I have not read the books, but I will say that my qualms with this show are based on pacing issues and dialogue. I think, perhaps the dialogue is a bit too literary, and doesn't translate well to television. Definitely too dramatic, and at times cringe. I don't blame the actors, because I have seen most of them in other projects that were better than this. But the genre itself and fans of Fantasy are so starved for TV content they we are willing to accept some pretty questionable productions. But the writing, I just-- it's slow and boring at times in a genre with so much potential and possibility. I find myself rolling my eyes more than I would like. I think the concept is interesting, but despite that a season and a half has passed, nothing has really happened.