Teen Volunteer Review: A Game of Thrones

Boston Public Library's teen volunteer program has gone remote! As part of this program, local high schoolers share their thoughts on books, movies, and more on our blog. This week, Boston Latin School sophomore Kien Bui is sharing his thoughts on the modern fantasy classic A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

A Game of Thrones is the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, written by George R. R. Martin. It is acclaimed for its genius plot and sophisticated character development. Game of Thrones was also adapted for HBO. The story is set in the fictional land of Westeros and revolves around many characters who all want power and control of the Iron Throne. As soon as I started reading the book, I could definitely tell why it is considered one of the best novels written in the 21st century. It didn’t favor anybody or provide plot armor. Your favorite character could die in the very next chapter. This made the book even more exciting because everything was unexpected.

The story follows the Stark family the most, but other characters’ point of views gradually make their way into the book. The head of House Stark is Eddard, or Ned, who gets an invitation from his best friend, Robert Baratheon the King, to be his second in command and live with him at King’s Landing. Soon after they arrive, schemes by many of Robert’s so called allies begin to form, pushing the Starks into a deadly conflict. Throughout the story there was never a dull moment. Each page introduced tensions between characters as well as lots of action. However, one thing I disliked about the book was that sometimes there was too much to take in, as the story could get a little confusing.

A Game of Thrones was by far the most intriguing, dramatic book I’ve ever read. I am continuing to read the rest of the novels. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy or adventure. Another book I would recommend if you like A Game of Thrones is The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien.