Review: A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An adventure of epic proportions, a journey spanning kingdoms far and wide and an experience bursting with emotions and characters of all color and kind, in my opinion is a fitting way to describe this book called 'A Game of Thrones'.

A rich, enjoyable, thrilling and at times disturbing book, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin captures the dark struggles, strife and politics of power in the fictitious medieval age. It adds drama and spice to the grim settings with supernatural elements in the form of Dragons, the undead, the direwolves, black magic and so on. But, despite these incredible, fantastical elements the struggle and conflict between the various kingdoms and the men at the centre of these conflicts is brutal, intense and sometimes horrifying, particularly in the way lives are taken without mercy and without emotion, none is spared, not man, not beast and not even children. The battle for the crown is bloody to the end and there is no real winner because the one with the crown can never rest easy in this atmosphere pregnant with betrayal and lust for power.

Full of impressive characters and witty, memorable lines, A Game of Thrones is a treat for the fans of fantasy and mythical fiction. There is honor, gallantry, loyalty, villany, love, betrayal, cruelty, naivete, treachery and so much more here, making this a truly fascinating read. There are twists and turns that would shock and stun and leave the reader with a plethora of emotions.

Having gushed over the bright points, let me dwell a bit on the lesser aspects of this book. The writing to be honest is bland at times, despite some beautiful lines and a few memorable ones, the writing is more or less plain. The descriptions of castles and the locations could be overwhelming and at times tedious slowing down the pace of the book. I must say I am extremely thankful to HBO for adapting the book and making it easier for the reader to imagine and comprehend the scale and structure of the massive world created by the author. Also, some of the sub plots particularly Bran’s story angle even though it would lead into something more relevant in the books to come, detracts from the action and slows down the otherwise fast paced narrative. These are probably the only minor problems I have with this otherwise satisfying read.

To sum up, this is a book that entertains, intrigues and at times horrifies with its range of events, characters and situations. It has an epic feel and a raw, brutal intensity that simply hooks you.

‘In the Game of Thrones you either win or you die!’


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