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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
dark
So, I did the whole A Ball of Beasts thing where I read this alongside A Dance with Dragons(I'm still working through that one, ugh) and let me tell you it's taking FOREVER. I'm glad I did it this way though because I feel like I'm getting the full story but my god, GRRM really just goes so in depth with every little detail. And while it's truly impressive the amount of research her clearly did, it's just so MUCH. GRRM's world-building is unmatched, I will say that right now. Like, I don't believe I've ever read a fantasy book that goes this hard with the creation of its religions and kingdoms and characterization. I have to ask though, what is GRRM's obsession with women having huge black nipples? And why does he feel the need to tell me in detail what every woman's breasts look like. Like there are so many unnecessary little details that I just never needed or wanted to know. I wish the misogyny was toned way down...like waaaay down. I'm so tired of reading about women just there to get raped and impregnated like please stop this.
Cersei's chapters were by far my favorite. Reading all of her scheming and then for it all to come crashing down on her was soooo satisfying. Off to finish the rest(only like...20 chapters left *cries*)
Cersei's chapters were by far my favorite. Reading all of her scheming and then for it all to come crashing down on her was soooo satisfying. Off to finish the rest(only like...20 chapters left *cries*)
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
slow-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:
Yes
So much unnecessary detail omg.
I love when you see random side characters popping up in places you don't expect to as well as the little connections between characters that you wouldn't expect
Anyways I should take a break from reading these but I am determined to finish this series before I move onto anything else because I hate spoilers.
Spoiler
But shit finally hit the fan in the last hundred or so pages. That was much appreciated but couldn't make up for the previous 700 pages of tmi.I love when you see random side characters popping up in places you don't expect to as well as the little connections between characters that you wouldn't expect
Spoiler
I almost screamed when it was revealed that arianne was betrothed to viserys until I remembered he's aerys/joffrey levels of crazyAnyways I should take a break from reading these but I am determined to finish this series before I move onto anything else because I hate spoilers.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*3.5 stars And after 2 months I finally finished it. Wasn't really thrilled with the introduction of new POVs, so I guess that's why it took me so long. IMO, this series could need a bit of a trim. It was still enjoyable to read about the world of Westeros and Essos and everything, but if this goes on, I will despair that I won't be able to read the end of this series. And you know how much I need canon, and closure. Now with all these characters, how will Martin ever wrap their storylines up?
Henceforth will be a bit of detailed commentaries on characters/storylines. Spoilers may abound.
The Iron Islands - Not really a fan of pirates, so I didn't enjoy this arc. It was enough in the previous books where the goings-on in the Iron Islands were mentioned in passing, but we still got the general idea. The general idea of it is, they elected their new king via a king's moot, which I thought was a bit similar with the Entmoot in [b:The Two Towers|15241|The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298415523s/15241.jpg|2963845]. It was an interesting sort of democracy, where they vote according to who offers the most pillages of gold, jewels, etc. Which I thought was not dissimilar to my country's form of democracy.
Anyway, was it really necessary to devote those chapters, just to make the point that these pirates know about Dany's dragons, and Euron has the audacity to think he can make Dany his wife and take her dragons so he can rule Westeros? I am looking forward to how Dany will smash this evil bastard.
Dorne - It was nice to read about Dorne, and Myrcella. But again, it makes the series too damn long. The more characters I know, the more I know how hard it is to read them die.
I am liking how Dorne ties up with Dany, just like with the Iron islands arc. My theory is Quentyn is Daario in disguise. Hopefully I'll know soon, In ADwD.
Cersei - Ugh, she is such a Bitch. I know how some fans like her because she's this woman fighting against the prejudice regardng the female sex,etc etc...but she is evil. She was utterly unlikable. She thinks she's clever when she's not. Basically everything Tyrion says about her is true... Strong female character? Not sure on that one, but she is unmistakably a villain and most likely irredeemable. And btw, Cersei, it's not Margaery who is the young queen you should be wary of, it's that girl Across the Narrow Sea who has three growing dragons! I love how everything comes crashing down on her in the end [of AffC].
Jaime - As much as I like and want the Jaime and Brienne ship to happen, I don't think it will. Jaime's still hung up on Cersei, although that was a nice gesture he did in the end. I am starting to really like Jaime.
Sam - That was confusing with the whole tie in between the Prologue and the last chapter. Did I read all that many chapters just to be in the exact same predicament: Wondering who the hell was that shady alchemist in the prologue?
Btw, congrtas for the sex, Sam, my buddy.
