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A Song of Ice and Fire #5, part 2
A Dance With Dragons: Part 2 After The Feast
HBO’s hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R R Martin’s internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age.
A DANCE WITH DRAGONS: AFTER THE FEAST is the SECOND part of the fifth volume in the series.
‘Vivid, rich, multi-layered and utterly addictive’ Daily Express
The future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance.
In King’s Landing the Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, awaits trial, abandoned by all those she trusted; while in the eastern city of Yunkai her brother Tyrion has been sold as a slave. From the Wall, having left his wife and the Red Priestess Melisandre under the protection of Jon Snow, Stannis Baratheon marches south to confront the Boltons at Winterfell. But beyond the Wall the wildling armies are massing for an assault…
On all sides bitter conflicts are reigniting, played out by a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves. The tides of destiny will inevitably lead to the greatest dance of all.
A DANCE WITH DRAGONS: AFTER THE FEAST is the SECOND part of the fifth volume in the series.
‘Vivid, rich, multi-layered and utterly addictive’ Daily Express
The future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance.
In King’s Landing the Queen Regent, Cersei Lannister, awaits trial, abandoned by all those she trusted; while in the eastern city of Yunkai her brother Tyrion has been sold as a slave. From the Wall, having left his wife and the Red Priestess Melisandre under the protection of Jon Snow, Stannis Baratheon marches south to confront the Boltons at Winterfell. But beyond the Wall the wildling armies are massing for an assault…
On all sides bitter conflicts are reigniting, played out by a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves. The tides of destiny will inevitably lead to the greatest dance of all.
592 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2011
799 people are currently reading
19034 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,506 books118k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,649 reviews
December 7, 2013
WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF "GEORGE RR MARTIN TOOK ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS AND WIPED HIS MURDEROUS ARSE WITH THEM".
FEATURING CHAPTERS SUCH AS "WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER TO GET ATTACHED TO THE CHARACTERS IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN SERIES", "NO MR MARTIN PLEASE I LIKE THAT CHARACTER", AND MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE: "THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN WESTEROS BUT SNOW AND CORPSES".
THIS ENTIRE SERIES WILL DESTROY YOUR SOUL, DO NOT READ
(On a lighter note, 10/10 can't wait for book 6! Definitely worth a read. Ensure you are of sound mind in the first place, though.)
FEATURING CHAPTERS SUCH AS "WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER TO GET ATTACHED TO THE CHARACTERS IN THIS GOD FORSAKEN SERIES", "NO MR MARTIN PLEASE I LIKE THAT CHARACTER", AND MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE: "THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN WESTEROS BUT SNOW AND CORPSES".
THIS ENTIRE SERIES WILL DESTROY YOUR SOUL, DO NOT READ
(On a lighter note, 10/10 can't wait for book 6! Definitely worth a read. Ensure you are of sound mind in the first place, though.)
January 31, 2018
“ Not all men are meant to dance with dragons.”
Well shit. I cannot form coherent thoughts right now. I love this world and all it’s twists and turns, treachery and betrayal, Kings and Queens.
Arya: Arya is back in part 2 which made me very happy! Living in the temple for the god of many faces, learning the giving of the gift.
Tyrion: Still travelling across the East by any means necessary. This even involves capture and escape, also the befriending of a girl, her pig and a bear - one you may recognise.
Cersei: Karma finally came for Cersei Lannister. Being tried by the high Septon for a multitude of crimes, keeping her from her beloved Tommen.
Jaime: Currently out defending the realm, cleaning up after the war and taking any weakened castles he can. He too comes across an old friend.
Reek: Used by Roose Bolton to give away a bride for marriage, Reek gets a brief glimpse of who he was before he was captured and tortured in this way. He dreams of escape, but danger lies at every turn.
Daenerys: Meereen is in a right state. Dany does what she thinks is best for her people, to avoid war. While her dragons grow restless in their cages.
“I hate this, thought Daenerys Targaryen. How did this happen, that I am drinking and smiling with men I would sooner flay?”
Jon: Stannis’ constant presence doesn’t help Jon to remain apart from the battles of Westeros. He invites the Wildlings to the wall so they can fight their common enemy together. While Stannis attempts to deal with his own enemies. But tensions are rising on the wall, who knows how long it can stand the pressure?
Still no Sam, Davos or Sansa, instead we get insights for Quentyn Martell and also his family on Dorne. Also the remaining Greyjoys get their own POVs. These books have so much depth to them, I love everything - the good, the bad and the ugly. And now the long wait for the Winds of Winter begins.
“Night falls, he thought, and now my war begins.”
************************************
Oh shit!
This is all that is published for this series so far?! No!!!! Why did I do this to myself!!!
RTC
Well shit. I cannot form coherent thoughts right now. I love this world and all it’s twists and turns, treachery and betrayal, Kings and Queens.
Arya: Arya is back in part 2 which made me very happy! Living in the temple for the god of many faces, learning the giving of the gift.
Tyrion: Still travelling across the East by any means necessary. This even involves capture and escape, also the befriending of a girl, her pig and a bear - one you may recognise.
Cersei: Karma finally came for Cersei Lannister. Being tried by the high Septon for a multitude of crimes, keeping her from her beloved Tommen.
Jaime: Currently out defending the realm, cleaning up after the war and taking any weakened castles he can. He too comes across an old friend.
