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A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.7 out of 5 stars 79,685 ratings

Now the acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones - the masterpiece that became a cultural phenomenon

Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse - unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister - the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind.

All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki - whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

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Product details

Book 1 of 5 A Song of Ice and Fire
Listening Length 33 hours and 46 minutes
Author George R.R. Martin
Narrator Roy Dotrice
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 09, 2003
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0001DBI1Q
Best Sellers Rank

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4.7 out of 5 stars
79,685 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book an enjoyable read with amazing descriptive language and a believable world. The characters are compelling, and the book captivates readers from cover to cover, with full details that the TV series leaves out. While some customers find it perfectly paced, others note it starts slowly.

4,764 customers mention "Readability"4,730 positive34 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic and entertaining story that is better than the show.

"Great book." Read more

"...Great read you can't go wrong if you like story lines with Kings, Queens, castles, giants, mysterious creatures yet to be totally revealed, and last..." Read more

"...Overall, not only is this a great book but it kicks off a fantastic series...." Read more

"First of all, these books are a great read. They're well written with elegant articulation and beautiful descriptions...." Read more

1,441 customers mention "Writing quality"1,191 positive250 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its amazing descriptive language, rich detail, and great dialogue.

"First of all, these books are a great read. They're well written with elegant articulation and beautiful descriptions...." Read more

"...Blood and broken promises were. Style: Well written, incredibly imaginative, brilliant dialogue with realistic but strong, offensive..." Read more

"...I gave it 4 stars only because of the difficult factor. It is very well written and has great character development...." Read more

"...Quite a few characters to keep track of as the story builds. Very well written...." Read more

1,440 customers mention "Fantasy series"1,251 positive189 negative

Customers love this epic fantasy series, praising its believable world and intrigue, with several mentioning their appreciation for the HBO adaptation.

"...Instead, this is largely about politics and political intrigue with a dash of magic and the unknown thrown in to give the novel a unique flavour...." Read more

"...-character driven plot and a long journey to the finish line this a great series...." Read more

"...There is action, violence, humor, twists and turns and unexpected events...." Read more

"...Martin is a master of narrative, character development and suspense...." Read more

1,335 customers mention "Character development"1,141 positive194 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them compelling, with one customer noting they are very human and another praising George R.R. Martin's genius.

"...But DAMN, I loved his writing, his world building, his characters, the kingdom, and everything in between...." Read more

"...Great characters and very good (if somewhat simplistic) plot makes for a 4 Star rating...." Read more

"...I was assured that I’d find great characters and non-stop action. That is unequivocally true...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the complexity of the plots, the character development, the multiple perspectives, the detailed worlds, the unconventional blur between..." Read more

767 customers mention "Enthralling"631 positive136 negative

Customers find the book enthralling, describing it as captivating from cover to cover and extremely engaging, with one customer noting there's never a boring moment.

"...is an imaginative, multi-faceted epic/fantasy/adventure experience, exciting and fun at the same time...." Read more

"...7. Engaging plot: All three main plotlines are exotic and entertaining: the fight for power over Westeros' throne, the exile of the last Targaryen..." Read more

"...I could go on and on about how well written and engaging this series is but you will just have to learn for yourself...." Read more

"...The story is riveting, the characters are complex and captivating...." Read more

505 customers mention "Detail"442 positive63 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detailed content, noting that it goes beyond what is shown in the TV series, and one customer mentions that every detail serves a purpose.

"...Thank you, Mr. Martin for creating such a rich and surprising world. I am along for the ride, wherever it leads, and for however long it lasts!" Read more

"...I have been floored by the complexity and detail of the world Martin has created with the book...." Read more

"...do this book justice. It's immersive, fascinating, well-written, deep, the chars are so lively you can almost touch them...." Read more

"...There is depth and an understanding that people can connect with as long as they are not trying to find a book that will take them to a magical..." Read more

331 customers mention "Imagination"300 positive31 negative

Customers praise the book's imaginative storytelling, noting how it captivates the reader's imagination through unexpected plot twists and hints at magic.

