Book Review: A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume Three

Daniel Abraham (Adaptation), George R.R. Martin, Tommy Patterson (Illustrations)
Format: Hardback Graphic Novel
Published: September 1st, 2013
Age: Adult
Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 Stars

The graphic novel adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones is, to put it bluntly, brilliant, and a great way to reexperience the books. Visually, it makes for a more faithful adaptation than the TV series. As someone who really enjoyed the TV version, as a medium the graphic novel allows for more than the show, especially when it comes to specific details that maybe wouldn’t translate as well to the screen.

The first four volumes of the series depict the events of A Game of Thrones, and I think they’ve split the book really well across the volumes. With this being the last but one, it really ramps things up, and I loved how they included some of the prose from the book itself outside of the dialogue, as these sections work so well to underscore the scenes.

There’s really little to say about this – I think if you like graphic novels and are a fan of either the TV series or the books (or both!) you’ll enjoy this, and Daniel Abraham and Tommy Patterson have done such an excellent job of condensing the hefty tome into the graphic novel format, while keeping the core elements that make the actual story in the book really shine. The artwork is fantastic and adds to the tone in any particular scene, with so many details you can find yourself staring at the page for ages.

I also appreciate the way the extras at the back give you further insight into the creative process, matching the descriptions of characters with the approved designs, focusing here on the minor characters that populate the various locations in the first book.

There’s so much to enjoy in these books, and I look forward to getting my hands on the next volume.