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jenmaysiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 out of 5 stars
‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ is a deeply special series for a whole host of reasons, having helped shape the very landscape of modern fantasy for generations of readers.
The story is most-known, most-loved and most-reviled through its fault riddled HBO adaptation named after the first instalment in this series. But the adaptation is a pale, disfigured comparison to the source material.
In reality, George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ is a sprawling, captivating high fantasy which follows a cast of deeply flawed, deeply compelling protagonists, antagonists and everything in-between. It is a story I have been wholly captivated and obsessed with for the better part of a decade.
As a teen, I would scour the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ wiki between seasons, reading through pages and pages of lore on the world that Martin had crafted, scribbling half-baked theories into a notebook — to the point where I’d read the books without ever actually reading them. This is now my second full read of the first instalment ‘A Game of Thrones’ — though I’ve periodically re-read chapters over the years — and god it is as good as I remembered, if not better.
In the battle for the throne, no one is safe, not even the virtuous ones; oftentimes the good and honourable men frequently suffer all the more. The sense of unpredictability and danger sparked from Martin’s freedom to hurt and kill off the crucial main characters in the series—after making his readers care for them—brings an intensity to the storytelling which is seldom found elsewhere.
The world-building in ‘A Game of Thrones’ is subtle in its beauty and its storytelling. With kernels of information drip-fed to the reader in an organic and captivating manner, the book so rarely dumps exposition onto the reader; and if/when it does, it is well earned. Mostly, the world is taught through the protagonist surviving it. The reader learns of Valyrian steel through the introduction of the ancestral greatsword Ice, they discover the ancient magic of the Stark’s blood through their connection with the direwolf pups and feel the loss of the dragons of old Valyria through Daenerys’ trauma.
It’s fascinating to me that readers talk about ‘A Game of Thrones’ is an anti-fantasy when it is one of the most complex and fascinating magical worlds one can read. It’s just subtle and clever in its storytelling. The magic is unfolding, awakening as the pages turn.
The prose is captivating in its simplicity and beauty. Never veering into overt purple prose, Martin’s skill with the written word is a beast to behold. There is a magic in the way he writes; how he effuses the simplest sentences with such poetry. There is a grandiose and majesty to paragraphs like: “As Daenerys Targaryen rose to her feet, her black hissed, pale smoke venting from its mouth and nostrils. The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.” In such simple language, Martin leaves the reader with a sense of wonder that is almost heart-stopping.
Likewise, Martin utilities the tool of alternating perspectives perfectly. Oftentimes, an off-the-cuff comment from a side character in one chapter has the potential to resolve the conflict experienced by the protagonist of another — if only they had been there to hear it said. There are several instances of this occurring throughout the book, interweaving the plot lines of characters that are hundreds of miles from one another.
The characterisation is so strong with each perspective.
Stylistically, Martin’s prose and tone remains the same however he is able to invigorate each character with a distinct voice that makes it clear who the narrative is following. It’s hard not to become invested in the characters Martin has crafted here: even those which are deliberately unlikable are fascinatingly complex, making you root for them in spite of yourself. For me, the stand-out characters are Daenerys, Jon, Catelyn, Tyrion and Sansa. Not only does this book give a fascinating insight into their characters and their motivations, it shows just how clever, funny, cruel and kind all three are — the depth of which is lacking when it comes to their on-screen counterpoints. Personally, I am a Sansa apologist — that little girl can do no wrong.
Stylistically, Martin’s prose and tone remains the same however he is able to invigorate each character with a distinct voice that makes it clear who the narrative is following. It’s hard not to become invested in the characters Martin has crafted here: even those which are deliberately unlikable are fascinatingly complex, making you root for them in spite of yourself. For me, the stand-out characters are Daenerys, Jon, Catelyn, Tyrion and Sansa. Not only does this book give a fascinating insight into their characters and their motivations, it shows just how clever, funny, cruel and kind all three are — the depth of which is lacking when it comes to their on-screen counterpoints. Personally, I am a Sansa apologist — that little girl can do no wrong.
There are definitely aspects of this series that I do feel are worthy of heavier critique. Oftentimes the ages of the characters feel uncomfortably off; Daenerys being no more than thirteen when she is sold to and impregnated by a thirty-something year old Drogo is uncomfortable at best and disturbing at worst. Likewise, the questionable objectification and sexualisation of young girls in the series is… weird. It’s weird. Unreliable narration and the in-world societal context aside, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me.While the narrative and author do critique this sexualisation in parts, this critique not always executed well and doesn’t necessarily justify its prevalence throughout the series.
While Martin’s portrayal of women and their suffering is not without flaw and can be, at times, gratuitous in nature for the most part he manages to depict female characters that are as nuanced as their male counterparts. Again, this is not without flaw. However, I disagree with the notion that Martin’s female characters are one-note or uninteresting. Rather, Martin has managed to craft female characters which encompass a breadth of strengths, weakness and motivations; creating a cast of multi-faced and flawed women. From Cersei and Catelyn; to Sansa and Arya; to Daenerys and Missendei — no two female characters are the same.
