.

Kath from England

Takes a while to read and some parts are slow but the storyline is amazing and I highly recommend.

I loved AGOT. An absolute masterpiece. I could not put it down even if I had wanted to.

Sundar from Lal

This book, and the other books published of the series, are as impressive and amazing piece of literature. The characters in the story are superb. I read these book and absolutely had to recommend them to every book buddy.

Rebekah from New Zealand

This thick, material crammed book is written so brilliantly that it is impossible for one to get bored whilst reading. I enjoy the fact that everyone is somehow connected in the story, no matter how far away they all seem from each other. What additionally made this novel awesome was that at each end of chapters, GRRM would leave a cliff-hangar, forcing you to read on till it's 3:34 on a school morning. I would rate this book 11/10 is I could.

Ewan from Scotland

This book was the first book I finished on my own and not being forced (English in school). This book is so good that it made me, someone who would never even try a book. Get into reading, you know it's good.

Alice from England

I will give it just over half stars, purely because I think that the concept is brilliant, and the series begins very strongly, with the first book in particular being excellent. However, sadly, what could have been an explosive series slowly dissolved into an anti climax with absolutely nothing happening. Book one, and most of book two are very good, book three has some interesting parts, although admittantly it begins to loose structure, book four however, I struggled with despite flying through the preceding books and I gave up on book five. It seems that the interesting characters that Martin established in the first book have either been killed off or their storylines have dried out and have subsequently been replaced with much less interesting characters and storylines. All in all, the disappointment factor when reflecting upon what this story could have been is perhaps the worst thing about it. It could have been great, and it has its moments, but when you look at the potential that Martin had to begin with, which slowly dissolves into nothing, it's just such a shame that he couldn't carry it out and that's the worst thing about the series, the dreadful waste of potential. Still, I wouldn't say avoid it completely, just be aware that this story will probably not play out the way you had hoped and you may well find yourself as disappointed as I was.

Alex from Greece

I absolutely loved it, the whole idea, the writting style... but damn I have to admit that the fourth book was bloody boring. I do not get why everyone disses that "Dance with Dragons" (fifth) book though. I found it quite interesting.

Maria from US

"Six" as a rating is deceptive. I gave 10 to the first three books, and single stars to the last two books, and 6-7 is what I got. Sadly, the last two books take all the momentum of the first three, and flush it down the toilet. I wish they didn't. I'm waiting for book six, and hoping that Martin gets his act together, but at this point the story is so bloated that it's unlikely to happen. If anyone wants an excellent series that moves like a well-oiled machine from start to finish, try Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy.

Wayne from US

Awesome book, enticing read. Love the series and people complaining how it's poorly written... Seriously?This is really a great series, not a single one of you could even come close to matching Martin's writing.

Jayne from United States

For a while, I've been trying to figure out how I feel about these books (I've read all 5). They're a deviation from the traditional fantasy storyline (hero that overcomes all vs. true evil) and I can appreciate and respect Mr. Martin's boldness. I do think he does it well, the story is well written and always keeps you guessing. I didn't have a problem with the multiple characters and their separate chapters (I made it through the Wheel of Time series and loved it), but I did have a problem with caring what happens. I like that Mr. Martin has no qualms about killing off whatever character needed to die and the revolving complexity of the plot is really interesting. But honestly, what I think he lost between the multiple characters and their impermanence was making me care about the character. I think he shows their negative sides much more than any goodness in them and in not knowing how long they're going to be around, I found myself avoiding getting too emotionally involved in their stories to the point that I just don't really care what happens to them anymore. I also agree with another reviewer here in that somewhere the overall plot gets lost. Also I'm just confused about the role of the whole "winter is coming" idea - I would like to see that come to more prominence because I could see that forcing everyone to set aside their differences and their petty politics to fight a common foe - and it's seemed like that since the very first chapter. Overall, I say kudos to Mr. Martin for daring to break the traditional fantasy conventions and hopefully opening a whole new realm of possibilities for other writers but I hope that after this series, he learns from his mistakes and writes a much better one. I give it 6 stars for boldness, creativity, interesting characters and good writing.

Felix from America

An absoloutely brilliant novel. In my opinion, A Game of Thrones is one of the greatest fantasy novels ever written by one of the best authors ever. George RR Martin is able to capture emotions and build suspense and leaves you wanting more. A truly great novel.

Jake from Australia

To all the haters, you're entitled to your opinion. I like to recall the story of how the producers of the TV show read a part of the first book and were immediately overwhelmed, impressed, taken by the imagery, the ambience, the sense of place and the characters. So, at least 2 people in the world were touched by the book. Now that's 2 more than a lot of other writers.

Anthony from UK

To those who say the writing isn't good, I challenge you to write at Martin's level. You'd fail. The different pespectives add depth to the story but I understand that some people might have trouble understanding.

d'Argantel from Japan

Since so far I read but Game of Thrones, the first book to the series. I wish to note that in no mean I judge the series alltogether. G.R.R. Martin have created an interesting world with lots of likeable charachters, epic story and unique in a sense playing with reader... The problem I have is that it's boring. No, not the story, however overdone and simple, but the narrative. Never have I reade such flat descriptions and emotionless dialouge, not to mention forced expositions... Honestly , the idea of charachter perspective told story with each chapter being presented from pov of different one involved in an event is nice, the execution is less than impressive. If not for the HBO show I would have hard time getting into the presented world. Another thing are all the Deus Ex Machina literaly forcing the plot to continue the intended way. [spoiler] Honestly no one thought that it is odd that before Joffrey there was no other Baratheon of blond hair?[/spoiler] To be honest I am almost sure the whole book series was written from the very first page to be made into a movie or, as it came to be, tv series. HBO patches some holes, adds here, takes away there and makes the story overall better and of course... Puts life into the charachters and dialogue! I hope the other books of the series are better because so far my jaw hurts from yawning.

Gordon from Oklahoma, USA

A Game of Thrones, and the rest of the Fire and Ice series, are the finest stories I have read in many years, and I am a prolific reader who enjoys many different categories of literature. After having read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Hobbit a few years ago while the Peter Jackson movies were being progressively released, I am of the opinion that "A Game of Thrones" and the entire Fire and Ice series to this point are several steps above anything Tolkien ever wrote. An added bonus is the result of HBO is doing a great job of bringing the Fire and Ice books to the homes of people who would never consider picking up a 1000 page novel. Anybody who bothers to read each of the books from both writers can count themselves lucky to be able to enjoy such well written literature. For those who have seen the HBO series and enjoyed it so far, you should read A Game of Thrones and decide for yourself if the written material is superior to the theatrical release. I would also put this series above the Harry Potter books and movies.

Emily from England

Read it because of the series on television and am not ashamed. It does include adult scenes, which I thought fitted the atmosphere of the novel and I am a teenager, so it is understandable I would find them more awkward... I didn't. You can't complain about not understanding the novel if you don't read all of it, including the 'boring' parts. All the Tolkien lovers need to broaden their horizons. GRRM isn't trying to be Tolkien, he's an epic writer on his own with his own style.

Kah from Brazil

This is modernity, I guess. The way of narrating a story has certainly changed. Things are about discourse and action, now. "Less plot" and "more character". This is a great epic which is providing nice adaptations. Of course, the plot is very long and, because of this, its quality oscilates sometimes. I myself didn't like the fourth book (the first three books were an amazing experience) and the fifth has been little playful. But this is not about comparing G.R.R.M to Tolkien or Lewis. This is about accepting what this generation is producing and understand it withouth making anacronisms.

Thomas from England

I would like to point out that the book being reviewed is Game Of Thrones, not the whole series, A Song Of Ice And Fire, which many people seem to be forgetting...

Eric Showatt from Australia

People seem to think the reason why the opinion about this series is so divided because the way the author kills off the character and the amount of angst, miseries this series content. While this may seem like a plausible reason, the real reason is actually far more simple. Game of Thrones sucks. Period. Now I'm not here to troll or bash the author - I'm here to review this series honestly. There is no doubt in my mind that GRRM is one of the most prolific writer of our time. His world building ability is on par with Tolkien, and the character he has created are very realistic and interesting. One can almost read Game of throne like an alternative history if we forget all the magical element within the story. The political motivation of each character are very well defined and the consequences for failure in this series are heavy - you are lucky if you managed to die a clean death, as is the case with Ned Stark. He died, sure, but there are many character who ended up wishing they were dead but couldn't quite manage it because their tormentors prevent them from doing so. There is beauty in this book. Beauty in the finality of death and the cruelty of living. However... I would like to ask every reviewer and every reader of Game of Thrones, what is the actual plot of this series? Lots of things happen, sure. You get loads and loads of characters. Each of them have their own arc. Some gets killed off, some don't, but are any of them truly relevant? Just consider this for a second and you will see what an appalling story the series is - it's not actually a story. It's many story woven into one book, like a game that contains several character sheet and no main plot whatsoever. Things unfold, but it's just things that happens. If I were to describe what this story is about, I would simply say "It's a book about a bunch of things that happened in a land called Westeros", and that's pretty much what the series has become by the end of the third book. Now I will go on to say that the first book is simply breath taking. There is actually a plot, and the characters pov are consistent and - most importantly - relevant. You get the honorable idiot Ned Stark who is trying to figure out why Jon Arryn was killed, while his wife and kids are trying to figure out who pushed Bran off the balcony. The two conspiracies tied together, because what Bran witnessed was the key to Ned Stark's hunt for the reason why Jon Arryn is killed and why he is becoming involved in the first place. The subplot with Dany? That's just the icing on the cake, like something that you can either read or ignore completely. The tradition continues on to the second book, after Ned stark's tragedy, the land is divided and the war happens. We see the brutal aftermath, we see the people fighting for the Iron Throne. While the plot began to dwindle after the first book, the characters are presented with one goal - that is to fight for the Iron Throne, with a subplot of getting their loved ones back to safety. However, after the third book everything went downhill. The war is more or less resolved. The winner and losers are already evident. Major character are killed off, new ones are introduced but none of them are coherent anymore. Everything literally becomes "just shit that happens", and the entire series has become a wait for "something to happen". And that's why the series has become such a disappointment in so many eyes. If anyone has to ball to say GRRM can't write for a damn, they have no business in writing or creative industry in general. However, if anyone says reading A Song of Ice and Fire is becoming increasingly pointless, then you have my sympathy. I've no doubt that things are going to change now that Dany and Tyrion is coming back to the mainland to reclaim their home, but as it stands today, Game of Thrones is a massive disappointment that has a strong beginning but poorly executed plot throughout the middle.

Manpreet from India

This book is full of all the emotions and elements; this book is a journey full of violence, treachery, loyalty honesty, love, families, romance, conspiracies, back stabbing and much more. Read the complete review of the book - GAME OF THRONES on my blog - http://manpreetkaur93.blogspot.in/2013/03/book-review-game-of-thrones.html

Maja from Croatia

I studied literature and know that some of the best books ever written did not develop stories, characters and endings the way the audience wants or deserves. It's not a matter of a compromise. However, these days, for the fact of globalisation we as readers want to think that the book, the author and the reader are one big factory. I prefer waiting for each book sequence in suspense, even if it does not satisfy my expectations. JRRM's Song of Ice and Fire in my opinion is simply amazing, and it's definitively not easy to read. It's like an expanding storm that swirls the characters and plots in concentric circles. Consumes time for sure, and if you think it's too long - you should read shorter books. If you think it's overly descriptive - you're missing the beauty of visualisation of every spot and object and character, when you should be grateful to JRRM for letting you see what he is seeing. It's not a one-read-book and will show you something new every time you reread.

Hans from Belgium

I enjoyed reading it. And i will finish it. This is mainly because i believe the story has enormous potential to end , and i quote the great academic J Clarkson , on ' a bombshell'. But i do have to critisize a bit. The book is frustratingly long. To long. 5 books would have sufficed. At this point i'm acctually just hoping jrrm doesnt screw up the ending his readerers/fans deserve.

Jonathan from United States

This is a great and wonderful read, from start to finish it keeps you guessing and gets you involved with each and every character, so much so that you find yourself falling in love with each one of them, even the not so nice ones, and if you see a bad rating it's simply because that person did not get it or understand the plot.

Anon from Sydney, Australia

It's not that the author is trying to say that good people die, it's just that a lot of people really don't get what goes on. It's the most cunning and luckiest that survive. The characters do tend to change quickly from time to time, which would level my rating down a bit, and some of the characters I love to hate. It is unpredictable and the last two books have been a droll, again lowering my rating. Overall, it's a great fantasy book, and better in quality than a lot of other fantasy novels. The lore is immersive and detailed, though some parts unecessary. The book may have started out as Lancaster vs York (as in War of the Roses, which is what the books are based on) but now it's turned into a massive fight for dominance over land and power, with no one exactly safe and leaving a lot of hype. Do hope Martin picks up in the next book and hurries it up a bit. And I don't get why people say the good guys always lose... most of the characters are grey and do what they believe is right. The good guys occasionally triumph. For the people saying that they want to argue why it's not good, wish there was a comment section.

Jon from UK

Captain Frogbert, you a clearly a moron who is obsessed with LOTR. I really don't even know where to start with how wrong you are on every point you made in your review of this book. If you are really that upset with this book you should just go read LOTR another eleventy twelve times and leave the rest of us alone.

Anon from Anon

OMG I have just finished the blooming lot of them and I have to exactly the same confusion, I am utterly exasperated that barely a plot line has been concluded... The whole thing after the quite good Clash of Kings has become an utter nonsense, time I will never get back.

Sean from Australia

It's ok. He's not a particularly good writer, in terms of characterisation (some of the pov writing of the younger characters is execrable) and the book is pointlessly long. I have severe difficulty in accepting that any reader who gave this book 10 stars has seriously thought at all about the possibility that a 15 year old could successfully lead a hardened army into battle without a viceroy pulling he tactical strings or that a 4 year old would be capable of being the master of a a wild wolf... Ok it's fantasy, but that doesn't mean it has to be total b.s. If it wasn't for Tyrion the book would stink quite badly. Convolution is no substitute for good writing, by the way. Good for fantasy writing but it ain't great... Watch the series instead, still contains a teeth- gratingnumber of 'yes, my liege' type conversations, but again, Tyrion saves the day.

Guy from England

I am outraged at the position of this series on the top 100 list. This should be at least second (the Malazan Book Of The Fallen is also AWSOME). Out of the many, many books that I have read these are my favourite: the many interwoven storylines are well thoughtout and presented. The books set a new level of fantasy, portraying a brutal, gritty and mature story with many hundreds of realistic characters. There are no good vs evil here, no super powered imortal heroes. Martin is a master writer, he leaves you laughing and weeping and it is extremly easy to loose yourselve in his world. Once I got the first book (purchased on a whim) I was hooked and had read the whole series on the inside of a month. READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John from John

Incredible. Simply incredible. Best high fantasy series I have ever read.

Andy from uk

the most engrossing read i just couldnt put it down. the first and third books are by far the best in the series up to this point in fact i read the third book in a fortnight. it does however contain an enourmous amount of characters and book four and five do meander somwhat however they are worth reading if not just for the character of ramsey bolton who is perhaps the most despicable creation ever to polute prose. overall a satisfying read and i just hope GRRM finishes the series before time catches up with him

John from Australia

Possibly one of the best series I've read in a while, every chapter is a cliff hanger.

Fateh from Canada

"Words are wind" go read the book to see for yourself how amazing it is!

Uday from Canada

I think most of the readers giving negative remarks just either can't take the complexity of the story or are the kind of people that have to have everybody live and have a corny happy ending. I mean one of the great things that GRRM has done with this series is how he makes you really love the characters-yes even Cersei- and how he isn't afraid of actually killing off those characters. That alone makes the story so much more interesting and suspenseful, because you never know when any character might die. Also, as for those of you saying that you don't see the importance of characters like Jon, Dany and Sansa you just haven't read far enough into the series. They're chapters become very interesting and you can really relate to them. The first three books have to be the best. The characters are rich, writing style superb, more of the fantasy and magic further on in the series and way the chapters are split really make you see things on a much larger scale and make you appreciate the effort of all that detail even more. Another thing, it takes lots of superb writing and imagination to not just use the "magic" part of fantasy to solve all of the conflicts, and than you can appreciate characters like Tyrion who use their intellect a lot more. If you liked the Wheel of Time I feel you will like the Song of Ice and Fire series just as much or more.

Jake from United States

Personally, I find people who really criticize this series only look at things on the surface (it's too long, too many characters, too graphic, poor characters, etc.). They don't look at things deeper, try and see why things are the way they are, and just think of this great series as a pointless kill fest. In reality, a lot of the space is meant to build tension and expand on things, the characters are much deeper than people give them credit for, and if you can't follow along then there is nothing I can do for you. Also, why would anyone say Martin's writing is bad? I think his prose is excellent and really develops emotion, atmosphere, and setting.

