Rambling on about 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen

Well, I finally did it. I broke the vow that I made, aged eight, never to read Austen again. I found Emma on the shelves of my school library. Little Me was thoroughly enchanted by the blurb and decided that it was just the kind of novel I wanted to read. Lets be honest, Adult Me would have acted in exactly the same way. However, Little Me started to struggle with the novel and really wanted to stop reading... except her teacher was a huge Austen fan and wouldn't let her stop. Little Me got the end of Emma, paying no attention to what she read by the end and swore to never out herself through that again!

When I saw that as part of my Adaptation Studies course, I had to read Pride and Prejudice I was rather split, it has to be said. Part of me was actually quite happy. I had an aversion to Austen but I also knew that a lot of the aspects would be very much to my taste, from plot to focus on social interactions in a historical context. I'd wanted an excuse to give her another go for years but the remaining part of Little Me was trembling at the thought. 

Anyway, I sat down and read the novel. I got to the end. I managed to follow the plot to the end. I didn't skip masses of pages (that's harder on a kindle). It was a success.

I can see why I struggled with Austen when I was younger. Part of me really enjoyed the novel and then part of me wanted it to end with some promptness. Events were drawn out. Characters acted in ways that made me want to knock their heads together. In fact, when I think about it, I'm not sure that there was one truly likable character in that novel, except perhaps Jane.

When one moves beyond what was quite a difficult style at times, the plot itself is actually quite enjoyable. It's full of themes that still ring very true today from the different kinds of love to the varying forms of duty. The ways in which the characters act, while perhaps not driven by kindness, are understandable and make sense within a modern context. Perhaps some aspects of the novel are not so relevant now, or to the general non-upper class reader, but they are aspects that we can still associate with.

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be watching various films, and reading texts, that are in some way linked to Pride and Prejudice, some being direct adaptations. I have to say that I'm actually quite interested. While I enjoyed the novel in some senses, I am quite eager to see the story carried into a different format and freed of the somewhat clunky writing that didn't quite fit in with my own personal tastes.

So, after many years, I have conquered Austen. Still not planning on giving Emma another go any time soon ;-)

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Book review - 'The City and the City' by China Miéville

Rating: 2.75/5 stars

Plot:

"When the body of a murdered woman is found in the extraordinary, decaying city of Beszel, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger, and more deadly, than anything he could have imagined. Soon his work puts him and those he cares for in danger. Borlú must travel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own, across a border like no other."

-from the novel's blurb

Review:

For an inhabitant of Besźel there is one main rule, do not notice your neighbouring city of Ul Qona. The problem? The neighbouring city is not neighbouring at all but physically in the same space, differentiated by cultural aspects such as architecture, clothing, gait. If you live in Besźel, you quickly learn not to see the other city because to do so would be to invoke the mysterious powers of Breach... and to disappear.

A body left in Besźel. Tyador Borlú is given the job of investigating the crime. However, this leads to him getting caught up in an investigation which seems increasingly tangled in a web of politics, cover-ups, and even mythology, by the moment. With the amount at stake growing by the moment, and Tyador becoming more and more personally involved in the case, he is forced to travel to the Other city to attempt to solve the mystery. However, there are forces at work above and beyond the police and solving this case may not be as easy as it seems.

The premise is strange but profound. Although the murder and the surrounding details make up the plot line, it is the concept of the overlapping cities, and the rarely seen but always present Breach, that truly dominates this piece. From that point of view, it was fascinating. Miéville has constructed a world that obeys these strange rules out of fear but also without mental questioning as to why. There's sense that things must be this way but no explanation. In this way, and from the context from which I read this novel, it highlights the futility and stupidness of our own racism and social structures. The novel takes to the extreme the way in which we as humans will attempt to 'not see' groups that are different... just because.

However, it is also this location which makes the book difficult. The hundred pages or so, for me, were a whirl of fighting with place names, people names, concepts. While the instability with regard to names was probably intentional, it made the piece a lot harder to get into.

