Back History of the Game of Thrones

The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Before you watch or read Game of Thrones I think you may want to give this book a read . It gives you the whole back history of the series, especially Westeros.

Westeros is where the series takes place. Before men came over on a land bridge Westeros was inhabited by the children of the forest and Giants. The children of the forest worshipped their gods and carved their faces into the trees. Eventually the first men came over from Essos. They at first were friendly with the children of the forest but eventually hostilities would erupt and the children of men would drive them away. The first men set up small kingdoms which were petty for the most part. Then came the Andals on their ships from essos. THey were driven out by the wars over there, especially with the Valerians. When the Andals came they conquered all of Westeros and drove the children and the giants away further into the woods.

In Essos war was constant. Valeria is a volcanic land from where the Dragons and the Targaryans come from . The Valerians are known not only for dragons but also for their steal swords and their purple eyed women. Eventually the Valerians would set up 9 free cities in Essos each one independent. When the Targaryans came over first they settle on Dragonstone before conquering Westeros. Eventually they took kings landing for their own rebuilding the old castle. Other groups like the Royner came over on ships fleeing war between Andals and Valerians.

Agon the conqueror and his sisters would conquer the Westeros and it would be house Targaryans that would ruled Westeros for 700 years. During this time there would be uprising and civil wars. The Dance of the Dragons was the Civil war that saw the demise of the dragon. There would also be Valerian rivals like the Blackfires and the 9 simple kings .

The Royner would eventually join the Dorns. This is a desert land and home of formidable warriors. They would eventually bend the knee after a real long time. The Iron Born from the IRon islands would make their fortune off raiding and mining. Their main god was the drowned god. Eventually they would turn to trading.

There is history on Essos as well. The Dothraki civilization is discussed along with what lies beyond the bone mountains , like the Yi TI, Ying Island and a haunted city.

For all die hard GOT fans this book will be a good edition to your library. If you are just starting this will give you a good background and you will get more out of the stories you are following.

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Travel Through the Mediterranean

How Shall We Sing? : A Mediterranean Journey Through a Jewish Family by Aline P'Nina Tayar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jews have always been on the move so to speak, regardless of religiosity or politics. Aline’s family was constantly on the move for any variety of reason. Jews are always seen as the other, never being fully accepted where they settle. The authoress’s family came from two distinct points in the Mediterranean. Her mother came from Tunisia while her father came from Malta. Jews moved around quite fluidly in the Mediterranean. They were seen as the eternal business people or cosmopolitan, hence an outsider.

For a certain time Jewish life was rather stable in that region. Her mother Lina grew up in a religious house with a very strict grandfather. There was a clash between modernity and conformity to religious values.


Most of the Jews would leave either to find spouses or work opportunities. In Tunisia, A Muslim country Jews seemed to have warmer relations with their neighbor than they did in Catholic Malta.
World Wars shake things up and that bought in the colonial European powers. The powers did bring in economic opportunity and further chances for emigration. World War II saw an increase in antisemtism. The family moved for the Middle East to Italy and then back to Malta. The Nazis brought in anti-Semitism which most people living in Italy were not hip to, they hated the SS which oppressed everyone. Most of Italy’s Jews survived the Holocaust.
The family moved briefly back to Malta and then to Israel. Her family was disillusioned with life in Israel on the kibbutz. After an injury they move to Australia and then Finally to England.


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The Rise of King Matthias

Riding on the Tail of the Devil by Danielle DeVor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great fun and entertaining read. Lighthearted and of good cheer. I would call this horror light as nothing in her was remotely frightening. The main character Matthias was your typical average American teenager. At an early age his parents are killed in a car crash and he is sent to live with his abusive aunt. Not only is the aunt abusive but her children are sadistic and resort to torturing young Matthias. After a particularly brutal session Matthias decides to run away. Living out on the streets he is taken in by Lucretia. She gives him a place to stay and she teaches him thee ways of the street. Alas good things never last, she is eventually killed by her pimp.

Eventually Matthias needs money so he consults a sorcerer named Nic. Nic sends him on a mission that practically gets him killed. It is Vladimir Tepes that saves him....by turning him into a vampire. Thus Matthias is thrust into the world of vampires.

The mythology on this volume original. Lilith was supposed to be the first vampire queen and someone else was supposed to be her consort. Unfortunately Adam messed thing up. They’re two types of vampires Lilitu and Myrdin. They are pretty much unified now. Matthias in an old incarnation was king of the Myrdin while Lilith was queen of the Lilitu. In another life she killed him.

Now that Matthias has been reborn as a vampire it is off to the university for him so he can learn what he needs in order too survive the vampires world.

Some parts of the plot are reminiscent of Harry Potter. Sort of like Matthias is the chosen one whose parents die in a crash and all the sudden he is given to relatives that do not like him and are rather mean to him. The University is kind of like Hogwarts. There is no romance in the book and we do not get a glimpse into the other vampire lives at the University. That would have been nice. This book could have made for a great young adult fiction but there is mention of certain situation and the there is profanity. The elements are in place to launch this into a classic .

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Where Are The Jinn?

Jadoowallahs, Jugglers and Jinn by John Zubrzycki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magic has long been the mainstay of India. Jugglers, conjures and tricksters line the street performing their stunts in order to get you to part with your hard earned money. India has long been considered by many to be the home of magic.

From the beginning it is hard to distinguish between a legit holy man who can do things like swallow swords, lay on a bed of nail or walk across hot burning coals and a jadowallah who does the same thing. After all both have similar techniques, pray to the same gods and perform. The same abolutions.