Reek: Used by Roose Bolton to give away a bride for marriage, Reek gets a brief glimpse of who he was before he was captured and tortured in this way. He dreams of escape, but danger lies at every turn.
Daenerys: Meereen is in a right state. Dany does what she thinks is best for her people, to avoid war. While her dragons grow restless in their cages.
“I hate this, thought Daenerys Targaryen. How did this happen, that I am drinking and smiling with men I would sooner flay?”
Jon: Stannis’ constant presence doesn’t help Jon to remain apart from the battles of Westeros. He invites the Wildlings to the wall so they can fight their common enemy together. While Stannis attempts to deal with his own enemies. But tensions are rising on the wall, who knows how long it can stand the pressure?
Still no Sam, Davos or Sansa, instead we get insights for Quentyn Martell and also his family on Dorne. Also the remaining Greyjoys get their own POVs. These books have so much depth to them, I love everything - the good, the bad and the ugly. And now the long wait for the Winds of Winter begins.
“Night falls, he thought, and now my war begins.”
************************************
Oh shit!
This is all that is published for this series so far?! No!!!! Why did I do this to myself!!!
RTC
October 31, 2024
Everything's going awry for the gamers gaming the Thrones. Cersei Lannister awaits trial deserted by nearly everyone and Tyrion's in slavery peril. As Stannis marches to Winterfell, the Wildings are amassing for an assault on the Wall Stannis deserted! The saga continues as Winter is almost here, some huge changes for many of the cast as we also catch as the dances towards power are pursued in the Seven Kingdoms with very few looking towards the Wall. Ongoing greatness! 9 out of 12, Four Star read.
2015 read
2015 read
October 11, 2020
Auch wenn ich mir beim Lesen dieses Buches und allgemein dieser Reihe extra echt viel Zeit gelassen habe: George R.R. Martin lässt sich beim Schreiben der Fortsetzung eindeutig noch mehr Zeit :/
Das Buch bekommt natürlich 5 Sterne von mir, ich kann einfach nicht anders. Denn auch wenn Martin sehr ausschweifend erzählt und sich dadurch so manches Kapitel etwas zieht, mag ich doch irgendwie genau das an seinem Schreibstil. Trotz dieses teilweise schleppenden Erzählstils wirkt kein Wort oder Satz fehl am Platz, es ergibt am Ende so alles ein stimmiges Bild. Außerdem facht Martin die Spannung auch oft genug mit Handlungen seiner Protagonisten an mit denen man einfach nicht gerechnet hatte (auch wenn man die Serie kennt). Wo ich grad schon bei der Serie bin: ich finde die Bücher nach wie vor besser und das obwohl ich schon die Serie liebe. Ich stelle mir auch beim Lesen gern die Schauspieler aus der Serie vor, denn der Cast ist und bleibt grandios! Auch wenn einige Szenen/Handlungsstränge auch in der Serie eine entscheidende Rolle spielen (bspw. Cerseis Gang der Schande) weicht die Handlung insgesamt doch seeehr stark ab.
Was mich wieder sehr begeistert hat, ist aus wie vielen verschiedenen Sichten Martin die Geschichte erzählt. Bei so vielen Charakteren jeden doch so authentisch und individuell zu gestalten: ich ziehe meinen Hut!
Abschließend ein kurzes Stoßgebet, dass der feiner Herr Autor uns doch irgendwann noch einmal mit der/den Fortsetzung/en beglückt...
Das Buch bekommt natürlich 5 Sterne von mir, ich kann einfach nicht anders. Denn auch wenn Martin sehr ausschweifend erzählt und sich dadurch so manches Kapitel etwas zieht, mag ich doch irgendwie genau das an seinem Schreibstil. Trotz dieses teilweise schleppenden Erzählstils wirkt kein Wort oder Satz fehl am Platz, es ergibt am Ende so alles ein stimmiges Bild. Außerdem facht Martin die Spannung auch oft genug mit Handlungen seiner Protagonisten an mit denen man einfach nicht gerechnet hatte (auch wenn man die Serie kennt). Wo ich grad schon bei der Serie bin: ich finde die Bücher nach wie vor besser und das obwohl ich schon die Serie liebe. Ich stelle mir auch beim Lesen gern die Schauspieler aus der Serie vor, denn der Cast ist und bleibt grandios! Auch wenn einige Szenen/Handlungsstränge auch in der Serie eine entscheidende Rolle spielen (bspw. Cerseis Gang der Schande) weicht die Handlung insgesamt doch seeehr stark ab.
Was mich wieder sehr begeistert hat, ist aus wie vielen verschiedenen Sichten Martin die Geschichte erzählt. Bei so vielen Charakteren jeden doch so authentisch und individuell zu gestalten: ich ziehe meinen Hut!
Abschließend ein kurzes Stoßgebet, dass der feiner Herr Autor uns doch irgendwann noch einmal mit der/den Fortsetzung/en beglückt...
July 15, 2012
The First Part of A Dance With Dragons fairly ripped along, but everything felt as though it came to a juddering halt with this book. Part of the problem, for me, is that while the sheer number of characters give it a sense of scale you never really get to spend too much time with any of them. The result of that is bigger gaps between each little event in their story, so there a lot of little increments but not nearly enough to drive through the plodding nature of things. Characters that you've become attached to disappear for vast chunks of time, and ones you know only have bit parts end up filling chapters that feel a bit tacked on - more like the author's background notes to himself. The problem with 'big' characters being overwhelmed by lesser ones, is that when something of import happens to them there's less attachement - oh well, s/he hasn't done much in the last book and a half.
