Definitely the Freys. Lannisters at least have Tyrion and Jamie, two of my favorite characters. The Freys have no redeeming qualities right now. Usually I am able to figure out these things, but I'm confused with yours.
Bran: Knows about Robb. He might not be able to walk, but he has a shit ton of powers with his wargness as well as his dreams. Good to see Summer is ok. Was really worried about him after all that shit went down. Didn't think that someone was really there until everyone woke up and heard the steps as well. And he jumped into Hodor again! Continues to get more skilled as he goes. And it's.... Sam. Did not expect that at all. Sam kills me, even super nervous around Bran. And cold handed guy wants Bran, so north of the wall they go. Really interesting chapter, especially the end with the talking door. Getting good, happy Sam is with them. Dany: Interesting chapter as they go into another fucked up city. Good work from Belwas, happy he was sown up though. People in these times didn't give any fucks about cuts on the chests. They need to be a little safer imo. And then look who appears, it's Barristan back from the first book! Personally, I think he's team Dany now. And Jorah's secret is uncovered. That was mentioned in the first book iirc. Think Robert said it to Ned one time, can't remember. Or maybe I just assumed. Idk. Thought she was going to burn them with her dragons, but I guess not. Tyrion: FFFFFFUUUUUU about that shit about Robb and Catelyn being true. Was hoping it had just been exaggerated. Fuck the Freys, they can burn in hell. Pretty sure this is the first time that Tyrion hooked up with Shae since he got married. Was a pretty short chapter though. Was all about him banging her + thinking of marrying her off. I think that's a shitty idea though. Sansa: Joffrey is such an insufferable prick. He's always said and done some of the dumbest shit. I just have to laugh when he says that he's going to use the sword to kill his Uncle Stannis. No need to slice up the book though. It's like the annoying cousin or something at Christmas who doesn't like a gift. That's fine if you don't, but no need to show the dislike in front of everyone. But he's the king so nothing can really be done about it. Feel so bad for Tyrion throughout, doesn't deserve to be treated like he is.
Tyrion: HAHAHAHAHAHA. Fuck you Joffrey. Piece of shit. Of all the ways for him to die, this was definitely the most fitting. Trying to be all powerful, taking shit, etc. Dies while eating cake. Hilarious. What an idiot. Other than that, I loved that Tryion is still able to joke around even when he hates life. Finished a lyric with the quip about his nose (or lack thereof). Well done. Also liked him obeying Joffrey and that only making Joffrey angrier. Ending pissed me off though. Cersei sucks, of course she'd blame Tyrion, not her son's idiocy, for his death.
Sansa: Dammit Sansa. I hadn't minded her since Ned died. Felt bad for her in many instances. But her leaving Tyrion after all that shit pisses me off. Doesn't surprise me, but it pisses me off. And then her boy gets taken out by Littlefinger and company. This was unexpected. I like Littlefinger as a character, but I sure as hell don't trust him. Story should be interesting.
Had a paper back. Just reread the chapter 2-3 times in disbelief. No book throwing. You guys need to work on your tempers.
Jamie: Man, Tywin can be such a dick. Jamie's trying to do the honorable thing by remaining in the Kingsguard, and Tywin disowns him. Sucks. I love Jamie, but him proclaiming his love for Cersei then saying they should get married just weirds me out. I know he's thought it throughout the book, but for him to proclaim it to her weirds me out. Annnnnd we find out that Joffrey was poisoned. Kind of bums me out, would have rather him choked on food and died because that would have been funnier. Also, laughed hard at this: "Now sheathe your bloody sword, or I'll take it from you and shove it up someplace even Renly never found." Awesome. Did not expect it to be Joffrey who had set up Bran to die. Continue to be happy that that little shit is dead. Davos: Starting this chapter reminded me of the leeches. Joffrey was the last one and now he's dad. This Lord of Light ain't no joke it seems. There was so much dread hanging over this chapter. Didn't think Storm would make it out, and it seems as though he did (for now at least). Didn't think Davos would survive as well, especially when we got into the final few paragraphs and Stannis had pulled out a sword. But he's alive for now as well. Melisandre or him: one of them is not surviving this book imo. Too much fighting between the two and Stannis is going to have to pick one or the other. Jon: Nice little battle we had here. Jon and the rest of the Night's Watch owned the wildlings. Was honestly disappointed in what the wildlings attempted to do. Shooting arrows up that high of a wall that far away from the wall? Cmon sons, have some respect for yourselves. You can live in freezing cold temperatures, survive against the Others, but you can't do something simple like that? Was happy with the very end. Jon deserves to be Lord Commander. Good work Jon. Arya: Now where the hell are they doing to go? Feel bad for Arya. Literally has no one to go to now outside of Jon. Do wonder if that is where they will decide to go now. Was kind of shocked the Hound didn't kill the person they stayed with, like he did the other guy at the beginning of the chapter. Tyrion: Dammit, Tyrion always gets it the worst. Literally no one one his side. That trial sucked. The outright lies in it just pissed me off. Kept thinking we were getting closer and closer to his death. Have a feeling he doesn't make it through SoS, really hope I'm wrong. Luckily, Oberyn seems like a badass. Hope he fights and wins for Tyrion.
