The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin

The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin, 85 pages

The Hedge Knight is a short story by George R.R. Martin set in the world of his Song of Ice and Fire, but roughly 100 years before the events of "A Game of Thrones," the first in its series.  The novella tells the story of Dunk of Fleabottom, or more properly Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight of Westeros and his freshly obtained squire, Egg.  Being a short story, there's not a whole lot to tell without spoilers, so yeah.  Dunk, in an effort to make a name for himself and a little coinage enters in a tournament, but events quickly turn sour as he becomes accused of assaulting a knight of royal blood,  and ends up in a trial by combat.

The story was about what one would expect from Martin, with the exception of less than 5 deaths and a happy ending.  Being a short story, it was (or should have been) a quick read for me.  I would recommend it to anyone familiar with the series.

A Game of Thrones, the Graphic Novel, vol 1, adapted by Daniel Abraham, originally by George RR Martin

 A Game of Thrones, the Graphic Novel, vol 1, adapted by Daniel Abraham, originally by George RR Martin, 240 pages

This is a very loyal adaptation of the Song of Ice and Fire series- more so than the tv series, even.  As anyone who read the books would know, there is a fair amount of sex and violence- and the artist does not hold back.  So... definitely for adults!  This graphic novel covers up to the part where Catelyn Stark makes it to King's Landing to find out who tried to murder her son, and is led to believe that it was Tyrion Lannister (as if!).  So not quite the whole first book.  I think this is a really good way to get the Game of Thrones story for those who don't have the patience for the books, or who just want to watch the show but feel overwhelmed by how many characters there are.  This helps sort them out for you.

A Feast for Crows, by George RR Martin

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice & Fire #4), by George R R Martin, 1060 pages

In this fourth book in the series, the structure changes quite a bit.  Some beloved voices are absent (Tyrion, Daenerys, etc), and new, unfamiliar characters move to the forefront.  Also, the audiobook version changes narrators from the excellent Roy Dotrice to some other guy who doesn't do voices as well.  (This book is so big, I switch between the audio while I drive and work out and the book when I have reading time).  It is a bit hard to get into, but let me ASSURE you, that the ending is just as thrilling as the previous books.  Things have definitely gotten interesting with Cersei, the character we love to hate, and I'm biting my nails over the fate of Brienne, Mistress of Tarth.  The series remains just as good as ever, and you can definitely feel that there is action on the horizon!

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice & Fire #3), by George RR Martin

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice & Fire #3), by George RR Martin, 1177 pages

In this installment, all of the self-named kings are still at war, but treachery is afoot! And it means an end to some beloved characters... or DOES IT??  Jon Snow learns about love, loss, and honor; Arya takes up with some strange traveling companions; Daenerys is on a little mission to end slavery (and totally winning!); and Tyrion is in some serious trouble.  Oh, and Joffrey totally gets what's coming to him. The author has created such a rich collection of characters- some of whom you hate, and then grow to love.  It is authorial manipulation at its best!

Also, I found this, which is what I desperately wish would happen with the Jaime and Brienne storyline.  (Pardon the commercial in the beginning) To dream!
    http://www.vh1.com/video/misc/901957/game-of-thrones-as-a-rom-com-trailer.jhtml#id=1706066

A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin

A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin    1128 pages

  A Storm of Swords is the third book in the series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin.  At this point, I have nothing but songs of praise for Martin and the series, the third book being no exception.  He writes his characters to the point that they become super likeable, then he kills them and the reader gets upset, but that's okay because there are a lot of characters doing a lot of things.  This book was unique too because he took characters that I despised from the previous books, made me like them, AND then killed them.  In hindsight, I should be more upset than I am, but I'm in way too deep in the series, so yeah.

A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, 761 pages

*SPOILER ALERT*

     A Clash of Kings is the second book in George R.R. Martin's fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice,  and therefore picks up almost immediately where the first book left off.  The title is fitting as everybody who is anybody in the kingdom of Westeros declares himself as king following the death of Robert Barantheon, former ruler of the seven kingdoms.  The book was most entertaining, so much that in fact that I have started the third one and shall blog about it upon finishing.  Anyway, the series so far has my seal of approval.    

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin

A game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, 694 pages

A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a five book series by George R.R. Martin.  The book introduces what I can only assume are major characters to the series, being that it is the first in it.  I've never read a fantasy type book before, but it was recommended to me by a friend whose opinion I value and I must say I was impressed.  For a fantasy novel, there was less magic and such than I would have guessed there to be, but also I have never really read in the genre, so yeah.  Anyway, the story takes place in the fictional land of Westeros where seasons last longer or shorter than they would regularly, which I suppose will be important towards the general plot of the series and follows the struggle of three major houses: The Starks, the Lannisters, and the Barantheons.  The Barantheons hold the crown but the king married a Lannister and fathered three heirs with her, while making Eddard Stark the king's hand, which is kind of like the Vice President.  Well, to make a long story short, some stuff happens and then other things happen because of the initial stuff happening.  The book was good.  Read it, or don't.  I liked it.  Oh, and also HBO made a t.v. show from it.  From what I have seen of it, the show follows the book pretty faithfully, which is somewhat of a rarity for film adaptations of books.