![A History of Violence? Game of Thrones and 'realism' in fantasy fiction](http://www.geekzine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Stannis-217x217.png)
As ‘Game of Thrones’ demonstrates, the brutality of gritty realism can offer valuable storytelling possibilities to writers of fantasy fiction. But just because a little realism is necessary to engage audiences, it doesn’t mean that you have to keep doing terrible things to your characters.