Journal Entry 1 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Monday, September 15, 2003

Book 1 of the Song of Ice and Fire series.

If you're looking for a good fantasy book, look no more for you have found it. Martin is a master storyteller, weaving together stories and a multitude of characters. Not only is his story gripping and compelling, but he also "plays for keeps." You never know who might die and who might live or what might happen to your favorite characters. He also sees the world in shades of grey rather than just strictly good or evil. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of the characters, which adds even more depth to the story.

From the back cover:
In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hang perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones. 

Journal Entry 2 by karendawn from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Thursday, October 16, 2003

I sent this book out as a bookray. It has reached the last person on the list, so the bookray has ended. Thanks everyone for making this one a success!

katayoun - Iran
shaunesay - Kansas
dragonfly4 - Canada
ladyoflight - South Carolina
BountifulPots - Kansas
DianeO - UK
Mytilusgirl - UK
stardustedangel - North Carolina
MollyGrue - Washington
Eucalia - Washington
Tuz - Brazil 

Journal Entry 3 by karendawn at Mailed to another BookCrosser in College Station, Texas USA on Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Released on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at Mailed to another BookCrosser in College Station, Texas USA.

When you receive the book please leave a journal entry noting that the book has arrived.

When you are ready to send the book on, PM the next person on the list and send by whatever shipping method you prefer. Also make a journal entry about your thoughts on the books and either include in that entry when you plan to send the book on or make a separate release note.

If you are the last person on the list, PM me to see whether this bookray will try to continue (which I would like it to do) or if you should release the book in your own way. 

Journal Entry 4 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Saturday, November 08, 2003

it's here! thanks alot and i'd start reading it as soon as i finish the book i'm reading. this is my first g.r.r. martin and i'm really excited 

Journal Entry 5 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Friday, November 14, 2003

just an update, so you won't worry that it's stuck. i've started, am half way through and have asked for the next person's address!!! the book is really exciting, though there are times when i REALLY wanna kick somebody. :) thanks karendawn for the ring. 

Journal Entry 6 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Monday, November 17, 2003

nearly done and still haven't heard from wickedwordz, i'll try again tomorrow.
and so about the book, well i like fantasy like mckillip or wynne jones, and this wasn't that kind of a fatasy and no wizards or magic flying about and so it was not my cup of fantasy, but then it was really nicely written and the charcters were captivating and nothing was standing still. except maybe for one or two people here were no one dimensional good or bad, and though you might have sided with one or the other, they all had some weaknesses and a something likable about them, yup now that i'm writing about it i can see that i really liked the people, they were real; just exciting and fantastic also; more real, maybe? :)
thanks karendawn for this ring and my first experience with George R.R. Martin. 

Journal Entry 7 by katayoun from Tehran, Tehran Iran on Sunday, November 23, 2003

the book's on it's way to shaunesay, it's going to take a month give or take a week (crossing finger for "take a week" option :))
thanks karendawn for the ray 

Journal Entry 8 by shaunesay from Olathe, Kansas USA on Thursday, December 11, 2003

Just received in the mail from katayoun!

Will journal again as soon as I'm done! Thanks for the ring Karendawn!  

Journal Entry 9 by shaunesay from Olathe, Kansas USA on Friday, January 16, 2004

Wow. And again I say, WOW! This just keeps you guessing until the very end, and none of the characters are exempt from trial and suffering! This is the first George R. R. Martin book I've read, and I'm so impressed, I think I have a new author to add to my favorites list! It goes from a two sided conflict, to three way, to possibly a 4 way conflict towards the end. And generally you get a feeling towards one side or the other, you favor one side or the other, but to like characters from all the sides of the conflict, that is something different I feel!

Thanks so much for this ring karendawn, this is a new discovery I'm quite pleased with! I really appreciate finding this author!

Will be sending out 1/17/04 to dragonfly4 in Canada. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 10 by dragonfly4 on Monday, February 02, 2004

The book arrived today. I've just started this book, but will get to this one asap. Going by the reviews, I can't wait to get to this one. 

Journal Entry 11 by dragonfly4 on Sunday, March 07, 2004

This is a fantastic book. Once I was able to sort out who was who, I was really pulled into the story. I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters next. Does anyone know if there if a bookring for the second book? If not, I'll see if I can get my hands on it. Thanks so much karendawn.

Sent March 12 to ladyoflight. 

Journal Entry 12 by ladyoflight from Somerville, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, March 27, 2004

Just got this one in the mail. I will get to it as soon as is humanly possible. All the bookrings seem to hit me at the same time. Murphy's Law, I guess. Anyway, it looks good, so I'm looking forward to it. 

Journal Entry 13 by ladyoflight from Somerville, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, May 04, 2004

Incredible book! All I have ever asked from authors is that they write books that engross me (not too much to ask). Well, George R.R. Martin does exactly that. I could not put this book down. The plot keeps moving. The characters are not cardboard cut-outs. Plus, surprises galore. You never quite know what's going to happen. I could gush over this book for quite a while, but I'll stop now. I'll be purchasing the first three books in the series very soon (who ever said BC discourages book buying), and I'll be sending this off to BountifulPots this week. Thanks for the introduction to this great author, karendawn. 

