A Game of Thrones

I really wish I'd read this before watching the HBO series. It was an enjoyable book, but I think the sheer amount of spoilers I had going into it hurt my connection with characters that I knew weren't going to make it. That said, I still love the story. Well-rounded characters, beautiful descriptions, and not half as awkward as I expected it to be. Martin likes killing beloved people more than Joss Whedon does, though.