The beauty of George’s writing is that the characters are beautifully consistent. You can read one character’s narrative, and then George gives you the character by a different name and you can immediately tell who the character truly is. Masterful is the perfect description for this entire series.

Fine I’ll reread the entire series again

Funny thing is... the algorithm is what brought me here 😅

I have to agree, Game of Throne book series just feels massive. There is depth in the books, you feel swept into the story. G.R.R. Martin's writing is believable, like this is something that really happened somewhere. I don't know how to describe it, but it feels somehow realistic.

Someone who says that the first 4 seasons of GOT were slow and boring is someone I can't trust for their ability to understand a good narrative. I mean, I feel like he's about to say that the third Harry Potter movie is a little slow and with some awkward camera movements 😅

This world is so big; A Game of Thrones is the smallest it will be. By Storm, you’ll never escape the world 🙏🏾

Later books ramp up on scale and complexity. It makes the first book seem almost simple and direct to the point!

I disagree that it’s very grim dark, it’s true that bad things keep happening however, the characters themselves try to be good and make the future better (at least some) and it gives it a bit more of a hopeful tone

Martin used to insist he was going to finish the books before the show caught up. The last novel he wrote in the main series was published the same year the show started. They passed the events of that book in season 6, eight years ago.

A Feast for Crows is my favorite of the series. Also, the show stopped following the books as closely in season 5.

Never read any of the A Song of Ice and Fire book, but i juust started reading Fire and Blood and it's so good and i'm so immersed in it. Wanted to read all the Games of Thrones books, so i thought to myself i might as well start from the beginning a read in chronological order i also have The world of ice and fire book on the way. I have watched the show multiple times so i already know the main story pretty good, so i wanted to read and experience something new from this universe and i'm loving it already.

That spreadsheet with every character will pay off as you're reading through the other books. It's surprisingly fun to track the minor characters, because they do get mentioned time and again. And yes, GRRM is a good writer. He's not always a wordsmith, but he's a great storyteller and to me it's more important

The show was truly GREAT, up until it ran out of source material.

I’m with you on the sentiment that you really want to hate it based on all of the hype and stuff lol. But, you actually read it and then you realize, “….oh….GRRM really did create one of the greatest pieces of fantasy that we’ve ever seen”. It’s such a shame that we’ll never get a conclusion to it all 😢

I don’t understand where the hate for the ASOIAF books comes from?! Like why does someone go into this series wanting to hate it? Such a weird mindset.

People throw the word Hate around so casually.

I get you're being a bit hyperbolic, but why would you go into anything actively wanting to dislike it. Also, hating something just because it's popular is cringe.

when I got the end of this book I realized GRR Martin was making a loose parody of the 15th century English civil war, the so-called War of the Roses. That Ned Stark is supposed to be Richard duke of York and Cersei is Queen Marguerite d'Anjou etc. I was in awe of what a fun parody that is!

Oh… you’re gonna want to read The Hedge Knight prequel eventually. Very beautifully written

George R R Martin actually spent several decades writing science fiction short stories before starting Game of Thrones. I recommend you check out "The Hero," "Men of Greywater Station," "Sand Kings," and "Seven Times Never Kill Man"

ASOIAF it's worth reading even if its never get finished is a fantastic experience to be in the head of such great characters and the world and the things that happens are so cool

I genuinely love that you gave these books a chance. The more I look back on the show the more I realize that, even as far back as season one episode one, the very very beginning, the only thing that really carried Game of Thrones was the actors, and the bits of script that came DIRECTLY from the books. Any time they moved away from the original writing it really fell off. That compounded with the lack of inner monologue and George's stellar prose... Like when the show worked it WORKED, but the books are just so insanely strong it's like a whole different thing

I love how the TV series has somehow made Martin under rated. Everyone seems shocked the writing is good. Its when you read the series back you realise this is something else entirely and the man is a genius.

GRRM is a master when it comes to writing characters. No matter if its a mother in her mid thirties, or a teenage boy, a little girl or an 100 year old man, someone who made it to the top with hard work or a spoiled little prince, all his characters are completely believable and feel like actual people. There is nobody who does things just because it would serve the plot, its always consistent with the characterization they receive. That and the fact that his world seems to vast and full of secrets waiting to be uncovered really makes ASOIAF one of the best fantasy series of all time. Im just happy that my father bought the books when season 1 of the show came out and I could experience this series. About the cool shit happening in the past... Well, GRRM did write both a world book and a history book from the POV of a maester, so take from that info what you want. Also, really recommend the channel Glidus. Not only for his piss takes on the later seasons of Game of Thrones where he analysis everything that went wrong episode by episode, but he has this wonderful theory where he goes through every character that is secretly a horse. Might want to get further with the books before watching that, obviously there are spoilers.