The plot itself, and the murder case, was twisting and winding. You felt the frustration of police on both sides as they were offered tiny leads yet hit walls at every turn, both in their own city and because of the other city. However, it was also hard to follow some of the link ups. Towards the end it rather felt like Tyador had some Sherlock Holmes-esque epiphanies that us mere mortals could never achieve. In the background of this otherwise gritty and realistic-ish book, that really stood out to me.

I did, however, struggle with this book more generally. The style wasn't my cup of tea. The pacing didn't work for me. The characters and the plot - fascinating. Sadly, I just never fell into the tale and so the amazing work that was obviously contained in this novel had much less effect than I had hoped it would.



The City and the City is available in both Kindle and Paperback format from Amazon... and hardback if you want to pay a tonne!




I read this book for my Cities and Cultures class and therefore scheduled this review to post after the course finished so there was no risk of self plagiarising should I have been called to write on it!

Book review - 'City of Glass' by Paul Auster

Rating: 4/5 stars

Plot:

"A detective-story writer named Quinn becomes involved in a bizarre case. A phone call from a man who believes someone is trying to kill him leads to a case more mysterious than anything Quinn could concoct. In this tale of strange reversals and shifts of identity, a character named "Paul Auster" makes an appearance as a man obsessed with Quinn's story."

-from 'City of Glass' on Goodreads

Review:

My first response having read this novel was "I loved it but I didn't understand it!" and, to be fair, that remains my overall impression. I think it's a novel that can be enjoyed on many, many levels but the best way to enjoy it is to go with the flow. I doubt anyone understands everything, if everything can even be understood, and perhaps the best thing to do is just read without attempting to make sense of every plot point.

That said, Auster's novel asks the reader to engage with the lead character, an author, as he takes on the role of a detective, also, confusingly, called Paul Auster. Despite his lack of 'real' qualifications, the character is keen to solve the mystery and become Auster the detective and we struggle alongside him even as the detective genre is turned on its head.

I wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't set as a part of my Cities and Cultures (Urban Studies) class but I am so pleased that I did. It's got some elegant writing and some really interesting and unusual views into humanity. As a source for that course it was worthwhile but as a novel in its own right it was fascinating. This hardly counts as a review because I don't know how to sum it up, certainly not without spoiling the plot or becoming overly academic due to studying it, but there we go!

City of Glass is available as part of the New York Trilogy in both Kindle and Paperback format from Amazon.




I read this book for my Cities and Cultures class and therefore scheduled this review to post after the course finished so there was no risk of self plagiarising should I have been called to write on it!

Book review - 'The Sense of Darkness' by Cinzia De Santis

Rating: 5/5 stars

Plot:

"Clara is a blind girl who lives in Sabana, a small village in Latin America, raised by her aunt Trinidad. Despite her handicap, Clara is adventurous, curious and very much in charge of her life. Thanks to her acute sense of smell, she becomes a renowned healer. Her world falls apart when members of a guerrilla gang bring to her home a wounded prisoner, Mauricio. While Clara struggles to understand the feelings he generates in her, Trinidad's past emerges after more than twenty years."

-from 'The Sense of Darkness' on Goodreads

Review:

There are writers who make their words the focus, crafting language, and there are storytellers for whom the words are secondary as they focus on telling a tale that really sucks the reader in. My goodness, Cinzia De Santis is such a storyteller. The simple yet elegant prose allows the reader to meander through the lives of the characters, becoming fully involved and invested in the narrative. There are also a couple of moments when the author does embellish her language somewhat, often for the scenes focusing on a character’s inner emotions. The contrast in style makes these moments beautiful and sometimes painfully profound.

As for the story itself, the weakest aspect, in my opinion, was the relationship between Clara and Mauricio. It seemed from the blurb, and the introduction, that this would be the key feature of the plot but, although important to the resolution, their relationship wasn’t fully developed. However, that wasn’t a big issue as, reading the novel itself, it seemed to me that this was in fact Trinidad’s story. I would have liked to have seen Clara’s reaction to Mauricio rooted in a little more logic but it really did not affect the story overall.

Although I’ve just commented on what I felt was a lack of development, it was the backstory of all the characters that really made this novel something special. Although, as I’ve said, I feel that this was Trinidad’s story more than anything else, every character has their own history, their own relationships and feelings and, for a few pages at least, we explore their lives. Cinza De Santis has focused on one family group yet expands to brush upon the lives of those surrounding them. In this fashion, the book seems to accurately reflect life as we all move in our little bubbles, sometimes blessed with a glimpse of another’s story.

