A Wolf Amongst Lions

by Kallypso

Tywin Lannister discovers the true identity of his cup bearer at Harrenhal. Now, with another bargaining chip in his possession, he has a chance to turn the war. Arya Stark, despite her best efforts, falls back into the Game of Thrones. To survive in a lion's den, a wolf has no choice but to adapt.

Genres: Fantasy, Fan Fiction

1130 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Cozette · Rating 5 out of 5]

when a 108-chapter game of thrones fanfic is the only thing you can read after 2 months of not being able to read anything,,

[lils · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is fanfic but i do not care
THIS IS GOING TOWARDS MY BOOK COUNT CAUSE IT WAS 440K WORDS?"$£%$^& IE. 1000 PAGES LONG

also i cried many tears

[Attila The Hun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine forced me to read this because I think fanfics are cringy and never true to the characters. They almost always focus on smut and never on character development. Oh, how I was wrong with this one!!
I'm going to say that this is one of the best stories I've ever read. Everything is true to the characters and to the world. There were many instances where I could tell the author had studied the history of Weteros and the lands beyond.
Not only is everything true to the source material, but all of the emotions hit just right. I was sad, joyful, angry, and worried. All the characters felt so real and I felt like I knew them on a very personal level which, no offense to him, I never felt with The Song of Ice and Fire books. I was so entranced with the story that I felt empty when I finished 😭. I haven't been this engaged in a book for a very long time and I can't wait for the sequel!

[Neeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. The characterisation felt strongly grasped and super convincing, I could vividly see every scene play out in my head and enjoyed it thoroughly. Kalypso’s writing is enchanting and truly brings these stories and characters to life. I honestly hope GRRM picks this up😂 he’s a fanboy of his own work anyways and it deserves recognition

The fact this is 440k words is insane to me, I haven’t read a book this long EVER I don’t think, and the fact I devoured this in a few days is telling..I only put it down when necessary I was that hypnotised lol

Last 60 pages had me bawling my eyes out WOW it’s been awhile since fanfic has stirred such deep sad emotions in me😭😭

[Celia_natsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dammmmmn that was good
I read this so fast even though it was 108 chapters long

[Finja · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But the world does no operate by rules of honor.” ~Tywin Lannister

“People fail to protect those they love all of the time. No matter how powerful they are. It doesn't mean you're weak. The world is just...cruel.” ~Arya Stark

"You know...You may not prove everyone in the world wrong, Arya. But you proved me wrong about a lot of things. If that is any consolation.” ~Jaime Lannister

I cried so many tears for a fanfiction of a fandom I was never a part of.




Second read:

Before reading:

I don't think I will make many annotations, mainly because I'm reading on my kindle and ohhh I just remembered that you can connect you Goodreads to kindle annotations. Guess I have to check that out now.
But as I said I don't think I will comment much, because the story is LONG and Goodreads has a limit of words that I have and will again top while reading fanfiction.

Also I just want to spent time with my girl Arya again. I don't know I just missed her. My finals stress me out so much and I have a feeling that she can ease that.



While reading:

I genuinely missed Arya so much. And tbh Tywin too. And Jaime and Tyrion
I did not miss Cersei though

"Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king." Absolute truth

Omg the dreams
You forget them but you don't forget the event they are related to
Only know with the reread what it means

Arya is about to safe the whole Lannister family and no one can stop her.

Arya forcing Jaime to fight again is everything

Saving Tywin is so funny
Slay Arya

Everyone knows that Tywin likes Arya
It's so fun

Olenna and Genna are awesome ladies. Badbitches

Crying for Tyrion
"Arya...you're a very kind person" awww

"You think I'm going to start a war? I'll put that on my list of ambitions then." Iconic Arya iconic
And I do love Jaime and her together. They are good friends and I think they would be nice for each other

I love Jaime watching Arya with her family. And also I love her family watching Arya with Jaime

Oh god I'm so not ready for the Hell Arc thats about to come after Arya got kidnapped

I love how clear it is that Tywin likes Arya and how fucking angry he is because of her disappearence

Oh god Tywin dropped the engagement news
"More importantly, right now, she's a hostage of the Frey's. And she might die. Who bloody cares who she is engaged to?" Thank you Jaime my sweetheart

I love that Sansa is absolutely slaying the role of warden of the north while her brother is away. Her using the power of women being underestimated is so cool
And saying that the letter should be given to Tywin if they couldn't find Robb. Smart girl

I JUST REMEMBERED CERSEIS ROLE IN THE WALDEN FREY CONFLICT

I don't want to read the Ramsay arc
No not my girl

I usually don't have much against reading torture but I somehow can't do this and it doesn't even has rape in it. It's just mental torture
My little girl is so strong but I don't want her to have to endure this
He is such a fucking psychopath omg Jow has no one ended him before wth

I FORGOT THAT THEY WANT TO MARRY ARYA TO RAMSAY NOOO

TALISA
"Ramsay Bolton had make the mistake of taking her away along with any mercy the Stark boy had left."