I'm beginning to suspect that having so many characters is a bit of a writer's device to avoid having to deal with things - like resolving the story. It's much harder to write 100 pages about one character's point of view, if you want to keep that character's momentum going, than writing lots of short chapters about events from the viewpoints of multiple minor characters you rarely have to worry about again. I think the TV series does a good job of cutting through a lot of the waffle, as needs must; certainly with this book I found myself beginning to skip large chunks of prose.
I'm beginning to suspect that having so many characters is a bit of a writer's device to avoid having to deal with things - like resolving the story. It's much harder to write 100 pages about one character's point of view, if you want to keep that character's momentum going, than writing lots of short chapters about events from the viewpoints of multiple minor characters you rarely have to worry about again. I think the TV series does a good job of cutting through a lot of the waffle, as needs must; certainly with this book I found myself beginning to skip large chunks of prose.
May 17, 2015
Prebrinula sam i ovu muku :)
Šalu na stranu, drugi deo Plesa sa zmajevima hronološki se nastavlja na Gozbu za vrane, uostalom i podnaslov je:Posle gozbe.
Moram da priznam da mi je bolji od prvog dela, ali ipak i dalje na znatno slabijem nivou od očekivanog. Malo su se stvari pomerile sa mrtve tačke, ali i dalje škripi, i dalje se ide u širinu.
Ono što mi se posebno sviđa u kompletnom Plesu jeste razvoj lika Džona Snežnog, suočavanje sa teškim odlukama i sazrevanje. Za razliku od Deneris, na koju ne mogu da gledam istim očima kao u prva 3 dela. Aman ženo, ti si Deneris Olujrođena, Neizgorela, Majka Zmajeva, a ne neka tupoglava tinejdžerka, koja ne zna šta hoće (dobro znam da sam oštra i da možda preterujem).
U svakom slučaju, sada mi preostaje da se pridružim hordi čitalaca, koji sa nestrpljenjem iščekuju nastavak.
January 1, 2014
Look, I will always give these books 5 stars because I love the world so much and I've given so much time to read them and invested in the characters. But after reading this book, I am pretty angry, I still trust George to write this world but I'm starting to get sick of how he is dealing with some of the most important story lines, and most peoples favourite characters. I would never spoil anything, but certain things that he makes happen in this book made me question whether he even cares about his audience anymore and moreover the people in these books, and that he is just trying to drag out this story for as long as possible because he loves to keep us guessing, but also never letting us feel safe about any characters. I usually accept this but after 7 books he has got to give me something that leads me to believe that following this story matters in terms of the audience being rewarded with good things happening to favourite characters. Overall I am worried whether the conclusion to the series- 2 books away I know- wont be what any fan will be happy with if George continues to kill, maim, and destroy everything that we hold dear: until we are left with nothing to hold onto anymore.
March 26, 2019
I promised myself that I would be caught up with A Song of Ice and Fire before the final series of A Game of Thrones airs, with less than three weeks to go - I’ve finally done it!
I’m not the biggest fantasy reader but there’s just something about the characters that Martin has created that I just love.
I found reading along with ‘Davos Fingers’ podcast really helpful, they cover 5 chapters an episode so it’s a great indication of how much a needed to read before listening to the next episode.
Hearing people talking passionately about these books adds an extra layer of enjoyment to them...
I’m really hoping that The Winds of Winter is released soon after the show raps up, as I enjoy spending time in this world!
I’m not the biggest fantasy reader but there’s just something about the characters that Martin has created that I just love.
I found reading along with ‘Davos Fingers’ podcast really helpful, they cover 5 chapters an episode so it’s a great indication of how much a needed to read before listening to the next episode.
Hearing people talking passionately about these books adds an extra layer of enjoyment to them...
I’m really hoping that The Winds of Winter is released soon after the show raps up, as I enjoy spending time in this world!
July 11, 2016
Μετά από όσα διάβασα,δεν μπορώ να περιμένω για το επόμενο βιβλίο!!!
Μάρτιν ΓΡΑΦΕ ΠΙΟ ΓΡΗΓΟΡΑ ΥΠΟΦΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΛΕΜΕ!!!!!!!!!!
Μάρτιν ΓΡΑΦΕ ΠΙΟ ΓΡΗΓΟΡΑ ΥΠΟΦΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΛΕΜΕ!!!!!!!!!!
April 29, 2023
Well that’s all the published volumes completed! Obviously there will be more at some point, well when Martin eventually finishes the next one. There are many loose ends to be tied up and a few cliff-hangers. There are 18 POV characters and some juggling with names to keep the readers on their toes, also the dragons are back.
There’s nothing new to say, but it is engaging. The elements of the medieval world are still there but there are no Peasant’s Revolts and we don’t see a great deal of the great unwashed. The scheming and violence don’t waver and Martin likes his little twists. The sheer number of characters can make if feel like some of the characters could do with even more space. The world creation is good; detailed and complex. Probably another five years until the next one!
There’s nothing new to say, but it is engaging. The elements of the medieval world are still there but there are no Peasant’s Revolts and we don’t see a great deal of the great unwashed. The scheming and violence don’t waver and Martin likes his little twists. The sheer number of characters can make if feel like some of the characters could do with even more space. The world creation is good; detailed and complex. Probably another five years until the next one!
