#game of thrones review

[retoreview]

Game of Thrones Book Review: A Must-Read for Fantasy Fans 2023 - retoreview

Introduction: Welcome to our immersive and thought-provoking blog post, where we embark on an enthralling journey through the intricately wo...

[literatureaesthetic]

june '24 favs:

a storm of swords ; george r r martin — third book in the 'a song of ice and fire' series, and it may just be my fav instalment yet. i was left utterly speechless over the plot twists in here. one of the best examples of modern fantasy.

the lost daughter ; elena ferrante — it's elena ferrante, of course it's on this list. an intimate character study of leda, a divorcee who suddenly finds herself with zero responsibilities after her daughters move away. a poignant, visceral look into motherhood (girlies with mummy issues, tread with caution😭)

giovanni's room ; james baldwin — the iconic gay, parisian classic. this was my first baldwin, and it's definitely not going to be my last. i haven't been this enthralled by the writing in a classic since 'the picture of dorian gray'. beautiful, gut-wrenching, a must-read for anyone into the classics!!

[adoriadreams]

Tysha and Mirri Maz Duur are two characters I feel like the fandom tends to erase the pain of in favor of the POV character (Tyrion and Dany).

Their not really viewed as people but an arc/character development for Dany and Tyrion and the more I think about it the more I hate it.

Tysha was raped and abuse by Tywin, she got no justice, but that's all glossed over in favor of highlighting how unfairly Tywin treats Tyrion and his hatred for his son, and Tyrion's trauma. No doubt the event was traumatic for Tyrion but the way people choose to only focus on Tyrion's trauma while ignoring Tysha is disturbing and disappointing. I have also seen people shipping them and wanting a reunion and for them to marry again but let's not forget Tyrion abused her. He raped her. Yes, Tywin forced him but it still happened and Tysha doesn't deserve to relive that trauma so Tyrion can find peace and redemption.

Mirri was raped, abused and witness the murder and rape of her people but that's all glossed over as well in favor of highlighting Dany coming into power. Beating her first 'Villian' and dealing with her first 'Betrayal'. Mirri did not owe Dany any loyalty because Dany saved her by making Mirri her slave. At the end of the day a slave is still a slave, even if their master is kind. The fact that people villianize Mirri for something they would praise Dany for is telling enough. And the fact that they think Mirri should be ever grateful Dany 'saved' her is disturbing. Also Mirri was still abused even after Dany 'saved' her. The idea that Mirri did something villainous by rebelling( killing Drogo. Still have no proof she actually did it) against her master is the idea that slaves have no right to rebell/desire freedom. The fandom perception around Mirri Maz Duur is disappointing . (Maybe it's the way GRRM wrote it or maybe it's because the fandom is mostly white.)

Justice for Tysha and Mirri Maz Duur.

I rambled alot in this one.

[sarahreesbrennan]

MULTIPLE Starred Reviews for Evil

I can’t thank Booklist & Emily Whitmore enough seeing both sides of my epic romantic portal fantasy, in which scheming ‘Barbie’ crashes into Game of Thrones. I so wanted both sides of the story to come through, from chaotic humour to high fantasy and tragedy. And both stories are love letters to the stories and the tropes and the fandoms I’ve loved, and to living through art and changing the story by being in it.

[lordbloodravenn]

After a week to think it over I have come to this conclusion: Unless you’re deeply invested in, and enjoy, the butchery of Alicent’s character or fanboy over the seemingly repetitive and recycled dialogue given to Rhaenyra, there isn’t much to enjoy about House of the Dragon. The characters who actually have depth—Otto with his political scheming, Larys, and even Aegon, who is seemingly trying to grow into his role as king—don’t get enough screen time for their development or arcs to pay off. Helaena and Aemond suffer similarly. Their development and the pivotal turning points in their arcs are either not shown on screen or are poorly executed.

[mirusuchanne]

what are some good tv shows/movies u recommend? i have nothing good to watch😥

I've got A LOT to recommend.

Red eye (thriller drama, Cillian Murphy is playing the villian 😉 plot is amazing, it can give you literal goosebumps 😭)

The 5th wave (Absolutely underrated, the most inappropriate scenes only involve kissing & cuddling)

Totally killer (100% plot, time traveling, meeting your mom, fighting against a killer and all that. Tw: gore)

Baby (my favorite Italian series on Netflix, hottest actors, teenage drama and high school problems, tw LOTS of 18+ content)

The maze runner (I think you know this one, you HAVE TO see it. My fav fandom after Harry Potter. Book series are much more detailed and better tho)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (not the modern one, watch the old movie series, I LOVE it, books are also the best)

Game of thrones (ABSOLUTE masterpiece, books are also chef's kiss)

Pride and prejudice (if you want some old times romance with passion and all that, it's perfect for you)

The hot chick (my favorite 'mean girls' type of movie!)

