A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Dance with Dragons (Song of Fire and Ice #5)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam 2011

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 1152

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR Scifi/Fan); Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W14

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone--a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all. . . .

It took me almost two weeks, but I finally finished the last book that's been published in A Song of Ice and Fire. And it was amazing! I was concerned at first because the beginning moved fairly slowly. Once I fully dove in, I was hooked. I loved catching up with Dany and Jon and Tyrion. They were always my favorite characters in the series. Plus we get to see more story from Aria and Davos and some other great characters. Martin has a way with crafting a compelling storyline and characters. I couldn't even predict what was going to happen in the story and that's why I loved it. Martin surprised me at every turn. And that ending was one hell of a cliffhanger. I cannot wait until The Winds of Winter.

A Song of Fire and Ice:

• #1 A Game of Thrones
• #2 A Clash of Kings
• #3 A Storm of Swords
• #4 A Feast for Crows
• #5 A Dance with Dragons
• #6 The Winds of Winter

The Sworn Sword by George R.R. Martin

Title: The Sworn Sword

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Jet City Comics 2014

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

After the deaths, surprises, and heroics in The Hedge Knight, Dunk and Egg continue their journey in search of the fair puppeteer Tanselle. Along the way, the elderly knight Ser Eustace takes both men under his charge, alongside another knight—and this one promises trouble. Peace is ever elusive for Dunk and Egg, as they are soon embroiled in the schemes of local nobility, while a darker, greater thread threatens to unravel long-held truths of the Battle of Redgrass Field.

In classic George R.R. Martin fashion, heroes and villains are never clear-cut, and political alliances threaten to slice the deepest. Yet one path lies ahead for Dunk and Egg: onward toward destiny. Join them as they venture along a now-familiar world but in a time all-new!

Another mildly interesting entry into the world of Westeros. I don't think I'm a huge fan of Dunk and Egg, but the stories are fairly entertaining. Moving on to something different...

The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin

Title: The Hedge Knight

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Jet City Comics 2013

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 184

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W12

Shouldering his fallen master’s sword and shield, Duncan (or “Dunk") is determined to reinvent himself as a knight in a nearby tournament. But first Dunk needs a sponsor, and that requirement sends him down a road studded with friends, foes, adventure, and hidden agendas. One such friend is Egg, who becomes Dunk’s squire, yet even he may hold secret motivations of his own.

In this gripping prequel, Dunk and Egg seek glory in a world both familiar and new to Game of Thrones fans. What the two fortune seekers encounter, however, is a world of distrust and political machinations. Chivalry is not lost while Dunk holds fast to his dreams of honor. But such outdated virtues make him a target—and they may even lead to his ruin. This vivid and elaborately wrought tale brings new dimension to George R. R. Martin’s beloved world.

I picked this slim volume up at a recent library visit. I was looking for a different series, but this one caught my eye. I forgot that they published some prequels to A Song of Ice and Fire series. I liked a little look into a time before the series is set, but I didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters. And I had to remember the family lines to figure out where these characters fall. Interesting quick read, but not something I will read again.

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Feast for Crows (Song of Fire and Ice #4)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam Books 2005

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 1060

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge;Fantasy Project; NPR Scifi and Fantasy; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W52; Well-Rounded Reader; Chunkster

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.

But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

Another nail-bitting volume from A Song of Ice and Fire. I couldn't wait to see what to all the characters after the events of the third book.  Unfortunately we only get half the story in this volume.  Martin left the other characters to the fifth book.  So no Jon Snow or Dany or Tyrion, but we do get some great stories centering on Brienne, Jamie, Cersi, Alayne, and my favorite story: Arianne Martell. I really loved getting stories from Dorne.  We've heard about them for awhile, but only had contact with Oberyn.  I loved meeting the Sand Snakes and the Prince of Dorne.  My second favorite storyline involved Alayne in the Vale.  I'm intrigued as to where that story is going.  Overall a long, but very enjoyable read.