July 21, 2015
Ugh. How am I supposed to wait now? :(
April 21, 2015
I NEED WINDS OF WINTER RIGHT NOW!!
I HONESTLY CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER!!
I HONESTLY CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER!!
March 17, 2025
To się skończyło takim cliff hangarem.. aż jest mi smutno, że nie będzie kolejnego tomu :(
Jednak wciąż.. było warto!
Jednak wciąż.. było warto!
April 13, 2015
Finally I have come to the (current) end of the A Song of Ice and Fire series - it's been a long journey but now I can happily remain unspoiled and wait for The Winds of Winter (whenever that might come about).
The second volume of A Dance with Dragons was just as good as the first, with the added inclusion of some totally badass scenes - Daenerys anyone? And so many questions have been left waiting answers in the upcoming book, all of which I am pretty excited about. This book had it all: blood and gore, intrigue and treachery, mystery and the supernatural. What a series.
Now to eagerly await season 5!
The second volume of A Dance with Dragons was just as good as the first, with the added inclusion of some totally badass scenes - Daenerys anyone? And so many questions have been left waiting answers in the upcoming book, all of which I am pretty excited about. This book had it all: blood and gore, intrigue and treachery, mystery and the supernatural. What a series.
Now to eagerly await season 5!
May 9, 2012
The chapters in all the GOT books are organized by character so that an alternative way to read the books is to do just and follow one character through each of the volumes, rather than read each volume from cover to cover as one would normally. Since each character follows part of the overall timeline they sometimes overlap each other's narrative, but most often not, and it is an interesting way to follow the various twists and turns of the plot through all the volumes not just this one.
Sometimes one has the feeling that it is simply a script for a computer game but the pace and complexity of the story never slackens for a minute and whichever way you choose to read it, a very well written and engrossing tale. Don't for a second be put off by those litsnobs who equate popularity with mediocrity. This is a series in a true sense and repays the effort spent disentangling the plot and characters. If you like a simpler life then feel free to go and read Harry Potter for the nth time.
Sometimes one has the feeling that it is simply a script for a computer game but the pace and complexity of the story never slackens for a minute and whichever way you choose to read it, a very well written and engrossing tale. Don't for a second be put off by those litsnobs who equate popularity with mediocrity. This is a series in a true sense and repays the effort spent disentangling the plot and characters. If you like a simpler life then feel free to go and read Harry Potter for the nth time.
September 6, 2016
Εκπληκτικός για άλλη μια φορά ο κύριος Martin...
Απλά διαβάστε το τελευταίο βιβλίο και δείτε πόσο υστερεί η σειρά.
Προσεχώς θα γράψω πιο αναλυτικά την άποψή μου για ολόκληρη την σειρά.
Απλά διαβάστε το τελευταίο βιβλίο και δείτε πόσο υστερεί η σειρά.
Προσεχώς θα γράψω πιο αναλυτικά την άποψή μου για ολόκληρη την σειρά.
August 4, 2019
Jedini problem koji imam sa ovom knjigom je što nema nastavka. Kapa dole, Martine! I bolje požuri dok ne zaboravim sve!
July 31, 2013
This review concludes my thoughts on the series as a whole *with no plot spoilers for any of the 5 books*
It's been exactly 4 days since I've finished the last book of the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" known to everyone by the adapted TV series which carries the 1st book's name "Game of Thrones" and all that I can do now is to wait for the next one to be released, which is NOT an easy task! The books took me through this amazing journey in which I found myself really attached to the characters, suffering their agony, anticipating in their glory, screaming their pain and shouting their words out loud, it even grew to an addiction in the last book; to the point that I've been reading while driving to work, taking a 1000 pages book with me to the bathroom, dressing myself while devouring words and sniffing paper, chapter after chapter, I didn't even notice the page numbers until I had to sleep and put in a bookmark. The story is being told by a dozen of characters that involves a hundred characters that I've found myself remembering their names, their motto, their houses' names, their guards, their foes, their sigils, their stupidity, their cunning thoughts, their weapons, their dreams, their looks (hair/eye color, height and weight) and their complex personalities, it's like a tree with an endless number of branches that produces other branches not to mention the ancient roots that might have touched the core of the earth and if you look around you'll find that that tree has multiple trunks.
5369 pages of EPIC wars, slyness and evil plotting, broken dreams and headless corpses, fire and blood everywhere, frozen lands with nothing but grey and absolute darkness.
The strange aura that each character produced, the first line every single chapter opened with, the way every single word was chosen to close those chapters... Was captivating and truly satisfying.
It's not really easy to follow up all those names around the continents, but George R. R. Martin's genius made it possible, as if the events themselves weren't enough to look upon, he added prophecies, future visions and warning signs, to leave you on the edge of your seat (oh and how many a time I've fallen off that seat...) helpless against the tide of what's coming AND as if that wasn't enough, he left candy and chocolate bars between the lines, many took no notice of that and still got paralyzed by the twisted plot, and for those who did... Oh... OHHHH HEAVENS!
4 days have passed and I couldn't even force myself to pick up a new book to read, it was only today that I've decided to read one of the Narnia chronicles, and I can't tell you how many times I had to throw the book against the wall, even though it's to be considered under the fantasy genre.
This state of conscious dilemma went even further to the point of rereading the final 3 chapters over and over again (with one in particular which had a wedding cake between the lines instead of the candy...).