The kingdom of the planet of the apes (just watched it in the movie theater, IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, you can watch it illegally on myflixer.com, also the other movies above)

Anne with an e (absolutely amazing series, it's a romance and comedy, also a drama. MUST SEE IT!)

[alltoowellbookreviews]

A Game of Thrones Book Review

(Read this book in June)

To start this out, I will admit I’ve seen the show. But I decided this year to go ahead and read all of the books.

This book was amazing! I loved the introduction into this world. Definitely glad I watched the show first, as there were so many characters it helped put faces to names.

I loved reading Ned’s POVs and seeing how haunted he was by the war. He never forgot what happened to Elia Martell and her children, and he truly tried to save Dany from that fate. Also, seeing bits of his ptsd with his sisters death, it definitely sets up the storyline that Jon is a Targaryen.

I didn’t know how harsh Catleyn was on Jon in the books. That scene where she tells him she wishes it was him instead of Bran who fell broke my heart. That being said- I really loved reading Catelyn. She loved her children so fiercely and took initiative to protect and avenge them.

Arya and Sansa’s chapters were interesting to read through. Sansa looks like Catelyn but is naive like Ned. Whilst Arya looks like Ned but acts like Catleyn when she’s upset.

Definitely think George was setting up a comparison between the Tully sisters and the Stark sisters. Catelyn and Lysa were close as children but grew apart as adults, where I think since Arya and Sansa fought as children they will be close as adults.

I really despised reading Danys chapters though. She was way too young. I felt sick to my stomach reading them, which is why I ultimately took a star off of my rating.

Overall Rating: 4/5⭐️

[theendlessnessofbeingme]

And another thing! Those motherfuckers on TikTok who keep saying the best books are ones where you can remove a vital element and the book still works. Y’all are fucking idiots too. Like that is the dumbest shit I have heard in a while. Good books/stories are the ones where if you removal a vital element it would fall apart if that story can still stand on its own then it never need that element in the first fucking place. None of you idiots knows how a good story is written and your just spouting bullshit to whoever will listen which is just another bunch of fucking idiots it’s like the blind leading the fucking blind! None of you should be talking about what is and isn’t good writhing because y’all know jack shit. You still think twilight and Harry Potter is the height of fucking literature. Please just shut the fuck up.

[newbookcats]

Why Do We Love to "Hate" the Unlikable Female Heroine? | A Discussion About Every Reader's Favorite Guilty Pleasure

To read more posts like this, visit my blog: https://newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com/

A reader's favorite guilty pleasure is assuming that the sharp wits, scathing remarks, and morally questionable actions of fictional characters are aimed directly at us. These books we have associated as our safety nets do anything to catch us during jarring experiences and the emotional turmoil that typically follows.

For instance, every time I revisit Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices trilogy where she showcases a love triangle with only right angles, I consistently brace myself from Will Herondale's cold remarks veiling his (obvious) affection for Tessa Gray and any cruel schemes completed by Jessamine, Nathan, Magister or other villains--not that the Magister's manipulation of his soul-fueled robot army sucks away any remorse I have toward his sorrowful past lending to his desires for revenge against Shadowhunters. Still, their flaws feel personal, their choices oddly intimate, and somehow, their imperfection makes the story better.

Moreover, despite the immediate hatred we are expected to feel for villains and their callous schemes, there are surprisingly many literature heroines widely disliked by readers--and by extension, the family members of said readers who have to listen to thorough dissections of the heroine's role in the story and cry spells resulting from the heroine's ultimate sacrifice to rescue their loved ones from poisoned cake.

And, while Joey undeniably reflects every reader in this scenario, I would also like to express how not-sorry I am for my past and future actions regarding my favorite novels and character.

Still, this begs the question: why do we love to hate these unlikable heroines, particularly the sharp-tongued, self-centered, and sometimes just plain mean ones that somehow steal the spotlight and keep us turning the pages until the night turns into day?

