Rating: 
Summary: 2nd greatest fantasy ever after Lord of the Rings.
Review: The Song of Ice and Fire series is easily the second greatest fantasy after Tolkiens timeless classic. Theres not really much more to say then that.If youre interested in fantasy or are any kind of good book then you must buy this book. Now.
Rating: 
Summary: Uncompelling
Review: While the first book in George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire (A Game of Thrones) is clever, it left me unfulfilled. I felt that Martin relied more on the testosterone of high school boys and less on the subtitles of real authorship. With graphic battle and minor eroticism Martin blunts the fine instrument of fantasy into a club with which he beats us until we scream out his banal themes and uninteresting motifs. The book takes the perspectives of several different characters in very different positions (how very 'War and Peace' of him). While the plot is very complex and tightly woven, it still manages to simplify a very complicated mix of emotions into lust, hate and vengeance. Martin takes these oh so complex feelings and gives us the thematic equivalent of a romance novel (honor, lust, death and beauty-if you look hard).
Overall I felt that Martin took the easy way out, he took a long time and wrote a very convincing plot-then wrote some sadly predictable characters. When I finished I was mostly upset that these boring people got stuck in such an interesting plot.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story, Great Details, Too Much Cheese
Review: First of all let me say that I really enjoyed this book, and the next two that have come out so far as well. It is engrossing and the world Martin has created is spectacular. Many people have a problem with the plethora of names, especially in the first book when they are all unkowns, and I admit that it threw me for a while too. One of the major rules of writing is to keep the number of names to a minimum to avoid confusion and eventual dislike of your story. However, once you start to get a grip on all of the names you begin to really get into a wonderful story that I would highly recommend. The reason I gave it four out of five stars, however, is the ultra trashy seedy sex scenes peppered throughout the series. At first you read it and think "Whoa, what just happened" then after the second or third such scene you begin to dread them coming along. Let me just say that using words like "throbbing manhood" or "taking him into her", things like that should be avoided like the plague. If your going to talk about sex just say what you mean and avoid the cliche and stupid sayings, it just embarasses me to read things like that. If your going to say penis than just say it. But besides that the series is quite good and worth your time, just skip a couple of paragraphs everytime a scene starts to heat up and get cheesy.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, even better series
Review: I found this book under the "readers of this also bought.." section of Jordan's "New Spring" I had nothing to lose with starting a new fantasy series since Wheel of Time had become such a dissapointment. It took almost no time at all to get completely engrossed in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series. Besides having a cool name, Martin's style is just incredible. He creates a new world where nothing is held back. There is none of the usual "the hero is invincible and everyone will be happy at the end" promise. It's a dark and gritty story and I absolutely love it. Though the books can be frustrating at times with the way Martin sets up his "chapters" this series is far and away my favourite fantasy series, and every book Martin writes, I will read. It is that good. As I said, the book does get frustrating, so if you are the sort of person who can't wait for a story to unfold, then this is not for you. At the end of the 3rd book, despite a TON that has happened and kept you captivated, you are just getting into the middle of the story. The end of every book promises something more interesting to come in the next and I am eagerly awaiting the 4th books release, postponed to August, much to many fans dissapointment, I'm sure.
Rating:
Summary: Great series!
Review: I was surprised by this series, a friend of mine who knew I loved Robin Hobb, lended me the first one in the series (this one) and I started reading. He just laughed when I called him two days later and said "give me the next one NOOOOW!" and told him that I had stayed up all night reading. Yes, they are That good.
The characters are wonderful, with depth and different reasons. No one's pure evil, they all have good and bad sides. Many of them also grow and make fantastic and realistic changes throughout the series. I like that.
There are only two bad thing about these books
1. It feels that it is a man who wrote it, some of the war-explainations are a little bit manly and just a slight bit boring. But I still like it and wouldn't want it any other way.
2. The rape scenes. I hate, and I mean HATE, reading rape-scenes. The reason I read fantasy is to get away from this horrible world we live in, not to read things like that, blood and war and death I can handle, but not this. I still like the series and I still think they're worth it, but I'm thinking about cutting out those pages... It feels like a cheap way of making you hate someone or feel something... I don't like it. But the series is still worth it, unless you hate them more than I do...
