How graphic are the Game of Thrones books

I loved Game Of Thrones as a show, even though Season 8 majorly stank. Because I liked it so much, I’ve tried giving the books a go a number of times, but I couldn’t make it past the first. I love fantasy, and I love the world George R. R. Martin paints, but high fantasy novels are hit or miss for me, and this series was just a miss. Too much detail, so many characters…

Well, I missed the show, and I want to see what’s different about the books, so I decided to give the graphic novels a try. And Volume 1 had me absolutely hooked!

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The summary, from Amazon:

You’ve read the books. You’ve watched the hit series on HBO. Now acclaimed novelist Daniel Abraham and illustrator Tommy Patterson bring George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones to majestic new life in the pages of this graphic novel. Comprised of the initial six issues of the comic book series, this is the first volume in what is sure to be one of the most coveted collaborations of the year.

Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn, his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon, his daughters Sansa and Arya, and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer . . . but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season.

Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, Prince Joffrey, a cruel, vainglorious youth, and the queen’s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister—the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms.

While across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki—whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innocent sister, Daenerys.

Buy A Game Of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One here!

When they say the books are better, they really are. I just couldn’t get into these novels for some reason, but the graphic novels are faithful to the books more so than the show. Because of that, there are some minor differences in plot and major changes in characterization that really blew me away. This is drawn in a typical superhero style. Most of the male leads are either crazily buff or athletically slim, while most of the women are absolute bombshells. But it’s true to its art form in that, and I think it really made a fantasy story translate better into this particular platform.

One thing I really noticed is how badass the women are in these books. Yeah, they’re great in the show, but a lot of their awesomeness was underwritten by the HBO writers. Take Dany’s wedding night scene. Daenerys is strong from day one in the novel and graphic novel adaptation. She’s afraid of one thing: her abusive brother. The show draws her wedding night as rape, but in the book she feels joyous and gives full consent. This adaptation still has her taking control sexually without raping her first. Daenerys is happy with her husband, but wants to enjoy herself as well, and so when they fully consummate their relationship a few chapters later, gettin’ it on under the sky, as per Dothraki custom, she gets on top. This completely changes the connotation and I don’t get why the show wasn’t this sex positive towards a young woman growing into herself confidently.

Anyway, I already have Volume 2 on hold at my library! I can’t wait to read it.

Find out more about how I rate books here.

Amazing, easy to read, spot-on adaptation. The characters are drawn in a traditional comic book style – we have our (mostly) burly or athletically slim men and (mostly) dainty sexpot women. But the illustrations are still gorgeous and do a large part in telling the story. I only read Book 1 of ASOIAF (I liked the show more – high fantasy can be too in-depth in novel form for me) and I really hope the rest of this series gets adapted. I’ll read the ones that have been published for sure.

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Book Club Questions

1. Have you read the original title? How was this similar? Different?
2. How about compared to the show?

Interested? Buy A Game Of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One. You can also buy the entire series of graphic novels here. And don’t forget to add me as a friend on Goodreads!

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