A Feast for Crows
Ratings1,089
Average rating4
This book is just so fucking good and I feel genuine sadness for the people who don't like it because there aren't any wildfire explosions or surprise beheadings. I admit to the Greyjoys chapters being a bit of a chore this time through, but the rest of the plotlines just absolutely sing out. The end of this book reminds me of just how much is about to pop off in Winds and I'm distraught all over again we still don't have it.
By the way, friendly reminder that the gap since we've last had a Sam chapter turns 18 this year. GIVE US A TASTE, GEORGIE BOY. JUST A TASTE. THE GAP HAS A DRIVER'S LICENCE AND I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT OLDTOWN
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 Stars= It was a very good read. Might read it again.
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN clap IS clap OUT clap OF clap POCKET! clap
I must mention that the most out of pocket thing he has done thus far was having a fourteen-year-old boy get married to a damn toddler.
A close second is having an eight-year-old boy marry a sixteen-year-old girl. That just makes me want to vomit. But that's not what I'm here to talk about.
This book has made my mind such a mess that I can't even form a proper review of what I just read. So, I apologize in advance.
There are so many things in this book that were just the sloppiest of the sloppy:
Jaime finally gained a backbone when dealing with Cersei. Yes, Jaime, honey. A lovely golf clap for you, sir. He has won me over. He wiggled his way into my cold, dead heart.Asha just being Asha (I can't say much more than that without giving some things away). She is out here trying to change up the game.
Petyr Baelish just being Littlefingerish. (Again, I can't say much more than that.) Don't ever change you, little rascal. Young Sansa has learned how to play his game well. Plus, she is nice to young Lord Robert. God knows she is better than me.Jon's absolute 360 when it came to his character. I don't like this new Jon Snow. I want the old one back. However, at times I understood why he did what he had to do. In his defense, we barely saw him in this book, but what I did see I did not like!
Kevan Lannister is out here, finally standing up to his niece. Dropping hints that he knows about all her deep, dark secrets. Dare I say that he is one Lannister who may have a bit of sense in his brain?Arianne Martell is out here being a petty princess and does not mind using Arys Oakheart for all her dirty deeds. But as we quickly learn, the Martell family is a messy one. They just might be one of the messiest families out there. But I will forever and always love Oberyn. Nothing will change that.
Aeron Damphair has lost his ever-loving mind, and all hell breaks loose on the Iron Islands. No, Aeron, baby, what is you doing? Honestly, that whole family is just a mess. Asha, Theon, Aeron, Euron, and Victarion (who finally decided to join the party), the lot of them. They are all just banana sandwich. However, Euron is the most banana sandwichiest of them all. It is Greyjoy against Greyjoy.Arya Stark is still out in the world, trying to find her way. She slips in and out of trouble, per usual. She does what she needs to do to survive. You do you, girl.
Cersei. That's it; that's the whole sloppy thing. Just Cersei Lannister. She must want to catch these hands with the way she's acting because they are rated E for everyone, even self-proclaimed queens. She always says, “Everything I do. I do for Tommen”. No, sweetheart, everything you do, you do for your damn self. Hopefully, she will get what's coming to her soon enough.There were so many things I was here for:Please see Jaime's backbone comment above**Brienne of Tarth is still out here doing the damn thing. *snap* Yes, honey! *snap*. Brienne is the kind of friend you want by your side when you're out on a mission. If you tell that girl to do something, you better believe she is getting it done.Please see Kevan Lannister standing up to his niece comment above
*BRONN! That's it. Just, BRONN! I just love that guy.
Folks, as always, I must warn you not to get too attached to any of the characters in these stories. Don't make the same mistakes that I have, because the death count climbs. NOBODY IS SAFE FROM GRRM'S SWORD. NOBODY!
There was only slight or no mention of Bran Stark, Meera Reed, Jojen Reed, and Daenerys Targaryen in his story. Which is great if you don't care for any of them. So yay for you if you don't like any of them, and boo for you if you do.