Jamie: Continues his badassery in this chapter. Calls out the shitty Kingsguard for what they did (or didn't do) while he was gone. Plus his conversation with Loras was great. Laughed hard at Loras saying they were "praying" the night Renly was killed. Jamie is smart to know that Brienne was telling the truth about everything as well. Hope Loras sees that if he goes and talks to her. Sansa: Lysa is freaking weird. In her limited appearance in GoT she was strange, and this just grew from that. Saying all the stuff to Littlefinger before they married, as well as wanting Sansa to marry her creep of a son. Would suck for Sansa. I loved the first part of the chapter though, as Sansa and Littlefinger discussed who poisoned Joffrey. If it was that old lady, bravo. All of my worries early on would have been wrong about Sansa spilling her guts to all the ladies. Jon: Fucking Alliser. Dude has always been a douche, and he only continues it in this chapter. Jon better not get got because of him. But if he does, at least he won't go out as a punk bitch. Happy Jon was standing up to him throughout. Sucks too, because it came off some pretty cool stuff at the wall as Jon planned well yet again. Turtle reminded me of the Trojan Horse, though it didn't work out as well for the wildlings. Planning on finishing the book tomorrow. EXCITED
And OH SHIT, the old bag did mess with her hair. Totally forgot about that, but just re-read that part of the chapter. Awesome. I really hope it was her who murked Joffrey. Awesome line from her, if it was her who did the deed: "I was very sorry to hear about your losses. Your brother was a terrible traitor, I know, but if we start killing men at weddings, they'll be more frightened of marriage than they are presently." Awesome. Awesome awesome.
Tyrion: Damn you Red Viper. I know he wanted to avenge his sister and all, but I wish he would have just taken his head off. If Tyrion dies, I'm going to be pissed. What a chapter though, the last few pages during the fight were intense as hell. Thought the fight could go either way, and it's usually not like that in books/movies/tv, so it made for a compelling read. Doesn't change the fact that I'm pissed though. Dany: Did not expect that to happen with Jorah. I knew she was pissed at him, but every time she thought something it was obvious she cared deeply about him. Thought she would eventually forgive him. But what he did was too deep. Still talking to Varys when they were at Qarth? Bad move bro. When Barristan confirmed something, that seemed to be the nail in the coffin for Jorah. I imagine he'll turn up sometime down the line. Too big of a character not to imo. Other than that, continue to love getting more history on characters/events, like we did with some of Dany's lineage. Good stuff. Jamie: Laughed that Tommen's favorite thing to do is seal the stuff. Hopefully he grows up to be a good king, and not a dick like his brother. Another rough chapter for Jamie though. Now even his sister is giving him shit about not having a hand. Rough times. What's interesting here was realizing why Joffrey wanted Bran dead. It wasn't because of him being born of incest, but rather he wanted to impress Robert. Maybe if he wouldn't have been such a fucktard, Robert would have enjoyed his company. Did like the end of this chapter with Jamie telling Brienne stuff and sending her on her way. Jon: Well then. That was interesting. Was wondering how this chapter would go after Jon was summoned to go north of the wall. Great conversation between him and Mance. And they did find the horn? Oh shit. Makes things interesting moving forward. Good call from Mance on not ever telling Jon because he didn't trust him. And then some riders show up out of nowhere. Didn't think it would be the Night's Watch, but was confused as to who else would venture that far north. Then the colors were known, as well as the heart, and I was all OH SHIT STANNIS. Back to reading I go!
