A Storm of Swords is finished. Now begins A Feast for Crows and boy, the crows will sure have their fill feasting on the dead left in the wake of book three.
We are close now, and it looks like I will have time to spare in my goal of rereading the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series before A Dance with Dragons begins on July 12.
What can I say about A Storm of Swords? Not enough. This is, in my opinion, the best book of the series and, as I mentioned in my last post, it is so large and filled with so much detail that it would be impossible for HBO to fit it within the confines of a 10-episode series without cutting much of the story out.
Like A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings, there were great highs and cavernous lows (more on that below). The cast of characters continues to expand, as does the breadth of George R. R. Martin’s world. More of the blanks in Westeros’ history are filled, as are resolutions to mysteries arising in previous books. We also get some new twists in individual characters’ backgrounds.
The more the series progresses, the deeper, richer and more detailed the story becomes. Having begun A Feast for Crows, this only continues with the first few chapters dedicated to characters and locations not yet fully explored or previously touched upon.
I am finding it hard to believe that Martin will be able to complete the story in seven novels, especially if he continues the trend begun in of A Feast for Crows, by having each book tell only the story of half the characters.
Or, maybe I just don’t want him to finish.
Anyway, one book left to go and then—the dance begins.
For those who have yet to pick up or order their copies:
- A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
- A Dance with Dragons
SPOILER ALERT – as per usual, don’t read the below if you haven’t finished A Storm of Swords.
…
Is there anyone left to kill? Robb, Lord Commander Mormont, Lysa, Balon, Joffrey and Tywin are all dead. Catelyn is now undead (not really sure how to classify her and Beric)? Not that I minded many of them, but there sure were surprises galore.
No wonder that A Feast for Crows starts off in Oldtown, the Iron Islands and Dorne; there is no one left in the north or riverlands to talk about anymore.
Like Ned’s beheading, the Red Wedding really annoyed me the first time I read through. Again, it is not just the fact that Robb was killed and his army decimated (minus the Dreadfort lot); it was the betrayal that got me.
But, much like A Game of Thrones, it was offset with the pleasure of Joffrey being poisoned and Tywin finally being brought down by Tyrion. At this point, I am neutral on Lysa being pushed out the Moon Door by Littlefinger – my dislike of seeing him advance is offset by the relief I felt at never having to listen to Lysa again.
So much to say: Jon’s election, Dany’s victories, Tyrion’s progression, the growth of the dragons and the magic they are bringing back to the world. And I know there is so much to come…
************
Follow my A Song Of Ice and Fire progress:
- Waiting for A Dance With Dragons
- A Game Of Thrones
- A Clash Of Kings
- A Storm Of Swords
- A Feast For Crows