Wes from Australia

First off - this series isn't for everyone. It introduces a lot of characters, so if you struggle with that you won't like it. Second, no one is safe. For this, I love the series. But for many people who need to have their heroes survive - you will hate this. Third, the writing is long - but beautifully written, and I think some people will miss a lot of the intricacies and don't quite get the writing style. This series breaks a lot of convention, but if you can handle that and have the patience you will love it! If you struggle with multiple characters, need a safe happy warm ending and like a more traditional style this series isn't for you, and frankly that is where a lot of these negative comments are coming from. Also many of the negative reviews abandoned the series early on, and in my opinion the second volume of Storm of Swords is where it gets amazing. One reviewer felt characters got killed off and the story arcs ended there - to that, I say they aren't getting the bigger picture, but I won't say specifics as not to reveal any spoilers. Bear in mind it will be years before the next book, so if you don't want to wait that long (and possibly many years after that for the final book) then you might want to avoid the series. Otherwise, great read.

Jon from England

Overall, a very good series. The first three books are excellent (the third truly brilliant, 10/10 if considered in it's own right, in my opinion). The last two not so good, but still a reasonable read (I'm hoping that Martin will pick up his game again for the next books). It's been levelled here that he's not the best writer in the world and that's probably fair, but then neither was Tolkien (and he was an Oxford don) and I'm unlikely to read Erikson or Jordan for their literary value either, if it comes to it. He tells a good story and, whilst they're not as atypical as some reviews might like to suggest, he creates characters that you actually care about. This is evidenced here by the number of peole moaning about how he's killed off their favourite characters - it wouldn't upset you if you didn't like them. One thing that I particularly like about the series is the sparing use of magic. It's always been an annoyance in fantasy that when faced with a difficult situation, the writer could (quite literally) wave a magic wand at it. It also increases the impact on the reader when there actually is magic. As a result, this isn't a series for fans of more overtly magical fantasy. There aren't wizards, elves, goblins and orcs pouring out of the woodwork here. I think that due to the size of the series, there are now a lot of plot strands for Martin to hold together. This means that, firstly, it's tough to follow some times and secondly, it's tough for Martin to write. As a result, it takes him a while to get each installment written, so you need patience and a good memory. Finally, there's a lot of sex and violence. Really, who cares? Get over it.

Bob from England

This is a fantastic book but too little action and its quite slow to start.

Ivan from Canada

Wow, these books are incredible. Best books I've ever read. Do not listen to the trolls calling it poorly written. The number of different story lines and character incentives is incredible.. Probably too much for some readers to understand and they get lost with the amount of characters. Do yourself a favour and get these books!!!!!

Brett from Canada

Not sure if half the people are elitest or the other half are fanboys but I found the book very engrossing, funny and angering at times although I hate that he killed off my 3 favorite characters.

Maurice from Cayman Islands

Anyone not loving this series must be seriously dull or retarded. I have an IQ of 147, making me a genius and have read just about all the great fantasy series. This series yields to none.

Alex from Italy

The best book I ever read, just finished the third book and I can't get enough of it!

Andy from Ottawa, Canada

When I read these books (and I did read 1-5) there was not one moment where I was not totally into it. Once you get to know the characters, the books get better and better all the time... never mind the sex and the battles (for all you action thrillers who need "Actions" all the time). After book 1-3 there are no requirements for big battles scenes at least until the characters are deemed ready to do so. Its fantasy, its action, its drama, its horror, its all I need all at once. George R.R. Martin did a great achievement so far writing this most excellent story and I'm sure the next two books will be as good as the first five. - Cersei is sooooo cunning!

Veronique from Canada

The best book I have ever read!

Plato from Timbuktu

Nice writing style, excellent plot, amazing world. I love how Martin weaves together seemingly unconnected plotlines and shows us so many perspectives, giving us a much more sophisticated understanding of the story. The world Martin created is awesomely huge and complicated, although the endless introductions of new characters can be hard to get into. Also, the not-deaths get pretty annoying after a while. Other than this, I have no criticism for the series, and am eagerly awaiting the release of the 6th book.

JW from Canada

The best series of books ever written, IMHO. Martin is the Shakespeare of our time.

Nat from India

Well I had heard a lot about this book online and saw that it had got great reviews from everyone, moreover the HBO series of AGOT was also there so I finally decided to read this one.The book is um something very unique and good in its own way. It's gritty and mature more to the extent than I had anticipated, the plot is laid out brilliantly. The storyline and characters are good though it seems that Martin according to me didn't satisfactorily end it. The tortures through which the characters are put through and it seems that Martin's focus on keeping things like this makes me wonder that there won't be a great ending to this thing and things would cross to such an extent that it wouldn't matter at all. One more thing is that it's surprising a bit that there is absolutely next to no magic though there are some fantasy elements but for most of the times it seems like maybe a non fantasy novel. The book was with all things still great. Full of twists and surprises. Definitely a good read though maybe not for everyone.

Jani from Finland

I can't really understand many of the reviews posted here. The sex scenes I don't have a problem with. It's not like they are great, but I don't get ticked off about them either. The only complaint I agree with is the occasionally dull storyline (Arya's chapters mostly) but there are just more good chapters than bad. But the thing I really don't get is the overwhelming complaining of G.R.R. Martin killing the likeable characters. I mean come on people! SPOILERS!: The only important and likeable characters he has killed have been 1) Ned, who's from the old storyline like Robert with most of his grand deeds already done, 2) Robb, who was NOT a POV, and clearly not invested in storywise as much as his bastard brother, 3) Khal Drogo, again not a POV, 4) Oberyn Martell, appears only in like 4 chapters, not a POV, 5) Renly, not POV, his death making great room for Stannis character arc, 6) Tywin, who also was not a POV, and his death granted a great boost for Tyrion's character arc. I might be forgetting someone but not anyone special. Remember, Catelyn DOES NOT die, Bran and Rickon don't die either, not Davos, not Tyrion, not Jaime, not Daenerys, not Brienne, not Arya and it also seems that the Hound is still alive, working with his sins as are gravedigger. I am pretty sure that Jon doesn't die in book 5 either, just another Martin cliffhanger. A lot of the unlikeable characters have died. Joffrey, The Mountain, Balon Greyjoy and Theon is a spacecase. SPOILERS END. I myself found the books great, but a rating of 9 is accurate because George is occasionly stretching the storyline through cliffhangers and dull chapters.

Frank from Cork

The best fantasy series of all time in my opinion. It's a complex plot that makes you work and even re-read the books to pick up the clues, but if you do then you will be rewarded. It's not for everyone and if you want instant gratification, black and white good guys and bad guys, clean-cut dragon-slaying heroes, evil wizards, etc., or if you need to have the plot spoonfed to you, then ASoIaF is not for you. If you're the type of idiot who skips whole chapters and still expects to get something from the book, then ASoIaF is most certainly not for you. GRRM is a genius and this series is a brilliantly woven masterpiece. That said, I'm not surprised by some of the negative comments, there will always be people who prefer the likes of 50Cent to Beethoven.

Matt Cole from Vancouver BC

If writers are Gods - and they are - then George R.R. Martin is Zeus, King of Gods. Martin flawlessly weaves a tale of epic fantasy to launch, which is arguably the best fantasy series ever ( I know The Lord of The Rings and The Malazan Empire have their fans). Game of Thorns achieves not only because of a great plot, which does not stagnate, but because of the intriguing characters, both male and female, that are brought to life through Martin's skill. Tyrion, Sandor Clegane (the Hound), Cersei, Arya, and Daenerys are particularly memorable. This first installment is not heavily loaded with magic and the supernatural. Other than the appearance of a supernatural race in the opening pages and again briefly later on, and the emergence of other mythological creatures in the closing pages, Game of Thrones is devoid of magic and the supernatural. The conflict is among men and women, noble houses positioning themselves for the throne of a Kingdom. The book is laden with political intrigue, conspiracy, ambition, and hidden family secrets. Still, while the great houses maneuver for control of the throne, the reader is ever aware of a long dormant evil, that may rise to threaten the populace of the seven kingdoms. I am looking forward to getting into Clash of Kings & Storm of Swords and beyond. As per the suggestion from other reviewers that this book is too explicit, I can say I have no idea where this is coming from. I would not consider either the sex or violence in this book too explicit. Certainly Steven Erikson and R. Scott Bakker have gone farther in their series.

John from Ljubljana

I have read the first three books and they are all fantastic to read; they involve everything a great fantasy book needs. The series has an absurd amount of astonishingly realistic characters who couldn't be more different and yet at the same time they are all still the characters inhabiting this amazing fantasy world. I fell in love with the Game of Thrones almost immediately, mainly because of unexpected turns and twists, that are not so common in this genre. I highly recommend it to all fantasy fans out there.

Cat Fitzpatrick from London, UK

I think a main reason why there is such a difference in opinion regarding this series is that the fantasy element is very small compared to the huge volume of story. The main strength of A Song of Ice and Fire lies in the politics of a kingdom embroiled in a civil war where there isn't just two armies battling for the throne, there are up to seven various forces struggling to lay claim to either part or the whole of Westeros. There are very good characters that come through - Tyrion Lannister for one is really interesting, and I really like the deviousness of Petyr Baelish - but as you go through the books the volume of characters increases, which can swamp the story in parts, and characters can vanish for quite a long time whilst the others are worked through. The story can be quite slow and repetitive, and not enough time is spent to really build all of the main characters as well as they could be. Sex is also overused with everybody at it like rabbits or raping their way up and down the length of Westeros. However, some great set pieces are developed such as the use of wildfire in a river battle, and if you like epic stories this is richly detailed if maybe too over ambitious as to the amount of stuff crammed in. It's worth a read, but takes a lot of investment of time to get to the good bits.

James from Philadelphia

This is one of my favorite series of all time. Being able to understand so many different characters' perspectives on the books' events makes the series an extremely interesting read. Books 1-3 are absolutely brilliant. 4 and 5 are a little less so, but I partly chalk that up to the fact that you only see half the POV characters in each. I am eagerly awaiting the final two installments and I hope they can live up to the promise that the series has shown up till now.

J�rn from Hagalid

Amzing is an understatement.

Erik from Ohio

The first three books are great. They held my attention throughout with lots of different things happening in the same time period due to the variety of characters. I like the setup of writing chapters about certain characters, and it's even more exciting when one character's fate brings them alongside another main character in the same chapter. I wish GRRM would have kept the Starks intact with their direwolves completing the immensely strong family, but it's not all happy endings in life either.

Modesto from New York

This is a great adult fantasy series. This story is not for everyone. Especially for people who like sexy elves and tough dwarfs... Not for those who seek instant gratification. This is fantasy, a whole new fantasy, an adult fantasy. I love how people are mad that certain characters are killed off but yet they bash the book, if you were not hooked and attached to the character you wouldn't care someone got knocked off. So that is what GRRM does, he hooks you right in, (**SPOILER**) I see a lot of complaints over Ned's death, Ned is in the book maybe a handful of chapters, HAHA. (**End of Spoiler**) Sure there is a lot of fill in but that makes the world he created bigger, brighter, darker, dangerous, sexier and more alive than most reads out there today. This story is fantasy, thriller, exotic and poetic, you can argue it's real, if Westeros existed and Dothraki... That is how people would have lived, killed and ventured. It would be A Song of Ice and Fire!

George from Toronto

This story is the best ever written in any genre, period. The first book is a wonder, the second is as good, and the third is best in the series. I agree, the fourth and fifth aren't my favourites. But they're still above-average. I can't wait to see how the story concludes -- Martin is planning a total of 7 books. I read some of the negative reviews. The ones who are negative put right in their review that they skipped chapters. What? Martin is a genius story teller, he didn't write 1,000 pages for his health. It was for a purpose. If you skip a chapter, how on earth can you complain if the rest of the story stops making sense? The man is a God. I read Erikson, Tolkien, Rothfuss, Hemmingway, and also crap like the Hunger Games. Martin's story is #1 by a significant margin.

Claire from Cardiff

Finished reading 'Game of Thrones' last night. Now I am just falling out of bed to get to my nearest bookshop for 'A Clash of Kings'. Yup. It's that GOOD! Haven't been able to put it down...

Kaleb from Colorado

After having just finished reading the first book in the series. Anyone who says it is boring or not well written has odd to questionable taste. This book is easy to read and I found my self engrossed in the plot and totally lost in the world the author created. Martin leaves it no secret that characters make the story. I don't see how people can be so quick to criticize. I have only read the 1st book, but I would say Martin is the equivalent of Hemmingway when it comes to the Fantasy genre. I was lost at times due to the amount of characters, but between watching the show and reading the novel, it wasn't that bad. The book definitely is better than the series. The HBO writers tried to make it adaptable to their style shows. There are gay references, an over emphasis on sex, and it strays from the dialogue of the book where I thought it would be better to just be faithful to the book. Overall an amazing read and I'm looking forward to the 2nd book.

Alex from Alaska

This is a different kind of fantasy book. This is my favorite of the 5 books out so far in the series. I like it because it lays such a powerful groundwork. (Spoiler alert). I thought the prologue with the Others was an introduction to a world of magic and wizardry. Much the opposite. Eddard Stark goes south, I thought to right the wrongs of the kingdom. No, he dies. I felt like Sansa in the book - I grew up reading 'fantasy' novels where good wins and good and evil are clear and heroes did great more than human things. But Martin is not interested in that kind of story - he is telling history the way it happens - to individuals involved in the muck. I was drawn to the book for its fantasy roots, but in truth this is a book for anyone interested in political thrillers or history buffs. It's like reading the diaries of many historical figures, and putting the history together that way, as a historian does it. I don't think it's accurate to refer to Martin as the American Tolkien. Few characters in Tolkien's world are interested in being human. They are superbly good or superbly bad. I prefer to compare him to Victor Hugo, specifically to Les Miserables, which goes into great detail in order to explain a moment in a characters life. The book doesn't tell you the moment is important, because it has BECOME important. Such is the ability of Martin to cause us to care about his characters. Must-read.

John from New York

Do not listen to the low rated reviews. Anyone who claims that "nothing is happening" or that the characters "lack depth" are probably not capable of picking up on how much is actually happening in the book.

Ben from California

I can't see why people are so divisive in their reviews of this book... I almost listened to the negative comments, and I'm glad I didn't! It is extremely entertaining for those who like to actually read, and I suggest any fan of the fantasy genre to pick it up immediately. You'll find yourself rooting for characters you wouldn't think to -Tyrion Lannister is perhaps the best anti-hero I've ever read. READ IT!

Michael Patrick from Niceville, Florida

Great series. I'm on the second book and like them so far. Many of these reviews have said that as you progress the writing gets weaker, but so far I see no cause or effect of that. Bottom line great series similar to Tolkien but easier to understand and not so boring.

Joel from Australia

These comments seem to be either at the bottom or the top of the scale. It's quite confusing, really. I'm currently on the second book and loving it, the main flaw I have is that I find Bran's character and his chapters are boring, but that's subjective. Aside from that, I recommend these books if you aren't afraid of some adult themes.

Simao from Vila Nova de Cacela

Excellent book, a must read, Tyrion lannister is simply incredible, lots of twists. Incredibly written.

Anders from Norway

An excellent book! If you like action fantasy you should deffinitly read this book.

Chris from Middlesbrough

Excellent book, loved the structure of it. the series was a little dissapointing (only minor things such as Tyrion's war efforts not being the same as in the book, and possibly a general low 'first series' budget). I'm just instantly thrown into the fictional world that GRRM created and wish that I'd lived in times like that myself!.. Brilliant

Jessica from Belgium

Nearly finishing book 2 - A Clash of Kings - of the ICE & FIRE Series, this is indeed an incredible way of writing , capturing times that we will never know. Because of the multiple character roles, you get different perspectives of the storyline and the plots combined. Reads a lot more fluent then Lord of the rings ever did. Highly recommendable author. This is what fantasy really needs to be .. I won't be surprised if these were filmed by James Cameron or Steven Spielberg one day.

Mike from Pittsburgh

I just don't understand how some reviewers are giving this series less than nine stars and are calling the writing middle school level. Martin's prose is leagues above any modern fantasy writer and is better then Tolkien in my opinion. I have read some good modern fantasy, namely Erikson and Sanderson, and none of them even come close to matching the character depth and plot development that Martin weaves. Hands down, this is the greatest fantasy series of all time.