Fantasy has always been: good vs evil, elves and dwarves, a war for righteousness and justice with a simple set of characters, orphans and homeless kids that evolve into some legendary heroes by the end of the book but the way Martin does it is completely different. The world is sick; full with filth, death seems to be served for dinner, rape and corruption are merely a joke, a dog might be envied by a slave and religion is a lost cause. The characters are neither good or bad, if there is a word to describe them it would be "Real". Everyone is motivated by his own conscious and a twistedly horrifying sense of justice, following the story I became attached to murderers and rapers, smugglers and usurpers, mothers and honorable knights, going deep into their souls to touch their thoughts and speculate their subconsciouses and doubts, it's a terrifying experience that left me in a state of silence with thousands of thoughts in a flux of questions. A reluctant feeling, a cadaverous face, an annoying fear and a remnant of words.
I've been inspired, enlightened, and beguiled.
I don't really care who's going to sit the Iron Throne in the end, nor who's going to die next, I'll be satisfied if I can go back to westeros and peek into those frightening thoughts again.
Thank you, George R. R. Martin.
Oh and it's funny that Martin's new nickname is the "American Tolkien", because if Tolkien was alive he'd need to work harder to achieve the title the "British Martin".
It's been exactly 4 days since I've finished the last book of the epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire" known to everyone by the adapted TV series which carries the 1st book's name "Game of Thrones" and all that I can do now is to wait for the next one to be released, which is NOT an easy task! The books took me through this amazing journey in which I found myself really attached to the characters, suffering their agony, anticipating in their glory, screaming their pain and shouting their words out loud, it even grew to an addiction in the last book; to the point that I've been reading while driving to work, taking a 1000 pages book with me to the bathroom, dressing myself while devouring words and sniffing paper, chapter after chapter, I didn't even notice the page numbers until I had to sleep and put in a bookmark. The story is being told by a dozen of characters that involves a hundred characters that I've found myself remembering their names, their motto, their houses' names, their guards, their foes, their sigils, their stupidity, their cunning thoughts, their weapons, their dreams, their looks (hair/eye color, height and weight) and their complex personalities, it's like a tree with an endless number of branches that produces other branches not to mention the ancient roots that might have touched the core of the earth and if you look around you'll find that that tree has multiple trunks.
5369 pages of EPIC wars, slyness and evil plotting, broken dreams and headless corpses, fire and blood everywhere, frozen lands with nothing but grey and absolute darkness.
The strange aura that each character produced, the first line every single chapter opened with, the way every single word was chosen to close those chapters... Was captivating and truly satisfying.
It's not really easy to follow up all those names around the continents, but George R. R. Martin's genius made it possible, as if the events themselves weren't enough to look upon, he added prophecies, future visions and warning signs, to leave you on the edge of your seat (oh and how many a time I've fallen off that seat...) helpless against the tide of what's coming AND as if that wasn't enough, he left candy and chocolate bars between the lines, many took no notice of that and still got paralyzed by the twisted plot, and for those who did... Oh... OHHHH HEAVENS!
4 days have passed and I couldn't even force myself to pick up a new book to read, it was only today that I've decided to read one of the Narnia chronicles, and I can't tell you how many times I had to throw the book against the wall, even though it's to be considered under the fantasy genre.
This state of conscious dilemma went even further to the point of rereading the final 3 chapters over and over again (with one in particular which had a wedding cake between the lines instead of the candy...).
Fantasy has always been: good vs evil, elves and dwarves, a war for righteousness and justice with a simple set of characters, orphans and homeless kids that evolve into some legendary heroes by the end of the book but the way Martin does it is completely different. The world is sick; full with filth, death seems to be served for dinner, rape and corruption are merely a joke, a dog might be envied by a slave and religion is a lost cause. The characters are neither good or bad, if there is a word to describe them it would be "Real". Everyone is motivated by his own conscious and a twistedly horrifying sense of justice, following the story I became attached to murderers and rapers, smugglers and usurpers, mothers and honorable knights, going deep into their souls to touch their thoughts and speculate their subconsciouses and doubts, it's a terrifying experience that left me in a state of silence with thousands of thoughts in a flux of questions. A reluctant feeling, a cadaverous face, an annoying fear and a remnant of words.
I've been inspired, enlightened, and beguiled.
I don't really care who's going to sit the Iron Throne in the end, nor who's going to die next, I'll be satisfied if I can go back to westeros and peek into those frightening thoughts again.
Thank you, George R. R. Martin.
Oh and it's funny that Martin's new nickname is the "American Tolkien", because if Tolkien was alive he'd need to work harder to achieve the title the "British Martin".
May 20, 2020
There is so much which is not there in the HBO series and it really gave me altogether a new perspective to read this one. My favourite characters being Tyrion Lanniter and Arya Stark where i have so much anticipation to the semi-finale and finale of this book series. Desperately waiting for the Winds of Winter.
November 18, 2020
I was dragging this read for as long as I could in hopes that „Winds of Winter” would be published, but honestly, I have given up all hope of that ever happening.
As in all other books in the series, George R.R. Martin’s storytelling kept the same level of brilliance.
Excellent book, fantastic series, and I highly recommend everyone to read it, if you don't mind never finding out how it ends.
As in all other books in the series, George R.R. Martin’s storytelling kept the same level of brilliance.
Excellent book, fantastic series, and I highly recommend everyone to read it, if you don't mind never finding out how it ends.
January 23, 2018
"She is the widow of a Dothraki khal, a mother of dragons and sacker of cities, Aegon the Conqueror with teats."
