A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin is the first out of a series of seven novels called A Song of Ice and Fire, on which the popular television series Game of Thrones is based. The sixth and seventh volumes of the series are yet to be released. The novels following Game of Thrones are: A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and the two pending volumes, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

 

The story of the Game of Thrones takes place in an imaginary universe during the medieval era, however shares some similarities with the real world. The universe of the novel is separated in two different ‘continents’, Westreos and Eastereos. First there is the realm of Westereos – needless to say, that is the western part of the world – which looks something like an enlarged version of the UK, and it is habituated by European-like people, such as peasants, knights and lords. Westereos is separated into seven great areas, ruled by seven lords, who are in turn ruled by a single king. However, as the story progresses, a war flares up between these seven and the dynamics between the different houses change, with some of them being almost completely wiped out. Most of the significant events in the storyline of the book occur in Westereos. Then there is Eastereos, which is an altered version of today’s Eastern world, separated into different major independent trading cities, which largely influence the provinces around them. The cultures in Eastereos are also very similar to the medieval eastern cultures of the real world.

 

The storyline is guaranteed to satisfy readers of all preferences: Dragons and magic, mythical beasts such as mammoths, the undead and giants are carefully woven in the universe of the novel, with an outstanding result. A realistic yet magic, down-to-earth yet magnificent world is bound to excite fans of myths, epic, political and conspiratorial stories as well as medieval era enthusiasts.

George Martin has mimicked the storytelling style of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, as he does not focus on a single character’s point of view while the story unfolds, but rather narrates through the different, and often contrasting, points of view of the most influential characters of the storyline. This is a very interesting narrating feature, which allows the reader to pick the side he wants to support, empathize with all characters, and acknowledge their emotions and the motives for their actions.

 

However the most noteworthy element of the book is inarguably its plot. The twists in the storyline, the betrayals and conspiracies, the unexpected revolutions and comebacks, the assassinations and alliances, are what makes this book one of the best of its kind. For the readers and students that enjoyed Julius Caesar, this book is a must. With 800 pages of plot twists of jaw-dropping ingenuity, the Game of Thrones is a near masterpiece.