Warning: All of the declarations written by me and featured on this blog are my opinions. I'm an amateur literature dissectionist; further, I barely know how to write a story without one or many plot holes. Please respect my opinions. Moreover, if you share an opinion in the comments, I will respect your takes--even the burning hot ones--regardless of how I personally stand on an issue. If you come across a statement that you have an issue with, I highly recommend for you to consult your local librarian or book club to discuss incidental symptoms of hotheadedness, insomnia, snarky comments, frequent book hangovers, and possible death. This post is not recommended as book therapy or associated treatment for people with high prevalence of the above symptoms, and it is recommended for all readers to proceed and share at their own risk. Thank you!

First, let’s address societal expectations. Women in fiction are often expected to be likable, relatable, or at the very least, redeemable. For example, Sansa Stark from George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones is everything expected of a young woman readied to marry the heir to the Seven Kingdoms: obedient, soft-spoken, and well-mannered albeit a rare occurrence of sass reserved for her siblings. However, throughout a series of torturous character-defining moments as Martin's story progresses, Sansa transforms into a woman that readers strongly admire yet fear. Strong-willed, resilient, and loyal in favor of Daenerys and her brother Jon's resistance against the presently-ruling Lannister family, she earns both fans and enemies; however, her power-hungry tendencies and ambitious attitude show another complexity to her character--even allowing readers to outspokenly crave a downfall in her plans.

Another instance would be when Celeste in Kiera Cass’s The Selection series is painted as the vain and ruthless "mean girl" who is laser-focused on attaining Prince Maxon's heart and the deeply coveted title as Queen of Illéa. But as the trilogy progresses, Celeste surprises readers by risking her life to protect Maxon and America, her competitor. Slowly through the trilogy, her vulnerabilities are revealed, suddenly transforming her from a villain we loved to hate to someone we grudgingly admire. Similarly, Nina Zenik from Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows is introduced as unapologetically brash and self-assured. Despite included as a protagonist of the story, she undeniably embodies traits that readers often find polarizing, making her a magnet for both admiration and critique from readers. These are classic cases of an unlikable heroine being redeemed by layers of complexity and growth.

Meanwhile, male characters, can brood, break hearts, and make all kinds of morally questionable choices while still being applauded as society's next "bookish boyfriend" and excused as “complicated” or “nuanced.” So when an author drops an unlikable female heroine into our laps, she feels refreshing.

But here’s the thing: unlikable heroines reflect real women. Not everyone is a people-pleaser or a cinnamon roll who always says the right thing at the right time. And, let’s be honest, who wants to be?

Unlikable heroines challenge the idea that women must be palatable to be worthy of storytelling. Instead, they showcase flaws in ways that resonate with readers who might see themselves in the unfiltered messiness.

Take, for instance, Cersei Lannister from Martin's Game of Thrones. Yes, despite not being a heroine, Cersei's story is a masterclass in making readers simultaneously love and hate a character. Her snark, cruelty, and morally questionable choices make her divisive. Yet, when her full intentions of keeping her family, especially her children, not only safe but alive in the midst of a dragon-led rebellion are revealed, many readers, especially those who are mothers or caretakers of a family member, suddenly see her in a new light. Still, this begs us to consider if Cersei as a bitter, vengeful, yet deeply loyal woman deserves a redemption arc or if she is irredeemable and should be punished with more than just rotten tomatoes.

Moreover, there’s a fine line between flawed and unbearable. When done well, unlikable heroines make us question our own biases. 

Why does her ambition feel “too much” to me? Am I uncomfortable with her choices because they’re immoral or because they challenge societal norms?

But when done poorly, these characters turn into nothing more than plot devices for shock value or an author’s attempt at forced edginess, becoming caricatures overdressed in universally condemned values and unlikeable personality traits. For example, Storee from Megan Quinn’s How My Neighbor Stole Christmas is a prime example of this. On the surface level, she is quirky and sarcastic, traits that easily evoke adoration. But after further reading and analysis, her incessant snark crosses into grating territory, leaving some readers (ahem, me) rolling their eyes more than rooting for her. It’s a balancing act, and when that balance is off, even the most forgiving audience may find themselves not finishing that supposed "feel-good" story in lieu of reaching for another one.

Still, I believe unlikable heroines have a place on our shelves. They force us to engage critically with our stories, question our assumptions, and maybe even confront our own unlikable traits. Moreover, as I have matured and been exposed to more complex pieces or stories including advanced topics, I have come to enjoy reading about morally gray protagonists--even so far as looking forward to their written presence. Albeit their misunderstood pasts or questionable intentions within their fictional universes, it is refreshing to encounter characters who are neither strictly virtuous or are perpetually untarnished by faults or temptations. 

