A Dance With Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire #5)[September 25, 2025] > Likes and Comments

This is a Buddy Read for A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin starting on September 25, 2025.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Been a long journey!
1. A Game of Thrones (Sept 9 2023) [link]
2. A Clash of Kings (Nov 10 2023) [link]
3. A Storm of Swords (Aug 6 2024) [link]
4. A Feast for Crows (March 19 2025) [link]
5. A Dance with Dragons (Sept 25, 2025)

I picked this one up at the beginning of last week and am reading it very slowly- only just into Dany which is the second chapter.

Started! I'll probably take this in little chunks. Through 1st Jon. (view spoiler)[Man, Tyrion... you've really taken a spiral. I'm not sure if he's unhinged or just desperate asking "where do whores go?" Or maybe feeling too guilty to actually make real moves to try and find her. Though the probability that she's dead is pretty high... being treated like that. Suicide is not unlikely... (hide spoiler)]

I also started in and read around 200 pages, I will post my thoughts later. I have been written them down in an app but I am lazy and now have to check the chapter name. But seeing as it's the last full novel in ASOIAF that's not a secret history I will slow myself down. Maybe a chapter a day

@Nirkarze, 1st Jon (view spoiler)[ I think it's guilt because of everything. Believing tysha was a whore, not helping her, murdering shae, then anger at tywin and siblings...too many negative emotions and he focuses on the one that broke the dam and the one he could somehow maybe help. Hopefully he will let got of everything (except vengeance I guess) and help dany. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve been meaning to get to this one. How are people finding the pacing so far?

Hi Layonel, welcome. :)

Re pacing- I'd say it's still pretty slow, not much happening yet.

Bran and Jon are more interesting to me than Dany and Tyrion currently, but I'm only 100 pages in.

Up to 2nd Tyrion (view spoiler)[ That Bran chapter was creepy! I wonder who this coldhands character is- he's clearly dead, but what is he, if he's not one of the others?

Oohh interesting that potentially all the starks are skinchangers but it looks like Jon is particularly close to it after Bran. I thought it was a bit risky Bran taking over Hodor! (hide spoiler)]

Um. So. I might've just read the whole thing between Thurs and Saturday. >.<

Pretty slow throughout, but some real bangers of ending scenes... kinda insane to think it's been about 15 years since it came out, waiting for what happens next...

Will comment more, but might be the weekend...

@Beena (view spoiler)[ Yeah, Jon is also a skinchanger and closer to it. Arya is too and I think the connection deepens when you are close to the direwold, so it's pretty impressive she can connect to her even when she is far away. We don't know if Sansa would have been close, poor Lady. Rickon is too small and has no chapter and same to Rob.

I forgot in the books coldhans was such a mystery character. The show gave more info (hide spoiler)]

@Nirkatze! That was fast! We can also read after this, after we all finish, the knight of the seven kingdoms (the show is coming out next February!) and the released Winds of winter chapters (only around 6 :'( )

Until Dany (3) (view spoiler)[ I read the acknowledgement and I didn't know the book continued past the timeoine of last book. We even get more Jaime and Cersei chapters! I am pretty excited for Jaime after how it ended last book.

It's also pretty interesting what happened to that skinchanger in the prologue. How he lived in the animals skin.

The chapter where Jon tells Sam he is sending him to the Citadel is the same as last book but from a different POV. I read it side by side and it's interesting to see the differences. I don't know if its the translation or if the sentences are also different in English. Maybe George only copied some sentences and change others? I am leaning toward translation. In last book there are two translators and in this one one has changed so maybe that's the reason. But some sentences were kept the same...

Jon is doing to Elis kid what Ned did to him. Don't say anything about his parents and then if something happens, well, bad luck.

I was glad he decapitated Slynt. One less enemy left only hundreds to go...He is even sending all his friends away...

Winged lions=Griffins.

The emphasis when Tyrion talkes was weird so i searched winged lions. Some smart people online say it's the Connington sigil. So he adds his age and his lordly manner and knighthood and Tyrion deduced he is Jon connington friend of Rhaegad and exiled by Aerys.

Also Aegon River, the Golden company creator, used that as a sigil. So a bastard Targ

That first Theon chapter is so good. Poor him. He is such a mess, he is being tortured.

Dany is having many problems in Meeren. As Robert baratheon said, conquering is easier than ruling (hide spoiler)]

For all that I think this is my least favorite of the series, it's still kinda a comfort read. :) So I zoomed through.

I'd be game for reading the Dunk & Egg stories after this! I loved those. Wish there were more. Not super interested in the "histories" though.

Love your notes on the differences in the same-scene-different-POV and translators, @Paula! I wish I had my eye-copies at hand... they're in boxes... Love your analysis of the sigil too. (view spoiler)[Theon is totally my favorite POV in this book. So much pain, but he tries too!

And Jon, sending all your friends away... that's not going to go well for you, is it? Good riddance to Slynt though! (hide spoiler)]

You don't want to read Fire and Blood? That's a shame, but I get it, our characters don't appear and it's more dry like a history book.

