Genre
Fantasy, adult
A Game of Thrones is the first book in George R.R. Martin's epic series, A Song of Ice and Fire. As always, the book is better than the TV show!
What I like ✅ a wide ensemble of characters, all vastly different with strong motivations, backstories and personalities
✅ extensive worldbuilding with complex political, social and religious elements all interweaving
✅ engaging writing, posing page-turning mysteries, and descriptive prose
✅ DRAGONS
What I didn't like ✖ explicit sex scenes, rape, and graphic violence which don't drive the plot forward, but are there to shock or titillate
✖ the book only starts to pick up at chapter 8 (after Bran's "accident")
✖ told from eight different character perspectives (plus one prologue perspective), which can get confusing and muddle the plot's drive
✖ characters are religious, rather than having character-building interactions with their faith; religion was included as another "world-building" aspect, rather than an area of character development
Things to consider ➖ this is an adult, worlding-building series, if you like face-paced books with a tight plot, you won't like A Song of Ice and Fire series Rating 4.5/5🌟 Verdict
RECOMMENDED
Discussion
Which do you prefer in a fantasy novel: world-building or plot?