Overall, this is a book that is honestly worth the time spent reading it, and one that I do not doubt I will re-read at a later date. It is written in an easy style that focuses on telling the story at hand and that story is beautiful in its own right. I believe that this is the author’s first English language novel and I look forward to many more to come.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book through Goodread’s First Reads and I am so pleased that I did. The blurb was enough to make me enter to win it, obviously, but would not have convinced me to buy it. Had I not been lucky I may well never have picked up this book and I would have missed out. I would urge you, if you’re tempted at all to give it a go.

The Sense of Darkness is available in both Kindle and Paperback format from Amazon.

Book review - 'The Death of Death' by K.N. Parker

Rating: 3/5 stars

Plot:

"Death guides usually have rather normal names like John, Mary, Harry, and Jessica. And even ones not quite so normal, like Bartholomew or Ambrosia. They also have the most interesting tales behind their deaths. But one particular death guide has a few problems: she cannot remember her name or the details of her demise, and thus has no story of her own. One fateful night, she meets a young girl that may change her death forever.

Inspired by and in the style of Children's tales of old, The Death of Death is a tragic, yet sweet little tale about loss and acceptance.

Suitable for ages 12 and up."

-from 'The Death of Death' on Goodreads

Review:

Okay, I'll admit it, I didn't really like this story to start with. The style didn't really catch me and therefore none of the earlier bits did either. I therefore put this book 'on hold' for quite a few weeks.

However, having nothing else at hand, I gave this another go, picking up from where I left off and really did enjoy it. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the right mood for it when I first tried or whether chapter one doesn't appeal to me but if anyone else happens to be in the same position, press on.

What follows is a heart-warming story including miniature tales belonging to various characters, joined by overarching themes. It's certainly worth a read!

 

I've also put this book on my 'teaching English booklist'. While the recommendation says that the story is for ages 12 and up I would say that it's suitable for quite a bit younger. It does deal with slightly darker themes through its very nature but they are not dealt with in a particularly dark style.

I downloaded the kindle version while it was free from Amazon, although it is no longer on promotion.

Book review - 'Ring of Flowers' by Brian Andrews

Rating: 4/5 stars

Plot:

"In 1665, in the Derbyshire village of Eyam, the tailor, George Vicars orders a bolt of fabric from London to make a wedding dress for his betrothed daughter, Kathryn. To escape her fate of marrying the town's wealthiest and most odious bachelor, she elopes with her true love, farmhand Paul Foster. Kathryn's departure is fortuitous, because when the fabric is delivered, the parcel is infested with fleas carrying bubonic plague. First bitten and first to die, George Vicars' misfortune becomes the community's death sentence when the town Rector boldly imposes a quarantine on all Eyam residents. Months later, expecting a child, the newlyweds return home to find their world turned upside down. Once inside the township, they are forbidden to leave and Kathryn is forced to give birth in quarantine. Under the shadow plague, and against all odds, Will Foster's paternal ancestor is born . . . with a genetic mutation that will change the world 345 years later."

-from 'Ring of Flowers' on Goodreads

Review:

I've been reading quite a few short stories and novellas lately and, I'll be honest, they've not been all that impressive on the whole. Needless to say, I started 'Ring of Flowers' with a pretty low expectation. I am pleased to say that I underestimated it.

The first few paragraphs told me that this was going to be a good read, something that's pretty important when you only have a limited number of pages! The writing style was comfortable. The tone suggested the historical setting without being clumsy and it pretty much instantly drew you in, in that regard.

The characters themselves were surprisingly well developed in such a short space. It felt like each of the characters was a three dimensional real person. As opposed to being pawns playing out the storyline - a flaw I feel a lot of short story prequel things contain - they were real people living it.

The story was just right for the length. There were a couple of clear threads and it at no point felt rushed or drawn out.

Having written the above, I feel a bit bad only giving this piece four stars. I guess the fact is that, because it's a novella, it's hard to really get into it and for the story to have the 'wow factor' of a five star piece. It is well worth the read, however, and I'll certainly be looking at reading The Calypso Directive when I get a moment!