"...an intriguing world of politics, kings, deceit, battles, conquest, magic, and gritty reality, he has done it in a masterful manner...." Read more

"...But these are quibbles. All in all the novel is an imaginative, multi-faceted epic/fantasy/adventure experience, exciting and fun at the same..." Read more

"...But DAMN, I loved his writing, his world building, his characters, the kingdom, and everything in between...." Read more

"...(both the main one and the sub plots) are interesting and at times, surprising...." Read more

354 customers mention "Pacing"205 positive149 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it perfectly paced and fast reading, while others note that it starts slowly and the story lags.

"...Martin has not only created an intriguing world of politics, kings, deceit, battles, conquest, magic, and gritty reality, he has done it in a..." Read more

"...I found it a little slow at first, but that was to build the various plot and characters...." Read more

"...This is the very best of fantasy literature. It is fast paced and exciting with a huge cast of charachters in a sprawling and diverse..." Read more

"...If you are using an App on an iPhone or iPad, this is very annoying...." Read more

Game of Thrones Hardcover Review
5 out of 5 stars
Game of Thrones Hardcover Review
Book came in great condition. I love the color of the dusty. Definitely looking forward to finishing this book and continuing on to the second!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love fantasy; ever since I was a kid, stories set in creative worlds featuring varied groups of characters fighting to save the world, overcome evil, or even resolve some political matter have always captivated me. As such, I've read many fantasy novels over the years...and doing so has made me notice a rather unfortunate trend: the genre as a whole often relies too heavily on the same cliches and plots, which makes many of the stories presented seem tired, predictable, and overdone. As a result of this, I decided to take a break from fantasy; one can only read the same story so many times before getting fed up. I started "A Game of Thrones" very tentatively, partially because of the all the hype around the series and partially due to my own wariness regarding fantasy novels. My fears were completely unfounded; "A Game of Thrones" is a breath of fresh air for the genre, and is easily one of the best books I've read in recent years. Spoilers follow.

    The novel contains three story lines. The first and most heavily focused on is that of the Kingdom of Westeros, its political structure, the ruling family's potentially reputation-destroying secret, and the beginning of conflict after the king dies. The second plot is that of the Wall and the constant struggle of the Night Watch to defend Westeros against the wildlings and more sinister creatures that reside beyond the Kingdom's border. The third takes place away from Westeros and follows the story of Daenerys, the last of the Targaryen family, and the start of her rise to power. The first story is clearly the main plot, while the second and third receive a little less attention, yet are no less important to the overall story.

    The story presented here isn't that which is typically found in your common fantasy fare. This is not a tale of sword and sorcery, wizards and heroes enacting the traditional yarn of Good versus Evil, or of an impoverished farm boy discovering that he comes from a lofty background and is destined for greatness. Instead, this is largely about politics and political intrigue with a dash of magic and the unknown thrown in to give the novel a unique flavour. Perhaps the most noticeable element of the plot when compared to other fantasy books is the lack of magic; it does exist in Martin's world and he indicates that it can be a very powerful force, yet its role in this particular book is very small. This makes the few instances where it does appear very significant. Martin has said that he based "A Song of Ice and Fire" on the War of the Roses, and as such, more attention is given to the politics and the crisis of succession when Westeros' king dies. This makes for a story that avoids the traditional fantasy cliches while still having a distinctly fantasy feel.

    The primary focus may be on political intrigue, but the book is hardly boring or overly mired solely in scheming. With all this political conflict come battles, fights, beheadings, and conquest, and Martin writes all of them exceedingly well and believably. This is a very gritty world that Martin has created, and he certainly doesn't shy away from showing how brutal life can be for his characters. Both rape and violence are present and are portrayed in a much blunter, starker light than in most novels. If there is a battle, you will see characters suffer gruesome ends, and the spoils of conquest are not glossed over. Yet, the use of such elements doesn't come off as gratuitous nor do they seem unnecessary; instead, they serve to characterize the world in which the characters go about their lives. Indeed, this is a dangerous place with far-reaching consequences and risks. It certainly puts a darker spin on the plot, but as someone who quickly bores of overly optimistic characters and stories, this darker, grittier fantasy very much appeals to me and gives the book a certain edge that sets it apart from others.