Arya: Damn, Arya kicked ass in this chapter. Happy she got Needle back, always liked that little sword. And she killed multiple people and left another today. Moment of silence for the Hound, don't imagine he survives that. Thought she might give him a chance to live, especially after she forgot his name on the first time through her names of people she wants dead. Ending was freaking awesome though. Did not expect her to be able to use Jaquen's coin so early in the story, can't wait to see what happens there. Valar dohaeris. So awesome. Sam: Started this chapter, and thought I had missed something. He was with Bran last we saw. But then the flashback told about them separating. Disappointed, wanted to see Sam and him hang out a little bit. Good luck to Bran on his quest. Kind of a weird chapter though, was more about backstory on the fight with the wildlings and Stannis, as well about the vote for who would be leading the Night's Watch now. Thought we would get a lot more of the battle between the wildlings and Stannis, but I guess not. Jon: Jon Stark? Wow. Good for him, I imagine he'll take it. Stannis is a big fan of Jon it seems. And he's also joining with wildlings to fight? Interesting. Very interesting. Stannis continues to get smarter in my eyes though. Comes north to help the fight, and now wants to go against the Others to get the kingdom to believe in him. Good luck, those things are ruthless. Tyrion: Hot damn, happy Jamie Varys was here to save him. Can't believe the stuff Jamie told him though. Always thought that girl was a whore. They basically double hoodwinked him with that. Sucks. Kind of bummed he lied about poisoning Joffrey as well. Leaves a sour spot in their relationship should they ever meet up again. The stuff with the various dungeons interested the hell out of me. Sounds like the hole on Shawshank, but only worse. Love how Varys knows where everything is in the castle. And good for Tyrion to kill both Shae as well as Tywin. Body count of notable characters in this series continues to pile up in this book. Laughed at him realizing Tywin doesn't shit gold.
Dude, you motored through this thing. I'm 190 into AFFC and I'm stalling out. I need to push through.
What. The. Fuck. Wow. Sam: What a badass he was in this chapter. He was right, that chick has made him braver. Loved the stuff he pulled at the end, to throw Jon's hat in the ring. Jon: And it pays off! Loved how he was thinking of accepting the Stark name/Winterfell, until Ghost showed up. what an awesome sign that was. So pumped to see Ghost again. Loved the end for him in this book. The crow flying over to him was great. Especially when it said "corn" and not just "Snow." Alliser is such a douche, happy Jon is now his boss. Sansa: All chapter I thought Sansa was going towards her death. Early on, I thought she was going to kill herself by jumping. Just had that feeling. She wasn't happy. Then Littlefinger showed up, went full creep mode, and I continued to think that. Then Robert showed up (and I did laugh at his saying he's a giant and destroying stuff, mainly the way he did it) and shows his true colors, and I really thought it was the end. Well then Lysa calls her into the room and I continued to think she'd die, but this time at Lysa's hands. Didn't help the situation when she opened the door. Stunned, absolutely stunned, to learn that she poisoned Jon. Holy shit. I thought she was crazy in GoT, and thought that continued in this book, but that? Wow. What a psycho. And then Littlefinger pushes her out the door?!?! Holy hell. Couldn't believe it. Epilogue: Then I started the epilogue and was kind of let down, because Sansa's chapter had been so intense. And then it got intense. And fast. SHE'S BACK?! Holy shit. Assume she got the Lord Beric treatment and was brought back from the dead. Merrett's reaction to that was amazing. Just awesome. Last two chapters were insane. Did not see either of those events coming. Had a ton of fun reading the book, definitely the best in the series. What I liked a lot was how much of it was spread out. Will allow for the TV show to have a bunch of "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" moments as it goes on. I imagine the Red Wedding will be the spot to end season 3. Good stuff. Hope everyone enjoyed reading this thread, I had fun doing it. Should I continue with A Feast For Crows? I know it's been known to be a letdown for many readers, so I don't know if people would be too interested in one. Either way, had fun doing one with this book
That really sucked. Especially because I thought it was going to be the end of Tyrion as well. Happy that part didn't happen, but was disappointing to lose him nonetheless.
Prologue: Worst thing about the prologue in these books is just getting thrown into some random story with random characters. They obviously play a role down the line, but I'd be lying if I didn't say they were hard to get through the first time, mainly because of the new characters. But I imagine that'll happen throughout this book. Was into it by the end, especially as that guy died. No idea who killed him though. Also will say that I loved the discussions of Dany/her dragons, mainly because we haven't really gotten that much from anyone else, mainly because she's separated from them. The thought of this rumor slowly spreading through Westeros is crazy interesting to me, mainly because something like that wouldn't happen anymore. It would show up on Twitter and the secret would be out. But I imagine this will be a theme - people learning about it but choosing not to believe. Love that.
