A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

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A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 117,019 ratings · 9,143 reviews

#1 "NEW YORK TIMES" BESTSELLER
A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE: BOOK FIVE
In the aftermath of a colossal battle, Daenerys Targaryen rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way east--with new...more

Hardcover, 1117 pages

Published December 1st 2011 by Harper Voyager (first published 2011)

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Jul 23, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, fiction, great-and-terrible-men, grand-opera

Warning: The dragons in this review are named Giant and Spoilers. I have tried to shield most of them from view, but don’t get mad at me if one of them burns you. With this book, it was bound to happen.

This one was a real mudfight. Between me, myself and I.

Me didn’t get beyond “SQUEEE!” for several hundred pages,
Myself, while also trying to get over her grammatically awkward name, came up with the logical reasoning why this reaction was totally okay and based on something other than left over t...more

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Dec 05, 2012 James Broussard rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm blown away that someone could write a book so long in which nothing actually happens

I wrote a longer review at http://allthenominees.blogspot.com

But it says pretty much the same thing.

146 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 Andrew rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

"Words are wind," says George R. R. Martin (GRRM) no less than 13 times in the latest installment of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. In this incredibly windy tome there was very little advancement of the overall story and no resolution to any of the myriad plot threads. Instead, most of the book followed characters travelling, yet in its 1,000+ pages only one reaches his destination while the rest are still travelling.

Words are wind, and GRRM is a windbag. His predilection for overwriting is...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Nataliya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: GRRM fans who, like me, can't abandon this series in the middle

Shelves: 2012-reads, hugo-nebula, locus-winner

Dear George R.R. Martin. Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You may have killed my favorite character. Prepare to ~~die~~ roll in dough as we continue buying your brick-sized creations.

(The above is what you'd expect from a book titled "A Dance with Dragons." Disclaimer: For the vast majority of this book's pages, none of it happens.)

Yes, I have a few problems with this latest installment in GRRM's neverending magnum opus. I have high standards for GRRM after ASOIAF 1-3. Hey, I read GRRM before I ev

...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Grell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Martin himself describes the writing process of Feast: ‘The last one was a bitch.” and of ADWD: “This one was three bitches and a bastard”. If the author had trouble writing it It’s not surprising that it is also “three bitches and a bastard” to read. Presumably the first 3 books were easier to write, I also found them far more enjoyable to read.

I think part of my difficulty with reading ADWD is my refusal to skip anything, I never felt this urge to in the 1st 3 books. I read this today and tho...more Martin himself describes the writing process of Feast: ‘The last one was a bitch.” and of ADWD: “This one was three bitches and a bastard”. If the author had trouble writing it It’s not surprising that it is also “three bitches and a bastard” to read. Presumably the first 3 books were easier to write, I also found them far more enjoyable to read.

I think part of my difficulty with reading ADWD is my refusal to skip anything, I never felt this urge to in the 1st 3 books. I read this today and thought it was very applicable, in his essay “The Art of Fiction” Sommerset Maughm writes: “The wise reader will get the greatest enjoyment … if he learns the useful art of skipping. A sensible person does not read a novel as a task. He is prepared to interest himself in the characters… and what happens to them, he sympathises with their troubles and is gladdened by their joys. But he knows instinctively where his interest lies and he follows it as surely as a hound follows the scent of a fox. Sometimes, through the author’s failure, he loses the scent. Then he flounders about till he finds it again. He skips”

My interests are in Westeros, not in Mereen. I didn’t feel the urge to skip in the Theon, Jon or Davos chapters. With Dany, Jon and Tyrion’s character regression from the end of ASOS I have lost interest and sympathy with them. Its not a very plausible or thoroughly fleshed out setting, unlike Westeros with full family trees, coast of arms and centuries of history. As a reader I am floundering in these chapters because the author floundered in these chapters. Generally I can enjoy brilliant prose with zero plot. However Martin’s excessive repetition of phrases is jarring. So to is his increasing use of inconsistent faux-medieval invented/adapted words (serjeant, neeps, needs must, nuncle) it does not make for good prose.

In his 1st 3 books Martin avoided the fantasy tropes of unkillable farmboy saves the world. Now he has fallen victim of his own tropes, with comic-book like cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter and countless characters having soap-opera like resurrections. The realistic feudal medieval world of the early books is now replaced with an Orientalist flawed Eastern continent with none of the depth of the Westeros he created. Supernatural and fantasty elements are also prevalent, often as a tool for weak plot. Sadism, swearing and "grimdark" elements have also increased which is also in my opinion MArtin falling into his own tropes and not to the benefit of the prose or story.

