A Game of Thrones is an extraordinary novel that holds a significant place in the world of fantasy literature.

It is the first installment in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, which has captivated readers worldwide.

The novel was first published in 1996 and has since received numerous accolades, including the 1997 Locus Award and nominations for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards.

The story is told from multiple points of view, introducing the complex plot-lines of the noble houses of Westeros, the mysterious Wall, and the Targaryens.

Martin's writing style is a unique blend of dryness and excellence, with pacing that varies throughout the book.

The characters are perhaps the novel's greatest strength, as they are richly developed and multi-faceted,展现出 a wide range of moral and ethical shades.

The plot is well-crafted and detailed, filled with mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure.

Overall, A Game of Thrones is a must-read for any fantasy fan, and I highly recommend it.

Wikipedia:

A Game of Thrones is the first novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy novels by the American author George R.R. Martin. It was first published on August 1, 1996. The novel won the 1997 Locus Award and was nominated for both the 1997 Nebula Award and the 1997 World Fantasy Award. The novella Blood of the Dragon, comprising the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel, won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella. In January 2011, the novel became a New York Times Bestseller and reached No. 1 on the list in July 2011.

In the novel, recounting events from various points of view, Martin introduces the plot-lines of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall, and the Targaryens. The novel has inspired several spin-off works, including several games. It is also the namesake and basis for the first season of Game of Thrones, an HBO television series that premiered in April 2011.

Goodreads:

In A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin has created a genuine masterpiece, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill the pages of the first volume in an epic series sure to delight fantasy fans everywhere.

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes of 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. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hang perilously in the balance, as each endeavor to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

I enjoyed this very much. It was an excellent decision to watch the TV show (at least season 1) before reading because that way it is easier to remember bazillion characters, and just overall enjoy the plot. Anyway, I will rate some important segments of the novel independently now:

Writing style: 4/5 (dry and grey, sometimes excellent, sometimes a bit annoying)
Pacing: 3.75/5 (very good in Arya, Daenerys, and especially Eddard and Sansa chapters, but sometimes dragged in Catelyn and Bran ones, also surprisingly, in Tyrion's)
Characters: 4.5/5 (this is very Martin shines - characters are layered and motivated, with fifty shades of white, grey, and black)
Plot: 4/5 (have nothing to add here, the plot was nicely done, planned to detail)
Descriptions: 4.5/5 (Martin knows how to describe a scene - whether it is a snowy forest, dark chamber, bloody battle, or a noisy street - and he knows it dang well)

To sum it up, it was a very good book, somewhere around 4.2 stars, and I heard that the next ones in the series are even better (at least books 2 and 3). So yeah, I can't wait to read A Clash of Kings!

Have I forgotten anything important? If yes, please tell me in the comments. Also, feel free to ask any questions ;)

**"A Comprehensive Review of 'Game of Thrones'"**

Me ha gustado muchísimo.



Who hasn't heard of "Game of Thrones"? Whether we have seen or read this story, the popularity of "Game of Thrones" is a phenomenon so widespread in the world that everywhere we find advertisements, images, adulations towards the author, references, memes, etc., mainly on social media like Facebook. So far, everything is fine. The problem is that when a series, movie, anime, book or other becomes so popular, there are always such intense and annoying followers that, instead of encouraging others to know the content, they end up driving away the possible interested parties. The greater the popularity of a content, the greater the number of toxic followers, and this is because many of them will be looking to attract attention to become popular due to their low self-esteem. I mention this because on several occasions I postponed this reading because everywhere what was most published was about Daenerys and her nudity, as well as the scenes where Khal Drogo had sex with her. I don't like erotic stories because I feel they don't contribute anything, so conceiving that image that "Game of Thrones" was full of sleaze only served to generate more doubts in me about whether to read this book or not. However, my brother listened to the audiobook, and as on several occasions, it turned out to be my main motivation to read this book. He told me that there were indeed sex scenes but that they were very few, so it was worth giving it a chance. I wanted to wait until the end of the saga to start it, but I only had two options: Read it now, or have my brother overwhelm me with his spoilers.



