A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin is best known for the series a Song of Ice and Fire. He started the series off with a Game of Thrones, and I really enjoyed the book. A Game of Thrones is written in the perspectives of different characters each chapter, while developing the overall plot respective to each character's knowledge at the time. This fantasy/epic was incredibly good, the somewhat large amount of main characters makes for a very interesting read as you get to see what is going on from different perspectiv es and is one of my favorite things about the book.

A Game of Thrones takes place in a fantasy world where there are two main continents. The first being where the action mostly takes place. This continent is known as the Seven Kingdoms. The other is not named officially, but houses the Free Cities and the great plains where the Dothraki people live as nomads/raiders. The book is about these seven kingdoms, and the proud houses that rule their respective territories underneath the King ultimately. Of these houses, the Starks of the North and the Lannisters of the West fight for what seems to be power for the Lannisters and honor/family for the Starks.

The power struggles that take place because within the Seven Kingdoms tests each house and many lives are lost. However, Winter is Coming, and while they fight about their petty desires, they oversee more dangerous threats. A daughter of the last king who was overthrown, who intends to bring a giant Dothraki horde to the Seven Kingdoms and reclaim her family’s lost throne, and th e other threat looms in the north, beyond a giant ice wall that protects the realm from mysterious ice cold evils.

I think that many guys would love this book, especially if you like The Lord of the Rings, or The Hobbit. But girls as well, my mom for one, loved the book. You cant help but enjoy reading about the witty and humorous Tyrion Lannister, the cold hearted Cersei, the “adorable” bran, and the noble Eddard Stark. In the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. Would you hinder yourself by staying true to family values and honor, or would you play the game like many others and exercise any means to win the throne? - Jack H., class of 2012