What a deft piece of storytelling. I'd seen the HBO series, so there were no plot surprises for me, but I loved the way that GRRM wove the stories together from the various points of view. I was also impressed with how he fed us small bits of backstory, so I was just as intrigued by the characters' pasts as I was their present situations. 
 I think what surprised me most, however, is how much I enjoyed GRRM's prose. Some had warned me that it was overly descriptive, but it was right on target for me, for the most part. The Eyrie, The Wall, and north of The Wall... *shiver* I loved all the setting details. The parts that I didn't care as much about (like the details of the armor) still gave the world depth, and I imagine diehard fans of epic fantasy eat that stuff up. 
 I'd heard the sex was gratuitous, but it didn't come off nearly as overdone (not to mention juvenile) as it did in the HBO series, so maybe I was primed for that not to be a big deal. I admit that Dany being so young was a bit squicky at first, but I suppose kids in Westeros have to grow up fast. Winter is coming.