Review:Star Wars: Choices of One by Timothy Zahn

Info

"The choices of one shapes the future for all"

Author:Timothy Zahn
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Lucas Books (July 19th,2011)
Format: Hardcover and Ebook

             Reading a Star Wars novel is a bit like playing the lottery. Sometimes you hit the jackpot (Revenge of the Sith) but more often than not you end up wasting your time (Planet of Twilight). The most consistently good Star Wars author has been Timothy Zahn and his newest novel is no exception.

            The Choices of One takes place in between a New Hope and the Empire Strikes Back. The Rebel Alliance is in need of a new base after the Empire’s siege on their base on Yavin 4. To alleviate this situation, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Axlon, a Rebel Alliance ambassador, are sent to a small planet known as Poln Major to negotiate a deal for a new base. Of course the Empire has taken notice of the Rebel’s recent activities and sends in the assassin, Mara Jade. Mara Jade understands that she cannot complete this mission alone so she enlists the help of the renegade storm troopers, the Hand of Judgement. In the shadows, the alien warlord Nuso Esva pulls the strings of both the empire and the republic

            To truly appreciate the story, it would be best for somebody to have read some of Zahn’s other work. Choices of One is truly a fan novel because it contains some of the most loved Star War characters (Mara Jade, Thrawn, Pellion). Of course those who have not read Zahn’s other work will still be intrigued by the technology and action that occurs in the book. I urge everyone to stick with the book until the end because the last 100 or so pages greatly expand the plot.

            Like most of Zahn’s work, the characters are the true star of novel. Since this takes place prior to the Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker is still very much the shy farm boy which is quite a relief because in later novels, he is a lightsaber wielding god. Zahn does a great job with Han Solo’s characterization because he shows why Han wants to be an official part of the Rebel Alliance. The most interesting character throughout the novel is the alien Thrawn who, despite imperial prejudices, enlists with the empire and is a superb tactician.

            Sadly there are quite a few issues with this novel. The first is that Zahn uses the same phrase a bit too often. For example, you would think that Han Solo was raised by wolves because he growls almost every other sentence he says. The second issue is that some of the characters do not act in accordance with their profession. Mara Jade is the best example of this because all though she is technically an assassin, she tends to do her job in a very loud way and relies on her lightsaber a bit to much. The granddaddy problem with this novel is the fact that some of the characters meet to often. Most of the characters in this novel are not suppose to meet for ten more years but there are quite a few scenes that are to close for comfort.

            Overall Choices of One is not a good place for a person to get into Star Wars novels, but fans of Zahn’s previous works will eat it up.

Choices of One review score: 35/50

Story-7/10

Characterization-8/10 

World Building-7/10

Writing-6/10

Magic-7/10

Review:The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

"I'm not as reckless as I use to be. You know when I was little."

Info
Author: Scott Lynch
Mass Market Paperback: 736 pages
Publisher: Spectra (June 26, 2007)
Format:Hardcover, Paperback and Ebook

       The best way to describe The Lies of Locke Lamora is to envision a peaceful walk through a meadow, where everything is going well and there are clear blue skies. What am I saying; The Lies of Locke Lamora is a heart pounding thriller that will tug on your heart strings. If you did not have heart problems before reading this novel, you will afterwards.

       The novel takes place in Camorr, a parallel version of Italy, and follows the escapades of the thief, Locke Lamora. Locke has been described, by his friends and enemies, as cunning, arrogant and an all around bastard, a Gentleman’s Bastard to be exact. The Gentleman’s Bastards is a small group of thieves who amass a ridiculous sum of money by stealing from the oblivious nobles of Camorr. Of course Locke, being the arrogant thief he is, decides to steal the largest amount of money he has ever stolen. This decision leads to many dangerous run-ins with the Capa Barsavi (imagine a mafia boss) and the mysterious magical rebel, the Gray King.       

         The Lies of Locke Lamora’s story is wonderfully told, brimming with intrigue, plot twists and all around entertaining good fun. You will always be eager to see how the Gentleman Bastards will escape from their dangerous situations. 

