First off, I apologize that my review has been a long time coming. I am in the middle of a big move, and I’m afraid my blogging has suffered as a result. However, I would like to offer a brief defense of A Game of Thrones. I initially read the book several months ago and was instantly smitten with the series. While I typically don’t read epic fantasy, the sheer unpredictability of A Game of Thrones distinguished it from similar efforts in the genre.
At times its unpredictability stems from plain good storytelling, and the plot boasts several startling surprises. But more often, George R.R. Martin toys with reader expectations. A likeable protagonist? Martin will kill him off. Time for a happy resolution? Guess again. The end result is that nothing and nobody seems safe from Martin’s calculated brutality, and the reader needs to keep guessing.
I can see how this would not appeal to all readers, and A Game of Thrones has other flaws. At times the gargantuan and intricate plotlines lag under their own weight, and the lack of a clear protagonist can leave a reader feeling lost. But ultimately, Martin’s clever character studies, skilled storytelling, and unpredictable (even cruel) plot twists make A Game of Thrones an outstanding fantasy.
Final Grade: A-
|
||||||||
Popularity: -0% [?]
