I loved this book. Which makes me happy, because we waited 6 years for it when it was "supposedly" half written 6 years ago. I understand he had to collaborate on the HBO series (which RAWKS for anyone who hasn't seen it, go watch it now.) A Feast For Crows was a big disappointment to me, because it was entirely made up of characters that I'm relatively indifferent to.

I always liked Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth, but they are not my favorites. Davos Seaworth, Stannis Baratheon, the Martell family (Dorne) and Cersei are not characters I much enjoy reading. I frequently have to take a reading break after (or during) Cersei chapters. My favorite characters (who are not in evidence in book 4) are DAENERYS!!! and Tyrion "The Imp" Lannister. That being said;


Jon Snow might be dying. Or maybe Melisandre will save him. She warned him that he was surrounded by knives in the dark, and told him to seek her when he got his news from the skies. We learned from Moroqqo and Victarion that the Red Priests can do some gnarly magical healing. But I'm not going to hold to the hope that Jon lives, because none of my favorite characters have died in awhile, and it's overdue.

Daenerys is badass and awesome as ever. The Heroine of the story, Daenerys has flown Drogon, demonstrated her resistance to fire once more, and her mastery (kinda) of her largest, wildest child. And now Khal Jhoqo (who knows her face) just found her and her Drogon with his Khalasar. New allies in the face of her new adversaries in Mereen that she knows nothing of yet? To go forward you must go back. And she went back, and found a Khalasar... this has interesting possibilities in Winds of Winter. Also, she has her woman's moon blood and thinks to herself "The moon is still a crescent, though. How can that be? She tried to remember the last time she had bled. The last full moon? The one before? The one before that? No, it cannot have been so long as that."** I wonder if she has ever bled since her son Rhaego was delivered dead, and Mirri Maz Duur told her she would bear no living children. I wonder if it is a sign that she is somehow becoming fertile again, or a sign of something else. I think it must mean something, because she also thinks that there is too much blood and her flow is too heavy. To much remark was made about it for it to be unimportant. Personally I hope she is being cleansed by her flight on Drogon and her trek through the Dothraki sea, and will emerge from her pilgrimage fertile, and eventually marry and have Aegon's children.

Kevan Lannister was killed like Tywin, with a crossbow. I'm sad, I kinda liked Ser Kevan, but I love Varys and Daenerys, so I have to understand that. Cool ending.

Arya has become an acolyte at the House of Black and White. I'm not really sure where her story line is going at this point. The only thing I can think of is that they are about to start teaching her sorcery, and Daenerys thinks to herself later "The dragonlords of old Valyria had controlled their mounts with binding spells and sorcerous horns. Daenerys made do with a word and a whip."* Arya could be one of the Dragon's three heads, but I think this is a long shot. I'm losing interest in her story, sad to say.

Jaime and Brienne have met up in the Riverlands and Brienne thinks she knows where to find Sansa. We don't know yet if she has a true trail, or a false. I'm surprised she's still alive. Last time we saw her she was being winched up into a tree to hang after Biter tore off her cheek. Her cheek is damaged when Jaime meets her, so obviously the timeline is still correct, but no explanation as to how she escaped dead Lady Catelyn's noose.

No news about Sansa or Rickon. That's okay, I'm not interested.

The Ramsay Bolton stuff is gnarly. Day-um.

Tyrion Lannister is wheedling himself across the Free Cities, doing his thing, strolles through a little bought of slavery, and strolls out the other side free and within spitting distance of the Queen he crossed the world to meet. Tyrion is a great character (a bitter Mat Cauthon) and is hilarious to read. His motives may be unusual, but they are certainly understandable. I hope eventually he finds Tysha, Tyrion Lannister could really use a happy ending.


*Martin, George R.R. (2011-07-12). A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five (Kindle Locations 20670-20671). Bantam. Kindle Edition.

**Martin, George R.R. (2011-07-12). A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five (Kindle Locations 20872-20874). Bantam. Kindle Edition.