A Game Of Thrones Book

Created by the American Novelist George R. R. Martin as the first in what is now a five book series entitled A Song of Ice and Fire, the Game of Thrones Book follows the stories of the major clans in a fictional land called Westeros. The story is generally about how the major clans of the land are fighting, by means of politics and arms, to gain control over the entire Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and claim the Iron Throne.

The story

The story starts off from the perspective of the head of one of the major clans in the story, Lord Eddard Stark, who lives in the northern land of Winterfell and is in charge of the northern border of the Kingdom. He is described as a quiet, serious and honorable man. His family’s sigil is the dire wolf and he is married to Catelyn of the House Tully. With her they have five children namely Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon. He also fathered a bastard whom they call John Snow. Ned, as Lord Eddard is casually referred to, is the best friend of the current King Robert Baratheon, who in turn obtained the Iron Throne after defeating Aerys Targaryen II, known as the Mad King.

Robert Baratheon belongs to the House Baratheon whose sigil is the crowned stag. He is depicted as a once great warrior who after seizing the Iron Throne seemed to enjoy the life too much and let his physique slip away. Ned and Robert were raised practically as brothers by John Arryn, who eventually became the Hand of the King when Robert sat as monarch. Another one of the major clans is House Lannister, who has the Lion as their official sigil. Tywin, the head of the family, was once the Hand of the King during Aerys II’s rule. He is father to the twins Jaime and Cersei and the dwarf Tyrion who is known as The Imp. Cersei is the queen of the Seven Kingdoms as she married Robert Baratheon after he won the Iron Throne and upon the suggestion of John Arryn. Their marriage however is plagued with problems as Robert’s true love was Lyanna Stark (Eddard’s sister), who was abducted and eventually killed by Rhaegar Targaryen (son of Aerys II) and was the real cause of Robert Baratheon’s rebellion.

The plot truly starts with John Arryn’s death and with Robert Baratheon asking Ned Stark to become the new Hand of the King. Feeling the obligation to help his King, as he is requested, Ned accepts and proceeds to move to Kings Landing (the capital) and leaves his homeland of Winterfell. From here the narrative takes on several twists and turns as all the major characters play their own games to take the throne for themselves. Ned, who is probably the only main character in the story with no desire to take the throne for himself is eventually executed after he refuses to support Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey is merely a boy who is supposedly the son of Robert and Cersei (but is really the son of Cersei from his brother Jaime) and is heir to the Iron Throne. Ned discovers that he (Joffrey) is not Robert’s true son and attempts to set things right only to be outmaneuvered by Cersei and the Lannisters. From here the story revolves as Joffrey, with the help of her mother, sits on the Iron Throne and effectively places the power with House Lannister. With Ned’s execution, a war breaks out between the Starks and the Lannisters and the entire Seven Kingdoms is placed in a situation with everyone taking sides while still looking out for their own self interests.

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A Game of Thrones is available as text, audio, or digital text (ebook). It may be obtained in all major bookstores and via the internet through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audibe, iTunes, and the like.

<< Book Best Price: A Game of Thrones >>

Recently, there has been a special book release offering the first four volumes in one box set (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows) using the images from the HBO mini series.

Best Price: George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones 4-Book Boxed Set