A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a purely knightly romance, in which the reader can meet noble knights, for whom honor and personal ideals are in the first place, and those knights, who have forgotten their vows. The events described in this book take place long before the events of the main series A Song of Ice and Fire and allow to look at Westeros with the eyes of an ordinary resident. Basically, the book is devoted to the campaigns of Dunk and Egg, their knightly life, but there are constantly references to various historical events, personalities, place, because of which the reader constantly wants to study the entire history of the Seven Kingdoms in more details.
The writer spills the beans right away. He goes deeper and shows the whole story. Martin shows the reader what the morality of this book is – the losers are defined as traitors; winners must continue to prove their power and strength. The author does not give up his manner and very realistically shows some fragments of the Middle Ages, which were transferred to his story, but here cruelty is not ascended to the absolute, and the main character even surprisingly turns out to be a real knight, not a bandit from the road.
Many serious themes and questions are developed in the book – the meanness of the elder in relation to the younger; deception of those, who believed in life, believing in words and promises; betrayal of the one on whom last hope remained. A love story is presented in the book as well. It does not spoil the plot as love makes knights fight and become stronger and invincible. This book teaches to fight for honor, glory and love. All these tournaments are for the sake of the noble ladies. All these feats are for the sake of the woman, who is staying at home and waiting.
This is a book that opens the reader’s eyes to the fact that, in Westeros at least, soon it will be impossible to pretend to be someone else. The time has come to make a choice. So many rumors are flying around the kingdoms. So many opinions and fears are around people. Betrayal nest in the hearts of many people. And everyone will have to openly express their opinion and position and bear the consequences or punishment. No one is willing to forgive the traitors. Moreover, if you are in power, which not everyone considers legal, cruelty should come first. Fear works better than any orders. It is ruled by witchcraft and aridness, which destroys everything in its path. Spies, who hide in different corners, are sneaking around plotting. This novel that shows how difficult it is for a person to get along with the norms and principles of that time. Sometimes one has to sacrifice oneself for the sake of honor and justice.