Naturally, you already know which decision I made and I don't regret it because it has been truly wonderful to discover this vast world and this author, of whom I now want to read all his books. George R. R. Martin is a genius for writing and I am very happy to have the privilege of reading at least one of his stories. This author should live a thousand years or even more, so that he has the time to write hundreds of stories with which to captivate us as in this case. Regarding his style, I want to highlight that ability to transform a story into a great game of chess, where each move is well studied, analyzed in depth and with a balance that does not give us the certainty of who has the advantage. His prose is also exquisite and captivated me mainly in the battles because there I felt as if I were seeing everything live and in direct. In those parts, each word has magic and generates in our brain the sensation of the sound of the swords, of the horses galloping, of the cries of the fallen in battle and even of the tension and the fear that they feel of losing their lives. And although with these details we think we have enough reasons to read GRRM, the truth is that we don't. His prose in general has been very good in the other scenes, the handling of parallel stories has also been correct and we see in this book an example of the great imagination that this gentleman has. And even the sex scenes of which I felt great uncertainty turned out not to be a problem because GRRM only describes the events without exceeding in details and without a hint of sleaze, where the boldest thing we find are expressions like "he rode her" or "he penetrated her".



Those scenes, although they have importance in the development, go unnoticed by the main plot of the book which is very good. A plot that even the title describes perfectly: "Game of Thrones". It can be considered a cliché, but the violence, cruelty, betrayals, divisions and number of characters that intervene in the battle for the throne make this story something unique in which absolutely all the chapters are important and interesting for the reader. Despite belonging to the same world, each one lives in a different role, so while some, for example, are trapped and cannot modify their position, others will try to seek alliances or answers. But, since there are so many characters, then naturally many stories will leave us intrigued -intrigue that turns into anxiety- about what can happen in the following books. However, we must take into account that even if GRRM publishes the two remaining books of his saga, very probably we will still remain intrigued because it is a story that will always remain in continuation. Why? Because it is a novel that has taken on a life of its own and of which it is impossible to narrate everything, due to its hundreds of events related to the past, present or future that undoubtedly would trigger more stories to tell. Yes, that means that those who do not start this book waiting for GRRM to finish his story are wasting time: Read it and enjoy what exists.



Another detail to take into account is the number of pages. Depending on the edition, we will find a book of approximately 700 to 850 pages, but, the reality is that it doesn't seem like it. When we finish, what we feel is that we have just read a work of 1500 or 1600 pages, and this happens because in all the chapters we are presented with too much information. Personally, I read and read believing that I had just read 100 pages, but then I was surprised to note that it had only been 40. This does not mean that the development is slow or boring, but quite the contrary: What happens is that GRRM does not emphasize the descriptions, so on one page everything can happen. Naturally, for those who are not used to long works, the beginning of this book can be very difficult because they will hardly understand anything and that can intimidate them and make them abandon it. However, if they overcome that beginning, this book will become a great opportunity to lose the fear of extensive works.



GRRM presents us with two maps -north and south- which are possibly not based on any real territory due to their very unusual shape. However, it is striking the fact that when taking any of the planes and rotating it 180 degrees, we will notice when comparing them that, despite the differences, both maps have a lot of similarity -or perhaps it is my impression-. Possibly that doesn't mean anything, but they are curiosities to take into account that we occasionally don't perceive. Don't go running out to check it because here I leave you an image:







I also really liked the diversity of customs among each lineage as it helped me to better identify each area. With so many mini-stories, it is impossible to confuse Winterfell with King's Landing, or the Eyrie with the mysterious Wall. Exactly, that "Wall" is one of the most positive points of this story because although it is not mentioned as much as the other events, this place offers the fantasy that we expect from this book: Its atmosphere of mystery I loved. Obviously, in relation to fantasy, I must also highlight the very strange dreams that some characters often have. As you can see, the map has surprises, the dreams are mysterious and the places have a supernatural touch, so what you can expect from this book is guaranteed entertainment.



