lisalit's review against another edition
5.0
second time reading this book but this time in english and it was much more pleasant than reading it in french. so that’s one thing, second is that i really had a great time reading this book and i think the way each character is built is what hooked me.
it is very smart, not confusing you enough to lose you but not being so blunt to bore you. just a right amount of slow but continuous pleasure.
there was one revelation that i thought the way they got to that was a bit far-stretched but i still give 5/5 because of the feeling i got of being excited to go home to read.
it is very smart, not confusing you enough to lose you but not being so blunt to bore you. just a right amount of slow but continuous pleasure.
there was one revelation that i thought the way they got to that was a bit far-stretched but i still give 5/5 because of the feeling i got of being excited to go home to read.
nomad_stone's review against another edition
4.0
To begin with, yes, I read the book because of all the commotion going on about the TV series, but no, I have not seen a single episode of it and will not until I have read all the books.
I think the book is a fairly good read. Even though I will most likely never read it again, I enjoyed it! It has its way of making you wonder what is going to happen well enough, and even though the moments in which you really are surprised are very little compared to the size of the book, it keeps it interesting.
The plot is linear enough, but never boring, and the characters are varied enough so that you need to feel at ease with at least one of them, and hate another one. Not necessarily the "bad guys", and that is the best part I think.
It has its drawbacks, of course, and one of those is the absolutely avoidable necessity of describing every single person's dress every time, or each and every one dish presented at the numerous feasts and banquets. In this first book the pain is relatively little, but grows bigger with the following volumes, so if you cannot stand those "doublets" of every single color of the rainbow, steer away.
I think the book is a fairly good read. Even though I will most likely never read it again, I enjoyed it! It has its way of making you wonder what is going to happen well enough, and even though the moments in which you really are surprised are very little compared to the size of the book, it keeps it interesting.
The plot is linear enough, but never boring, and the characters are varied enough so that you need to feel at ease with at least one of them, and hate another one. Not necessarily the "bad guys", and that is the best part I think.
It has its drawbacks, of course, and one of those is the absolutely avoidable necessity of describing every single person's dress every time, or each and every one dish presented at the numerous feasts and banquets. In this first book the pain is relatively little, but grows bigger with the following volumes, so if you cannot stand those "doublets" of every single color of the rainbow, steer away.
katluze's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 estrellitas.
Sin lugar a dudas esta saga se convertirá en unas de mis favoritas así cómo lo fue la serie (antes de la fatidica 8va temporada).
Me encanta el mundo que crea George y creo que eso es lo que más hay que darle al autor. Así cómo la increible creación de personajes. Sin embargo, no me quiero emocionar para terminar no recomendarles este libro bien, así que aquí vamos:
LA TRAMA: Nos aventuramos en un mundo dividido por reinos y casas entre ellos, donde hay una monarquía. Entonces hay un suceso que hace que el Lord del Norte tenga que ir al Sur para servir a su Rey. Un plot a la vista bastante sencillo, pero que llega a sorprender con las infinitas vertientes que el autor se enfrasca en meter y retorcer hasta que estás tan herido y confundido que no te queda más que maravillarte por los acontecimientos.
LO PERSONAJES: La verdad aquí si me di una sorpresa muy grata, al descubrir que el libro está narrado desde el punto de vista de un puñado de estos y que te da la sensación de estar en varios bandos a la vez, por los que simplemente no agarras un bando o una preferencia por alguna casa (a pesar de que la mayoría puede inclinarse a los Stark). Me pareció que todos estaban bien desarrollados, con sus pasados y su presente bien planteados, lo que es bastante complicado de lograr, teniendo en cuenta la cantidad de personajes que tiene que manejar el autor al mismo tiempo.
-Mención especial:
Catelyn, a diferencia de como la presentan en la serie, tiene un voz potente y sumamente inteligente, que me tomó por sorpresa, porque si no hubiera sido una mujer, tal vez muchas de las batallas hubieran tenido un final diferente o tal vez hasta la guerra pudo haberse evitado, buscando una mejor solución. Su personaje en esta entrega me pareció increible e hicieron de sus capitulos mi segundos favoritos, después de los de Tyrion.