The story is told from the different points of view of many of the same characters in the past. However, a few new ones are added. (Asha, Brienne, Arys, Areo, Vicatrion, Aeron, and Arianne)
I wish I could tell you that I'm sick of all the drama, but that would be a lie. Because I'm not, and I want more.
I must note that, as much as I loved this book, it is my least favorite out of the four I have read from the A Song of Fire and Ice saga. The first three books took over my life while I was reading them. They were all I could think about. When I wasn't reading them, I was thinking about reading them, and I just don't feel the same way about AFFC. And for that reason, it is getting only four stars from me. But a solid four stars nonetheless!
I don't even know when I'm going to read the fifth book because I want this high to last as long as possible, and I'm not ready for things to come to an end. Well, at least until GRRM decides to finally give the people what they want and finish this glorious piece of work.
A Song of Ice and Fire continues to be an epic story of politics, action, and mystery.
In this book, I really enjoyed getting closer into the minds of Jaime and Cersei.
Only thing that holds this book down slightly is the absence of big POVs that I know will be covered in the next book.
I also loved getting deeper into the world of the Iron Isles with the Kingsmoot.
“How much can a crown be worth, when a crow can dine upon a king?”
This one took me a long time to finish. And jumping back and forth between characters was a bit confusing. I'm plowing through.
Precise rating: 3.5 ⭐
This one is as brilliantly written as the others. I do like Cersei and Jaime and I wouldn't per se mind at all that this book strongly focused on those two characters. Though I felt so bombarded with politics and names in some of their chapters (gosh, is there anyone besides Martin and his helpers who understands the Frey family tree???) – I just couldn't follow at times and had to read summaries online.
I loved the happenings in King's Landing anyway. And Brienne's, Arya's and Sansa's chapters were great! Everything else was great in fact! And now on to the last book for now!
Took forever to finish this book. This book should've been cut in half. Some of the chapters were so boring I would skip to the last two pages of the chapter since that was the only part that mattered. I'd say there was maybe 5 chapters that I thought were actually interesting. Martin wrote this book not as a continuation of the third book with all your favorite characters but took all the secondary characters that aren't as interesting and told their story, although some of their history was interesting, I just do not care about all 158 people of the Iron Islands telling of their claim to the Iron Throne.
This book was good. Definitely a refreshing perspective from the usual storylines of the past couple game of thrones books. While this did focus on King's Landing still, there were storylines growing in the Iron Islands and in Dorn. A lot of strong women (whether they be good, evil, etc) were told in this book which I appreciate. However, I docked it 2 stars for the amount of rape in it. I'm not talking about the way George mentioned it in the other books, I'm talking about some extra Ted Bundy bullshit. This dude was so graphic with it, it really impacted the quality of the book to the point where I was a bit shook (and this is coming from someone who watches serial killer shit). Ya know I know that was part of the medieval era and everything but to read it and have it graphically detailed to you is just a little too much for me. Once a feminist always a feminist?
Feast for Crows is the fourth installment in this series, and I found it to be a strong book. If I was the type to give half stars it would be four and a half stars, and if I had read it when it was published after such a long wait I would have thrown it across the room in disgust at the afterword.
This book focuses on Kings Landing, and A Dance with Dragons focuses on the north and all of the other characters missed out in the fourth book. If I had realised that I might not have read the entirety of the fourth book before the fifth and split my time between the two evenly. The writing was great as ever, and I really enjoyed continuing on with characters we had become close to over the series. Some of the new characters bored me, but others were really enjoyable for me.
In particular, while Adrienne as a character doesn't interest me much, the role Dorne played in this book and some of the history which is revealed was incredibly interesting to me. I can't wait to see more of them. Similarly the Greyjoys are always a delight for me in any of the books, and their increased focus was a real treat.
The ending was a bit lackluster personally. I think the book might have been served better if the last two chapters had been switched around for a more devastating note to end on. However, I think this was because so many characters had shared the same or similar names that I completely forgot the significance of Pate the pig boy until I googled it at the end of the book. The similar names is one of my biggest issues with this series as it gets broader. A lot of significant hints are snuck into short moments to be referenced later, and because I lose track of all of the minor characters I don't benefit from those moments.
