Wow. Just wow. The amount of detail which has gone into fleshing out George R R Martin's world is just staggering. This really is proof that Martin isn't merely a modern-day Tolkien but an incredible writer who far surpasses th e earlier author who many hold up as the ultimate comparative. Don't get me wrong, because it reads like a history book, I was actually bored in places (but not for very long) & if you find the number of characters in his other books bewildering, then imagine that multiplied by generations which go back over 300 years! But when you step back from it & see it in its entirety, this is an incredible piece which puts his epic into its historical context & makes the trials & tribulations of the current Westeros & beyond seem like a mere flash in the pan.
What really struck me was how believable the characters & situations were. For instance, his history of the Targaryan Kings gives each of them & their families very human flaws. The Mad King wasn't merely mad - the causes of his paranoia are clearly detailed & very convincing. Likewise, his more good-willed ancestors inadvertently caused harm with the best intentions. There are hints that each of the hundreds of named persons has been fleshed out in Martin's mind to have three dimensions, regardless of how minor a role they had. And that's just the people - there's also the detailed maps & his meticulous analysis of how the layout of Westeros has affected its history & the psychology of the residents of each realm. The psychology of its author comes into play, too. For rather than being Martin's version of Westeros, it's actually styled as having been penned by a Maester Of The Citadel. Thus the 'author' is keen to dismiss any ancient legends for which there is little proof (such as absurd allegations that the seasons in Westeros used to occur regularly, instead of having summers & winters which stretched on for years) & as he gifts the book to Tommen Baratheon, he is careful to criticise neither lion nor stag.
I bought the Kindle version. Its plain text includes links to full-sized colour illustrations, which look fantastic on my Tablet. Nevertheless, I have found myself wanting to buy the hardcover as well. The Kindle version is great for reading cover to cover but it would also be nice to dip into it from time to time. Plus there's a qualitative difference between having plain texts interspersed with pictures which can be opened & the wonderful hardback where pictures & texts have been cleverly designed to work together instead of treated as separate entities.
Regardless of the format in which you read it, like many epics this books is occasionally boring yet overall is very absorbing. It has left me wanting to re-read all of the books from the beginning, with the greater understanding that it has provided. It has reminded me that - as excellent as it is - the TV series will never replace the books, no matter how nudity it thrusts at its viewers! It has also left me more keen than ever to get hold of The Hedge Knight, Martins's out-of-print book which is set in Westeros prior to the Game Of Thrones & apparently had a surprisingly significant impact on that world. Well it's going to be such a long wait for the next book, I'm going to have to fill my time somehow!
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From the Publisher
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| Fire and Blood Slipcase Edition | Fire and Blood Collectors Edition | Fire and Blood | The Rise of the Dragon | The World of Ice and Fire | |
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| The deluxe slipcase edition of Fire and Blood | The gorgeous Collectors Edition of Fire and Blood | The story of House Targaryen | A lavish illustrated history of the Targaryens | The illustrated history of the Seven Kingdoms | |
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| A Game of Thrones | A Clash of Kings | A Storm of Swords I: Steel and Snow | A Storm of Swords II: Blood and Gold | A Feast for Crows | |
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| A Dance with Dragons I: Dreams and Dust | A Dance with Dragons II: After the Feast | The A Song of Ice and Fire Boxed Set | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | |
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Reviews with images
Outstanding, fantastic, wow!!! A must buy for game of thrones fans.
This book is simply stunning!! It tells the history of the seven kingdoms and has a lot of extra information. It has beautiful illustrations giving us a further insight into how George RR Martin envisaged the world. I though one story line in particular was very carefully explained however, without giving away spoilers to the particular storyline where the TV show has oven taken the books. I think many may know to what I refer, however I think this detail is important for people who are waiting for next book and haven't seen the TV show and don't want spoilers. This has to be one of the nicest books I've ever bought. It's simply stunning. I would 100% recommend it.
Top reviews from other countries
David E
Great book for people that love World building.
Reviewed in Canada on 21 February 2024