Name: A Game of Thrones
Rating: 4.3271484375 (2048 reviews)
ISBN: 9780553588484

George R. R. Martin

The kingdom of the royal Stark family faces its ultimate challenge in the onset of a generation-long winter, the poisonous plots of the rival Lannisters, the emergence of the Neverborn demons, and the arrival of barbarian hordes. Reissue.

A Game of Thrones

Giovanna Marulli Borges 

and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night cane alive with the music of dragons.

Bethany Jenkins

“Well, my legs may be too small for my body, but my head is too large, although I prefer to think it is just large enough for my mind. I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind... and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." Tyrion tapped the leather cover of the book. "That's why I read so much, Jon Snow."

Ariella

“Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?'

'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.”

“When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”

Kaitlyn Kuehn 

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you."

"Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities."

“Every flight begins with a fall…” 

"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?" he heard his own voice saying, small and far away. And his father's voice replied to him. "That is the only time a man can be brave,!"

“If they want to give you a name, take it, make it your own. Then they can't hurt you with it anymore." 

fira

“After my name day feast, I'm going to raise a host and kill your brother myself. That's what I'll give you, Lady Sansa. Your brother's head.”

A kind of madness took over her then, and she heard herself say, “Maybe my brother will give me your your head.”

ella

Well, my legs may be too small for my body, but my head is too large, although I prefer to think it is just large enough for my mind. I have a realistic grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. My mind is my weapon.

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. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.

What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms... or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy. 

Noah Cross

 "I vowed to kill Rhaegar for what he did to her.

tyrion has always been one of my favorite characters in the series—revisiting this narrative through the novels gathering dust on my bookshelf only cemented that fact.

kuuri

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.

read a couple of chapters off the book today. this line feels especially poignant, knowing how this all ends.

When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.

What an amazing entry to a series!, perfect world building with complex characters and a fresh POV style format. Hard to put down for sure.

aydin khan

You've read the books. You've watched the hit series on HBO. Now acclaimed novelist Daniel Abraham and illustrator Tommy Patterson bring George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones to majestic new life in the pages of this full-color graphic novel. Comprised of the initial six issues of the comic book series, this is the first volume in what is sure to be one of the most coveted collaborations of the year.? Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King's Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert's name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn, his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon, his daughters Sansa and Arya, and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse-unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer ... but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.? Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, Prince Joffrey, a cruel, vainglorious youth, and the queen's brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister-the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.? While across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki-whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

Greg Talbot

Only ten years ago Tolkien not only re-emerged in the cultural conversation with the brilliant movies from Peter Jackson. Frodo and Sam fought bravely through dangerous escapades all with the faith there was still some good in the world. Now George R.R. Martin holds the throne. And his saga has also ballooned with the commercially and critically successful "Game of Thrones" television drama. Although I am not a fantasy fan, I admire the book for the reasons many other readers do. Martin's brilliance with words and emergence as a literary maven in a generally critically unappreciated genre. The realism and grittiness of the characters. Sword fights are not ways to heighten scenes, nor are they frivolous or without consequences. The story lines were very difficult for me to track, but it's understandable why fans maddeningly fall into this series. Although I will likely not continue the journey, there is so much to be said about the world Martin creates. The storylines are plentiful, detailed and freshly imaginative.

Bárbara Borba

Definitely not my kind of book, but great story.

Cameron Voytko

3.5- i can't say i was in love reading this (or that i necessarily felt good about it), but i was entertained enough. it's much easier to read than i was initially expecting, and the short chapters and continuously switching narrators help to keep things moving, a great feature for an 800 page book. some perspectives were more engaging than others, and i think it's pretty clear that martin has his favorites, but for the most part, enough was done to distinguish the voices of the characters we spend the most time with. i felt like it only really began to drag at the end, and that's mostly because i find battle sequences and war tactic meetings to be hopelessly, endlessly boring. i enjoyed the more character-driven moments, and that'll be the main factor in my continuing the series. it's really one of those books that just feels good to finish so that you can cross it off the list. 

"Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to 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, assasins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildling carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. 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 endeavors to win that deadliest of conflcts: the game of thrones."--Back of container.

Game of thrones

Utter excellence. Lord of the Rings can eat it

Tristan Currie

I really enjoyed this book actually a lot of things going on and a lot of characters but I like how the POV is constantly changing and the main plot was around the Starks and their kids and the story got better when the kings hand died and it all unfolded from there and Robert died then so did Edward and there was some battles they were well written. Also the plot twist was that Joffrey isn’t the true heir to the throne and he’s a child of incest 🫣 and only the previous hand and Edward knew this and that’s why he was killed.

Hana 

Incredible world and character building. Extraordinary story telling. But the world already knows that. 

Reading the book ads a lot of context to the already well established characters. Loved it! Beautifully narrated by Roy Dotrice.

Adwait Kulkarni

Masterpiece!
Incredible world and character building. Extraordinary story telling. But the world already knows that. 
Reading the book ads a lot of context to the already well established characters. Loved it! Beautifully narrated by Roy Dotrice.

AAAAA

NED

ROB

JON

DANNY

EVERYONE SO GOOD

twas a little boring but good overall. famous for a reason 

Daphne Li-Chen

A Game of Thrones; Book 1 of Song of Ice and Fire

This is a re-read, but it still holds up. Though it’s a long book, the ensemble cast makes the pacing bearable. Some stories are more captivating than others, but I think that’s the beauty of this many POVs: there’s a plot for everyone. I am particular to Ned’s, Sansa’s, and Tyrion’s plots more than the others, but even that has changed since the first time I read this.

