Almost done with A Dance With Dragons
But first, remember when Shark Week was about making sharks less scary and more relatable? That's okay, Discovery Channel doesn't, either.
I'm on page 826 of ADWD, which means I've only got about 150 pages left. And then will come another long winter wait. But this book has certainly given us a ton to chew over.
There have been SO MANY POVs in this book. So I'm going to go through them and blather a bit on what's happened (so far!) for each one. In no particular order except how I remember them.
Arya - I was so happy to see her pop up! I'm a little worried for who she is becoming, but I like that the Nymeria-connection is still there and that, supernatural as it is, it seems to ground her. I have no idea what GRRM has planned for her in the long-term, but she is clearly a fan and writer favorite so I have HOPES. Though I suspect it will be a complicated and difficult ending. She'll never by Arya Horseface again.
Jamie - Mostly I remember that BRIENNE SHOWED UP BRIENNE BRIENNE BRIENNE. And led Jamie off somewhere to probably get killed. /o\ Neither POV has showed up again so unless GRRM yanks them back in at the end here, I think we won't get any closure or even movement on that story (or, um, relationship) until the next book. Jamie seems so much calmer than he was in the earlier books. I like it.
Cersei - Oh Cersei. I am so conflicted about you these days, which I guess means the book is working. I have no idea what plans you're coming up with, but I suspect they will be overly complicated and get you into more trouble. Mostly I feel sorry for you because you seem to have all of this lust for power and none of the temperance needed to keep you out of trouble.
Tyrion - I have really struggled with Tyrion in this book. It's the least likeable I've found him in the entire series. His interactions with Penny have redeemed him a LOT for me and I'm curious to see where that's going to go. I don't think GRRM will make it any sort of serious relationship, especially since it feels like she's a little sister to him. I worry for her safety, though, as these books are dangerous. I can't tell what Tyrion's plans are right now. He's too cunning by half. But at least we got to see Mormont again! HI MORMONT HI. I like him better after the TV show actor, honestly. One of the only places where the TV show has taken over the book for me.
Theon - Just ask HIM how dangerous the books are. Man, I did not think I could ever feel anything but hate for Theon Turncloak, but GRRM has made me feel so sorry for him in these books. And hate Ramsay Bolton more than any other character we've seen. He's the worst monster of them all; worse than the Mountain, worse than Biter, even. Ugh. I want him to be killed SOON AS POSSIBLE because he freaks me out. At least Theon is "safe" with Asha in Stannis' camp now. His chapters have seriously caused me the most distress of anyone.
Asha - I've found her chapters interesting but in a very subtle way. This character is really growing on me and I'm really interested and unsure about what her greater role is going to be in the overall story. I'd love to see her take Euron down. LOVE IT.
Victarion - I'm honestly not sure why we've had him as a POC. I'm just starting another of his chapters so perhaps this will explain what his larger purpose is. I don't understand why Moquorro ended up on his ship as a charred dude. Mostly Victarion's chapters have left me very "....?" So we'll see.
Dany - SHE RODE DROGON YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. I mean obviously a lot of crap happened in her chapters - A LOT - but that is what overwhelming stands out. I am side-eying Hizdahr constantly. I worry endlessly about the other two dragons (and am disappointed she didn't even try to train them or anything but that's okay because SHE'S RIDING DROGON). There is no fucking way she's dead. I appreciate GRRM not even trying to pull that shit on us.
Ser Barristan - I have really loved getting into his head, even though I don't have much to say about it. I'm glad there is part of him that regrets not doing anything when Aegon was being horrible. I want to see more of what he's up to.
Quentyn Martell - I...don't know what to think of this one. He's got a tough road to hoe, but I also don't have much sympathy for him as a person. So...IDK. I'm not sure his plan to try to steal the dragons is a good one (no, wait, I'm sure it isn't, heh). So we'll see what happens there. If he thinks he's one of the three heads, then he can just leap on board one of them, I guess, but does that mean the other dragon is for Rhaegar's son?
Jon Connington - Speaking of: omg he has greyscale! That's...pretty much what I've got for him right now. I suspect he'll play out more in the next books.
Doran Martell's Henchman - whose name I can't remember. Arys? I think? He as a character doesn't interest me much, but I like seeing all the fascinating machinations going on in Dorne. This is getting very tricky!
I feel like I'm forgetting someone else...oh my god. Ahahahah. Jon! And Bran!
Jon Snow - *facepalm* Only one of the most major characters in the books. And probably my least favorite of the major characters. Well, until this book, actually. I finally got interested in Jon Snow's well-being. It took five huge books and a lot of crap, but I'm here. I like seeing his struggles with being Lord Commander, and the choices he's making with the Wildlings are really interesting and challenging. Plus he's moved out of whining mode into action mode and I'm much more engaged by that.
Melisandre - I'm really really glad we got a chapter from her POV. It made her more real, more human, and also gave us that great reveal of Mance still being alive. I hope we get more chapters from her POV. She's an interesting duck.
Bran - Bran's chapters have, in previous books, been my least favorite, but in this book they have completely gripped me. I just haven't seen him in so long I'd forgotten about him with all the other goings-on! It feels like he may be the most important character of the mall, honestly. But I hope he doesn't end up as a root system under the earth for thousands of years.
Whew.
ETA: Spoilers for the whole book (I finished it) in comments!
