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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
It's rough and it's poor in patches, but then again, that's been said frequently – as have the praises for this so-called revision to the epic fantasy tradition, if one is to take publishers' labeling at their word.
Martin chose hard words for his characters in calling them by repetitive epithets. To be honest, I like him when his writing goes rigid and mildly ungainly with stereotypes and otherwise-redundancies – that is the real epic tradition, or what's left of it anyway, not this bourgeois comforter dressed with the occasional prick of a sewing needle left in the warp and weft. Less forgivable are the indelible prints of patriarchal visions buried deep in the mud of Martin's world and the usual de-sensitized dread that they bring: violence comes in many forms, but one is a naturalized disdain for women and sexuality, even within a liberal context of plurality and "representation" – and this world reeks of that naturalization (which should not be the point of an imagination, no matter what fetishists for the "grim" plead).
Still, even a middle-class fantasy can have its solaces, hard as that is to admit sometimes, and this one has the insular vision of late capitalism's allergies and dreads larding its quasi-nostalgic feudal bed with busy brocading. Much work has gone into making the characters and spaces of this world breathe, and it's that work that is worth regarding here, even if only to put down later in favour of the other champions of the modern epic fantasy: Peake, Wolfe, and now, maybe, Jemison.
Martin chose hard words for his characters in calling them by repetitive epithets. To be honest, I like him when his writing goes rigid and mildly ungainly with stereotypes and otherwise-redundancies – that is the real epic tradition, or what's left of it anyway, not this bourgeois comforter dressed with the occasional prick of a sewing needle left in the warp and weft. Less forgivable are the indelible prints of patriarchal visions buried deep in the mud of Martin's world and the usual de-sensitized dread that they bring: violence comes in many forms, but one is a naturalized disdain for women and sexuality, even within a liberal context of plurality and "representation" – and this world reeks of that naturalization (which should not be the point of an imagination, no matter what fetishists for the "grim" plead).
Still, even a middle-class fantasy can have its solaces, hard as that is to admit sometimes, and this one has the insular vision of late capitalism's allergies and dreads larding its quasi-nostalgic feudal bed with busy brocading. Much work has gone into making the characters and spaces of this world breathe, and it's that work that is worth regarding here, even if only to put down later in favour of the other champions of the modern epic fantasy: Peake, Wolfe, and now, maybe, Jemison.
Very good. Exceptional plot, interesting characters. This book more or less feels like 90% build up/setting the stage for later entries in the series but was done very well. The only issue I really have was with one of the story lines. All of the other storylines flow seamlessly with one another yet Daenerys' feels very out of place. Most of the breaks I took while reading would occur when her name was heading the next chapter. I'm expecting more out of her storyline later on but a book will always struggle in areas where attention is diverted from better characters and more interesting plot lines. 8/10
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nice book! I wasn't very thrilled of the first few parts, but believe me it gets exciting onwards. Highly recommended.
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought people were exaggerating when they said the book is better than the show but my god bran I didn’t think your chapters could get worse. Jon and Dany I love you