Highly recommend any fantasy fan to read this series. I cannot wait to complete the series in time for the next season of the show to air.
While I enjoyed this more I find it funny that the characters featured here are not my favorites and they will be in A Dance With Dragons. It's like Martin knew this and purposely put them after A Feast so I would have to read both. sigh That being said, I did enjoy this book most of the four so far.
Some say a weaker book in the series, but I disagree. While at first only reading half of the characters is an issue, it quickly disappears and what you get is a more personal insight into individual characters as every character is only a few chapters away. It allowed me to become more immersed with each character as I felt I was spending more time with each person.
I was a little reluctant to start reading this book because I had heard that Cersei and Jamie's pov took up the majority of the book and that Jon and Dany weren't even in it and Arya and Sansa only had a few chapters. However I thoroughly enjoyed this book
Jamie's point of view is very interesting, as you see him growing as a person, going from a hotheaded knight to the ‘lord commander of the kingsguard' who actually thinks things through. He's dealt with some hard lessons and, in my opinion, has come out better for it. And then there's Cersei. While I love to hate her, I find her motives understandable and I think she is a very compelling character. In this book we see her attempt to be the chessmaster she thinks she is, and watch her bring her own doom upon herself. It filled me with sadistic glee every time she made a wrong move and couldn't see it. I missed hearing more from Arya and missed the Dani chapters all and all good read.
Easily my least favorite of the series thus far. In spite of my knee-jerk reaction, the character development and sub-plot expansions were critical. It was clear, eventually, how Martin chose to handle this installment. Once I realized this would get the wheels turning for book five, or perhaps book six, I was settled down. A great deal of excitement presented itself in the climax and certain aspects of the story are absolutely succulent. Though, they would not have been as great without the 900 pages prior to the presentation of those details. I'll save you the spoilers.
A Feast for Crows. From the title, it sounds like this book will be focus heavy on the wall. It doesn't. In a Feast for Crows, George R.R. Martin (I'll refer to him as George later) focuses on his characters in the Riverlands, King's Landing, Bravos, Dorne, the Eyrie, and the Iron Islands. We are treated to chapters narrated by Samwell, Arya (Cat), Cersei, Jamie, Brienne, Sansa (Alayne), and various points of view from the Iron Islands and Dorne.
The start of this novel picks up right where the third leaves off. We learn about the aftermath of Tyrion's rampage through the city. It seems to be the tipping point for Cersie. In the past I've tried to find redeeming qualities for her, but in this book she snaps. How will she rule kings landing without her oppresive father Tywin? What about the Tyrell girl? We find out about all that and more. As crazy as Cersie is, her chapters are the cement that holds this book together. She keeps the pace moving, and is always doing something crazy.
Samwell is another interesting piece of the puzzle. I won't spoil it, but I really enjoyed his chapters. Jon sends him on a new mission and is told to bring along Gilly and Maester Aemon. George's focus on Aemon was a great tribute. Sam's love for Gilly and his dedication to Aemon is what brings the heart to this novel.
Jamie spends this novel trying to overcome his demons. How does Westeros's greatest swordsman learn to fight again? How does he cope with Cersie's actions while he's gone. His moment's guarding Tywin's body are haunting. I couldn't help feel bad for his character. No matter how hard he tries, people only see him as a kingslayer and oathbreaker. His dedication to keep his word to Catelyn Tully is admirable, and the end of his last chapter really shows how much his character has grown.
Arya (Cat of the Canals). She's a little spitfire. The new world of Bravos is fascinating. We have heard much of it in previous books, but this is our first glimpse of the city. Not as great as the previous characters, but Arya's transformation in interesting. We meet a lot of characters. It's hard to keep track of most of them, and that plays negatively towards her chapters. I've heard a lot of excitement over Arya in Bravos, so I think I just expected a little more. She is bold and brash. That's what we love about her, but it plays against her in Bravos. She learns to be secret and fly under the radar, but her temper gets the better of her. I expect we'll see more of her in the future. She has a major lesson to learn.