The characters also fascinated me. They are not characters who simply fight like animals, but on the contrary, most have cunning, intelligence, deceive others, have an innate survival capacity, a double sense that allows them to make fun of others with class and a personality so singular that inevitably it will cause us to hate several, others will annoy us and naturally we will take a lot of affection and appreciation for some. Getting to know them is a pleasure that will turn into an addiction to wanting to know more and more about them. Therefore, if to the well-developed characters we add their cruel customs and a permanent interaction with their fellows, that results in a myriad of possibilities, traps, changes and unexpected moments; although not all, because some seemed predictable to me.



My favorite character was Tyrion. The reason? His story, his personality and his intelligence. I empathized with Tyrion from the first moment and every time I had to read a chapter about him it was a pleasure to do so. Certainly, his ingenuity captivated me so much that he has become not only my favorite character in the book, but also one of my favorites in literature in general -although my favorite remains Sherlock Holmes-. I was also fascinated by Arya because she represents that spark of rebellion towards traditions where the woman is only seen as an object for procreation. Arya has a very similar behavior to Merida, the one from the movie "Brave", and that character also I love, so the liking was immediate. To finish the topic of the characters, it seemed very strange to me that GRRM would call his characters in different ways depending on the chapter. My question is, with what sense?



Despite the quasi-perfection, "Game of Thrones" does not become my favorite book because it is a story that entertained my brain, but that did not deeply move my heart. There are many excellent books, but only those that leave me in a state of ecstasy for their story, but that at the same time transmit all kinds of feelings to me have the privilege of being on the podium of my favorite books. "Game of Thrones" achieved the first, but not the second and that happened because in the face of so much cruelty, blood and deaths, from the first moment I understood that many of the main characters -if not all- had to die later. And although I feel great sympathy for several characters, imagining a story without them is not as tragic as it would be thought since in that world the important thing is war and power, and not the soldiers fallen in battle. Therefore, with a little coldness, I am willing to accept the next deaths that will occur in this universe created by GRRM.



In summary, a very complete book that is difficult to find flaws in because it is made in a very careful and detailed way. With its great narration, correct characters, a unique world and an engaging plot, do we need more reasons to read this saga? I don't think so. Highly recommended book.



Note: My intention was to make this review immediately after finishing this reading, but when I did it and was editing the final details, I ended up doing it again from the beginning because I didn't like the adulatory way in which I was writing. My personal lesson is that I should not make complete reviews -of extensive books- when I have just finished reading them because surely I will exaggerate and I will not be impartial.

I decided to commence 2025 with an epic reading challenge for myself. I resolved to read the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series once more. I had done so many years ago and, since I recently re-watched the entire television series, I thought I would give the books another go. George R. R. Martin did an outstanding job and truly merits my full attention. I have combined my original review with some new thoughts, all in the hope of presenting a more updated and comprehensive assessment. I have developed as a book reviewer since the first set of thoughts was written, so let's see where this takes us now:

Before I begin, three admissions:
1) I don't typically read the fantasy genre.
2) I listened to the audiobook and didn't attempt to absorb the book by reading the words.
3) I watched the corresponding season of the HBO show, which allowed me to visualize a great deal more.

Now that that's clear, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series. While I do feel that there was a lot to take in, perhaps that's because I'm not accustomed to this genre of book. Even in Chapter 1, there is a great deal of backstory that isn't detailed, leaving me to carry it in my mind and only later will it make sense. Some said I should carry a pad and paper to keep track of all the characters. This is an excellent suggestion, though I would need a huge page to create even a basic family or character tree.

Long ago, events occurred that would change things forever. From the flow of the seasons to the way people in the Seven Kingdoms would live on a daily basis. Winter is creeping forward and the people of Winterfell can sense it in their bones. There is a group that is eyeing and closing in on the Wall, a massive structure that protects the Seven Kingdoms from the monsters outside and in the wilderness. The Starks have lived in Winterfell for as long as many can remember. Lord Eddard Stark is the King's representative and will do his utmost to maintain peace.

In the South, King Robert Baratheon discovers that there are problems as he rules loosely. His own Hand has been killed and enemies are edging closer to seizing control of his Iron Throne. Choosing Eddard, a long-time friend, as his new Hand might be Robert's only means of ensuring that things remain calm across the Seven Kingdoms.

