5 STARS




I'm not going to pen a long-winded review for this particular one. All you need to know is that I have become deeply engrossed in the story. The writing is fabulously creative. There are certain turns of events that have made me happy, while others have deeply troubled me, and a few have even left me utterly shocked. Needless to say, I simply must finish the series. I truly love the fact that these books deviate from the HBO series. I can't even begin to imagine what lies ahead.

Well, other than the inevitable arrival of winter. Now, it's time to move on to book 5!

Game of Thrones book No. 5 / A Song of Ice and Fire, book No. 4 delves deep into the happenings in various locations such as Kings Landing, Dorne, Hightower, Bravos, the Iron Islands, and the roads that connect them.

It catches up with the missing Starks, like Sansa and Arya, and Samwell who is on the road. There is also the tentative Lannister alliance, Jamie's search for his true meaning in life, and the heart-rending quest of Brienne, among many other character journeys.

The Five King War has come to an end, but from its ashes emerge chaos, anarchy, and the rise of religious fanaticism. This installment is considered the weakest so far, yet it is still very good. It just manages to scrape in as a Four Star, with a rating of 8 out of 12.

The reader is taken on a thrilling ride through the complex web of characters and their intertwined stories, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and struggles.

Overall, it is a captivating read that leaves the reader eager to see what lies ahead in the next installment of this epic series.

It truly kills me to give GRRM anything less than four stars, but I must be honest. This is the only way I can be.

And it's not as if I hated Feast. In fact, there's a lot that I loved about it. For instance, the further development of those characters we both adore and despise. Martin has always excelled at this. With characters like Cersei, Jaime, and Brienne (especially Cersei), I gained a deeper understanding of the events that shaped them into who they are today. While I'll probably never like the Queen Regent, I undoubtedly understand why she's so vile and, to a limited extent, misunderstood. Her chapters were some of my favorites and made for very enjoyable reading.

I also greatly admire the path Jaime's life has taken. But like most things, there are drawbacks as well. In a way, it limits the direction the overall story could have taken, considering these are very much character-driven books.

The chapters set in Dorne and the Iron Islands were some of my favorites too. They truly fascinated me. However, they are few and far between. Surprisingly, I longed for more of them and less of those set in King's Landing. The back-to-back Jaime and Cersei POVs eventually became somewhat tedious.

By embracing the changes presented, I surprisingly didn't miss my five most beloved characters: Tyrion, Dany, Bran, Jon Snow, and Ghost. Not too much, anyway.

Most damning of all, I think, was the lack of detailed showings of the war, as opposed to simply "telling" what had taken place. I don't agree that this installment is stagnant, making virtually no progress. On the contrary, GRRM does a decent job of describing the aftermath of this brutal, brutal war and the utter chaos of the realm. Simply put, it's a purely anarchic, no-holds-barred world. My heart breaks just thinking about how low it has devolved... and it can only get worse before it gets better.

In no way do I regret this reread, either, for it contains my favorite GRRM quote so far:

“Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile. He used to mess my hair and call me \\"little sister,\\" she remembered, and suddenly there were tears in her eyes..\\"

It's unbelievably beautiful, breathtaking, and sad, conveyed in incredibly simplistic terms, in my opinion. Very telling too.

Towards the end, I was very pleased (and somewhat shocked) by how it all came together and particularly the direction it took. When you're anticipating an epic battle only to see the aftermath through a certain character's eyes, it was pretty disappointing. Almost anticlimactic, in fact.

Last but not least, there were a lot of unanswered questions, like who is Pate, really? What role will he play later on? What was the significance of the mysterious key?? Plus many more. There's also quite a bit of unconfirmed events.

Having said this, I think it's important to recognize that this is only half of the story. In order to do it justice, Martin had to divide it into two books simply because it's way too long and complicated. Essentially, he's made the series all-encompassing, which I greatly commend him for. To do it well, I think it was inevitable.

Once again, my intent was never to criticize or bash the novel in any way whatsoever. I'm merely stating my personal, honest opinions. In all earnestness, it probably pains me more to admit such disappointment than for others to glimpse it.

It seems that you, all, will be fortunate enough to avoid another tirade about Westeros being a pedophile paradise this time. Hooray! George left the children relatively unharmed in A Feast for Crows. Well, sort of. Poor Myrcella ended up with half of her face and an ear chopped off. I guess there was a lot of mutilation instead of molestation?