Although not perfect, ‘A Game of Thrones’ is considered one of modern fantasy’s best for a reason. George R. R. Martin is an expert at his craft and the world he has built is one that I have found myself revisiting year after year. With characters that have cemented themselves as among my all time favourites and a world whose mysteries are yet to unravel, it’s no wonder it has been a cornerstone of the genre for so long.
It was fantastic to revisit this book, it definitely won’t be the last time.
[Note: I read and rated this book sometime in 2018 - 2019 and gave it two stars. I do not stand by that rating. In fact, I’m pretty sure I was just being an edgy loser.]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism
elderlyemo's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
How does one go about critiquing this book, I wonder?
Listen - it's a good book, we know it is. You know what else it is? 800+ pages of dialogue.
I love these characters and I love this story, but the way it is written is such a slog sometimes that I found myself walking away from this book numerous times throughout a period of MONTHS just because I couldn't bring myself to sit down with the characters that weren't my favourite. I am a massive fan of the TV show (aren't we all) and I really enjoyed how similar the first season of the show is to this book, but that's where the problem was.
I didn't like Cat in the series. I didn't like her in the book. I didn't really enjoy Brans story line in the show, so guess what? You got it. I think it's different when you're watching a TV show and you don't have to put in as much time or effort to clear the parts of the plot that don't really interest you, but when you have to read so much dialogue from so many characters you don't care for, it makes for a very unpleasant experience.
I will say, I also didn't like Daenerys in the TV show but I LOVED her chapters in the book. Hopefully with the next book sitting high atop my TBR *gulp* I will continue to be surprised. Fantastic story, incredible characters - just not my favourite writing style.
Listen - it's a good book, we know it is. You know what else it is? 800+ pages of dialogue.
I love these characters and I love this story, but the way it is written is such a slog sometimes that I found myself walking away from this book numerous times throughout a period of MONTHS just because I couldn't bring myself to sit down with the characters that weren't my favourite. I am a massive fan of the TV show (aren't we all) and I really enjoyed how similar the first season of the show is to this book, but that's where the problem was.
I didn't like Cat in the series. I didn't like her in the book. I didn't really enjoy Brans story line in the show, so guess what? You got it. I think it's different when you're watching a TV show and you don't have to put in as much time or effort to clear the parts of the plot that don't really interest you, but when you have to read so much dialogue from so many characters you don't care for, it makes for a very unpleasant experience.
I will say, I also didn't like Daenerys in the TV show but I LOVED her chapters in the book. Hopefully with the next book sitting high atop my TBR *gulp* I will continue to be surprised. Fantastic story, incredible characters - just not my favourite writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Suicide, Murder, and War
moonlighting's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
johnnyboy836's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Loved this book. I was too young to be a part of the Game of Thrones craze back in the mid 2010s, so I did not have a lot of the book spoiled for me. It was a slow buildup, but once I got a sense of who the characters were, I was fully enraptured. All the characters are written perfectly and you feel connected to them.
The story is definitely not for the faint of heart, as many scenes personally made me feel squeamish and uncomfortable. The detail written in these scenes make you feel like you are witnessing them yourselves and you can sense the dread and hopelessness. There are also many moments where you feel hopeful and optimistic. Overall though, the feeling of dread is the most prominent.
I am planning to continue reading the series, and if the later books are as good as this one, I am excited to see where the world of A Song of Ice and Fire is headed.
The story is definitely not for the faint of heart, as many scenes personally made me feel squeamish and uncomfortable. The detail written in these scenes make you feel like you are witnessing them yourselves and you can sense the dread and hopelessness. There are also many moments where you feel hopeful and optimistic. Overall though, the feeling of dread is the most prominent.
I am planning to continue reading the series, and if the later books are as good as this one, I am excited to see where the world of A Song of Ice and Fire is headed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
karinahull's review against another edition
3.0
Everything fell very flat, not sure if it was because I already knew what was going to happen or if the characters themselves have paper thin personalities. I will say, the show is VERY faithful to the book, with the exception of the gratuitous sex and sexual violence which is, mercifully, mostly absent from the books. The same things I took issue with in the show, I also take issue with here, no surprise there. Dany being 13 still is really disgusting, not much to be done about that. Overall, lots of characters and action but seriously lacking any depth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
talayz's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
ronanmcd's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Loved it. It reads like the box set it would become. You can't put it down. The Wars of the Roses in a fantastical world with mythic beasts. Perfect
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
maevesheehan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mmefish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. "The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me ...why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones?"
A Song Of Ice And Fire still embodies what a perfect fantasy is to me (the charactes, the lore, the writing and the plot). I enjoyed every chapter of it. Though I could definitely do with less (or, better yet, none) descriptions of Daenerys's body and her sexual intercourses with Drogo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Rape, and Excrement
paperkindle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Child death and Injury/Injury detail