Feast For Crows rocks so far!(small spoilers)

[The Serge]

Finally finished this today after picking it up on the 18th. Superb, although I do agree with some of the issues folks have with it being only half a book.

A few things.

First, I actually like the fact that we have an opportunity to see things from Cercei's perspective. Given the type of writing Martin has proven his adeptness with, handling multiple characters and revealing how stories shift based upon the character in question telling the story, it was time that we saw the world through her eyes. He spent three novels making her seem like an utter witch (well, the "b" word is more appropriate)... Indeed, he did the same thing with Jaime in the first two novels. However, by the third novel, we see Jaime in a new light and slowly develop some respect and even admiration for him (incest and callously throwing a child to his death aside). Some may well have expected something similar with Cercei. Rather, what we get with Cercei is a woman filled with a desire to prove herself, unable to recognize her own failings, paranoid of others, petty to the point of cruelty, and with strong love (or at least strong sense of ownership) for her children. In some ways, she's the mirror of Catelyn Stark (who, aside from her hatred of Jon Snow, was a fairly decent character). I think seeing her as a truly despicable person, but one with motivation to explain her nature, was a good thing.

I agree that it was unfortunate that we didn't see more of Sam and Arya. I really like Arya and I was floored with the conclusion of her last chapter... although not surprised. I always liked Sam. He's great. The craven who's really not the craven. I look forward to seeing where the story takes him (assuming he's not killed; no one's safe in Martin's novels). I also like Brienne. I was so ticked with what happened with her confrontation with Biter. I hope that I'm wrong, but I fear she took on a new pledge with the Hangedwoman in order to save Podrick. Brienne is the only decent knight in these stories and it's going to get her killed.

All in all, I loved it. I would say that a fantasy novel, it's a 5 out of 5; however, as an inclusion into the cycle, a 3 out of 5 as it's clearly only one part of two. I think Martin would have been better off publishing this once he had the second part finished so it could be released a month later.

 

[Ulrik]

I hope that I'm wrong, but I fear she took on a new pledge with the Hangedwoman in order to save Podrick. Brienne is the only decent knight in these stories and it's going to get her killed.

[sblock]Going to get her killed? I didn't see much difference between the Brienne chapter and epilogue of a Storm of Swords (where Merric gets hanged). My bet is the word she screamed was "Jaime". She's toast.[/sblock]

 

[Pants]

Finished it last night.

Although I agree that it wasn't up to Storm of Swords quality, it was still good.

Some thoughts:

Spoiler

- Arya - Loved the few Arya chapters that we got. I was very surprised in how she just offhandedly killed Daereon (Sp?). I really wished that we got to see more of her as her chapters were the most enjoyable.

- Sam - I do like how his character has progressed, but I didn't really want anymore chapters to focus on him. Things only got really interesting for him when he finally reached Oldtown. I picked up on the Faceless Man/Jaquen H'gar thing right away. Made me feel proud too, until I read about all the other things that I completely missed

Aemon dying, not much of a surprise. He was old and he was on his way out since the beginning of the book. Still sad to see him go, he was a great character.

- Brienne - I found her chapters strangely *empty*. Most of them were about her wandering around, seeing the effects of the war, though I felt that Arya's journey in CoK did a much better job. Though it was nice seeing her bring an end to some of the Rogue Bloody Mummers, I just felt that her chapters could have been better spent doing something else. I like her character, but I think that parts of her journey weren't important enough to warrant whole chapters, while other parts could have used a little more fleshing out.

I hope Pod and her survive, though the chances of that happening seem unlikely.

I was very saddened to see what has become of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Beric dead for good, an insane UnCatelyne leading them, and they've become little more than bandits and vigilantes. I wanted to see more of Beric and to have him die offscreen in such a way made it very unsatisfying. Especially since he died to bring the horrible UnCat back.

- Jaime - Enjoyable. His chapters were very enjoyable, especially his verbal sparring with Cersei, his gradual redemption (though it seems like he is aiming more for a Tywin-lite than an honorable knight now), and his last chapter(s). Freakin perfect. Edmure survives, Riverrun is taken bloodlessly, another Frey gets offed (further confusing matters of succession), the Blackfish gets away (and he got just the right amount of screen time when he met with Jaime), and Jaime finally cuts the last ties to his wretched sister.

- Cersei - Ah, Cersei, the Little Queen that Couldn't. Such a deplorable character, such a horrible schemer. She reaches waaaay too high and thinks so much of herself that when things finally come crashing, I said to myself "Yes!" Funny how she thinks she's playing everyone for fools, yet everyone is really playing her for one. I had my doubts about Taena from the beginning, way too convenient, the end proved what she was.