Sansa/Alaynne - I'm starting to think Sansa is the better version of Cersei, both using feminine wiles to survive the game. I have no idea why Sansa is not freaked out by Petyr kissing her - a lot of times! - the pedophile. Although I really like Petyr, he's clever and evil and without conscience but he doen't hide the fact that he's a dick, because he's too damn useful to the Seven Kingdoms. But still, Sansa is pretending to be Petyr's bastard daughter and Petyr, her "father", kisses her! This is some weird shit I guess I'll have to tolerate.
Arya - I suppose it is very fitting that Arya should, in the end, arrive in a place where they worship Death. After all, Arya learns from Syrio Forel that there's only one god: Death; And with Jaqen once again Arya learns the power of Death. It's still surprising that Arya ends up in a temple, though, becoming somewhat a monk or Silent Sister. She ends up in some very unexpected places, but not altogether unpleasant.
Brienne - WHAT. THE. HELL. No, Don't tell me she died. Or that Podrick died. Or even Hyle Hunt, who I was beginning to like, and I was beginning to ship Hyle x Brienne too!
Brienne is supposed to reunite with Jaime! And Podrick should be Tyrion's squire again! *Rolls on the floor in severe tantrum mode*
Henceforth will be a bit of detailed commentaries on characters/storylines. Spoilers may abound.
Spoiler
The Iron Islands - Not really a fan of pirates, so I didn't enjoy this arc. It was enough in the previous books where the goings-on in the Iron Islands were mentioned in passing, but we still got the general idea. The general idea of it is, they elected their new king via a king's moot, which I thought was a bit similar with the Entmoot in [b:The Two Towers|15241|The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298415523s/15241.jpg|2963845]. It was an interesting sort of democracy, where they vote according to who offers the most pillages of gold, jewels, etc. Which I thought was not dissimilar to my country's form of democracy.
Anyway, was it really necessary to devote those chapters, just to make the point that these pirates know about Dany's dragons, and Euron has the audacity to think he can make Dany his wife and take her dragons so he can rule Westeros? I am looking forward to how Dany will smash this evil bastard.
Dorne - It was nice to read about Dorne, and Myrcella. But again, it makes the series too damn long. The more characters I know, the more I know how hard it is to read them die.
I am liking how Dorne ties up with Dany, just like with the Iron islands arc. My theory is Quentyn is Daario in disguise. Hopefully I'll know soon, In ADwD.
Cersei - Ugh, she is such a Bitch. I know how some fans like her because she's this woman fighting against the prejudice regardng the female sex,etc etc...but she is evil. She was utterly unlikable. She thinks she's clever when she's not. Basically everything Tyrion says about her is true... Strong female character? Not sure on that one, but she is unmistakably a villain and most likely irredeemable. And btw, Cersei, it's not Margaery who is the young queen you should be wary of, it's that girl Across the Narrow Sea who has three growing dragons! I love how everything comes crashing down on her in the end [of AffC].
Jaime - As much as I like and want the Jaime and Brienne ship to happen, I don't think it will. Jaime's still hung up on Cersei, although that was a nice gesture he did in the end. I am starting to really like Jaime.
Sam - That was confusing with the whole tie in between the Prologue and the last chapter. Did I read all that many chapters just to be in the exact same predicament: Wondering who the hell was that shady alchemist in the prologue?
Btw, congrtas for the sex, Sam, my buddy.
Sansa/Alaynne - I'm starting to think Sansa is the better version of Cersei, both using feminine wiles to survive the game. I have no idea why Sansa is not freaked out by Petyr kissing her - a lot of times! - the pedophile. Although I really like Petyr, he's clever and evil and without conscience but he doen't hide the fact that he's a dick, because he's too damn useful to the Seven Kingdoms. But still, Sansa is pretending to be Petyr's bastard daughter and Petyr, her "father", kisses her! This is some weird shit I guess I'll have to tolerate.
Arya - I suppose it is very fitting that Arya should, in the end, arrive in a place where they worship Death. After all, Arya learns from Syrio Forel that there's only one god: Death; And with Jaqen once again Arya learns the power of Death. It's still surprising that Arya ends up in a temple, though, becoming somewhat a monk or Silent Sister. She ends up in some very unexpected places, but not altogether unpleasant.
Brienne - WHAT. THE. HELL. No, Don't tell me she died. Or that Podrick died. Or even Hyle Hunt, who I was beginning to like, and I was beginning to ship Hyle x Brienne too!
Brienne is supposed to reunite with Jaime! And Podrick should be Tyrion's squire again! *Rolls on the floor in severe tantrum mode*
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Probably my least favorite in the series so far, but I am curious to see how the fifth book comes into play considering it takes place at (mostly I think?) the same time as this one. I didn’t love how some of the chapters had a vague description of who you were following instead of the actual character’s name - most of the time it was easy to figure out who they were fairly quickly but not always. As per usual, I really loved the audiobook narration!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Torture
Minor: Gore, Incest, Rape