This entry was cross-posted at my Dreamwidth account. Please comment here or there. (
comments at DW)
I'm on page 826 of ADWD, which means I've only got about 150 pages left. And then will come another long winter wait. But this book has certainly given us a ton to chew over.
There have been SO MANY POVs in this book. So I'm going to go through them and blather a bit on what's happened (so far!) for each one. In no particular order except how I remember them.
Arya - I was so happy to see her pop up! I'm a little worried for who she is becoming, but I like that the Nymeria-connection is still there and that, supernatural as it is, it seems to ground her. I have no idea what GRRM has planned for her in the long-term, but she is clearly a fan and writer favorite so I have HOPES. Though I suspect it will be a complicated and difficult ending. She'll never by Arya Horseface again.
Jamie - Mostly I remember that BRIENNE SHOWED UP BRIENNE BRIENNE BRIENNE. And led Jamie off somewhere to probably get killed. /o\ Neither POV has showed up again so unless GRRM yanks them back in at the end here, I think we won't get any closure or even movement on that story (or, um, relationship) until the next book. Jamie seems so much calmer than he was in the earlier books. I like it.
Cersei - Oh Cersei. I am so conflicted about you these days, which I guess means the book is working. I have no idea what plans you're coming up with, but I suspect they will be overly complicated and get you into more trouble. Mostly I feel sorry for you because you seem to have all of this lust for power and none of the temperance needed to keep you out of trouble.
Tyrion - I have really struggled with Tyrion in this book. It's the least likeable I've found him in the entire series. His interactions with Penny have redeemed him a LOT for me and I'm curious to see where that's going to go. I don't think GRRM will make it any sort of serious relationship, especially since it feels like she's a little sister to him. I worry for her safety, though, as these books are dangerous. I can't tell what Tyrion's plans are right now. He's too cunning by half. But at least we got to see Mormont again! HI MORMONT HI. I like him better after the TV show actor, honestly. One of the only places where the TV show has taken over the book for me.
Theon - Just ask HIM how dangerous the books are. Man, I did not think I could ever feel anything but hate for Theon Turncloak, but GRRM has made me feel so sorry for him in these books. And hate Ramsay Bolton more than any other character we've seen. He's the worst monster of them all; worse than the Mountain, worse than Biter, even. Ugh. I want him to be killed SOON AS POSSIBLE because he freaks me out. At least Theon is "safe" with Asha in Stannis' camp now. His chapters have seriously caused me the most distress of anyone.
Asha - I've found her chapters interesting but in a very subtle way. This character is really growing on me and I'm really interested and unsure about what her greater role is going to be in the overall story. I'd love to see her take Euron down. LOVE IT.
Victarion - I'm honestly not sure why we've had him as a POC. I'm just starting another of his chapters so perhaps this will explain what his larger purpose is. I don't understand why Moquorro ended up on his ship as a charred dude. Mostly Victarion's chapters have left me very "....?" So we'll see.
Dany - SHE RODE DROGON YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. I mean obviously a lot of crap happened in her chapters - A LOT - but that is what overwhelming stands out. I am side-eying Hizdahr constantly. I worry endlessly about the other two dragons (and am disappointed she didn't even try to train them or anything but that's okay because SHE'S RIDING DROGON). There is no fucking way she's dead. I appreciate GRRM not even trying to pull that shit on us.
Ser Barristan - I have really loved getting into his head, even though I don't have much to say about it. I'm glad there is part of him that regrets not doing anything when Aegon was being horrible. I want to see more of what he's up to.
Quentyn Martell - I...don't know what to think of this one. He's got a tough road to hoe, but I also don't have much sympathy for him as a person. So...IDK. I'm not sure his plan to try to steal the dragons is a good one (no, wait, I'm sure it isn't, heh). So we'll see what happens there. If he thinks he's one of the three heads, then he can just leap on board one of them, I guess, but does that mean the other dragon is for Rhaegar's son?
Jon Connington - Speaking of: omg he has greyscale! That's...pretty much what I've got for him right now. I suspect he'll play out more in the next books.
Doran Martell's Henchman - whose name I can't remember. Arys? I think? He as a character doesn't interest me much, but I like seeing all the fascinating machinations going on in Dorne. This is getting very tricky!
I feel like I'm forgetting someone else...oh my god. Ahahahah. Jon! And Bran!
Jon Snow - *facepalm* Only one of the most major characters in the books. And probably my least favorite of the major characters. Well, until this book, actually. I finally got interested in Jon Snow's well-being. It took five huge books and a lot of crap, but I'm here. I like seeing his struggles with being Lord Commander, and the choices he's making with the Wildlings are really interesting and challenging. Plus he's moved out of whining mode into action mode and I'm much more engaged by that.
Melisandre - I'm really really glad we got a chapter from her POV. It made her more real, more human, and also gave us that great reveal of Mance still being alive. I hope we get more chapters from her POV. She's an interesting duck.
Bran - Bran's chapters have, in previous books, been my least favorite, but in this book they have completely gripped me. I just haven't seen him in so long I'd forgotten about him with all the other goings-on! It feels like he may be the most important character of the mall, honestly. But I hope he doesn't end up as a root system under the earth for thousands of years.
Whew.
ETA: Spoilers for the whole book (I finished it) in comments!
This entry was cross-posted at my Dreamwidth account. Please comment here or there. (
comments at DW)