A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin — Fantasy Book Review

Art by Gary Gianni

I have read and re-read these novellas half a dozen times, and I still find joy every time I journey into Westeros through the eyes of Ser Duncan the Tall. I am frequently recommending these stories to friends, so I thought: why not review it online as well? Therefore, without further ado, let's talk about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin.

I was introduced to this world via A Game of Thrones many years ago - before the show came out (just had to flex that, real quick). While Martin is known for his edgy, gritty storytelling, my biggest takeaways were his incredible his prose, how rich his worldbuilding is, and how deeply written his characters are. These skills are on full display throughout these tales, but this is far more concise and wholesome story. So, if A Song of Ice and Fire is too daunting or dark, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might be the best way to experience such a skilled writer's work.

These are simple, straightforward stories at the backdrop of a complex and broken world. This is still Westeros - with all of its wars, betrayals and somewhat less than healthy relationships - but this is Westeros from the perspective of an earnest character whose desires are far more altruistic than your typical grimdark fair. Because of this contrast, the goodness in the hearts of its characters shines all the brighter.

Dunk is such a delightful POV. He is slow, but not dumb, good-natured but far from perfect. His relationship with his squire, Egg, is sweet and sincere. Their banter is fun, but it is clear that the characters care about each other. Their friendship is one of my favorite friendships in fiction.

As I have mentioned before, Martin's prose is unparalleled. He is the master of balancing beauty with bluntness. His sentence structure is the stuff of awe, and this story has my favorite opening paragraph of any book I have ever read.

The spring rains had softened the ground, so Dunk had no trouble digging the grave. He chose a spot on the western slope of a low hill, for the old man had always loved to watch the sunset. "Another day done" - he would sigh - "and who knows what the morrow would bring us, eh Dunk?"

I think this is one of the most beautiful openings. It contains imagery, character work, emotion, and action - all in a single paragraph. The reader is thrown right into the depth of the story, and Martin finds the brilliant half-way point between pretty and practical prose.

The plot - or rather, plots - are phenomenal. The middle story, The Sworn Sword, is definitely my favorite - but all of them are well worth the time. Each tale has a solid beginning, middle, and end, but the possibilities for the overarching adventures are endless (if George ever gets around to writing them).

I could gush about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms forever - these stories have a very special place in my heart. They are thoughtful and wholesome at the backdrop of a complex and grounded world. If you enjoy skillful writing, strong characters and a wonderful story, I highly recommend picking up this book and joining Dunk and Egg on the roads of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

-H.