A Game of Thrones

Title: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire- Book One)
Author: George R.R. Martin
Edition: Paperback (694 pages)
Date Read: January, 2013 - February, 2013

Rating: 10

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
- Goodreads

My Review:

Let me just get this out of my system now: OH MY GOODNESS!!!

(A really good friend of mine just showed me these GIF things....Couldn't resist adding them!)
I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED this Book!!! I could totally sit here and be all screaming, swooning fan-girl for hours, but that just won't do so I'll spare you're eyes.

Because I can't tell you how much I loved this book without giving you all these spoilers, Here is a too the point, quick, why this is different and you'll love it list:
- Amazing Characters -hands down, the best, ever
- No set Villain
- Magic doesn't overwhelm the characters roles - there is magic in the world of Westeros but it's not major part of the story which is a lovely change
- Multiple Points of View - each chapter is a different character's perspective which lets you see what is happening on their side of the fence
- Several Stories going on at once - this can be a bit confusing, especially with the hundreds of characters but I found that was what made it so real and breathtaking, because just like in real life its not just one character making choices that change things, its an entire world of people.
- Strong Male and Female Characters
- Seamless, Flawless, Breathtakingly Beautiful Writing - George R.R. Martin is probably my new favorite writer, he is just aw-inspiringly amazing.
- Surprises EVERYWHERE - This is not a story that you see coming, its all about deceit and lies, literally Politics of ancient times but in the most amazing storyline.

Only warning:
     Rated R - lots and lots of sex, cursing and death. Not for the meek or young.
     Enormous Series - Each book is over 600 pages and so far there have been 5 released, though there is to be at least another 2 to be published in the future.

If you enjoy these kinds of things or are willing to put that aside, I can assure you it is well worth the effort. These books are magnificent, and you will simply fall in love with them.

 ***Spoiler Review***


I feel the need to find another one of those overly excited, jumping up and down GIFs to put right here... but I suppose that would be a little over the top wouldn't it?

      I know a lot of people complained about it being hard to follow because of the vastness of the story and how everything intertwines, but I didn't find it hard at all. Really I just loved that it was all interconnected. I loved finding all those little details that connected one story to another and another.
I found it so unique and kind of like "Duh! Why doesn't everyone do this?" because it is so much like real life, where it is not just the one main character you get to see who makes choices that impacts everything, its this entire world of people and events that impacts even the smallest event and I loved watching that unfold before my eyes. My mom also read this book at the same time as me, but on her Ipad (she was too impatient to wait for me to finish) and she didn't really like that each chapter is a new character's POV, but I was really into it. I think that ties into how we see everything impacting everything. I also liked the changing POV because it let us see into a lot of character's heads that were really playing huge roles and it let us see the biasedness of them and their actions. It wasn't at all like a single point of view novel where you as the reader become biased to other characters because you only see the world through one pair of eyes. 



      Let me just go into my rant about the characters. I loved that they were so multi-dimensional and alive is really the best way I can describe them. I loved that I could hate them, or love them, or start out hating them and then love them or be angry with them for doing this but then turn around and love them for doing something else.
I loved Ned from the beginning, he was just so full of honor and goodness. I literally had to just put the book down and cry sob when he was beheaded. I couldn't believe that Mr. Martin had just killed off one of the most vital players in this 'game of thrones'. If I hadn't had the next three books on my shelf in front of me, I so would have thought the series had ended, and yet afterward I realized how vital for the story killing Ned was. And I loved that about Mr. Martin's writing, He isn't afraid to take his story to this next level and push beyond what his audience maybe wanted for the betterment of the series. Catelyn Stark ( I Love all the names he came up with!!) is one of the characters I was on and off with through the entire book and I'm thinking its going to be that way for the rest of the series. At first I liked her because she seemed like a strong, intelligent women (which of course she is and I continued to like her throughout the book because of this) but then she was cruel to Jon Snow (Ned's Bastard Son) and that made me feel upset with her because it's not Jon's fault  he's a bastard but at the same time I totally understand why she would be upset with Jon... her husband leaves her for war and then comes back with another woman's son, I'm sure I wouldn't be thrilled with that either! And then she has to break out of this depression after Bran's accident, which made me love her, but then she takes Tyrion as prisoner and takes him to the Eryie which upset me. I totally wanted to scream "IT WASN'T HIM!!! IT WAS JAIME AND CERSIE! But then she joins Robb at war and Ned dies, and I love her for being this hard, unwavering wall when her world is just falling apart around her. Robb, Ned and Catelyn's eldest son, I'm not sure how I feel about him yet...He is very strong and calm like Ned and I love that. Sansa bothered me for a majority of the book, and still kind of does now. She is so proper and lady-like and so naive to Prince Joffrey's, for lack of a better word, prick-ness. And when she lied to the king after Joff got attacked by Nymeria, I understood why she did it but really?? I was so upset, and then Lady had to die because of it! That was another angry-tears moment. But I was really happy when she told Joff that perhaps her brother will bring her his head on a pike, I thought that was one of her shining moments and really hope she becomes more like that throughout the series. Arya is one of my very favorite characters in the entire story, she is so clever and feisty. I think she's really going to spice things up as the story goes along, but I'm so very worried for her now that that man from the Night's Watch has her, I hope he means her no harm and is trying to protect her for Ned's sake. (P.S. The beheading of Ned scene from Arya's POV was awfully emotional. I was crying.) Bran, Rickon and Maester Luwin still up at Winterfell pulls on my heartstrings. Rickon is just so cute, and they are so detached from what's going on, and when Bran and Rickon have that dream about their father before they get the news of his death made me cry so hard! It was just awfully sad. Bran is also one of my very favorite characters as well. He is so funny and he plays this huge beginning to the story without meaning too. He sets the wheels turning for war when Jaime pushes him out of the window ( Which made me so darn mad, by the way! It was the first "WHHHAT????!!!" scene in the novel) Jon Snow is such a great character as well and totally one of my favorites, I love how he has this separate mystery going on with the rest of the novel and connects the Night's Watch with the politics going on in the South and the big, shadowy plot that looms over the entire story.
The Lannisters are totally my love to hate characters for the novel. Cersie  is such an evil witch, and yet I understand why she is like that, there is this back story to her and I love that. I was a little shocked upon learning of her love life with her twin brother, Jaime. But, the more into the story I got the more I think it adds to it in some way. Jaime is one of the characters I have a love-hate relationship with. I hate him for being who he is, for killing Jory ( Besides Ned's death, this may have been the worst scene for me. I was sobbing and just wanted to smack Jaime so badly!) and I guess really just being a Lannister. But at the same time there is something likable behind his cockiness and pride, that makes me sort of like him in the smallest of ways. Especially since his capture at Riverrun, I know he's going to be playing a large part in the story, though I'm not really sure how I'm going to feel if he dies or not yet. Tyrion is totally a favorite, even though he is a Lannister. He is the dwarf, the imp, and he is so snarky and blunt but he's very intelligent and he's likeable because he may be the most genuine character in the entire story. He doesn't really have a hidden agenda to get the crown, and he tells everything as he sees it. I definitely enjoy him a ton. Joffrey is probably the character I'm dying to see killed. He annoys me so much, I kept thinking throughout the entire novel how badly I want to give him a swift kick. I didn't like him from the very beginning, and it intensified when he got Lady killed, and when he gave the order to kill Ned, I was just wishing to jump through the pages and strangle the little jerk. Lysa, Catelyn's sister, may rival Joffrey for the most annoying character. I just wanted to smack her around and say " What do you think you are doing?!?! Are you mad?!" She is so out of it, its ridiculous! I don't know what will become of her, but geez! I hope someone* knocks some sense into that woman... she might need to play a huge role in this political game and she's locked herself up in the Eyrie with her son pretending she knows nothing of it. Stupid.
I'm not sure about Dany yet, she is so young! I adored the love she felt for Drogo, even though I was pretty sure I was going to hate him at first. The whole dark magic thing that happened between her and that maege was a pretty creepy chapter! But it was amazingly put together. PS. The dragons hatching! I was sooooooooooo waiting for that to happen and it was amazing! But now Dany will eventually come across the sea to the seven kingdoms... and want to crown. "and the plot thickens."

I loved the way Mr. Martin wrote the plots for the story, and how some ended, some began and some haven't ended yet. Its massive when you realize how many plots are swirling around in this one series, this one world, and yet its amazing and that's what makes us love it so much.
 - Winter is Coming and its bringing something bad this time
 - Who is Jon Snow's mother? Did the mystery die with Ned? What made Ned, who is so honor bound, be unfaithful to Cat?
 - Is Dany going to cross the sea and fight to be Queen?
 - Is Robb going to become King?
 - Will Stannis come to claim his rightful throne?
 - Will the Lannister's remain rulers?
There are just so many story lines, so many questions.
Small points I wish to express:
 - Direwolves. The most amazing creatures, ever.
 - I hope Nymeria finds her way back to Arya!
 - Littlefinger betraying Ned! Did you see that coming???? I was so shocked! I was looking at everyone else to betray Ned, and then woops. I totally shouted out "WHAT!! THAT WEASEL!! HE PROMISED CAT!!!" in the middle of my dad and his friends watching Football (I was swiftly kicked out of the living room...)

 - Septa Mordane being beheaded!?! Like really? What.
 - Khal Drogo dying from a wound!! a wound! Just because the bandage and medication burned?!?! Are you kidding me!? The most powerful Khal who has never had to cut his braid in defeat dies of a wound.... I was upset.
 - Theon Greyjoy. He's worrying me! Does anyone else see him getting to excited about war? I really like him! Please let him not do something stupid!
 - Benjen. He needs to come back now... he's beginning to worry me. I'm almost starting to think he's dead...
 - Sam. He might just be my all time favorite character. all times. ever. He is so adorable. He just makes me want to go awwww all the time!
 - Visery's death. Pouring molten gold on his head. Scary, yet amazing. Who ever would think to kill off a character that way??
 - DRAGONS! Oh my goodness!
 - I miss Jory! I wonder if his uncle Rodrik knows... that is so sad!
 - Poor Bran!! He so wanted to be a knight, and now he cant :(
 - Someone needs to kill "King" Joffrey.... he's only going to cause problems, I just know it!
 - If Winter is coming...and its as bad as everyone likes to tell all these "summer children"....shouldn't we be getting more prepared, or am I just missing something here...?


PS:
Totally addicted to the HBO Show as well! It's a problem...I'm an addict. I don't watch the episodes before I read that far into the book, but I love it!!! They have the perfect cast! It truly just makes Mr. Martin's world come alive and breathe the fire that it holds. Its runs very close to the books as well, with very little deviations and its every bit as entertaining and good as the novels. Season 3 starts this Sunday at 9pm! Totally thinking about cheating and watching ahead so I can watch the new season!

 

 

Favorite Quotes:
“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” - Tyrion Lannister

“When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.”  - Cersei Lannister

“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”   - Ned Stark

“Why is it that when one man builds a wall, the next man immediately needs to know what's on the other side?”   - Tyrion Lannister