There are far better and complete reviews of this book out there, but I felt I had to say something. I recently tried picking up this book again. To no avail. A Game of Thrones is problematic, dull, with rambling writing, a plot that doesn't know where it's going and it doesn't follow the most basic rules of storytelling; over 800 pages of how NOT to write a book. And it makes me furious the way some themes are treated here. Namely, rape and sexism. I rarely put down books, but I could only read about 200 pages before getting so angry, annoyed and bored with this book and its characters I just couldn't continue for the sake of my sanity. Maybe it's a compelling story for some, but I have developed such a disgust for all things related to Game of Thrones I cannot see anything but its flaws anymore. I have better things to do with my time.