An unexpected surprise

I am new to audible books, and value peoples reviews. I was nearly put off A Game of Thrones, by some poor reviews. I actually like Roy Dotrice, and find his style suits me. It has probably helped that I have seen the first series of the HBO TV production and got to know the characters. I am enjoying the extra detail and background of the characters, which the TV series skated over. I will certainly be purchasing the next instalment of this book and hope to finish it before the next TV series.

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61 people found this helpful

Great book, some distracting reading

Worth getting into if you liked the show. There are some distracting changes in the narrators pronunciation of names however. It catches your attention and in my case miss some detail when figuring out who he's talking about. Also some of the chants and sounds are a little jarring. But overall a good voice to listen to.

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3 people found this helpful

Immersive World, Narrated Poorly

I loved the story itself. The writing is masterful and the worldbuilding rivals (or honours) Tolkien. The characters are all compelling and how they fit within that world makes this an enjoyable read.

Sadly, the narration is poor. Not for the lack of effort. But his accents are atrocious. Especially Tyrion compared to his other siblings. Why is he Welsh?

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3 people found this helpful

I'm hooked

I read the 1st of the Ice & Fire series last year at the beginning of August and finished the 5th book by the end of the same month. Given that each book approaches a 1000 pages that is some going. The brutal world of Westoros is absolutely convincing in detail and absorbing in its grand sweep. I will download every part of this series although it may take me years to listen to it all as I love the books so much.

However; the choice of Roy Dotrice as reader was in my opinion a poor one. He lacks range my dear. Tyrion is a dwarf not an ancient Leprechaun and Arya is a teenage girl not a wizzened old lady. For such an important series why not choose a proper voice artist?

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2 people found this helpful

Wish there were more narrators to choose from

Setting aside that he's an old man making all the characters sound like old men (that I can see past), Roy Dotrice gives unfitting accents and voices to many of the characters and it's quite a distraction sometimes. Someone with a wider range and better judgment would've been preferred. His normal narrator voice is quite cozy and likeable (earning him all 3 of the stars), but the dialogue is just horrendous.

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1 person found this helpful

Noooo

The story is impressive and captivating. Different cultures and backgrounds between each character is great for immersion. I highly reccomend intaking this story whether it is through audible, reading for yourself or watching the tv show.

However,

I cannot give this audible a 5 star on the story because of the narration. I have listened for 12 hours alongside Roy Dotice, and I will continue to listen until the end. His narration is not bad by any means necassary. But some characters such as the big hulk of a barbarian man that leads his khalasar into villiages to raid, and pilliage and rape. A man already depicted as strong and large and scary... Is given a voice as if it were cut from an old decrepid witch from an old 80's anime.

"No" he said.
"Noooo" The old man said - on his deathbed, as he was squeezing out his constipation.

Alongside Drogo, Tyrion was given a tough voice to adapt to. Like rumplestiltskin from the shrek movie. And not even shrek 4 where he is an important character and seems characterized... shrek 2, where prince charming bumps into him in the pub and rumple looks like a 4 year old that is crying because his teddy is in the washing machine.

I do not wish to turn people away though. This is a great 33 hour expirience. The voices given to a certain few characters will not match desriptions given or the idea of that character in your head, but Roy Dotrice's style of reading this book is still very substantial.

**If you have watched the series before listening to this audible, try to reimagine the characters in a new light**

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Fully Absorbing

An unbelievably rich book that rewards listening and re-listening. Some of the foreshadowing is so subtle that I didn’t catch it until a second or third read.

Performance is good but the voices are a bit homogenous and indistinct.

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Amazing story and amazing reader

Really pulled in by the story. Enjoyed every part of it, and the reader was excellent with his interpretations of the characters

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A good recording of a great story

I’m not keen on Tyrion being Welsh and if you can look passed the odd Jeffrey, it’s a good recording of a great story.

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Fantastic

I love this book series and the tv show, I got chills when my king was crowned

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