So far the last book in the series of A Song of Ice and Fire. A couple of new characters (well, I say a couple I mean a lot), new plot-twists, and a lot of new information. And I LOVED it!
I actually had to put it down for a couple of days, because I had to read this other book for school, so when I picked it up again I thought to myself: " Okay, if I read for a hour every day I can finish it by the end of the week" I was on page 32 when I picked it up again and I started reading it again yesterday, and the book has 493 pages so I don't really need to explain how much I loved the book. Okay, two things helped me along:
1) I have been sick since yesterday so I had nothing else to do
2) I was listening to it as an audiobook while reading the physical copy, which helped because the narroater is absolutely flawless, granted a bit slow but I had it on double speed
I loved learning about the new characters and once again re-investing myself within the already to familiar ones! There some amazing new resolutions but also some that were pretty shocking and a little heart-wrenching...
I cannot wait to receive the answers in George R R Martin's next (and hopefully soon) release in the Song of Fire and Ice series that were left unanswered in A Dance with Dragons!
So far the last book in the series of A Song of Ice and Fire. A couple of new characters (well, I say a couple I mean a lot), new plot-twists, and a lot of new information. And I LOVED it!
I actually had to put it down for a couple of days, because I had to read this other book for school, so when I picked it up again I thought to myself: " Okay, if I read for a hour every day I can finish it by the end of the week" I was on page 32 when I picked it up again and I started reading it again yesterday, and the book has 493 pages so I don't really need to explain how much I loved the book. Okay, two things helped me along:
1) I have been sick since yesterday so I had nothing else to do
2) I was listening to it as an audiobook while reading the physical copy, which helped because the narroater is absolutely flawless, granted a bit slow but I had it on double speed
I loved learning about the new characters and once again re-investing myself within the already to familiar ones! There some amazing new resolutions but also some that were pretty shocking and a little heart-wrenching...
I cannot wait to receive the answers in George R R Martin's next (and hopefully soon) release in the Song of Fire and Ice series that were left unanswered in A Dance with Dragons!
Read
April 10, 2020Because Martin's manuscript of his fourth book was a gazillion times longer than the third, he decided to separate it.
Not chronologically but location wise.
This was the second time reading the series, so I tried something different.
I found online a list that combines the chapters of A Feast for Crows with the chapters mainly of the first part (Dreams and Dust) of the 5th book (A Dance with Dragons). I read this second volume (After the Feast) almost on its own.
And IF I read the series again, and IF it's over, I'll read it in that way again. I don't want to be bored again.
More in Greek at βιβλιοΑλχημείες
January 28, 2020
And alas! Now, I am in for a long wait! The author is outrageously irresponsible. He published this book in 2011 and till now he hasn't published the next book. GRRM, when you create a world so brilliant, it is a crime to make us wait for the next book in the series!
Keeping in line with all his previous works, he kept the same level of brilliance in character portrayal and world-building. This is my favorite book in the series. This book has lots of Tyrion in it and what more could a guy want. The imp suffers and emerges victoriously. The arc of the imp follows a different version than its TV counterpart. There are, as usual, many differences from the TV show. So for those who still thinking about picking up the book, stop waiting. Start reading.
There is Cersei's walk of shame. Arya learn to become A man with many faces. And John Snow dies. The other characters are still alive and kicking. For how long? Well, let's see what the author has in store for them. Every character is on the brink of some major change. And the books end in not one, but in many cliffhangers! I would love to know where Jaime runs off with Brienne. So many changes from the show, I am clinging on to his every word. Let the winds blow.
Words are wind. And this author is bloody typhoon! Let the winds of winter blow!
Keeping in line with all his previous works, he kept the same level of brilliance in character portrayal and world-building. This is my favorite book in the series. This book has lots of Tyrion in it and what more could a guy want. The imp suffers and emerges victoriously. The arc of the imp follows a different version than its TV counterpart. There are, as usual, many differences from the TV show. So for those who still thinking about picking up the book, stop waiting. Start reading.
There is Cersei's walk of shame. Arya learn to become A man with many faces. And John Snow dies. The other characters are still alive and kicking. For how long? Well, let's see what the author has in store for them. Every character is on the brink of some major change. And the books end in not one, but in many cliffhangers! I would love to know where Jaime runs off with Brienne. So many changes from the show, I am clinging on to his every word. Let the winds blow.
Words are wind. And this author is bloody typhoon! Let the winds of winter blow!
May 29, 2018
(review in English below)
Melhor do que o volume anterior, ainda assim este deixou-me um pouco insatisfeita.
Sobre alguns personagens não há qualquer informação, como é o caso de Sansa e do Mindinho.
Sobre outros fica a faltar "mais que muito" - afinal o que se passou com Brienne?
E as minhas expectativas sobre o ressurgimento de Benjen Stark foram defraudadas...
De qualquer modo, a história nunca perdeu o interesse para mim e, ao contrário de alguns comentários que já li relativamente a este livro e aos anteriores, gosto da repetição dos "mantras" dos diferentes personagens ("Não sabes nada, Jon Snow" é um dos meus preferidos).
Neste livro, há um "mantra" comum a várias personagens/ histórias: "As palavras são vento"; mas as palavras do Sr. Martin não são vento, antes ficam connosco e fazem-nos crer que os seus personagens não são meras criações dos seus brilhantes neurónios.
O enredo adensa-se e, com mais dois livros previstos, tenho para mim que o Sr. Martin ainda nos vai fazer penar muito!...
