A Dance With Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire book 5

by George R.R. Martin, 1016 pages

I picked up the most recent volume of A Song of Ice and Fire with trepidation, knowing full well it might be several if not many years before we see the two concluding volumes of the series. With each book more and more layers of plot are added as well as new characters are making their debut. It might be hundreds of pages before you find out what happened to a favorite character when they were in a tight spot. Or, in the worst case, you might never find out what happened to them...at least not in this book. Talk about unresolved cliffhangers.

I still enjoy aspects of Martin's world-building and appreciate the care he gives to different cultures across the Narrow Sea. But I am getting tired of Martin's gruesome glee at killing off major characters. For one thing, it makes you very wary about getting attached to any characters at all because you never know if they'll make it to the end of the chapter, let alone show up alive in the next book. So maybe it's a good thing that there will be a long breather before the next book makes it into print. By then maybe I will be so dis-engaged from Martin's world that I won't even care if all of Westeros disappears under thousands of feet of snow and is crawling with blue-eyed zombies.. Winter is Coming. Meh.

A Feast for Crows: A Song of Ice and Fire

by George R R Martin, 753 pages

The 4th book in A Song of Ice and Fire is quite different from the first 3 in the series. The narrative voices of some of the major characters are not included, and new characters are introduced. I miss some of my favorites, but there was enough continuity in the story to get me through it.

Martin claims this a just half of what was to be book 4, and that book 5 (A Dance With Dragons) is the other half. I wonder since there were so many years between the two stories publication dates. While it's not really filler, there is quite a bit of background and stories from the outer fringes of Westeros. So that gives it a kind of "Meanwhile, back at the ranch..." feeling.

That said, I did enjoy the book and the variety of settings. We still followed Jaime, Cersei and Brienne through different parts of Westeros. To me, Brienne emerges as more of a heroic character, and Jaime reveals new facets of his dark and complex character. Though I will say some of the scenes on the Iron Islands and in Dorne didn't engage me as much because I didn't know or didn't like some of the characters there. I am assuming they will play a larger role in later volumes.

So, all in all, it's worth reading to keep in touch with all the plot elements but I just didn't find it as engaging as the first three books.

The library recently acquired 2 volumes of The Art of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. This image of Jaime Lannister in his King's Guard armor is from the first volume.  The picture below is from the new cover for A Feast of Crows, so there is a lot of interest in creating art to go along with the stories. It sounds like a beautiful new illustrated edition.

A Dance With Dragons

A Song of Ice and Fire, book 5
by George R.R. Martin
1016 pages

This book is in many ways more of a companion than a sequel to book 4.  The storyline overlaps quite a bit.  However, this book covers more time than book 4 does and ends at the beginning of winter.  This book covers Tyrion, Jon, Daenerys in great detail.  Bran and Davos also get a few chapters, but we're kind of left hanging about what exactly is going on with them.  Characters from book 4 also re-emerge.  We do find out what happens to Cersei and Arya, and we get a glimpse of Jaime.  However, we are still left hanging as to what happens to Sansa and Brienne of Tarth.

A few other characters reappear or are introduced for the first time.  I had thought Theon was dead, but apparently not.  Unless Martin describes a corpse, you should not assume someone is dead.  Victarion Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, and Ser Barristan Selmy also contribute.  A new, very important player in the game of thrones is also introduced, but his perspective is not shown.  I'm now not so confident about who is going to win the game.  My bets were on Daenerys, but this new player has definitely thrown a wrench in that plan, especially since Daenerys is barren.

A Storm of Swords

A Song of Ice and Fire, book 3
by George R.R. Martin
973 pages

This continues the story right where book 2 leaves off.  King's Landing is recovering from the battle well, and Stannis is on Dragonstone licking his wounds and regrouping.  Robb is in the west, planning a course to re-take the North.  Lady Catelyn is grieving for her dead sons, Arya is still trying to reach Riverrun, and Sansa is still stuck in King's Landing.  Tyrion is recovering from his wounds and planning his next moves as his father has taken over as the Hand.  Jon is still wandering around with wildlings, and Bran is still trying to find his three-eyed crow.  Daenerys Targaryen is still in the East building up an army and followers.  Many twists and turns occur in this novel.  Some characters die, some reach their goals, and some are suffering from blows they never even imagined.  Nobody ends in quite the same place as where they began. You also begin to understand why this series is called "A Song of Ice and Fire," and it has less to do with dragons than you might imagine.

A new narrator is added to this novel: Jamie Lannister.  Believe it or not, I actually found him likable.  Yes, I know he sleeps with his sister, and threw an innocent boy off a window ledge; however, he's not all evil.  Like the other characters in this book, he is "grey."

I was sorely disappointed by some of the events in this novel.  I can't really say much more because if I do, you'll know who's living and who's dead at the end.  *sigh*

A Clash of Kings

A Song of Ice and Fire, #2
by George R.R. Martin
761 pages

WARNING:  If you have not finished reading A Game of Thrones, and you plan to, do not read this summary.  It's impossible to summarize this book without giving away large parts of what happened in the first book.