As many start to wonder about how the King's former Hand died, lords and ladies emerge throughout the story to unfold their own tales for the reader to enjoy. Deception and double-crossing occur more frequently than some raise a pint in the local tavern. Eddard's own children have new roles as things are constantly evolving, all of whom display their mettle as the story progresses.

All the while, in a distant part of the realm, a young girl is married off to a brutal man who leads a cutthroat group, eager to shed blood. She isn't sure what awaits her, though it's clear that this union is intended to bind her family with an army that will make their play for the Iron Throne, a seat they once held before Robert Baratheon was able to wrest control away. Receiving dragon eggs as a gift from her husband and with a babe in her womb, this young girl is eager to see what lies ahead, though it's her brother who is drunk on power.

When terrible news arrives from the heart of the Seven Kingdoms, things change drastically and the leadership foundation becomes shaky. Battles are brewing and people are seeking to rush to the appropriate group that might gain power. This is a Game of Thrones, as the Seven Kingdoms are up for grabs and no clear heir exists, at least based on the various stories that have emerged. It's now up to the different groups to make their move, with Eddard Stark at the center of the chaos, holding a secret that could change everything! Martin delivers a remarkable first novel and got my blood flowing to continue on!

Martin enlivens the book with a great story, though it is highly confusing and multi-faceted. There is something for everyone and storylines that both entertain and create additional chaos, perfect for someone who loves a good thrill. The narrative flows well, as long as the reader can stay on top of all that takes place, which is an effort in itself. There are many different characters who emerge and provide the reader with entertainment as they offer their own perspectives. Martin used these different views to flavor the various chapters and advance the story effectively. The reader must be attentive, especially when listening, to the title of the chapter, so as not to miss whose perspective we are seeing things from. Plot points are constantly present and keep the reader on their toes, laying the groundwork for additional surprises that await in future novels. I'm ready to take it all on, though I admit I got lost a few times and will need to do even more to stay on top of this massive story!

Kudos, Mr. Martin, for a great start to this epic journey!

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others can be found at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

I think it's 4.5 stars, or maybe 4. It's hard to decide.

I've been thinking about it and I believe I liked the first season of the series more than the book itself. Could it be because I saw the series first? I feel that some moments were much more epic on TV than in the book.

I finished reading this at the beginning of December, but I hadn't updated it because I didn't know what rating to give it. I thought of 4 stars because I really liked it, but it didn't surprise me at all. And then I kept thinking that if I hadn't seen the series, I would have been shocked and very surprised many times with everything that happened in the book. Hahaha, it was difficult to rate it!

Anyway, that's it: I feel that if I hadn't seen the series, the book would have had a greater impact on me. The first season is indeed very similar, so sometimes it annoyed me to know everything that was going to happen.

When playing the game of thrones, you either win or you die.

One of the most wonderful fantasy novels I have read in my life, the novel started with one king and this part ended with three kings and two others also claiming the throne.

Strange families, each one is characterized by certain qualities that make it occupy a position among the other families. Either it is dominant and has its power and advantages, or smaller families owe loyalty to the big families.

As usual, conspiracy and deceit exist in the events of this part, so evil prevailed in this part of the novel and justice began to regain its strength.

There are so many characters and it is difficult to focus, but the author's method is wonderful in choosing a specific character and following it in every area of the areas of conflict.

To the next part.....>

The read was truly amazing, as well as overwhelming. It was so astonishing that I could not even begin to anticipate the events that unfolded in the end. Even now, I'm still in a state of shock and awe of it all.

Initial thoughts:

1. The writing is simply amazing. It's truly hard to believe that it was first published in 1996! The read has a timeless quality to it that makes it feel as relevant today as it was back then.

2. The characters are fantastic. From the honourable to the wicked, each one is not as black and white as they initially appear. There are some surprising and admirable aspects to the most loathsome characters, and less than worthy characteristics to those you initially want to root for. As for my favorite characters, Tyrion the imp is by far one of them. His wit and intelligence make him a truly captivating character.

3. The sassy and witty dialogue between a fair few of the characters is simply delightful. I loved every moment of it! It added a layer of depth and entertainment to the story.

4. There are a lot of names and details in the book, which can be overwhelming at times. However, I didn't fret too much over it. I was reading at a slower pace just to absorb it all and fully understand the complex world that the author has created.

5. Epic is the only word that can truly describe this story. How much more can the seven kingdoms go through? The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Full video review up today :)

Yup.

Nerds, now I am among you.

This is going to be a review where I just prattle on and on about meee meee meee. Let's face it - there are a million reviews of this puppy out there, so I don't have to worry about doing a disservice to the book. You'll either read the book or you won't. But you should: it's got direwolves.

I wasn't going to read this at first. After years of watching hordes of desperate sad-eyed nerds come up to me, asking "any news on the George R.R. Martin release??" (as if the BN computer knows more than the internet, which it doesn't), and I would have to tell them (not without some schadenfreude-glee) "nope - it has just been moved back another year!!" It gave me a solid sense of "there but for the grace...". Like when you see a very young junkie and you congratulate yourself for dodging that particular bullet.

Despite what I kept hearing about how awesome the books were, I just filed it away in the mental RA folder of "stuff nerds like" and figured one day I would read them, you know - for research, but not before they were all out. I wasn't going to get sucked into the trap of so many before me - the waiting game of disappointment and having to reread the older books again and again to keep track of who was even alive at this point. "When you play the game of thrones, you play to become frustrated and impatient." I have seen it a hundred times.

So when the TV show came out and people were drooling over how good it was, I paid them no mind. I pushed it two feet past the "someday" pile in my brain. Because I am not one of those people who watch a movie before reading the book, am I??

But Connor wore me down. He really wanted me to see it and he wanted to talk to me about it. His bearded little face was all lit from within with enthusiasm and I just couldn't say no to him.

So I did it. I watched the TV. On demand - several episodes in a row, pissed off if I started to get too sleepy to make it through another episode.

So so good.

So now, I had to read it, right? I owe it to the gods of fine literature and all.

So I did, and god this book is fun.

I am glad they changed a few things for the filmed version. I'm not sure I would have been too comfortable watching a thirteen-year-old actress play Daenerys.

In the same line of thought - Natalie - I know you have not watched the show yet, but your crush on Jon Snow?? Perfectly understandable to someone watching the show - he has that dark brooding thing I can see a girl going for, but if you have only read the books?? Girl, your crush is on a fourteen-year-old boy. I have notified the authorities, you perv.

In the end, I am glad I watched the show first, if only so that I know how to pronounce the characters' names. Oh, you crazy high fantasy novels and your names...

Alfonso won't read this series because of the incest and because they never tell you where the soldiers pooped. I am not kidding. Several people complain that the seasonal imbalance complicates the growing cycle and where is all their food coming from. This point I can understand - fantasy novels are supposed to care about developing a fully-realized world and all, and that is kind of a major detail, but it doesn't bother me at all. I am no connoisseur of fantasy - I am a dilettante at best. So I don't care where people are getting their food - I don't care if the social hierarchy is a realistic one, given the particulars of this realm, I certainly don't care where the soldiers are pooping. Nor do I care in any novel where and when the characters poop. I just like this book's quiet intrigues and betrayals. The diplomacy, the lack of hesitation when it is time for a character to be killed off. I love how there aren't any "good guys" or "bad guys," only "effective" and "ineffective" characters. Every one of them does at least one thing that'll make a reader go, "oh, bad move." So he dropped a few details when it comes to agriculture - he spent all his energies into creating characters that I love reading about. There are facets to this thing - sides of the argument rarely seen in a straight-ahead rollicking plot-driven novel.

And I'm not really sure where the misogyny accusations come from. Is it because women can't really ascend to power except through marriage?? Because I don't think that was invented for this book - I am pretty sure that has happened, historically, in other places. And if it's the looting and raping, well - that happens in war, too. Wait, is it Sansa?? Yeah, she's kind of a wash. But the girl wants what the girl wants. She's at least more complicated than Bella, right? There are plenty of good characters here that aren't weak or power-mad, or just regular-mad... okay - there are a couple. But sheeeeit - all the characters here are pretty bad, on the moral spectrum, right? Littlefinger is my very favorite, but I wouldn't want to know him in my real life. I appreciate his devotion, though.

