Synopsis
Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.
As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.
Review
Right from the get go things start rolling. Instantly hooked into a fantasy world full of mystery and "Others". Everyone fighting and conniving to get ahead in the Seven Kingdoms, and of course there never is a boring moment. What makes this the best series....No one is safe.
I loved how every chapter was in the point of view (POV) of different characters, because when I say there a lot of characters, I mean there are A LOT of characters. I don't know how George R.R. Martin does it, giving life to people who have such a minor role. That's why I found this book amazing, unlike other fantasy novels (mainly YA ones) Mr Martin actually created a whole new world and described every character there was instead of just ignoring them like a background noise.
I'm not going to be describing the story line, a very complex story line to say the least, but I will just give a brief summery on what I thought of the POV characters.
Eddard Stark:
House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, also called Ned for short, who has faith in the old gods.
An overly protective man of his family and friends that makes him an honorable character. Throughout the book you will get to see how kindly he treats everyone from his wife to a stable boy, even the beheading of a traitor was done in the most honorable way. That's all good when your in Winterfell, but once he goes south to Kings Landing, you never win the game of thrones with honor.
Catelyn Stark:
House Tully, wife to Eddard Stark, is a proud, strong, kind and generous woman. Her faults were her decisions, she thought too much with her heart then her head. There were many things she either done or said that I physically wanted to throw the book into a burning fire. I'm probably going to get a lot of hate for this, but she wasn't my favourite character, then again if she didn't force Ned to go south and be the Hand of the King, this will be a completely different story indeed.
Her treatment to Jon Snow, I can understand as a mother how she will feel to find out her husband has "bastard" a child, and instead of leaving him with his mother brings him back to be raised with his "true born" children. But instead of taking out her anger towards Ned, she despises Jon, like it could be his fault, and you will get to see she dislikes all bastard children, again like it is their fault their fathers are faithless.
Sansa Stark:
House Stark, second child to Eddard and Catelyn Stark. She looks exactly like her mother, not just in looks but her behaviour. Thinking more with her heart than her head. Raised as a lady she dreams of handsome princes, honorable knights, chivalry and love, and the poor thing will have all her dreams crushed when she accompanies her father and younger sister Arya to Kings Landing. She might love her sister Arya, but it becomes apparent there is a strain between the two.
Arya Stark:
House Stark, third child to Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Unlike her other siblings she favours the Stark side in looks and behaviour. Preferring to wield a sword and ride a horse then needlework that a lady of her station is required to do. She is closer to Jon Snow, her bastard brother, then her other brothers and sister, maybe it's because she looks more like him and he understands what it's like to be left out.
Brandon Stark:
House Stark, fourth child to Eddard and Catelyn Stark, also known as Bran for short. Right from the start you get to see how energetic and active he is, loves to climb the ancient castle walls and is very good at it for such a young age. You need to understand his character before his fall, and no I really gave nothing away because it all happens right from the start and it's basically the turning point. Now a crippled boy with no use of his legs, you get to see his character from an active young child, to a sullen one. Surprisingly one of my favourite in character building.
Jon Snow:
House Stark, bastard son to Eddard Stark. All I can say is "poor Jon Snow". Bastard and unloved by his fathers wife, knowing he doesn't belong with the Stark children even if they have the same father. What makes Catelyn Stark hate him even more, if that is possible, is how much Jon looks like a Stark and her eldest son Robb doesn't. When he finds out his father is going south to Kings Landing, he knows he will no longer be welcomed at Winterfell, so with his uncle he goes to the Nights Watch, trying to find out where a bastard like him belongs. Loved his journey, can not wait to see where he ends up.
Tyrion Lannister:
House Lannister, a dwarf known better as the Imp, is a shrewd, educated, calculating and such a witty character. Even though he is a Lannister, you can't help but love him. I couldn't wait till he was in a chapter or his own POV, he just knew how to play the game, getting out of such difficult situations with his cunning ability with words. You can't hate Tyrion, such a lovable character, trust me.
Daenerys Targaryen:
House Targaryen, youngest daughter to Aerys II who was killed during the rebellion by Robert Baratheon. Her mother dies giving birth to her on Dragonstone during the rebellion, so with the help of her elder brother Viserys, Daenerys escapes to the free cities. From the start you find her meek, timid, with little confidence and self esteem. Being sold to the Dothraki as a wife to Khal Drogo so her brother can get his army to take back what is rightfully his, the iron throne. Even though I didn't like her being sold, I found if she didn't get married to Khal Drogo, she wouldn't of found her strength and of course her dragons.
I really can't explain how much I'm obsessed with this series. I think about this day and night and it feels as if my life is just wondering who will sit the iron throne at the end.
What's a stronger word for obsession? Whatever it is, that's what I am.
My star rating for A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin is:
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