Book Review: “A Dance With Dragons” by George R.R. Martin

(The adventure continues)

Genre: Fantasy

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“A Dance With Dragons” continues the story with emphasis on several of the more popular, still living, characters.  Jon Snow, Cersei, Daenerys, and Tyrion.

As with the other books, do not get attached to a character as they will most likely die.

As “A Dance With Dragons” ends we are left to wonder if two major characters are actually going to die (they are near death after trusted colleagues killed them).

Nothing is resolved except (spoiler alert) that……. all the dragons are now free.

To be continued, possibly several years from now…

This book was VERY long (over 1,000 pages) but fascinating.  I could not wait to see what happens next, and can’t wait to see how this ends, if in fact it does, in the next book.

 

“A Feast for Crows” by George R.R. Martin

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(The story continues with some dragging)

Genre:  Fantasy

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As explained at the end of this, the fourth book in the series, George R.R. Martin chose to focus on the Kings Landing area and the characters associated with that region.   Book 5 (“A Dance With Dragons”) will pick up the stories of the other characters that I missed in this book (i.e. Tyrion, Dany, Jon Snow and a few others).

I had a hard time getting thru a few hundred pages in the middle of “Feast” ….those pages REALLY dragged.  But….once I got through the quicksand, the pace picked up again and I was disappointed that it ended.

I downloaded “A Dance With Dragons” (book 5) on my Nook already and will start reading it soon.  With over 1,000 pages, it will take me a very long time (especially if I run into quicksand along the way).  There is talk of a sixth book, but, I do not know when.

As always, as you read “A Feast for Crows” don’t expect anyone you like to live.  This, once again, is a brutal book with a magnificent scope of adventure.

Happy reading…..

Book Review: “A Storm of Swords” by George R.R. Martin

(The epic adventure continues)

Genre: Fantasy

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In this, the third book of the “A Song and Ice and Fire” series, Martin takes us on a rousing adventure covering many of the territories, islands, and venturing far north of the wall.

This book is way to long to summarize in a short blog entry.

Needless to say, hold on to your seat as you read this as, once again, Martin has shown his propensity to kill off beloved, and hated, characters alike.

Brutally.

Unusual marriages, bravery, thievery, deceit, and dragons…..”A Storm of Swords” has it all packed into slightly over 1,000 pages.

Enjoy!

Book Review: “A Clash of Kings” by George R.R. Martin

 

Genre:  Fantasy

(Epic)

“A Clash of Kings” is the second book of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, and is VERY long (nearly 1,000 pages).   I started reading the book, then Christmas rolled around and Santa brought me a Nook Simple Reader.  I downloaded (and paid for) the Nook version and finished “A Clash of Kings” on the Nook.

Continuing where “A Game of Thrones” left off there are now several Kings claiming to be the true ruler.  Brothers Renly and Stannis Baratheon, young Robb Stark, and Joffrey Baratheon are the main contenders vying to take over rule (Joffrey is the currently recognized King).

The “Imp”, Tyrion Lannister, is now the Kings Hand and plans the defense of Kings Landing.

Renly and Stannis plan an attack on Kings Landing, but, must battle each other before they can attack.  Robb is defending the North, while is bastard brother, Jon Snow, is taking care of his duties as a member of the Nights Watch guarding the Wall.

Robb’s little sister, Arya, has escaped Kings Landing only to be captured and put to work in Harrenhal castle.  Sister Sansa is still planning to be married to Joffrey.

Daenerys Stormborn (Targaryen) is now the mother of three dragons, and is planning to enter the fray on the mainland to claim her rightful place as Queen.

There is no way I can summarize “A Clash of Kings” sufficiently well in this blog.

Brutal, gory battles, with the introduction of black magic, deceit, and dragons.  A rousing epic that will keep you on the edge of your seat and firmly entrenched in the world of fantasy.

There is no ending, and interestingly since I was reading it on the Nook, I was surprised when it ended.

Enjoy.

Book Review: “A Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin

Genre:  Fantasy

(brutal, epic)

“A Game of Thrones” is the first of five books in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.  Galen at the Tracy, CA Barnes & Noble told me it was a great book (he was right) and that I really should expand beyond spies, killing and murder.

With “Harry Potter” and “Pendragon” I had already read “kids” Fantasy, but, now, this is an “adult” Fantasy (watch what you are thinking!  haha).

Being the first of an epic saga, it is hard to get a grasp of who the main characters are or are going to be.  Every time I thought I had it figured out….the person dies!  Arrrghh…

Overview

The story takes place in a land that is divided into three parts.

The most northern part is wild (The Haunted Forest) and inhabited by mythical / supernatural beings such as “The Others”, Giants, the dead who are still alive (and very hard to kill), and the Wildlings.

Separating this far northern wild land from the rest of the realm is a 700 foot tall ice wall that extends from the mountains in the west to the water in the east.  A VERY long and tall wall. The wall is guarded by the “Night’s Watch”….men (some boys growing into men) who dress in black and have taken a vow that they will never take a wife, bear children, and will die in service to the realm and the wall.

The Northern people (just south of the Wall) are tough and used to bitter cold weather (a 10 year long summer is just ending and winter is coming).  They seem to be more peace loving (but are vicious fighters when they need to be), and can trace their heritage back to the “First People”.   They worship the “old Gods” of the trees.

The Southern people have milder weather, worship a different set of Gods, and seem to be more ambitious and mean.

There are islands that are home to others who can be terrifyingly brutal and uncivilized (for example, they often “ride” a woman of their choice in public).

The main families, at least so far, are the Starks of Winterfell (a northern area, the Direwolf is their symbol) and the Lannisters (from the south, the Lion).  Other families are aligned with one or the other.

I could spend days introducing all the characters, but, I won’t.

“A Game of Thrones” is an epic that reads like a new classic.  It is over 800 paperback pages, easy to read but brutal.  On that note….don’t fall in love with anyone because all hell breaks loose more than once….as do many heads.

I am looking forward to reading “A Clash of Kings” because the ending of “A Game of Thrones” is not an ending.