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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
With so much going on with the various characters, it was interesting to see where the focus was. I felt sone characters needed more, others less. And overall, you have to wonder, with so much going on, why did the show creators feel the need to make up content? Can't wait for book 6. Come on George...
The fifth volume of this saga contains plenty more of the features I've come to expect from George R.R. Martin's fantasy: plenty of heraldry, plenty of political intrigue, and - of course - the unexpected plot twist, particularly in the unexpected deaths of relatively significant characters. As a matter of fact, I find the series getting harder to follow because the author keeps killing off the characters that I have come to know and love. This particular installment felt a little dry in the middle, and the intrigue surrounding Danaerys and Mereen seemed to go on too long to too little purpose, but I think the ending was interesting and maybe makes up for it. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I am still devoted to the series (and I have been for a while, long before it became an HBO phenomenon).
This book was fine. Much longer than it had to be. I think what made the first three books was how tight the scope was. We had a handful of POVs across Westeros (minus Dany), but by the time Feast and Dance come around we have a million POVs all over the place. So many feel like they have no purpose but to extend the word count. I feel like the plot between AFFC and ADWD crawled at a snail’s pace and had these been one book instead of 2, it could’ve been great.
Spoiler alert? Maybe?
It has taken me so long to finish this book that Goodreads has gone through *several* upgrades since the last time I rated a book. That aside, I will always, always, take whatever time is necessary to finish books from this series. I'll be loyal to the bitter end (er, two more books to go, right?). If I were to change the title of this one, though, I'd call it "A Wait of 1,000 Pages." Because that's what the "action" consisted of for the majority of the book. Waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting. What's Daenerys up to? Waiting. Arya? Waiting. Jon Snow? Yup, waiting. My mother always says that the key to happiness in life is to "enjoy the wait." Ok, but do I have to enjoy OTHER people's waits as well, Mom?
There were some saving graces (which, I learned, come in various colors). The story of Reek was tragic. Riveting. Gross. I kind of loved it. Just when you decide to hate a character for the abominations he's done, Martin paints another who is much, much worse, making you regret hating the former so bitterly. And that's what I've always admired about Martin's writing. The characters. The plot twists. The grayness of it all. You really never know what people are capable of. Isn't that the truth?
It has taken me so long to finish this book that Goodreads has gone through *several* upgrades since the last time I rated a book. That aside, I will always, always, take whatever time is necessary to finish books from this series. I'll be loyal to the bitter end (er, two more books to go, right?). If I were to change the title of this one, though, I'd call it "A Wait of 1,000 Pages." Because that's what the "action" consisted of for the majority of the book. Waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting. What's Daenerys up to? Waiting. Arya? Waiting. Jon Snow? Yup, waiting. My mother always says that the key to happiness in life is to "enjoy the wait." Ok, but do I have to enjoy OTHER people's waits as well, Mom?
There were some saving graces (which, I learned, come in various colors). The story of Reek was tragic. Riveting. Gross. I kind of loved it. Just when you decide to hate a character for the abominations he's done, Martin paints another who is much, much worse, making you regret hating the former so bitterly. And that's what I've always admired about Martin's writing. The characters. The plot twists. The grayness of it all. You really never know what people are capable of. Isn't that the truth?
People travel but don't go anywhere. People talk but it doesn't lead to action. Characters are introduced only to be killed off without effecting the plot in any way. Perhaps because there is no plot.
This book was one of my most disappointing reads... well, ever. It should have been greatly reduced and combined with the fourth book; that might have been a decent read. On the bright side, my expectations for the next book have been greatly reduced, so it could be another bore-fest and I'd probably be pleasantly surprised.
Sorry George.
This book was one of my most disappointing reads... well, ever. It should have been greatly reduced and combined with the fourth book; that might have been a decent read. On the bright side, my expectations for the next book have been greatly reduced, so it could be another bore-fest and I'd probably be pleasantly surprised.
Sorry George.
Write like the wind, George! I NEED the next installment.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I finally got around to watching season 3 of the show and decided to re-read A Storm of Sword and A Feast for Crows so I could re-familiarise myself with canon before I dove into A Dance with Dragons. The great thing about this parallel tv show/book approach is that it gives me an appreciation of the strengths of each medium (as well as highlighting the weaknesses). Having a visual reference also makes it easier for me to keep track of people and places, so since my original read of the first four books eons ago, I now have a greater appreciation for characters and storylines I had little patience for first time around, when all I cared about what racing to find out what happens next.
That helped with reading ADwD because truth be told, not a lot HAPPENS – like every man and their goat has pointed out, GRRM sorely needs an editor. Gah, the PACING of the last two books is so frustrating – it’s not enough in a giant tome to just pop in on a character POV once so you know they're not dead after the heart-in-mouth cliffhanger they experienced in the last book, especially when GRRM then has something else happen in a flash to keep us in suspense AGAIN (this happens TOO OFTEN). Meanwhile, there seem to be so many revisits to Dany’s Meereenese problems which are a turgid, unenjoyable mess for most part.
But even with the morass of new characters introduced with not a lot of time spent exploring who they are and what their motivations are and what they’re all up to (e.g. the various Martells), I was ultimately absorbed in ADwD, as GRRM unravels layer upon layer of plotting across time and place; absorbed, and at times mightily confused. Luckily, Westeros.org exists – and after I lost so much time I didn’t have in the first place reading first the books, I lost even more reading through like eight million forum threads about all the theories of what will be, lol. Bring on the next book!
That helped with reading ADwD because truth be told, not a lot HAPPENS – like every man and their goat has pointed out, GRRM sorely needs an editor. Gah, the PACING of the last two books is so frustrating – it’s not enough in a giant tome to just pop in on a character POV once so you know they're not dead after the heart-in-mouth cliffhanger they experienced in the last book, especially when GRRM then has something else happen in a flash to keep us in suspense AGAIN (this happens TOO OFTEN). Meanwhile, there seem to be so many revisits to Dany’s Meereenese problems which are a turgid, unenjoyable mess for most part.
But even with the morass of new characters introduced with not a lot of time spent exploring who they are and what their motivations are and what they’re all up to (e.g. the various Martells), I was ultimately absorbed in ADwD, as GRRM unravels layer upon layer of plotting across time and place; absorbed, and at times mightily confused. Luckily, Westeros.org exists – and after I lost so much time I didn’t have in the first place reading first the books, I lost even more reading through like eight million forum threads about all the theories of what will be, lol. Bring on the next book!
Aaaarrrrgh .....I can not wait another year for the next book....totally engrossed in this story...love the characters, they just get better and better.
This one might have been my favorite so far.... now have to wait until 2015 for the next one!
Wow!
The Aegon is still alive twist was fantastic. Live the writing. Best pound for pound of the series.
The Aegon is still alive twist was fantastic. Live the writing. Best pound for pound of the series.