(view spoiler)[ Theon is such a delight to read. It's like the first time I read Jaime chapters. But yeah, fave POV in this book too just like Cersei was in the last one. I think in each book there has been one POV highlighted: 1. Ned 2. Arya. 3. Tyrion. 4. Cersei. 5. Theon .

Jons chapters are like a trainwreck in action, but I can't stop reading (hide spoiler)]

I mean, I could be persuaded... but I'm more interested in story than just, bullet points.

I was sad that I'm not as in to Tyrion or Dany's POV this book. I don't really like the path their characters are on. Until the end of the book.

I actually like Danys POV. I like Tyrion because its Tyrion but nothing really happened with him at least at the point I am in

I'm disappointed that (view spoiler)[Dany spends most of her time pining after men and being essentially ineffectual, and Tyrion's interactions with the young girl who lost her brother are also rather disturbing... (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Dany is stuck in a difficult situation but I agree. Still, i think she just wants something nice and wihought all that pressure. And after Drogo at least she is choosing something for herself. Tyrion, yeah, why was Penny included? Just to add more pages and not see the journey so empty and boring, which it is (hide spoiler)]

Sorry guys, I'm not really interested in reading anymore from GRRM after this- it doesn't mean I won't ever again, but not any time soon, as I've had my fill of it.

Tbh, I don't think his style of writing really does it for me- I'm more of a plot-led person, whereas his stories are character-led. Plus the over-description absolutely kills me.

2nd Bran (view spoiler)[This chapter was crazy! Trying to get to the cave with all of those wights attacking them, and he's just a little boy! I wonder what the seer will tell/show him. (hide spoiler)]

Beena wrote: "Sorry guys, I'm not really interested in reading anymore from GRRM after this- it doesn't mean I won't ever again, but not any time soon, as I've had my fill of it.

Tbh, I don't think his style o..."

No worries! We've got enough for a BR if we want to do Dunk & Egg. I will say that those stories are pretty different--a lot lighter, and stay with a solo POV... I can't say if it's enough different to be worth our while though, Beena...

Beena wrote: "2nd Bran [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, (view spoiler)[Bran's path is pretty crazy at this point!! (hide spoiler)]

@Beena, yeah, don't worry if you don't want to continue

@Paula--do you have a date in mind for Dunk & Egg? They're pretty cozy.

I am a lil' bit behind everything so I want to catch up on December. So how about January, starting the year with something cozy and fun

Cheers guys.

4th Dany (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure why Dany is longing after Daario, he hasn't got much going for him and I can't fathom how she finds him attractive with a purple beard and a gold mustache lol. There's absolutely no way she would have fallen for the blue-haired boy. (hide spoiler)]

The Wayward Bride (view spoiler)[Finally a bit of action with Asha! Even if they did all end up dying. Her sex scene made me cringe so hard; the way GRRM describes some stuff is just dire. (hide spoiler)]

re: 4th Dany--I know, right??? (view spoiler)[One of my biggest disappointments here. Dany's constant pining for a Man. Just grab an aide d'amour and take care of yourself! You're a powerful Mother of Dragons and you don't need no man!! Plus, he's a mercenary and a player. NOT really reliable material. If she just wanted him for some fun sexytimes that'd be one thing, but she's actually PINING. She lost a star rating for that. (hide spoiler)]

I'd like Dany & Asha to meet up and become buds...

Paula wrote: "I am a lil' bit behind everything so I want to catch up on December. So how about January, starting the year with something cozy and fun"

January sounds good. 5th?

Ooh, yeah, I would like Asha and Dany meeting up. And 5th sounds good!

Lool, touched a nerve have I, Nirkatze!

Yeah, I'm with you about the pining, it is just annoying. Haha, take care of herself... she actually should tbf, she can have anyone she wants.

Yeah, lol! It's sadly something that's pretty common in fantasy of a a decade ago and earlier, and of male-written fantasy especially. Even Cersei spends most of her time reacting to what all the men around her do, and trying to claw out of that cage. It's frustrating that Dany just wants to crawl into it.

Dany could pine and take out her pining with some night stand guy. She has also mentioned how her handmaiden helps her a bit too

Asha could help her with that too. Fanfic in the making.

😂

Davos (view spoiler)[ Didn't expect to hear about Rickon! Kinda forgot about him tbh. That's a turn of events for Davos, I wonder if he'll find him. (hide spoiler)]

Melisandre (view spoiler)[ Ooh surprising! I suspected that the fake Rattleshirt might be Mance... I wonder if Jon will take up her offer to rescue fake Arya. Gah, he doesn't know it's not her, but he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't do something. I just hope that he doesn't start to trust Melisandre. What the hell does she want with him anyway? She's the very definition of a witch. (hide spoiler)]

3rd Bran (view spoiler)[ Oh poor Bran. To be faced with that kind of fate at such a young age- knowing that he's going to turn into something similar to the seer; what a burden. I hope he doesn't stay stuck in that place. Poor boy just wanted his dad. (hide spoiler)]

Lots of threads and possible red-herrings running around at this point...

re: Bran--(view spoiler)[his future's a very mixed fate, right? The seer-dreams offer him an escape from his broken body... but what a responsibility it comes with too... (hide spoiler)]

The Blind Girl (view spoiler)[ Good to see Arya! She's learning... looks like she skin-changed with the cat at the end! (hide spoiler)]

Dany (view spoiler)[ Blimmin' hell! I thought Drogon was gonna roast her when she ran into that pit! (hide spoiler)]

Finally, things seem to be picking up! I'm three quarters of the way through, nearly there!

