When I embarked on this book last month, I was rather taken aback to discover that not a single chapter was centered around my beloved characters. Instead, most of the point-of-view characters were secondary ones or completely new to me. Nevertheless, it still held an air of excitement, so I endeavored to embrace the change. The previous installment had been my favorite in the series, and I couldn't help but wonder why this one couldn't be even better.

I must commence by stating that the title of this book is rather misleading. "A Folly for Crows" would have been a more fitting and honest choice. I have never dedicated so much time to a book only to be left with such a meager return. Virtually nothing occurred throughout the majority of it. There was a slight glimmer of activity near the end, but I have a sneaking suspicion that everything in this book could have been neatly condensed and incorporated into the next one. What a tiresome experience. I probably accomplish more in a single day than most of those characters did in two entire chapters. If they're not going to do anything, they really shouldn't be the point-of-view characters. It's truly that straightforward. Half the time, I felt an overwhelming urge to leap into the book and prod the characters with a stick just to get them moving.

To further exacerbate my annoyance, the overuse of certain phrases became a significant pet peeve. For instance, the phrase "Words are wind" was repeated a staggering six times. Initially, it was quite quotable, but as it continued to be recycled, it rapidly became monotonous. There was another line that was used no less than nine times. I sincerely hope that this won't become a recurring trend in the subsequent book.

Typically, in these books, things don't really start to heat up until I pass the 50% mark. However, that wasn't the case here. It wasn't until nearly the very end that I finally felt a glimmer of genuine interest. Suffice it to say, whatever small amount of patience I possessed when I began this book was completely exhausted in this instance.

Another telltale sign that I'm thoroughly enjoying a book (especially in this series) is the number of updates I post or quotes I like and share. Unfortunately, in this case, both of these were severely lacking. For the most part, I simply didn't feel that there was anything particularly worthy of sharing.

I also ceased watching the show during the time I was reading this book. A certain incident sealed the deal for me. Kudos to the producers for that. Additionally, the plot of the show has deviated significantly from that of the books, and in many respects, there are valid reasons for this. I'm not entirely certain what Martin is up to, but I know for sure that I'm not deriving any enjoyment from it. "Let's just get this over with" has been my mindset for quite some time now. Maybe I just miss Daenerys. Or perhaps I'm simply of the opinion that this is all becoming rather ridiculous.

I'm not quite sure what happened here.

As others have mentioned, Martin slows the pace of the story down considerably in this fourth installment of A Song of Ice and Fire. Ostensibly writing this as the first half of a two-book volume, with a 3 - 5 year production time on each, the book is filled with unresolved storylines, AWOL main characters, and lengthy travelogues where nothing of importance happens. This draws inevitable comparisons to another famous fantasy series that started strong and became a sluggish, irritating morass.

The pace isn't really the problem, though, as the story still stands on its own two legs. The real issue is the writing.

Though the first three books were extraordinarily well-written overall, Martin's prose could never be classified as elegant. In this book, for some reason, he takes three steps backward and sounds almost amateurish in some chapters. The book is full of awkward, clichéd, and sometimes downright hackneyed phrases and sentences. His prose may typically be spare and to the point, but I never audibly groaned while reading the first three books.

One of the biggest problems is Martin's sudden inclusion of colloquialisms that, as far as I can tell, never existed in the books before. Coz's, nuncles, and valonqars abound, and we're bombarded with multiple references to "groats" in a single chapter. This not only creates a continuity problem but also shows Martin's lack of patience for phrasing things differently, leading to the overuse of the same idioms.

By now, fans of the series are used to the disturbing prevalence of rape in Martin's world, but even that loses what little subtlety it had in this book. At least two characters are described as "needing a hard raping", another example of redundancy. The consensual sexuality also devolves, with strange fixations and blunt-force descriptions that make it seem almost gratuitous.