A Song of Ice and Fire:

• #1 A Game of Thrones
• #2 A Clash of Kings
• #3 A Storm of Swords
• #4 A Feast for Crows
• #5 A Dance with Dragons
• #6 The Winds of Winter

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Storm of Swords (Song of Fire and Ice #3)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam Books 2000

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 1177

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: T4MC - Animal on Cover (I have the version with a dragon on the cover); Genre - Fantasy; Mount TBR; Bingo -- 2 from everyone but me; NPR Scifi and Fantasy (Perpetual)

How I Got It: I own it

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . .

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords.

I'll admit, this one started off a bit slow.  Mostly because I thought I knew what was going on...  but after about 150 pages, I was totally engrossed in the novel.  I couldn't wait until I had time to read more about the inhabitants of Westeros (and other realms).  That's not to say that there weren't times I wanted to throw the book across the room. Martin has killed even more characters in this volume, and many of those dead I really liked.  The cast of characters from the beginning of the series had dwindled to but a few.  We meet lots of new characters, some good, some bad...  We also catch up with some thought lost at the end of the last book.  I finished this volume in a flurry of reading this afternoon and can't even imagine where Martin will take us next, but I'll be sure to go with him.

A Song of Fire and Ice:

1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons
6. The Winds of Winter

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Clash of Kings (Song of Fire and Ice #2)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam 1999

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 1009

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Genre -- Epic Fantasy; TBR Pile; 52 Books -- W18; Bingo -- 5 from Everyone But Me

How I Got It: I own it

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.

It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

I am devastated by this book.  After taking my time, I finally finished it this morning and I am speechless.  I did not see all the twists and turns coming.  I did not see all the deaths coming, and there were a lot.  Martin has created a world full of interesting people and places.  I loved reading more about his world.  I loved the sweeping scenery.  I even loved the battle scenes.  They were written beautifully.  Overall, I am just in awe of this series.  After finishing, I rushed onto Amazon and bought the next book.  Can't wait to continue the series and find out what happens to some of my favorite characters...

A Song of Fire and Ice:

1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons
6. The Winds of Winter

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel

Title: A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel Vol 1

Author: George R.R. Martin, Daniel Abraham

Publisher: Bantam 2012

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 240

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Library

How I Got It: Library Loan

This graphic novel adaptation contains more than fifty pages of exclusive content not available in the original comic books, including  a new Preface by George R. R. Martin • early renderings of key scenes and favorite characters from the novels • a walk-through of the entire creative process, from auditioning the artists to tweaking the scripts to coloring the final pages • behind-the-scenes commentary from Daniel Abraham, Tommy Patterson, and series editor Anne Groell

This is definitely not the TV show.  Instead we are treated to a reimagining of the story from the novels.  I love the illustrations.  There are just gorgeous, full of so much detail.  I especially loved the panels starring Daenerys.  While Emilia Clarke is just amazing on the TV show, the graphic novel version is to die for.  I really want to pick up Volume 2.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones (Song of Fire and Ice #1)

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publisher: Bantam 1996

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 835

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: T4MC -- Fantasy/Scifi/Steampunk; Genre -- Epic Fantasy; Mount TBR; New Authors; Page to Screen

How I Got It: I own it

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

I've been meaning to get around to reading this for awhile, but somehow I kept putting it off.  Well, I finally starting reading while traveling home to California.  And I'm so glad I did.  It was unbelievably amazing.  Martin has created such an intricate world with a variety of peoples and histories.  I wept with Daenerys and raged against the Lannisters (except for Tyrion).  I feared with Jon Snow and the Night's Watch and delighted in Arya's swordplay.  I speed through all 835 pages in a few days.  I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  Even the changing points of view didn't bother me like they usually do.  I have no idea how Martin will wrap any of this up, but I'm definitely reading them all.

Television Series:

I watched the series before reading the book, but no matter.  The creators changed little things here and there, but mostly kept right to the storyline.  I love the actors, but Peter Dinklage is my absolutely favorite.  He is amazing as Tyrion Lannister.  And Kit Harrington has an amazing strength as Jon Snow.  And Emilia Clarke as Daenerys is just gorgeous.  I can't wait to see what happens in season 2.

A Song of Fire and Ice:

1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons
6. The Winds of Winter