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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Serge" data-source="post: 2750874" data-attributes="member: 4049">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.</blockquote>

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