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is an excellent book series that I have started rereading since the fourth book "A Feast of Crows" is to be published soon. Martin is truly a wonderful author with amazing characters and an interesting plot. Though some people may be turned away by the recommendation from Robert Jordan (because they are sick of waiting for him to end his Wheel of Time Series), these books are better than Jordan and there is a firm limit on the number of books; six.
The writing style is very good in that it lets you view multiple characters perspectives on the same major events. You will come to loathe some characters and love others. The emotions that Martin evokes are exactly what you would hope for in a great fantasy series.
Other points of note are these: magic does not seem to be a sort of "deus ex machina" as it is in other fantasty novels.
The characters whose perspectives you share are both good and bad; as opposed to being extremely one-sided.
Martin is unafraid of killing whatever characters he feels should die. Although certain characters stand out, there does not seem to be a superhero (at least not yet). These books are a fantastic read and a great addition to any fantasty reader's library
Rating:
Summary: Best Fantasy Novel I have ever Read
Review: This book is definately the best fantasy novel I have ever read. I have always prefered fantasy novels and that have a grim realism to them and this book is exactly that and more. It is actualy one of the best books I have ever read, ranked next to those by Gary Jennings. The Song of Ice and Fire is far better in my opinion that any other fantasy novel out there.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Fantasy book
Review: This is a page turning must read. This guy can write. Best Fantasy Series ever. Rivals Lord of the Rings. Buy it. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Fanastic writing
Review: I was amazed at this wonderful story telling I found in these books. There is nothing better then picking up a book you know nothing about and finding the most wonderful story inside. I have all the books now that are out in the series and will read each more then once I am sure. The first book I read for 8 hours straight and did not ever realize it. Most amazing story telling that can not be put down.
Rating:
Summary: Martin has taken the epic fantasy genre to a new level
Review: I am a huge fan of epic fantasy, but sometimes find myself wondering why so many authors make their stories so predictable. I was pleasantly surprised by a "A Game of Thrones", since not only Martin's writing style is superior to most, the characters are complex and engaging, there is political intrigue, alliances and treason, but also because the author surprises the reader several times throughout the novel. There are plenty of twists and turns that add a great deal to the interest of the book, and the reader is kept on his toes by the death of characters that in other series would "never die". There is a considerable portion of the book in which the fantastic elements are very limited, with the story introducing more and more of these as it progresses. The "world" in which the epic unravels is composed by the Seven Kingdoms, protected on the north by The Wall, which is defended by the Night Watch to prevent "mysterious creatures" from invading. Winter is coming, and this is the time in which the Night Watch should be more alert. The length of the winter varies and is said to be proportional to that of the summer that preceded it; so this one is expected to be a very long one. This first book focuses on two families, the Starks and the Lannisters. The former rule Winterfell, which is located in the North, and the later are related to King Robert through the marriage of their sister to the monarch. Eddard Stark is selected as Hand of the King by his friend Robert and has to go to court, leaving Winterfell under the control and supervision of his wife, Catelyn, and his eldest son, Robb. Eddard has two other sons; one of these is named Bran, who loves to climb and suffers an "accident" shortly before his father leaves. He also has two daughters, who are going to the court with him, and an illegitimate son, Jon, who has decided to join the Night Watch. The Lannisters are known for being conniving and for addressing their favors to whoever suits their purposes best. We are also introduced to the Tangaryen, which was the reigning house until King Robert won the throne. Viserys and his sister Daenerys, a maid of thirteen years, dream of recovering their previous grandeur and recover their throne. George R. R. Martin uses the different characters' perspectives to tell the story, and succeeds in conveying the differences among them to the reader. He also combines with surgical precision all the different elements that make an outstanding epic fantasy. This book has political intrigue, conspiracies, unusual "rules", magic, odd creatures and much more! In terms of the creatures, each house has its corresponding animal, and these become more and more important throughout the book. It is clear to me that Martin has created something extraordinary, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Especially since in the end of this one there is a huge surprise that leaves the reader with his mouth open and wondering what will come next.
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