    Accompanying this dangerous, sometimes terrifying world is the idea that no one is safe...and that includes main characters. Martin doesn't hesitate to take characters you've grown close to throughout the book and run them through the wringer, sometimes going as far as to kill them off. One of the main point of view characters is beheaded toward the end of the book, not because he is a terrible person or because he is in some way marked as being a "bad" character. On the contrary, he's the most honest, reasonable character in the book, and it's his own honesty that leads to his demise. This is the point that makes you realize that "A Song of Ice and Fire" will pull no punches or give anyone immunity based solely on whether they are a positive or negative character, a primary character or a background character. When characters, regardless of their role in the story, enter into a conflict, whether it's physical in the form of a fight or battle or more complicated through scheming and deceit, you genuinely fear for their safety. While the traditional fantasy novel may put the main character through trials and hardships, you know he'll make it through in the end, but that's not the case here. The reader is always on edge, worrying for their favourite characters or rooting for the demise of their most hated, but you never know how it's really going to play out. It's a completely different reading experience from most books out there, putting a real sense of danger into the book's events and a feeling of suspense into the story.

    Another standout aspect of "A Game of Thrones" is the world building. Martin has not only created an intriguing world of politics, kings, deceit, battles, conquest, magic, and gritty reality, he has done it in a masterful manner. It's become something of a pet peeve of mine when authors are so proud of the world they've built that they dump pages and pages of their world's landscape, history, government, culture, etc on the reader in the middle of the story; it's a heavy-handed, clunky way of developing the backdrop of a novel. Martin manages to keep his world richly detailed while avoiding info-dumping by slipping in brief descriptions of how Westeros works in dialogue or when the subject in question appears. He doesn't appear to be in a hurry to reveal everything and instead lets things unfold in their own time. He knows his world from front to back, and he knows when it is appropriate to explain something and when it isn't.

    The character setup of "A Game of Thrones" is also pretty different. Instead of having one protagonist whose story is the focus of the book, we get 8 different characters that provide 8 unique points of view. The perspective switches in every chapter, so we often see one event thoroughly told from two or three different characters. This is a great way to keep the story from getting stale or repetitive, as all of the characters have a distinct voice or bias and no character ever receives two chapters back to back. On the downside, however, it can be a little frustrating to be enjoying the perspective of one character, only to turn the page and see that you'll be finishing the issue at hand through the eyes of a different figure. That aside, having 8 point of view characters works very well for the novel because it keeps each chapter fresh and allows the reader to thoroughly get to know multiple characters rather than just one.

    What is particularly great about Martin's characters is, as I said above, that they're completely distinct. They're so well fleshed out and have so many realistic motivations, feelings, and actions that it could be easy to forget that they are fictional characters rather than real people. While some characters may seem to fall into a broad archetype of character, pretty much none of the characters can be summed up on one or two words. Equally as impressive, whether you'll like or dislike a character will be dependent on how well they or part of their personality resonates with you personally, instead of whether they are "good" or "bad." Even the characters that seem to be cast in a more negative light have positive personality traits that make them likable and relatable. It also seems that what one reader appreciates about one character, another reader may dislike. The characters in "Game of Thrones" are so well fleshed out and realized that they sometimes seem as realistic as flesh-and-blood people, and like real people, your reactions to and liking of the characters will be based almost entirely on their complex personalities.

    The secondary and side characters also receive a lot of care. Although we don't get to know them as intimately as the point of view characters, we still often see enough of them to get a sense of who they are. There are a lot of side characters in the novel, with possibly hundreds of names being tossed around depending on whose point of view the chapter is told through...so you do have to pay attention to who is who. Most characters, however, appear fairly frequently and are distinct enough that it's easy to keep them straight. And those who aren't seen as often tend to come with a little reminder of who they are when they do show up. Even though there are a lot of secondary and side characters, they are given a lot of thought, making for a rich variety of figures to populate the novel's setting.