Better than the previous one, but I was still unsatisfied. There isn't any information whatsoever about some characters, like Sansa and Littlefinger. As for others, there's so much left to know - what happened to Brienne, after all? And my expectations on Benjen Stark's return were defrauded...
However, I never lost interest in the story and, contrary to some opinions I've recently read, I quite like that repetition of the characters' "mantras" ("You know nothing, Jon Snow" being one of my favourites).
In this volume there's a "mantra" which is shared by several characters: "Words are wind". But Mr. Martin's words aren't wind, instead they stay with us and make us believe that his characters aren't just mere creations of his brilliant neurons.
The plot thickens and, with two more foreseen books, I reckon Mr. Martin will make us break some sweat!...
Melhor do que o volume anterior, ainda assim este deixou-me um pouco insatisfeita.
Sobre alguns personagens não há qualquer informação, como é o caso de Sansa e do Mindinho.
Sobre outros fica a faltar "mais que muito" - afinal o que se passou com Brienne?
E as minhas expectativas sobre o ressurgimento de Benjen Stark foram defraudadas...
De qualquer modo, a história nunca perdeu o interesse para mim e, ao contrário de alguns comentários que já li relativamente a este livro e aos anteriores, gosto da repetição dos "mantras" dos diferentes personagens ("Não sabes nada, Jon Snow" é um dos meus preferidos).
Neste livro, há um "mantra" comum a várias personagens/ histórias: "As palavras são vento"; mas as palavras do Sr. Martin não são vento, antes ficam connosco e fazem-nos crer que os seus personagens não são meras criações dos seus brilhantes neurónios.
O enredo adensa-se e, com mais dois livros previstos, tenho para mim que o Sr. Martin ainda nos vai fazer penar muito!...
Better than the previous one, but I was still unsatisfied. There isn't any information whatsoever about some characters, like Sansa and Littlefinger. As for others, there's so much left to know - what happened to Brienne, after all? And my expectations on Benjen Stark's return were defrauded...
However, I never lost interest in the story and, contrary to some opinions I've recently read, I quite like that repetition of the characters' "mantras" ("You know nothing, Jon Snow" being one of my favourites).
In this volume there's a "mantra" which is shared by several characters: "Words are wind". But Mr. Martin's words aren't wind, instead they stay with us and make us believe that his characters aren't just mere creations of his brilliant neurons.
The plot thickens and, with two more foreseen books, I reckon Mr. Martin will make us break some sweat!...
August 23, 2012
Synopsis or something like that:
It is he fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the fantasy epic series which has been made very popular nowadays. If you have read the previous four parts you know that summarizing the fifth would be close to impossible; if you haven’t read any of them, well, just let me tell you no summary an no TV series can prepare you for the complexity of those books. In fact the plot is so convoluted as to defy synopsis. Really even the work of Tolkien pales in comparison. What can be said…winter is coming and the seven Kingdoms are hardly prepared for it because they plot and prepare for a war – every ruler wants to assure the Iron Throne, currently occupied by a child, Tommen Baratheon, will fall into the hands of their man or woman.
What I liked:
Just several chapters, really; and if I described them in more detail I would spoil you horribly. As usual, I am giving you the choice: click and read if you want to or skip if you prefer not to be spoiled:
What I didn’t like:
General remarks, spoiler-free:
This story is becoming so huge, so convoluted, so Byzantine that it is really difficult to keep your interest, especially that different parts have been published several years apart. I really struggled reading this one – too many inner monologues, too many info dumps, too much info about secondary characters who were hardly germane to the story. It seems the author, after a tremendously good start, tripped over his own pen. Ok, I understand, it is more likely than not THE story of his life and he did plan it as a panorama rather than a portrait or a simple landscape but really he went over the top with the number of sub-plots, different trivial descriptions of this custom or that and all those strange names of strange foreign people I hardly remembered or recognized at all. What’s more the author started to repeat different plot devices – sometimes I felt as if I breathed recycled air; officially everything is fine but your nose recognizes the same particles and starts to itch…
More particular remarks, they include serious spoilers:
Final verdict:
It took me almost a month to get through this book. I didn’t want to start reading and I forced myself to finish it. Some chapters were worth the effort but most of them I found too long and boring and let me tell you I was never bored by the previous novels. In my humble opinion a determined editor should have cut out at least half of the material, making the story more compact and edgy. Will I continue reading? Yes, some characters are worth it. Still it seems the series is deteriorating and it is a bit sad. Two stars.
It is he fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the fantasy epic series which has been made very popular nowadays. If you have read the previous four parts you know that summarizing the fifth would be close to impossible; if you haven’t read any of them, well, just let me tell you no summary an no TV series can prepare you for the complexity of those books. In fact the plot is so convoluted as to defy synopsis. Really even the work of Tolkien pales in comparison. What can be said…winter is coming and the seven Kingdoms are hardly prepared for it because they plot and prepare for a war – every ruler wants to assure the Iron Throne, currently occupied by a child, Tommen Baratheon, will fall into the hands of their man or woman.