I downloaded this book for free on Amazon and it was worth it so go, download it now.

Book review - 'A Storm of Swords, I: Steel and Snow' by George R.R. Martin

This review is for the first part of the third book in a series and may therefore contain spoilers for the preceding books. For my review of book one please see 'A Game of Thrones' and for book two, 'A Clash of Kings'.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Plot:
"Winter approaches Westeros like an angry beast. The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and blood feud. In the northern wastes, a horde of hungry, savage people steeped in the dark magic of the wilderness is poised to invade the Kingdom of the North where Robb Stark wears his new-forged crown. And Robb's defences are ranged against the South, the land of the cunning and cruel Lannisters, who have his younger sisters in their power. Throughout Westeros, the war for the Iron Throne rages more fiercely than ever, but if the Wall is breached, no king will live to claim it."

-from 'A Storm of Swords' on Goodreads

Review:

From the fickle, nothing to do with the book but matters anyway viewpoint, this book was more comfortable to read than the earlier two. Part of me wonders if my hands are just getting better at stretching around a tonne of pages but I know that it's that this instalment is shorter than the earlier parts due to the whole book being split... I'm still not complaining as anything that stops the cramps when reading is a good thing! I also got what I think is a newer cover and it's quite different to designs I had previously encountered, showing a photograph of a building on a cliff. I really, really dislike this cover design and feel that it's not really right for the style of book. I mean, it doesn't really matter but on some level the design does matter and yeah, I'll talk about the actual writing now, shall I?

Something that really struck me in this book is how my interest has changed course. To start with, the Night's Watch bits really didn't catch my imagination but, of course, they were leading up to this point. As the war wages on in the south sinister things are afoot the northern side of the wall and things were genuinely rather creepy at times.


I said, in my review of 'A Clash of Kings' that I was having some (negligible) issues with some of the point of views. Davos has really grown on me, probably because his situation was more human as opposed to military in this book and I found it easier to associate with. Theon's not here so no problems there. The two main new POVs in this novel (that I can think of off the top of my head!) are Jaime and Sam and, frankly, I loved both of them. Jaime was what one would expect of the character but allowed us to see behind the façade and also to see the development of him through the book. Sam was quite unexpected, for me, as he really allowed you to see the things that had previously been experienced through Jon's eyes from a totally different angle. 

The ending, as always, wasn't an ending at all. I mean, I guess you can justify it with this one as it's technically the first half of one book but seriously... the suspense at the end of these novels. I suppose that's part of the charm, the books aren't stories but chronicles of a 'history' and, like all histories, it isn't obviously episodic. 

I have a physical copy of this book but, as always, a kindle version is also available.

Book review - 'Dead Witch Walking' by Kim Harrison

 

Rating: 3/5 stars

Plot:
"Rachel Morgan is a white witch and runner working for Inderland Security, in an alternate world where a bioengineered virus wiped out a great deal of the world's human population – exposing the existence of the supernatural communities that had long lived alongside humanity.

For the last five years Rachel has been tracking down law-breaking Inderlanders in modern-day Cincinnati, but now she wants to leave and start her own agency. Her only problem is that no one quits the I.S.

Marked for death, Rachel will have to fend off fairy assassins and homicidal weres armed with an assortment of nasty curses. She's a dead witch walking unless she can appease her former employers by exposing the city's most prominent citizen as a drug lord. But making an enemy of the ambiguous Trent Kalamack is just as deadly as leaving the I.S."

-from 'Dead Witch Walking' on Goodreads

Review:

Three stars sounds like such a low score considering I actually enjoyed this book but I just can’t give it a higher score. That said, I did enjoy this book and I will be reading the rest of the series, or at least the next book. So basically, although I expect this review will critacise a lot of aspects of the novel, after all it’s very easy to give negative critique, give it a go because it is enjoyable.

