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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
The first book was the most like the show. The first three were an absolute delight to read, four was tough. It was not as thrilling as the others. Five left me waiting for the next book in a way I havnt felt since Harry Potter.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Classism
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thoughts after my ASOIAF reread (including doing a combined reading order for the last two published volumes in the series this time):
- Multi POV with character work is very well done, the best in epic fantasy I have read so far
- Transitions between chapters/scenes is great
- Immersive world
- Writing is good but some tics start creeping in Books 4 and 5 - their presence is quite inexplicable (in that they could have been edited away) and they persist throughout.
- The pacing (or more specifically plot progression) alternates between very rapid to glacially slow. However, the books remain unputdownable.
- Grumpy Alan Moore described Game of Thrones as a soap opera (unclear whether he was talking about the show or book). I will agree but qualify that this a pretty engaging dramatic soap opera. Good stuff.
I will comment a bit on the structure and individual installments (non-spoiler).
- A Game of Thrones (ASOIAF #1) is a prologue (following the sprawling epic fantasy or soap opera drama analogy)
- A Clash of Kings (ASOIAF #2) can be read as setup for Act 1. This means the plot progression is slower, there is a lot of POV introduction and expansion of the world. Towards the end (last quarter) we start to see all the payoff.
- A Storm of Swords (ASOIAF #3) can be read as culmination of all the setup/payoff for Act 1 while leaving the space open for Act 2. The best installment in the series according to most readers, and I would agree.
- A Feast For Crows/A Dance With Dragons (ASOIAF #4 and #5) was actually meant to be one book and there is a combined reading order online which I followed this time. It works but like Clash, it can be read very much as setup of Act 2 where the world sprawls even more and Martin does something audacious by doubling the number of POVs. It is interesting but at times, it is weighed down by the scale of its ambition imo, also because we don't get to see the payoff.
- In my opinion The Winds of Winter will be said payoff of Act 2 like Storm was for Act 1 and A Dream of Spring will be the Epilogue.
- Elephant in the room: do I recommend the series? Yes provided the lack of conclusion doesn't bother you because it genuinely is unfinished. If it does bother you, I recommend stopping at the prologue (Book 1) or Act 1 (Book 3) until the remaining installments are released.
- which brings me to the second elephant in the room: what are the chances of this series being finished? The combined reading order of Feast/Dance was very interesting in that (on this reread at least) I could see almost exactly where Martin started to fumble. In my opinion, it is very difficult to coalesce the amount he has expanded the world, the POVs, the open questions. However, it is not impossible. It is sad how such a promising series lost its way.
Overall a very good series whose reading experience is tinged with sadness due to its unfinished status.
- Multi POV with character work is very well done, the best in epic fantasy I have read so far
- Transitions between chapters/scenes is great
- Immersive world
- Writing is good but some tics start creeping in Books 4 and 5 - their presence is quite inexplicable (in that they could have been edited away) and they persist throughout.
- The pacing (or more specifically plot progression) alternates between very rapid to glacially slow. However, the books remain unputdownable.
- Grumpy Alan Moore described Game of Thrones as a soap opera (unclear whether he was talking about the show or book). I will agree but qualify that this a pretty engaging dramatic soap opera. Good stuff.
I will comment a bit on the structure and individual installments (non-spoiler).
- A Game of Thrones (ASOIAF #1) is a prologue (following the sprawling epic fantasy or soap opera drama analogy)
- A Clash of Kings (ASOIAF #2) can be read as setup for Act 1. This means the plot progression is slower, there is a lot of POV introduction and expansion of the world. Towards the end (last quarter) we start to see all the payoff.
- A Storm of Swords (ASOIAF #3) can be read as culmination of all the setup/payoff for Act 1 while leaving the space open for Act 2. The best installment in the series according to most readers, and I would agree.
- A Feast For Crows/A Dance With Dragons (ASOIAF #4 and #5) was actually meant to be one book and there is a combined reading order online which I followed this time. It works but like Clash, it can be read very much as setup of Act 2 where the world sprawls even more and Martin does something audacious by doubling the number of POVs. It is interesting but at times, it is weighed down by the scale of its ambition imo, also because we don't get to see the payoff.
- In my opinion The Winds of Winter will be said payoff of Act 2 like Storm was for Act 1 and A Dream of Spring will be the Epilogue.
- Elephant in the room: do I recommend the series? Yes provided the lack of conclusion doesn't bother you because it genuinely is unfinished. If it does bother you, I recommend stopping at the prologue (Book 1) or Act 1 (Book 3) until the remaining installments are released.
- which brings me to the second elephant in the room: what are the chances of this series being finished? The combined reading order of Feast/Dance was very interesting in that (on this reread at least) I could see almost exactly where Martin started to fumble. In my opinion, it is very difficult to coalesce the amount he has expanded the world, the POVs, the open questions. However, it is not impossible. It is sad how such a promising series lost its way.
Overall a very good series whose reading experience is tinged with sadness due to its unfinished status.
I couldn’t get past the creepy dude with his sister
Game of Thrones' ability to create a believable fantasy world that you can immerse yourself in makes GoT one of the greatest fantasy series ever created. Each character is given the time to become fleshed out and believable and each set of motivations works together to create a believable and exciting plot that keeps you turning to the next page.
I started to read this series many years ago and gave up early on. Having watched the series a few times, I decided that this would be my summer read. Just finished a few days ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Much more detail than the tv show and lots has happened on tv that is still to come in the books. Lots of intrigue, violence, some sex. Well done and I recommend it. Not for everyone but if you think you might be interested, give it a shot.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
These books are hard to put down. There are parts that are excruciating to read violence, love, and language I'd rather not repeat. But overall they will pull you in and you'll read them faster than you thought possible.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated