Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters. The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances. Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.
There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game of Thrones is nevertheless compelling; it garnered a Nebula nomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. So, on to A Clash of Kings! --Nona Vero
fiction
This book is complex and you get drawn into it like it's your own life. I love how the tale is told from the perspective of several characters (it makes it hard to pick a favorite!) Even if you're not a big reader, this book makes it easy for you to imagine what this world is exactly. It's beautiful and imaginative, and while it's easy to make fantasy cliched, these ideas feel very fresh and exciting. I felt emotion for the characters as if they were real, gasping, even talking to them at points. Vivid!