It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.
But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.
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This book was not my favorite in the series, how about you? I found allot of the different chapters very trippy, and often not very exiting. I also din't like how it was only half the characters.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first book in the series to reveal a major style change from the author, Not only has Martin killed off many of the characters and must produce new ones, but has brought back characters who were thought to be irrelevant, or even evil, in a different light. This sudden change left me off-put, for a bit, but once I started getting used to it, I started to appreciate the change of style, and the new characters.
ReplyDeleteI have not read any of these books maybe after am done with my current book I will try one, they seem interesting. would you suggest these books?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely I would recommend them. However, they can get a bit inappropriate at many points, but the political and fictional side of the story is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by style change Gordon? Does Martin change the way he constructs sentences and uses words even? Or is it more content driven?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the time it takes him to write each book has something to do with it. I mean he has years if experience as a person from when he started the series to where he is now, it must be hard remaining consistent.
It is definitely more of a content change, he rearranges the content in the chapters and the chapter themselves. For instance, instead of making events happen sequentially, he often makes them happen coincidentally.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many new characters as well, chapters titled "Th Queenmaker", or "the Captain of Gaurds. allot of these are very new perspectives on the story, from areas I have heard very little.
ReplyDeleteDid you think this change took away from how good the story was?
ReplyDeleteNot at all, I think it really strengthens the story. Some of the characters of past books, despite being vital to the story, started getting slightly annoying.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the series Martin outlined characters that the reader was supposed to like and those who the reader were to hate. Now, since allot of those characters have faded out or died, he is starting to present previously hated characters in a better light, which I really like.
ReplyDeleteSorry Gordon I have to : http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you say that about characters you are supposed to like and supposed to hate. With watching the show I made it a general rule that if I like someone they are going to die. Yet I still get fooled every time.
Sort of like in "Dog Star" with Laika. If a writer is good at making you like something, then the emotional resonance for killing them is intensified.
Yes I totally agree with you, that any character I like is bound to die. However, deaths are almost always at an unexpected time or by an unexpected hand. Though it still saddens me when my favorite antagonist dies, however much they vexed me.
ReplyDeleteHow many books are in the series? I know you have read quite a few recently. Also thanks for the recommendation I am enjoying the book quite allot.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, there are 6 books that are currently projected, but given the tendency of Martin, there may be even more to come. How's the writing style? the many characters' point of view? Maybe we can discuss our opinions on it.
ReplyDeleteThis book is on a much smaller scale than the other books in the series. It shows the people at the bottom of the food chain, as opposed to the previous books, which only showed the wealthy and powerful people commanding the armies.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned people at the bottom of the food chain, that explained the situation well. The "crows" were very prevalent in this book, which is probably why it's my favorite one.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think Ari is this your favorite book out of the series so far?
ReplyDeleteIt's actually fairly dull, in my opinion. all the more interesting characters, like Jon snow, Daenerys Targaryen or Tyrion Lannister aren't in it.
ReplyDeleteI am finding this book very boring, as I am halfway through, and it seems like it is a book about the least interesting characters sitting around doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteOh I thought this one was my favorite, so much political connivance and treachery, so much mystery and betrayal. I can't see how you don't like it.
ReplyDeleteI found the parts about the Lannisters interesting, but those were a small part of the book compared to the parts focusing on Arya and Sansa.
ReplyDelete