I gave it two stars instead of one because the standout elements of the series are still there. The characters are multidimensional, unpredictable, and well-developed, and the overarching story is fascinating. However, I'm truly concerned about the direction of the series. I hope the next book returns to the caliber of the first three. I'd hate to have to recommend that people stop at Book 3 like I do with Jordan's series. I'd rather dismiss this one as "the mediocre volume" and go back to enjoying the series. Here's hoping.

At this juncture, I have come to understand that George R.R. Martin's writing style operates in waves. Although this may not be in line with how actual science functions, I envision his plot structure as a colossal tsunami. He incorporates minute oscillatory currents that contribute to a massive tidal wave, which ultimately crashes down and immerses us all in the most exquisite and devastating manner.

Like "A Clash of Kings", "A Feast for Crows" serves as the buildup of the tsunami. We witness the aftermath of the destruction and chaos in "A Storm of Swords" with only about half of the characters: Cersei and Jaime, Sansa and Arya, Brienne, Samwell, and a few others. Not only do the fragmented pieces from the previous book begin to coalesce, but new divisions also form, ones that will require a great deal of effort to tie together.

Martin's characters are what earn "A Feast for Crows" its acclaim. Besides the arduous situations they find themselves in, their complexities continue to captivate my attention with every page. For instance, Jaime's honor harms him more than it heals him, we condemn Cersei for her actions while loathing the patriarchal system that drives many of her deeds, and Sansa and Arya both adopt new identities to protect themselves, among other things. When these characters interact, all the nuances and twists come together in unexpected and ingenious ways.

This book is recommended for fans of the first three books in the series. Even though it is a bit slow-paced, it enriches the characters significantly, and I am confident that Martin will build upon this development in future installments.

*review cross-posted on my blog, the quiet voice

This book was truly fantastic.

These books are incredibly good. I have a deep love for them. I'm eagerly anticipating the moment after I finish reading A Dance with Dragons. Then I'll be able to join the countless people gathered outside GRRM's house. We'll all be looking at our watches and tapping our feet impatiently as we wait for the 6th book in the series. I haven't yet endured that wait, but I'll soon be one of you. Squeee!

Anyway, let's talk about A Feast for Crows. I was referring to its awesomeness. Here are some things, in no particular order, that I found truly awesome:

New characters were introduced, adding fresh perspectives and depth to the story.

New character POVs allowed us to see the events from different angles, making the narrative more complex and engaging.

The sheer brutality and badassity of some of the characters were simply captivating. Their actions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat.

The changes in some of the characters were unexpected and added an element of surprise.

The strange twists that occurred were completely unexpected, leaving me shocked and eager to see what would happen next.

The plot was intricate and full of surprises, constantly evolving and keeping me hooked.

The history of the world was rich and detailed, adding a sense of authenticity and depth to the story.

In short, everything about this book was amazing. Crap, just read these already! :D

Simply put, the entire Song of Ice and Fire series is my absolute favorite, even surpassing my beloved Gaiman. I have fallen deeply in love with this series and I obsess over it in the same way that some people obsess about Tolkein or Harry Potter.

In my mind, it stands as the best epic fantasy since Tolkein. Just like Tolkein, Martin crafts a real and immersive world with an extensive history, complete with its own unique languages, cultures, and songs. Tolkein's world is a high fantasy realm filled with elves and magic, where even the main characters aren't human. Martin's world, on the other hand, is a bit closer to our own. A significant portion of it could have been an alternate version of Medieval England, and indeed, one can clearly see some inspiration drawn from historical events like the War of the Roses.

Humans are at the forefront in Martin's world, and most of them would assume that magic and monsters only exist in stories told to young children (although they are sorely mistaken). The series is replete with Lords, knights, and court intrigue. Moreover, Martin is exceptionally gifted in his ability to deftly peel away at the plots, revealing layer upon layer that you didn't anticipate but probably should have. Every time you think you've got something figured out, you discover that there's much more to it and, more importantly, you realize that the author has been subtly hinting at these revelations throughout the entire book. This is not a series that you should simply skim through. He shows you the answers rather than blatantly telling you, and the rewards can be truly great.

