A Song of Ice and Fire (some spoilers inside, watch for SPOILER warnings)

[instantdeath999]

I agree with every single one of your thoughts, Ivan. I am very close to finishing (I would have liked to have read faster, but I've been busier lately than I would have liked), and will wrap it up later today or tomorrow, and post a mini-review. The only ones I want to comment on are

Tyrion... I completely understand. However, I think it is a natural progression to the character. Those last few chapters in Storm were brutal to him. He was cynical before, and already self-deprecating, now he's wanting to bring everyone down with him. Personally, I hope he forgives Jaime.

I'm a little worried about Jon, too. He, like Tyrion and Dany, is/was a character I expected to make it to the end of the series, largely because of the question regarding his parentage... however, I could also see that being discovered by someone like Arya, who is also someone I can't see dying before the final book.

As for Dany, the names can get annoying, but honestly, most of the characters aren't very important. Martin does realize this, I think, and when something important happens with them, he goes out of his way to repeat descriptions of the characters. I really hate it when authors expect you to remember everything about minor characters, even when they aren't seen for a very long time.

In response to Lex's comment, about the half-way point.

I got that impression too, about Bran. However, I felt like that really was Ned he was talking to, and the images he got of the children were separate. It didn't come to me at first, but I am quite sure the girl who looked like Arya was Lyanna. Honestly, I would love for future Bran chapters to be ways to get flashbacks and insights into characters like Lyanna, Brandon Stark, and possibly even someone like Arthur Dayne, though that's a stretch. I really wish there were more Bran chapters, but I'm sure he'll have the most, or close to the most, chapters in the final book in the series.

[FloodOne]

My thoughts about Tyrion for Ivan and instantdeath

Tyrion suffered, more than any of us knew, for killing his father. It becomes a recurring theme, the thrumm of the crossbow, Tywin sitting down and spilling his bowels in death, and his final words "Wherever whores go". I think that his suffering is integral to his arc. No one comes out unscathed after killing their parent, no matter how horribly he treated you.

As for Jon, he's acting like an idiot.

Dany, well... I found her story drug on far too long before it got interesting. I won't tell you more than that.

And that concludes my thoughts. For now.

[Der_Lex]

As for the TV show, Jaqen has been cast.

[CrazyIvan]

As for the TV show, Jaqen has been cast.

As has:

Stannis and Melisandre
Xaro Xhoan Daxos
and
Asha Greyjoy (although they changed her name to Yara to avoid confusion with Osha)

Other than the odd name change, I love all of the new casting.

And sorry if people have linked to these before. As I mentioned before, I'm kinda' avoiding older posts until I finish up with Dance.

[Der_Lex]

I was only aware of the Stannis/Meilsandre casting. The latter was kind of unavoidable over here: the fact that 'our' Carice was cast in a hit US TV series made the headlines in the entertainment sections of every major newspaper.

[instantdeath999]

Yara Greyjoy? Quite... lame. I'll see how it fits. I did, on the other hand, like Robert Arryn's namechange, especially with his nickname, "Sweetrobin". I'm not sure why they didn't just change Osha's name. Asha is a far more important character, seemingly.

As for Xaro, I must admit I didn't pay too much attention to the Dany chapters in Clash of Kings, but wasn't he supposed to be incredibly pale? I actually pictured his skin black, until I thought I saw that mentioned. Hm.

Regarding Jon

I actually thought he went into his role very responsibly. He was obviously trying to do what his father would have done, and definitely reminded me of him, though Jon almost seemed to have an edge that Ned didn't have. He was really trying to do good work, and I would have much preferred him doing what he did over giving into that ***** Selyse (who really, really reminds me of Lysa Tully), or doing what Bowen Marsh wanted. Honestly, I think he handles his leadership better than Dany, although Dany has a greater responsibility.

Anyway, I wrapped up A Dance with Dragons. My opinion of it (non-spoiler, but of course don't read if you want to go in with no impressions) is that it was a very good book, adequately moved the plot forward, and while it's not on the level of Storm of Swords, I do believe I prefer it to Feast for Crows, and put it about on the same level as Clash of Kings.

However, I find that the last few hundred pages didn't get me as excited as I felt it should have. For all intents and purposes, Dance marks the end of Act 2 in the series, and while nothing would stop me from rushing to the bookstore and buying Winds of Winter now if possible, I don't feel it built the momentum that Storm did. I think it's the cliffhangers; Storm, while leaving you wanting more, also felt partially resolved, as did the first two in the series. Cliffhangers have their use, of course, and they were done quite well, but still felt I would mention it.

Time for spoilerish part. Absolutely do not read until you have finished the book.

