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halthemonarch's review against another edition
3.0
What happened in this book? Three chapters from the end and I find myself wondering what I just read and how to put it into words. I’ll start with the plot: Tywin Lannister is dead. Westeros is now after the Red Wedding and Joffrey Baratheon’s murder. Our POV characters are Cersei Lannister, Tywin’s half-mad daughter who sees enemies all around her, and burns down the tower of the hand in her father’s name, Jaime Lannister, who spends the whole book debating with himself whether his sister is redeemable or if he wants to kill her for sleeping around on him. Samwell Tarly the black brother who was sent to the citadel, but ends up in Braavos with Maester Aemon Targaryen as he dies hysterically, wishing he were at Daenerys's side. Asha and Victarion Greyjoy who want the Iron Islands to flourish under their leadership each for different reasons, squabbling over rights and women and Euron after Balon’s death. Alayne Stone and Cat of the Canals who are the actually last Stark girls alive disguised as Littlefinger’s bastard who is later assigned to the man of the Eryie and a common welp to serve the house of Black and White, respectively. The Sand Snakes and Oberyn Martell’s natural daughter try to start a coup under Dorran Martell but fails and gets her paramour killed. It is revealed a Martell was meant to marry Viserys Targaryen before Khal Drogo killed him. Brienne looks for Sansa Stark, and in so doing, she learns Arya is still alive, gets viciously attacked by The Biter, and is sentenced to hang when we finally run into The Brotherhood without Banners. We’re told by a septon that Sandor Clegane is dead, and then he is alive again, but then no, it turns out it’s just another brutish man in the old one’s helm-- a confession, a plea, and then Brienne is hanged by Lady Stoneheart.
This wasn’t the biggest Game of Thrones book by any means, but it is quite big for nothing to happen in it. I mean stuff happened, but it felt like more happened within books one and three than this one. Ned Stark’s honor slowly got him killed, Robb Stark’s actions, Lannister cunning and Frey’s thin patience lead to the death of he and his kinsmen. Tyrion attends a wedding and is tried convicted, a trial by combat passed, jailed, and shoots his father in escape all in the same book! A Feast for Crows just felt like a lot of things not happening. I’m sure this’ll all be important for later, but I would have enjoyed a Jon chapter to see how he could justify taking someone’s baby away under threat of violence in line with his whole “good earnest guy” routine. I would have liked to see where Tyrion was, and if he was okay. I would have liked to hear from many of those who are dead, I guess that’s why I’m feeling a lack. And to me it felt like there were a lot more sexual assault mentions in this one than in any other book? I’ll have to flag the mentions and circle back to that but every chapter with the Greyjoys, every chapter with Jaime thinking of Cersei, hell the chapter where Cersei takes her handmaid, or Arya and Brienne being constantly warned against dangerous men and catcalled. Like we get it Westeros is a flaming dumpster just like real life, you can dial it back down and bring back the dragons at any time.
I didn’t dislike this book though. As always Martin is stunning at scene setups, characterizations, and really making it seem as though you are there. When a Maester or a Septon starts to drone on and on about the histories, you’re heavy-lidded with them. When Asha is snubbing her childhood love affair, you remember Yara from the show and think, “You go, girl!”, when you finally hear Cersei’s prophecy you’re like “holy cow, no wonder you’re nuts.” and so on. It just felt like a lot for nothing to happen. I was especially disappointed by Brienne’s conclusion. She’s taunted and bullied her whole life and she just latches onto people who are kind to her no matter what side they’re on or how legitimate they appear to be. Renly Baratheon, Stannis’ second-born brother, Catelyn Tully Stark, and Jaime the Kingslayer Lannister were all nice to her and so she wasted her life running back and forth across Westeros to please all three of them, until one of their ghosts catches up with her and.... Condemns her? Condemns her after she gets the whole story, even? And learning of Clegane’s death off-page is unsatisfying. You’d think Brienne would have stumbled upon the grave as the guy was robbing the helm, won, dug up the body to make certain, and after she pulls back the shroud, she’s collected suddenly by Don Darrion’s men and it all goes black. Then somewhere in her next chapter amidst her panic she thinks ‘was that the hound? I mightn’t be sure but, was that man’s face burnt or only caked with dirt?’. Better yet, leave Brienne alone!! She deserved better and so do Arya, Sansa, Asha, and Arianne. So did Ygritte, not so much Catelyn and yet she is the one allowed to roam and kill at her pleasure. Jaime and Victarion are like... gross still, the whole kill your wife if she has an affair and then be mad about it years later and use it as fuel for your fire to steal your uncle's prospective wife yourself? Gross. Finding your sister adulterous after learning she sleeps with other people besides you, and she kind of hates you now that you keep saying no to her? Yikes. A lot of the old players are dead, and the ones who are new to the Game of Thrones are setting up the pieces, that’s what this book feels like. I suppose the title was my spoiler; crows are carrion after all, and this is Book 4: The Aftermath of All That Death and Shit.