- Iron Islands - I think that just enough was shown of the Iron Islands. We didn't need anymore and we got just enough to see what the situation was like between Victarion, Euron, Asha, and Aeron. Pretty enjoyable.

- Dorne - Some of these chapters could have been cut down, though I feel that they were integral to the plot. Dorne throwing its support to Dany was surprising and showed that Doran had some bite, even though he had practically no bark. I'm looking forward to seeing what the repurcussions of Arys's death and Myrcella's maiming will have. With Cersei contained, I have a feeling that it won't be a stupidly bloody affair, but Kevan remains an enigma. He may not take action. He knows about Cersei and her spawn, he may want to get rid of them. Who knows.

 

[nakia]

Brienne's Word

The word Brienne says at the end of her last chapter is key to what will happen to her:

Spoilers:
The going theory (one that I think has merit) is that Brienne says "sword". She was offered a choice by Undead Caitlyn -- take up the sword and go kill Jamie (breaking her oath to Jamie), or get the rope. She refuses to make that choice, so gets hung. While watching Pod die, she realizes that her honor isn't worth more than Pod's life, so she says the one word that will get them set free.

This is an interesting arc for her, since she chastised Jamie so much in aSoS for having no honor and now she gives up her honor to save Pod (and has to go after Jamie in the process). It also sets up another confrontation between Jamie and Brienne somewhere down the road.

This is also further proof that, even undead, Caitlyn sucks.

People with an overdeveloped sense of honor don't do well in this series. Just ask Ned Stark.

 

[Pants]

The word Brienne says at the end of her last chapter is key to what will happen to her:

Spoilers:
This is also further proof that, even undead, Caitlyn sucks.

Spoiler

She's turned into Lysa!

 

[Steel_Wind]

Regarding Brienne

Spoiler

The other possibility is that Brienne yells "Arya" in an attempt to persuade Catelyn that she is worth letting live.

But, I expect that Brienne will yell "sword" and will swear to hunt down Jaime to Stoneheart.

I do not, however, expect that Brienne will keep that vow. I believe she is in love with Jaime and will not - in the end -be able to do it.

The question of whether she will keep that oath or not will be the real point of the rest of Brienne's tale in the story. GRRM will have his opportunity to show us that there are a few oaths a true knight must not keep and are best broken.

Jaime broke his oath to Aerys and, strangely, did the right thing by doing so; so it will be with Brienne as well. But the path is never easy and the fallout never simple.

 

[nakia]

Brienne's Word

I'm not too fond of the "Arya" theory, b/c Brienne doesn't really know much about Arya anyway. Plus, the Jamie/Brienne love and conflict just needs to be played out more, which happens with "sword" and not with "Arya".

BTW, I enjoy your posts on the SoIaF boards, Steel Wind. I'm a big lurker there.

 

[Klaus]

Just finished the book (read it in about a week).

Y'know, I think I'd rather have the book GRRM described in his epilogue, telling half the story for all the characters. This book had waaaaaaaaaaaa(...)aaaaaaaaay too much decompression, throwing names just for the sake of doing so (kinda like Tolkien with the songs and describing the landscape). By the final third of it, I was skipping entire paragraphs to get back to the action.

And Cersei thinks the younger, fairer queen was Margaery, oblivious to the existence of Daenerys...

I think Brienne will uphold her first oath to serve Catelyn (whom I didn't hate when alive, but Mummy-Catelyn is grating). I also think that if Franken-Gregor roll sout, Sandor will join the Warrior's Sons and both will perish in each other's arms.

But the series is beginning to tire me a bit. I Wish GRRM would start converging the storylines to turn next book into a race-to-the-dragons and to wrap it all up in a sixth book.

Allayne's chapters were made worth it just from Petyr's explanation of his plan. Two paragraphs and you see the man is a political genius.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Just finished the book (read it in about a week).

Y'know, I think I'd rather have the book GRRM described in his epilogue, telling half the story for all the characters. This book had waaaaaaaaaaaa(...)aaaaaaaaay too much decompression, throwing names just for the sake of doing so (kinda like Tolkien with the songs and describing the landscape). By the final third of it, I was skipping entire paragraphs to get back to the action.

Agreed. Still waiting on the other half of the book, which was supposedly done last year and coming out this year.

 

[Fast Learner]

It wasn't done last year. It's not even done now, nor is it likely to be. http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html