Do I want you to spoil this for me or should I not ask. I feel like I need to know. I couldn't tell either from my first read.
Yea forget I said that. It's not clear on the first read but it comes later. Not a major spoiler or anything really important though so just ignore me
I needed someone to tell me before I figured it out. it's not really a spoiler, just something you need to put together.
spoiler will tell you how to figure it out for yourself Spoiler go back and re-read ACOK Chapter 47 (Arya POV)
The Prophet: Much like the prologue, it was hard to get into this chapter (same with the next one). Found myself re-reading a few lines throughout, mainly because I didn't know these characters so I really wasn't used to what made them tick, why they were thinking what they were, etc. The drowning thing did interest me though, don't really see something like that every day. I did enjoy the conversations about Asha taking over the islands. I thought she had a lot more pull, but seems not. Also, wtf, Theon might be dead? I know nothing. The Captain of Guards: Red Viper's daughter seemed extremely upset during this chapter. Wonder how mad she'll be when she finds out that she won't be able to kill Tywin, since Tryion beat her to it. Guy was pretty hardcore at the end, seizing all the daughters at the end. We'll see where it goes from here. Cersei: Can't stand her, but it was nice to get to a chapter where I knew the main character(s). And tbh, I enjoyed this chapter quite a bit. The disbelief from Cersei throughout was awesome. From her dad being dead, to Tyrion escaping, the mad reached Michigan levels. Good stuff. I actually think I might enjoy her chapters, mainly because she's a psycho. Hopefully she doesn't complain as much as Catelyn did, but I think it'll be interesting to get inside her mind and see what she's thinking. Wanted to read more last night, but had some other things to do. Hoping to take a big bite out of the book tonight.
I really enjoyed the Cersei chapters... probably some of my favorites in the entire series because she's so insane. I loved laughing at her.
Brienne: I have a feeling things don't end well for her. Like this chapter, she's going to run into someone who's also looking for Sansa. Unlike this chapter, I don't think they'll be nice. Good stuff though, especially when thinking back to what Jamie said. She really started to trust him before she left, and rightfully so imo. He turned into good people. Sam: I was super excited to see this chapter, because I know we won't be getting Jon in this book. I was all "well we might not get a Jon chapter, but at least Sam will talk to him!" I know nothing. Dammit, sending him away from the wall. Love that stuff. Alas, I'll (most likely, I would imagine) wait until book 5 for that. Good call on Jon's part as far as what his goal for Sam is. I think he'll be a really good maester tbqh. Knows so damn much. In the small portion that he was in it, you could also see how much Jon has changed. Not in the "the power has gotten to his head" change, but rather the "I am in this position, I have to take on a different role" type of change. And good call on his part, he needs to be that person. Also like how he called Sam out. I love Sam. But he needs to stop being so down on himself. Dude killed an Other. That ain't no joke. Also like how Jon is getting Aemon out of there because of his Targaryan blood. Good work. Arya: Good stuff. This Braavos stuff is really interesting, as is the building that she ended up in. Really hope she can get some of their knowledge and learn how to change her appearance as well. Definitely hope that Jaqen H'ghar shows back up as well, as he is a good character.
Cersei: OH SNAP SER KEVAN. "Tommen has his mother. Aye, and his father too, I think." She's having a rough go at it right now. Everyone is turning her down. Definitely enjoying her chapters so far though. She sucks, and I absolutely hate her, but like I said in the first chapter of hers, she's much better than Catelyn ever was. And as much as Tommen isn't his brother in al the good ways for someone not to be Joffrey, Cersei is right in her thoughts on him throughout. Definitely weaker. Idk if he's fit to lead. Jamie: Absolutely LOVED getting inside his mind. The guilt he's feeling right now is so damn intriguing. Continue to wish that Tyrion hadn't told him that he killed Joffrey, because that is all over his mind. But his constant thinking back to that conversation, whether it's about Joffrey, or Cersei having sex with different people, is awesome. Even with Tywin being a complete ass to him, it doesn't seem like he wanted him to go. I do think he ultimately ends up as the hand, because as the end of the chapter showed, he knows what he's doing/can make the tough choices.
TDKR + moving over the weekend really threw a wrench in my reading of AFFC. Will get back into it tonight.
Yeah, I actually just burned out. I went from finally finishing AGOT, right into ACOK during the season, got through ASOS fairly quickly for me, but I've farted out 200 pages into AFFC. I need motivation.