I’d never heard of “Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin until the summer after the first season premiered. My Tumblr was full of gifs and pictures of the characters, so naturally I had to check it out. I watched the first two seasons before I had any interest in the books. I’m happy I did read it because as much as I love the show, the book is so much better.

For those of you who don’t know what “Game of Thrones” is, you should punch yourself in the face. It is one of the best television series on HBO I have watched. I’m into the “Tutors” that played on Showtime, and I loved “Sex and the City” on HBO, but “Game of Thrones” surpasses both of these series in awesomeness.

For those losers who have no clue what “Game of Thrones” is about, let me recap for you. It’s basically all these different houses fighting for power. There’s betrayal, death, sex, power struggles, boys and direwovles. So basically perfection. The different groups struggling for power are in different parts of the realm, the “Free Cities,” and the lands across the sea. You hate some houses and love others, but I can promise you’ll love to hate the people you hate.

“Game of Thrones” is the first book in the “A Song of Fire and Ice” series. The entire first season is based on the first book, and is practically word for word from it. Some of my favorite quotes from the book were used in the show. My all time favorite quotes are “When you play the game of thrones you win or you die” and “‘Let me give you some counsel, bastard,” Lannister said. “‘Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself with it, and it will never be used to hurt you.’”

Obviously the book developed the characters much better than the show because you’re inside their heads. However, the show does a kick butt job of conveying attitudes, behaviors, perceptions and character descriptions of all characters in the book. The only part that freaked me out were some of the character’s ages perceived in the show compared to how old they really are in the book. Two of the main character’s sons in the show are early twenties and super hot, but in the book they’re only 14. So now I feel like a cradle robber for having fictional crushes on them. My favorite couple in this book is Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo. I loved how they fell in love over time in the series. In the book, it’s like an instant attraction, and the grossest part is that Daenerys is only 13 in the book. Ew.

If I still haven’t convinced you to get with the program and watch this show, take a look at the trailer.