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gretchenplz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
My biggest complaint with the second book was that there really seemed to be no real forward movement. The same can absolutely not be said about this book, however!
Docking half a star because George writes some very creepy things about women and their bodies, but otherwise, this book is just perfection.
I can't imagine what reading this book without having previously watched the series was like. I'd be on the floor.
Graphic: Slavery, War, Incest, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
theyannibannireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
But when we get story oh boy do we get story, every god damn storyline is exciting, dark and page turning 🔥🔥
Can't wait to read the next book shame I'll run out of them soon
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, War, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Slavery, Sexual content, Torture, and Grief
chloeprowse's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Slavery and Incest
ten_telegrams's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Incest, War, Ableism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, and Slavery
vigil's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia, Incest, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, War, Xenophobia, Infidelity, Alcohol, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child abuse, Murder, and Slavery
kylieqrada's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Incest, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, and Infertility
linnylionheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Gore, Incest, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, and Vomit
Moderate: Excrement, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Grief, Suicide, Bullying, Child death, Dysphoria, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion, Rape, Infertility, Cannibalism, and Miscarriage
Further content warning: bestiality (moderate)kingcrookback's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Incest
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood
Minor: Rape, Classism, Alcohol, and Mental illness
polina_and's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Incest, Murder, War, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
earlc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a testament to Martin's characterization that I needed no refresher on who each of the main characters were and what they were up to; many of the minor characters (the Reeds, Gendry and Hotpie, Dolorous Ed, etc.) were also warmly remembered. There are a lot of great characters introduced in this book, like Mance, Missandei, and Oberyn, and we get to know others, like Sam and Jamie, better. No character feels redundant, each character is unique, a tremendous achievement with a cast this size. Every single viewpoint character grew and changed in really interesting ways, and Tyrion, Jaime, and Jon's internal struggles were among the most engaging and complex I've read in a fantasy book. Jon's relationship with Ygritte was especially heartrending, and Jamie's with Brienne surprisingly touching. Reading this book proved that "spoilers" are an exaggerated threat to one's enjoyment of a work. I knew (almost) all of the major twists going into this book, and each still surprised, thrilled, and horrified me.
Some minor criticisms: I thought Daenerys' chapters were good on their own (along with the world beyond the wall, Essos is fascinates me), but they broke up the flow of the novel. All of the other characters' chapters, to varying degrees, have some impact on another's; Daenerys is in her own story. I normally enjoy Arya's chapters, but she spent a lot of time wandering around the Riverlands and Reach with the Brotherhood, which wasn't always as engaging (Bran's chapters sometimes threatened to be long travelogues, but Myra's telling of the Crannogman's journey was pretty gripping); conversely, her journeys with the Hound felt cut short. Likewise, I thought Davos (one of my all-time favorite characters) didn't get enough attention, and I was surprised when he didn't get his own chapter at the end.
Nevertheless, this is high fantasy done so right. Definitely looking forward to the next two books, though I think I'll take a little more of a vacation; these books are a project.
Listened to the audiobook narrated by Roy Dotrice.
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Abortion