The book is written from the perspectives of many diverse characters. This allows for a plethora of plots to be intricately weaved and intermingled, but unfortunately, it also makes it a bit challenging to get started. Due to the sheer number of points of view, it takes some time to fully immerse oneself in each character's story arc and understand how it all fits together. This can pose a bit of a hurdle for first-time readers. However, all I can say is that it is well worth the effort, and I would wholeheartedly urge you all to give this remarkable series a try.

I’m aware I’m in the minority when I say this was my favorite book of the series, BUT JUST HEAR ME OUT.

Things I liked:

1. You get to hang out at King’s Landing A LOT.

Cersei Lannister is despicable and I love her with all my heart. I send the Lannisters my love (and they send it back because they don’t want it).

2. Daenerys isn’t in it.

I’m aware I’m also in the minority in enjoying her absence, BUT COME ON. Lady has three dragons and STILL no idea how to cross the ocean and take back “her” throne. The Baratheons called—your dad was a real dick and therefore your family’s throne privileges got taken away. Once you torture people for fun, you kind of don’t get to sit with us anymore. Also, you freed a bunch of slaves and just CANNOT BELIEVE they’re now starving because NO ONE WILL HIRE THEM. WOW. Plot. Twist. Didn’t see that one coming. Also, you can tell me all the live-long day that you’re a queen and a great leader and deserve everyone’s adoration. Well, actions speak louder than words, Dany. You can’t figure out how to cross an ocean with three FLYING dragons. Homegirl Cersei might be cruel, but at least when she says she’s going to blow something up, SHE FUCKING FOLLOWS THROUGH. As you’ll see in this book.

3. Jaime’s Gryffindor side really shows.

He’s still in love with his Slytherin sister, but you see he’s really not a total villain.

4. Brienne is a badass Gryffindor who I could follow around all day.

Not in a creepy way.

5. Jon Snow isn’t in it.

HEAR ME OUT. JON SNOW IS GREAT. HE IS A LOVELY HUMAN AND SHOULD ACTUALLY BE SITTING ON THE IRON THRONE. I just don’t find him very interesting to read because he’s vanilla AF.

6. Asha Greyjoy.

Girl power.

7. Sam has more of a purpose than just being Jon’s Hufflepuff sidekick.

He’s such a cinnamon roll.

8. Arya is a queen.

I’d put her on the throne just to watch her get revenge on anyone who even looks at her wrong.

9. No Bran.

Call me when you’re ready to progress the plot.

10. SANSAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

You get to watch her blossom into something other than a prim and proper lady. I still haven’t forgiven her for the direwolf thing in the first book, but this did help our relationship.

Things I didn’t care for:

1. No Ravenclaw Tyrion.

The Lannisters are such a well-rounded bunch.

2. Daenerys wasn’t killed off by a pride of lions.

Spoiler alert.

This book had its fair share of things that I absolutely adored. The frequent visits to King’s Landing were a treat as it allowed us to see the devious Cersei Lannister in all her glory. Jaime’s transformation and the emergence of his Gryffindor side made him a more complex and likable character. Brienne’s badassery was a joy to behold, and I loved following her adventures. Asha Greyjoy brought some much-needed girl power to the story, and Arya’s journey towards becoming a queen was both exciting and satisfying. Sam also had his moments, showing that he was more than just a sidekick. However, there were a few things that I didn’t care for. The absence of Tyrion, who I consider a Ravenclaw, was a bit disappointing as he always added a touch of wit and intelligence to the story. Also, I was a bit disappointed that Daenerys wasn’t killed off in a more spectacular way. Overall, though, this was my favorite book of the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

George R. R. Martin's fantasy gift continues, and as the author explains, this part is divided into two sections.

The first section is "A Feast for Crows" and focuses on the events related to King's Landing and the focus on Cersei and what pertains to our realm, its expansion, how it is managed, and the continuation of its intrigues.

This part seems calm compared to the previous parts as it builds and lays the groundwork for events that will be strong in the future.

The second section, which I haven't read yet, "Dance with Dragons", will focus on what lies beyond the sea where Daenerys and her dragons are, as well as the Wall and the new Lord Commander of the Wall, Jon Snow.

