This book and its sequel are, quite simply, the best fantasy novels published in the past 20 years. In fact, the only other fantasy stories I enjoy as much as two thesis are Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser tales (thesis books are better than Jordan's!). The character development is superb - Arya Stark and Tyrion are two of my favorite characters in fiction. Even the minor characters (Bronn, for example) are better developed than in many fantasy novels characters. If you read the reviews on this site for this book and its sequel (A Clash of Kings), you'll find a few people with two major criticisms of theory books: 1) too much sex and swearing and 2) negative portrayals of women , Ignore them. They're wrong. This is a realistic novel; this stuff happens in real life. At no point in thesis books are examined graphically Described incidents; the reader always hears of them after Their occurrence. In fact, I would say Martin is far better at portraying realistic female characters than his contemporaries. He's better at it than Certainly Jordan, who's females are all annoying shrews. Arya Stark, for Example, is arguably the best character in the book. Do not let the Puritans and feminists prevent you from reading a great book! And to Those of you who've read the books: My bet's for Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen (It Seems so obvious, even before hearing the rumors).