I didn't loathe this installment as many of you have. Perhaps because, unlike you, I didn't miss Dany, Tyrion, or Jon. After reading 3000 pages about them and having another 1000 left to go, I welcomed the break, especially from Tyrion and his antics. Admittedly, it took some time for me to adapt to the new flavor of Martin's often tedious style of narration. Let's be honest, the books are long, and while the storylines ultimately lead to some great stuff, a lot of what's on the page can be extremely tiresome. Sorry Brienne, your chapters were the worst in that regard. The addition of Dorne and Iron Islands POVs definitely changed the tone of the story. But in the end, once I overcame the struggle of getting to know new characters and their conspiracies, I began to appreciate the expansion of the narrative.

I was also astounded by how much excellent material the TV show runners overlooked. Yes, they chose the most dramatic arc of Cersei digging her own grave while trying to bury Margaery, but then they abandoned everything else related to Dorne in order to showcase the Sand Snakes' boobs. BIG MISTAKE, as seasons 7 and 8 of the show would prove. By cutting off so many storylines at this point, Benioff and Weiss left themselves with gaping holes in the final seasons.

What I will regret never seeing on the show:

1) The fulfillments of the prophecies that the show never utilized - Cersei's valonqar betrayal (the book, I believe, leads very well towards Jaime's eventual murder of Cersei); or the three-headed dragon prophecy that Aemon mentions, and so on.

2) Dorne's long-planned scheme to avenge Elia Martell's death, through Dany no less. Plus, they attempt to put Myrcella on the Iron Throne.

3) I'm not entirely sure what the deal is with the magic horns - the one that can destroy the wall and the one that can control dragons (Crazy Euron has that!), but I'm intrigued by how it could complicate matters for Dany in the future.

4) The Faceless Men seem to have a much more significant purpose in the books.

5) Jon appears smarter in the books than on the show. There's a plot involving switching Gilly's child for Mance's that I quite liked.

6) More of Sam in the Citadel, and not just him cleaning up messes.

7) I want to know what happens to Sansa now that I see that in the books she doesn't absurdly agree to marry Ramsey Bolton.

And there's more.

Every book in this series has a story arc that I like the most. Previously, it was Theon's and Jaime's. This time it's Cersei's. She is far more vicious in the books. That's why it's so much more satisfying to see her caught in the trap of her own making.

P.S. Who was Margaery sleeping with? I need to know. Or is this whole plot with moon tea and virginity testing based on a complete fabrication?

**A Review of “A Feast for Crows”**

“A Song of Ice and Fire” began with the publication of “A Game of Thrones” in 1996. It introduced us to Westeros, a continent similar to medieval England. The story followed characters from different factions vying for the Iron Throne. Its grittiness and well-developed characters gave it a cult following.

Two years later, “A Clash of Kings” was published, telling the story of “the War of the Five Kings.” It had a slow start but a great ending.

In 2000, “A Storm of Swords” was released. It was the best book so far, with all the elements we expected from George R.R. Martin, but heightened.

At the end of “Swords,” the fates of several major characters were left hanging, and readers eagerly awaited the next installment.

However, they had to wait five years for “A Feast for Crows.” By this time, the expectations were sky-high.

Unfortunately, “Crows” failed to meet the challenge of “Swords.” It was over too quickly, and many of the best characters were missing.

Martin divided the story geographically, rather than chronologically, which meant that the heart of the story was lost.

The viewpoint characters in “Crows” were mostly new or had been barely mentioned before. Their stories were not as interesting or intense as the previous books.

Cersei’s descent into madness was the most interesting aspect of the book, but it was also disadvantaged by a subplot about loans.

Jaime’s evolution from villain to hero was a bright spot, but the rest of the book was filled with structural problems and poor writing.

The descriptions seemed tired, the dialogue was flat and repetitive, and the plot grinded forward.

There were a few saving graces, such as the sex scenes and a couple of twists at the end, but they were not enough to save the book.

Right now, I just want to move on to “A Dance With Dragons” and forget about the shortcomings of “Crows.”

However, when “A Song of Ice and Fire” is finally completed, it is likely that the esteem for “Crows” will rise. Its faults will seem less glaring, and its virtues will be more appreciated.

**A Feast for Crows: (A Song of Ice and Fire #4, Part 2 of 2) by George R.R. Martin**

This is the second part of the fourth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. It was first read on the seventh day of June in 2015. The book is titled "A Feast for Crows: Part 2 of Volume 4 (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)". The author is George R.R. Martin, and it was translated by Rouya Khadem al-Reza. It was published in Tehran by Vida in 2014 (1393 in the Iranian calendar). The ISBN is 9786002910806, and it consists of 474 pages.