Gary from Vancouver, BC

This book will always have a special place in my heart for it's heavily inspiring story-line. George R.R. Martin has the vigorous spirit to lift this tale of the altered Europe (via medieval period), with plenty of appealing characters which seem astute as they are tantalizing. The fact that it doesn't follow a typical mono myth had me interested, because many high fantasy that I have read, had done so. Overall this book had a few faults (What book doesn't?) though it was an enriching tale.

Kyle from Kentucky

HMMMMMM.... lets imagine for a second, you're stuck in a time period where there are no cell phones, security cameras or even police around to keep the naughty kids from coming out to play. What do you think would happen? Probably wouldn't be pretty, but we now chose to forget that our morals of today weren't the morales of ancestors. They didn't have welfare or the Salvation Army, if you were hungry or freezing you would probably have to do some pretty bad things to better your situation. And if you've bashed a man's head in for a chunk of bread some of the other things that GRRM writes about probably wouldn't seem to bad. I think he does an excellent job capturing the morale dilemmas of the time period. If you think murder, rape and incest weren't common in that time period then you're extremely naive! Great book though, do read.

Connor from America

I find it funny how the shallow reader claims this book is all about good versus evil when it's really about how people are neither good or evil but GRRM is a great writer and one I will gladly keep following.

Zuzurlo from Italy

Stunning! That's what this serie is! I couldn't even sleep because I had to read more and more. It's the best around for whoever is not afraid of a little adult content. The only downside is that it's 2 books and many years short of the end.

Tony from UK

My god how is this series not in the top ten! George RR Martin is the American Tolkien. A Song of Ice and Fire is top notch adult fantasy and there is a good reason why these books are best sellers. The current rating here is not a good advertisement for the website. I voted 10/10 to try and bump it up a bit.

Aaron from Australia

An engaging and thrilling start to a fanastic series, Game of Thrones is fantasy filled with political intrigue, double crosses, betrayals and shocking reversals. The characters of Game of Thrones are the stand out feature, with deep personailites, it's difficult to identify who the real heroes and villains are (and after five books I still don't know). Oddly these reader reviewers have been hijacked by puritans who feel compelled to descibe the books as dull AND obscene. Allow me to retort: what a load of bollocks. While sex and violence are elements of the book, they're never used gratuitously. Anyone who claims the books are pruile or offensive, or that they felt ill reading them, obviously hasn't read many novels above a Harry Potter reading level. There's more explicit content in the 117 bible verses that make Song of Songs of Solomon.

Rod from West Country

I saw the HBO mini series, and thought that the book is usually better, I will read it. I am so pleased I did! Absorbing, Super Epic, no one is safe, not the heroes, not the villains. There is magic but malevolant........ Downside only five books...

William from London

I think that this is a good read, however, having read four of the books now, I am struggling to carry on. Firstly Martin seems to take an age to write his books, and secondly, it just to seems to me to be unbelievable how many of the main protagonists and characters are all killed off or changed dramatically in such a short period of time. So, a good read, but don't get too close to any of the characters, as by the end of a novel, it is likely something you don't want to happen to them... has.

Rob from UK

Epic is an understatement.

Kyle from Indiana

I've only just started this series and I plan to finish it. It's the best thing my eyes have ever seen, hands down!

Paul from Glasgow

Steep learning curve at the start as Martin introduces a plethora of new characters in rapid succession; still found myself sucked in completely and ended up reading the whole series.

Shell from Winchester

Brilliant series - can't wait for film series.

Ryan from Wisconsin

A Game of Thrones definitely deserves to be rated up with Lord of the Rings. Has some of the most interesting and in-depth characters of any fantasy book.

JP from Finland

I have read first three books of this series so far and enjoyed it very much. GRRM is not a superb writer in all meanings of that but he definitely knows how to write hard as rock fantasy series.

John from Leeds

A Song of Ice and Fire is pretty much the last word in medieval fantasy. Martin's work is in a league of its own, head and shoulders above the next comparable work in terms of plotting, characterisation, world building and quality of writing. Other authors may as well abandon the medieval milieu and explore new avenues in fantasy, as there is little left to say on the matter that this series does not say better.

Mathias from Gothenburg

Simply the best fantasy epic ever written. Nuff said.

Tim from Perth-Andover

Someone said Eragon was better than this. .. .. .. ...after I stopped laughing, I decided to write this review. Martin's books are some of the best fantasy being written today. The time it takes for them to come out should not judged as part of their quality. Are they simple commercial fare? No. Emphatically no. These are books for intelligent people who like to read. They deserve to be higher on the list.

PP from The Hague

One of the best fantasy series so far... however I understand why it is not on the top of the list: the series is not complete and me and probably many others will wonder whether or not the series will ever be complete. The story lines are becoming more and more complex and interwoven in every next book GRR writes. But still, like a Leonardo's David without the head...

Anthony from Cardiff

I had to correct my review. Just finished the 4 books and I am totally ashamed of my last comments. Its simply that the more you read the rewards will come. I am 37 and have been listening to audio books for a year now, since I have lost my sight. Talented writers like this keep blind people in the world sane. I am gutted I have to wait for the next book - Mr Martin please hurry up!

Eric from Quebec

In my opinion, one of the best series, probably my favorite. In most series, it is easy to expect what will come next. This is one series where everyone has an opinion, and a different one (if you debate with other readers). Not everyone agrees who they think will be the "main" character in the end, if any. I really love to see how, from every character's perspective, their perception of Right and Wrong changes. It makes you think about what we do in our lives, that we consider "right", that from another perspective would be viewed as "wrong". Overall, this story makes me think, surprises me and captivates me, which are the foremost reasons I use what time I have to read =)

William from California

First off George R. R. Martin has got to be the SLOWEST author in history. With only 4 of the 7 planned books released, don't plan on finishing this series for at least a decade. The book itself is not bad. The prose is good and the plot is fairly intricate. However what I find the drawback of this series is the, I guess you would call it realism, or pessimism maybe. The good guys don't always win in this, in fact, they usually lose. I am going to finish the series because it is fairly well written and I am curious about the ending. But I doubt I will ever want to reread it like I have with many other series. Just my 2cents.

Dustin from Washington

Amazing piece of literature, the character development and the story telling is superb. I read these book and absolutely had to recommend them to everybody I knew. Several of my co-workers started reading the books and they all love them as well. There IS a reason for all the hype behind this series.

Tom from Qc

Really, GRRM is not a writer, he is a god! A Song of Ice and Fire is way better than the Lord of the Rings! I have almost finished the last published book so far. A Song for Lya is very good too, GRRM is not only good for fantasy, he is a great SF writer too!PS - sorry for my bad English, I'm a French Canadian.

Lester from Manchester

This is amazing. The entire series is amazing. Buy these amazing books!

Darren from Wilkinson

This book is much better than Lord of the Rings. It really is that simple. LOTR was overly descriptive and had far too many silly songs and dances. Tyrion Lannister is one of the best characters in fiction. Buy the whole series - you won't be disappointed.

Chris from Netherlands

This book, and all of the series, got me reading till 3.00am. Martin uses Point of View characters to reveal bits of his plot in such a maner that you're always hoping to find out more. I for one couldn't wait to read the next chapter of my favorite characters. Beware, as the review says, bad things will happen to the characters you like most. Hate it or love it, every page you turn could mean the end, it's thrilling and exciting in every way...

Steve from Burton

This book, and the other books published of the series, are as absorbing and intriging as any I've read. Could replace Tolkien at the top of your bookshelf.

Russell from Cardiff

I think you've rated this book to low, it at least deserves to be on a par with Ursula Le Guin's books. Don't get me wrong, the Earthsea books are great and among my favourites but this is quality fantasy and needs to be seen as such.

9.2 /10 from 102 reviews

All George RR Martin Reviews

A Song of Ice and Fire (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Fire and Blood (A Song of Ice and Fire Companion)
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)
A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 3)
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 4)
A Dance With Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 5)
The Armageddon Rag
Tuf Voyaging
A Game of Thrones: Graphic Novel Volume 3
Dangerous Women
The Ice Dragon
Inside Straight (Wild Cards)

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Book Review

A game of thrones — “a song of ice and fire” series.

George R.R. Martin

Readability Age Range

Bantam Spectra, a division of Bantam Books, owned by Random House
Locus Award, Best Fantasy Novel, 1997

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.

Plot Summary

Just outside the kingdom of Winterfell, Ser Waymar Royce, Will and Gared, three members of the Night’s Watch, investigate some mysterious deaths. Will previously found a camp full of dead bodies, but the bodies have now vanished. Royce is attacked and killed by supernatural beings called the Others, but he rises from the dead to kill Will. Gared flees.

Bran Stark is a young boy who watches his father, Lord Eddard Stark, execute Gared for abandoning his post as a member of the Night’s Watch. After the execution, Eddard’s two older sons, Robb and Jon, discover a gigantic dead direwolf and her six living cubs. The children adopt the pups as their own. Back at the Stark castle, Eddard’s wife, Catelyn, tells him that his friend Jon Arryn has been killed. The King, Robert Baratheon, is riding to Winterfell with all his knights and retainers to speak with Eddard about the problem.

In the far-off city of Pentos, Viserys Targaryen is making arrangements to regain power. Viserys is the son of the Targaryen king, who was deposed by Robert Baratheon 15 years earlier. He plans to marry off his 13-year-old sister, Daenerys, to Khal Drogo, a powerful warlord.

In Winterfell, Eddard welcomes Robert Baratheon. Robert and Eddard visit the grave of Eddard’s sister Lyanna, the woman Robert loved and wanted to marry. Robert makes it clear that he is unhappy with his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister. Robert offers Eddard the chance to take Jon Arryn’s place as the Hand of the King, his chief adviser and war commander. Robert also says that he wishes to betroth his son, the crown prince Joffrey, to Eddard’s young daughter Sansa. That night, Catelyn Stark receives a message that says Cersei Lannister ordered the murder of Jon Arryn, the previous Hand of the King.

Seven-year-old Bran is exploring an abandoned part of the Starks’ castle when he hears a man and woman talking. Bran peers through a window and sees Cersei Lannister and her twin brother, Jaime, having sex. When they discover Bran watching, Jaime throws him out of a high window. Bran’s back and legs are broken by the fall, and his parents fear that if he ever wakes up from his coma, he will be crippled for life.

Daenerys Targaryen marries Khal Drogo in the city of Pentos. She cannot speak his language, but they still come to an understanding and consummate their marriage.

Jon Snow, Eddard Stark’s illegitimate son, and Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf brother of Jaime and Cersei, ride with a group of men to the northern Wall of Winterfell. Jon is going to join the Night’s Watch, a ragtag group of men who are exiled to the Wall to defend Winterfell against unknown threats. Eddard and his two daughters, Sansa and Arya, leave with King Robert for King’s Landing.

Lady Catelyn remains at home to nurse Bran. She is still tending Bran when an assassin comes to murder the boy. She fights the assassin, and Bran’s direwolf kills the man. Catelyn decides that she must travel to King’s Landing to meet Eddard and warn him about the plots against his family. When she arrives in King’s Landing, her childhood friend called Littlefinger tells her that the knife the assassin used to attack Bran actually belongs to Tyrion Lannister. Meanwhile, Eddard discovers that King Robert has bankrupted the kingdom with his constant requests for tournaments and lavish feasts. Littlefinger secretly leads Eddard to Catelyn, who tells him about the attempt on Bran’s life.

Daenerys Targaryen gradually adjusts to life as Khal Drogo’s wife. Her cruel brother, Viserys, accompanies Daenerys and Drogo on the long ride back to Drogo’s country. Daenerys is finally tired of Viserys’ mistreatment of her, and when Viserys attacks her, she makes him walk behind the company of horsemen in disgrace. Toward the end of the long journey, Daenerys learns that she is pregnant.

Bran has awoken and is having a difficult recovery in Winterfell. He is paralyzed from the waist down.

At Castle Black, Jon Snow meets Samwell Tarly, an overweight teenager who cannot fight. Jon befriends Samwell and protects him from the other boys.

On the road back to Winterfell, Catelyn Stark meets Tyrion Lannister and has him arrested on the suspicion that he ordered the attempt on Bran’s life.

A courtier named Lord Varys tells Eddard Stark that Jon Arryn was poisoned after he started asking too many questions about the Lannisters. Eddard is horrified to learn that King Robert has almost no true supporters in the capital city. Almost everyone who surrounds the king is secretly loyal to the Lannisters.

Wild men in the mountains attack Catelyn and the group of men who helped her capture Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion saves Catelyn’s life in the fight, and her attitude toward him softens somewhat.

King Robert wants Eddard to agree to help murder Daenerys Targaryen so that her unborn child will not one day threaten his kingdom. Eddard refuses and resigns as the Hand of the King. Robert tells him to return to Winterfell or risk execution. A short while later, Eddard and his men are attacked by Jaime Lannister, who wounds Eddard and kills his attendants. After Eddard heals slightly, King Robert apologizes to him and reinstates him as the Hand of the King. Eddard stumbles across some uncomfortable information about King Robert’s children, and Eddard concludes that Queen Cersei’s children are illegitimate. Cersei openly admits to Eddard that her twin brother, Jaime, sired her three children. Eddard advises Cersei to take her children and leave the kingdom because he intends to tell the king about her betrayal.

Catelyn arrives at Eyrie, the home of her sister, Lysa, the widow of Jon Arryn, the first Hand of the King. She finds Lysa in a mentally unstable state. Lysa imprisons Tyrion Lannister because she believes he has played a role in her husband’s death. After Tyrion’s champion wins a trial by combat, Tyrion is set free on the dangerous open road.

Daenerys arrives in the city of Vaes Dothrak to be presented to the medicine women, the dosh khaleen . Daenerys has to eat the fresh heart of a slaughtered stallion to prove that her child will be a strong ruler. At the feast after the ceremony, her drunken brother, Viserys, holds a sword to her pregnant belly and demands that Khal Drogo give him an army. Instead, Drogo melts some gold pieces and kills Viserys by pouring the molten gold on his head.

At King’s Landing, King Robert lies dying and names Eddard as the Lord Protector of the kingdom. When the king dies, Cersei proclaims her son, Joffrey, to be king and has Eddard imprisoned. Littlefinger betrays Eddard, and it is revealed that Eddard’s daughter Sansa also betrayed him unknowingly by telling Cersei his plans.

Jon Snow and other members of the Night’s Watch discover strange bodies in the woods. The corpses have clearly been dead for a long time, but they haven’t decomposed. Jon fights against one of the undead Others who invades Castle Black.

Robb Stark and all his bannermen ride away to King’s Landing to free Eddard from the Lannisters. Robb leaves Bran in charge of Winterfell.

An attempt is made on Daenerys Targaryen’s life, and when Drogo learns that King Robert has sent assassins to kill Daenerys, he decides to take all of his warriors and invade the Seven Kingdoms.

Tyrion Lannister recruits several armies of tribesmen to support him in upcoming battles. Tyrion meets his father, Tywin, at a roadside inn and learns that the Lannister armies have been winning battles all over the land. Tyrion’s tribesmen agree to fight with the Lannisters against the Starks. Tyrion and Tywin win a battle against some of the soldiers sent by the Starks, but meanwhile, Robb Stark and Lady Catelyn win another skirmish against the Lannisters and capture Jaime Lannister.

After sustaining a severe wound in battle, Khal Drogo lies dying. A healing woman named Mirri offers to do a dark magic ritual that will save Drogo. Drogo’s men begin to fight each other, and the camp is in chaos. Daenerys is dragged into the tent where the ritual is happening, and the dark magic kills the child she is carrying. When Daenerys wakes, she learns that the dark magic has saved Drogo’s life but left him in a permanent vegetative state. She smothers her husband to end his ruined life.

In King’s Landing, Arya Stark is disguised as a beggar child, and she watches as her father, Eddard, is publically executed. Sansa is still betrothed to young King Joffrey, who abuses her and enjoys frightening her.

The Stark armies gain ground. Instead of supporting one of King Robert’s brothers as successor to the crown, many lords decide that they will only follow Robb Stark, who they wish to crown as King in the North.

Daenerys builds a funeral pyre for her husband. As his corpse burns, the three dragon eggs that she places on the pyre begin to hatch. Daenerys and her dragons instantly draw the adoration and loyalty of many people, who will one day form her army.

Christian Beliefs

Other belief systems.

The Others are supernatural creatures. They bring cold temperatures with them. When the Others kill Ser Waymar Royce, he rises from the dead and becomes a wight, an undead person.

