I knew long before I started reading the first page that I'm gonna love this one... ;-) I was already watching the TV-series and I had already heard and read a lot about the books as well. Of course such expectations always risk to cause a complete letdown, but definitely not this one.
I like the epic scale on which George R.R. Martin works. With a lot of books I love there is the problem that they are too short and come to an end much too early. Here you can immerge for hours, days and weeks in the world of Westeros and Essos and there is a whole bunch of protagonists to identify with, and it's not even over yet.... just love it (have I already mentioned that?)!

What could I say about the content? Realy difficult where to start.

The story is situated in the fictive medieval world of westeros and essos, two continents, not too far away from each other, so there are quite a few connections between the two. Throughout the books we get to know quite a lot about the history of the place and the effects and impacts of the past on the present are referred to quite often. In this fictive world the seasons last often several years and their duration can't be predicted with certainty.
The book starts in a time of relative stability: The current king is in place since over 14 years and the summer is lasting already some years. But quite soon things are getting complicated, rebellions and war are coming up and Westeros begins to slide into chaos. Most fascinating also how at the beginning of the book the roles of good and evil seem to be distributed quite clear but very soon we as readers have to start questioning this attributions and the protagonists become pretty complex.

So a definite recommandation to read for everyone but you should make sure to have enough spare time to read in the weeks to come... ;-)

On the way to a future fan of the series... ;-)

This is not a time of playing

in a summer shower,
for on it may go till you die.