So I am super excited about Clash of Kings, both the book I will read and the show I will watch. Swords and boobies and direwolves. I don't even know how I am going to make it until then.

Oh, because I was talking about boobies and HBO just there, Connor was telling me this story about Louis CK, and I loved it, and I found this quote. It is relevant!! HBO is nudity-crazy!! But he took care of their lust for flesh:

HBO was asking us why there was no nudity on the show, and what they really meant was, Why wasn’t Pamela Adlon, who played my wife, nude? When I hired Pam, I didn’t tell her she was going to be doing anything like that. It wasn’t supposed to be that kind of show. So I said, “You know what, I’ll do it.” And I did that episode, and they were like, “O.K., we have plenty of nudity, thank you.”

HBO, thwarted!

Look, Dana, I read one of your books!!

And I have just discovered betterbooktitles.com!

Come to my blog!

There are approximately a billion reviews of this particular work, so I highly doubt that I have anything novel to contribute. However, the only thing that I truly feel an intense urge to express is that TYRION THE DWARF IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! My goodness, I haven't come across a character in years who is so distinct and so thoroughly enjoyable. He is multi-faceted and constantly surprises, being both a hero and an anti-hero, equally generous and spiteful. He is as capable of making high-handed miscalculations as he is of making clever deductions, and he is brave, loyal, and vindictive all at once. Overall, he is a superb creation. Tyrion, you are the best! And now, he is going to be portrayed by the most handsome dwarf actor in the industry. GO, TYRION, GO!

The novel itself is fast-paced and highly entertaining, boasting lavish and completely enjoyable world-building. The narrative has a widescreen scope yet is often intimate in scale, featuring some neat twists and strong, vivid characterizations. This is not a novel with a highly idiosyncratic "style," but it still has a very literary feel. It is complex yet straightforward, nuanced, and carefully planned writing, in the classic historical-novel mode, but made grand and epic by the range of fascinating (and overlapping) multiple perspectives. The action scenes are sparse but very well-rendered, and the magic is likewise rare, but that rarity makes each appearance even more captivating. Although it is all rather archetypal and familiar, it is still never less than pleasing.

___

When reflecting on it again, a few months after initially reading it, everything just seems perfectly executed, even meaningful. DING DING DING!! You and your sequel have just earned one more star. Congratulations on this amazing novel!

Wow! What an incredibly powerful and intricate epic fantasy! The statement "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground." truly sets the tone for this intense and captivating world. Some may argue that I cheated by watching the TV show first before delving into the books. However, I'm actually glad I did. With the numerous houses and characters in A Song of Ice and Fire, it would have been a struggle for me without already having mental images of the characters and knowing the correct pronunciation of all the names. Despite the book being nearly 800 pages long, I didn't find it difficult to read. I adored how the chapters alternated between different character perspectives, allowing us to witness all the separate battles and challenges that are interconnected in so many fascinating ways. I am completely swept away in this world of power struggles, the menacing forces in the North, and of course, the magnificent dragons! Now, it's time to move on to the next book. As it is said, "Let me tell you something about wolves, child. When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives."

WINTER IS COMING!

(Not joking y’all, it really is)



*winking like Jon Snow*



Wowza!! I finally managed to finish this book! I wonder if this is what it feels like to be pregnant and then give birth? A question for the ladies out there?!

I'm not saying this isn't a good book.

It truly has some brilliant moments. The worldbuilding within it is simply incredible, transporting readers to a unique and detailed realm.

However, I'm just sayin', it was too grimdark for me.

Take a look at this:

This:

... is not my idea of a great novel. (Yes, he actually said this.)

In my opinion, characters should die because it's integral to the story line, serving a purpose and adding depth to the narrative. But in this book, it felt like they were dying just to arbitrarily shock readers.

Add to that the unrelenting brutality of this world, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I was outta there.

In the end, I gave the book away, as it didn't resonate with me on a personal level.

House Stark Forever. ♥️