Each ruling family has its own godswood, a place where the family may go to worship or to seek solitude. Catelyn Stark is not fond of the Stark godswood, which is a memorial to ancient nameless gods, but Eddard finds it comforting. Catelyn comes from a family who belongs to the Faith, a religion that worships a god with seven different faces. Jon Snow decides that he cannot pray to either the old or the new gods because they have not shown him any kindness. After his accident, Bran Stark takes great pleasure in being near the godswood and thinking about the old gods.

Characters pay attention to signs and omens. When the Stark children discover a dead direwolf in the snow and find that the creature was killed by a deer’s antler, people believe that the Baratheon House will destroy the Stark House, because the Starks’ symbol is a wolf and the Baratheons’ symbol is a stag.

The dosh khaleen of the Dothraki are women who function as shamans. They can supposedly foretell the future, and they predict that Daenerys’ child will be the leader who will unite the known world under one banner. Mirri the maegi performs a bloodmagic ritual that saves Drogo’s life by killing his unborn child.

Authority Roles

Eddard Stark is kind to his sons and tries to explain the concepts of justice to them. He makes his sons take responsibility for the direwolf pets they take in, and he warns them about the possible dangers of trying to domesticate wild animals. Eddard routinely asks his wife about the children, and he is involved in their upbringing. Eddard is displeased that his 3-year-old son, Rickon, is afraid of a direwolf pup, because he feels that his children should overcome their fears as soon as possible. He encourages his quarreling daughters, Sansa and Arya, to put aside their differences and love each other as sisters should. He hires an expert swordsman to teach Arya to use her small sword when he learns that his daughter has an interest in fighting. Eddard knows that Joffrey will make a bad match for Sansa, so he tries to take her away from Joffrey and promises that he will find a more worthy husband for her.

Catelyn Stark loves all her children and constantly looks out for their best interests, but she resents her husband’s illegitimate son, Jon Snow. Catelyn does not want to have Jon around her children. When her own son Bran breaks his back and legs, she tells Jon that she wishes he were the one who was injured. Catelyn stays by her comatose son Bran for days, and she fights an assassin who comes to kill him. Catelyn’s hands are cut to the bone by the assassin’s dagger, but she manages to save her son’s life. When Catelyn’s oldest son, Robb, begins to command other men when the war starts, she takes special care to treat him like a grown man in front of his soldiers.

Jon Snow becomes a leader of the young men in the Night’s Watch. He overcomes his own tendency to bully boys who are less skilled at swordplay, and he teaches the common boys how to use their swords. When the sword instructor Ser Alliser pointlessly orders the overweight Samwell to be beaten bloody, Jon stands up to defend him. Jon takes care of Samwell and convinces the other boys to be kind to him.

Samwell Tarly’s father told him that he had to either join the Night’s Watch, or his father would kill him and make it look like an accident.

Tyrion Lannister frequently mentions how his father despises him for his dwarfism and deformity.

Catelyn’s sister, Lysa, calls her own 6-year-old son a baby, pampers him and openly discusses his delicate health and tender feelings. She still breastfeeds the boy.

King Robert Baratheon does nothing to advise or discipline his three children by Cersei, who are actually not his children at all. King Robert has many illegitimate children, and he provides for some of them but never visits them.

Profanity & Violence

Although d–n or a form of it and b–tard , as it refers to Jon Snow, are used profusely throughout the book, a few words are used a number of times, such as variations of h— , b–tch (usually used to refer to a female dog) and s— . The following words are each used a handful of times or less: tit, c–k, a–, the f-word and c–t . After his sister’s marriage, Viserys calls her a whore and a slut instead of using her name.

The Others kill Ser Waymar Royce with their swords. Royce comes back to life as a wight, with a shard of his opponent’s sword still wedged into his eye. Royce chokes Will to death.

Bran Stark is 7 years old when he attends his first public execution. Eddard Stark cuts off a man’s head with his sword. Eddard’s teenage ward kicks the decapitated head and laughs.

Eddard’s older brother Brandon was strangled to death by order of Aerys Targaryen, the previous king. A knight named Ser Ilyn is mute because King Aerys had his tongue pulled out with hot pincers.

At Daenerys’ wedding, men begin fighting, and one of them is cut so badly that his intestines spill out on the ground. Several more men die in fights that break out at the wedding.

Years ago, the infant heir to the Targaryen throne was murdered by being thrown against a wall. Eddard was horrified by the brutality, but he recalls that Robert was pleased by the death of any Targaryen.

Catelyn fights off the assassin sent to kill Bran. She grabs the man’s dagger with both hands, cutting herself deeply. She manages to bite a chunk of flesh from the man’s hand before Bran’s direwolf attacks him. Bran’s wolf rips out the assassin’s throat, which sprays Catelyn with blood.

Sandor Clegane, a knight who serves the Lannisters, hunts down a 13-year-old boy and cuts him nearly in half with his sword. Clegane kills the boy because Prince Joffrey falsely said the boy injured him. Sandor Clegane tells Sansa Stark that his horribly scarred face is the result of his older brother intentionally rubbing his face into hot coals when he was a small child. Eleven-year-old Sansa watches men die while jousting in a tournament.

Old Nan says that the Others let their dead servants eat the bodies of children. Many men suffer bloody deaths during fights.

When Bran Stark defies the men who want to rob him, an outlaw woman suggests that her companions cut off Bran’s genitals and stuff them in his mouth.

As part of an old Dothraki ritual, Daenerys has to eat the bloody heart of a freshly slaughtered stallion to prove that the child she carries will be a strong ruler. Later that night, Drogo kills Viserys by pouring molten gold on top of his head. Daenerys has the medicine woman Mirri burned alive.

Arya Stark runs her sword through a stable boy when he tries to harm her. Joffrey orders his knights to hit Sansa in the face many times. He enjoys showing off her father’s head mounted on a spike.

Sexual Content

Bran has heard rumors about women who live outside the Wall. Some supposedly have sex with the Others in order to have magical, half-human children.

Jon Snow is Eddard Stark’s illegitimate son. Snow is the surname of all illegitimate children in Winterfell. Eddard says that he dishonored himself and his wife by fathering a child outside of marriage.

Viserys Targaryen sexually appraises his 13-year-old sister, Daenerys, to judge how he may benefit from arranging a marriage for her. Viserys strokes and pinches his sister’s clothed breasts. Daenerys has always assumed that she would marry her brother because the Targaryens have always married their siblings to keep their bloodlines pure. Viserys tells his sister that he would gladly let a whole army of men rape her if he could regain his throne by doing so. After her marriage, Viserys grabs his sister’s breast hard enough to cause her pain.

Viserys believes that the Dothraki people practice homosexuality and bestiality. King Robert talks about how the women in his city have very little modesty in the summer and how he enjoys watching them swim naked in the river beneath the castle. King Robert’s insatiable lusts are well-known and frequently discussed, and a major plot point hinges on Jon Arryn’s investigation of Robert’s many illegitimate children.

In one scene, Catelyn and Eddard begin a discussion immediately after having sex. Catelyn hopes that their relations will produce another child. While in their chambers, Catelyn receives a message that shocks her so much that she stands and walks around naked in front of the messenger, old Maester Luwin. Catelyn reassures her husband that this is not problematic because Luwin delivered all her children and has seen her body before.

Seven-year-old Bran witnesses the twins Cersei and Jamie Lannister committing incest. Cersei later admits to Eddard that she and Jaime have been lovers since they were children. Cersei says that King Robert did impregnate her once, but she had an abortion, and since that time she has avoided intercourse with the king.

At Daenerys’ wedding, Daenerys watches people engaging in the Dothraki custom of having group sex in public. Daenerys and Drogo’s consummation of their vows is not described, but they do engage in explicit foreplay. In the early days of their marriage, Drogo will only have sex with Daenerys if she is facing away from him. Daenerys is grateful for this position because it means that he cannot watch her cry. After a few weeks of this, Daenerys asks for marital advice from a former prostitute. After Daenerys learns a few new techniques and positions, she and Drogo both enjoy sex more than they had previously. Later on, Drogo has sex with his wife in public.

Rhaegar Targaryen repeatedly raped Eddard’s sister Lyanna before her death. Littlefinger owns a brothel and hides Catelyn Stark inside it, so the Lannisters do not discover her. The scantily dressed employees of the brothel flirt with their clients.

Several of the teenage boys who work for the Night’s Watch were sent to the cold, remote outpost as punishment for being rapists. They are known by their past crimes and called “the rapers.”

Prostitutes are the subject of many off-color jokes from various characters. Tyrion talks to Catelyn Stark in a sexual manner and makes comments about her body in order to shock her. Tyrion later jokes that he would like to die peacefully in his old age while receiving oral sex. Tyrion has sex with a camp follower named Shae.

The scene is not intended to be sexual, but Catelyn’s sister, Lysa, openly breastfeeds her 6-year-old son.

In Vaes Dothrak, women dance while dressed only in garlands of flowers. Drogo vows to let his men rape the women of the Seven Kingdoms.

Tyrion Lannister tells the story of how he lost his virginity when he was 13 to a peasant girl who was only a year older. He secretly married the girl, but then his brother revealed that he had arranged the entire relationship for Tyrion. The girl was a prostitute, and in order to break Tyrion’s attachment to the girl, his father had her brought to the Lannister castle and made Tyrion watch as she had sex with every man in the castle guard.

Characters discuss giants mating with mortals and say that it is easier for giant women to mate with human men, because when giant men have intercourse with human women, they split them open.

When the Dothraki begin to attack other people groups, Daenerys learns that they intend to sell all the boys and girls they capture. The children will be sent to brothels, where extra money will be paid for the boys. Daenerys hears a girl being raped and stops the Dothraki warriors from continuing to hurt her. Daenerys continues to save every woman she finds being raped and takes the women into custody as her slaves. Daenerys asks her husband to stop his soldiers from any further rape and encourages him to have his men make wives of the conquered women.

Discussion Topics

Additional comments.

Alcohol: Characters drink wine and other types of alcohol. At age 14, Jon Snow is glad that no one is paying attention to him at a feast, because it means that he can drink as much alcohol as he wants.

Drugs: Dying and injured characters are given poppy juice to ease their pain.

Media tie-in: HBO launched a television series based on this book series. It debuted in the spring of 2011.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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REVIEW: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Book Reviews
July 6, 2022
1,889 views
By John Mauro

Last Updated on February 12, 2024

Life is full of insignificant events, small perturbations that are rarely of any consequence. But occasionally the conditions are right for a small perturbation to escalate into something that alters the entire world, leaving a permanent mark on history. Whether it’s the start of a World War or the beginning of a global pandemic, the impact of a single, seemingly insignificant event can grow to outsize proportions, pushing the world out of its delicate balance.

A cover for A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

The impact of A Game of Thrones on the world of fantasy cannot be overstated. Its publication in 1996 brought about an irreversible step change in fantasy literature, which for decades had been following the blueprint laid out by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings .

Since its release in the 1950s, The Lord of the Rings had become the single most influential work of fantasy ever written, spawning countless imitations, none of which could reach the same level of impact achieved by Tolkien. Tolkien’s cultural influence stretched far beyond the world of literature, encompassing cinema (Peter Jackson), music (Led Zeppelin), and any number of role-playing games, including both tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons and video games such as the Final Fantasy series.

Tolkien combined expansive, detailed worldbuilding with an epic good-vs-evil struggle of biblical proportions. Although Frodo struggles mightily against the corrupting power of the One Ring, there is never any doubt that he is on the side of good, a Christ figure who is willing to sacrifice himself to save others. Only two notable characters in The Lord of the Rings exhibit discernable gray morality. The most obvious of these is Gollum/Sméagol, but his gray morality is just a superposition of two dichotomous personas, one of which is good (Sméagol) and the other evil (Gollum). The other character, of course, is Boromir, who is fundamentally good but ultimately seduced by the Ring, becoming the Judas Iscariot figure of the Fellowship.

In A Game of Thrones , George R.R. Martin embraced Tolkienesque worldbuilding while taking an antithetical approach to character morality. Both Middle-earth and Westeros feel authentic because they are so fully realized, complete with their own history and culture, giving the reader a fully immersive experience where they can suspend their own reality while diving into a richly detailed new world.

The main difference comes in the gritty approach that Martin has taken toward character morality, making A Game of Thrones one of the first true grimdark fantasies. Whereas Middle-earth is a world of black and white, Martin uses a full palette of gray to paint his cast of characters. If Tolkien has written an allegory for the epic battle of Christ vs Satan, then George R.R. Martin is more interested in the sneering Pontius Pilate, questioning the meaning of truth itself.

In presenting a grittier, more realistic approach to fantasy, A Game of Thrones became part of a larger cultural movement that emerged in the 1990s. For example, at around the same time, grunge bands such as Soundgarden and Alice in Chains came to prominence, bringing an unapologetic rawness and honesty to a music scene that, in the preceding decade, had been hiding behind a façade of synthetic sounds, big hair, and heavy makeup.

More than a quarter century later, A Game of Thrones has rightfully become one of the most respected and influential works of fantasy. A Song of Ice and Fire has sold close to 100 million books worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling series of all time.

Rereading A Game of Thrones , it’s easy to see why. George R.R. Martin is an outstanding writer. Given the complexity of the world and the plot, this book could have easily become unreadable in less capable hands. But Martin does a wonderful job introducing us to the characters and worldbuilding in a natural and accessible fashion. A Game of Thrones is never a chore, and the pacing is remarkably consistent throughout the book.

Although A Game of Thrones is fantasy, the magical elements are of secondary importance, at least in this first volume of A Song of Ice and Fire. Instead, A Game of Thrones is driven by its wonderful cast of characters. George R.R. Martin has crafted some of the finest characters in all of fantasy, including the inimitable Tyrion Lannister, whose astute political skills are coupled with a keen wit and a genuine kindness toward the less fortunate.

One of the interesting choices made by George R.R. Martin is that, out of the eight point-of-view characters in A Game of Thrones , five are children. Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are both 14 years old at the beginning of A Song of Ice and Fire. Among the Stark children, Sansa is 11, Arya is 9, and Bran is 7. Beyond these point-of-view characters, Robb Stark is 14 and Joffrey Baratheon is 12. This may be surprising for fans of the HBO series , since all the actors portraying these characters were significantly older than the characters themselves. Considering their young age, the terrible situations experienced by these children in A Game of Thrones become all the more harrowing. I particularly admire the way Daenerys overcomes unspeakably terrible abuse to grow into the strong, self-assured leader that she becomes.

We are living the legacy of A Game of Thrones now, with its indelible impact on both grimdark fantasy and epic fantasy in general. One prominent example is The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, which is clearly influenced by the narrative structure, expansive worldbuilding, and character-driven plot of A Game of Thrones . Both are full of political intrigue and focus on sparring factions of a fractured society who are fighting each other when they should be focused on a more sinister enemy posing an existential threat to their civilization.

Does this remind you of anyplace else? Although A Game of Thrones emerged in the 1990s, I would argue that it is even more relevant today in our own time wracked by political extremism and a breakdown of global order, where irrational nationalism trumps our ability to confront the serious existential threats facing our society.

A Game of Thrones is one of the finest and most influential books ever published, and its impact only continues to grow. If you have somehow put off reading A Game of Thrones , please put aside whatever reservations you may have and just dive in. You won’t be disappointed.

Read A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

John Mauro lives in a world of glass amongst the hills of central Pennsylvania. When not indulging in his passion for literature or enjoying time with family, John is training the next generation of materials scientists at Penn State University, where he teaches glass science and materials kinetics. John also loves cooking international cuisine and kayaking the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

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Book Review: A Game of Thrones

“A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin tells the tale of various clashing households and their quest to conquer control over the seven kingdoms. Set in a distant, but vaguely familiar medieval-Europe, the story bears parallels to England’s “War of the Roses,” while also introducing its share of unique fantasy elements. As the reader progresses through the book, they follow the politics of the Iron Throne- a metaphor representing the complete and utter control a King possesses in a feudal government system. Furthermore, the reader tracks 8 character perspectives, which are alternated through passing chapters.

As the King rides north to Winterfell to meet with his trusted vassal, and friend, Eddard "Ned" Stark, he strikes up an agreement to anoint Eddard as the hand of the king. Reluctant, Ned follows the King back to the South, but as the plot continues to unfold, Eddard learns of a secret unbeknownst to the King and some of his most trusted advisers. With the death of the King and the ruin of Eddard’s house, war rages in Westeros- as several characters attempt to strike their claims on the Iron Throne.

I initially picked this book up after finishing J.R.R Tolkien’s, “Lord of the Rings” series and have been pleasantly surprised with it. Many fantasy readers have speculated that the literary masterpiece of Tolkien’s novels could not be out done, but I am now inclined to disagree. I thought the book was well-crafted and engaging as an intermediate to advanced reader. However, I would file the complaint that the book moves a bit slow for my taste. Some may lose interest in its plot, especially considering the sheer volume of the book series. The old-language also adds to this effect, as it may cause some readers to struggle following along.