Tyrion es por mucho mi personaje favorito de la saga y es más que todo por lo inteligente que es. Todos debemos estar conscientes que es facil hacer un personaje valiente o honesto, cómo lo es Ned. Pero... ¿uno inteligente, astuto y estratega? Es de los perosnajes más dificil en construcción y en pocos capitulos nos damos cuenta que es de los más sinceros y sorprendentes. Que la historia sin él no tendría el mismo condimento y que representa un poder que muy pocos tienen.
LA PLUMA DE GEORGE: Puede que a las personas que no han visto la serie no les enganche este libro en los primeros capitulos y hasta puede que se lleguen a perder entre tantos nombres y situaciones Pero si algo es seguro es que después de cinco capitulos no puedes dejar de interesarte por cómo está contruido y narrado este mundo. George tiene un Don innegable para las descripciones, tanto de batallas y ambientes como de vestuario y sentimientos. Es un libro que está bellamente escrito en algunas partes y cruelmente plasmado en otras.
En conclusión, es un libro que recomendaría a todos mis amigos si tan solo no les diera flojera de leerlos y esperar los que faltan. Así que no me queda más que decirles lo obvio: lo amé.
Hasta la próxima lectura (que seguramente será el segundo de esta saga).
Sin lugar a dudas esta saga se convertirá en unas de mis favoritas así cómo lo fue la serie (antes de la fatidica 8va temporada).
Me encanta el mundo que crea George y creo que eso es lo que más hay que darle al autor. Así cómo la increible creación de personajes. Sin embargo, no me quiero emocionar para terminar no recomendarles este libro bien, así que aquí vamos:
LA TRAMA: Nos aventuramos en un mundo dividido por reinos y casas entre ellos, donde hay una monarquía. Entonces hay un suceso que hace que el Lord del Norte tenga que ir al Sur para servir a su Rey. Un plot a la vista bastante sencillo, pero que llega a sorprender con las infinitas vertientes que el autor se enfrasca en meter y retorcer hasta que estás tan herido y confundido que no te queda más que maravillarte por los acontecimientos.
LO PERSONAJES: La verdad aquí si me di una sorpresa muy grata, al descubrir que el libro está narrado desde el punto de vista de un puñado de estos y que te da la sensación de estar en varios bandos a la vez, por los que simplemente no agarras un bando o una preferencia por alguna casa (a pesar de que la mayoría puede inclinarse a los Stark). Me pareció que todos estaban bien desarrollados, con sus pasados y su presente bien planteados, lo que es bastante complicado de lograr, teniendo en cuenta la cantidad de personajes que tiene que manejar el autor al mismo tiempo.
-Mención especial:
Catelyn, a diferencia de como la presentan en la serie, tiene un voz potente y sumamente inteligente, que me tomó por sorpresa, porque si no hubiera sido una mujer, tal vez muchas de las batallas hubieran tenido un final diferente o tal vez hasta la guerra pudo haberse evitado, buscando una mejor solución. Su personaje en esta entrega me pareció increible e hicieron de sus capitulos mi segundos favoritos, después de los de Tyrion.
Tyrion es por mucho mi personaje favorito de la saga y es más que todo por lo inteligente que es. Todos debemos estar conscientes que es facil hacer un personaje valiente o honesto, cómo lo es Ned. Pero... ¿uno inteligente, astuto y estratega? Es de los perosnajes más dificil en construcción y en pocos capitulos nos damos cuenta que es de los más sinceros y sorprendentes. Que la historia sin él no tendría el mismo condimento y que representa un poder que muy pocos tienen.
LA PLUMA DE GEORGE: Puede que a las personas que no han visto la serie no les enganche este libro en los primeros capitulos y hasta puede que se lleguen a perder entre tantos nombres y situaciones Pero si algo es seguro es que después de cinco capitulos no puedes dejar de interesarte por cómo está contruido y narrado este mundo. George tiene un Don innegable para las descripciones, tanto de batallas y ambientes como de vestuario y sentimientos. Es un libro que está bellamente escrito en algunas partes y cruelmente plasmado en otras.