What I liked:
Just several chapters, really; and if I described them in more detail I would spoil you horribly. As usual, I am giving you the choice: click and read if you want to or skip if you prefer not to be spoiled:
What I didn’t like:
General remarks, spoiler-free:
This story is becoming so huge, so convoluted, so Byzantine that it is really difficult to keep your interest, especially that different parts have been published several years apart. I really struggled reading this one – too many inner monologues, too many info dumps, too much info about secondary characters who were hardly germane to the story. It seems the author, after a tremendously good start, tripped over his own pen. Ok, I understand, it is more likely than not THE story of his life and he did plan it as a panorama rather than a portrait or a simple landscape but really he went over the top with the number of sub-plots, different trivial descriptions of this custom or that and all those strange names of strange foreign people I hardly remembered or recognized at all. What’s more the author started to repeat different plot devices – sometimes I felt as if I breathed recycled air; officially everything is fine but your nose recognizes the same particles and starts to itch…
More particular remarks, they include serious spoilers:
Final verdict:
It took me almost a month to get through this book. I didn’t want to start reading and I forced myself to finish it. Some chapters were worth the effort but most of them I found too long and boring and let me tell you I was never bored by the previous novels. In my humble opinion a determined editor should have cut out at least half of the material, making the story more compact and edgy. Will I continue reading? Yes, some characters are worth it. Still it seems the series is deteriorating and it is a bit sad. Two stars.
April 1, 2013
Wow. This book was very good. Afterall, it was written my GRRM.
However, I must admit that at certain points, I thought it was boring. I was feeling really disappointed, because I missed all the emotion/excitement from A Storm of Swords.
But thank God I was wrong! I mean, certain parts were actually a bit boring (thence the 4 stars, instead of the 5 stars): I sometimes wanted to slap Daenerys, and tell her to calm her hormones, or I kept wishing there were Sansa chapters, and more Jaime and Cersei chapters.
Speaking of Cersei, her chapters were definitely my favourite ones during this book! Not to mention how much I loved all the Theon and Asha chapters. I have a thing for the Greyjoys.
I also felt that GRRM was trying to hold back everything related to Aegon Targaryen, but the epilogue left me completely speechless. Varys, you definitely are the best player at the game of thrones.
Oh, and... JON SNOW! I can't believe he's dead. He's not, is he? I always thought he was Azor Ahai reborn, so let's hope I'm not wrong! I'm not ready no lose him. HE'S MY BB.
And now I'm (im)patiently waiting for The Winds of Winter...
However, I must admit that at certain points, I thought it was boring. I was feeling really disappointed, because I missed all the emotion/excitement from A Storm of Swords.
But thank God I was wrong! I mean, certain parts were actually a bit boring (thence the 4 stars, instead of the 5 stars): I sometimes wanted to slap Daenerys, and tell her to calm her hormones, or I kept wishing there were Sansa chapters, and more Jaime and Cersei chapters.
Speaking of Cersei, her chapters were definitely my favourite ones during this book! Not to mention how much I loved all the Theon and Asha chapters. I have a thing for the Greyjoys.
I also felt that GRRM was trying to hold back everything related to Aegon Targaryen, but the epilogue left me completely speechless. Varys, you definitely are the best player at the game of thrones.
Oh, and... JON SNOW! I can't believe he's dead. He's not, is he? I always thought he was Azor Ahai reborn, so let's hope I'm not wrong! I'm not ready no lose him. HE'S MY BB.
And now I'm (im)patiently waiting for The Winds of Winter...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2024
"Not all men are meant to dance with dragons"
A dance with dragons we get the view points of Daenerys Targaryen who wants peace in Meereen and therefore marries Hizdahr zo Loraq. He promises peace in bargain for a marriage. Is it that easy?
The Lord Commander Jon Snow has as his guest Stannis Baratheon, and with him his family and the Red Priestess Melisandre. But something stirs in the Night Watch when the Wildlings come to live with them...
Cersei Lannister are being held as a prisoner by the High Septon, will she atone for her sins and walk the shame walk to go home to her dear boy Tommen? Meanwhile, her brother Tyrion Lannister is sold as a slave, but will he break free?
At Winterfell, Theon Greyjoy, plots his escape, even when he's been tortured by the bastard Ramsay Bolton, he remains loyal. Will the escape save both him, and the fake Arya, Jeyne Poole?
"The best of them overcame their flaws, did their duty, and died with their swords in their hands. The worst…As the previous books, there are a lot of viewpoints, and a lot going on in the 493 pages we got in part 2 of A dance with dragons, and I loved every second reading this! My favorite characters has to be Daenerys, Barristan, and Jon, and every time they showed up the reading went even easier.
The worst were those who played the game of thrones."
We got to see how different the show version was from the books, and there were several characters I wish had joined the show version. Think of how much better the finale would've been... But oh well, it is what it is.
“I have doubts enough without your throwing oil on the fire of my fear.“
I definitely need The Winds of Winter, and I was hoping it would come out while I was reading these books (it's been 4 years since I started lol), but one can only hope. As of now, he has been meeting up with his publisher, but nothing was said if it was ASOIAF-books he was discussing or his other series... *sighs* Please 2024, give us TWOW.
Happy reading!♥️
June 29, 2015
É bom que os restantes livros estejam para breve e que alguns factos aqui descritos não sejam aquilo que parecem...
Estou ainda demasiado em choque, irritada e desgostosa! OMG George R. R. Martin!
Estou ainda demasiado em choque, irritada e desgostosa! OMG George R. R. Martin!
October 19, 2017
Fabulous read but the ending made this book! Bring on book 6!
November 20, 2024
It’s so sad to me that he had this amazing world building & imagination but couldn’t deliver - i just wish he kept writing in the same style as the first book
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