Book 6: A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin
I have to admit, the main reason I was drawn to this author was the title of the most recent one in the series, A Dance with Dragons. I love anything that has to do with dragons. So I looked up the first book, read some reviews, asked some friends–and was surprised at the amount of encouragement they had for me to read it.
I was gripped from the start. The prologue was exciting, haunting, and a hint that this book wasn’t just kings and courts and castles–there was magic, too. Just enough to be intriguing, not so much that I’ve seen it all before. It was clear this book also wasn’t going to just be another “chosen one goes on a quest to find magic item X and destroy/use it for good/evil, and in the process learns of their own magic powers.” No, I haven’t read anything quite like this.
There are quite a few characters, but I didn’t find it as confusing as I’ve seen some reviews suggest. Many of them I’ve grown close to, even ones I didn’t like at first. Martin is very good at making every character three-dimensional, and this is aided by having chapters written from many different characters’ heads. This sort of thing has to be done carefully for it to be good, but I think he’s done a fantastic job. I get annoyed when the reader is put in one character’s head, then thrown into another, then another in the same scene, but Martin’s avoided that. The reader can fully understand events from many different characters’ perspectives.
It is truly a story of epic proportions. This book alone is about 800 pages, and there are 5 books published, with at least 2 more planned. But don’t be dismayed. There were times when I was reading this that I would sit back and think of all the story to come, and be glad there was so much of it. Hopefully I won’t tire of it… for now, I just want more!
I’ve watched the first season of the HBO series as well, and I think it’s very well done. There are scenes left out–there always are, when a book goes to the screen–but I’m amazed that they’ve fit so much in 10 episodes. However, I would suggest reading the book first, like I did! It’s so much more exciting when you don’t know what’s going to happen.
I’ve started the second book and will likely post a review on it as well, when I finish. My last exam is this Thursday, and then I’ll have all the time in the world to read. In fact, that will be me, completely done with university. I still can’t believe it.