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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Surprisingly easy and entertaining to read considering it’s like a history book. GRRMs voice is still strong even though the type of writing is less dialogue driven. Highly recommend reading this if you’re waiting for the last books of A song of ice and fire to be published
Took me a while to get into it (Aegon's conquest is kinda boring), but ended up really enjoying the ritual of reading another chunk of Westerosi drama every night before bed. Once you get into the style and pacing, it's quite the romp. Can you believe Lord Unwin Peake's latest effrontery? Well I NEVER!
adventurous
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy the way GRRM chose to tell the Targaryen's history.
I would've enjoyed it more if we got the character's POVs, it would be infinitely more interesting to be in their minds.
I didn't enjoy the way GRRM chose to tell the Targaryen's history.
I would've enjoyed it more if we got the character's POVs, it would be infinitely more interesting to be in their minds.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Obviously meant to be his "Silmarillion", this reinforces a lot of my preexisting opinions of Martin as a writer. He can write very well on a prose level, understands how to make a compelling twist, and ultimately writes best in short arcs with unsavory but complex characters. He also has a talent for dropping short, evocative details about a person, place, or event that is not central to the story but helps build atmosphere and make the world feel bigger than the story you are following.
However, he also is really into making weird choices for no good reason, especially when the details are particularly horny or gruesome. This is particularly true for a prurient interest in underage relationships (where he gives way more detail than is necessary) and incest (where he goes way beyond historical examples). The latter is a feature of his writing more broadly; when there is a deviation from history that he is basing his world on, it is routinely to make things more awful than reality. There is a overwhelming interest in the horrific in a way that seems like truth-telling if you aren't actually familiar with how similar societies worked historically.
However, he also is really into making weird choices for no good reason, especially when the details are particularly horny or gruesome. This is particularly true for a prurient interest in underage relationships (where he gives way more detail than is necessary) and incest (where he goes way beyond historical examples). The latter is a feature of his writing more broadly; when there is a deviation from history that he is basing his world on, it is routinely to make things more awful than reality. There is a overwhelming interest in the horrific in a way that seems like truth-telling if you aren't actually familiar with how similar societies worked historically.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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