Ben Avery

This review is actually for the audiobook of The Hedge Knight.

A novella set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, this is set around a hundred years before the events in Martin's huge work and is slighter in every way. The Hedge Knight of the title is Dunk, a young man raised by a poor masterless knight and trained in the ways of combat and chivalry. We meet him as as he sets out into the world following his elderly mentor's death, heading to a tourney to prove himself.

The tale lacks the show more intricacy of plot that characterises A Song of Ice and Fire, although things of course do not run smoothly for the would-be knight. Martin's achievement in all the books is create a living, breathing world in the classic fantasy faux-medieval mold and divest it entirely of the romantic gloss that usually lends such literature a rosy glow. Combat is brutal, even for men covered in heavy plates of steel and linked mail, and peasants without training or proper weapons have no chance. Life is nasty, brutish and short for all but a favoured elite, and even they are subject to the natural shocks and the treacheries of power. People die, not because of some all controlling destiny or plan of the gods or the universal balance, but simply through bad luck. The mood is often reminiscent of some of the grittier takes on the Arthurian legends, like the movie Excalibur or [a:T.H. White|426944|T.H. White|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1246071532p2/426944.jpg]'s [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King|T.H. White|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1219625031s/43545.jpg|1140206]

Yet the world view is not necessarily bleak. Dunk, like many of Martin's heroes is a truly moral person, who does the right simply because it is the right thing to do. He believes in the true code of chivalry - that the strong should protect the weak and not abuse their power, that promises and bonds are to be kept, that someone with the ability to stop wrongdoing should not stand idly by - even when he sees that his social superiors do not act that way. If good does triumph, it isn't because it is good but because there are people willing to fight for their principles.

This book also helps to fill in a little history of the later saga. We get to see the near ancestors of some of the great houses ad understand more about how the political situation at the start of A Song of Ice and Fire came about.

This novella and the ones that follow it are a nice, light introduction to Martin's world for those who don't yet know it and an interesting snack for those of us waiting the next table-straining course. show less

I'm not a regular reader of graphic novels. But I do love me some George R.R. Martin and his world in A Song of Ice and Fire.

This graphic novel aggregates 6 stand alone comics and makes for a beautifully rendered story that predates the activities that start with Martin's A Game of Thrones. The graphic novel is based upon Martin's own short story, and the narration and dialogue read very true to the nature of Martin's work and will be immediately recognizable for any fan of ASOIAF.

The art is show more very 'mature', bright, bold, detailed, descriptive and not cartoonish. Combined with the vivid coloring, the entire Hedge Knight 'package' does a terrific job evoking Martin's world.

I highly recommend this to any existing fan of AWOIAF or anyone who's interested in dipping their toe in a Game of Thrones without committing to a 1,000 page read. And if you're not into 'fantasy', there's no worries here. While there are references to dragons, the action is all medieval. show less

Typically, I find the second book of a trilogy to be the least impressive. Yet, in this instance, I enjoyed Book 2 the most.

It’s a bit of a slow start, but once it gets going, it’s highly entertaining.

The plot has a good blend of humour and pathos, action and contemplation, resulting in an engaging narrative. The author’s skill makes you see and feel what’s happening in this fantasy world that feels inspired by real medieval history.

All characters are vividly portrayed, with the main show more two – Dunk and Egg – being very likable.

I particularly enjoyed the subtle love interest between Dunk and Lady Rohanne Webber. show less

The graphic novel adaptation of the second of George R.R. Martin's Dunk & Egg novellas, not only stays true to the originally written story but gives it life with fantastic renderings of all the characters, the locales, and the action. Drawn by artist Mike S. Miller and livened by colorist Mike Crowell, The Sworn Sword gives both "Game of Thrones" book and show fans a great look into the history of the Seven Kingdoms as Ser Duncan (Dunk) the Tall and the future King Aegon (Egg) V learn about show more the greatest threat to the Targaryen throne nearly a century before Robert’s Rebellion—the Blackfyre Rebellion.

The story begins almost two years after The Hedge Knight, Dunk and Egg are in the service to Sir Eustace Osgrey who holds a small tower but reminisces about his family’s ancient glory and his own immediate family’s misfortune. A nearly two year drought has gripped Westeros after the Great Spring Sickness—think the Black Death—resulting in water and people being short, which is when Ser Eustace’s stream disappears. After Dunk and another sworn sword, Ser Bennis, search upstream they discover that Ser Eustace’s neighbor Lady Webber has built a dam to divert the water. Soon things escalate and the two nobles begin to lob threats and promise blood vengeance as Dunk tries to find a way to make peace.

Of the work surrounding the graphic novel itself, I can only praise the work of Miller and Crowell who not only brought into visual life Dunk and Egg but so many other historically important characters in very consistent way throughout the entire book. It is hard to find fault with the work of these two men save with pointing out a few continuity errors, which unfortunately happen in every graphic novel. But when it came to the memories of Ser Eustace Osgrey about the Battle of the Redgrass Field that ended the threat of Daemon Blackfyre, the artwork is fantastic and brings the memories of the battle alive and giving justice to some of Martin’s best writing.

If you're a fan of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" world and haven't gotten this book yet I, what are you waiting for? I highly recommend this graphic novel adaptation of The Sworn Sword as well as the novella itself, you won’t be disappointed. show less