There are now four kings who each claim the throne of Westeros.  Joffrey Baratheon is thought to be King Robert's son and the heir apparent.  However, he is really the result of incest between his mother and her twin brother, and he really has no claim to the throne, though he is still unaware of this.  Joffrey's mother's family, the Lannisters, have lots of money and a large army to support Joffrey's claim and hold the western lands.  King Robert's real heir should be Stannis, his brother, and Stannis makes a claim to the throne based on this, but few lords support his claim.  Robert's youngest brother Renly also makes a claim on the throne as King Robert's appointed heir to their family's lands and titles.  Renly is largely supported by those in the south.  The final claimant to the throne is Robb Stark, King of the North, who has been proclaimed king by many supporters in the central and northern regions of Westeros.  Stark did not seek to become king, but many would rather have him as king over the corrupt Lannisters.  Obviously, there cannot be four kings, so there are some battles going on to settle the matter.

Of course we cannot forget our favorite characters.  Tyrion Lannister is Acting Hand and works to keep the throne in Lannister hands, even if it means opposing Queen Regent Cersei and King Joffrey.  The Stark family is still scattered throughout the entire realm, each with his or her own struggles.  The Starks and Winterfell are also in danger as others seek to take the northern lands for their own.  Jon Snow is fighting beyond the Wall, and Daenerys Targaryen is still wandering around with her dragons in the lands east of Westeros.

Overall, an enjoyable read.  I've got to say that I think Tyrion Lannister is one of my favorite characters, even though he is fighting on the "wrong" side.  The only complaint I have is that Martin spends too much time following the story of Daenerys Targaryen.  I don't like her, and I don't want her to take over the realm.  So help me, if this is how this whole series ends, I am going to be mad.  However, I definitely have to read the next book because I desperately need to know what's going to happen to the Starks.

A Game of Thrones

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1
by George R.R. Martin

674 pages

This novel is set in a fantasy world where the seasons are messed up.  Seasons last for several years instead of a few months.  Fifteen years ago before this book takes place, a war was fought, and the Targaryen king was slain.  The king's heir was slain, and the king's remaining children were exiled.  One of the victors, Robert Baratheon, took the throne.  However, that did not quite settle things.  Robert Baratheon, though an excellent warrior, is a less than perfect king.  Baratheon's wife is a Lannister, and her family has designs on the throne.  Baratheon's Hand, or chief advisor, has recently died under suspicious circumstances, and King Robert wants Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell to take his place.  Ned dreads this task and does not want to leave his home, but he knows that Robert needs him.  Ned must quickly learn the rules of the "Game of Thrones."

I will stop summarizing here.  This is a huge book, and it is hard to know how much to say.  Let's just say that it's a book full of political intrigue, treachery, honor, duty, and devotion with some magical and horrific elements thrown in for good measure.  This book is written differently than many books.  Each chapter focuses on a different character, with a total of eight (if I counted right) characters being followed through the whole book.  Most of the action is seen through the eyes of members of the Stark family.  Some characters depict what is happening at Winterfell while Ned and others are gone.  One character depicts what is happening north of Winterfell at the Wall, where strange things are brewing.  Some characters, including Ned, help depict what is happening at King's Landing and in the regions south of Winterfell.  The final character is one of the Targaryen exiles outside of the Seven Kingdoms.  Most of the action is intertwined, but it's not yet clear exactly what part the Targaryen exile is going to play in the story.

I definitely enjoyed this novel, though there are a lot of characters and relationships to keep track of.  There are a lot of loose ends at the end of this novel, so don't expect to be satisfied when you are finished with this one.  I'm going to have to read the next book, just to figure out what happens.  (I'm definitely hoping Martin answers some questions about the past as well.  He could definitely write a prequel.)  I'm totally invested in some of these characters, but I know I shouldn't get too attached because "winter is coming."

A Clash of Kings

Book Two of A Song of Ice and Fire, 761 pages
by George R.R. Martin

Mini-spoilers!

Volume 2 picks up right where A Game of Thrones ended. The title is spot on, because there are at least 5 contenders for The Iron Throne. Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, a Targaryen and assorted clans are all jockeying for control of Westeros (also known as The Seven Kingdoms). Martin is an expert with interweaving intrigue, violence and even bits of mysticism in his novels. He is most deft, however, with arcane plots and wanton wickedness. Kind of an Anti-Tolkien, if you will.

HBO has picked this up for a second season, and the latest in the series, A Dance With Dragons, was just released. Martin's novels read like historical potboilers, or as I like to joke, The Borgias with Dragons. Just be prepared to wait and wait for the next installment. Better idea....go read The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss while you're waiting. You won't be disappointed.

About the artwork: noted fantasy artist John Howe has done artwork for the series, though most people know him from the Lord of the Rings books and films. I go online and pick out alternative covers, usually from the UK editions, for most of my reviews.