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I just couldn’t write this review without getting some big spoilers off my chest. I kept it safe for everyone though. If you’re not worried about spoilers and it looks like something is missing, just highlight and you’ll see what I wrote. You’ll get it.
Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any more twisty-turny, (spoiler)
How the hell is Martin doing this? No, seriously. Not only is he keeping up with 50 pages’ worth of characters without bogging the story down in names, but he has twisted this story in every conceivable direction without turning it back on itself. I keep thinking that I have made my peace with losing characters that I love, but I am enraged every time another gets knocked off. I cheer when a bad guy gets it. I want to reach inside the pages and bitch-slap an awful lot of people. They are asking for it. Trust me.
Watching the series on HBO made me brave enough to pick up this one. Much as I love these, they are monsters. I need some courage to tackle them. Watching the series is giving me a better idea of how good Martin actually is. I am a slow series reader, so I do lose a lot of details between books. Seeing how things from the first book tie directly into the third book, about–oh, 3000 pages later, is amazing. It’s also making it hard for me to keep my mouth shut as I watch with my sister and husband. They would never forgive me if I let a spoiler go, but it is so. freaking. hard. Like that spoiler up there. I want to tell them all about it and hash out exactly what happened where.
I really don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I am bursting. (list of spoilers)
I hope something worse happens to Cersei.
I might actually be developing a character crush on Jamie.
I hope Jamie is the one who finally does Cersei in.
I hope Walder Frey burns in hell.
I might be a little in love with Jon Snow.
I am thrilled that he is Lord Commander.
I hope he abuses some of his power and kicks some ass. Preferably some Frey ass.
I’m so glad that I will never again have to read “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”
I might be developing a character crush on Dany! What she did in Astapor? Beyond awesome.
I’m tired of reading about Arya roaming around the country.
I’m finally starting to feel a little sorry for Sansa. She is hopeless.
Oh, and I’m glad that crazy bitch Lysa is gone too.
I hope Littlefinger is next.
Heck, I hope her crazy son is next!
I hope Brianna kicks somebody’s ass. A whole lot of somebody’s asses, truth be told.
The only thing more intimidating than Catelyn Stark is a resurrected Catelyn Stark.
Whew. I’m exhausted. That has been building up for a while.
Read this book if you like beyond-excellent epic stories. Really. So. Freaking. Awesome.
Read an excerpt.
My reviews of A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings.
Find author George R. R. Martin on his website and his Not a Blog.
I have an affiliate relationship with Malaprop’s, my local independent bookstore located in downtown Asheville, NC; and Better World Books. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase books through links on my site.
2 Comments
Yes regarding Jamie. I'm afraid I'll have a crush on him (not too big of a spoiler I hope). Of all of Martin's twists and turns, the way he is developing this characters is one of the most surprising.
I will be reading this one in the next few weeks (just finished A Clash of Kings last week). I love this series, and I don't know why I haven't read these books before. They are fantastic, and non sci-fi readers should dive into these books, too! Cannot wait to read this!