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nathaliaborghi's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
leonietjeuh's review against another edition
2.0
Cash grab with pretty pictures. (Are they AI generated?)
Doesn't seem to contain much new information, wanted to learn about the children of the forest, the Doom of Valyria, the Rhoynar, Braavos, and mostly, Asshai by the Shadow. The mysteries surrounding these in AOSIAF are not in any way resolved, explained, or expanded in this book - what we already knew and didn't know is just repeated here.
I've read a lot of Martin's work and am wondering if he actually wrote the text in this book because the writing is awful and doesn't feel like him.
Did I mention the pictures are pretty? Especially Valyria. Valyria is pretty.
Doesn't seem to contain much new information, wanted to learn about the children of the forest, the Doom of Valyria, the Rhoynar, Braavos, and mostly, Asshai by the Shadow. The mysteries surrounding these in AOSIAF are not in any way resolved, explained, or expanded in this book - what we already knew and didn't know is just repeated here.
I've read a lot of Martin's work and am wondering if he actually wrote the text in this book because the writing is awful and doesn't feel like him.
Did I mention the pictures are pretty? Especially Valyria. Valyria is pretty.
harlando's review against another edition
3.0
I love George Martin and am a big GoT fan. I did like this history of Westeros, but it is my least favorite Martin book. There are bits and pieces that relate to stories in the other novels, but this is a history of a fantasy world and not a novel. It was fun, but much less engaging than his other books.
mr_tell_me_a_fucking_secret's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hbealer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lesserjoke's review against another edition
3.0
The World of Ice & Fire is a Silmarillion to George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, providing an exhaustive (and somewhat exhausting) backstory encyclopedia/travelogue to that epic fantasy book series. It also works more or less as backstory to HBO's television adaptation Game of Thrones, given the fairly minor differences between the two, although I doubt anyone would read something like this before seeking out the original novels.
The work spans several centuries prior to the events of Martin's central narrative, and some parts are far more interesting than others. It's hard to keep all the Targaryen kings straight, for instance, or to care all that much about the history of minor locations like the Vale. What's particularly neat, though, is that the book is presented entirely from the perspective of someone living in its fictional world, making it less an authoritative record and more a reflection of how the characters we know would understand their own received historical narratives. There are notes of conflicting accounts and enduring mysteries, and even the things our scholarly narrator claims to know for certain are not necessarily the informed unbiased truth. That sometimes makes for a frustrating read, but it's very much in keeping with the postmodern approach to history that Martin employs in the main series.
This book won't give you definitive answers to all your lingering Thrones questions, but it will at least make you as informed on the subject as the best-read maesters in Westeros.
The work spans several centuries prior to the events of Martin's central narrative, and some parts are far more interesting than others. It's hard to keep all the Targaryen kings straight, for instance, or to care all that much about the history of minor locations like the Vale. What's particularly neat, though, is that the book is presented entirely from the perspective of someone living in its fictional world, making it less an authoritative record and more a reflection of how the characters we know would understand their own received historical narratives. There are notes of conflicting accounts and enduring mysteries, and even the things our scholarly narrator claims to know for certain are not necessarily the informed unbiased truth. That sometimes makes for a frustrating read, but it's very much in keeping with the postmodern approach to history that Martin employs in the main series.
This book won't give you definitive answers to all your lingering Thrones questions, but it will at least make you as informed on the subject as the best-read maesters in Westeros.
lgoldfild's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
efrancos01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5