Even Indias rulers were taken with these juggler and jadowallahs. They would often times stroll to the park in disguise in order to see the performers perform their tricks. The relationship between the rulers and. performers gets even more complicated than that. Often times the rulers would invite troops of performers to perform in their court. At other times the performers would be used as spies.

Western interest in the Indian magicians grew under the British colonialization of India. Western audiences were blown away by sword swallowers, snake charmers and jugglers. This lead to promoters promoting the tours of Indian magicians to Europe and the west. Some of these magicians became really well known. Some would not come to the west for fear that crossing an ocean would cause them to lose their. Power. As they came in droves two things happened . FIrst was a sense of sceptisim. Enough searching lead to people discover that some of the Indian magic was tricks or sleight of hand. Other things like firewalking were real but could be explained by science.

Another problem caused by these roaming performer is that promoter would not pay them and often times left them stranded trying to find a way home. This caused lots of problems.

Nowadays it seems craft of the Jadowallah maybe in danger. As the government cracks down on certain practices and destroys the haunts of these magicians one is left to wonder.

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Rise of the Ash Queen

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Kavolaxian conquest of Astrea was the most brutal thing that could happen to the young princess Theodisius. Watching her mother’s throat get slashed by the Kaiser and his chief warrior Theyn was only the beginning. Kept a prisoner in her mothers palace for 10 years she is forced to endure daily humiliation. Called the Ash princess she is forced to wear a crown made of ash at every royal gathering, she is lashed every time the Astrean rebel against Kavolaxian rule.

After 10 years she is forced to kill her father and that is when the seeds of rebellion are sown. Three rebel sneak into the castle with a plan for her to escape. Lady Thora as she is called at the Kavolaxian court decides to stay to see if she can gather information and sow discord in the castle.

The Kavolaxian are very reminiscent of German Viking and German occupation. They enslave the the Astreans by having them mine for magic gems but the mines can make people go insane. The insane ones are used at Berserkers./ Crazy experiments are performed on the Astrean. THe Leader is called the Kaiser. Kavolaxian come from a Northern land barren with snow. They go from kingdom to kingdom taking them over and draining them of resources . Then they move to another kingdom.

A long the way a love triangle developers. Theodisius falls for both a rebel and the prince. Excitment builds until the final moment.

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Strange Dreams of Weep

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lazlo Strange was one orphan of many in a Great War in Zosmos. Like most orphans he was sent to the monastery and raised to be a monk. Born with mtalic skin that soon turned normal, young lazlo had a vivid imagination and was always playing in the field and dreaming of faraway places. One of his favorite past times was listening to a monk tell stories of a mythical city in the desert called Tizkarin. One day while playing in the fields he realized everyone forgot the city’s name and its existence. Yet he rembered it. It became an obsession. Later on Lazlo becomes a librarian which gives him ample time to do research and prove to himself the city does exist.

One day the opportunity arrives for him to go to the city.The Godslayer comes to Zosmos recruiting people to help them with a problem in the Weep as the city is now called. A huge angel shaped citadel floats above the city. It is a remnant left over from godlike being called Mestarthim. The citadel is made from a strange metal called Mestarthium. The object is to get that citadel removed to the city can experience sunlight again. The Mestarthim basically enslaved the people of the weep. The Godlsaysr killed these godlike being and freed the people. He also killed off the godspawn, hybridized children of human and god.

Five survived in the citadel each with a different magical ability. Some want to fight, others like Sarai want peace. She enters peopl s dreams by expelling moths from her body. She connects with Lazlo. It is here thst Lazlo finds his destiny. Will peace prevail or will there be all out war.

A rich story with a cast of well developed characters. The story is over 500 pages and I read it in 3 days. Enjoy!

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The Essence of Rebbe Nachman

The Essential Rabbi Nachman by Avraham Greenbaum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When it comes to Judaism you cannot beat the spirituality of Rebbe Nachman. This book is a primer meant specifically for the beginner or someone just newly exposed to Rebbe Nachman. If course those more familiar with his works can glean some benefits as well. The author gives a biography of Rebbe Bachman along with a compendium of his books and works.
The book renders his teaching on a while variety of subjects , including prayer, serving hashem , repentance and a host of other subjects.Rebe Nachmans spirituality is Crystal clear, direct and simple. His philosophy is one of joy and optimism. His formost command is to always be joyous. One must never give up hope because of you can damage then you must believe you can fix. No sinner is even so low that Hashem will never forgive them for Hashem is there even in the lowest pit of hell. Worried about your lack of focus while praying then never fear. Just do the part that resonates with you while davening with intent. For that part of the prayer resonates with your soul. Why do families fight? Because parts of their soul that resonates with the different nations. Different nations fight.
The book also tells several of his stories. They tell a lot like faery takes but they convey a certain meaning. Many of them will tell how it is important for the Jew to bind himself with the tzaddik. The tzadik knows how to fix the soul and is the one who leads his chassids or followers to the her after. Rebbe Nachman introduced some new practices that are really useful. The first one is hisbodedute this is like freestyle prayer where you pour out your heart to Hashem. You tell Hashem what is troubling you, what is in your mind and how you plan to improve. In fact the Rebbe believed you should write your own prayers and even base them in Torah lessons. Another practice is the general remedy. You say 10 of certain psalms as a remedy for problems.The Rebbe was keen on waking up at midnight to say tikkun hatsote. This is mourning for the beit hamikdash. Rebbe Nachman was buried in uman in a Jewish cemetery where the martyrs of a massacre are buried. It is a big thing for his followers to go to his grave on Rosh Hashanah. Rebbe Nachman will alwAys intercede for his followers.

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