The events are slow but also anticipated, waiting for the upcoming twists.

Note: I have watched the TV series for this saga and I regret that as many of the events of the novel have been tampered with.

“Words are like arrows. Once loosed, you cannot call them back.”

This book, compared to its prequels, took me "only" a month to read. As always, there were chapters that I liked more than others. Sometimes they were so intriguing that I didn't want to stop reading. At other times, I wondered why on earth someone would bother wasting their time writing such pointless words.

Here's the list of POV's from most to least liked:

Cersei

Sansa

Arya

Jamie

Samwell

Arianne Martell

Aeron Greyjoy

Asha Greyjoy

Areo Hotah

Arys Oakheart

Victarion Greyjoy

Brienne of Tarth

Arya:

I've never been a big fan of Arya's chapters. They bored me in the same way Brienne's do now. There's a lot of aimless wandering around Westeros, from one disaster to the other. I'm glad she arrived in Bravos and can't wait to find out more about her life under the eyes of the Many-Faced God.

Brienne:

Why? Why bother? We all know she won't find Sansa in the Riverlands. We all know exactly where Sansa is. To me, there was nothing more pointless in the whole series than her chapters. Luckily, her plotline got more exciting towards the end of the book.

The Greyjoys:

It was interesting to read about the Iron Islands, especially about the Kingsmoat. But I could live happily ever after without those Ironborn, who only stir up more trouble. It's not like there's not enough misery already.

The Martells:

While I always wanted to know more about Dorne, the chapters didn't really add much to the big plot. Again, it seemed a little pointless to me, but yes, I loved finding out about Dorne's secret plans and affairs.

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I have to say that overall, this has been my LEAST favorite of the series. Was it still good? Yes. Is it still important to the storyline? Absolutely.

In a way, I love this book as it delves deeper into many "side" characters and brings them more to life. I wanted WAY more gray woman though. I like that Brienne has stepped up, but the whole character development of the Hound and then it was like that never happened in Book 3... :(

The book starts out quite miserable and depressed, and no one is happy... I would say that the tone is set for the rest of the book haha.

Cersei has reached a point where she can no longer maintain the stress and constant many stories she is telling, and she is caught slipping in her lies.... repeatedly.

My BIGGEST reason for only giving this book 3 stars was the seemingly stead obsession with rape that was rampant throughout this book. For example, passages like: "Lord Randall is of the view that you might benefit from a good hard raping." Or even from a female character "They could do with a nice raping." Umm, what??? A LOT of this is directed at Brienne in particular. I'm not sure why George R. R. Martin is so angry with her (I guess because she is ugly??? I don't know), but wow! I don't think there were many passages about her in the book that do not talk about her fear of, escape from, or someone else saying she needs to be raped.

Overall, it was great to see some new locations and get to know some newer characters, but I missed some regulars. I watched a few episodes from Season 2 last night, which made it more apparent the major players that were sidelined in this book and, of course, as usual, the plethora of now-dead players.

3/5 stars for me.

George R. R. Martin is often considered a blowhard, and perhaps I mean that with a certain degree of respect. After all, any author who can get me to read over 2400 pages of his work must have some redeeming qualities, right? Maybe just a smattering. I'm not entirely sure. It could be because I was raised Catholic, or perhaps it's my sense of follow-through, or maybe just the fact that I've invested so much time in this damn series. Whatever the reason, here I am, having just finished book #4. Yay.

The problem is, it took me a whopping 480 pages to really get into this book. That left me with only 200 pages to actually enjoy. That's just not fair. And this isn't the first time this has happened. It's a pattern with Martin. I spend all this time trying to remember who is who and why I should care, and I'm either confused or bored out of my mind. For example, we have a whole bunch of characters with similar names like Elys, Alys, Belwas, Boros, Balon, Pate, Pod, and Peck. And then there's Sansa who is now Alayne, not to be confused with Arianne. And Arya who has gone through so many aliases it's hard to keep track. Do you see what I mean?