The story continues to unfold the complex web of political intrigues, power struggles, and personal dramas in the fictional world of Westeros. With a large cast of characters and multiple storylines, readers are taken on a journey through the various kingdoms and regions, experiencing the joys and sorrows, victories and defeats of the different factions and individuals.

George R.R. Martin's writing is known for its vivid descriptions, rich characterizations, and intricate plotting. He has created a world that is both captivating and believable, drawing readers in and keeping them on the edge of their seats until the very end. "A Feast for Crows" is no exception, and it is sure to satisfy fans of the series and attract new readers as well.

By now, you are all aware that I'm reading the box set and won't be providing a real review until I've completed the entire batch. Yada, yada, yada. Having restated that, instead of a review (which would be something like: “Why do people not like this one? I mean, yeah, book 3 was nearly impossible to beat, but this one had damn solid writing. Not to mention, how many authors can start a major remodel of a series and make it work like this? Also, who would have ever thought I would love a Lannister? And rantrantrantrantrantrant . . .”), I'm going to teach you how to create an awesome Pinterest craft that was inspired by alcohol my Goodreads buddies JennyJen and Andrea Ninja Bunneh.

The concept is to take a page from your favorite book and transform it into inexpensive/free art for your reading room.

First, select a page (obviously).

Second, enlarge the chosen picture to the size you prefer (mine is 11x17 as that's the maximum size the copy service at my office can produce - in other words, I'm too damn cheap/lazy to go to Kinkos).

Third, brew a cup of tea. (A Tardis mug is not essential but highly recommended.)

Fourth, place the paper on a cookie sheet (another reason why 11x17 is a good option) and cover it with tea. Let it soak for 5 minutes while preheating your oven to 200 degrees. After the paper has soaked, you can manipulate it by tearing, wrinkling, etc. to give it an "aged" look.

Fifth, drain off the excess liquid and bake in the oven for 7 - 10 minutes. If you're a pyromaniac you wish, you can burn the edges of the paper for an even more weathered appearance once it is completely dry. All that remains is to put it in a frame.

And there you have it. A nearly cost-free art project that will have all your friends asking "what the fuck does Hodor, hodor, hodor mean??????"

A craft so simple that even Mitchell could do it. Well, he could if he were more than just a head. (He suggests we hang a page from Everyone Poops above the toilet. That Mitchell - he always keeps it classy.)

The book was better than the first time I read it. The first time around, I didn't like the narrator, and it really ruined the experience for me. However, this time, although I still didn't love it, I was glad to have Arya and Brienne in the story.

Another fantastic book!

The stories within it are constantly evolving and getting better and better.

I did find myself missing some of my favourite characters, but I'm certain that I'll encounter them again in book 5, which I'm immediately going to read.

Reading about the Ironborn and the Dornish has truly been beneficial. It has helped me to gain a better understanding of those parts of the story that seemed incomplete before.

I really loved this book. I might be repeating myself, but it's the truth. The only word that can accurately describe my impressions is "WOW"!!

The plot is written in a wonderfully engaging manner. Your attention is completely fixed on the book, and nothing else matters. All that counts is that you must continue reading to discover what will happen next!

It's such a compelling and captivating narration that you can completely lose yourself in it.

I wholeheartedly recommend reading this series. It's truly extraordinary!!!

I decided to commence 2025 with a momentous reading challenge for myself. I would once again embark on reading the entire A Song of Ice and Fire series. I had done this many years ago and, since I recently re-watched the entire television series, I thought it would be a great idea to attempt a re-read of the books as well. George R. R. Martin has done an outstanding job, and his work truly deserves my complete and undivided attention. I have incorporated my original review with some new thoughts, all in the hope of presenting a more updated and comprehensive assessment. I have evolved as a book reviewer since my first set of thoughts were recorded here, so let's see where this journey takes us now:

Although Joffrey is dead, poisoned at his own wedding, the plans for retribution are in full swing. The Lannisters are more than ready to spill blood and become as devious as possible to avenge the murder, while their new boy-king, Tommen, sits on the Iron Throne. The initial battle for the Iron Throne may have cooled, but there is no end to the treachery that all sides will engage in to seize the ultimate prize and determine the future direction of the Seven Kingdoms.

Old family feuds plague the Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell, both burdened by the deaths of their loved ones at the hands of others. They long for retribution before the memories fade away. With a fleet of ships advancing on the open sea and an icy army of Others marching in the North, various groups are preparing for a new and deadly attack to claim victory. All the while, Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious baby to the Citadel to ensure the survival of the Knight's Watch and its centuries-old traditions!

From incestuous relationships to familial murders, the remaining groups vie for the Iron Throne and turn the Seven Kingdoms into a land of bloodshed and dire consequences. There is little time for contemplation, as the skies will soon be filled with dragons, accompanied by a long-forgotten princess who hopes to avenge her father's death and reclaim her family's long-remembered dynasty. Martin has once again delivered an intense story with more twists and turns than one can imagine.

While the series is highly complex and multi-faceted, Martin demands that the reader focus closely on the numerous storylines in the novel to fully understand the nuances of the narrative. Everything is intricately intertwined, and although there is some degree of simplicity, the fragmented nature of the narrative requires the use of a slip of paper to keep track of all the details. Key characters continue to serve as narrators of their respective storylines, and their perspectives form the foundation for the development of the story. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns throughout, adding depth and intrigue to the plot, while keeping all the characters on their toes during their respective journeys. Plot points are crucial for understanding the story, given the ongoing intensity of the battles. With the final published novel in the series yet to come, there should be some climactic revelations, although Martin did suspend his writing after the lackluster final two seasons of the television show.

Bring on the final published book!

Kudos to Mr. Martin for yet another adventure that keeps the reader entertained.

Like or hate this review? An ever-expanding collection of others can be found at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

THE REVIEW


Why this book?


I'm a die-hard fan of the TV series, which led me to pick up this book. I was eager to explore the story in more depth and see what was happening behind the scenes of my favorite characters.

What I thought





This is hands down the worst ASOIAF book in the series so far. None of it even made it into the TV series, and for good reason - it was just that bad! Firstly, there are no Jon Snow, Tyrion, Arya, and Dany POVs. These are like four of the most popular characters, so what the hell? It was incredibly boring to read about a bunch of random characters. Oh, and there was a Cersei POV. I can't stand that bitch! I definitely don't want to be in her head and see how she treated Jaime. Fuck off, bitch! With that said, it did have all the elements I love about the series. It also had some POVs I liked, like Sam's. Overall, I thought it was okay, even with all my swearing. It just wasn't the best book of the series, as I've already said. It definitely deserves 2 stars.

There is an undeniable pivot between the first half of A Song of Ice and Fire and the second half.

A Feast for Crows does not follow the Stark family, Dany, and Tyrion as they pursue justice and leadership positions in wartime Westeros, like the preceding three novels. No, Crows divvies up Martin's universe into the South (King's Landing, The Vale, etc.), Dorne, and the Iron Islands. We will check on the Wall and Essos in the next volume. This is a big gut punch to fans of the TV show, as there is no Dany or Jon. Or Bran or Davos or Tyrion. Ug.

But, if you expect to hate Crows (like I expected to), you may find yourself surprised. This is a Woman's Guide to Westeros. Cersei and Brienne become POV characters, and Arya and Sansa remain prominent, despite Arya's foray to Braavos. Asha (re:Yara) and Arianne Martell are POV, as well. Jamie and Sam are the prominent male characters from the show that show up as POV. I missed Davos terribly but learned he's POV in A Dance with Dragons. I digress. Crows details what happens after the War of Five Kings and functions as a perfect midpoint for an intended series of seven. Of course, I am excited for Book 5. But I want to reiterate that Book 3, A Storm of Swords, remains my favorite thus far.

My, oh, my, how I dislike the GRRM sex scenes. Why are they included? Are they to entertain the reader or add texture to his setting? My husband and I debated this. Anyway, far too much emphasis on nipples. Plus, as others have rightfully noted, the Brienne sections deal too heavily with rape. We get it, GRRM. People treat Brienne like shit, but it's repetitive, amiright? I adore Christie for her acting take on this.

It's important to note that while A Feast for Crows may have its drawbacks, it also offers a fresh perspective on the complex and ever-evolving world of Westeros. The new POV characters bring their own unique stories and personalities, adding depth and nuance to the overall narrative. Despite my initial misgivings, I found myself becoming invested in their fates and eager to see how their stories would unfold.

Moreover, Martin's writing is as masterful as ever. His descriptions of the landscapes, the politics, and the characters are vivid and engaging, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are a part of this world. While the sex scenes may be a turn-off for some, they are just one small aspect of a much larger and more intricate work of fiction.

In conclusion, A Feast for Crows is a worthy addition to the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It may not be everyone's favorite, but it offers enough to keep fans engaged and eager for more. Whether you love it or hate it, there's no denying that George R.R. Martin has created a world that has captured the imaginations of millions around the globe.