The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Don't feed the trolls! For the true A Song of Ice and Fire fan, this book is enriching, absorbing and fun to read and speculate about. This is a companion book to the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, written by the author and two co-writers who love and respect his work, Elio Garcia Jr., and Linda Antonnison. Elio and Linda were enlisted as fact-checkers for his previous book, A Dance with Dragons and have known GRRM for almost two decades. No one besides George himself understands this world better than they do. George R. R. Martin is very protective of the world he has created and the characters. He dislikes fanfiction intensely. If George trusts Elio and Linda and has put his name on the book, I trust that George has read and approved every detail of every page. The writing is meant to be the words and opinions of a Maester of the Citadel. It is written in the world-view of the Maester and uses a Maester's style. It takes a talented writer to write convincingly from the point of a view of a fictional character, so I must say WELL DONE Elio and Linda. You did a fantastic job. The book itself is large, heavy, and well-made. The artwork is stupendous. _I am grateful to have a book that was co-written by two people who love and cherish the world that Martin has created instead of a commercially produced companion book written by executives that don't care about the original work._ This was a labor of love and it shows. There are tantalizing clues for the hard-core fans and fascinating stories that anyone who reads the novels or watches the show will enjoy. If you enjoy the novels and love the world of Westeros, It's a must-have addition.

I almost passed on picking this up, despite being a huge Game of Thrones fan, due to the negative reviews the book was getting. I went and ordered it anyway, and the moment the package was delivered and I had the book in my hands, I knew this was a great buy for 30 bucks. The book is wonderfully bound, and the look and feel of the cover is just triple A-quality. Open the book up and you are greeted with excellently done art and illustrations, including portraits, landscapes of various locales in the Ice and Fire world, battle depictions, dragons and much more. The art here is so beautifully drawn that it alone is worth the price of the book. It really is that good. This volume is packed with information and anecdotes on the Ice and Fire world that George R. R. Martin has created, and will no doubt be helpful in further understanding a lot of the events and characters that preceded the current books and shaped the world. People say that the accuracy of the information is questionable, but when George R. R. Martin's name is boldly printed on the cover of the book, I have a hard time believing that the content of the text isn't authentic or genuine for any reason. I normally prefer to read kindle versions of books, due to convenience and flexibility, but this is one of those books that you simply have to own the physical print version. The quality of the bounding, cover, artwork, and text formatting is exceptionally good, and a digital version simply would not be able to do it justice. Definitely get the print version of this, and then sit back with it and be immersed into The World of Ice and Fire. The book is over 300 pages long, and each and every page is beautifully printed with text, art illustrations, or a combination of both. If you are a true Game of Thrones fan, buy it. You will not be disappointed.

"The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones" is an absolute treasure trove for fans of the "Game of Thrones" series. I purchased it as a gift for my partner, and it exceeded all expectations. The book is not just a comprehensive tome of Westerosi history; it's a work of art. The illustrations and intricate details throughout are simply breathtaking, immersing readers in the rich lore and mythology of George R.R. Martin's world. It's a visual and narrative feast that adds layers of depth to the beloved series, making it a perfect gift for die-hard fans looking to dive deeper into the universe they adore. The quality of the book itself is superb, from the sturdy binding to the glossy pages. It's a collector's item that will proudly adorn any bookshelf and is sure to provide endless hours of exploration and enjoyment. We've even kept ours out as a coffee table book- it's just too pretty to put away