            Even though the story of The Lies of Locke Lamora is a great one, the true star, or should I say stars, of the novel are the members of the Gentleman’s Bastards: Locke, Jean, Calo, Galdo and Bug. Locke is a slap in the face to all other typical fantasy protagonists, he is not handsome, good with a sword or tall, but he is cunning. Jean is the son of a merchant and has a frightful temper. The twins Calo and Galdo are the jack of all trades of the organization. Bug brings up the rear as the youngest Gentleman Bastard whose goal is to prove his worth to his fellows. Taken as individuals they sound interesting enough, but as a group there friendly banter, close friendship and hilarious one liners will make even the grumpiest person smile.

            Though I have heaped a truckload of praise onto The Lies of Locke Lamora, it is not without faults. Scott Lynch occasionally will go on long tangents about the history and geography of Camorr and it does not add much to over arching plot and some of Locke’s plans rely on luck more than his cunning. Of course these are rather small gripes and should not prevent you from reading this novel.

            Since this is a dark fantasy I have quite a few warnings for those interested in this novel. I am sure everyone has heard the phrase “curse like a sailor” it should be changed to “curse like a Gentleman Bastard” because they curse, a lot. The cursing in the novel is complimented by the violence that the characters participate in. The violence can range from a scuffle in the streets of Camorr, to someone being drowned in horse piss (yes this actually occurs).If you are looking for a light, happy fantasy, look elsewhere.

            Like the characters in the novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora will steal your precious sleeping hours and leave you with a smile as you eagerly await to see how they will top it next time. This is a truly wonderful tale.


The Lies of Locke Lamora review score: 39/50    

Story-8/10
Characterization-9/10                       
World Building-7/10
Writing-8/10
Magic-7/10

Review:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"

Info
Author: J.K. Rowling
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (September 8,1999)
Formats: Paperback, Ebook, Hardcover

            Like many people, I felt inclined to reread the Harry Potter series because of the release of the last Harry Potter movie (which was excellent by the way). Since my initial reading of the Sorcerer’s Stone, I have been exposed to fantasy heavyweights like George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. The question must be asked, how does the Sorcerer’s Stone stand up to these greats? The answer to this question is, sadly, only fairly well.

            The Sorcerer’s Stone begins with Harry, an orphan boy, being dropped off to live with his uncle and aunt, the Dursleys. For some reason, the Durselys appear to detest Harry and confine him to living in the kitchen cupboard. After eleven years of a truly miserable time with the Dursleys, Harry learns that he is a wizard, a famous one at that. With his heritage revealed, Harry is whisked away to the famous wizarding school, Hogwarts. With the help of Ron and Hermonie, two Hogwart students, Harry try to unravel the mysteries of some of the more questionable aspects of Hogwarts.

            Since the Sorcerer’s Stone is aimed at children, it would be presumptuous of me to expect an intricate story and Rowling does not disappoint in this aspect. Most of the story deals with Harry’s escapades after classes and the central villain is telegraphed throughout the whole novel.  Some of the side plots within this novel had a lot of untapped potential. For example, Harry finds a mirror that has the ability to show somebody there deepest desires.

            Although I can accept the Sorcerer’s Stone simplistic story, I can not as easily accept the cookie cutter characters, Harry in particular. Harry fits snuggly into the stereotypes of a fantasy main character: orphan boy, untold power, and a destiny that is beyond his control.  Thankfully, all of the characters are not as one dimensional as Harry, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, adds depth and humor that the main characters lack.

            The true star of Rowling’s work is the world she has built, most notably Hogwarts.  Although Hogwarts seems to be a typical school for wizards, (as typical as something like that can be) it is filled with secret corridors, mystery, and surprising magical objects. In all honesty, reading about the secrets of Hogwarts was the only thing that made me continue to read the Sorcerer’s Stone.

            The Sorcerer’s Stone serves its purpose as a children novel. It is light on plot, has terrific world building and has gotten me to want to read the sequels. Although the Sorcerer’s Stone does not deserve the praise it receives, it is an entertaining read nonetheless.

The Sorcerer’s Stone score: 34/50 

Story- 6/10

Characterization-7/10

World Building- 8/10

Writing-6/10 

Magic: 7/10

Review: Runescape: Betrayal at Falador by T.S Church

"Fear is a greater enemy than any mortal foe"

Info
Author:T.S Church
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher:Titan Books (October 12, 2010)
Format: Paperback and Ebook

Betrayal at Falador is a novel based on the highly successful game, Runescape. As a person who played countless hours of Runescape, I was interested in seeing if the novel could expand the world of Runescape.

