That Labyrinth Called Westeros

It is not very often that you come across a story that surprises you after every five pages and at no point in time, can you be ahead of the author. A story that feels so real, you can taste it. There is no dearth of fiction writers who create fables about knights and dragons, treachery and glory. But what is it about G.R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones that has caused it to be a global phenomenon?
Recently, I completed reading ‘Dance With Dragons’ – the massive brick of a book which is the last published book in the series-of-seven and I kid you not when I say that every character pov is a cliffhanger. Every single one. Our genius author took six years to give us this one, and now I can only wonder when the next installment will be out. Seven give us strength.
I have to give almost equal credit to the creators of the HBO show –  David Benioff and D.B. Weiss who have brought the show to life, given faces to the numerous houses of Westeros, drawn us closer to the heroes and villains and through it all, taught us so much.
Complicated minds. Promises of honour. Winter. Price of loyalty. All come together in the Season three premiere on March 31. 
Till then, this fantastic render of ‘Rains of Castamere’ – which I post out of no Lannister love, but only due to the sheet brilliance of the way it has been used in the series and in knowing of the catastrophe that awaits in shape of the ‘Red Wedding’.
As one of my favourite characters in the novel says and I quote, Never forget who you are, for surely the world won’t. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”