The differences between the show and books are staggering. The showrunners cut large plot points that would have made the show flow better because they didn't see the point in certain plot beats, and they changed character plots, personalities, and motivations, and then, they decided to limit the magic in the show because they didn't want to alienate non-fantasy fans when the entire book series is a medieval political fantasy.

That is my favorite thing about the series, just the scale of it. Everything feels so grandiose, and you can feel how ancient the history and how massive the world is.

Yeah, the abundance of colorful characters, the description about the landscapes and even the feasts are just so well thought through. The world building he made is phenomenal. I'm a H.P Lovecraft fan, and you just know, George took a big ol' scoop of them deep ones and went: "Alright, now let the pieces fall where they may".

You had me at ”wanted to hate this!” Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪😊

It's always weird to me when someone does a review of something so culturally massive as this and says something like "Yeah, it's hugely popular. But it's just not as good as everyone thinks it is". There's loads of hugely popular things that I don't care for, but I don't think I'd ever personally blame that on the source material itself not being as good as people think it is. It's just not my taste.

I'd love to hear you do a review of one of Terry Pratchett's disc world books, fantasy on the opposite side so funny that I've actually laughed out loud reading some of them.

I’m a new subscriber and I have to say I just love your content!!!! I think you’re the coolest guy on KZfaq and I looooove your book videos! Please don’t ever stop making content and thank for continuing to be authentically you ☺️

At first I was suspicious. Very well said. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say about A Clash of Kings! Also I would love to hear about your thoughts on the B character plots(Mance Rayder, Robert Baretheon, Stannis the Mannis, littlefinger, and maybe even good old Uncle Ben). Yes GRRM is a Spider-Man nerd!

The books are absolutely incredbile, youre in for a treat! When you get to the third book you will be consumed by it. Also, regarding the prequels you mentioned. Fire and blood is for the very interested as it literally is an in world history book on the first half of the Targaryen dynasty. But Dunk and Egg, the Knight of The Seven kingdom stories, those are a must read for every book reader! Just 3 small short stories that everybody will love, theyre infectious, and are much more lighter in tone to the main books

And now your watch begins

You are so right: A Song of Ice and Fire FEELS big. It's epic. I think it would be THE literary masterpiece of a generation, if George finished it. Even unfinished it's pretty amazing. You really should read on, it's worth it. Go on, my sweet summer child, just read one more...then you'll HAVE to read Storm...

If you want a bit of post-apocalyptic fantasy, I highly recommend the original Dark Sun Novels! Prism Pentad into Tribe Of One into Chronicles is more or less the reading order but I'd recommend the Pentad and the Rise and Fall of a Dragon King plotline (not just that book itself) from Chronicles are my favorites! Tribe of One is awesome but the basis of the initial plot isn't super strong. It's a great twist on fantasy that doesn't get enough attention!

Note 8 is an outrage. 🤣 Big fan of Mantin from Brazil

nice shirt. Since this year - its 100years since Kafka left the stage - I am thinking about reading Kafka on the shore again.

I think the popularity and the demand for GRRM to crank out writing for this world really disrupted his process. I'm also the type of person that literally, mentally, physically, cannot do something (especially if it's something that comes out of my own creative endeavors) the more the demand and pressure to provide more is. His style of writing I think is really antithetical to capitalist demands but I also love the idea that we will never get A Dream of Spring. The world he created is so expansive and so full of mysteries that resolving the series at this point could ruin a lot of expectations people have had. But i want it to be left into question. I think winds of winter will probably disappoint a lot of people no matter what but i would like to know what happens. I don't think we are owed a finished series from him, and I want him to spend his life doing what fulfills him creatively. regarding your review though, I found your perspective interesting, its definitely the first time I've heard a review like this, at least the beginning of the video, which is where I am at, I'm amazed you like it cause it kinda sounds like you don't😂 GRRM is influenced a lot by horror as well as high fantasy and I think the horror aspect of jt is why i am so interested in jt as I don't usually like high fantasy. I love the internal monologues and the POVs. the people feel very real.

Hey! George is only 75.