The novel begins in typical high fantasy style. A girl is found shivering in the rain and is taken in by a squire named Theodore. During a routine mission, Theodore is sent to the nearby city Taverly and is greeted by a powerful mage, Castimer, and a eccentric alchemist,Ebenezer. While Theodore, and his companions, fight off a nearby army of war mongers, a creature lurks in the shadow consuming innocent civilians in a quest to appease his dark master.

            The story of Betrayal at Falador is a good introduction to those who have not previously played Runescape, and is filled with quite a few references from the game that many veterans (myself included) will enjoy. Overall the story does not add much to the fantasy genre, but it is enjoyable nonetheless.

            The characters of Betrayal at Falador are pretty standard for a fantasy novel. The White Knight Theodore is the handsome warrior who is thrust into a world that runs counter to his beliefs. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Castimer is physically weak but his intellect allows him to get out of many situations. Where T.S Church takes a different turn from typical fantasy is with the characters Ebenezer and Kara Meir. At first glance Ebenezer’s musings about the world appear to be eccentric, but they provide the only intellectual aspects throughout the novel. I have quite a soft spot for strongly characterized female protagonists, and Kara Meir was quite the strong female character. Unlike the typical female protagonist, Kara is a masterful swordsman and is not afraid to be on the frontlines.

            Since this was T.S Church’s debut novel, there were quite a few issues that come with being a new novelist. Like new novelists, Church hampers the progression of the story with too many battles. Though I do like a rousing battle scene as much as the next guy, many of Betrayal at Falador’s battles were forced and did not move the story along. Church also makes the mistake of cramming to much into his novel without heeding the amount of pages his has to tale his story. This leads to some parts of the story feeling rushed and not planned out.

             Though the Betrayal at Falador did not add much to the fantasy genre, it should be read by those who enjoy/enjoyed playing Runescape. As for me, I feel a great urge to go dragon hunting in the actual Runescape game. 

The Betrayal at Falador review score: 29/50

Story-6/10

Characterization-6/10

World Building-5/10

Writing-6/10

Magic System-6/10 

Review: The Weight of Blood by David Dalglish

"Would you accompany me into madness"

Info

Author:David Dalglish

Paperback: 226 pages

Publisher: CreateSpace (February,2010)

Format: Paperback and Ebook

        I came into The Weight of Blood not expecting much because of its low page count and free price. This dark fantasy has taught me to not judge a book by its cover because overall it was quite enjoyable.

       The story of The Weight of Blood begins with the half-orc brother’s, Qurrah and Harruq, quest to find a purpose in their lives. While on their quest, they come into contact with the necromancer, Velixar, who promises them power and control. This alliance with Velixar leads the brothers into bloody skirmishes in an attempt to bring war to the world.

       The story of The Weight of Blood is an interesting one. The only issue I had with the story is the magic system.  The magic system appears to not really have any balancing or explanation. Qurrah and Harraq never seem to run out of magic and when they do, it is never explained how or why. In all honestly, it is a small gripe because I understand that David Dalglish was working with a low page count.

     Like most dark fantasy, The Weight of Blood has strong focus on characters. The back and forth between the brothers is interesting. While Quarrah is a cold, and merciless, necromancer, Harruq is a muscular being who sometimes can show compassion (imagine Lennie from of Mice and Men). If you like the image of the good hero with shinning armor, run away from this book. Harruq and Quarrah are cold-blooded murderers who revel and enjoy murdering citizens.

            This novel is full of extremely gory, but well written, battle scenes. The brothers butcher, maim, slaughter, and kill civilians, this includes children. If you are even slightly shaken by gore, I suggest you don’t read this because there are scenes with intestines being sliced out and heads being decapitated.

            There is not much else I can say about The Weight of Blood. If you like dark fantasy and want a quick read I would suggest you pick up this book.

The Weight Of Blood review score:  33/50

Story-7/10

Characterization- 7/10

World Building-5/10

Writing-7/10

Magic-7/10

*If you have a Kindle or Nook, this book is available for free on the Kindle and Barnes and Nobles store. 

Review: Dragon Age:The Stolen Throne by David Gaider

Info:
Author: David Gaider
Paperback:400 pages
Publisher: Tor Books(March 3, 2009)
Format: Paperback, Ebook

"Vengeance can change the world"

What do you get when a video game writer tries his hand at writing a novel? In all honesty, a novel overflowing with horrid plot pacing and unrealistic characterization.

Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne serves as a prequel to the video game Dragon Age Origins. The Stolen Throne intrigued me mostly because it was written by David Gaider. Gaider has been a blessing to the video game community for his work on Baldur’s Gate and Knights of the Old Republic. Sadly, Gaiter does not understand that writing for video games and writing a novel are to entirely different beasts.

The novel follows the generic plotline of a rebel prince and his compatriots, trying to reclaim his rightful place on the throne. To befit such a generic plot premise, Gaider decided to make the prince as generic as possible. Prince Maric has all of the trappings of a storybook prince: handsome, idealistic and he even gets a mystical sword towards the end of the novel. Maric leads his army through poorly written battles and obstacles. The biggest issue I had with Maric was that he must suffer from some sort of undiagnosed bipolar disease because at the beginning of the novel he is the picture perfect/idealistic prince, but at the end of the novel he turns into a cold-blooded murder.

Like Maric, the setting of the Stolen Throne suffers from a disease, Tolkien disease to be exact. The symptoms of Tolkien dieses include long bearded dwarves who live in tunnels, pointed ear elf archers, and a gallant prince with a mystical sword. There is even a segment of the novel when Maric, and his compatriots, travel through a tunnel that is a carbon copy of the Mines of Moria.

            There is one saving grace to The Stolen Throne; it comes in the form of the character Loghain. While Maric gets all of the glory, Loghain stands in the shadow and formulates and executes all of the rebel army’s battle plans. If it was not for Loghain being in the book, I would have most likely stopped reading the Stolen Throne, but he held my attention the whole novel with his realistic viewpoint on life.

            The Stolen Throne, as a fantasy novel, is a complete mess that will haunt book stores and libraries for years to come. Even as a video game novel, it fails to expand on the story of Dragon Age Origins. I end this review as a sorely disappointed fantasy reader and a jilted gamer.


The Stolen Throne review score: 19/50

Story-3/10
Characterization- 4/10
World Building- 5/10
Writing-3/10
Magic-4/10

Review: Talion:Revenant by Michael A. Stackpole

Info

"Justice was my gift to the world"

Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Paperback: 467 pages
Publisher: Spectra (March 31, 1997)
Formats: Paperback and Ebook

       
           For years, Stackpole has been lauded by the Science Fiction community for his superb Star Wars and Battletech novels. This review is about his first novel, Talion:Revenant. The interesting thing about Talion: Revenant is that it originally was not published because it was to long for an unknown author. All I have to say is I am quite glad that Talion: Revenant was eventually released.


           The novel begins with Nolan, an experienced Justice, hunting down the thief Morai and his various lackeys. After Nolan deals with a fair amount of Morai’s lackey’s, the story switches to when Nolan was younger in and pursuit to become a Justice. Stackpole does a great job of switching the viewpoints of the young and adult Nolan.

           The word Talion, in the title, refers to the peacekeeping force of the Shattered Empire. The closest example that I can think of to describe Talion’s are Jedi from George Lucas’ Star Wars. Talions reside in the beautiful valley city, Talianna and are divided into seven different groups.

1. Elites- A group of Talions who ride hawks and do reconnaissance missions.
2. Wizards- A group of Talions who use magic
3. Warrior- A group of Talions who are trained as an elite fighter
4. Lancer- A group of Talions who train with a lance
5. Archer- A group of Talions who master the bow and arrow
6. Servers- A group of Talions who deal with maintaining Talianna
7. Justice-The most important group of Talions who are tasked with maintaining peace in the Shattered Empire.

            The division of Talions that is the most interesting is the Justice. Before one can become a Justice, they must be at least adequate in the skills of other divisions and go through a grueling training regimen. The most notable thing about the Justice is the skull tattoo on there hand which allows them to steal the soul of whomever they would like. If a Justice decides to steal the soul of a person, they must undergo a ritual in which they are cleansed of the soul. If the soul was taken in malice, the Justice is put to death.

          Nolan, as a Justice, is put in intriguing moral situations as both as an adult and a prospective justice. The adult Nolan has all of the power of the world, but must refrain from using it because of his own moral code. The young Nolan’s quest to find his place as a prospective Justice is intoxicating. Should he dispense justice as a fearful entity or use his wits and good nature to ensure stability in the Shattered Empire?