En conclusión, es un libro que recomendaría a todos mis amigos si tan solo no les diera flojera de leerlos y esperar los que faltan. Así que no me queda más que decirles lo obvio: lo amé.
Hasta la próxima lectura (que seguramente será el segundo de esta saga).
emmasmaney21's review against another edition
DNF because I just watched the series and already knew everything that was going to happen lmao.
ddl98's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Watched the series before and knew the books would be a good read but Martins words are lubricated and his writing style is a joy to read with such apt and funny metaphors but never deviating into cheap. Excited to read the rest of the series.
jtryckman's review against another edition
5.0
What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about this book?
“A Game of Thrones” is as much a high fantasy classic now as Lord of the Rings, for good reason, and yet the two series could not be any more different.
At the heart of GoT is character. More than anything George R R Martin’s story is about exploring how people will react to dire situations - how will they overcome great challenges? Will they hold to their oaths? Remain true to who they have been? Or will they fall apart, betray themselves and others in a desperate grab for power?
The brutality of the story is its own character. Where other novels might shirk away from such violence or hide it in the background, “A Game of Thrones” places it front and center. It’s not trying to hide the horrors of the real world, here. That lack of whimsy allows Westeros to feel just as real as anywhere else, even with the dragons and Others that lurk in the background.
“A Game of Thrones” is phenomenal. Fantastic. And overall, just really damn good.
“A Game of Thrones” is as much a high fantasy classic now as Lord of the Rings, for good reason, and yet the two series could not be any more different.
At the heart of GoT is character. More than anything George R R Martin’s story is about exploring how people will react to dire situations - how will they overcome great challenges? Will they hold to their oaths? Remain true to who they have been? Or will they fall apart, betray themselves and others in a desperate grab for power?
The brutality of the story is its own character. Where other novels might shirk away from such violence or hide it in the background, “A Game of Thrones” places it front and center. It’s not trying to hide the horrors of the real world, here. That lack of whimsy allows Westeros to feel just as real as anywhere else, even with the dragons and Others that lurk in the background.
“A Game of Thrones” is phenomenal. Fantastic. And overall, just really damn good.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
5.0
Back in the day, these books weren't on my radar. As for the tv show, it took me years - and a bad flu - to start watching. I had dismissed it as a soap opera of the bosoms & swords variety, but after eye-rolling my way through the first four episodes I was suddenly hooked, bosoms and swords and all. Yet I have resisted the books. I thought they were mediocre, a trusted friend told me not to bother, Martin writes at the speed of a sloth.
Having finally read A Game of Thrones, I must admit that the criticism expressed in many of the one-star reviews on GR is...not incorrect. Happily, this did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying it. All I have to do is pretend that everyone is five years older than Martin wrote them, and we're good to go. As a bonus, I have learned the valuable lesson of humility, and not to trust my friends.
Having finally read A Game of Thrones, I must admit that the criticism expressed in many of the one-star reviews on GR is...not incorrect. Happily, this did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying it. All I have to do is pretend that everyone is five years older than Martin wrote them, and we're good to go. As a bonus, I have learned the valuable lesson of humility, and not to trust my friends.
thefantasyworm's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
lauren_225's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hstapp's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure about this book. I thought it was okay at first, and the sex scenes seemed really awkward, but then the story started growing on me and I wish to continue on with the series. I don't have a strong urge to though. This is a fantasy series, yet there is little to no magic, and though many are mentioned we see no mystical creature. The story os mostly just politics, love, and war. All of which you can find done better elsewhere, yet there is a promise here. A promise of more interesting things to come. Still the promise is not delivered in such a way that grips you and urges you to move forward. One of my favorite characters is killed off right at the beginning of the book. I mean right at the beginning, he's not an important character, but you come to love him quickly and then he's dead. All the other characters in the book are unlikeable or neutral. If you warm up to a character, you find them changing and becoming unlikable and any feeling of chumminess with characters takes a long time to foster. That and many of the other things I've mentioned mean you're held at a distance. Still there is that faint promise that keeps you reading on.