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A review by robotnik
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
dark
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
5.0
Oh, the neverending saga that is A Song of Ice and Fire. When will it ever end? Does George RR Martin even remember that he's writing this series? Who let those two shady dudes be showrunners for the HBO show? Nobody knows!
A Game of Thrones is the very beginning of this epic fantasy series. And it's a very long beginning. If you're into shorter stories that get straight to the point and don't bog you down with long winded descriptions of everything from food to boobs, then this is not the book for you.
AGOT sits firmly in the low fantasy side of the spectrum, so if you're expecting a lot of wizards and magic and dragons (of which there is of all three, but in low supply), then this is not the book for you.
If you want epic heroes and clear-cut villains and happy endings and knowing who to root for because their personality and actions let you know who's right and who's wrong, then this is not the book for you.
If reading things like graphic violence and abuse and rape and more upset you, and if any of those topics are triggering in any way to you, then this is not the book for you.
Despite all its flaws (and it definitely has flaws, don't listen to the people who say otherwise), I still greatly enjoy this series and list it as one of my favourites of all time. It's not for everyone - a lot of people who enjoy the time period setting it's in aren't into the lack of magic and many people who may like the more ~realistic~ approach might not be into the length of it all. Trying to keep track of everyone can be a hardcore paint to people who aren't into big casts, or even into history where you gotta memorize so many people. And, there's a lot of stuff that might be hard to stomach, depending on how sensitive to those topics you are.
Even so, I love the shit out of this series. And I'll always stand by it as one of the best, for me at least, in literature.
A Game of Thrones is the very beginning of this epic fantasy series. And it's a very long beginning. If you're into shorter stories that get straight to the point and don't bog you down with long winded descriptions of everything from food to boobs, then this is not the book for you.
AGOT sits firmly in the low fantasy side of the spectrum, so if you're expecting a lot of wizards and magic and dragons (of which there is of all three, but in low supply), then this is not the book for you.
If you want epic heroes and clear-cut villains and happy endings and knowing who to root for because their personality and actions let you know who's right and who's wrong, then this is not the book for you.
If reading things like graphic violence and abuse and rape and more upset you, and if any of those topics are triggering in any way to you, then this is not the book for you.
Despite all its flaws (and it definitely has flaws, don't listen to the people who say otherwise), I still greatly enjoy this series and list it as one of my favourites of all time. It's not for everyone - a lot of people who enjoy the time period setting it's in aren't into the lack of magic and many people who may like the more ~realistic~ approach might not be into the length of it all. Trying to keep track of everyone can be a hardcore paint to people who aren't into big casts, or even into history where you gotta memorize so many people. And, there's a lot of stuff that might be hard to stomach, depending on how sensitive to those topics you are.
Even so, I love the shit out of this series. And I'll always stand by it as one of the best, for me at least, in literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence