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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
A Dance with Dragons was a captivating read that brought back some of my favorite characters in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It felt like a slight step up from A Feast for Crows, as it reintroduced familiar faces and returned to the more intricate, expansive storytelling that made the earlier books so compelling. However, it didn’t quite recapture the magic of the first three books, especially A Storm of Swords, which remains the high point of the series for me. There are moments in this book where it feels like George R.R. Martin is starting to lose his way, with certain plotlines meandering and the narrative momentum slowing down.
Despite these issues, A Dance with Dragons still has so much to love. The world of Westeros is as rich and immersive as ever, and Martin’s ability to create tension and intrigue through his complex characters and sprawling plot is on full display. The return of key characters and the continuation of their arcs was a highlight, reigniting my obsession with the ASOIAF world. After finishing this book, I found myself so engrossed that I decided to reread the series in chronological order, which separated the point-of-view characters from books four and five. This experience added new layers to my understanding of the story and deepened my appreciation for the series as a whole.
While A Dance with Dragons might not reach the heights of the first three books, it’s still a remarkable achievement and a must-read for fans of the series. The book left me longing for more, and like many others, I’m left wondering if Martin will ever finish the saga he started. Despite the unending wait for The Winds of Winter, this book reaffirmed my love for the world Martin has created. It’s a testament to the enduring power of A Song of Ice and Fire that, even with its flaws, A Dance with Dragons continues to captivate and inspire readers.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Book 1: A Game of Thrones – 5/5
Book 2: A Clash of Kings – 5/5
Book 3: A Storm of Swords – 5/5
Book 4: A Feast for Crows – 4/5
Book 5: A Dance with Dragons – 4/5
Despite these issues, A Dance with Dragons still has so much to love. The world of Westeros is as rich and immersive as ever, and Martin’s ability to create tension and intrigue through his complex characters and sprawling plot is on full display. The return of key characters and the continuation of their arcs was a highlight, reigniting my obsession with the ASOIAF world. After finishing this book, I found myself so engrossed that I decided to reread the series in chronological order, which separated the point-of-view characters from books four and five. This experience added new layers to my understanding of the story and deepened my appreciation for the series as a whole.
While A Dance with Dragons might not reach the heights of the first three books, it’s still a remarkable achievement and a must-read for fans of the series. The book left me longing for more, and like many others, I’m left wondering if Martin will ever finish the saga he started. Despite the unending wait for The Winds of Winter, this book reaffirmed my love for the world Martin has created. It’s a testament to the enduring power of A Song of Ice and Fire that, even with its flaws, A Dance with Dragons continues to captivate and inspire readers.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Book 1: A Game of Thrones – 5/5
Book 2: A Clash of Kings – 5/5
Book 3: A Storm of Swords – 5/5
Book 4: A Feast for Crows – 4/5
Book 5: A Dance with Dragons – 4/5
Loved it but want more! So many unanswered questions. And I won't say much because I don't want to spoil. But waiting another year or more is going to kill me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I resisted for years, deciding I wouldn't finish the book until the next one was out. I wanted to make sure there was still part of Westeros to read about even if Martin passed away before finishing the more recent one. However, I love the show too and rather than let it spoil parts and drive me nuts wondering which scenes weren't in the book, I finally finished it. So much of it was good in the rare "gotta stay up just one more hour to read" way, and some felt SO SLOW. Part of my frustration came from several phrases repeating over and over until I felt beaten over the head with them. "Much and more", "little and less," "words are wind," etc.
The story line of the whole series is nice and intriguing. while the prose and narration is way too boring for me, I had to skip-read paragraphs describing food or clothes.
got really bored anytime we were in meereen. definitely dragged at many points and i need grrm to stop naming chapter titles epithets instead of actual character names. i hope someday we will learn what happens to brienne and jon and sansa and cersei and everyone…. but i know it will never happen 😢
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Worst book in the ASIOF series. It jut felt like a filler with too much Essos. The only reason I read it was to finish the series.