I’m one of those annoying readers of the ASOIAF series that always tells people who just watched the show that they were really missing out on a much richer story. You are right that the POV perspective of the individual characters is very good. It’s also an example of how much more you get out of a character like Jon Snow, whose internal dialogue was hard to get across on the screen. Thus resulting in everyone’s complaints about Kit Harington’s constant brooding. In my opinion the television show also tried to cater to what they thought the audience would want. Both Jon and Rob’s stories in the second and third books were quite diminished on the show because I believe they wanted to play up the romance angle for the fans of those two attractive young actors. I find that especially for Jon Snow the second season took away much of the growth and courageous actions of his character’s story. I also find Martin’s books are a very easy read. Even though he tries to use a vocabulary peppered with anachronistic words to fit his medieval type of world, it is a much easier read than for example Tolkien’s prose. I try not to be one of the complainers who constantly grumbles about the unfinished series. You are likely right about not ever getting the seventh book. But I will never give up on the possibility of more from Martin within this universe. There are certain some authors who spend decades on a single book. And while it is easy to understand how the complexity of the story got away from him, I am still thankful for the incredible world and its stories that he created. I hope we will get to see your thoughts on further books within the series.

I'm with you on the title; I finally said who gives a shit and am going to be stubborn about single book reviews. As for AGOT, truly glad you liked it! My favorite fantasy series ever.

I just read Akira about a few months ago. Got me to pick up Berserk and Battle Angel Alita. Not sure what to read next

5 of the greatest books I have ever read. All of them are masterpieces

Can you see how the characters are all fantastical beasts and most are undead when the books open?

Dude...as an adult why would you go into anything like this Not wanting to like it? Weird self report brodie

I always tell people who haven't tead the books....the show is basically just the "Cliff Notes" , ya miss so much.

That book series is actually amazing! I think it's my favorite book series. Also,I re-watched GOT and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first time I watched the show. Yes, the last two seasons are not amazing but they were far better than a lot of shows out there.

This seems to be many people's sentiments of reading the books after watching the show. The show ended up being a double edged sword, it put eyes on the series but also many misconceptions so it draws people in and pushes others away at the same time. In some ways the tone of the show is the antithesis of the tone and messages of the books so I guess it is to be expected.

And ASOIAF claims another victim. Enjoy your read!

As someone who also finds that fantasy books are bit of blind spot for me. Harry Potter and His Dark Material are the only two series I read from beginning to end. I might put Game of Thrones on my list of books to try.

I read the books first, book by book, before I watched each season. I really enjoyed the HBO series, BUT because I read the books first, I was disappointed when things I was waiting for were left out! Also the books were so much more detailed than the show and because of that, I understood the back stories much better while watching the series.

It’s true that it’s dark and depressing but, you know, maybe the later books will be more uplifting?

Storm of Swords is my favorite book of all time. I read about 100 books a year.

Now I want to watch a video with spoilers)Favorite moments, characters, things you didn’t like)

I never watched the show. But I haven’t picked up the book series just because it’s not finished. I don’t want to start a series that’s not gonna end

Call me a sweet summer child but I think GRRM is writing 6 and 7 together. I love these. (I also loved 1st Law, but the scope is smaller). Storm of Swords is my favorite. Feast for Crows and Dance with dragons are better read mixed. Divide Feast into 4 and Dance into 5 the read Fdfdfdfdd. That puts it chronological and it is more enjoyable. Also, the show writers never get Tyrion right again after they run out of source material. He is my 2nd favorite after Arya, so that made me sad. The PoV point first really impressed me with 8 year old Bran. A child can be so tricky, framing thing they are misunderstanding (like Jaime and Cersei wrestling)

I am so sick of everyone talking shit about GOT just cuz they didn’t stick the landing.

This reflexive ‘boredom’ at people praising good things is one of the reasons everything is trash.

Enjoy the rest. The books that "everyone hates" have some of the best stuff.

If you are getting into fantasy...you really should consider The Wheel of Time. It's a pretty big series, but sooooo worth it.

8 out of ten? I didn't want to like it either but GOT is kind of a perfectly written and paced book. I think its a perfect 10. Keep reading, it just gets better. Cheers

Game of Thrones is a comedy book compared to Storm of Swords, Feast of Crows and Dance with Dragons. But I can say this, after a lot of suffering we receive a little joy sometimes (sometimes...).

The algorithm brought me here!

I think what I ding George for the most is still Westeros, Essos, and Planetos

Still on my to be read. Figure I got time since it’s been nearly 15 years since the last book came out.

Credit should be given to Zthe late Roy Dutrice the actor who narrated the audio books

The first one in the serie is my least favorite. It will only get better. Make a spoiler free review too!! We'll love to hear it.

The winds of winter is coming... in the next five years...Hope you read Clash of kings, storm of swords, feast for crows and dance of dragons

Was churning from your opening words but stayed to hear you out. The books are great, must separate the show from GRRM’s brilliant writing

Why is liking Game of Thrones a new thing? I didn’tt watch the show till 2016 and my girlfriend now wife bought me the books. The books are so good. Sorry to unload on your comment section but it’s a weird trend I’ve seen.