         I only had two issues with the novel. The first issue is more of a personal gripe than an issue with the novel itself. One of the fight scenes in the middle of the book involves Nolan and 3 others, fighting back hundreds of goblin workers. The issue I have with this fight is that it lacks the finesse of all of the other fights throughout the novel and is reduced to a massacre that resembles a DOTA game (I apologize for the nerdy video game reference) or a tower defense game. The second issue I have with the novel is that the ending is a bit rushed. The issues I have in all honesty are quite small and should not affect your decision to read the book.

        Talion:Revenant was a quick and interesting read for me. The novel has all the qualities that a novel should have: a believable setting, fleshed out characters, and intriguing moral questions.

Talion:Revenant review score: 37/50

Story-8/10
Characterization-7/10
World Building- 6/10
Writing- 7/10
Magic- 9/10

Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

"Do you just want to get by? Or do you want to make me proud?" 

Info
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Paperback: 672 pages
Publisher:DAW Trade; Reprint edition (April 7, 2009)
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook

      It was only by a stroke of luck that I read the Name of the Wind. I had ventured to the library to try to find a different book, and it was not there. While I was slowly making my way to the exit, I saw the Name of the Wind sitting on a library shelf and I had heard good things about it. I ended up staying up to the wee hours of the night being immersed in Rothfuss’ world. This review comes shortly after my eighth reread of the Name of the Wind. Rothfuss has created a masterpiece, filled with a great lead character, superb writing, and a interesting magic system.

         The Name of the Wind begins with a innkeeper named Kvothe (pronounced “quothe”) and him relaying his life story to a record keeper known as the Chronicler.Kvothe’s tale goes from his time with his family up to his time at a school known as the University(imagine Hogwarts). Kvothe’s tale, at first glance, seems to be standard fare, but it is never boring due to Rothfuss’ superb and witty writing. The only issue that I had with the story is that it takes fifty or so pages to actually get into the actual story.

        Throughout the years of his life, Kvothe has been called the Bloodless,the Kingkiller, and the Arcane. It is quite interesting how when you read the actual story that Kvothe tales that he is not as frightening as you would think. Yes Kvothe is arrogant and foolish at times, but he is also clever and is an overall good person. I think Rothfuss made Kvothe such a flawed character to show that rumors and tales about a person are not entirely true.

        It should be noted that Rothfuss has created an interesting magic system known as sympathy. Sympathy is interesting because it is more science than magic. and follows all of the rules of science. A good example of sympathy is toward the beginning of the novel in which Kvothe takes the air from his own lungs as a conduit to control the wind. 

         I could write forever about the Name of the Wind, but I do not want to keep you from reading this masterpiece. Pardon me my fellow readers, I am about to start my ninth reread. 

The Name of the Wind review score: 46/50

Story-10/10

Characterization-9/10

World Building- 8/10

Writing- 10/10

Magic-9/10

Review: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

"Remember, the past need not become our future as well."

 
Info
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Mass Market Paperback: 656 pages
Publisher: Tor Fantasy (2005)
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook


       Elantris is a hard novel to review; it is filled to the brim with all of the things that I love about Brandon Sanderon’s work, the riveting premise, creative magic system, and compelling characters. The issue is that Elantris also has all of the things I hate about Sanderson’s work: the choppy writing and what I call a Sanderson ending (more on that later). 

     There was once a beautiful city known as Elantris, a city of power, grace and beauty. More importantly, the city contained beings known as Elantrians. Elantrian’s beauty could not be described in simple terms. Maybe it was their ivory-white hair or the way their skin glowed when night fell. The true wonder of Elantris, was that anybody could become a Elantrian. The Shaod it was called, striking in the middle of the night and turning whomever it wanted into a living god. Sadly, like all good things, Elantris prosperity did not last. For some reason, the shaod became a curse, turning people into living corpse with dark patches, and weakened muscles. Raoden,prince of the nearby city Kae, is taken by the Shaod and is forced into the squalid remains of Elantris. While this occurred, his wife Sarene tries to negate the advancement of the religious empire of Fjordell.

     One of the more notable things about Elantris, and the rest of Sanderson’s work, is the interesting magic system he creates. AonDor, which can only be used by Elantrians, was activated by using their fingers to trace certain images in the air. Though you don’t get to see much of the magic system until much later in the novel, it is interesting, although overpowered, once it arrives.

     I personally enjoyed most of the characters in Elantris. Raoden was a bit too much of a optimist for my taste, but he was characterized correctly. Sarene was a breath of fresh air because of her intelligence and cunning which is severely lacking in most female characters. My personal favorite character was the Fjorden priest, Hrathen. Hrathen was interesting because of his logical approach to religion and how he teeters on the edge of anti-hero and villain throughout the novel.  The side characters in Elantris are fairly interesting, but are not fleshed out correctly because of a large influx of information towards the end of the novel that leads to many unanswered questions.

      A Sanderson ending is kind of like a Michael Bay film, it is filled with pure and thrilling action, but there is enough plot holes to make a piece of Swiss cheese jealous. For example, a character is introduced early in the novel that can count the number of steps to a certain location. Raoden needs to teleport to a far off land, but cannot because he doesn’t know the exact location. Luckily, the aforementioned step counter knows the exact distance so Raoden can teleport. The last 150 pages of Elantris are plagued by examples of this.

     Though it may seem I am very harsh on this novel, it is because I have seen how Sanderson has improved since this novel. All in all, Elantris deserves to be read because of its interesting premise, magic system and well developed characters. 

Elantris review score: 33/50

Story-7/10

Characterization-7/10

World Building- 6/10

Writing- 5/10

Magic-8/10

Review: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

"Winter is Coming"

Info
Author: George R.R. Martin
Paperback: 720 pages
Publisher: Bantam; (March 22, 2011)
Format:Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook 

         Like many people, I began the novel because of the new HBO adaptation, and like many people, I fell in love with it. Maybe it was the politically enriched story, the vivid characters, the gritty realism, or maybe all three. This review is meant to find out.

Story-
        A Game of Thrones begins in the land known as Winterfell, where the people are as fierce and cold as the weather. The faction that inhabits Winterfell is the House of Stark, which is led by Lord Eddard Stark (Ned). Ned, and his family, are forced to leave the confines of Winterfell so that Ned can be the Hand of the King. This begins a tale of heartbreak, politics and deceit. You are in for a treat if you enjoy political maneuvering.

Characters-
        A Game of Thrones biggest strength is its characters. Somehow Martin was able to follow the point of views (POV’s) of eight distinctive characters while providing extensive details and back story.

Here is a list of the POV characters

1.Eddard Stark(Ned)-Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King. Ned’s flaw is his honor.

2.Catlyn Stark (Cat)- Wife of Ned. Though not as fierce or honorable as her husband, Cat should not be mistaken for a fool.

3.Bran Stark-Second youngest son of Ned and Cat Stark. Bran loves to explore and climb the castles of Winterfell.

4.Tyrion Lannister-One of the lords of the wealthy House of Lannister. Though Tyrion is the size of a small child, his intellect and witty lines (you will laugh at many of his lines) gets him out of dangerous situations.

5.Arya Stark-One of two daughters of Ned and Cat Stark. Arya is quick to anger and is more akin to a “tomboy” than a lady of the House of Stark.

6.Sansa Stark- The other daughter of Ned and Cat. Sansa is a pompous princess whose only goal is to marry the prince of the Seven Kingdom.

7. Jon Snow- Bastard son of Ned Stark. Jon is sent to protect the Seven Kingdoms at a place known as the Wall. Jon is arguably the smartest of Ned’s children and is a superb swordsman.

8. Daenerys Targaryen (Dany) - Daughter of the defeated king, Aegon the Conqueror (imagine Hitler). Dani is a timid girl who listens to the orders of her overbearing brother,Viserys.

Though I will not list the extensive cast of side characters, I can ensure you that all of them are fleshed out nicely. Some of the side characters are just as interesting as the main characters.

Gritty Realism-
          Make no mistake; this book is not for those who want a purely black and white story. Martin purposely weaves a tale in which the characters act just like real humans would. There is alcohol, whorehouses, greed, political maneuvering, incest and much more. Martin should not be vilified for showing the true face of humanity; he should be applauded for having the guts to show humanity in this light.

Conclusion-
           Though many people will be content with just watching the HBO adaptation, you owe it to yourself to spend the wee hours of the night being immersed in the masterpiece that Martin has created.

A Game of Thrones review score: 47/50

Story-10/10

Characterization-10/10

World Building- 9/10

Writing- 9/10

Magic- 9/10