This is worse than "Days of Our Lives" because at least with that soap opera, you can catch up by watching maybe a day or so. And don't even get me started on Jaime and Brienne. If they don't hook up, there will be hell to pay, Mr. Martin. And thank you for having Sam lose his virginity. That gave me a glimmer of hope.

Then, just when I thought I was done, I come across this little gem: "Hey, wait a minute! Where's Dany and the dragons? Where's Tyrion? We hardly saw Jon Snow. That can't be all of it…" And of course, Martin has to taunt us by saying there's another book as big as this one coming. Bastard.
Okay, so I'm whining. I know. But of course, I'll read "A Dance with Dragons." Reluctantly, that is. And while we're at it, George, can we please get some better titles? Because when someone asks me what I'm reading and I have to say "A Feast for Crows" or "A Game of Thrones," I feel a bit silly. Just a suggestion. Thanks.

I feel completely cheated. After devouring "Storm of Swords", my anticipation for this book was sky-high. However, it has turned out to be the least captivating one in the Game of Thrones series.

I am truly skeptical about delving into the next one. So many crucial characters were conspicuously absent. I was eager to read about Daenerys and her magnificent dragons, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Stannis Baratheon, Bran Stark and the mysterious three-eyed Raven, among others who didn't even make a single appearance. But there's Arya, who's present yet not really doing much of significance. I yearned to read more about the Faceless Men across the Narrow Sea and Arya posing as Cat of the Canals, but the content was shockingly sparse.

The first 300 pages seem to be solely dedicated to Tywin's death and Cersei being an overly paranoid bitch. How on earth did she suddenly become so dim-witted? "Have you seen a maid of three and ten, very beautiful with blue eyes and auburn hair?" If I had to encounter that line one more time, I might have actually set the book on fire. A substantial portion of the book is about Brienne's fruitless search for Sansa, and it truly grates on your nerves. Not only is she unattractive, but she is also mind-numbingly dull.

And then there's Samwell Tarly. WHY ON EARTH DOES HE GET SO MUCH CONTENT??? He's so irritating that one can't help but wish for his immediate demise.

This volume could have easily been condensed into just 100 pages, yet the author drones on and on about the side characters for a whopping 900 pages. And then he has the audacity to write a note at the end saying "wait a minute. There's more in the second instalment." Are you seriously kidding me?? Just get on with the main story, you pretentious author. I am so extremely disappointed. This book will put your patience to the ultimate test and bore you to the point of death.

The fourth novel in the series faced a significant challenge in living up to the outstanding *A Storm Of Swords*. How could it possibly surpass such a masterpiece? Well, in my modest opinion, it doesn't. It's not even close. However, that doesn't mean it lacks moments of brilliance.

With the War Of The Five Kings gradually winding down, Stannis Baratheon still looms large, having triumphed over the Wildling army in the previous book.

In Kings Landing, Cersei struggles in the wake of Lord Tywin's death and rules as Queen regent after Joffrey's demise. Tommen, now seated on the Iron Throne, is far more placid than his older brother, making him easier to control. She dispatches her brother Jaime to the Riverlands to negotiate with Robb Stark's Great uncle, the Blackfish, while Jaime has Brienne searching for Sansa Stark.

Sansa herself is being safeguarded by Lord Baelish in the Eyrie, in the Vale of Arryn. Baelish is谋划ing to arrange a marriage alliance.

Moreover, we get to see a great deal more of Dorne and The Iron Islands here. In particular, following Balon Greyjoy's death, a new power struggle emerges. These sections consume a substantial portion of the story, and the world-building of the series is greatly expanded. For me, some of these parts felt a bit拖沓, yet it's still an important and integral part of the narrative.

This book was somewhat of a letdown for me after the first three in the series. Nevertheless, it did have its moments, and once again, Jaime Lannister's POV chapters were a major highlight of the story, as was the addition of Cersei as a POV character.

Overall, it is the weakest of the first four books, but it still has some very high points amidst a lot of mediocrity. 3.75 Stars, Recommended.