I pre-ordered a few months ago, not knowing what to expect. So unwrapping an oversized book of extensive production quality was a surprise, since I was expecting something that would line up on the shelf next to the five ASOIAF books. Note that you're getting an oversized book with very nice cover, page, and print quality, which helps the artwork stand out. As far as the text, which many of the reviews here are quick to slam or to praise, I felt the truth was in the middle and uneven would be the best word to describe. Some of the narratives are very well done - the "short story" of the Conquest, the reign of King Jaehaerys, and the history of the Vale in particular stood out as well done; the narrative flowed well, and the characterizations were very satisfying, but most importantly gave itself identity and value. As far as a common identifier of the best pieces, the text is at its best and finds a nice rhythm when it becomes character-centric as opposed to purely event-centric. When Martin et. immerse you in the rich characterizations of Nymeria, Aegon, Robar Royce, and Tywin, and let the history flow around them is extremely enjoyable. Other portions were frustrating - several histories of reigns and a couple of the Kingdoms really felt like obligated filler as opposed to a seized opportunity to provide rich lore, and all too often the "Untold History" teased on the cover produced only empty text containing no more than "going through the motions" summations of previously known information,providing no additional lore or color. It is understandable in areas where it's obvious that Martin isn't ready to show his cards; others such as the War of the Ninepenny Kings from a 10,000 foot view and the Greyjoy Rebellion being reduced to a couple paragraphs and passing on the opportunity to add color and depth as opposed to regurgitation due to necessity were a letdown. The choice of the maester as a point of view was overall a sound decision. The additional layer adds richness: bias is introduced, sources are referenced, and the environment of the ASOIAF novels needs to be taken into account by the reader - a very Martin-esque move. The "cop outs", where the decision to use a maester as the writer leads to lack of expansion or evasion were an unfortunate consequence. As far as the artwork, I expected the illustrations to be filler, almost an annoyance beside the lore. It was the exact opposite - the illustrations are impressive, most absolutely stunning. The amount of artwork, fantastic detail, and affording a quality template for the production really stood out. I'm not sold that AWOIAF will be a frequent reread or that the table of contents and index reference enough consistency in the text for it to serve as a reference, but there will definitely be portions worth a bookmark and others worth perusing at times, and the art is worth a complete page through anytime.

I quickly saw the online preview of this book before ordering, and decided not to but it on Kindle. I have bought some textbooks for college in Kindle version for they are much cheaper, and even though sometimes the photos and boxes are awkwardly placed, they are very much usable. Having that previous experience, as I saw the beautifully illustrated Targaryen three-headed dragon on the first page of the preview, I knew that an electronic version wouldn't do. And I was right - I had expected the illustrations to be a big part of the book, kinda like a RPG Dungeon Master's Guide, but they are much more than that. They are all gorgeous and precisely placed. The size of the book also surprised me, and it emphasizes the art. As a Magic The Gathering player who started playing because of the tiny but masterful artwork of the cards, seeing this big and detailed pictures of Westeros is a delight worth of the extra 20 dollars paid. The Lore here is obviously summarized, but that does not make it faulty at all. Some are accusing this to be "fan-fiction", but that is unjustified. I bought this book expecting to find history and lore, which does not need beautiful prose and artful, metaphoric literary devices. No, it does not have "compelling" characters (even that is arguable, but let's leave it aside for a moment) as some were expecting, but this is not an extensive character study that is the Song of the Ice and Fire, with the history and lore of the world which they live in in the background. This is the exactly opposite - The history of the world is the protagonist and the characters the secondary part, they are means of telling that history. As an avid RPG player and a DM, I was expecting some kind of lore book that DMs usually use. I got exactly what I expected and even more... The details are rich and the gaps leave just the right the space for me to design some adventure to be played by me and my friends in a Westerosi setting.

This is a welcome addition to the A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO’s Game of Thrones fantasy series. This beautifully illustrated volume is a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. This book adds depth and richness to the entire ASOIAF universe and transports the reader there with detailed accounts of long ago tales which continue to reverberate throughout the World of Ice and Fire. A must have for any fan of the ASOIAF series. George R. R. Martin has meticulously crafted an original and complex world for his fantasy master piece, and this book is a wonderful exploration of that world. An absolutely fantastic addition to my library. One of the best fantasy reference / companion books that I've ever read. Extraordinary world building and lavish illustrations. In the realm of fiction it is not easy to create such a vivid and complex fictional history which is occupied by such original characters, political intrigue and storylines that could only take place within the context of this fully developed world. I was looking for a good book to read while I awaited George R. R. Martin's next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series and I must say, I wasn't the slightest bit disappointed. This will tide me over until The Winds of Winter is released. Thank you George, Elio and Linda. Bottomline, this is a wonderful fantasy compendium that just pulls you in from the very first page. It's a history of the known world of the A Song of Ice and Fire saga as recorded by a Maester of the Citadel for King Tommen. Therefore, this tome is an in-world history textbook, limited in scope, accuracy and gaps in knowledge of their world and past critical events. This is not a complete history of the known world written from an omniscient point of view. The information contained in this tome is limited to what a Maester of the time might be able to research, therefore I understand why there are gaps in the historical narrative, which mirrors our own historical narrative in some parts of out past. The rice detail of the text and the lavish illustrations contribute greatly to the world building of the ASOIAF universe. The world building is so complete and detailed that you sometimes feel as if you are actually reading historical fiction, not a fantasy. What is fascinating and true to life is the way the characters shape the world around them but at the same time their world shapes them. Above all this is a great read which is sure to bring you hours of pure unadulterated escapism. I don't usually write reviews but I saw so many negative reviews stating GRRM didn't write or have any part in creating this book. I just want to point out that the blurb on Amazon states, "100% all-new material, more than half of which Martin wrote specifically for this book." If that's not enough to convince you, GRRM even confirmed this on his blog: "Ah . actually, it was with Elio and Linda, sure, but there are tens of thousands of my words in there this "not written by GRRM" is misinformation." I'm not terribly sure why some critics and reviewers are bashing the writing style or quality of this book. I love the way this book is written. It is what it's advertised to be, it Is a know algae of the day history book of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe and I absolutely love it. My Christmas came early this year with the release of this beautiful book.

This is a great book if you’re interested in a condensed version of Fire & Blood, with the addition of Westeros’ history and the introduction of its early peoples. It also includes a guide for each of the Seven Kingdoms, which is definitely useful. The illustrations and writing style make it a very informative and entertaining read for those interested in the lore behind Game of Thrones, without simply reiterating the events of the show or book series. This is not for you if you’re looking for the show to be explained to you, but rather, it will inform you of the events preceding the series, such as the Targaryen reign and Robert’s Rebellion and seizure of the throne. I have been devouring the book since I purchased it and definitely recommend it, especially if you are interested in Martin’s version of the events told in House of the Dragon. ****Much of the information in the first half of the book is word for word taken from the novellas that became Fire & Blood.. therefore if you have already read Fire & Blood, it would be redundant to read this as well. Fire & Blood has the contents of this book and more, particularly in regards to Jahaerys I and onward. However, though a large chunk of this book is Targaryen centric, there is still more to it that may be of interest to you. It’s also just a nice book to keep on your shelf.

Lusciously bound with stunningly beautiful artwork, this is a must own for fans who want more of the back story of the World of Ice and Fire. The text is presented as a book written by a maester with the intent of providing the most accurate historical accounts available to the Citadel to the current King of Westeros (Tommen Baratheon). The information in this book should not be taken as factual recounting, but instead should be considered as the Citadel's understanding of those events. While it's true that Elio and Linda did much of the collection of information and writing, all of the text that appears in this book was personally reviewed by GRRM, in addition to GRRM providing thousands of words of his own to fill in gaps of previously unknown information. This book absolutely should be considered canonical material with the only caveat being that the information is simply that understood to be true by the maesters at present time of the books. Once the premise of the book is understood, and the text is taken for what it is, one can immerse themselves in the volumes of information and absolutely stunning artwork presented in this book. The artwork is worth the price of the book alone, however, the content certainly holds its own. There are plenty of new bits of information scattered throughout this well organized encyclopedia of Westeros and the lands beyond it's borders, and in my opinion the text absolutely succeeds in providing the reader with a clear understanding of the world the books are set within. The depth of the information is quite simply astounding. GRRM has said on many occassions that when he writes new material, or has a question about his world, he goes to Elio and Linda for confirmation, so there was no one in a better position to co-author this book, and I congratulate them on this wonderful addition to the Song of Ice and Fire.