SHE MADE IT
GO GIRL

Tywin keeping the broken king piece makes me giggle like a little girl. He loves Arya like he should've loved his own children

"Well don't worry my Lord. I'm still a working piece. That's what I've ways been to everyone. The Bolton's, the Freys, the Tyrells. My family. You. A daughter of Stark. The perfect leverage. Did you come to see if I was still worth anything? Stop looking at me like that. I'm fine. I'M FINE. JUST STOP." I'm crying the torture really made her feel so worthless
"She felt his hand on her shoulder. Arya latched onto his wrist with her left hand and squeezed as hard as she could, keeping him there." Now I'm actually crying
"I hate you...so much." "I know." AHHHHH

Tywin taking two finger from Ramsay because he took two finger from Arya is just chefs kiss

My kindle deleted all my notes and annotations...I see myself rereading this in a few weeks again lol

"The knife, little wolf. Put it down. You won't be able to use it properly with that mangled right hand of yours." "No. But I'm left handed." YESSS GIRLLL

"And here she was a girl crying out for her long dead father, reaching for him but finding only air. he wasn't sure what moved him to extend his hand, but the moment he did, she gripped onto it like it was a lifeline. Fine, whatever keeps her alive." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"I swear my father was here...holding my hand." Oh girl
Tywin right then and there: Kill me

The fact that Maester Luwin saw the hand holding is too funny

Omg Jon didn't know about the wedding
"Arya...would you let go of Ser Jaime?" "I...don't want to. I'll fall." "Lean against the wall then." "Arya, do not let go of me." PAJSBHEHEVEG

Jaime and Arya talking about their monsters...they are such good friends
"I can't promise that you won't see him in your dreams. I can only promise to wake you from them when I can. Because once you're awake...he can't follow you." Jaime is such a knight in shiny armour <3

Even Tommen knows that Tywin likes Arya

Syrio being alive is so cool

I'm so obsessed with Jaime and Aryas relationship
Omg hand kiss

Jaime is so protective of her <3

"So you engaged me to Arya because she hit me with a stick." Bit funny
"No. I engaged you to her because she told you to get up. And you did." Naww

Jaime backing her up in front of the Lords is so hot I can't
He's such a good husband

"When it's a choice between me and Cersei, he will always choose her." Oh girl

Kissing Arya before leaving her is really mean, Jaime

Such a plot twist that one with the poison
But he chose her. God I love them together

Arya is too good at holding grudges for her own good. They haven't really talked for over a year girlll...
I know he did bad things but that's your hubby and you know you like him

"I'm out of practice." "Out of practice dodging knives?" "No...out of practice handling you." Cuties

I missed their forehead kisses so much

For some reason I'm really dreading the upcoming battle against the white walkers. Idk why
I need to continue to read tomorrow because if I don't I might as well stop here and never finish till I start again from the beninging

"Tywin exhaled, reaching out and resting a hand on Aryas shoulder. 'No. Just don't do anything reckless, and come back alive.'" Oh those two

Oh he's so mad she did something reckless. He was so fucking worried for her

I just love Jaime and Arya together. They are so in sync.
They are so cute I can't. I love them so much

"Because I don't want to watch you die. I can't do this AGAIN." oh Arya
"If I can't safe one man then...Then nothing had changed. I'm as weak as I was then."
Watching my girl hurt, hurts me so much

"Perhaps that was why he felt such an odd sense of calm. If he was leaving his legacy in worse hands, he might force a war. But there was no need to be hasty when Arya was only just beginning her game."

Legitimating Jon is so cute naww

Arya in the witness chamber is crazy work. She's way too clever to give them anything and tbh why would she? Everyone knows she favours Tywin

Arya asking Daenerys for permission in exchange for her loyalty is such a power move

Not Tywin testing her in his last moments and not Arya completely passing the test with ease.
Also not her planning to marry Margery to Jon lol

"Hoping he might respond. And when he didn't she let her head fall to rest against his hand. And she cried.
She cried as a daughter might for a father.
Because, despite being so terrible a man, that was what Tywin Lannister was to her in the end."

"You don't have to put yourself through this." "I already did," Ouch

"I did think of you as a daughter. And I am sorry to leave you." OH MY GOD

I love the epilog chapters in books and fanfics
Arya having the reputation of taking fingers is so iconic.

"It was one thing to face a burning world when one was alone. But she did not want a single flame to touch her son or her daughter or any other children she might have."



After reading:

I will see myself rereading so much more often

I'm even planning to print and bind this

I love Arya so much.
I love her relationship with Tywin and that the author succeeded in making me cry.
I love the slow burn enemies to friends to lovers romance so much.
Everything is perfect

[Blanca Bagaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official rating: 5

It took me 16 days. Yes, 16 DAYS to finish this fic, which is both impressive and a little concerning. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Every single hour I spent reading this was amazing.

After finishing Game of Thrones, I was curious to see what kind of fanfiction was out there, and my ambitious self thought: "Why not pick a 444k-word fic?" Turns out, choosing a 108-chapter fic was a great decision. I enjoyed it way more than I expected, and it gave me a fresh and new perspective on some characters in a fascinating "what if" scenario. The way the writer keeps to George R. R. Martin's world and political intrigue, while adding new layers to characters, is honestly masterful. This fic nails character portrayal, not only in their individual development but in their relationships with each other. The bonds between them are built brick by brick, and it’s done so well you genuinely come to care about them.

I also loved that the fic didn’t just focus on Arya but gave space to other characters as well. And thank goodness, the romantic angle (especially between Jaime and Arya) is kept at a distance until the very end which, honestly, I could have done without, but hey, we can’t have it all. I have to say that Arya’s journey and growth are incredible, but my unexpected favorite? Tywin Lannister’s perspective. Getting inside his head was such a rewarding experience; it gave me all the feels, even though I had to separate him from his TV series version. And his intercations with Arya: 10/10. Favorite, no need to say more.

Overall, I highly recommend it. It’s a fantastic read, and if you’re a fan of deep dives into character dynamics, you’ll probably love this as much as I did.