George R. R. Martin, known for his prestige in literature and prevailing fame in television, has rocked the fan base of Game of Thrones once again. However, Martin’s perception of this fantasy world of the Seven Kingdoms is in an entirely different and whimsical light.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, written by Martin and illustrated by Gary Gianni, takes place nearly a century before any of the events in the actual Game of Thrones series. According to Tech Times, this compilation of novellas was actually written by Martin in 1998, but has finally been assembled into one full volume. It was published on October 6, 2015.

The story follows a hedge knight known as Ser Duncan the Tall and his mysterious squire called Egg. It is composed of three short stories, The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight. Ser Duncan the Tall, nicknamed Dunk, travels the Seven Kingdoms without official title nor banner, looking for any method of work or coin. He meets Egg on one of his expeditions where from then on, they become inseparable and stumble blindly upon unbelievable adventures.

What is so incredibly interesting about this particular installment isn’t the great time gap or the fact that it takes place during the infamous Targaryen rule, but the way Martin recounts these epic tales. Any seasoned Game of Thrones reader knows of the inappropriate, vulgar world that Martin so feverishly conjured up, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms can be construed as an actual fairy tale. The enchanting storyline, novella-style writing, and classic tales of gallantry and forbidden love are enough to remind readers of the nostalgic attitude of fairy tales. This volume is clean, valiant and captivating to any reader, not just the experienced Game of Thrones viewer.

Yet, as it is in every good book, there are some key points missing. The plot-line is slightly jumpy, with gaps in between each story to emphasize the passing of time. It can get a bit jumbled for the reader if they don’t pay close attention. Also, the excessive influx of characters and names can be a bit hard to handle, but that’s pretty familiar to those who have read Martin’s other books.

All in all, Martin has succeeded in bringing the Game of Thrones family in for another round of lancing competitions and grappling for the crown. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a must-read for all those who wish to delve into the world of kings, castles and cliffhangers.