    To reiterate what I mentioned earlier, no one is safe. This can make for some emotional reading when the characters are so unique and well thought out. It must always be remembered that anything can happen to the characters and any chapter could be their last. Characters can meet their end very quickly or very slowly, and there's really no way of predicting if a figure will survive or not.

    As a side note, despite the length of "A Game of Thrones," it is only the first book of a long series. This means that while this novel contains its own well-told story, it also does a lot of setting up for the overarching plot and leaves more questions than it answers at its conclusion. If you begin to read this series, you will likely become hooked on it and rush out to get the second book after you finish this one.

    Overall, "A Game of Thrones" is one of the best books I've read in recent years. It bucks the trends and cliches of modern fantasy novels and offers up something that is unique, but still contains the mystical flavour of the genre. The world presented is violent and gritty with a no-one-is-safe policy that leads for some edgy, often tense reading. The characters are wonderfully developed and fleshed out so well that they could easily be real people, and the different points of view throughout the novel offer unique perspectives on the story's events. This is perhaps the first book I've read in a long time about which I can't come up with something I don't like, aside from a couple characters...but, as I said earlier, not liking certain characters for aspects of their complex personalities is part of what makes the novel so, well, likeable. Five stars happily given for the above and for reviving my interest in fantasy.
    74 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I am writing this review as an individual who watched Game of Thrones on HBO before picking up the book series, so with that in mind you may or may not find my review helpful/useful. I will also try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible.

    As a fan of the tv series, I came into this book knowing what to expect; I was told that Season 1 and Book 1 are very similar, and that is most certainly true. But do you know what? I still loved the book. I’ll do list format for the book’s good and bad points (in my opinion and in no particular order) to make this a little more organized.

    --
    GOODS:

    DIALOGUE/WRITING - George RR Martin has a way with words. His descriptions of the various locations and lands and kingdoms of Westeros, from Winterfell to King’s Landing to Vaes Dothrak, have flawless flow. I love descriptive writing, and there is always a fine line between not describing something enough to give the reader a good picture and going overboard to the point where it gets boring to read through paragraphs of superfluous text. This is especially true in the fantasy genre, where the lands and people and words and customs are all…well, fantastical. This book finds that balance, with evocative, beautiful language that puts you right in that setting and right in the thick of the action. Hell, the descriptions of food always made me hungry even if they were serving something that I would never actually eat! As for the dialogue, if you are a fan of the show’s dialogue, or clever dialogue in general, you will enjoy this book. There are a good number of memorable and poignant quotes throughout the book, my favorite being “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,” an apt summary for sure. Bottom line, when you pick up this book, be prepared to engross yourself and be swept away to a foreign land.

    VOICES/POINTS OF VIEW - Notable about this book, and all the books in the series, is that it is constantly switching from various characters points of view (POVs, as I’ll refer to them from now on). And by various, I mean roughly 7-8 characters. As difficult as this is to pull off, Martin does a great job. It’s an effective way to see what is going on in multiple locations at roughly the same time while keeping us invested. I applaud his decision to present us the information this way as it gives us a greater connection with the characters and more insight into various situations as we see how they are impacting the character that we are viewing it through. Not to mention, Martin manages to keep each of the individual POVs unique enough that you don’t need to flip back to see who’s narrating. Each character has distinct personality traits and ways of thinking/speaking that distinguish them from the others. Sansa is lady-like, a romantic and naive. Arya is fiery, resourceful and a fighter. Tyrion is shrewd, astute and full of quick-witted jibes. And so on and so forth. It is also worth noting that each character, even if a few of them are in the same place at the same time, sees different things and different people and analyzes situations in different ways, so each chapter gives you new information in some way or another. It’s very cleverly done and just as frustrating when you realize “UGH this character doesn’t know what was revealed to me, the reader, in THIS CHARACTER’S chapter” which is a great way of keeping you hooked.

