I don’t know about you but I am beyond excited for the new season of Game of Thrones (and the last 2 books)! I have re-watched the show multiple times and read all the books plus some of the novellas but one I hadn’t picked up till recently was A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. I was looking for a good audio book to listen to and I saw this as a way to fill the void. 😉 
As I was listening I started to recognize the voice as one of the characters from season 1, Viserys Targaryen. The actor Harry Lloyd who portrayed him is the narrator and did a great job of bringing the story to life.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin
First Line: The spring rains had softened the ground, so Dunk had no trouble digging the grave.
Summary: The story takes place 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones. We meet Dunk, a new hedge knight and recent squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree. His master has died and left him with his horse, armor and sword. Dunk decides that as a new knight and one in need of money needs to enter a local tournament in order to earn some coin and prestige. He was always told that he was good with a sword and at 7 feet tall he was an impressive figure. When he stumbles upon a stable boy named Egg, this unlikely pair travel across Westeros getting into trouble and creating tales of their own.
Highlights: It’s George R. R. Martin so therefore it is very detailed with lots of characters. There are 3 short stories but they all connect bringing it full circle in the end. There are little surprises and lots of history of the Seven Kingdoms during the time of the Targaryens. The illustrations throughout the book are fun to look at and give more life to the story. This is a fun little side story that is perfect for the readers that are waiting for season 7.
Lowlights: The names. There are so many characters with names that are so similar that it is hard to keep track of who is who (especially when listening to the audio). But the imagination that goes into these names is spectacular.
FYI: Violence but that is par for the course with life in the Seven Kingdoms.
Being able to work around books is a dream! I read anything but my favorite genres are historical fiction and YA. Give me anything set in Tudor England or teenage fantasy novel and I am set.
- What’s Ashley Reading?: The Gathering - April 12, 2024
- What’s Ashley Reading?: The Tower - March 29, 2024
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