Overall, I would say that this book is certainly worth a try for someone who enjoys medieval-fantasy novels. Admittedly, it will take a while to read and is certainly no small undertaking, but by sticking with it, I found myself enjoying every page more than the last!

Reading Books in Order

Game of Thrones Reading Order: A Song of Ice and Fire by G.R.R Martin

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

“Winter is coming.”

The Story of Game of Thrones

Thanks to the television series adaptation by HBO , Game of Thrones needs mostly no introduction. Originally a fantasy series written by G.R.R. Martin known as A Song of Ice and Fire , it became a global phenomenon and develops an international fan base during the eight seasons. Unfortunately, it also received significant backlash for its more than disappointing ending (I don’t think it’s horrible, but I wasn’t also as invested as other people).

And… the thing is A Song of Ice and Fire isn’t, on paper, finished yet. It’s been 10 years now since the publication of the last book and some fans stopped waiting for the next volume of the saga. G.R.R. Martin is still writing it!

Inspired by the War of The Roses and the french classic The Accursed Kings by Maurice Duron, A Song of Ice and Fire (also generally called Game of Thrones) takes place in a fictional world in which seasons last for years and end unpredictably, on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos.

King Robert Baratheon occupies the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, but a dynastic war among several families for control of Westeros is building as well as the rising threat of the supernatural Others in northernmost Westeros. And at Essos, Daenerys Targaryen, the deposed king’s exiled daughter, wants to take the Iron Throne.

Game of Thrones Books in Order

A Song of Ice and Fire is a fantasy series written by G.R.R. Martin with a main series, prequel novellas, history books and more.

The Main series: A Song of Ice and Fire

– A Game of Thrones (1996) – A Clash of Kings (1998) – A Storm of Swords (2000) – A Feast for Crows (2005) – A Dance with Dragons (2011) – The Winds of Winter (Forthcoming) – A Dream of Spring (Forthcoming)

Dunk and Egg Tales

Novellas that follow the adventures of “Dunk” (the future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall) and “Egg” (the future king Aegon V Targaryen), some 90 years before the events of the novels.

– A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2015) Includes the following stories: The Hedge Knight (1998) The Sworn Sword (2003) The Mystery Knight (2010)

History novellas

Historical accounts of events that took place long before the events of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels or the Dunk and Egg novellas.

– The Princess and the Queen (2013), published in the anthology Dangerous Women – The Rogue Prince (2014), published in the anthology Rogues – The Sons of the Dragon (2017), published in the anthology The Book of Swords

Companion Books

From history books to cookbook, explore the world created by G.R.R. Martin with these books

– The World of Ice & Fire (2014) – Fire and Blood (2018) – Map Book: The Lands of Ice and Fire (2012) – Cook book: A Feast of Ice and Fire (2012)

Graphic Novels

A comic book adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels, still ongoing:

– A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One (2012) – A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume Two (2013) – A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume Three (2014) – A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume Four (2015) – A Clash of Kings: The Graphic Novel: Volume One (2018) – A Clash of Kings: The Graphic Novel: Volume Two (2019) – A Clash of Kings: The Graphic Novel: Volume Three (2021)

The Dunk and Egg Tales novellas have also been adapted as comic books:

– The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (2005) – The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel (2008) – The Mystery Knight: A Graphic Novel (2017)

Game of Thrones Chronological Reading Order

To rediscover this fictional world in order of events, here is the chronological order.

– The Sons of the Dragon (2017) – The Rogue Prince (2014) – The Princess and the Queen (2013)) – The Hedge Knight (1998) – The Sworn Sword (2003) – The Mystery Knight (2010) – A Game of Thrones (1996) – A Clash of Kings (1998) – A Storm of Swords (2000) – A Feast for Crows (2005) – A Dance with Dragons (2011)

Game of Thrones, The Television Series

Developed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO, the television series Game of Thrones was aired from 2011 to 2019 and consisted of 8 seasons and 73 episodes. The show quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, making record viewership for HBO and attracting an international fan base.

The show is also famous for the backlash received during his last season and, for many people, his disappointing conclusion.

– Game of Thrones, Season 1 (adaptation of A Game of Thrones) – Game of Thrones, Season 2 (adaptation of A Clash of Kings) – Game of Thrones, Season 3 (adaptation of A Storm of Swords) – Game of Thrones, Season 4 (adaptation of A Storm of Swords) – Game of Thrones, Season 5 (adaptation of A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and original content) – Game of Thrones, Season 6 (Outline from The Winds of Winter and original content) – Game of Thrones, Season 7 (Outline from A Dream of Spring and original content) – Game of Thrones, Season 8 (Outline from A Dream of Spring and original content)

What about the spin-off?

Started in 2022, House of the Dragon is a Game of Thrones spin-off, a prequel based on the book Fire & Blood . Set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, this series tells the story of House Targaryen. – House of the Dragon, Season 1 (10 episodes) – House of the Dragon, Season 2 (Coming in 2024)

About the author of Game of Thrones

Who is g.r.r. martin.

Part of the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2011, G.R.R. Martin is an American author and screenwriter, known for his epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire .

Born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, G.R.R. earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1970 and a Master’s degree in Journalism in 1971.

He sold his short story called The Hero in 1971 and was nominated for several awards for it. Despite this early success, the selling of other short stories wasn’t enough to pay the bills and G.R.R. Martin worked as a chess tournament director, book editor and teacher before fully concentrating on writing.

In the eighties, he worked as a screenwriter and producer on television for shows such as The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast .

His first novel published was Dying of the Light , released in 1977, but everything really changed for Martin almost 20 years later, with the publication of A Game of Thrones in 1996 – the first book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. The series has been translated into more than 30 languages today

Martin has won several awards for his writing, including five Hugo Awards, four Nebula Awards, and a Bram Stoker Award. He was also inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013.

What has he written beyond A Song of Ice and Fire?

Beyond A Song of Ice and Fire, G.R.R. Martin is known for being the editor of the Wild Cards series, of which he also contributes as a writer.

He also published several stand-alone novels, including Dying of the Light (1977), Fevre Dream (1982), or Hunter’s Run (2007), co-written with Daniel Abraham and Gardner Dozois.

What to read after Game of Thrones

If you like Game of Thrones, here are some suggestions of books to read:

– Memory, Sorrow, & Thorn by Tad Williams (a big influence on G.R.R. Martin) – The Realm of the Elderlings , by Robin Hobb – Dune , by Frank Herbert – The Expanse , a series of science fiction novels by James S. A. Corey

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The Original Reviews of George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones

Long before its tv adaptation became a global phenomenon, here's what the critics thought of the first volume in martin's a song of ice and fire series.

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When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.

“George R.R. Martin’s new novel, A Game of Thrones , is the first in an epic series about a land in which the seasons shift between periods of seemingly endless summer and seemingly endless winter. The story begins with the kingdom of Winterfell facing both external and internal dangers. Beyond her borders, the cold is returning, a dragon prince is scheming to win back his lost kingdom, and the eggs of supposedly long extinct dragons are beginning to hatch. Within Winterfell itself, war soon erupts when the king is murdered by a family grasping for unlawful power.

Many fans of sword-and-sorcery will enjoy the epic scope of this book, something of a change of pace for Martin, who has spent the last decade working for television and who has long been honored for his award-winning stories (e.g., ‘Sandkings’). Still, to my mind, this opening installment suffers from one-dimensional characters and less than memorable imagery.”

– John H. Riskind, The Washington Post , June 28, 1996

“George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones— a 694-page novel that begins a series — is in many ways a tale fit for a king. Its tapestry is satisfyingly rich and complex, weaving together dozens of characters, major and minor, in a wide spectrum of shades of hero and villain, all vivid and memorable. The settings are equally diverse and evocative. Martin writes as convincingly of tart juices oozing from an apple as of sleet on the side of a mountain, and his book is as much an adventure of the senses as it is of the mind. On the other hand, the thimble-full of living dead and the soupcon of dragons we’re served here add little to the story. Or, they may indeed be setting the groundwork for sequels—which seems clear at the end—but their presence in A Game of Thrones seems little more than frost and steam on the window.

“…this is an old story, but A Game of Thrones is so well played that, like a vibrant re-make of an old hit record, you can enjoy almost every beat of it. Indeed, Arthurian/Shakespearean clashes among great and lesser lineages, with all the opportunities they afford for exploration of such perennial themes as honor, loyalty, ambition, love in all its forms, are always welcome subjects for science fiction and fantasy. Such political and personal strìngs served as superb accompaniment to the science fiction in Dune, and they’re often heart-rending, always provocative and appealing, to behold here—though as a center-stage performance, not as background or foreground for fantasy which is barely there.

But the dragon thread has other problems. Published as a stand-alone novella in the July 2006 Asimov’s Magazine (‘Blood of the Dragon’), it follows the trials and exploits of the overthrown King’s two lineal descendants—a brother who is a claimant to the throne with no army, and his sister, whom the brother gives as a bride to a Ghenghis Khan-type character reigning with a vast army in this England’s version of Europe and Asia, in hopes of getting that army to cross the ‘narrow sea’ and reclaim the pretender`s throne. The descriptive passages are marvelous—you can smell the spice, and taste it in every cup of wine Martin renders—but the story as a whole is not special.

“These other threads show us two different daughters, a romantic and a tomboy, and how they fare in these less-and-more than chivalrous times; a bastard and a ‘true-born’ hero and another son whose legs are paralyzed but whose mind soars; another family where one son is handsome and vicious and evil yet brave, and his brother—a dwarf, my favorite character in the novel—is conniving, yet so honorable that he pays his debt of gold to a cruel, stupid jailor whom the dwarf has talked into taking a message that will free him. Yes, I liked this dwarf so much that I truly felt glad when, after months of travail, he finally finds comfort in a prostitute’s arms. The book is so good at this, so real and effective in its complex characterizations, that I would vote it an award just for that, and the dragons be damned.”

– Paul Levinson, Tangent Magazine , Fall 1996

“In a world where the approaching winter will last four decades, kings and queens, knights and renegades struggle for control of a throne. Some fight with sword and mace, others with magic and poison. Beyond the Wall to the north, meanwhile, the Others are preparing their army of the dead to march south as the warmth of summer drains from the land. After more than a decade devoted primarily to TV and screen work, Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy with this extraordinarily rich new novel, the first of a trilogy. Although conventional in form, the book stands out from similar work by Eddings, Brooks and others by virtue of its superbly developed characters, accomplished prose and sheer bloody-mindedness. Although the romance of chivalry is central to the culture of the Seven Kingdoms, and tournaments, derring-do and handsome knights abound, these trappings merely give cover to dangerous men and women who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. When Lord Stark of Winterfell, an honest man, comes south to act as the King’s chief councilor, no amount of heroism or good intentions can keep the realm under control. It is fascinating to watch Martin’s characters mature and grow, particularly Stark’s children, who stand at the center of the book. Martin’s trophy case is already stuffed with major prizes, including Hugos, Nebulas, Locus Awards and a Bram Stoker. He’s probably going to have to add another shelf, at least.”

– Publishers Weekly , July 29, 1996

“After a long silence, the author of the cult The Armageddon Rag (1983) returns with the first of a fantasy series entitled, insipidly enough, A Song of Ice and Fire . In the Seven Kingdoms, where the unpredictable seasons may last decades, three powerful families allied themselves in order to smash the ruling Targaryens and depose their Mad King, Aerys II. Robert Baratheon claimed the throne and took to wife Tywin Lannister’s daughter, Cersei; Ned Stark returned north to gloomy Winterfell with its massive, ancient Wall farther to the north that keeps wildings and unspeakable creatures from invading. Some years later, Robert, now drunk and grossly fat, asks Ned to come south and help him govern; reluctantly, since he mistrusts the treacherous Lannisters, Ned complies. Honorable Ned soon finds himself caught up in a whirl of plots, espionage, whispers, and double-dealing and learns to his horror that the royal heir, Joffrey, isn’t Robert’s son at all but, rather, the product of an incestuous union between the Queen and her brother Jaime—who murdered the Mad King and earned the infamous nickname Kingslayer. Ned attempts to bargain with Cersei and steels himself to tell Robert—but too late. Swiftly the Lannisters murder the King, consign Ned to a dungeon, and prepare to seize the throne, opposed only by the remaining Starks and Baratheons. On the mainland, meanwhile, the brutal and stupid Viserys Targaryen sells his sister Dany to a barbarian horse-warrior in return for a promise of armies to help him reconquer the Seven Kingdoms. A vast, rich saga, with splendid characters and an intricate plot flawlessly articulated against a backdrop of real depth and texture. Still, after 672 dense pages, were you expecting a satisfying resolution? You won’t get it: Be prepared for a lengthy series with an indefinitely deferred conclusion.”

– Kirkus , July 1, 1996

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Themes and Analysis

A game of thrones, by george r. r. martin.

‘A Game of Thrones’ utilizes an excellently descriptive story, a limited character point of view, and a layered thematic structure to guide its reader into its vastly complex world.

Article written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

From exploring the value of family to showing the complexities that surround power struggles, ‘A Game of Thrones’ has undoubtedly influenced fantasy writing. The story’s use of expertly crafted figurative language structure , lore, history, and symbols makes it addictive.

A Game of Thrones Themes

A primary theme of ‘A Game of Thrones’ is the bond associated with family. The story portrays how people’s lives and decisions get influenced by their families. Jon Snow felt the strong impact of family on his life. Because he was born a bastard, he became a shadow in the House of Stark; this made him seek out meaning in his life, leading to him joining the Night’s Watch .

Though Jon tried to forget about his father and siblings, he still risked everything by deserting the Night’s Watch. However, his friends stopped him, and Lord Mormont taught him that his new family was his brothers who would die for each other; this made him realize that his new family was his friends in the Night’s Watch, brothers who would give their life for him.

When Arya fought with Joffrey, she stood before the king to defend herself but got betrayed by her sister. Sansa’s betrayal cost her relationship with Arya to falter. Even though Ned tried making his daughters amend their rift, the disdain they had for each other negatively impacted their lives individually. Sansa tilted towards the Lannisters and Arya towards the way of the sword.

The bond of a family also had an impact on the Lannisters. Though Tyrion felt like an outcast for being a dwarf, he admitted that the one thing his father never played with was an attack on his family, and when he got detained by Catelyn, Tywin, his father, raised an entire army to get him back.

When Tyrion got captured, his brother tried to get him back by acting rashly and attacking Ned. Though he knew it would be a crime, he could not care less as he loved his brother dearly. Tyrion also admitted that Jaime was the only one who treated him nicely, and the bond between them as brothers was intense.

Daenerys was a little girl who had no family except her brother Viserys. However, he only saw her as a tool he could use to get an army from Khal Drogo . She still felt attached to him. Even when Viserys tried to hurt her, Daenerys tried to save her brother from shame and disgrace. However, when she married Khal Drogo, she found a new family, and the bond between her and her brother waned to the point where she felt only disdain towards his actions.

Honor was an essential part of ‘A Game of Thrones.’ With the existence of knights , lords, kings, and khals, honor was a man’s badge. Jamie got hated because he betrayed his king, Aerys II Targaryen , and killed him, trampling on his honor. In the story, a man’s honor made him stand out from the crowd. Elegance and bravery got tied to honor.

When Ned discovered the truth about Cersei and her children, he could have ordered an execution as she betrayed her husband, the king, and lied to her people. However, he chose honor and gave her the chance to leave; this led to his downfall. Till his last breath, Ned kept his pride, making the people of the north swear their allegiance to his son. Other noble families prided in their honor and strength. For the Lannisters, the power of family above all governed their actions.

When Daenerys married Khal Drogo, he gave her the honor she never got from her brother. Having been downgraded for existing, she felt a new form of power, one given to her by the man she loved. When Viserys dishonored the Dothraki , Daenerys did not plead for her brother as she realized that a man without honor is worse than a beggar, and a man without honor is not fit to rule a kingdom or have an army.

The story of ‘A Game of Thrones’ centered around power. When Jon Arryn died, Robert asked Ned to become the hand of the king ; this put him in a position where he saw the dwindling might of the seven kingdoms. Ned realized that the almighty Westeros was deeply indebted to the House of Lannister. Westeros getting indebted to the Lannisters showed how great their power in the seven kingdoms was. Tywin, the Lord of House of Lannister, became so powerful that he was the personal bank of the kingdom and in the story, whoever has the money, has the power.