    CHARACTERS: HEROES VS VILLAINS - Getting inside the characters heads, you start to understand their motives and the ways that they think. So you get to decide for yourself what motives are justified and who you believe in or who you’re rooting for. But then again, just because one character appears to be the “hero” of the story, doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get a happy ending. If you’re looking for a feel-good story about about good conquering evil, this probably isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a story with deep, cunning characters who you can’t always trust, who are shades of grey versus black and white, then you’ll find this book a compelling read.

    DEPTH - Martin has done his homework and has developed rich histories for each of the characters and their houses. Hell, the Appendix of the book has small blurbs about each house, its history, its sigil, its words/slogan and the relevant members of the house. It’s always available for you to flip back and read if you find yourself confused, which can happen. Having watched the tv series, I was less confused about the various Houses and characters coming into the book, which helped a lot. Yet I still found myself learning new information from the Appendix. It’s a great tool and shows the author’s dedication to his characters and their backgrounds. I was impressed by how richly developed everything was, even though this is only the first book in the series.

    NO TEENAGE DIARY DESCRIPTIONS ABOUT SEX - This book has sex in it. Quite a bit, too. I can see how this would be off-putting to some readers. Personally, I don’t mind it much. What I appreciated was that the descriptions of sex weren’t long, drawn out, excessively pornographic or mushy-gushy. I appreciated not having to wade through pages upon pages of “his fingers brushed against my fingers and my heart fluttered, he looked at me and I admired his beautiful eyelashes” or other mushy teenage romance dialogues that frankly bore the poop out of me. On the other hand, you’re not reading through pages and pages of detailed erotica either. It’s written very matter-of-factly, very bluntly and to-the-point and only went into a bit more description when it was warranted. Again, I imagine this isn’t for everyone, so you may consider this a negative. The way it was presented throughout the book, however, I felt warranted a checkmark in the “Good” category.

    FEMALE CHARACTERS - Some of the best depictions of female characters I have read. I was very impressed. The female characters are at all ends of the spectrum in this book, from feminine to tough to conniving. In a book where you’d assume the male characters take front and center, the female characters are just as fascinating, if not moreso in some cases.

    X-RAY - I have the Kindle version of this book. The X-Ray features really helps you keep track of the book’s many characters and remind you who someone is if you forget, which is SUPER helpful. I used the features many times throughout the book and it definitely aided my understanding and allowed me to further appreciate the depth of the characters and the story.

    --
    BADS:

    MULTIPLE POVs SLOW DOWN THE ACTION - The constant cutting back and forth between different characters and settings, while well done, also has the side effect of slowing down some of the action. You end a chapter on a cliffhanger as the one character’s POV learns something horrifying or experiences something shocking. But then the next chapter jumps to a character who is in a completely different setting and you have to wait until you get to a chapter of a character who is in place where the cliffhanger first happened. It slows down the action a bit, which can get a little frustrating. If it really bothers you to read a cliffhanger and then wait a few chapters to see a reaction or resolution to that cliffhanger, then this book might frustrate you more than entertain you. Not to mention, if you find one character’s voice/writing style/actions particularly boring, you might find it tiresome to have to wade through those chapters to get to the “good stuff.” I know I personally had that problem in a few instances.

    TYPOS - I have the Kindle version of this book, and it had quite a number of typos. Not on every page or anything, but more than I would have liked. A few of them sort of interrupted the flow of the story while I was reading, but for the most part they aren’t a huge deal. Just a little annoying.

    LENGTH - Not gonna lie, flipping through the Table of Contents and realizing there are 72 chapters was a little daunting. And if you have a really busy schedule, you might find the length a little scary too. I’m very glad I stuck it out and plowed through, though!

