A Game of Thrones by J

A Game of Thrones by J. R. R. Martin

Lions? Knights? Dragons? Oh, my! If you are like me, you love a great adventure in a medieval setting. Fantasy, my dears, fantasy on a royal scale, with timelines measuring in the eons, and villians skulking in every doorway - now, that's my idea of a get-away, all in the comfort of my cozy living-room recliner! This is the first of five books in this series, and all are set in a world like our Earth, but in an age of knights, kings and castles. Women fight for equality in some cities where they are considered to be suitable for only wedding and bedding. Children must rise to take on adult burdens before their time. Men scheme and battle. There is magic in small doses, and even talk of dragons!

Not for the squeamish, Martin fills his books with fascinating characters who are constantly dealing with the upheavals inherent in this time of war. The characters come from different lands, and are young, old, male and female. We live through the eyes of these characters, and you may find yourself yearning to flip to the next section in one character's story, as Martin weaves his tale in and out of different perspectives. There is tragedy and victory, but no state lasts long, as Martin's tales are always pressing onward, toward the next battle, and the next challenge for each character.

My only warning is this: these books are addictive, and - at 800+ pages each - you may need the whole year to get through them! Don't say I didn't warn you!