When Tyrion got detained by Catelyn, the power of his house over the seven kingdoms bought his freedom. He could buy his way out of almost any situation and even the lord of Castle Black , Lord Mormont, pleaded with him to put in a word with the king because he had enough influence to have his voice heard.

In Night’s Watch, Jon realized that his power and influence gave him the upper hand over all his peers. He soon became a leading figure in the castle and led the other boys in training and governance. When Samwell Tarly came to the Castle, Jon used his influence on the others to ensure he did not get bullied. When he and his friends became men of the Night’s Watch, he made Samwell became an apprentice for master Aemon.

Across the sea, Daenerys became powerful as she got married to Khal Drogo. Drogo was a warrior with the largest army of Dothraki, and when Daenerys married him, she became his Khaleesi, a position of esteem. Her new husband showed her what true power felt like, as she had thousands of men and women obeying her every command.

Without betrayal, the story of Eddard Stark would have been different. Before going to King’s Landing , Ned and his best friend, Robert, agreed that their children should get married as a sign of their friendship. When Ned reached King’s Landing, he uncovered secrets vital to the throne. He shared his secret with Petyr, a man he thought could have enough dignity not to share with anyone else. However, when Robert died, and Ned tried to take over the throne as was right, he got betrayed by Petyr, who held a knife to his throat.

When Ned got imprisoned, Varys made him believe that if he lied about taking over King’s Landing, his daughters would get spared. Even Ned’s daughter, Sansa, thought that Joffrey would have enough love for her and spare her father, but that was far from the truth. He got killed, to the dismay of his daughter, who felt she had saved him. Betrayal was the greatest dishonor among knights and lords; this is why Jaime got the title ‘Kingslayer’ after he betrayed his won king and killed him.

Daenerys felt betrayed by her brother, Viserys. Initially, she looked up to him as he assured her that her marriage to Khal Drogo would give him the leverage he needed to claim the throne. However, she realized that Viserys was willing to betray her and did not care for her. When Viserys said he would let thousands of men have their way with her if it meant him claiming the throne, she felt stabbed and hated him.

Coming of Age

In Westeros, adulthood began at 16. Robb was a young boy of 14 who was the heir of Winterfell . After his father left for King’s Landing, his mother, the regent, left for the same King’s Landing to uncover the truth about her son’s fall; this made Robb become the Lord of Winterfell at a young age.

Robb’s growth from the ages of 14 to 15 was astonishing as he became a lord governing the affairs of a kingdom. After Robb clocked 15, Catelyn met him and admitted that Robb was a man worthy of leading an army. Robb’s growth was so astonishing that even at 15, he was a great strategist that successfully led the defeat of Jaime, a knight .

When Jon snow decided to leave Winterfell for Castle Black, he never knew what to expect from his future. On reaching the wall , he realized that his destiny was to become a man of the Night’s Watch, sworn to defend and protect the kingdom from the shadows beyond the wall. As time passes, Jon garners the respect of his peers and soon becomes the leader of his group.

Before leaving for King’s Landing, Arya was a little girl fascinated by the sword and repelled by anything ladylike. When she leaves Winterfell, Jon gives her a sword, and she starts learning how to fight. Gradually, Arya becomes a good fighter after learning how to sword dance from Syrio Forel . Her desire to gain strength saved her from getting captured by the Lannisters.

Bran was seven years old when he got thrown off the wall by Jaime Lannister . He met a three-eyed raven that gave him the power to see all the kingdoms. When Robb decided to go to war, he left an eight-year-old Bran to rule Winterfell and look after his brother. Gradually, Bran started becoming wiser.

Sansa was a naive girl of 11 when her father told her she soul get married to prince Joffrey. Her love for elegance made her daydream about marrying someone as perfect as Joffrey. However, she starts learning the harsh reality of life after her father gets beheaded. Though Sansa’s naivety made her blind to the world, she became braver as she stood up for her brother when Joffrey said he would love his head as a gift.

Joffrey was a young boy of 12 when he visited Winterfell. His rudeness character shaped him into becoming a heartless person. When his father died, he assumed the throne, and childishness made him feel intoxicated with power. He made decisions and delivered judgment with no consideration of honor or sense.

Daenerys was a young girl of 13 when her brother gave her to Khal Drogo to be a wife. As a child, she becomes the Khaleesi of Drogo’s Khalasar and begins to gain emotional and mental strength. At 14, she gets pregnant, and her attitude and decision-making become polished. When her husband died, Daenerys admitted that she had learned her lesson on trust and consequences; this made her a woman of strength.

History of the Past

The history of the past is a crucial element that influences many characters in ‘A Game of Thrones.’ Robert Baratheon hated the Targaryens so much that he placed a bounty over a young Daenerys and her child. However, his hatred came from the past, as the woman he loved, Lyanna, died after allegedly getting abducted and raped by Rhaegar Targaryen .

The Starks also had a rich history. According to records, they are the direct descendants of the First Men ; this played a crucial role in Bran meets the three-eyed raven. He learned the history of the seven kingdoms and realized it got made in the blood of the children of the forest .

When Ned reached King’s Landing, he tried uncovering the truth about his friend, Jon Arryn’s death; this led to him realizing that Cersei’s children were not Robert’s. Without a history of the noble house, Ned would have never uncovered the truth about Cersei’s infidelity.

Brotherhood and Friendship

Brotherhood and friendship were a vital part of the culture of Westeros as they fostered peace. Ned was a sworn brother to Robert, and they decided to take their brotherhood further by making their children marry.

Jon Snow left Winterfell and joined the Night’s Watch. Though he felt alone and afraid, he met other boys like him, and they became brothers. When Jon met Samwell, he formed a bond with him. It strengthened as Samwell defeated his fear to prevent Jon from deserting the Night’s Watch.

When Daenerys married Khal Drogo, she was gifted three girls as maids. Soon, she grew a bond of friendship with her maids, and they helped her navigate her new life. Without Irri , Daenerys’s life would have been unbearable as she taught her how to please Drogo.

Corruption, Politics, Power Hierarchy

Westeros was a kingdom ruled by politics and the powerful. Deep beneath the kingdom’s governance, the power struggle bred corruption. Cersei had ulterior motives to gain control as she craved it. When Ned discovered that she had children with her brother, she decided to go all out by orchestrating her husband’s accident. Though Robert Baratheon was king, he could not see that his kingdom got governed by corrupt lords who never cared about anyone but themselves. After he died, a power struggle led to the political instability of King’s Landing.

After Robert’s death, Cersei used her influence to put her son as the king. She also made herself sit on the small council using corrupt means and arrested Ned Stark for treason; this sparked conflict in the seven kingdoms as the north denounced their loyalty to King’s Landing.

The hierarchy was an essential part of governance in the seven kingdoms. From lords to knights, the hierarchical order made the government of Westeros function.

Analysis of Key Moments in A Game of Thrones

Three men of the Night’s Watch face White Walkers. Eddard Stark kills one of them that runs away as a deserter, and his sons Robb, Bran, and Jon find six pup direwolves.
Ned learns that his friend, Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, is dead and that Robert Baratheon, the King, is on his way to Winterfell.
Viserys prepares his sister to get married to Khal Drogo, leader of the Dothraki.
Robert visits Ned and asks him to become the Hand of the King.
Ned throws a party in Robert’s honor, and many people attend, including his brother, Benjen, a man of the Night’s Watch. Jon asks Benjen to take him to the Night’s Watch Castle Black, but Jon refuses.
Catelyn, Ned’s wife, gets a message from her sister accusing Cersei of killing her husband, Jon Arryn.
Bran gets thrown off the wall of Winterfell while climbing. He gets paralyzed forever.
Maester Luwin tells Ned and Catelyn of Jon’s willingness to join the Night’s Watch, and they let him go. He gifts Arya a thin sword, and she names it Needle.
Daenerys gets married to Khal Drogo and gets three dragon eggs, three maids, and a horse as her bridal gift.
Robert finds out about Daenerys’s wedding and vows to kill her.
Tyrion leaves for the Night’s Watch to see the wall.
Ned leaves for King’s Landing with Arya and Sansa.
Before Ned leaves Winterfell, Sansa and Joffrey go for a ride. They meet Arya practicing how to fight with Mycah , her friend. Joffrey confronts Mycah and gets injured by Arya’s wolf. When brought before Robert Baratheon, she tells her side of the story and stands her ground about Joffrey lying.
An assassin tries to kill Bran after causing a fire in Winterfell’s library.
After an attempt on Bran’s life, Catelyn decides to go to King’s Landing to uncover the truth about the knife the assassin tried to use.
Jon starts training after arriving at Castle Black. He notices that some boys dislike him and becomes their friend by teaching them how to fight.
Ned reaches King’s Landing and meets with the small council. He meets Catelyn and learns of the assassination attempt on Bran.
Bran has a dream about a three-eyed raven and wakes up. Tyrion leaves Castle Black and returns to Winterfell, where he helps Bran create a special saddle to learn how to ride. In King’s Landing, Arya starts training how to fight with Syrio Forel.
Daenerys punishes her brother after he tries to hurt her. She gets pregnant with Khal Drogo.
Ned begins an investigation into Jon Arryn’s death.
Jon meets Samwell Tarly of Horn and helps him against getting bullied. Neds’s investigation leads him to meet one of Robert’s bastard children.
Catelyn returns to Winterfell, but on the way back, she encounters Tyrion and has him detained.
While learning to catch cats as per her training, Arya enters a place with dragon skulls and overhears two men talking about how they killed Jon Arryn. She also hears them talk about killing her father.
Robert learns of Daenerys’s pregnancy and places a bounty on her. Ned steps down as the Hand of the King.
Catelyn visits her sister in the Eyrie with Tyrion.
Bran rides a horse but almost gets kidnapped by wildlings . However, he gets rescued by his brother, and they capture Osha , a wildling woman.
Tyrion gets imprisoned in the Eyrie but requests a trial by combat. His Champion wins, and he gets set free.
Jon becomes a man of the Night’s Watch. He begs maester Aemon to take in Samwell Tarly. He becomes an apprentice to Lord Mormont, the commander of the Night’s Watch.
Ned gets injured after Jaime attacks him when he collects information about Robert’s children.
Robert asks Ned to come back as the Hand of the King. He goes on a hunt, leaving Ned to govern the kingdom.
Ned discovers that Cersei’s children belonged to her brother Jaime. He meets her and asks her to leave King’s Landing before Robert returns.
Viserys, Daenerys brother, gets killed by Khal Drogo with molten gold.
Robert gets involved in an accident and dies. Ned tries to rule the kingdom as Robert asked, but he gets betrayed by Petyr and arrested.
With Ned’s arrest, Robb decides to gather some men for war. He leaves Bran in charge.
Khal Drogo promises Daenerys the seven kingdoms after a plan to poison her gets foiled by Jorah Mormont .
Tyrion reunites with his father, Tywin, who has an army marching against the Starks.
The Night’s Watch discovers the bodies of Benjen Stark ’s men, who had gone missing. After bringing the bodies back, they try to kill Jon.
Khal Drogo conquers his enemy, Khal Ogo, and after the battle, Daenerys rescues some of the women getting raped.
The Starks attack Tyrion’s men by surprise, but they lose. Tyrion later learns that his father knew about the attacks and put him at the forefront. He also learns that Robb outsmarted them and captured Jaime.
Drogo falls sick and falls from his horse. In a desperate attempt to heal him, Daenerys asks one of the slave women for help. The woman uses dark magic, and Daenerys feels a sharp pain in her belly and passes out.
After Ned’s arrest, Arya escapes the Lannisters, and her father gets summoned by the new king, Joffrey. He gets killed, and a man takes Arya away before she causes a scene.
Jon tries to leave the Night’s Watch after his father’s death. Samwell Tarly and the rest of his friends stop him.
Catelyn and Robb meet Hoster Tully, Catelyn’s grandfather. Robb gets crowned King of the North.
Khal Drogo dies, and Daenerys plans a funeral. With most of the Khalasar gone, she makes a pyre for Drogo and burns the witch with him. She also puts her three dragon eggs and steps into the flames. The eggs crack, and she emerges from the flames, unhurt and with three dragons .

Style and Tone of A Game of Thrones

‘ A Game of Thrones ’ uses a limited third-person perspective to introduce its reader to its world. With the story focusing on a single character’s point of view at a time, it expands its world by introducing subtle details embedded in the relationship between its characters and their immediate environment.

The story utilizes history to make the present as realistic as possible. Though the history portrayed is limited to the knowledge of its narrator, it compensates by making each narrator of history a maester or someone versatile in history.

‘A Game of Thrones’ also employs many tones throughout its plot. In the beginning, it utilizes one of fear and agitation when the men of the Night’s Watch encounter monsters. From there, the tone becomes one of looming danger when Ned decides to go to King’s Landing. Gradually, it changes into one of agitation as Ned gets arrested. Finally, a tone of fright and violence comes into play as a war begins between the Starks and Lannisters. For characters like Jon Snow and Daenerys, Agitation and looming danger encompassed their story.

Figurative Language Used in A Game of Thrones

‘A Game of Thrones’ utilizes figures of speech in its story to portray intensity and give an imaginative picture of the character’s interaction with the story. Here are some of the figures of speech used in the story.

Throughout ‘A Game of Thrones’, there is a rich use of metaphors to define the characters’ emotions and events. The story uses direct comparisons to portray a mental picture of its characters and a mental image of an event that has come or is to come. An instance of the use of metaphor is Ser Gregor Clegane . The story compares him to a mountain, immovable and unstoppable. In the story, winter is a beast that comes for everyone regardless of their status or class; this adds anticipation and makes the reader understand the intensity of winter in the story.

From comparing death to a slow poison that makes one sink into the darkness to describing characters’ voices, there is a rich use of simile throughout ‘A Game of Thrones.’ In the novel, simile was the most predominant figurative language used. Instances of simile use throughout the story include when Gared compared the coldness of fire to the heat of flames and when he compares death to sinking. Also, when Ned kisses Cersei’s ring, it is compared to the embrace of a long-lost sister.

To better describe the intensity of inanimate objects, ‘A Game of Thrones’ uses irony. An example is how the cold gets compared to burning flames.

Personification

‘A Game of Thrones’ uses inanimate elements by attaching humanity to them. The weirwood has the shape of a human hand, and the winter is a living beast that devours anyone not ready for it.

Throughout the story, there is a rich use of hyperbole in adding flair to events and objects. The Dothraki hated the sea and referred to it as poison water; this made it appear as pure death to anyone who tried to travel across it.

Analysis of Symbols in A Game of Thrones

Ice is the name of Ned Stark’s sword. It got described as a blade with the width of a human head and sharpness like no other. The sword symbolizes judgment. When Gared deserts the Night’s Watch, Ned uses the sword to cut off his head, delivering justice in the name of his king, Robert Baratheon.

After beheading Gared, Ned and his sons were returning to Winterfell when they came across direwolves, a special breed of wolves that grew incredibly huge. The rarity of finding direwolves was so high that their appearance signified a bad omen.

Dragon Eggs

When Daenerys married Khal Drogo, she was gifted three dragon eggs by Magister Illyrio. Soon, Daenerys began noticing that the dragon eggs gave her power when she needed it, and when Khal Drogo dies, the eggs crack, and three dragons emerge. The dragon eggs represent a powerful force hibernating and waiting for the right moment to get unleashed.

Throughout the novel, a phrase dominates the lips of every northerner, ‘winter is coming.’ For Westeros, winter symbolizes suffering as it brings intense hardship to everyone, the rich and the poor.

When Lord Mormont, commander of the Night’s Watch, takes in Jon Snow, he gives him Longclaw, a blade forged from Valyrian steel . Longclaw was a blade passed throughout Lord Mormont’s generation. It symbolizes family heritage and pride.

To the Dothraki, horses were sacred creatures that every man needed. From their food to travel, the Dothraki used horses. They even worshipped the horse God and had rules that made a horse sacred to its owner.

Needle is the name Arya gives the thin sword Jon gifts her. The sword represents Arya in every way, thin as her stature and swift as her speed. When Jon gives her the sword, she immediately realizes it is perfect for her. She loved the blade and made it become a part of her.

Iron Throne

The Iron Throne is the throne on which the king of the seven kingdoms sits. It got created by Aegon the Conqueror, the first Targaryen king. Though it is uncomfortable to sit on, it is a seat that propagates power to anyone that sits on it.

Houses Sigil

Every ruling house of Westeros had a sigil they used. The House of Lannister used the lion, the House of Stark used the direwolf, and the Targaryens the dragon. Sigils described the characteristics of the houses of Westeros. It was a symbol of power and pride.

Silver is the name Daenerys gives to her horse after Khal Drogo gifts it to her. To Daenerys, Silver was an extension of her personality.