    --
    Overall, I’m a happy camper and am going to pick up the second book in the series ASAP!
    39 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Jose M BP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Para aprender inglés
    Reviewed in Spain on October 14, 2023
    Aunque la letra es pequeña sirve para echar un buen rato aprendiendo inglés
    Report
  • Elessar III
    5.0 out of 5 stars El gran inicio de la saga
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 17, 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Disfruté cada momento de esta novela, no hay mucho que decir ya que su fama la precede. Es un libro lleno de eventos que pueden causar incomodidad en los lectores, la violencia física y sexual es completamente explícita. En mi opinión esa es la mejor forma de hablar de estos temas, ya que si se caricaturiza o suprime el impacto de estas acciones, no se puede entender la gravedad de las mismas.
    No es una novela de fantasía para todos, pero si estás dispuesto a enfrentar el realismo que pinta, definitivamente empezarás una increíble aventura.
  • Daniel Weiler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Releitura em inglês!
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 14, 2019
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Eu já havia lido todos os livros em 2015 e, com o gosto amargo deixado pelo final da série, resolvi reler cada um dos livros - mas dessa vez em inglês. Eu tinha uma certa apreensão de me sentir perdido, mas não achei uma leitura tão complicada. Existem alguns termos bem antigos, raramente utilizados na língua inglesa hoje, (se tratando do contexto medieval, isso é bem compreensível) que acabaram exigindo uma consulta ao dicionário uma ou outra vez.
    No geral, foi uma leitura muuito boa. Poder ler na sua língua original, da forma com que o Martin escreveu, é extremamente gratificante e ler pela segunda vez essa obra tão complexa permitiu perceber detalhes que antes passaram despercebidos.
    Sobre a qualidade da edição, adquiri a versão mais básica, a econômica. Sendo sincero, ela é bem ruim - a lombada quebra facilmente e a capa ficou toda arranhada e rasgada. Como eu queria uma edição pra levar pra cá e pra lá, acabou sendo perfeita, principalmente pelo custo.
    E sobre o conteúdo dos livros... é uma leitura obrigatória para qualquer amante de fantasia. Se você assistiu a série e quer se aprofundar na história de verdade, vai sem medo. Não deixe o tamanho dos livros te assustar!
  • JRC Salter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2013
    Like many people, I came to this book after watching the HBO series, and because it was HBO, I thought they had exaggerated much of the sex and violence. I was wrong. This is adult fantasy at its finest and Martin does not hold back.

    So there are many different stories throughout this book, most concentrating on the children of Eddard 'Ned' Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and a few others concerning other major characters. I will review each element separately.

    Eddard Stark, and King's Landing
    This story can best be described as a mystery. At the beginning of the novel, Ned is given the job of Hand of the King, a steward like role, after the previous hand, Jon Arryn, died. Ned takes the job after receiving a communication that his predecessor may have been murdered. Martin manages to craft a decent mystery, revealing important details at various moments, while creating a sense of danger as Ned seems to be taking the same path that led to Jon's death. While this story is going on, we get an insight into the political manoeuvring of many other characters. The Queen obviously does not love the King and married only for political reasons. Prince Joffrey and heir to the throne shows elements of being a gentleman, especially to Ned's daughter and his betrothed, Sansa, but occasionally shows signs of a mean, entitled personality, something that comes into play in the second half of the book. The King's council is comprised of a variety of scheming, sycophantic characters of whose sides remain mysteries, and when one does something you believe is beneficial for Ned, he then does something to make you think otherwise; even by the end of the book, you're never entirely sure who they're working for.

    Bran, Robb, and Winterfell
    After getting pushed out of a window and crippled, young Bran has to come to terms with the fact he will never walk again. Robb, after his father leaves, becomes acting Lord of Winterfell, and later leads his armies. This part is probably the weakest of the book. While Bran is a decent character and we a good look at how he would like to be a knight, but now can't and has to live by being carried around by the simple-minded Hodor, Robb seems to be a carbon copy of Ned. This is noted many times, mainly by his mother Catelyn. I don't mind it too much, but I would have liked a little more from his character.

