I got interested in this book because of the HBO series. Whereas I found the tv series somewhat tedious and kind of hard to follow, I absolutely loved this book. I really enjoy how the author focuses on one character at a time and presents the issues and problems from that character's viewpoint. I found myself really rooting for the characters. (If you enjoy more nuanced characters and not sure who to root for, this is not the type of book for you. While there are a few characters whose side you're not sure, it's pretty clear from the beginning who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.) The narrator does a really good job with the voices and cadence of the story. I can't wait for the second one.

I determine how riveting a book is, if at the end of my long workday and the end of my commute home, I'm not ready to jump out of the car until I listen for just a few minutes longer. Even more so, that I plug in my iphone and set it into the cradle of my alarm clock, setting the timer for just another 15 minute listen before going to sleep. A Game of Thrones is that riveting and more. This "ain't no girly book" by any means and you have to be prepared for a little gore and more than a few shocks.

Quite possibly in the same class as the Tolkien Trilogy or Dune. A big, multi-volume story with well-developed characters, and tough, plausible story line development, well seasoned with bits of fantasy.

I tried. I really did but I just could not understand the Narrator, Roy Dotrice. I am not British but I watch Doctor Who and Top Gear so I think I can handle the English accent just fine.He reads too fast, I admit this is probably a product of me not understanding him. All his voices sound similar, man, woman and child, they all have a cockney accent. The story so far has been riveting but it takes entirely too much of my concentrating and rewinding to enjoy. Be sure you listen closely to the sample before you purchase. I didn't because the reviews were so positive.

I really enjoy listening/reading the inspiration for the latest, hot, new show, but for the life of me I was unable to listen to this audiobook. It was very difficult to listen to the narrator. I found his slurring and mumbling very distracting, thus mashing the excitement out of the story.

This is a terrific story with interesting characters and locations, but the choice of narrator entirely spoiled it for me. I eventually gave up well before the mid-point of the book. While the narrator does a good job of adult male voices with (various) regional accents, his inconsistent pronunciation of personal and location names, his odd pauses in the middle of sentences, and his flat, often monotonic narration, punctuated with sighs, made this an extremely irritating listen. I think I will buy the hard copy book.

I completely disagree with the most recent reviews. The narrator does nothing for the characters. I can't tell one from another. You want to get a narrator that distinguishes characters, listen to Jeff Gurner read Daniel Suarez. Dotrice is just boooooring. I would agree that Martin writes like Tolkein, if you are talking about the Hobbit. It really is slow to get started. Since I used up 2(!) credits on the thing, I am going to bumble my way through it. But it in no way compares to the 1 credit Wheel of Time series.

If your a fan of this genre you'll enjoy the story and the Narration by Roy Dotrice is exquisite. It had me hooked from the prologue.

I read and listen to a wide variety of genres, and I would probably be considered a sci-fi/fantasy noob by many. Be that as it may, I know a great story when I read/hear one, and this is one of the best I've been immersed in for quite a while! If you have watched the series on HBO, you should know that the book is MUCH richer and more detailed than the series!

As great as the story is, Roy Dotrice is in a league of his own when it comes to narration! He so seamlessly and quickly transitions between characters that it is easy to forget that you are listening to a single narrator. He could easily drop all references to who was speaking at any moment and there would still be no doubt which character was speaking.

If you're squeamish, prudish, or demand mostly happy outcomes this is not the book for you! The story is harsh, gritty, and sometimes heart-breaking. Just as it must surely be in the real Seven Kingdoms!

This was a very entertaining, wonderful book. So inventive. Kept my attention throughout. I can't wait to hear the next in the series. The narrator is fantastic. Beautiful English accent. He changes tone for the different characters. I never felt lost. This is a book I will want to hear again. I will probably buy it to read as well. I recommend Game of Thrones highly.