GoT is very much a slow burn in the first zone, to a point where its an absolutely slog at times if you try to do all the open world stuff.

I think in the latter half of the second zone, when all the characters start to get to their climaxes in their arcs is when it shines most in terms of writing and characters.

Until then its really just a case of "do you find the combat fun on its own?" Which I did, and it carried me until the writing and pace picked up. But if its not making the time fly by for you, then its probably just not your game and that's not a bad thing for anyone.