Trident River

The Trident is an extensive network of rivers in Westeros. For the people, it is a crucial part of history because it was at the river that Robert Baratheon defeated Rhaegar Targaryen.

Why does Robert Baratheon hate the Targaryens?

Robert Baratheon hates the Targaryens because he believes that the woman he loved, Lyanna, got raped by Rhaegar Targaryen, son of Aerys II. After Lyanna got kidnapped by Rhaegar, Robert led a rebellion against the Mad King, Aerys II. He successfully defeated the crowned prince and became King after Aerys II fell.

Are Jorah Mormont and Lord Mormont of the Night’s Watch related?

Jorah Mormont is the son of Lord Mormont of the Night’s Watch. Jorah abandoned Bear Island after dishonoring the House of Stark by trying to sell some poachers to a Tyroshi slaver. Though Jorah ran away, he left Longclaw, his family’s sword.

Is what happens at the end of Game of Thrones season 1 the same as the novel?

The last episode of Game of Thrones ended on a cliffhanger. Ned gets killed, and Robb gets declared the King of the North. Across the Narrow seas, Daenerys loses her husband, Khal Drogo, and walks into a fire with her dragon eggs. From the fire emerges three dragons.

Is A Game of Thrones better than Dune ?

While George R. R. Martin used a streamlined limited prescient approach to disseminate his story, Frank Herbert used rich detailing to show the reader his intricately vast universe. ‘Dune’ and ‘A Game of Thrones’ are both marvelous works of literature, but Frank Herbert’s masterpiece edges out a bit against A Song of Ice and Fire.

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin Book Cover Illustrated

Game of Thrones Quiz

Summon your wit and wisdom—our ' Game of Thrones ' Trivia Quiz awaits you! Do you possess the knowledge to claim the title of Master of the Seven Kingdoms? Take the challenge now!

1) Who is Jon Snow's mother?

2) What is the sigil of House Stark?

3) Which character is known as the 'Kingslayer'?

4) Where does Daenerys hatch her dragon eggs?

5) What is the name of Arya Stark's sword?

6) What title does Tyrion Lannister hold at the beginning of the series?

7) Who is the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch at the start of the series?

8) What gift does Jon Snow give Arya Stark before leaving for the Wall?

9) Who is the first character to die by the hands of a White Walker in the series?

10) What is the official motto of House Lannister?

11) Who originally owned the Valyrian steel sword known as "Ice"?

12) What is the capital of Westeros?

13) Which character says the line, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die"?

14) Which house is known for its allegiance to the Starks and has the motto "The North Remembers"?

15) What is the primary religion of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros?

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About Joshua Ehiosun

Joshua is an undying lover of literary works. With a keen sense of humor and passion for coining vague ideas into state-of-the-art worded content, he ensures he puts everything he's got into making his work stand out. With his expertise in writing, Joshua works to scrutinize pieces of literature.

About the Book

The Game of Thrones section of Book Analysis analyzes and explores the Game of Thrones series. The content on Book Analysis was created by Game of Thrones fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the incredible world George R.R. Martin created in his books.

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George R. R. Martin Is Typing

This fantasy series clearly won’t write itself.

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By Choire Sicha and Alan Yuhas

Winter may finally be on its way to Westeros. Eventually. Or not.

But all that fans of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the sweeping fantasy series that led to the HBO hit show “Game of Thrones,” have to go on is the word of George R. R. Martin, its creator.

Mr. Martin, who is 71 and lives in Santa Fe, N.M., has for years blown past deadlines to deliver the final manuscript for “The Winds of Winter,” the sixth book in the series, which began publishing in 1996. On Wednesday, he tweeted that “the enforced isolation” of life during a pandemic was helping him to make “steady progress” on the book.

He did not say when readers might get a look at it. “I finished a new chapter yesterday, another one three days ago, another one the previous week,” he wrote in a Tuesday update to his blog that was shared with the tweet. “But no, this does not mean that the book will be finished tomorrow or published next week. It’s going to be a huge book, and I still have a long way to go.”

I have to confess, after half a year of pandemic, I am showing signs of cabin fever. If nothing else, the enforced isolation has helped me write. I am spending long hours every day on THE WINDS OF WINTER, and making steady progress. https://t.co/i0DRw51PC7 — George RR Martin (@GRRMspeaking) June 24, 2020

He also lamented that he had been forced to cancel plans to visit New Zealand, but said there was “definitely a silver lining in that cloud.”

“The last thing I need right now is a long interruption that might cost me all the momentum I have built up,” he wrote. “I can always visit Wellington next year, when I hope that both Covid-19 and THE WINDS OF WINTER will be done.”

That was the only clue for his publication plans. He urged fans not to “give any credence to any of the click-bait websites that like to parse every word of my posts,” although fans of the series are well known for doing that on their own.

David Moench, Mr. Martin’s representative at Random House, declined answer questions about the timing of the next book.

“George Martin is not available for an interview, as he is indeed focused on writing THE WINDS OF WINTER,” he said. “Random House will publish that book once it is finished, whenever that may be.”

On Reddit, fans at the “A Song of Ice and Fire” subreddit responded to the announcement with a mixture of despair, excitement and plot suggestions. “This is not great news, it hardly even qualifies as news,” one contributor wrote. “I hate to be negative but the only posts I want to see are about an imminent release,” another wrote.

Hungry fans of the written series have gathered at the subreddit for years, collectively sharing their hopes and frustrations for the series, noting each blog update and dissecting every word from the author in an attempt to find just one more bread crumb about the upcoming book.

Mr. Martin also assured readers that he was healthy “for an out-of-shape guy of 71,” gave a few author recommendations — Stephen King , Emily St. John Mandel — and said he was still involved with the slow production of “The House of the Dragon,” HBO’s follow-up to “Game of Thrones.”

“A Dance With Dragons,” the most recent volume in the series, was published in 2011. The HBO adaptation began airing at nearly the same time, stretched on for eight years, and then lapped Mr. Martin’s production of plot. While that show soared to audience heights, regularly breaking HBO audience records , it ended in critical defeat for its creators.

Mr. Martin has declined interview requests from The New York Times this year, and his team is protective of his writing time. He did find time in recent months to buy a railroad with his friends. (He also owns a cinema in Santa Fe.)

With a possible delivery date of 2021, that would make the unfolding of the books a three-decade process.

Except “The Winds of Winter” is not the end of this story. There’s meant to be one more.

Aimee Ortiz contributed reporting.

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

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A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) Mass Market Paperback – March 22, 2011

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Book 1 of 5 A Song of Ice and Fire
Print length 864 pages
Language English
Publisher Bantam
Publication date March 22, 2011
Dimensions 4.19 x 1.36 x 6.85 inches
ISBN-10 9780553593716
ISBN-13 978-0553593716
Lexile measure 830L
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ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0553593714
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam; Media tie-in edition (March 22, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 864 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780553593716
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553593716
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 830L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.36 x 6.85 inches
#1,161 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction
#3,271 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books)
#7,686 in Epic Fantasy (Books)

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George R.R. Martin on "A Game of Thrones"

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About the author, george r. r. martin.

George R.R. Martin is the globally bestselling author of many fine novels, including A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, which together make up the series A Song of Ice and Fire, on which HBO based the world’s most-watched television series, Game of Thrones. Other works set in or about Westeros include The World of Ice and Fire, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. His science fiction novella Nightflyers has also been adapted as a television series; and he is the creator of the shared-world Wild Cards universe, working with the finest writers in the genre. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Game of Thrones

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Peter Dinklage

Tyrion Lannister

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Emilia Clarke

Daenerys Targaryen

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Petyr Baelish

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'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says book adaptations almost always 'make it worse'

George R.R. Martin has a message for screenwriters who think they can improve on already excellent source material: You know nothing.

Martin, the author of the " A Song of Ice and Fire " books adapted into the " Game of Thrones " TV series, penned a blog post about how literary adaptations are almost always inferior to the source material due to screenwriters making unnecessary changes.

"Everywhere you look, there are more screenwriters and producers eager to take great stories and 'make them their own,'" Martin wrote. "...No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and 'improve' on it."

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He continued, "'The book is the book, the film is the film,' they will tell you, as if they were saying something profound. Then they make the story their own. They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse."

But Martin went on to praise what he feels is a bright spot in the world of book adaptations: " Shogun ," based on the James Clavell novel. He described the series as a "really good adaptation of a really good book," something he argued only happens "once in a while."

The author's remarks were notable given his own work was adapted into a television series that made many changes to the source material and had a hugely controversial ending. However, he never mentioned "Game of Thrones" in the blog. Martin serves as producer on the "Game of Thrones" prequel series " House of the Dragon ."

Review: Sorry, but HBO's 'House of the Dragon' can't touch 'Game of Thrones' greatness

During a discussion with fellow author Neil Gaiman in 2022 about book adaptations, Martin made the distinction between "legitimate" and "illegitimate" changes, according to Variety . As an example of the latter, he remembered writing an episode of "The Twilight Zone" that adapted Roger Zelazny's "The Last Defender of Camelot" and being forced by CBS to add an "ordinary person" into the story who "tags along."

"I was new to Hollywood," Martin said, per Variety. "I didn't say, 'You're (expletive) morons.'"

George R.R. Martin reveals inspiration behind killing of 'Game of Thrones' characters

In his blog, Martin wrote that "very little has changed" since he made these comments almost two years ago. "If anything, things have gotten worse," he said.

Martin's 2018 novel "Fire & Blood" serves as source material for HBO's "House of the Dragon." In its first season, the show made numerous changes to the book, but Martin has said there's one area where the series improved on his writing: the character of King Viserys Targaryen, played by Paddy Considine .

"The character (Considine) created (with Ryan and Sara and Ti and the rest of our writers) for the show is so much more powerful and tragic and fully-fleshed than my own version in 'FIRE & BLOOD' that I am half tempted to go back and rip up those chapters and rewrite the whole history of his reign," Martin wrote in 2022 .

Martin remains at work on the long-delayed next "A Song of Ice and Fire" novel, "The Winds of Winter." He has said the ending of his book series will differ from the TV adaptation.

"Yes, some of the things you saw on HBO in 'Game of Thrones' you will also see in 'The Winds of Winter' (though maybe not in quite the same ways) … but much of the rest will be quite different," he wrote in 2022 . "And really, when you think about it, this was inevitable. The novels are much bigger and much much more complex than the series. Certain things that happened on HBO will not happen in the books. And vice versa."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says book adaptations almost always 'make it worse'

George R.R. Martin has penned a blog post criticizing screenwriters who make unnecessary changes to books when adapting them for the screen.

The Faceless Men from Game of Thrones, Explained

The mysterious House of Black and White houses the Faceless Men, some of the most skilled assassins in the entire world of Game of Thrones.

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Who are the faceless men, where did the faceless men come from, why do the faceless men matter, will the faceless men appear in house of the dragon.

Countless factions spent all of Game of Thrones vying for power. The Starks, Lannisters, Greyjoys, and Tyrells were just some of the Great Houses seeking to gain cultural, political, and militaristic supremacy over one another. The Iron Bank sought financial superiority, while the Maesters sought intellectual power. There was even a religious struggle for power, as Melisandre hoped to force the Seven Kingdoms to worship the Lord of Light. While these factions had varying motivations, they all sought to gain power. At their core, the Faceless Men are no different.

Introduced through the seemingly immortal Jaqen H'ghar, the Faceless Men have been part of Game of Thrones since the very beginning of the show. As Arya Stark escaped King's Landing, a Faceless Man remained in the entourage, watching Arya and following her every step through the Crownlands and Riverlands. As fascinating as the Faceless Men are, they happen to be one of the most confusing factions in the show.

The Faceless Men first appeared in Game of Thrones as death-worshipping assassins.

10 Funniest Game of Thrones Quotes, Ranked

The Faceless Men are a group of assassins who reside in the House of Black and White in Braavos. They serve as priests for a monotheistic religion that focuses on the Many-Faced God. The Many-Faced God incorporates every Westerosi religion as mere faces that represent different cultural expectations of the true singular god. The religion considers death an essential aspect of life. Besides death, the only other constant is ongoing service. Like most people in Essos, Faceless Men greet each other with the phrase " Valar Morghulis " (" All men must die "), which is traditionally followed by, " Valar Dohaeris " (" All men must serve ").

As their name implies, the Faceless Men can change their faces. They use glamour, illusion, and physical replacement to disguise themselves with the faces of the dead. This skill has led to the Faceless Men becoming a well-known and infamous assassin's guild. They also have other magical abilities, as they can blind initiates and survive any poison. To assassinate others, the guild requires a hefty price, which can range in intensity depending on their patron's wealth. Because of their reputation, the House of Black and White is excessively rich.

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books , there are dozens of Faceless Men in the House of Black and White. In the show, however, there appear to be only two active members who serve alongside the initiate Arya Stark. The show does hint that there are many other members of their cult, as Jaqen H'ghar and the Waif reveal that they have been wearing each other faces after Jaqen's supposed death in Game of Thrones , season 5, episode 10, "Mother's Mercy".

The Faceless Men likely started their work in the slave mines of Valyria.

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The show does not include many hints about the origin of the Faceless Men, but the books offer some clues about their roots. In the book A Feast for Crows , a Faceless Man explained to Arya that their guild began in the ancient slave mines in Valyria. The mines were horrifying places that were filled with death. Slaves often begged for their gods to free them from the horror, and one man recognized that the only freedom was death. Believing that they were praying to the same god for deliverance, the first Faceless Man killed some of the slaves and began a long legacy of human euthanasia. To the Faceless Men, the decision brought mercy to the suffering, and they have been delivering mercy to the suffering ever since.

Since their earliest days, the Faceless Men have been hired for numerous assassinations, but few have been proven to be their doing. Their presence is especially large in Essos and the Free Cities, but they tend to serve anywhere in the world of Game of Thrones , as Jaqen H'ghar proved. One Faceless Man, the Kindly Man, hinted that they were even involved in the Doom of Valyria , which saw the end of the reign of the dragonlords. It is also possible that the book's version of Euron Greyjoy hired them to murder Balon Greyjoy.

The Faceless Men kept Arya Stark alive and trained her in assassination in Game of Thrones.

Winds of Winter Release Date: Why Fans Have Been Waiting 14 Years for the Next Game of Thrones Book

Because they are a secretive organization, most characters know the Faceless Men through only the rumors about their talent as assassins. Littlefinger, for instance, reflects on their skills early on in the books and the show. The only time that audiences truly see how powerful they can be is when Jaqen H'ghar reveals his true identity to Arya Stark after recruiting her into the guild. Even then, the organization is shrouded in mystery until Arya arrives at the shores of Braavos and finally enters the House of Black and White.

The importance of the Faceless Men relates to their reputation and their relationship with Arya. Regarding their reputation, the very threat of their existence can cause paranoia and fear in any king's ranks. It also provides opportunities for vengeance for any character who has nothing else to fight for. Theon, for instance, could choose to hire the Faceless Men to kill Euron Greyjoy or Ramsay Bolton, if capable of paying the price.

Similarly, because Arya is a main character in Game of Thrones , her presence among the Faceless Men makes them an essential and interesting part of the world. In the show, Arya uses her Faceless training to kill the Night King, the leader of the White Walkers. The fact that the Faceless Men may have managed to destroy the dragon lords and the White Walkers makes them an unrivaled threat. With just a few years of training, Arya did the impossible. It is simply a sign of their potential to stop — and cause — world-ending threats.

It is unlikely that the Faceless Men will play much of a role in the Dance of the Dragons

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While the Faceless Men played a significant role in Game of Thrones , it is unlikely that they will play much of a part in House of the Dragon . The show, which features the succession crisis that leads to the Dance of the Dragons involves Targaryen infighting and a brutal civil war. While the Faceless Men are certainly capable of assassinating key figures in civil wars, the Targaryens are a rich and powerful family who rarely associate with seemingly lower-class confederates. Their pride means that they often choose to handle any enemies brutally and publicly, rather than with the subtle methods that the Faceless Men are known for.

The Faceless Men also generally despise Valyrians, given their history in the slave mines. The Targaryens, meanwhile, hail from Valyria and look back on their history with pride. They are also a rich and powerful family, which often forces others to suffer. For the Faceless Men to align themselves with brutal dragon lords, they would require a hefty price — especially given that the cost to assassinate is a progressive price, based on income and the target's importance. The Targaryens would likely need to offer the Faceless Men dragons, which neither the Blacks nor the Greens are likely to do. As fascinating as the Faceless Men are, they are not likely to appear in House of the Dragon in more than a dismissive cameo role.

Game Of Thrones

Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for a millennia.

