Hiya, everyone! Noreen here with a book review on“A Game of Thrones”by George R.R. Martin.
!WARNING! Some Spoilers Ahead!
I have just recently finished reading the entire “A Song Of Ice And Fire”series up to this point and I can honestly say that the book is always better than the movie (or TV show in this case). At a whopping page total of 807, not including the appendix, this is an incredibly long read. Though it’s long, it’s worth every second you spend reading it. In “A Game of Thrones” ,the story is told in different character perspectives. Those characters being Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Eddard “Ned” Stark, Catelyn Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Tyrion Lannister, and everyone’s favorite, Daenerys Targaryen. The story takes place in Westeros and Essos, which are the fictional countries of the book’s universe. There are three story lines that intertwine to create one gigantic story line that has surprises at every turn. These story plots include Daenerys Targaryen trying to restore her family’s honor and retake the Iron Throne, the threat of the cold and supernatural Others which live beyond the Wall, and of course the blown out of proportion war between rivaling families for the rule of The Seven Kingdoms and to sit on the world’s most uncomfortable chair, the Iron Throne.
Now be warned, never get attached to characters in this book series. That will be a mistake you regret every time. The characters you should pay attention to most are Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen. Not only are these characters very important to the plot, but they are also very well written characters that are huge fan favorites.
Tyrion Lannister, also known as “The Imp”, is a extremely witty and knowledgeable character. Tyrion is the third and youngest Lannister child. He is a truly very sympathetic man and has a lot of wisdom. I feel as if Tyrion is a wounded person, but he does not wish the same pain to others. Tyrion is lucky that he was born a Lannister, or his life could have been much worse. Being a dwarf is not only a shame on him, but on his family, as well, which makes his father, Tywin Lannister and sister, Cersei Lannister hate him. Unfortunately he is only a bastard in his fathers eyes.
Jon Snow is the child of Ned Stark and an unknown woman. Jon was raised at Winterfell along with Ned Stark’s true-born children. Jon is a quite honor bound and trustworthy man. He idolizes his father, looking up to and trying to be like him. Unfortunately, Jon is hurt when Ned leaves for Kings Landing without telling him who his real mother is. Jon joins the Nights Watch very close to the beginning of the book and he becomes a very good leader and teacher to his “brothers”.
And then we have Daenerys Targaryen. Early in the book, she is a very timid and quiet girl, mostly
because of her older brother Viserys. Thankfully, she later becomes one of the most, in my option, strongest woman characters I have ever read. Daenerys is a Targaryen, meaning that she has blood of the dragon inside her. Without spoiling anything, all I can say is that dragon is hugely important in not only Daenerys’ story line, but the overall plot of the series.
Like I said before, Daenerys, Tyrion, and Jon are the most defining characters in the series. They are extremely interesting to read and imagine their next move. Another defining character is Ned Stark, but this is only because of the fact that what he does kicks off the war.
George R. R. Martin is a truly amazing writer. His words fit the situation at all times and he understands that everyone has their faults. I’m not saying he is the best author I have read, but he is most definitely one of my favorites. Also I must compliment his ability to write a decent scene of sexual nature. It makes sense in the world around it, so he didn’t put it in for no reason. The way Martin describes Westeros makes me feel like I’m actually there. When I’m reading I’m always so incredibly excited to know what’s going to happen next. You get so enamored with the characters and what’s going on in their lives.
The first and most prominent plot is the high born families trying to rule The Seven Kingdoms. The families in the first book that are most important to this plot are the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, and Baratheons. Of course, as you read on more families come in to the game, but in the first book these are the only houses you will care about focusing on for the most part.
House Stark, the most prominent house in the North consists of Eddard Stark, Catelyn Stark, Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, and Jon Snow. You also have Theon Greyjoy as a ward at Winterfell. The Starks are all about honor and duty. House words are “Winter Is Coming”, and those house words play into the next plot. Also, the Starks sigil has a direwolf on it, which also means something to the second plot.
House Lannister, the richest family in all The Seven Kingdoms consists of Tywin Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Queen Cersei Lannister, who is married to King Robert Baratheon, and Tyrion Lannister. The Lannisters are a very stereotypical rich family. Most Lannisters only care about themselves. The house words of house Lannister are “Hear Us Roar” and the sigil has a lion on it. The Lannisters are very well known for always paying their debts, good or bad.
House Baratheon, the youngest of the great houses consists of King Robert Baratheon, Queen Cersei Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, Tommen Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon. Also Renly Baratheon and Stannis Baratheon who are Roberts brothers. The Baratheons house words are “Ours Is The Fury” and their sigil has a stag on it.
In “A Game Of Thrones” these are the first families you see fighting or just trying to get the throne. You will hear about other families that play into the plot in the next books, but for the first book these are the ones most prominent. The Starks don’t particularly want the throne, but things happen that force them in to the game.
In the first chapter of the book, you are beyond the wall with three men of the Nights Watch. In this first chapter you first find out about the monstrous and frozen Others. After that chapter however, it is a while before they are relevant or mentioned.The Others are sort of zombies that are extremely cold. You won’t begin to know a lot about them until the third book. All you need to know now is that they are very dangerous and they are a threat to the safety of Westeros.
Now for everyone’s favorite plot line. Daenerys and her trying to take back the Iron Throne for her family. I like to believe her passion for getting control of The Seven Kingdoms comes from how her brother pounded it into her head that the Targaryens are the true rulers. Daenerys become a much stronger woman over the course of the series, but in the first book, you really can see the transformation. She has many hardships in the first book, of course. If it’s not her husband, Khal Drogo, and how she must adapt to her new life, it’s a witch who uses blood magic.
I really suggest this to anyone who likes the fantasy genre. I have honestly never read a book as well received as “A Game of Thrones” that actually lives up to its hype. Also, as it is part of a large series of books, each book in general is as compelling and surprising as the first. I find myself thinking up theories on what’s what in “A Game of Thrones”. This book is truly an amazing and, dare I say, near-perfect fantasy story.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s book review. If you’ve read the book or you just have something to say, comment it down below (just be sure to mark your spoilers). Thanks for reading!