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Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Hra o trůny (part 1/2) by George R.R. Martin

58 reviews

harrimyers's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

doesn’t get any higher cause i did enjoy reading it and it wasn’t boring but there’s only so high i can rate a book which profits off of incest and hurting women. and i get that it’s mimicking historical attitudes but it also sucks to read that much sexism. very strong characters tho, they’re all so unique and interesting and i did enjoy reading it i just wish that these topics weren’t such a casual addition to the books 

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elijah__'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I haven't seen the show, but hear they aged up the characters; that is unquestionably the right choice. Daenerys' age (and Sansa's, towards the end) make a lot of details feel very unnecessarily disgusting. Although I do not feel this was done with any sort of bad motive, it still significantly lowers the rating for me. However, I deeply enjoyed the court intrigue, and the world is fantastic; the world feels massive, deep, and alive, and I like that the magical elements of this medieval fantasy work are more understated and uncommon than you'd normally see.

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agameofbooksblog's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin is a monumental masterpiece that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. This epic fantasy novel captivates readers with its intricate plot, richly detailed world-building, and a vast ensemble of compelling characters. Martin's storytelling prowess is on full display as he weaves together political intrigue, power struggles, and the supernatural in a way that keeps readers utterly engrossed from the very first page.

One of the standout features of this book is the depth and complexity of the characters. Martin has created a sprawling cast, each with their own distinct personalities, motivations, and flaws. From honorable and conflicted protagonists to cunning and ruthless antagonists, the characters in "A Game of Thrones" feel incredibly real and multifaceted. The author isn't afraid to take risks, making it impossible to predict who will survive or meet a grisly fate, adding an extra layer of suspense and tension to the story.

The world-building in this series is unparalleled. Martin's attention to detail is meticulous, bringing the Seven Kingdoms to life with vivid descriptions of landscapes, cultures, and histories. The intricate political landscape and the intricate web of alliances and rivalries make for a truly immersive experience. The prose is rich and evocative, transporting readers into a world where dragons soar, magic lingers, and honor can be a deadly weapon. "A Game of Thrones" is a timeless fantasy epic that will undoubtedly stand as a classic of the genre, capturing the hearts and imaginations of readers for generations to come.

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bookaddictellagershon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense 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

4.0


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livd1200's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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


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amariehoyos's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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shiveryteacup's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5


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fifteenthjessica's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

So, this is my second time reading it. After feeling like Wizard of Earthsea was a drudge and a few dnfs, I thought I should reread something I liked, and picked Game of Thrones (first read in summer of 2013) because, for the better part of the year, my urge to write fan fic of it has returned. I spent about a month and a half on this.

I'm still invested in a lot of the characters, both ones who played a major role in this book and ones who don't play a major role or even appear until later, but reading it when you know a lot of the shocking moves,
like Bran's fall, the incest, the death of Eddard Stark,
wasn't as fun for me. George R. R. Martin's prose alternates between gorgeous descriptions and awkward or uncomfortable in ways that I don't think served Martin's goals.
Part of the reason I rooted for Viserys Targaryen's death was because I thought after he died, I'd hear less about 13-14 year old Daenerys Targaryen's breasts and nipples.
Dialogue can be iffy as well. Like, characters who probably haven't talked much all refer to the political games in King's Landing as "the game of thrones" which comes off as a heavy handed title drop. Between how long it took me to read this and Dreamsongs, volume 1 this year, the rest of his writing doesn't do as much for me as his characters.

I have heard a lot of people praise his world building, and as an aspiring writer/actual dungeon master who has dabbled in world building her own fantasy settings, Martin's quality is very inconsistent at best. Daenerys spends a lot of time with the Dothraki over the course of five hefty books, but the culture comes off as very one dimensional and most members of it are forgettable. I don't think I'm alone in remembering all Dothraki characters except Khal Drogo exclusively in terms of their relationship to Dany and maybe a name because they are very unimportant. Heck, there's a short paragraph in one of Dany's later chapters that feels like Martin is just dumping the personality of the youngest of her future bloodriders (Aggo? The three of them really blur together) on us in place of letting it unfold naturally as he interacts with Dany. The culture is mostly a combination of raiding and horses, almost to the point of impracticality (how many horses do they keep if they need them for transportation, fighting, clothing, and meat, plus burn horses in the funeral pyres of their leaders so they have a mount in the afterlife? There's a reason real world horseback nomadic cultures usually herd other animals). This is especially bad if you compare them to the equally raiding focused Ironborn, who in later novels are fleshed out through four point of view characters and with a number of memorable side characters that show that not everyone is raiding every waking hour of the day.

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z4k_cz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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lisa00's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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