Showing posts with label dragons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dragons. Show all posts

Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Song of Ice and Fire

…is the greatest fantasy novel I ever read.

American author George R. R. Martin really caught my interest with the first novel of the Song of Ice and Fire series, which is entitled as “A Game of Thrones.” Reading the novel’s epilogue is enough for me to say that “A Game of Thrones” is a novel that will not waste my time.

“A Game of Thrones” flared up my interest and made me crave for the next two novels of the Song of Ice and Fire series, which are “A Clash of Kings” and “A Storm of Swords.”

The Song of Ice and Fire series centers about the power struggle in the fictional continent of Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms that composes it. The series opens with the novel “A Game of Thrones” that are focused on my favorite clan in the series, who are the Starks who rules the northern part of Westeros in the city of Winterfell.
.

After beheading a deserter, Eddard Stark and his sons discovered a dead direwolf with six pups. Each pups were given to each of Eddard’s children: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Tommen and the bastard Jon. The direwolves have important role in the whole series.

“A Game of Thrones” ended at the death of Westeros’ king Robert Baratheon and the capture of the King’s Hand, Eddard Stark.

The “Clash of Kings” concentrates on the war between the different claimants of the throne of Westeros and the King in the North Robb Stark. Battle ensued between Tywin Lannister (head of the House of Lannister) and the troops of the Riverlands (House of Tully and its banner men) and the north men. Robert Baratheon’s brothers Stannis and Renly also declared themselves kings. In the end of this novel, Robb Stark and Renly were killed and Stannis was defeated in the battle in King’s Landing, Westerosi capital. King Joff, supported by the Lannisters is in a precarious position.

The third novel, “Storm of Swords,” focused on the characters Cersei, Jaime, Sansa, the Greyjoys, Sam Tarly and Arya. I don’t like much the third novel because I think the characters and their stories are lightweight compared to the stories of Bran, Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Tyrion Lannister. My only favorite in the third novel is Arya and her travel to Braavos. My favorite part of the novel is the exciting last chapters when Cersei was caught in her own webs of lies and deceit and captured by the High Septon (priest) and made to stand up of adultery.

The Song of Ice and Fire is a great series. I am looking forward to read the next book, “Dance of the Dragons.”

---

Visit Before the Eastern Sunset and read the reason why I am on hiatus in the last weeks. Also, visit my other blog Digital Think Tank.

Follow me in Facebook and Twitter.
.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Eldest



Eldest is the second book of the author Christopher Paolini for the Inheritance Cycle. The first book is titled as “Eragon” and the book that followed Eldest is Brisingr.

The novel follows the adventure of the Dragon Rider Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. After the battle in the dwarves citadel of Farthen Dur, Eragon realized that he have much to learn so as to be able to defeat Galbatorix and assure the victory of the allied forces of the Varden, Kingdom of Surda, and the Dwarves.

The book opened and ended in tragedy. The first is the death of the Varden’s chief, Ajihad, and the lost of Murtagh to the enemy. The last tragedy is the death of Hrothgar, the king of the dwarves in the hands of the traitor Murtagh and his new dragon.

In the second book, Eragon discovered many things in the land of the elves and he also learned many things aside from magic that may become useful in his future battle with Galbatorix. The book also focused on Eragon’s cousin Roran and their odyssey from Carvahal to the battleground of the Burning Plains.

The second book of the Inheritance Cycle is as riveting and as interesting as the first book of Paolini. The focus on Roran is also refreshing since it adds new perspective to the story. So to Eragon fans there, this book is not a disappointment. Also, readers of the fantasy genre will also love the Inheritance Cycle of Christopher Paolini.

Visit Before the Eastern Sunset and read about my visit to Magellan’s Cross in Cebu.

Follow me in Facebook and Twitter.