Albeit not a female heroine, it's refreshing to consider that even the holiest figure of them all, Jesus, in the Bible was admittedly tempted by the devil several times throughout His life and during His preparations. Moreover, He questioned His purpose and final sacrifice. These situations and similar ones dispersed throughout the Bible remind readers that absolute perfection is unattainable for anyone...even for the son of a deity.

And, returning to non-biblical figures, morally gray characters resonate with audiences, when written correctly, because they reflect this messy, intricate reality of humanity that is complicated, often selfish, and undeniably flawed. Everyday, we face that perfection is strictly an illusion, and these characters remind us that these slight imperfections can be captivating, successfully driving a story forward and establishing a character as a timeless literary figure and, oftentimes, an inspiration for others. The complexities of these characters not only challenge us to question our own moral compass but to find empathy in the most unexpected places. And, that includes the countless number of family members and friends I entrusted to hear my most vulnerable thoughts about these characters.

And on a higher note, these characters are fun to include in thoughtful debates and deep philosophical discussions when it comes to values and beliefs--and who doesn’t love a good bookish debate with both readers and non-readers alike?

So, what’s your take? Are unlikable heroines misunderstood gems or literary landmines? Albeit YOUR literal perfection, which characters or literary scenes encouraged you to reflect on your own morals or biases? Is it possible for these unlikable heroines (like Cersei Lannister) to earn redemption from readers, or what are some common traits and actions that make this option widely opposable (such as in the case of the Magister)? Leave your hot takes below (bonus points if you can name a heroine you loved and hated at the same time). Let’s keep this discussion spicy--just like our favorite morally gray protagonists--in the comments below or via my social media accounts.

Love,

Nicole

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[margarita-life]

Daemon & Rhaenyra | I CAN'T TRUST YOU (HOTD 2X02)

"...But now I have seen that your heart belongs only to you. ..."

#houseofthedragon #rhaenyratargaryen #daemontargaryen #daemyra #houseofthedragonseason2

[gamify07]

[shitposting-with-ebba]

HELLO ALL!! here’s a quick introduction!

-my name is emma or ebba. i go by she/her (cis woman)

-my page is a safe place for people of all backgrounds, any hate will not be tolerated. (you will be blocked)

-i’ve never posted on tumblr before so please bear with me!!!

-i’m a collector of little trinkets and calico critters.

I’m dedicating this page to my reviews on books, tv shows, movies, and other media.

I hope you enjoy <333

some more facts about me below the cut:

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME:

-perks of being a wallflower

-midsommar

-love rosie

-me before you

-catching fire

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE TV SERIES:

-game of thrones

-house of the dragon

-the queens gambit

-bobs burgers

-impractical jokers

MY TOP 5 BOOKS/ BOOK SERIES:

-the hunger games

-the twilight saga

-hamlet

-harry potter

-maze runner

MY TOP 5 MEDIA:

-lana del rey

-beach house

-cage the elephant

-arctic monkeys

-vacations

[adoriadreams]

Justice for Mirri Maz Duur!

How dare y'all villainize this woman.

Dany killed her with no actual proof and even if she did have proof Mirri didn't do anything wrong.

So she kills the man who caused the raped and murder of her people, who has enslaved her and she's wrong?

This is just cause it's from Dany POV so y'all justify it but let's be clear if Dany was in Mirri Maz Duur shoes I know y'all would be praising her.

When I said I knew the characters I would enjoy would not be fan favorites (cause most of the fandom is grown white men) I was right.

Mirri Maz Duur deserves better!

[pricelessreviews]

the letterboxd dean-charles chapman bio, changed with references to old tweets he made, is now gone but never forgotten 🫡

[ohumokay]

Decided to start watching GOT, and what do you mean you killed a ten year ago because he saw you fucking your twin sister??? What the fuck???

[cemason001]

I promised a potatoe chip book last week.

Title: Throne of Glass

Published: 2012

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Not the first time I've read this series an not going to be the last.

The series plot is thick. In The first book it is a loose retelling of Cindarella. Follows a teenage assassin who is summoned to the castle for a competition after being released from prison to serve as the king's champion.

One of my favorite things about this book is SJM first began developing this book when she was 16. She had posted 4 novellas about the main character on FictionPress.Com before being picked up by a publishing company. You can see SJM's writing develop throughout the series as she advances through her high school and college career and adult life.

Favorite quotes:

"You could rattle the stars, you could do anything, if only you dared. And deep down, you know it too. that's what scares you most."

"Libraries were full of ideas - perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons."