A Storm of Swords

I think I've been too harsh on this series because I'd already watched the drama. Now that I've passed the point of HBO, I find the story a hundred times more compelling and two hundred times more frustrating.

The most frustrating aspect about this installment was just how close the characters are at every turn, at every bend. They just need to take one step further to be reunited with their loved ones, to find a true ally, to achieve some goal. Sometimes they physically are that close, but they are stopped by pride or foolishness or blatant misunderstanding. Bran is so *close* to Jon at the wall, Brienne is so *close* to Arya on the road, Sansa is so *close* to Tyrion who could be a real, true ally. I just wanted to smack characters together and say, “She's RIGHT THERE!” a thousand times.

This frustration is only compounded by Martin's love of killing people which I'm going to say is worse than Joss Whedon's. He sends me into a frantic state of mind whenever the novel turns hopeful or peaceful. Any time things seem to be going well, I know someone is going to die, probably horrifically. I was a bit sad about Robb though more because it felt like dropping the plot than any actual caring for him. He lost that right when he got married for no reason. I see why HBO changed that plotline up. Catelyn I was almost happy about because I found her chapters the hardest to read. Interested to see what that sequel is going to mean. I'm sure I was singing "Ding Dong Joffrey's dead with the rest of the crowd, but that was compounded by knowing my happiness at one thing spelled someone else's doom. Sure enough, Tyrion. Oh my Tyrion. I hope there is more in these books for you. They don't actually "say" that he died yet, but I flipped through the chapter listing of "Feast for Crows" and he's no longer narrating. That is sad enough for me. Likewise I know Lysa dying, sweet as that was, probably spells Sansa's doom.

The compelling part though is that I don't think an author has ever made me wish so hard for the wrong thing. Most of the times when reading a story, you see the protagonist's choice clearly outlined with an easy choice and a right choice. They are crystalline and the hero is obviously going to make the write choice. Martin regularly presents his characters with a wrong choice and a worse choice. Melisandre is a good example. Martin spends half her descriptions convincing me she's is soulless, pretender harpy. Then he spends the rest of the time making me wish she wasn't. I end up as confused as Davos and Stannis, and I think that's brilliant.

I'm not sure how people made it half-decades between books. I'm very pleased with the next move for Arya, Brienne, Bran, and Jon, whose chapters are finally becoming interesting. I'm deeply saddened that Sansa cannot catch a break, but I look forward to seeing what happens next. As for the Lannisters... what can I say about the Lannisters? Debts! Debts to be repaid all around, I think. Also zombies. I look forward to lots more zombies.

I realize I've about forgotten about Dany, just like the rest of Westeros. I think that's also part of Martin's intention, saving her for book five. Then again, Martin never does what I think he's going to do, so why do I try?