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nat93's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
staceyclairrr's review against another edition
3.0
Thank fuck that's over.
I got into this by the end, but there were too many things and people to keep track of, too much awful, AWFUL treatment of Danaerys (like, thinking about it makes me furious), and just. Too much of all the other stuff too.
I caveat this with the fact that high fantasy isn't my genre of choice, but honestly, leaving out the foul choices made in describing Dany's situations (and that they exist anyway) would have made me give it a 4.
I got into this by the end, but there were too many things and people to keep track of, too much awful, AWFUL treatment of Danaerys (like, thinking about it makes me furious), and just. Too much of all the other stuff too.
I caveat this with the fact that high fantasy isn't my genre of choice, but honestly, leaving out the foul choices made in describing Dany's situations (and that they exist anyway) would have made me give it a 4.
pengame's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
3.0
olapat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
snackintosh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
danelleeb's review against another edition
5.0
(So, I started reading this because I want to watch the HBO series. I can't watch something based on a book without reading the book first - it's a sickness.)
On a recent rambling through our local museum of natural history, I stumbled onto an exhibit of the dire wolf. Seriously. Alive during the Cenozoic Era, 1.8 million - 10,000 years ago, the dire wolf was the heaviest of all known wolves and had massive teeth and jaws. Now, I go to this museum almost weekly. I've passed by this hundreds of times without really noticing it. But last Saturday, I saw "Dire Wolf" and was pulled in, tractor-beam-style. I even snapped a photo of it on my instagram with the caption 'A Game of Thrones'!
That was when I realized how "into" this book I was.
If you want a summary, you may just want to read the book jacket, but I'll try. In a land and time reminiscent of the Middle Ages, something happened years and years before that threw the seasons out of whack. Summers can last years and winters can last decades - and a winter is coming. Surrounding the kingdom is a massive, protective wall; but something beyond the wall is brewing. And though those in the kingdom would do well to heed the warnings and the signs, they are too busy with a kingdom that's run amok in plots and counter plots, suspicions and intrigue.
The scope of A Game of Thrones is epic and the saga is conveyed via multiple points of view. The alternating points of view of a few characters actually works - and it lends itself wonderfully in allowing the author to decide what to bring to light and when to do it. George R. R. Martin isn't laying all of his cards on the table, ladies and gentlemen, he is slowly and by mere increments filling you in. So, don't think for a minute you know where the story is headed because it can (& will) turn in an instant.
I was surprised at how invested in a chapter I'd get and how I felt a pang of disappointment when I realized the next page was going to be a new chapter with a new character. But even more surprising to me is how short-lived that disappointment was as I found myself immediately embroiled in the story at hand.
It's an epic story, a heroic fantasy of good versus evil - you just may not always be sure of who is the good and who is the evil. The length of the book and the number of characters is daunting. It's a big book full of blood, war, sex, and violence. It's also a book where politics, war, intrigue, romance, and adventure (there's swordfights and knights!) coexist with something magical and supernatural and altogether mysterious.
On a recent rambling through our local museum of natural history, I stumbled onto an exhibit of the dire wolf. Seriously. Alive during the Cenozoic Era, 1.8 million - 10,000 years ago, the dire wolf was the heaviest of all known wolves and had massive teeth and jaws. Now, I go to this museum almost weekly. I've passed by this hundreds of times without really noticing it. But last Saturday, I saw "Dire Wolf" and was pulled in, tractor-beam-style. I even snapped a photo of it on my instagram with the caption 'A Game of Thrones'!
That was when I realized how "into" this book I was.
If you want a summary, you may just want to read the book jacket, but I'll try. In a land and time reminiscent of the Middle Ages, something happened years and years before that threw the seasons out of whack. Summers can last years and winters can last decades - and a winter is coming. Surrounding the kingdom is a massive, protective wall; but something beyond the wall is brewing. And though those in the kingdom would do well to heed the warnings and the signs, they are too busy with a kingdom that's run amok in plots and counter plots, suspicions and intrigue.
The scope of A Game of Thrones is epic and the saga is conveyed via multiple points of view. The alternating points of view of a few characters actually works - and it lends itself wonderfully in allowing the author to decide what to bring to light and when to do it. George R. R. Martin isn't laying all of his cards on the table, ladies and gentlemen, he is slowly and by mere increments filling you in. So, don't think for a minute you know where the story is headed because it can (& will) turn in an instant.
I was surprised at how invested in a chapter I'd get and how I felt a pang of disappointment when I realized the next page was going to be a new chapter with a new character. But even more surprising to me is how short-lived that disappointment was as I found myself immediately embroiled in the story at hand.
It's an epic story, a heroic fantasy of good versus evil - you just may not always be sure of who is the good and who is the evil. The length of the book and the number of characters is daunting. It's a big book full of blood, war, sex, and violence. It's also a book where politics, war, intrigue, romance, and adventure (there's swordfights and knights!) coexist with something magical and supernatural and altogether mysterious.
paulafschr's review against another edition
i did it!! i don't really know how to rate it tho. i guess i did enjoy reading it and it was a nice addition to the show, but obviously it's super ableist, racist and sexist, so i don't think i'd recommend it to anyone
onetrooluff's review against another edition
2.0
I am impressed by George R. R. Martin's ability to juggle so many characters and such a convoluted plot, but it's just not a story I can "like." As a former co-worker said, "Nothing good happens in these books." I like certain characters - Ned, Bran, Jon Snow, Arya, Tyrion - but the plot is depressing as all heck and I'm not one who enjoys watching characters I like suffer. Martin pulled no punches, I'll give him that, and probably blew away the majority of readers with his choices. The world building is extensive; often nothing new, but with elements that I find interesting (dragons, zombie creatures, old magic coming out of the woods). Honestly, I could forgo most of the political intrigue crap between horrible people in favor of a whole book about Jon Snow and the Watch. So, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I kind of want to read book two, just to see what happens with the interesting bits. Too bad that also means slogging through all the crap about people I don't like.
kinggarbages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
ldextre's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
The TV series closely follows the book. Loved his details and imagery.