Loved itAnd my favorite is The A Clash of Kings, but I've only read the first three installments, and it's just magnificent writing.
Review 1 of 7
A Clash of Kings (1998)
Others: Overwhelmingly positive In this thrilling sequel to A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin has created a work of unsurpassed vision, power, and imagination. A Clash of Kings transports us to a world of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare unlike any we have ever experienced. A Clash of Kings A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles. Preceded by: A Game of Thrones Followed by: A Storm of Swords
- ISBN:
- 9780008363741
- Length:
- 768 pages
Genres: fantasy, science fiction
Lists: …
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A Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin
1996 · 804 pages · 27 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveA Game of Thrones is the inaugural novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, an epic series of fantasy novels crafted by the American author George R. R. Martin. Published on August 1, 1996, this novel introduces readers to the richly detailed world of Westeros and Essos, where political intrigue, power struggles, and magical elements intertwine. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, each chapter focusing on a different character, allowing readers to experience the narrative from various angles. This complex structure has become a hallmark of Martin's storytelling, immersing readers in the lives and motivations of a diverse cast. Plot Summary Set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, the narrative revolves around the power struggles among noble families vying for the Iron Throne, the seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The story is rich with political intrigue, betrayal, and epic battles, as well as a deep exploration of themes such as loyalty, honor, and the consequences of power. Themes The novel explores themes of power, loyalty, and the moral complexities of leadership. It delves into the consequences of ambition and the struggle between personal honor and political necessity. The richly detailed world-building and intricate character development make A Game of Thrones a compelling and immersive read. Key Characters Eddard "Ned" Stark: The honorable Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, known for his unwavering honor and sense of duty. Catelyn Stark: The devoted wife of Eddard Stark, whose strength and wisdom guide her family through challenging times. Robert Baratheon: The King of the Seven Kingdoms, who won the throne through rebellion. His reign is marked by political intrigue and personal struggles, reflecting the broader conflicts of the realm. Cersei Lannister: The ambitious and cunning Queen of Westeros, whose political acumen and determination make her a formidable presence in the court. Jaime Lannister: A skilled swordsman and member of the Kingsguard, known for his prowess in battle and complex loyalties. Tyrion Lannister: The witty and resourceful dwarf, known for his sharp mind and cunning, navigating the treacherous politics of the realm. Daenerys Targaryen: An exiled princess of House Targaryen, seeking to reclaim her birthright and restore her family's dynasty. Jon Snow: The bastard son of Eddard Stark, who joins the Night's Watch and faces unique challenges in the far north. Sansa Stark: The eldest daughter of Eddard Stark, initially known for her naivety and romantic ideals, who learns to navigate the complexities of court life. Arya Stark: The youngest daughter of Eddard Stark, known for her spirited and adventurous nature, seeking her own path in the world. Bran Stark: The second son of Eddard Stark, whose life takes a dramatic turn. Awards and Recognition Winner of the 1997 Locus Award Nominated for the 1997 Nebula Award Nominated for the 1997 World Fantasy Award Winner of the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Novella for "Blood of the Dragon," which includes the Daenerys Targaryen chapters from the novel Became a New York Times Bestseller in January 2011 and reached No. 1 on the list in July 2011 Followed by: A Clash of Kings
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Also fantasy and science fiction62%Similar descriptions21%2 creators loved bothPersonalize your recommendations17%A Storm of Swords
George R.R. Martin
2000 · 984 pages · 19 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveHere is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction. A Storm of Swords Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . . But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . Preceded by: A Clash of Kings Followed by: A Feast for Crows
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Similar descriptions43%Also fantasy37%2 creators loved bothPersonalize your recommendations20%Dune
Frank Herbert
1965 · 535 pages · 35 reviews
Others: Mostly positiveSet on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for... When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
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Also fantasy and science fiction79%2 creators loved bothPersonalize your recommendations21%The Two Towers
J.R.R. Tolkien
1954 · 398 pages · 12 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveThe Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume epic, is set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth -- home to many strange beings, and most notably hobbits, a peace-loving "little people," cheerful and shy. Since its original British publication in 1954-55, the saga has entranced readers of all ages. It is at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale. Critic Michael Straight has hailed it as one of the "very few works of genius in recent literature." Middle-earth is a world receptive to poets, scholars, children, and all other people of good will. Donald Barr has described it as "a scrubbed morning world, and a ringing nightmare world...especially sunlit, and shadowed by perils very fundamental, of a peculiarly uncompounded darkness." The story of this world is one of high and heroic adventure. Barr compared it to Beowulf, C.S. Lewis to Orlando Furioso, W.H. Auden to The Thirty-nine Steps. In fact the saga is sui generis -- a triumph of imagination which springs to life within its own framework and on its own terms. - Jacket flap. Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin – alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go. J.R.R. Tolkien’s great work of imaginative fiction has been labelled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.
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Also fantasy and science fiction79%2 creators loved bothPersonalize your recommendations21%The darkness that comes before
R. Scott Bakker
2003 · 589 pages · 4 reviews
Others: Mostly positiveStrikingly original in its conception, ambitious in scope, with characters engrossingly and vividly drawn, the first book in R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series creates a remarkable world from whole cloth—it's language and classes of people, its cities, religions, mysteries, taboos, and rituals—the kind of all-embracing universe that has thrilled readers of Stephen R Donaldson and George R.R. Martin.It's a world scarred by an acopalyptic past, evoking a time both two thousand years past and two thousand years into the future, as untold thousands gather for a crusade. Travelling among them, two men and two women are ensnared by a mysterious traveler, Anasurimbor Kellhus—part warrior, part philosopher, part sorcerous, charismatic presence—from lands long thought dead. The Darkness that Comes Before is a history of this great holy war, and like all histories, the survivors write its conclusion.With this stunning debut, R. Scott Bakker is poised to become one of the next great fantasy writers of his generation. The Darkness that Comes Before proves again that epic fantasy can be intelligent, majestic, and terrifying.
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Also fantasy and science fiction80%Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews loved both13%Similar descriptionsPersonalize your recommendations7%The Fires of Heaven
Robert Jordan
1993 · 888 pages · 10 reviews
Others: Overwhelmingly positiveThe bonds and wards that hold the Great Lord of the Dark are slowly failing, but still his fragile prison holds. The Forsaken, immortal servants of the shadow, weave their snares and tighten their grip upon the realms of men, sure in the knowledge that their master will soon break free... Rand al' Thor, the Dragon Reborn, knows that he must strike at the Enemy, but his forces are divided by treachery and by ambition. Even the Aes Sedai, ancient guardians of the Light, are riven by civil war. Betrayed by his allies, pursued by his enemies and beset by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power, Rand rides out to meet the foe.
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What made the match, strongest first
Also fantasy and science fiction80%Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews loved both13%Similar descriptionsPersonalize your recommendations7%
Loved it
Loved itevery aspect of this book is wonderful you know the plotting here of this battle between the brothers and the fight that they have to take over the kingdom
Review 1 of 6