I think GRRM did a good job at establishing the lore and in-world culture. I feel like I understand the northerners vs the southerners vs the Dothraki beliefs. And it’s literally like one big chess board. You’re constantly waiting to see how these characters are going to interact and cross the others’ paths.

I also enjoy how GRRM subverts expectations. In these kinds of stories, we’re so used to good guys winning and bad guys getting what they deserve, but it’s truly refreshing to have a more realistic view of how these events would’ve unfolded. It’s tragic, definitely, but makes for a more exciting plot. Overall, this is a very solid start to a series.

Nik ✨

This is a re-read, but it still holds up. Though it’s a long book, the ensemble cast makes the pacing bearable. Some stories are more captivating than others, but I think that’s the beauty of this many POVs: there’s a plot for everyone. I am particular to Ned’s, Sansa’s, and Tyrion’s plots more than the others, but even that has changed since the first time I read this.

I think GRRM did a good job at establishing the lore and in-world culture. I feel like I understand the northerners vs the southerners vs the Dothraki beliefs. And it’s literally like one big chess board. You’re constantly waiting to see how these characters are going to interact and cross the others’ paths.

I also enjoy how GRRM subverts expectations. In these kinds of stories, we’re so used to good guys winning and bad guys getting what they deserve, but it’s truly refreshing to have a more realistic view of how these events would’ve unfolded. It’s tragic, definitely, but makes for a more exciting plot. Overall, this is a very solid start to a series.

envie,

I watched the series first and then listened to the audiobook and I can confirm that the book is better! Loved every part of it!!

Femke

As the Seven Kingdoms face a generation-long winter, the royal Stark family confronts the poisonous plots of the rival Lannisters, the emergence of the Neverborn demons, the arrival of barbarian hordes, and other threats.

A Game of Thrones, a Clash of Kings, a Storm of Swords, a Feast for Crows, and a Dance with Dragons

Ryan Mateyk

I really wanted to join the masses and love it but it just didn't do it for me! I loved Arya, Tyrion and Daenerys, Catelyn and Jon's chapters were alright, but Sansa was so helpless I wanted to scream, Bran just rode Hodor all day and Ned was just ... I don't know.

Hitori Gotoh

george rr martin is a fantastic writer, offering such nuances and depths to his characters that you can find even within his first book. Watching the show and reading the book are two very different experiences offering new avenues and perspectives on even the biggest of plot points. Looking forward to book two!!!

alyssa 

epic actually if only the misogyny could have been absent. Ned Stark and Catelyn Stark are everything alongwith Arya and Daenerys. 

sani

i cant believe i went thru all of this again.... masochism at its finest

Amna A.

With each chapter revolving around a specific character, I was able to bare through the boring parts of the most annoying Sansa (not that there were many) and anticipate the upcoming chapters concerning the most awesome smartmouthed imp, Tyrion, and the ill fated Daenerys.

Sarah Sammis

It's well written but too long and then to think that there are five or six more of these tomes in this series is just too much for me. I'm not one of those patient and loyal readers that Amazon.com mentions. A Game of Thrones would be a much stronger book if the story were told from half the points of view. Basically the author could have done away from the chapters from the women's point of view as they are the least interesting and least believable of all the chapters. That would probably cut the book's length down to a manageable 400 or so pages.

Sunny

Vicky  Nuñez 

After watching the T.V. show I knew I had to read this book. And to all of those who are eagerly reading it now that the first season has ended, let me tell you: this book does not disappoint. 

I am astounded how much they took into account when making the show. They really stuck with the whole plot-line. But you get more insight into the world, more background & even more of the characters. The character's youth was interesting, I liked it in some ways because it made even more incredible what some of them where going through, but sometimes it was just weird. Nevertheless, it was a great read & I look forward to know what happens in A Clash of Kings.

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 to 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 hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
(back cover)

Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire

Pretty much how I expected it to be, but that isn’t a bad thing. I liked the tv show and this was like reading the tv show, ya know? Shoutout to the Starks for putting thoughts to their ridiculous actions.

Eli Alvah Huckabee

In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall.

Laurianne

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

Inhale, exhale. I have never watched GoT series, so this review purely comes from the book itself. Let us commence with two major points I'll be discussing.
- writing/world-building
- characters

I wasn't accustomed to a book with so many point of views. But I find this entertaining (though I had trouble memorizing the names and roles at the beginning) and even grow to like it. I love the pacing. Mind you, this is a thick book, but never once I caught myself in boredom while devouring its contents (horrified, yes, at times) The world-building is brilliant, I love every bit of it.

Characters, as I stated above, they are plenty of them. Many gone as quick as they introduced. Of course, I can't analyze every character in depth, but I wish to give my two cents.
I find it amusing that Catelyn kept reminding Eddard how her husband only knew Robert, not the King he has become. Should've used the advice to herself, reminding how little she comprehends Littlefinger's (cunning) character.
Sansa mirroring her father's character, believing in the good of people, unironically costing both destruction in the aftermath. How mercy destroys what they love the most. In all honesty, I don't hate Sansa. She's just a naive little girl, taught to be nice and never to forget her courtesies. She has a lot to learn and I have faith in her character.
Arya, by far, is the smartest Stark and I have so much admiration for the girl. I hope she's safe.
Jon is my favorite character. His emotions feel so real. He is brave and compassionate. I need his chapters to be longer.
The Lannisters, I have so little affection toward them. Tyrion is the only tolerable one. I know Tywin is smart, but I have no desire to talk of that man. Nor of Cersei and Joffrey.
I love Daenerys' dragons, but her chapters horrify me more often than not due to Khal Drogo's brutality, I don't have it in me to discuss it further either.

I can't wait to read the second book already!
5 stars.

A Game of Thrones

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