Great POV characters and he kills almost all the best ones ... Quickly.... Leaving you with bran.. and sam... And being inside queens cer head is not a great time. Later books feel very long because of this.

It's a pity that Martin will never finish the series.

As a 20 year ASOIAF fan. The amount of people who want to hate the books is hilarious. Yeah GRRM totaly got all his Hugo awards on accident. The finish book talk is also OLD and overlooks the journey is more important narrative we all seem to falsely endorse. Thank you for trying the Brussel sprouts and realizing, eh not too bad idk why I was afraid.

Story, word building, character etc is good but my only complains is history is not very original as people think. It reminds me rise and fall of Rome empire. At least ongoing story and the barbarian invasion.

Very interested in your thought's on later books as opinions differ on favourite to least favourite books a lot among fans. If slow pace is not your thing then maybe you wont like feast, but for many feast is the absolute best writing in the entire seties, and the way it focuses on smaller stories faciliates that.

Yeah well. It’s pretty much one of the great fantasy series. But I see you man!!! Earthsea in the back!! Now that 2 movie adaptations are awful the books are fantastic! Here you go: Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. Discworld Dandelion Dynasty And so on … When you are prepared to the top: Malazan Book of the Fallen awaits… ☝️

The books are really well written, it just sucks that the series will probably never be finished. If you want a good place to stop, I would say book one or book 3.

🔥🔥🔥

It only gets better from the first one.

Most books have the advantage over ASOIAF in one sense: they have an ending of some kind. The only way it's going to be finished is if GRRM works with a team of writers. Even then, I suspect that it will be disappointing. The whole structure came to a shuddering halt because of its "bigness." If only GRRM had stuck to a simpler story and developed the characters of the first book.

I feel sorry for anyone who watched the show before reading the books. Martins writing cant be touched

Shame on you for hating something you haven't read. Books and TV shows are two different kinds of media. The TV show, Game of Thrones, starts it off similar to the books, but as it goes on, starting around the 4th season the quality of the show gets worse with the dumpster fire in season 8. Don't judge the books by that disaster. All five bucks that George RR Martin has written are excellent (I just wish he would finish Winds of Winter). Unfortunately I do agree with your point on George ever finishing the series, I don't believe he will.

You should definetly rewatch game of thrones maybe you didn’t understand it’s definitely worth a watch!

The books are better than the ahow. The first 3 books are the best, and then GRRM got too big, and caused himself lots of problems, and looked like he stopped taking editing.

It's an amaaazing book! If only he'd finish the series....=/

Game of thrones is rainbows and sunshine compared to later books.

I started reading the series before the show and liked them enough but lost interest when he never finished

Glowing review, yet only an 8 out of 10?

Wait till you get to Storm and Feast.

Dude just wait till you get to feast and dance and you will see why is taking george so long to write Winds. Its just such an complicated complex history he has to wrap up, the show never really adapted the books in its entirely complexity. Especially for books 4 and 5, and a big chunk of the third as well they just cut off the show. But have faith george will be able to finish it, he is a genius, and he is not intrested in just write the book to make money, he is aiming to be in the hall of greatest writers, wich in my opinion he already are just based on the books we have, but winds its probably the climax of the hole story so he is taking his time to do something great not something that feels average as the show was in the end. I suport george and undestand that winds is probably the hardest book ever to write so he can take as much time as he needs to make it up to the expectations

Love the first three books. On book four now and it is dragging. Not bad but just not super interesting.

I am a harsh critic but if you're giving this book an 8/10, I'm struggling to imagine what would earn a 9/10 or even a 10/10. This book is damn near perfect, and in the same way as Fellowship of the Ring or The Way of Kings sets up the series brilliantly! my ratings: AGOT: 9/10 Clash: 10/10 Storm: 10/10 Feast: 7/10 Dance: 8/10 I'd also rank all three Dunk novels as 9/10. Gun to my head, I'm going for Storm being the best.

Review at 3:27, before just whining how the show was dragging ... /like raiiiinnnnn, on a wedding day/

Hyperbolic take on ASOIF.

The books are really good, but i think they are overrated. People act like they are the best thing ever written or something. They aren't THAT good...

read manga for algorithm

"I went into this expecting to dislike it" "I thought GOT was slow and overall just an okay series" Bro you're so desperate to be a contrarian 💀 Good review though

No shit its a good book, lol. Why tf anyone want to hate a game of thrones? It's a worldwide sensation for a reason sir. Come on, of course you were going to like it. Had you said anything otherwise I wouldn't have believed it haha.

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