A Song of Fire and Ice — George R. R. Martin 

Book Four: A Feast for Crows

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Theme: Power, politics, repression, survival, class, good versus evil and so much more.

Welcome,

Finally, I’ve slogged through nearly 4000 pages of mayhem, treachery, betrayal, and death. Thank goodness it’s over…but wait, there’s more. Book five? I don’t think so, I bought the first four in a boxed set, and I persevered until I finished the last page.

When I set this book down, I reflected on the series as a whole, and I realized I couldn’t think of one incident in the entire four-book set where the author made me feel good about anything. I don’t want to beat this donkey to death, but there is no one to like, and there is not one character I can latch onto as a hero or heroine. I don’t want to be part of their fellowship; I don’t want to get involved in their lives on any level, and there doesn’t seem to be any goal beyond surviving another horrifying twenty-four hour period.

Every time I find a character I might be able to like, or pity or care about. They die, get maimed or turn out to have a poisonous side, one which makes the character no better than anyone of the dozens of treacherous, disloyal, and villainous people that populate every volume. 

Man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and woman is front and center at all times. Not only do these characters kill and maim, they feel thoroughly entitled to do so, and without any compunction. 
So why did I read all four books? Why would I subject myself to 4000 pages of misery? Since I can’t answer those questions, I can only assume I need professional help. Was I hoping at some point Mr. Martin would bring me some joy, that the last stale cookie in the box would be sweet and fresh? 

Fool me once, twice, three, four and no more. Thank you very much, I appreciate that you put a lot into these books Mr. Martin, but I’m so depressed now that I don’t think I could endure another. Besides how can there be enough people left in the ravaged kingdoms, to plant, harvest and produce food. Seems to me, winter is coming and there are only killers, connivers and villains left.

I headed out to find a good comedy to cleanse my palate, bring back my joy and remind me that the sun will come up tomorrow.

Review by Shelley Riley author of Casual Lies - A Triple Crown Adventure.

A Song of Fire and Ice — George R. R. Martin

Book One through Three: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords.

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Theme: Power, politics, repression, survival, class, good versus evil and so much more.

Welcome,

As an avid follower of the HBO series Game of Thrones, I feel the producers have done a great job adapting Mr. Martin's books into an entertaining TV series. As far as the music, the screenwriting, the casting, and special effects go—I wouldn’t change a thing.

They've stayed true to the original work in most areas. In particular, just as it is in the novels, any character that starts out looking like a protagonist, will either be killed or do something despicable.

Several years ago I wrote reviews on the first three books in the series A Song of Fire and Ice, and I found it interesting to take a look back at these reviews. Generally, by the third book in any series I read, I've become so familiar with the characters, that there's very little that the author can do to surprise me. Such is not the case with George R. R. Martin, there are lots of shocking incidents, horrific in fact. While on the other hand, something you can count on is a never-changing malevolent atmosphere that permeates every page.

Here is my old review:

Always on the lookout for a good fantasy, and after I watched several episodes of Game of Thrones on HBO, I went to Amazon and bought the four-book boxed set of A Song of Fire and Ice.

Even though the overall atmosphere is dark and dreary in the world that Mr. Martin has created. There is an overabundance of; cruelty, jealousy, deviousness, hatred, disloyalty, unhappiness etcetera. So, if that was what I was looking for, how could I ever be disappointed?

I admire the author for the complexity of the world he has developed. But at this point in the series, I've come to realize that I’m not emotionally invested with any of the characters—with the possible exception of Tyrion and isn’t he supposed to be an antagonist?

The characters are spread all over the place, and nobody seems to be working together. I'm left to ask, where is the fellowship? The camaraderie. The common goal?

I’m astounded when I see comments in other reviews saying A Song of Fire and Ice is; "Way better than Lord of the Rings." Is it better than The Lord of the Rings? The sound you hear is gales of laughter. Comparing A Song of Fire and Ice to The Lord of the Rings is like comparing a mustang to Secretariat.

Would I recommend this series? Yes, I would. Do I love it? No, I only like it.

Rating—I find it hard to rate these three novels. My next review, which covers A Feast for Crows will reveal why that is. 

Thank you for stopping by,

Shelley Lee Riley

Lonesome Dove – Larry McMurtry

Genre: Western

Theme: Friendship, old age, love, loyalty, death, quilt.

I’d like to start with one of my all-time favorites. An oldie but a goody and a Pulitzer Prize winner.

If I hadn't seen the mini-series first, I would’ve put this book down in the first chapter—pigs, dust, and rattlesnakes. The story started so slowly it became a real effort to keep turning pages. But when I'd turned the last page, I found I was grieving because there wasn't another page to turn and the story was over. I felt a real loss for the friends I would have to leave behind. And even now I grieve because I wasn’t the one who wrote it.

Would I recommend this book? Unequivocally.

Rating—Ten out of ten.

Thanks for stopping by,

Shelley Lee Riley