    Jon Snow and the Wall
    Jon is Ned's bastard son, conceived while he was off disposing of the mad king. He was raised in Winterfell along with Ned's other children, but because of his illegitimacy, and his social outcast, he decides to go north to become a member of the Night's Watch, a strict order of men guarding the south from the horrors that lay beyond the Wall. This story shows the most fantastical elements of the book, and appears to be the main threat to the rest of the world. However, it's not dwelt on too much, the meat of the story being played out through the political intrigue of the south. This is the setting up of the threat. In this portion we get a hefty bit of Tyrion Lannister, a cynical and dry witted dwarf who travels to the Wall just to see what it's like. He ends up bonding with Jon after having a common condition in his words, 'All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes'. Tyrion is one of the few characters whose allegiance is pretty certain; while he doesn't pick a side as such, he seems more concerned with the individuals, as well as his keeping his own head.
    I like Jon as well. While he's a little naive at times, he does become a strong character, being groomed for leadership. He attempts to end the bullying by his trainer and befriends the most unlikely of initiates, a fat and self confessed coward, Sam. Another character I really like. Sam, while talking about being craven, has many redeeming qualities, and even shows signs of bravery, something even more impressive due to his usual cowardly nature.

    Catelyn and the Eyrie
    After discovering that Tyrion may have been responsible for Bran's injuries, she seizes him while he travels back to King's Landing from the Wall, and takes him to her sister in the mountain fortress of the Eyrie. Again, we get to meet an interesting character, that of Lysa Arryn, widow of the former Hand, Jon. She has now locked herself away in the castle with her young son, now Lord of the Eyrie. Lysa is quite insane. Having had all her previous husbands and all but one of her children die, she is loath to leave her sanctuary, and has a deep dislike for the Lannisters, believing them to have killed her husband. A dislike that does not bode well for Tyrion.

    Denaerys and the Dothraki
    This is by far my favourite portion of the book. In ways, this is a completely separate story. No characters crossover, and the only story that has any impact on it is when the King orders Denaerys to be killed. Anyway, the reason I like this story is because of Denaerys herself. She begins the book as a shy abused girl who is used by her domineering brother to gain advantage for his claim to the Iron Throne. At the beginning, she is sold to the Dothraki leader, Drogo, in return for an army. It could have been so easy for Martin to have gone the cliche route and have Drogo be a monster just as bad as her brother, leaving Dany in just as bad a place. But the twist is that he isn't that bad a man (besides buying a girl to marry), and after a while, he genuinely cares for Dany. And they develop a bond which may have elements of Stockholm syndrome, but I believe it is because, ironically, in being forced to marry, Dany finds a better life. A life where she is treated as a queen, where she is not called names, or is abused, a life where she is treated with respect. And it is because of this that she develops into a strong character who sympathises and empathises with everyone, man, woman, slave, freeman with no prejudice. So because she is a likeable person, and all the other candidates are selfish or tyrannical, she is my favourite to win the Iron Throne.

    My only complaint is that this doesn't feel like a full book. Sure, there is an ending, but that only comes from Denaerys' story, the main plot just seems to stop. Now, I don't mind this (it is part of a series after all), but it is nice to have some from of closure, some form of self contained story within one novel.

    All in all a fantastic book. Every bit as good as the TV series.
  • TomWebster
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Start of a Masterpiece
    Reviewed in Australia on August 29, 2018
    Not the best book of the series, but the one that hooks your interest and is fascinating from beginning to end. A hugely successful, mammoth, enterprise to write this enormous series and reading them all is a delight for those even slightly interested in medieval history. Sure, this is all fiction, but much of it (the description of the knights,the ultimate power of heraldic kings, the jousting tournaments , the ships, the cottage industries etc are all based closely on historical facts. That is what makes the whole series so popular. It is believable. The use of magic and dragons in the story is the glue that brings it all together for a reader. This sets it apart from being just a a longwinded history lesson. You will love it. Read them all to get the best from a masterpiece of writing.