Sansa (Alayne) is hiding away as Littlefinger's Bastard daughter in the Eyrie. We see her interactions with Lord Robert (who is one spoiled, sheltered child). How she puts up with him, I have no clue. She's learning to play the game. With Littlefinger's guidance, she's going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Brienne.... “I'm looking for a highborn maid of three and ten.....” How I wanted to like your chapters, but they were so dull. It felt like the same thing over and over. I know a quest is 99% boring, 1% excitement, but that's how her chapters felt. Her chapters pick up the pace towards the end of the book, but many in the middle I found myself skimming. If you think “that's why you didn't like it, you didn't fully read her”. No. I read many of her chapters and I felt that George gave her way to many. Sorry Brienne.
Dorne. Dorne is an exciting place. I couldn't wait to see the homeland of Prince Oberyn. The desert and the fierce fighters. The “sand snakes”. I loved reading about the world of Dorne, but the POV choices I could have done without. I forget all their names, but Dorne is split up in to the POV of Dorne's captain of the guard, Princess Myrcella's kingsguard (one of Jamie's sworn brothers), one of the sand snakes or Prince Doran (It was early, I can't quite remember), and Doran's daughter the princess. The POV really killed this. I would have preferred two points of view. Ideally one. There were too many here and it worked against the book.
The Iron Islands.... nobody cares. It has the same flaw as Dorne. Too many points of view. What happened on the Iron Islands could have been interesting if George stuck with one character. There are so many names thrown around in this world and in Dorne that it's hard to keep track of who is who. After awhile all the names roll together into the same person. George does a nice job adding details to refresh the reader who each character is, but sometimes it's just too much.
It's hard for me to rate this book. Cersie, Samwell, Sansa and some of Jamie's chapters are all fascinating, but the Iron Islands really killed it. I give this book 3 stars. I would never sit through this book to read it again. Compared to the other novels, this one drags in many places. There is TOO much description. I appreciate the visual worlds he creates and the intricacy, but he needed to step back. If you focus too much on the details you lose sight of the overall design. That's what happened here.
This book is the worst out of the entire series. There are some major characters missing, and the language is subpar compared with the book's predecessors. It introduced characters that we hadn't/haven't met before, which all well and good, but not at the expense of the established protagonists and antagonists. Reading this was hell. Move on. Don't even read it. Just wiki everything. Seriously, you can thank me later.
Di tutti quelli letti fin ora, è il più deludente. Noioso, preparatorio più che altro. Non c'è nessuna grande svolta nella trama, tranne per quello che succede nelle Isole di Ferro!
Feastdance, A Feast with Dragons, A Dance for Crows: noem het hoe ge wilt. Wat het is, is hoe deel vier en vijf van A Song of Ice and Fire zouden moeten gelezen worden.
Het verhaal is bekend: GRRM was begonnen aan deel vier, en het bleef maar groeien, en groeien, en groeien, en iedereen werd ongeduldig, en het lukte maar niet om alles af te ronden zoals hij het wou afronden – en dus besloot hij maar om het boek in twee te splitsen.
Niet chronologisch in twee, want het grootste deel van boek vijf loopt parallel met boek vier. Ook niet thematisch, want de thema's lopen over en door de twee boeken heen. Wel op basis van de personages, grotendeels. De afweging was: vertel ik in boek vier ongeveer de helft van het verhaal voor (bijna) alle personages, of (bijna) het hele verhaal voor ongeveer de helft van de personages.
Het is dat tweede geworden: het minste kwaad, dacht Martin. Begrijpelijke, maar vooral spijtige zaak, want de twee boeken zijn vele (véle) keren beter als ze samen gelezen worden.
Wie de boeken nog niet gelezen heeft, rep u naar hier om te leren hoe ze zouden moeten gelezen worden. Wie de boeken wél al gelezen heeft, haast u naar hier om te zien hoe Sean T. Collins (en Stefan, en vele anderen) de twee in elkaar gestoken hebben.
Ik kan niet zeggen hoe content ik ben van mijn ikweetnietmeerhoeveelste herlezing.
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Bij herlezing in 2018: ‘t is echt wel de moeite om het ook nog eens apart te lezen.