I, personally, am hoping Jon is not actually dead. It would be the unpredictable thing to do, of course, to keep him dead; however, while Robb and Ned both died to serve a purpose to the story, I can't see how Jon's can help. He practically cuts us off from the Wall, unless he wants to make Melisandre a main character, and a lot of his plot lines are left unresolved. Plus, there has been so much foreshadowing about both wargs, and the powers the Red Priests posess. If Melisandre, the best among them is there, I'm sure she can do something. There's also the possibility he will live in Ghost for awhile. We'll see.

I enjoyed both Tyrion and Dany immensely, however, I hope they progress a bit more in the following novel. I was a bit disappointed Tyrion never met up with Dany, but I loved his interactions with Jorah. I'm not sold on Penny as a character, however, she is the perfect counter balance to Tyrion's merciless cynicism. I'd rather her not become a romantic interest, though. I like it as an awkward sort of brotherly relationship.

I found my most enjoyable POV's were Theon, Barristan Selmy (I'm a sucker for the honorable characters), and Melisandre. Arya was fantastic as well, and I'm looking forward to further developments; however, I was confused on how she assassinated her target, exactly.

I also find myself, of course, curious on Varys's angle, and who exactly those children at the end were. Oddly enough though, the biggest cliffhanger for me, even above Jon's "death", was Jaime and Brienne. The most obvious answer to what was happening is that Brienne caved in, and is leading Jaime to Lady Stoneheart. I'm sure it's more than that, though. I'd actually like to think that Sandor Clegane is alive, though I highly doubt it. I'm guessing Robert Strong is the headless body of Gregor Clegane, though... perhaps Sandor will get his chance after all.

Great book, dreading the wait.

[Der_Lex]

Instantdeath, some responses to you:

- As for Jon: he repeated the same mistakes Ned made in this book: he ignores all warnings of danger, in part because he's wary to trust Melisandre because she's not 'honorable', but is also blind to the fact that not everyone around him is as honorable as he is, and that the Night's Watch would not respond too well to his radical changes.

-as for Tyrion: I felt his storyline this book was a giant tease. He wants to go to Dany, Dany needs him (all the comments about not having a suitable Hand or someone to deal with the dodgier things', you know they're bound to meet, but Martin does all he can to postpone it. I hope he has a good reason, because right now it just seems like he's stalling.

- as for Dany: I felt that she acted like a hormonal spoiled brat in this book, and it was rather tiresome. I hope she finds her way again.

- As for Arya: she slipped a coin of her cult into the moneybag that the man she pickpocketed would give to her target. It's a bit vague after that, but there are basically three possibilities: 1: The coin was somehow magical and causes a heart attack, 2: the coin wasn't magical, but upon seeing it the target realized he was marked for death and had a heart attack or 3: the coin wasn't magical, but upon seeing it the target realized he was marked for death and took his own life instead. Either way, it was pretty subtle.

- Robert the Strong is indeed headless Gregor.

- Those children are Varys' 'little birds', who apparently are trained to kill as well as to spy, which is a scary thought. Varys' angle is pretty clear, actually: he has always remained loyal to the Targaryens, which is also apparent in his dealings with Illyrio Mopatis. He's preparing the realm from within for their return.

[instantdeath999]

Lex



-I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt that way about Dany. Of course, Barristan is right, she's still just a girl; but come on, Daario is practically everything a Queen shouldn't be screwing. I really don't care for that character, I would absolutely love for Barristan to kill him. Dany herself is a character I really go back and forth on liking.

- I'm also glad that Arya's method of murder wasn't obvious, and I just missed it.

- About Varys, what I'm mainly curious about is his "plans" for Dany. He obviously favors Aegon, who has a stronger claim to the throne, though I'm also curious if the reason he sent Tyrion to Dany was just because he was threatened by Jaime, or for some other reason.

- Frankly, knowing Martin, I would not at all be surprised if Tyrion dies just before meeting Dany, or vice versa. Somewhat like how Arya was not 50 feet from Robb and Catelyn, and then the Red Wedding happened. However, I can't see that being good for the story at all, just like I really can't see killing Jon this early (unless he's meant to be the next martyr).

- Do you have any thoughts about Jaime's chapter, and the cliffhanger in it?

[Der_Lex]

'death:

I have no idea where Martin is going with the Jaime chapter's ending. Since Jaime notices Brienne looked worse than usual, might it be possible that she's the next holder of the Red God's spark, and that she was actually hanged, died, and came back? That would mean that undead Cat is gone, though.

[instantdeath999]

Yeah, that's possible, but she seems in much better shape than Cat, although the latter was dead for three days. I believe the most common theory is that she offered Podrick's life for Jaime's, and is leading him to Lady Stoneheart but that... just doesn't seem like Brienne to me. I really can't see her leading someone to their death. The only way I could ever see her killing someone is with a sword, she's not the trickery type. We'll see, I guess.


Random, but honestly, one of the "things I'd like to see" before the series is over is Tyrion riding a dragon.