Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Fantasy
Review: I am a long time Jordan fan who was looking for a fantasy to read until the next WOT installment is out. What I found in Game of Thorns is more than just a fantasy to tide me over. I found a great fantasy that is on par with the best the genre has to offer.What makes the story great are the characters. Opposed to the typical good versus evil, Martin gives us characters that fall in the grey area in between the extremes of good and evil. The most likable and heroic characters are at times truly despicable, and the most craven and vile characters are sometimes heroic and likable. All this adds up to an enjoyable story that is difficult to put down.
Rating:
Summary: A Welcome Addition to Fantasy Collectors' Shelves
Review: My actual rating for this book would be four-and-a-half stars, because I've never read a perfect book before and I don't think there will ever be one. But this book is, especially for a fantasy book, as close to perfect as any could possibly get. I'm no stranger to long, epic fantasies, and don't get me wrong; I like reading the sword-and-sorcery epics like those written by Goodkind and Jordan. But A Game of Thrones is a breakthrough in fantasy writing, because of the fact that it's full of imperfect characters that are all shades of grey. This type of writing has been missing from the fantasy genre for a long time, as most concentrate on a main protagonist who overcomes all odds to beat evil. The characterizations are also the best I've seen in a while. For me, characters define how good a story is. No character development, no story. Martin has done a great job in weaving their differing points-of-view into a highly coherent account of a 'game of thrones'. He gets his point across very well: you either win the game, or you die (heheheh!) The only reason I can think of NOT to read this book is the liberal sprinkling of sex and violence. Otherwise, it is a fine read from a good author.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantasy Masterpiece!
Review: This was a superb novel and easily one of the best works of fantasy I have read in many years. Game of Thrones is a massive epic story set in an imaginary world that resembles Europe in the middle ages. The story centers on key members of the prominent "houses" (a.k.a. clans) that are competing for power. It is a story of intrigue, suspense, adventure, romance, murder mystery, and coming of age, all rolled into one great absorbing novel. There are heroes you will love, enemies you will hate, and a host of others in between. A warning: at over 800 pages this book (the first of several to come) is a big investment. It is not fast reading; there are numerous characters to keep track of, and the scope of the novel is huge. Thankfully, Martin gives us a helpful appendix that lists the major families and their members. In the first few hundred pages I found myself flipping back to the appendix regularly. But it does not take long to become familiar with the players, and your investment soon pays off. I am completely hooked, and I can't wait to read the rest of this magnificent and complex tale. I highly recommend this for all readers of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: ADDICTIVE
Review: Let's put it this way, I'm ordering the next in this series. One of those books that you just CANNOT put down! After going to sleep at night, I'd dream of the characters in the book, and could not wait to read more about them the next day.
Rating:
Summary: Unlike Other Fantasy Literature
Review: I cannot stress enough how superior Martin's writing is to the typical or even the exceptional fantasy author. I have read hundreds of fantasy authors since my teenage years (I am now 33), and NO ONE has come close to Martin's ability to draw me in to his world, into the minds and hearts of his varied characters, and unknowingly, into the complex, intriguing, and hellish vortex of events that chronicle the disintegration of their society. I have spoken with many fantasy lit. fans and most agree that Martin's work is shockingly good, usually the best they have ever read. As other reviewers here have noted, Martin is a master of character development. He grabs hold of your imagination and has you pining woefully after the distasteful and ambitious characters, reviling the altruistic ones, and changing your mind once per volume! There is a proliferation of characters, each an intriguing mixture of human traits, and somehow you eagerly remember them all. It is also true there is much violence, though you would not suspect so at first. Martin cleverly draws you into an enticing, peaceful, snow-covered kingdom, seen through the eyes of the royal family's children. The story unwinds carefully, ominously, and fiendishly. It wasn't until the third book that I realized this deception! The layers are complex and sophisticated. Don't be surprised if you are up all night reading. What else can I say? Except to throw your "Wheel of Time" series in the garbage. You will be embarassed to have it on your bookshelf after reading this series.
Rating:
Summary: Actually anxious for sequel
Review: Not many books make me anxiously await a sequel any more. This one did.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, I have found another good fantasy series
Review: It can be so difficult to find a good quality Fantasy Series written by a great author. George Martin makes this quest a little easier with this first book. I have read several other books recently, with excellent customer reviews, that were absolutely terrible - no plot, spelling errors, etc. This is not one of them. There are no editing or grammar mistakes and the author's writing style is wonderful. Each chapter gives you a piece of the story from the perspective of a different character. The events that occur in this book are clever and oh so dastardly. I hate, hate, hate some of the characters in this book and I absolutely love some of the other ones. I have not read the other books yet, however, after half-way through this book I can already tell that this is a trilogy that I want to read to the end. So I just ordered the other two. I have noticed that many reviewers tend to give either 5 or 1 stars.
I am not one of them. So when I give this book 5 stars you can trust me that this is a good novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A great addition to the fantasy genre
Review: George R.R. Martin does a masterful job creating a fantasy world in "A Game of Thrones". This book is a great addition to the fantasy world and should be picked up by anyone who is looking for a good read. While this book is written more for adult readers, it is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone. It is pretty long (800+ pages), but the action, intrigue, drama, and suspense keep the book going from the front cover, to the back. A few things that make this book appeal more to an adult audience would include: 1. There is a lot of cursing. The characters will use curse words quite a bit in some of their conversations. 2. There is a lot of sexual scenes in the book, many of which are highly descriptive and involve younger characters. 3. There is some highly descriptive violence. Many scenes go in depth in deaths and murders. 4. While not a reason for being "adult", but this book is very richly detailed. Some younger readers would have trouble following all the plot lines and sub-plots that go on throughout the book. I know I had trouble following some of the plots, and I have been reading fantasy books for a long time. All in all, this book is a definate must read. Martin created a fantasy world that is so richly detailed and so realistic, that it actually feels like you could be interacting with the characters. This book pulls on the reader's emotions as well. You will absolutely love some characters, while you will totally despise others. You will be sad for some, and happy for others. If you are looking for a book to take your mind off of everyday life and pulls you into a world of its own, this is the one. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I started this series three times. It just didn't grab me at first. I decided finally in a fit of intrepidity to stick with it. I finished all three tomes in less than 3 weeks. It is that cool. The lack or archetypes mixed with moral vagueries makes each character both despicable and lovable. I have read MANY fantasy books and this is a series I would recommend to any fan.
Rating:
Summary: How could such a long book go so fast??
Review: I picked the book off the shelf, and smiled as I realized how long it was. Long books don't affect me at all, but this one seemed like it might be a challenge. It wasn't, but this is one of the best fantasy books I've read. Sure, there were times when things were a bit slow, but sometimes life is slow as well. The characters were complex. You can never really tell who is bad and who is good (with a few exceptions), and that makes the story indecisive and keeps you reading. The world the book is set in is realistic as well and interesting. It had simialr qualities to ours, but was unique in its own way. All in all, this book was a fantastic read, and the next two, while longer and heavier, are just as good, if not better. So have fun reading, and remember, when you want to pick the book up, use your knees not your back. That kind of weight can kill a person's back!
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