Most of you are already familiar with the HBO TV Series that goes by the same name and are already in love with it. But, not many of you might have read these epic fantasies introduced into the world by a great mind.
This is the first book of George R.R. Martin’s series of A Song of Ice and Fire and is truly a wonderment. This part of the saga covers the entire first season of the GOT series. And before I give my review on the book, I would like to share what is it all about for those who all are GOT virgins.
The story is about the seven kingdoms, known as Westeros, ruled by the king who sits on the Iron Throne, in the capital city called King’s Landing. The Seven Kingdoms includes:
- Stark of Winterfell, rulers of The North
- Tully of Riverrun, rulers of The Riverlands
- Arryn of the Eyrie, rulers of The Vale
- Lannister of Casterly Rock, rulers of The Westernlands
- Baratheon of Storm's End, rulers of The Stormlands
- Tyrell of Highgarden, rulers of The Reach
- Martell of Sunspear, rulers of Dorne
Currently, it is ruled by Robert Baratheon, married to Cersei Lannister and assisted by an able administrator, known as the “Hand of the King”.
Now, our story starts with the Starks of Winterfell finding out about the murder of Jon Arryn, ‘The Hand’ and Lannisters' involvement in it. Meanwhile, Robert comes to visit Winterfell, with a proposal for Ned Stark(Ruler of the North) to be the next Hand of the king and his daughter for marriage to Robert’s son, for an alliance.
Ned must travel to King’s Landing to help Robert and find out who killed the previous Hand of the King, while his bastard son, Jon Snow chose to travel North to the Wall to join the elite brotherhood of the Night Watchers who protects the kingdom against supernatural forces called the Whitewalkers.
When Ned finds out the dark secrets of Lannisters, it sets an epic tragedy into motion, after which there is no turning back for him and this is where he faces a dilemma whether to protect his family or expose the Lannisters.
This story also focuses on the life of the exiled princess, Daenerys Targaryen, far off from Westeros and in hiding with her brother, who sells her to the wild tribal leader, Khal Drogo in exchange for an army to sail across the Narrow Sea back to Westeros and take back the Iron Throne. However, her life drastically changes after marriage, with her new found confidence and her will to survive, which also presents her with surprising facts about her powers.
This was a skimpy fact on the story, which does not do justice to a grand and extraordinary tale that George Martin came up with. It is a mind-boggling drama of so many characters living and fighting for their own selfish means, which depicts the grayness of each character in its own style.
It is so amazing as to how Martin has illustrated the magnificence of the places and grandeur of the cities in words, which can be regarded as a work of a genius. No wonder a hell lot of money was spent to create the sets of the television series.
This first season of the TV series is not much altered compared to the book, however, you will still be able to find a lot of facts not given in the HBO version.
I would recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers, as this is definitely gonna set your bar of imagination wonderfully high.
Happy Reading!!!
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