With House of the Dragon now airing on HBO, I suppose it’s past time for me to talk about A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. I consider this series to be one of those that a reader either loves or hates and there is very little in between. I personally loved it. As a whole, it’s well-written and Martin delivers what is certainly some very bloodstained and vicious entertainment. The world in which the story takes place is rich in detail and thousands of years of history, with each region of the world having their own lore, quirks, and unique little sayings. Even each house within Westeros has distinct details that set them apart from others of the same standing. Martin created an entire universe that doesn’t fit the formulaic fantasy norm. Instead of a high fantasy composed of complex magic and a multitude of humanoid races, Martin did the opposite and A Game of Thrones very much mimics historical fiction but with dragons.

The characters, well-developed, much like the world building, do not disappoint and every chapter is dedicated to a specific character’s point of view. This gives the reader a look into each one’s motivations, making them all the more relatable or believable. Martin gave each of the characters their own distinctive voice, complete with witty and highly notable dialogue. Some of the best and most memorable lines come from Tyrion Lannister, the despised but brilliant, stunted brother of the queen of Westeros.

“… a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

Not only is Martin’s dialogue clever and compelling, his descriptions of characters and setting as well as the metaphors he employs have an almost impeccable flow. There were many descriptions that I felt were beyond perfect in their execution. One of my favorites and most memorable is of Tyrion Lannister.

When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king.
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Something you find out very quickly either by watching Game of Thrones the series or by reading the books is that in the battle for the iron throne, no one is safe no matter their standing, merits, or valor. This unpredictability and danger for even a crucial main character made each moment highly intense and suspenseful.
This is a good series if you enjoy gruesome, blood-filled medieval or historical fiction evolving disconcerting political practices, appalling characters, and bloody battles. But not if you are sensitive to rape or graphic violence. Martin doesn’t pull punches when it comes to fully immersing characters in the world he has created.

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, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, 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 are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.

Meanwhile, 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.