So why three stars? I’m not sure that the author’s writing style quite ties in with my idea of a good read. The first couple of pages included so much unnecessary description of clothing that I was resigning myself for a difficult ride. After a while I got used to the over description, and it settled down, but it still noticed from time to time. Similarly, for all the world was really well developed with some great mythology, history, and cause and effect, the way this was presented felt clumsy. The narrator would explain events in great detail. Sure, they were things the reader needed to know, and the knowledge enhanced the story, but the presentation of this information felt a little odd. I mean, the narrator knew all this stuff, this stuff was, more often than not, known by almost everyone around her so why was she over explaining it all. I feel that it would have been more effective to weave this information in.

The characters all seemed to have potential. Rachel annoyed me at times with her immaturity and blindness to obvious goings on but I felt that she was a little less annoying by the end of the novel and it would be nice to see her character progress throughout the series. Other characters drifted in and out with little hints at a story but no real time to develop. Again, one presumes they get more ‘page time’ in the series, but I must admit that I found this casual introduction of characters for a short period a little frustrating. Even Trent, who has quite a large role really, seemed mysterious to the point of two dimensional although there were hints of his character coming through which could herald better things to come. I have to admit that Jenks was probably my favourite character in the end with his humorous quips and reasoned through behaviours.

All that said, I enjoyed this book. Why? The story itself was great. The main plot was quite simple Rachel leaves her job, is joined by the vampire Ivy and Pixy Jenks, and they set up their own company. Sadly, the cost of breaking her contract is her life so she spends most of her time avoiding assassins while trying to prove that a powerful and untouchable member of society is a major drug-dealer. Yeah, it sounds like a pretty futile situation when you put it like that. Indeed, it’s the fact that the odds are so obviously stacked against her that makes this book particularly interesting. There’s no clear idea that ‘good will prevail’ like in a lot of books and, throughout, you’re left wondering exactly what will happen and things do take unexpected turns. Alongside the main plot you have multiple subplots, or ideas, developing that will, presumably continue into the next books.

So, that’s why a potentially great book got three stars. Now, if the next instalment has an equally interesting plot it should be a lot better than this one, after all, the majority of major world building points have been introduced and explained and we’re, hopefully, going to be expanding upon the characters. Perhaps, the next instalment will have the good with none/less of the bad… it seems possible. Either way, I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!

Book review - 'A Clash of Kings' by George R.R. Martin

This review is for the second book in a series and may therefore contain spoilers for the preceding book. You can read my review for 'A Game of Thrones', book one in the series, by clicking here.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Plot:

"Throughout Westeros the cold winds are rising.

From Dragonstone to Winterfell, chaos reigns as five pretenders to the Iron Throne prepare to stake their claims. As an omen of doom - a comet of blood and flame - cuts across the sky, brother plots against brother, and the dead rise to walk in the night. War is coming, and the price for glory is measured in blood.

A Clash of Kings, Book Two of A Song of Ice and Fire, continues the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age "

-from the back of my book as I couldn't find a decent synopsis on Goodreads

Review:

Well, I managed to finish this book a lot quicker than I did the previous one, although not loosing it might have helped there! That said, it's still quite a tome so you have to be pretty ready to commit to reading it... and to some serious hand cramp!

The book continues with the various plot strands from the previous novel and could easily have been part of the same book (although practically, thank goodness it isn't!). This is very much a continuation. Obviously, a few strands have come to a close but their knock on effects are clear. New strands are introduced with John Snow and the men of the Night's Watch going over the wall and new characters being introduced, ready to attempt to take the throne.

My greatest compliment regarding A Game of Thrones was how real it felt and this compliment has to extend to A Clash of Kings. The characters felt as though they were reacting in a realistic and understandable way even if it wasn't good or morally right. Everything, people, places, and items, had a history and a place in the world and this was clear in the detail even if that history wasn't fully disclosed. It feels like Martin is writing a true history but the method of telling it (through various POVs) makes it all the more emotive, hard hitting and interesting.

That said, I did find a couple of the POVs a little less exciting this time. Theon's point of view really did annoy me. As with all the other people, his narrative was true to his character and believable but as I just dislike his personality, even if I understand why he does and thinks the way he does, it's not easy to read from his POV. Similarly, I didn't really connect with Davos, probably because the things that interested the character, and the way he thought, was often quite different to how I, personally, think. I also really struggled with his sea-battle chapter which, although an amazing battle narrative and really hard hitting, felt a little to list like and military-brained for me... that kind of thing doesn't get my attention. However, it would be what Davos would be concentrating on at that time. That's the thing, yes, I struggled with some POVs this time but not because they're badly written but for the exact opposite reason!

I'm looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how the tale, and the characters, progress and develop. It seems like so many people are on their individual, yet interwoven, journeys and have travelled so far in the progress of this book (and the last one, of course) that it's exciting to see where they will end up. I also love the way that you can feel that Martin is really constructing the future events, things that may not happen for books yet, but setting those events up so that, when they do happen... well, he told you so!

I have a physical copy of this book and it's that annoying size that's uncomfortable to hold so I would buy the kindle version if you have that option.

Book review - 'Beyond the Wildlands' by Lana Axe

 

Rating: 1/5 stars

Plot:

"An elf of the Wildlands recounts his adventures in this fantasy short story.

Jhinn, an elf from the wooded area known as the Wildlands, has lived an adventurous life. A master with a bow, he has joined forces with a human army to rid the forest of savage trolls. During training, he falls in love with a female warrior named Aurelle who has taken up her axe in defense of their homeland. After the battle, the pair journey together to begin new lives, though Jhinn prefers a life of crime.

Follow along as they embark on an adventure full of excitement, greed, and tragedy"

-from 'Beyond the Wildlands' on Goodreads

Review:

I don't really know what I was expecting from 'Beyond the Wildlands'. I bought it because it seemed mildly interesting and was free from Amazon and I started to read it because it seemed short and relatively light in plot. 

First impressions weren't great. You know that message that English teachers drill into you when you take creative writing classes 'show don't tell'... well, it seemed that this story could have done with listening to that advice. The sentences are unbelievably short and repetitive in form which makes for quite a dull read, really. 

As for the plot. Well, there is a plot there and, in fact, reading it, this piece feels like a plot summary as opposed to an actual story. I think the plot could have been good but it just wasn't executed right at all. It felt as though you were rushing along without getting involved with anything that was happening. I know that this is a short story but I can't help but asking if this was the correct medium for the piece. I feel that this length would be about right to cover the first battle 'scene' (and the lead up to that event), certainly not the full life time that it attempts to cover!

All in all, perhaps the flaws could be put down to the fact that this is a short story not a novel. Perhaps, if the thing had been longer it would have been better expanded upon and explored but as it is, I felt nothing for the characters and had nothing invested in the plot. The style of the piece would stop me from trying anything by Axe again, and I certainly wouldn't spend money on her longer works which is a shame because they have received some positive reviews. Oh well. We can't all like the same authors!

I feel really bad but I can't really recommend this book at all. However, it's 18 pages long and free for kindle so there's not much to loose!

Book review - 'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin

 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Plot:

"Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones."

-from 'A Game of Thrones' on Goodreads

Review:

If I told you that it took me about two years to read this book you’d probably wonder why I have still given it a five star rating. If I didn’t keep losing the darn novel I would probably have finished a lot quicker!

I’m not going to go into great detail in this review. The books are popular, partially due to the wonderful writing and partly because of the great television adaptation (of which I have only watched  a couple of episodes but found it relatively close to the book and rather impressive). Anyway, the point being, if you don’t know what they’re about by now, or you’ve not read them by now, then my review isn’t going to change anything.

The length of the novel, the seemingly constantly switching viewpoints, and the goodness-knows-how-many characters are the most risky aspects of this novel. When you’re juggling this many things there’s a chance that you’re going to sacrifice clarity for the sake of detail. Interestingly, at no point did I feel overwhelmed with information, or lost, so Martin must be a darn good juggler!

In fact, it is perhaps the number of threads that helps to make the novel so special. It feels real. The characters are realistic, understandably flawed with individual personalities. Their actions make sense within the constraints of their lives and they interact as one would imagine. The politics is complex and the reader works with the characters to attempt to understand the intrigues going on around them. In a very short time, the reader has invested so much in the novel, in the characters, that there is no way one could put this book down… or at least that’s how I feel!

I have a physical copy of this book and it's that annoying size that's uncomfortable to hold so I would buy the kindle version if you have that option.