Augh! Just. Feeling frustrated at the end of this one and maybe I will take another year to read the last one. Hopefully I don’t have too long to wait ‘til the last-last ones
This wasn’t the biggest Game of Thrones book by any means, but it is quite big for nothing to happen in it. I mean stuff happened, but it felt like more happened within books one and three than this one. Ned Stark’s honor slowly got him killed, Robb Stark’s actions, Lannister cunning and Frey’s thin patience lead to the death of he and his kinsmen. Tyrion attends a wedding and is tried convicted, a trial by combat passed, jailed, and shoots his father in escape all in the same book! A Feast for Crows just felt like a lot of things not happening. I’m sure this’ll all be important for later, but I would have enjoyed a Jon chapter to see how he could justify taking someone’s baby away under threat of violence in line with his whole “good earnest guy” routine. I would have liked to see where Tyrion was, and if he was okay. I would have liked to hear from many of those who are dead, I guess that’s why I’m feeling a lack. And to me it felt like there were a lot more sexual assault mentions in this one than in any other book? I’ll have to flag the mentions and circle back to that but every chapter with the Greyjoys, every chapter with Jaime thinking of Cersei, hell the chapter where Cersei takes her handmaid, or Arya and Brienne being constantly warned against dangerous men and catcalled. Like we get it Westeros is a flaming dumpster just like real life, you can dial it back down and bring back the dragons at any time.
I didn’t dislike this book though. As always Martin is stunning at scene setups, characterizations, and really making it seem as though you are there. When a Maester or a Septon starts to drone on and on about the histories, you’re heavy-lidded with them. When Asha is snubbing her childhood love affair, you remember Yara from the show and think, “You go, girl!”, when you finally hear Cersei’s prophecy you’re like “holy cow, no wonder you’re nuts.” and so on. It just felt like a lot for nothing to happen. I was especially disappointed by Brienne’s conclusion. She’s taunted and bullied her whole life and she just latches onto people who are kind to her no matter what side they’re on or how legitimate they appear to be. Renly Baratheon, Stannis’ second-born brother, Catelyn Tully Stark, and Jaime the Kingslayer Lannister were all nice to her and so she wasted her life running back and forth across Westeros to please all three of them, until one of their ghosts catches up with her and.... Condemns her? Condemns her after she gets the whole story, even? And learning of Clegane’s death off-page is unsatisfying. You’d think Brienne would have stumbled upon the grave as the guy was robbing the helm, won, dug up the body to make certain, and after she pulls back the shroud, she’s collected suddenly by Don Darrion’s men and it all goes black. Then somewhere in her next chapter amidst her panic she thinks ‘was that the hound? I mightn’t be sure but, was that man’s face burnt or only caked with dirt?’. Better yet, leave Brienne alone!! She deserved better and so do Arya, Sansa, Asha, and Arianne. So did Ygritte, not so much Catelyn and yet she is the one allowed to roam and kill at her pleasure. Jaime and Victarion are like... gross still, the whole kill your wife if she has an affair and then be mad about it years later and use it as fuel for your fire to steal your uncle's prospective wife yourself? Gross. Finding your sister adulterous after learning she sleeps with other people besides you, and she kind of hates you now that you keep saying no to her? Yikes. A lot of the old players are dead, and the ones who are new to the Game of Thrones are setting up the pieces, that’s what this book feels like. I suppose the title was my spoiler; crows are carrion after all, and this is Book 4: The Aftermath of All That Death and Shit.
Augh! Just. Feeling frustrated at the end of this one and maybe I will take another year to read the last one. Hopefully I don’t have too long to wait ‘til the last-last ones
hilikus_00's review against another edition
4.0
Well contrary to popular opinion, I actually enjoyed this one! I definitely enjoyed it more than A Clash of Kings. I generally enjoyed following the characters in this book, despite missing my favourites Tyrion, Dany and Jon. I missed them but their absence didn't spoil the book. I enjoyed watching Cersei's decline and eventual fall from grace. I enjoyed watching Brienne's endlessly infuriating search for Sansa. I liked the parallels between the sisters' storylines - they are both living lives as somebody else, trying to shed their former selves in order to fully embody their new selves. I hated Sweetrobin, and want him to "fly". I know this book was where people started to like Jaime but I still don't really like him, while being appreciative of his disowning Cersei.
What else?
I am pretty confident that Brienne won't be dead, which is interesting. And poor Arya - why is she blind?! As for Catelyn, well, I'm interested to see how her new undead character develops, since she is pure resent and vengeance now. Sam's character is so likeable these days as well.
All in all, I did like this book and look forward to the next one.
What else?
I am pretty confident that Brienne won't be dead, which is interesting. And poor Arya - why is she blind?! As for Catelyn, well, I'm interested to see how her new undead character develops, since she is pure resent and vengeance now. Sam's character is so likeable these days as well.
All in all, I did like this book and look forward to the next one.
tsmith0810's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
josip_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
lilbunny_87's review against another edition
3.0
This has been my least favourite so far. A bit of a drag in places, especially when the focus was on the Greyjoys.
nenacall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sargar114's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jalroberts's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can enjoyed the slower pace it allowed for great exploration into the characters. Shout out Cersei for having some of the most insane brain work of any book character I've ever read.
floackle's review against another edition
3.0
This is easily the weakest of the series, with meandering plots, glacier pacing, and characters that are either weak or uninteresting. It also is full of deeply complex characterization, wonderfully deep world building, and develops some of the most engaging and theory inducing plots in the series. Even when Martin is bad, he's good.