Let the Mother of Dragons win...

How I hope Daenerys will conquer the Seven Kingdoms!

Dear George R.R. Martin, 

Don't Kill Daenerys Targaryen! Your book series A Song of Ice and Fire is amazing. You have great characters, rich histories, complex characters, and real heart! But, please don't kill the possibly last Targaryen in that world and leave all of us fans in deep depression for at least as long as it has taken you to write the series. If Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen, Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Khaleesi of the Great Grass, Chainbreaker of Slaver's Bay, Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, the Silver Queen, the Bride of Fire, the Dragon Queen, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of Meeren, Blood of the Dragon, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, and the Slayer of Lies, never wins the Game of Thrones then what was it all for? Who the heck is Fire in your series if not her. You killed Ned, you killed Mormont, over half of the Starks are gone and separated, the Baratheons are nearly extinguished, and Winter has yet to come!? What can we even expect in winter? Winter is coming! has been proclaimed since the very first book. We are five books later and the series has yet to make any crazy impact that brings Dany closer to Westeros. When will her dragons grow big enough for her to control them and rule the Seven Kingdoms with? Just don't kill her. 

Sincerely, 

An Anxious Fan Waiting for Winds of Winter

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in "Game of Thrones"

Let the Games Begin...

 The Game of Thrones that is!

 If you ever need to watch something that reflects various eras from history that involve civil war, courtly intrigue, battles, family problems, incest, love stories, and overall epicness, then HBO's Game of Thrones is it. Based on the incredibly awesome and as yet incomplete book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, this fiery and jaw dropping series does great justice to the books. It is rare to be able to say that a show or movie is just as good/close enough to not make fans get the pitch forks and burning torches, but this show can take that honor.

Currently in its third season, Game of Thrones is titled after the first book and follows the many twists and turns of the noble houses of the seven kingdoms known as Westeros. The kingdom has a legendary history that involves the Targaryen bloodline, the ancient and now mostly dead rulers of the land who had the most powerful claim to the throne and right to rule: fire breathing dragons. When the series starts, however, dragons are dead, there remain only two Targaryens in exile, and the land is ruled by House Baratheon in the form of the loud, drunk, and indifferent King Robert. King Robert is married to the cold hearted but beautiful Cersei Lannister, the daughter of the richest man in all the seven kingdoms. Tywin Lannister is a man who was trusted by the Targaryens and who betrayed them fatally in order to make his daughter queen and his grandchildren the heirs to the land. We also have the Starks of Winterfell, the northern house that believes in honor and family above all things. The Starks however have their house motto "Winter is Coming" because in this land, Winter can last over a year, even ten, and Summer is about to end. Children of ten have yet to see a winter and when the cold winds rise, the darkness will cover the land. With darkness, the histories talk about monsters and the dead walking again. But none of this seasonal change matters to the lords and ladies of the land because all everyone cares about is who is closest to the iron throne (the spiky, sword welded throne of the ruler of Westeros) and who wins the game of thrones.

What is the most powerful and memorable thing about this book series and the show is the display of female empowerment, the different character stories and narratives, and the really harsh ends of some of the main characters. There are currently five books out 1) A Game of Thrones 2) A Clash of Kings 3) A Storm of Swords 4) A Feast for Crows 5) A Dance of Dragons. This book series and the show itself are my recommendations for the week. Beware, however, these are stories with adult and mature content which is gratuitously presented at times in classic HBO style.