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The best Game of Thrones seasons, ranked

Jon Snow drawing his sword against Ramsay's army.

HBO has multiple incredible shows . After all, as the cable network’s slogan goes, it’s not television, it’s HBO. However, few of the network’s originals can compare to the juggernaut that was Game of Thrones . Developed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and based on George R. R. Martin’s literary saga A Song of Ice and Fire , the show followed multiple feuding noble families struggling to sit on the Iron Throne and rule over the war-torn continent of Westeros.

8. Season 8 (2019)

7. season 7 (2017), 6. season 5 (2015), 5. season 1 (2011), 4. season 6 (2016), 3. season 3 (2013), 2. season 2 (2012), 1. season 4 (2014).

At its peak, Game of Thrones was the biggest show on Earth, dominating award shows and scoring HBO the biggest ratings in its history. Across eight seasons and 73 episodes, the show shocked, scandalized, and thrilled audiences worldwide, cementing its place among television’s greatest achievements. However, even its most devoted fans can’t say it remained consistent throughout. Indeed, while some seasons were positively masterful, others were outright embarrassing, proving that when you play the game of thrones, there truly is no middle ground.

There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about Game of Thrones season 8. To describe it, only one word is necessary: terrible. From the awful, rushed writing to the notoriously dark cinematography to the poor production values and careless staging, Game of Thrones season 8 is a trainwreck of spectacular proportions.

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If it weren’t for the incredible acting — thank R’hllor for Emilia Clarke — it would have no redeemable qualities. Don’t let the many subsequent think pieces fool you: it’s not good, it hasn’t aged well, and it’s still inexcusable. It’s terrible in just about every way that matters.

Season 7 is not much better than season 8. Following season 6’s spectacular ending, season 7 picks up with Daenerys arriving at Dragonstone, Cersei sitting on the Iron Throne, Sansa and Jon ruling the North, and Arya making her way to King’s Landing. In an effort to reduce the cast’s size, numerous characters make stupid mistakes and die in incredibly unsatisfying ways.

The biggest issue with season 7 is that you can feel the urgency to wrap the show as fast as possible. Characters stop making intelligent decisions, and the show starts disrespecting its in-world logic. Daenerys loses all her allies and two of her dragons because, otherwise, the show would be over in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Varys, Littlefinger, and Tyrion, arguably Game of Thrones ‘ most powerful and intelligent characters , become shadows of their former selves, doomed to always be one step behind everyone else. Season 7 is poorly written and even more poorly paced, resulting in a rushed and uneven viewing experience that feels like the perfect prelude to the even worse season 8.

Season 5 of Game of Thrones is the earliest indication that the powers behind the show didn’t necessarily know what they were doing. The season marks a major departure from the books, with storylines shortened and mixed in an effort to keep things more streamlined. Major plots include Daenerys ruling Meereen with disastrous results, Jon becoming Lord Commander at Castle Black, Arya beginning her training in Braavos, Sansa getting married to Ramsay Snow, Tyrion journeying to Essos to meet Dany, and Cersei and Jaime dealing with the Sparrows in the aftermath of Tywin’s death.

Much of what makes season 5 seem weak is how much it pales in comparison to its masterful predecessor. The writing is weak, especially concerning the stories at Castle Black, and certain narrative choices come across as pure shock value rather than genuine attempts to progress the larger story. Season 5 does include a few incredible episodes, most notably Hardhome , and a powerful season finale. Still, the season is overall uneven at best, and includes some of the show’s most gratuitous and needless plots, putting into question the writers’ abilities to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

“You win, or you die,” the tagline for Game of Thrones season 1 read, and boy, was it right. Fantasy icon and perennial victim Sean Bean starred as Eddard Stark, the noble head of House Stark, who abandons his spot as Warden of the North to serve as Hand of the King for his longtime friend, Robert Baratheon. Arriving at the capital city of King’s Landing, Ned becomes involved in a dangerous game of politics and treason.

Season 1 of Game of Thrones stands out because it’s the only one with a clear protagonist. While the show would become a true ensemble as it progressed, season 1 is firmly centered around Ned, with Bean embodying the character’s heroic and honorable qualities to perfection. In addition, this season is Game of Thrones at its most contained and intimate, favoring politics and machinations over ambitious fantasy concepts — Daenerys’ dragons aren’t even hatched yet.

However, what it lacks in scope, it makes up for in narrative punch, clever writing, and a subversive approach to the usually clearcut fantasy genre. Season 1 of Game of Thrones laid the basis for everything that followed, allowing the show to grow into one of the most popular in television and doing most of the heavy lifting to introduce the complicated, yet fascinating World of Ice and Fire.

In more ways than one, season 6 is the ending of Game of Thrones ‘ golden age. The plot sees Cersei plotting her revenge against the Sparrows, who are becoming more dangerous by the second. Meanwhile, Jon and Sansa rally the Northern houses against Ramsay, Tyrion struggles to rule Meereen while Daenerys is kidnapped by the Dothraki, Arya continues her training in the House of Black and White, and Bran begins his journey to becoming the Three-Eyed Raven.

Although far more uneven than its predecessors, season 6 of Game of Thrones soars on the strength of some of the show’s best efforts. Episodes like The Door , Blood of My Blood , Battle of the Bastards , and The Winds of Winter rank among the best of the 21st century, let alone Game of Thrones . Ramin Djawadi’s score also reaches new heights this season, especially during the final episode, where the now-iconic tune Light of the Seven plays during the explosion of the Great Sept of Baelor.

Season 6 is Game of Thrones in overdrive, delivering one showstopping sequence after another without losing momentum. It expertly blends fan service and character development, setting the stage for an epic showdown that, sadly, would never come.

Season 3 of Game of Thrones lives in perpetual infamy. It features the ending of the War of the Five Kings and the unexpected marriage between Sansa and Tyrion, which is orchestrated by Tywin. Jaime bonds with Brienne on his way back to King’s Landing, Jon spends more time with the Free Folk, Arya and the Hound form an unlikely relationship during their travels, and Daenerys slowly amasses an army of her own.

Solid and narratively coherent as it builds up to a harrowing finale, season 3 of Game of Thrones is riveting television. The duos of Jaime and Brienne and Arya and the Hound are surprisingly heartwarming, while Dany’s increasing influence in Essos cements her as a modern pop culture icon.

However, it’s the notorious and outright traumatizing Red Wedding that dominates any conversation about season 3. The event marked a turning point for Game of Thrones , as it killed off multiple main characters in a shocking and brutal sequence that challenged audiences’ expectations and changed television for good. Season 3 did a lot of things right, but in many ways, its legacy amounts to The Rains of Castamere , an episode that ranks among television’s all-time greatest ever produced.

Following the game-changing end of season 1, Game of Thrones season 2 sets each character off in new and exciting directions. Tyrion serves as Hand of the King to Joffrey, attempting to prepare the city’s defenses for Stannis’ upcoming attack while dealing with Cersei’s machinations. Robb continues his war against the Lannisters, Jon ventures beyond the Wall, Arya travels with the Brotherhood without Banners, Theon takes over Winterfell, and Daenerys journeys to Qarth with her newly hatched dragons and what’s left of her khalasar.

Season 2 of Game of Thrones greatly benefits from incredible dialogue, perhaps the best in the show’s eight years. Tyrion and Cersei share some of the best interactions in the show’s history, which are elevated even further by Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey’s one-of-a-kind chemistry. Similarly, Tywin and Arya form an unlikely, yet mesmerizing duo, with Charles Dance and Maisie Williams delivering some of the finest work on the show.

The season leads to the near-perfect episode Blackwater , which features one of the show’s most ambitious battle sequences. Overall, season 2 of Game of Thrones is cohesive and satisfying, yet still shocking and unpredictable. It successfully expands the show’s lore, introduces new characters, and plants seeds that would blossom for years to come.

Game of Thrones undoubtedly peaked with season 4. The show’s fourth year featured massive storylines, from Joffrey’s death at the Purple Wedding to Tyrion’s subsequent trial for his apparent murder. Sansa finally escapes King’s Landing, Arya continues her journeys with the Hound, Jon prepares Castle Black against the Free Folk’s upcoming attack, and Daenerys takes over Meereen, abolishing slavery and sending Essos into political chaos and societal unrest.

Season 4 sees every aspect of Game of Thrones operating at peak capacity. Every element, from the writing to the acting, directing, and staging, is spectacular, and the actors receive some of their strongest material. The season’s MVP is undoubtedly Tyrion, with Dinklage delivering arguably his finest performance in the show during the seminal episode The Laws of Gods and Men . However, many other actors shine, including the new Mr. Fantastic, Pedro Pascal , whose Oberyn Martell is a highlight of the season.

Headey, Harington, Clarke, and Dance are also noteworthy, as are Gwendolyn Christie and the ever-underrated Natalie Dormer. Season 4 of Game of Thrones is the closest thing to perfection that we’ll ever see on our television screens, offering a daring, challenging, and utterly unforgettable narrative that cemented the show as a modern entertainment masterpiece — up until that point, anyway.

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The war over Middle-earth will continue to unfold with the upcoming season of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Though not everyone jumped on the hype train for season 1, the upcoming season seems ready to build upon the grand epic established so far.

Until the heroes of Middle-earth return to TV screens, here's everything that has been revealed about season 2 of The Rings of Power. When will season 2 come out?

It's time to pick a side in the battle for the realm in the House of the Dragon season 2 trailer. The official footage from the upcoming season teases war, deception, and, of course, dragons.

"A Targaryen who sits the Iron Throne is not just a king or a queen. They are a protector of the realm,” Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen says to open the trailer. Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon are seen gaining allies for Team Black and readying their army for an attack. Their opponent is Team Green, led by Queen Alicent Hightower and her son, King Aegon II Targaryen.

If there's one thing that Netflix is well known for, it's the constant stream of content it is introducing to users. Thanks to the WGA and SAG strikes in 2023, though, there are fewer shows than usual on the docket for the summer of 2024.

Even so, there are still plenty of interesting shows coming to Netflix at some point over the summer. While most of the highest-profile shows coming this summer are returning, there's also some new blood in the mix. These are the five we're most excited for, ranked from least excited to most anticipated of the sunny season. 5. Bridgerton season 3 -- part 2 (June 13) Bridgerton Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix

IMAGES

Game Of Thrones books in order: the twists and the divergences
A Game of Thrones: The Illustrated Edition: A Song of Ice and Fire
The Full List of Game of Thrones Books in Order
Game of Thrones: Guide to the Complete Series Hardcover Book
Buy A Game Of Thrones: 20th Anniversary Illustrated Edition- George Rr
Game Of Thrones: How it went from a Bestselling Book to a World-known

COMMENTS

A Game of Thrones
A totally magnificent start to a seminal epic fantasy series. If you love watching the first season of Game of Thrones, you're most likely going to love reading A Game of Thrones. Like countless readers around the world, I probably wouldn't have known about A Song of Ice and Fire without its TV series adaptation: Game of Thrones.I've been following the TV series since the release of its ...
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin book review
Summary - 5/5. A Game of Thrones is the best opening book to a fantasy series you'll find. It has become a sensation for a reason - the TV series is brilliant, yes. But the first book is probably better. You get such a great feeling of grandeur but also a really personal feeling from some of the characters. One moment you're learning of ...
A Song of Fire and Ice (A Game of Thrones) Series Book Review
A Song of Fire and Ice is a dark, violent, and complex fantasy saga by George R.R. Martin, adapted from the TV series Game of Thrones. Read the review, age rating, and parents guide to learn more about the book's content, themes, and quality.
A GAME OF THRONES
A fantasy epic of intrigue, war, and magic in the Seven Kingdoms, where three powerful families vie for the throne. Read the Kirkus review of the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, published in 1996.
A Game of Thrones Review: Winter is Coming
A comprehensive review of George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy novel, A Game of Thrones. The review covers the story, characters, dialogues, writing style, and themes of the book, and praises its realism and detail.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book One)
A GAME OF THRONES. 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 and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective ...
A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1
by George R. R. Martin. Publication Date: March 22, 2011. Genres: Fantasy, Fiction. Paperback: 720 pages. Publisher: Bantam. ISBN-10: 0553386794. ISBN-13: 9780553386790. 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.
A Game of Thrones: Book Review
Ned travels to the capital city of Westeros, King's Landing with his daughters Arya and Sansa. When they arrive in King's Landing, Ned learns that Jon Arryan's death was not an "accident. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. After learning how bad it has gotten in King's Landing, Ned uses all his power to try to fix the problems ...
A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin book review
The first book, 'A Game of Thrones,' was first released in 1996, and since then another three books have been released, with the fifth hopefully to be released this year (2009). Set in a world very akin to our own medieval history, specifically the English War of the Roses, A Game of Thrones introduces us to one of the greatest (and largest ...
A Game of Thrones : A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES—THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece. A GAME OF THRONES 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 ...
A Game of Thrones
Bran Stark is a young boy who watches his father, Lord Eddard Stark, execute Gared for abandoning his post as a member of the Night's Watch. After the execution, Eddard's two older sons, Robb and Jon, discover a gigantic dead direwolf and her six living cubs. The children adopt the pups as their own.
REVIEW: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A Game of Thrones is never a chore, and the pacing is remarkably consistent throughout the book. Although A Game of Thrones is fantasy, the magical elements are of secondary importance, at least in this first volume of A Song of Ice and Fire. Instead, A Game of Thrones is driven by its wonderful cast of characters.
25 Years on, a Mixed Legacy for A Game of Thrones
Nicholas Pompella. None of this is to say that A Game of Thrones lacks dramatic merit. While it is true that Catelyn and Bran are duds, most of the vast array of characters Martin crams into the ...
Book Review: A Game of Thrones
Review. "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin tells the tale of various clashing households and their quest to conquer control over the seven kingdoms. Set in a distant, but vaguely familiar medieval-Europe, the story bears parallels to England's "War of the Roses," while also introducing its share of unique fantasy elements.
Game of Thrones Reading Order: A Song of Ice and Fire by G.R.R Martin
Part of the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2011, G.R.R. Martin is an American author and screenwriter, known for his epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire. Born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey, G.R.R. earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1970 and a Master's degree in Journalism in 1971.
The Original Reviews of George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones
When you play a game of thrones you win or you die. "George R.R. Martin's new novel, A Game of Thrones, is the first in an epic series about a land in which the seasons shift between periods of seemingly endless summer and seemingly endless winter. The story begins with the kingdom of Winterfell facing both external and internal dangers.
A Game of Thrones Themes and Analysis
The Game of Thrones section of Book Analysis analyzes and explores the Game of Thrones series. The content on Book Analysis was created by Game of Thrones fans, with the aim of providing a thorough in-depth analysis and commentary to complement and provide an additional perspective to the incredible world George R.R. Martin created in his books.
'Game of Thrones' Book: George R. R. Martin Says He's Writing
George R. R. Martin at the Season 4 premiere of "Game of Thrones" in Manhattan. ... top authors and critics join the Book Review's podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES —THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON Here is the first book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece. A GAME OF THRONES 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 ...
How to Read the Game of Thrones Books in Chronological Order
A Game of Thrones. 33. Amazon. The book that started it all in 1996, A Game of Thrones is the first ASoIaF novel. It's the reader's introduction to the world of Westeros, its surrounding regions ...
A Game Of Thrones preview by George R.R. Martin
4.56. 12,290 ratings135 reviews. This is a preview edition of A Game of Thrones, and contains only the opening chapters. This edition is NOT the entire book. Genres Fantasy FictionEpic Fantasy Science FictionScience Fiction FantasyEpic. 96 pages, Paperback. First published January 1, 1996. Book details & editions.
Game of Thrones
89% Avg. Tomatometer 337 Reviews 85% Avg. Audience Score 50,000+ Ratings George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" is brought to the screen as HBO sinks its ...
'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says book adaptations ...
George R.R. Martin reveals inspiration behind killing of 'Game of Thrones' characters. In his blog, Martin wrote that "very little has changed" since he made these comments almost two years ago ...
The Faceless Men from Game of Thrones, Explained
The Faceless Men first appeared in Game of Thrones as death-worshipping assassins. Although Game of Thrones is no stranger to serious scenes and themes, it's also produced some of the funniest quotes in recent television history. The Faceless Men are a group of assassins who reside in the House of Black and White in Braavos.
The best Game of Thrones seasons, ranked
3. Season 3 (2013) 2. Season 2 (2012) 1. Season 4 (2014) Show 3 more items. At its peak, Game of Thrones was the biggest show on Earth, dominating award shows and scoring HBO the biggest ratings ...
Wicked
Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is an upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical and prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars ...