Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, violent epic upends the usual fantasy clichés.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Parents say that the book series offers a captivating dark fantasy experience, drawing readers into its intricate story and rich character development. While some reviews highlight concerns about violence, sexual content, and mature themes, many agree that the material is often less graphic than portrayed and appropriate for mature younger readers, provided parents engage in discussions about its content.
- impressive storytelling
- mature themes
- less graphic than show
- discussions recommended
- individual maturity matters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 63 kid reviews
Kids say that this series is a captivating blend of rich world-building, complex characters, and intricate plots, making it one of the best in the fantasy genre, though it comes with a significant amount of graphic violence and mature themes. Readers emphasize that while the books do include intense content, it's often exaggerated by parents and the adaptation, and the appropriate age for reading varies greatly depending on individual maturity levels.
- complex characters
- graphic content
- varies by maturity
- rich world-building
- engaging plot
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After his predecessor is murdered, Eddard Stark reluctantly agrees to serve as "the Hand" to his good friend, King Robert Baratheon. His honorable decision has far-reaching consequences for his family. After King Robert dies, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are plunged into civil war, thanks to the plotting of the Lannisters, and the Stark children and their mother are scattered in all directions. Each must find a new way to survive in a rapidly changing world, even as magic grows stronger, a new peril approaches the Wall that protects the kingdoms, and the threat of the ultimate weapon -- tame dragons -- grows in the East.
Is It Any Good?
There have been many fantasy sagas published in the last half century, but few can boast the scope, depth, and attention to detail of A SONG OF FIRE AND ICE. George R. R. Martin is a master plotter, moving his huge cast of characters from one harrowing situation to the next and keeping readers anxious and surprised again and again. Some of the first five volumes work better than others (A Feast for Crows leaves many readers disappointed), but all add new elements that only increase the complex richness of the narrative.
This book series is certainly not for sensitive readers. The language is rough, the violence is brutal, and the sexual content sometimes veers into the perverse (including brother-sister incest). But readers with the maturity to handle adult material will be amply rewarded. Martin is a serious storyteller of the first order, and A Song of Fire and Ice is his masterwork.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why fantasy sagas have become so popular in books, in movies, and on TV. What aspects of them appeal most to readers and viewers?
Why do some writers choose to include profanity in their dialogue and descriptions? Does it add a sense of realism to emotionally charged situations?
What role does violence play in the story? Would some of the characters be better off if they had not resorted to violence so quickly?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bantam Books
- Publication date : March 30, 1996
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 15 - 18
- Number of pages : 835
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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