Journal Entry 14 by BountifulPots from Olathe, Kansas USA on Monday, May 17, 2004

Got this today, will start reading it immediately! I'm excited! 

Journal Entry 15 by BountifulPots from Olathe, Kansas USA on Sunday, June 20, 2004

I must apologize for how long it's taken me to journal this, but I wil say that it's already on its way to the next person in line, and should hopefully be there shortly. That being said... WOW! I have, most definitely, found another author to add to my favorites list. After finishing this one, I went right out and bought it along with the next two books in the series. Martin truly has a skill for making realistic characters: ones that you love, ones that you hate, and ones that you're never sure of what they will do. Thank you so much for making this one available, it's truly epic fantasy at its finest! 

Journal Entry 16 by DianeO from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, June 21, 2004

Received today - thanks! Have only ever read a short story by George R. R. Martin, so am looking forward to a full fantasy novel by this author.

Update - 4th July.
Am about half way through and really enjoying it! I initially thought I would never understand the relationship between all the characters, but it all falls into place! 

Journal Entry 17 by DianeO from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 07, 2004

Finally finished and it is difficult to convey the thrall this book pulls you into. Have been searching local shops for the second volume! Excellent fantasy. I already know mytilusgirl's address, but will send a PM to check she still wants this. 

Journal Entry 18 by DianeO at on Friday, July 09, 2004

Release planned for Monday, July 12, 2004 at Postal Release in Chesterfield, England United Kingdom.

On to the next reader! 

Journal Entry 19 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Monday, July 19, 2004

Arrived today. 

Journal Entry 20 by Mytilus from Plymouth, Devon United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 20, 2004

What a marvellous, marvellous book. I've 'found' another author to treasure and adore.

In fact, I loved this book so much, I managed to accidentally sign myself up for it twice! Doh!

Passing on to stardustedangel tomorrow. 

Journal Entry 21 by stardustedangel from Pineville, North Carolina USA on Friday, August 20, 2004

Wow! I received this in the mail today, along with two other bookrings! I'll update this entry as I read the book to let y'all know how far along with it I am.

8/27/04 ---> I found that I couldn't put this one down once I started it=) I must get ahold of the sequel! I'll send this out to the next bookcrosser as soon as I get the address. Many thanks to karendawn for sharing! 

Journal Entry 22 by stardustedangel at post office--controlled release! in Pineville, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Released 7 yrs ago (9/15/2004 UTC) at post office--controlled release! in Pineville, North Carolina USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

sorry the release took so long, but things have been more than hectic and i haven't had the chance to get to the post office...
happy reading! 

Journal Entry 23 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Thursday, September 30, 2004

Ooooh a rooster label. :) I will get to this as soon as I can. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 24 by MollyGrue from Tacoma, Washington USA on Friday, December 03, 2004

Has it been two months already? I think I will start this one next....

12/29/04
I GIVE UP! I am officially throwing in the towel on this one and sending it on to Eucalia. I might pick this book up from somewhere else and finish it then. Sorry for holding on to it for so long. 

Journal Entry 25 by MollyGrue at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 07, 2005

Released on Friday, January 07, 2005 at about 8:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at in the mail in Bookring, A Bookring Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Eucalia. Happy reading!

DC# 03041560000156650576 

Journal Entry 26 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Tuesday, January 11, 2005

I picked this book up from the post office today! I have a couple of books to read in front of it, but I'll get to this one as soon as I can. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 27 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I just finished my previous book so I'm getting ready to start this one. I'm looking forward to it after reading everyone else's reviews! 

Journal Entry 28 by Eucalia from Snoqualmie, Washington USA on Thursday, February 10, 2005

Journal Entry 29 by Eucalia at sent to bookcrosser in Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 11, 2005

Released 7 yrs ago (2/11/2005 UTC) at sent to bookcrosser in Mailed, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now officially on its way to Brazil! I had some difficulty in getting it mailed as apparently Global Priority doesn't deliver to the particular little section of the world where I wanted to send this--so to Tuz, I apologize for the double packaging, but the book should be there soon, enjoy! 

Journal Entry 30 by Tuz from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil on Thursday, February 24, 2005

It´s arrived in Brazil, safe and sound :) Thanks!

26 March 2005

Not my cup of tea, but I liked most of it :)

17 February 2009

I've just mailed it to Deb in the US. Have a safe trip, little book! 

Journal Entry 31 by imawinn2 from Neenah, Wisconsin USA on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Mucho Gracias Tuz! I received your gift today and look forward to reading this series. It is also fun to see the stamps you placed on the package. My children will love seeing stamps from Brazil. Thanks again for your kindness. Best wishes from Wisconsin. :-)