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ysybusy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
m_austin17's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
meggriffin88's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.75
grimalkin28's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
rverr316's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
4.0
I’ve been hesitant to start simply because I feel the series will never be finished in book form and let’s be fair the end of the show was disappointing. But it’s worth a read.
empyrealmelody's review against another edition
3.0
I like the storyline and the characters but honestly if I didn't watch the tv show first I probably wouldn't have continued reading. It's long winded and the many characters and places were hard to follow. I found that watching the show helped me a get an idea on how to get a grip on the books. After awhile, the book begins to pick up and it becomes a lot easier to read.
ellipsiscool's review against another edition
3.0
This is a series I have been meaning to read for a long, long time. Now that I've read the first book, I'm having mixed feelings about it.
Granted it's been along time since I read any adult epic fantasy. I liked the book on the whole. It took me a long time to get invested in any of the characters and when I did, they died. I don't usually mind characters (even characters I like) dying, but in this book, it's like Martin enjoys getting the reader to like a character just so he can kill them off and snicker. The characters seem to get the most interesting just before they are offed.
As I read further, I liked the book more and more so I'm hoping that I will like the second book more than the first. The world building is really interesting. The characters kept mentioning other places that have more fantasy-like creatures. I am definitely tired of these people and their constant scheming. Give me some children of the forest, they seem much more interesting based on the tales told about them.
Overall verdict: I am intrigued, but I'm hoping for so much more to come.
Granted it's been along time since I read any adult epic fantasy. I liked the book on the whole. It took me a long time to get invested in any of the characters and when I did, they died. I don't usually mind characters (even characters I like) dying, but in this book, it's like Martin enjoys getting the reader to like a character just so he can kill them off and snicker. The characters seem to get the most interesting just before they are offed.
As I read further, I liked the book more and more so I'm hoping that I will like the second book more than the first. The world building is really interesting. The characters kept mentioning other places that have more fantasy-like creatures. I am definitely tired of these people and their constant scheming. Give me some children of the forest, they seem much more interesting based on the tales told about them.
Overall verdict: I am intrigued, but I'm hoping for so much more to come.
lethaldose's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, here is the thing about this book, I love the characters, I love the setting. The book is very long but you never feel bored and you never are certain of what is gonna happen next, that is unless you watched it on HBO.
But the thing about George R. R. Martin is that he is obviously the type of person who was rooting for the empire to win when he was watching Star Wars, or at the very least the type who thought the empire should win because that made more sense. That Vader should have killed Luke, that Harry never would have stood a chance against Voldemort. He seems the type of person who thinks that maybe Lord of the Rings would have been better if Sauron had gotten his hands back on that ring. If you are good with that point of view or atleast think it is interesting then by all means proceed.
The book really is worth reading for the characters alone, the ones you love and the ones you love to hate though. Just don't ever expect to feel all warm and fuzzy reading this book, there is no happiness here, no where at all ever, it is all misery from beginning to end.
But the thing about George R. R. Martin is that he is obviously the type of person who was rooting for the empire to win when he was watching Star Wars, or at the very least the type who thought the empire should win because that made more sense. That Vader should have killed Luke, that Harry never would have stood a chance against Voldemort. He seems the type of person who thinks that maybe Lord of the Rings would have been better if Sauron had gotten his hands back on that ring. If you are good with that point of view or atleast think it is interesting then by all means proceed.
The book really is worth reading for the characters alone, the ones you love and the ones you love to hate though. Just don't ever expect to feel all warm and fuzzy reading this book, there is no happiness here, no where at all ever, it is all misery from beginning to end.
ell_zetko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0