Don't hold your breath
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An incredibly absorbing read, characters to rival any by Tolkein, Hobb or
Gemmel.
Unfortunately the wait between books is really dissapointing.
I would wait until the series is complete before embarking on this epic journey. The wait between episodes is so long that the hunger for more of the same becomes almost starvation and one looses interest.
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A different kind of fantasy epic.
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As in it is more epic and less focused on one character. At first many fantasy readers may find these books a little daunting but the quality quickly shines through the awkward nature of having so many characters and different views on the same situation. Good and evil is a little shady and some obnoxious characters are the most fun to read.
A great saga, well worth checking out.
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Good but over-long...
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From the off I'll admit that three stars doesn't quite do this book justice, I certainly enjoyed it and I'll quite likely take a look at the rest of the series. On the plus side this book is brimming with fascinating characters and all manner of political intrigue. For those bored with the many billions of turgid swords and sorcery Tolkein rip-offs in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of your local book store then this is a cut above the rest. It's a wonderful mix of a Medieval Epic and a Shakespearean political tragedy. The characters are well fleshed out and interesting. Martin is undoubtedly a good writer and the book is well and deeply researched and crafted.
On the negative side, somebody might have informed Mr. Martin that just because one 'can' write a 700 page tome, does not mean one 'should' write said tome. The book is far too long and I find it hard to understand how an editor could have allowed so much fat to make it onto the printing press. Long, pointless descriptions of even longer, more pointless journeys fill up page after page. What we really have here is three or four novellas fused together.
That said, it's well worth a read if you have some free time on your hands.
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Great Fantasy
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I can't remember what book I was looking at on this website when I came across 'A Game of Thrones' but I'm glad that I did stumble upon this truly brilliant beginning to a truly brilliant series of fantasy books. The political intrigue and the fact that no one is sure who to trust makes this book a great read as the twists and turns are constant and very often unexpected, GRRMs brutality towards his own characters; both good and bad (although its hard to see anyone truly only one or the other) also makes this book (and the whole series) very gripping from beginning, the prologue was superbly thrilling, to end. I like how GRRM established p.o.vs from all varieties of characters to allow us to see their innermost thoughts and feelings but also to show hopw they will strike and react.
GRRM has created a great work of fantasy with this book and long may it continue.
5/5
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Totally brilliant
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It's taken me this long to give Martin a go. Seen the books on the shelves, thought the series perhaps too much of a commitment and avoided them. Oh dear, what an oversight! I haven't enjoyed a book so much in years!!!! Absolutely cannot recommend it highly enough. In a funny way, it's not really fantasy [but OK, what exactly is?] apart from the beginning and the end. What happens in between is basic political power-struggle. Interesting to see Martin admitting his inspiration was the Wars of the Roses. There are similarities!! I could go on and on but am now totally smitten and Book 2 will be started shortly. Incidentally, I think I see where Abercrombie got Glokta from.....
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