Book:  A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Pages: 694 pages, hardcover, published by Bantam Books

I’m rather amazed I managed to finish this book.  Basically, it’s several different families fighting for the Iron Throne after the king dies.

Here’s the thing.  I get why people like this book.  I really do.  I, however, couldn’t get into it all and it’s not really for me.

First off, the characters were pretty standard for a political intrigue.  I was very indifferent about the characters, and could care less about them and the world they in live.  I just didn’t care what happened to them.  I know it’s only the first book in the series, and not everything is going to be revealed right off the bat, but still, make me care about one of them.  I don’t care who, I just want to care about someone. 

I’m not really sure why there needed to be so many viewpoints.  There are 8 that I counted.  The multiple POV’s didn’t work for me, especially since the character names that head each chapter could be changed with the setting for each chapter and have the same effect.  I felt like he couldn’t decide on a POV so he went with all of them.  

I’m not sure why this particular novel is considered fantasy.  Can someone please explain to me why this is considered fantasy?  Because I just don’t get it.  It reads as an alternate medieval history, with a few elements that seemed more like superstition or folklore as opposed to elements of fantasy. 

The one thing I thought was well done was the feel of the book.  It felt very historical and medieval, and Martin really did capture the essence of political drama and the fight for the throne.  It really did feel like historical fiction as opposed to fantasy… 

Overall, I have to give it a 1 out of 5.  It’s not my thing, and I felt like I had read it before.