Ned Stark is a benign lord of his subjects at Winterfell and a loving husband and father. A good friend of King Robert Baratheon, he just wants to live his peaceful life away from politics and intrigues at King's Landing even when he has proven he was a good warrior and administrator. His loyalty, honesty and love for the king however will be tested in storms to come. Given the choice of revealing a secret that would shatter the realm and start a war or to remain quiet for the safety of his family, it seems he would pick the obvious. But forces he could not control are mounting up the pressure that would ultimately involve not just they key players of the court but everyone else and pit one man or woman against another in a battle for the throne and the redemption of hurt loved ones. In the midst of all the human struggle is a greater threat known to and recognized only by a few.
This first installment of A Song of Ice and Fire series is told from the point-of-view of eight characters; namely, Bran, Catelyn, Daenerys, Eddard, Jon, Arya, Tyrion, and Sansa. The series follows two major storylines; the first is the fight for control of the Iron Throne of the seven kingdoms after the death of the king and the threat beyond the Wall, whether the threat is posed by the Wildlings, White Walkers or both, is for the readers to find out.
Brandon Stark is a boy of 7 who dreams of becoming a knight. He loves to climb and explore. When he fell one day it signalled the beginning of a struggle started by two influential women of the realm.
Catelyn of houses Tully and Stark is a strong, determined mother and wife of a family she unknowingly broke apart because of love.
Daenerys Stormborn, 13, lived a life in terror of her brother and assassins real and imagined. This exiled princess learns at a young age that the world is a cruel place.
Jon Snow, 14, a bastard son who struggles to be accepted and loved but who wants to just disappear at the same time. He is a member of a loving family yet not entirely a part of it.
Arya Stark is a feisty girl of 9 who wants to become a fighter. She's strong and smart for her age yet the same qualities might just get her into trouble.
Sansa Stark is a gentle lady who wants to please everybody. Kind at heart but naive and idealistic. How long her world of chivalric knights and courtly glamour last will depend on the people and herself living up to that fantasy.
Tyrion Lannister is shunned all his life because of his appearance. Sometimes he's too smart for his own good. He only wants to be a good son and useful to the realm, but nobody wants him.
The characters are colorful and closely resemble real people. Their ambitions, fears and happiness are consistent with real human emotions and how people would usually react when confronted with problems. His characters is what makes the book special. The human drama (the book is more about it than magic or fighting) that make up the soul of the book. The lack of good action scenes, magic, and even the originality in its storylines (the fight for the throne and a threat from inhuman forces) are compensated by the distinct and unforgettable characters. It is not setting-driven even if there are two storylines; it is character-driven. Moreover, the characters can't be classified as exclusively good or bad. Magic and combat are not the dominating elements in the book. Combat and what little semblance of magic is in this first volume are just hinted at. There are very few fight scenes in this part of the series, but even those few are passable at best. Imagery is not as good as what you would expect from a high fantasy series. Major battles are skipped altogether and narrated only after it took place. A sufficient and practical tactic, but the point-of-view is limited and sometimes biased. If you're looking forward to huge battles written skillfully, you'll be disappointed in that regard.
The pace is different for every character and dependent on who is telling the story. Sometimes a lot of things happen in a day but there are moments when the events span weeks or months.
For the characters to be effective, the world they live in should have an elaborate history. The book did not fail to provide that backdrop.
The series has an Arthurian and Middle Ages feel to it especially because the story is mostly told from the POV of noblemen who are at the center of action. There's no POV from the common people. The court intrigues, clothing, festivities and setting remind me of legends of chivalric knights. If you're a fan of adaptations set in the Middle Ages or medieval literature in general, you will find a lot of parallels here.
Almost throughout the book the feeling of near hopelessness is persistent. There is a stark contrast between people with power and the commoners that it almost makes you feel like you are nothing when you don't have anything. Sometimes I find myself asking if there's no middle ground at all. There's some balance in this tilt of power however. Although some characters might have more wits, resources and power than the others, that does not guarantee their safety. Everyone can be a victim. Not only is it a game of power, wealth, influence and brains, but luck as well.
Almost throughout the book the feeling of near hopelessness is persistent. There is a stark contrast between people with power and the commoners that it almost makes you feel like you are nothing when you don't have anything. Sometimes I find myself asking if there's no middle ground at all. There's some balance in this tilt of power however. Although some characters might have more wits, resources and power than the others, that does not guarantee their safety. Everyone can be a victim. Not only is it a game of power, wealth, influence and brains, but luck as well.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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