Closest things to it I read were some of Stephen King 's horror
Where was there violence?
Don't want to make this seem a self serving review but I need to say it.  I was not a fantasy reader before I came across A Game of Thrones.  Closest things to it I read were some of Stephen King's horror-fantasy stuff, Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett's half-fantasy, half-satire Discworld series.  I remember finishing the latter, and looking for something a little more...serious.  Saw reviews for George R.R. Martin praising him, decided it couldn't hurt to give fantasy a shot, and picked up Game of Thrones.I read it in one sitting.  Seriously.  Since then I've read it again and again.  I recommend it to anyone who will listen to me.  Several have, and are now just as big of fans of Martin's series as I am.It's because of this book I love fantasy.  Because I tore through the first four books and wanted a fantasy fix while waiting for A Dance with Dragons, I got to discover Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie, and Steven Erikson.But still, none of them top Martin and his Song of Ice and Fire series.  And A Game of Thrones is arguably one of the best books in the series.Why?  So many reasons.  Martin is simply a gifted writer, who grabs your attention and is great at both description and characterization.  He somehow makes EVERY character, no matter how big or small, captivating.  I was sucked into the lives of the citizens of  Westeros and its environs and never looked back.The plot is unpredictable and features huge twists.  What makes them great is they don't seem to be twists for the sake of shock value, but are deliberate and calculated on Martin's part.  When something big happens, you see the impact it has on the characters and the world.The story is told in point of view format, mostly from the perspective of members of the Stark family but also of Tyrion, an enigmatic member of the Lannisters, the Starks' rivals, and Dany, an exiled member of the former Westeros ruling dynasty both the Starks and Lannisters helped overthrow who is now with her brother in a distant desert region.  Won't say more than that.  While every reader will have their favorites and those who they may just groan at when they see their name, every character is well realized and even the 'boring' ones have their moments of awesomeness.The writing. The story and the sheer scope of the story.  The characters.  Hell, everything.  That's why this book is a great recommendation to anyone.  Add the fact that as far as fantasy goes, there aren't even that many fantastical aspects to it, and you'll be able to lure even the most leery skeptic in. 