Have you finished Paula or still reading?

Beena wrote: "Davos [spoilers removed]

Melisandre [spoilers removed]

3rd Bran [spoilers removed]"

Melissandre (view spoiler)[ I did not see it coming. I thought for sure Mance was dead. Its very interesting that i thought that, mainly because of the show (hide spoiler)]

Beena wrote: "The Blind Girl [spoilers removed]

Dany [spoilers removed]

Finally, things seem to be picking up! I'm three quarters of the way through, nearly there!"

Always happy to see Arya!

Beena wrote: "Have you finished Paula or still reading?"

I paused somewhere a while ago, i was halfway or something. Now that i am burned up of the Goodreads choice awards challenge i will pick it up again

Beena wrote: "The Blind Girl [spoilers removed]

Dany [spoilers removed]

Finally, things seem to be picking up! I'm three quarters of the way through, nearly there!"

Yeah, that's how I felt too--the last quarter of the book is the best bits.

Finally finished this at the beginning of the week.

(view spoiler)[
Quentyn- Brave but stupid of him to think that Dany's dragons would listen to him. I'm not quite sure how he thought setting them free would help Dany?

Jon- Nooooo, what the hell? Jon can't be dead!

Dany- she's alive! I never thought she was dead anyway. Hmm, the fact that anther khalasar has found her with Drogon- is she going to bind the other khalasars to her now?

Let me guess the silent giant is Gregor Clegane after whatever Qyburn's done to him..

So Varys was on the Targaryen's side all along- he must've smuggled them all out. (hide spoiler)]

Grats, Beena!! (view spoiler)[Jon's totally not dead... permanently. Remember that 1) people who die at the end of chapters aren't dead and 2) Melisandre's in the area. If Jon dies, she can bring him back--just like the drunk Red Priest dude brought back Beric Dendarion and Lady Stoneheart....

re: Dany--I just hope that she doesn't have to go through another ordeal captured by a new Khalassar... please no rape, or just being dragged back to the Mothers again...

The Giant is totally the Mountain... but I have to wonder what kind of creature he is now... how many kinds of undead are there? (hide spoiler)]

Finished! I wanted to savour the rest of the book so I only read a couple of chapters a day and timed it perfectly to be my last book of 2025 (view spoiler)[ Theon was highlight for me in this book, he suffered a lot.

Loved Wyman Manderly. He killed those Frey and served them in pies and even made de Bard sing the song about the Rat cook. The North remembers! I have also seen a theory that since he brought his own food he could poison the Boltons and not break the law of hospitality.

And I also saw a theory that the message that Jon received before his death is either from Mance or Melissandre. Ramsay uses a sigil and in the message there is only a pink blob and he doesn't like the word bastard.

At least with this Jaime chapter we can see he doesn't go back to Cersei and that Brienne is good. The other question is which fake Stark it is. Could it be real?

And I was surprised by Jon's death. I had the scene from the show in mind and its preeety different. In here they used the confusion caused by the giant. Did they orchestrate it or just thought it a good opportunity? Ghost had been restless so I guess he saw the others talking about killing Jon. So now that question is how he will be after he revives. Vengeful? Cynic? Still go to winterfall and break his vows (pretty sure)? (hide spoiler)]

Beena (view spoiler)[ Suprised Quentin did such a stupid thing. He thought setting them free would help him with Dany when she comes.

About Jon. In the prologue we see a skinchanger dying and his conscious staying somewhat with his animals. He kinda forgot himself and merged with the animal. So that's another worry. If Jon is revived soon he may still remember himself but if not he could lose memories (hide spoiler)]

So now I have Knight of the seven kingsoms ready to go. Do we have a thread yet? And the chapters from Winds that are available online. Any of you want to read them?

Well done Paula!

Not gonna lie, I've completely forgotten about the prologue by this point lol but nice catch.

I'm glad Jaime has come to his senses regarding Cersei- which reminds me actually, in her chapter where she was walking naked back to the castle, despite everything, I was actually rooting for her, because it seemed the absolute height of misogyny to shame her with her own body.

I won't be continuing with anymore GRRM, I just wanted to get all of ASOIAF under my belt really.

Yeah! I loved that Cersei chapter. She was strong and seeing her crumple the last few meters until the Red keep was sad.

Have you liked ASOIAF then? Fave characters?