I have only just finished ADWD but others seemed to have finished very quickly, I suspect they skipped many Tyrion and Dany bits and probably found the whole experience more enjoyable.

The Martin in the first 3 books is no longer the Martin of these last two. ADWD continues the drop in quality that came with FfC, I hope returns to enjoying writing the next 2 (or 3) so I can enjoy reading them again!
(less)

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Feb 07, 2013 mark monday rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: astrokogical sign: Virgo

Shelves: fantastickal

An Initial Reaction to an Initial Reaction

Chicago Tribune:
“What’s A Song of Ice and Fire? It’s the only fantasy series I’d put on a level with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. . . . It’s a fantasy series for hip, smart people, even those who don’t read fantasy.”

ugh, SHUT THE FUCK UP, CHICAGO TRIBUNE!

"a fantasy series for hip, smart people"...you make me want to never read this. but i won't let you influence me. fuck off, douchebags! how dare you spoil my excitement with your pretentious,...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Hirondelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, waiting-since-2000-for-it

So, this is it. The dragons were supposed to dance, instead they barely spread their wings. And I am left thinking, this is it?!?

My complaint by the way, is not about the wait itself. I think I have been waiting since 1998 for this (this was supposed to be book 3 sometime in the past). After a few years of waiting, I think I managed to ignore it (by ruthlessly ignoring almost all discussion of anything related to these books for years). Other authors take their time: Megan Whalen Turner seems to...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Tia Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

8/27/11 Ok, no it didn't take me a month to read the book. It took me a few days. I just waited to write the review because it's one I didn't want to write.

*****BELOW THAR (may) BE SPOILERS********

Ok, I'm underwhelmed. GRRM is undoubtedly a fantastic writer and the writing was superb, as always. But the god damned story is dragging.

1. Dany and her dragons will never ever ever ever ever ever ever get moving. Never ever. Never. And that's bullshit. There was no dancing with dragons. There was a...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: much and more

Recommended to Valerie by: wild horses couldn't keep me from reading this

Purchased anew, and laid it beside her bed,
Conflicting thoughts flying through her head.
Afraid almost to crack the covers, read the pages,
What if it was the last book? "No, More," she rages.
What if it wasn't? How long the wait next time?
Five years? Seven? Thirteen? Unlucky, even in rhyme.
First I must reread all the others...
refresh my brain of Snow and all his Brothers.
Sansa is no smarter than I did recall.
Starks should avoid other Kings Halls.
Weddings never make things merry,
The price too high...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Nikkodemus rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spoilers Included, so skip if you feel the need...

So, it's like this. You like hotdogs. Hotdogs are your favorite food. And there's a jumbo hotdog coming out on the 12th, so yay. Come the twelfth, all you get is the bread, and they say, eat that, the sausage is coming. It's so meaty, you're already salivating, dribbling on yourself in public like a fool.
Munch, munch, munch. But the bread is dry... Then you come upon a sausage factory. The Jumbo Sausage factory, and you get a grand tour, up and d...more

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May 20, 2008 Miss marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I find it strange that people have already rated this book.

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Sep 02, 2011 Joel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, sci-fi-fantasy, series, asoiaf, 2011, signed-copy

Did any of you guys watch Lost? Remember how you'd be watching a totally banal episode, and you're like "Oh, interesting, everyone is mad at Hurley for eating ranch dressing right out of the tub, that's, gee, that's compelling, hey now do more scenes of Jack and Kate re-establishing readily apparent character conflicts and interrelationships, zzz." But then at the end of the episode, something totally crazy would happen, and you'd be all "OMG IS VINCENT THE SMOKE MONSTER?" and the music would go...more

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Jul 29, 2011 ambyr rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: acquiredㅡbought-new, authorㅡmale, characterㅡlgbt, genreㅡfantasyㅡsecondary-world, ownㅡon-loan, protagonistㅡmultiple-genders, warningㅡrape

I don't know how to objectively review this book.

I first found Westeros in high school--sophmore year, to be exact. I'd had A Game of Thrones for months, maybe a year. I think it was a present. I kept opening it, reading a few pages, and bouncing off. And then one day I was bored and didn't have anything better to read and I finally forced my way through the prologue (which I still hate, and skip on rereads) and fell head-first into the book. When I came up for air, I demanded my parents take me...more

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Dan The repeated prose was something I forgot to mention in my review. It's like he caught on to the fans embracing "Winter Is Coming" and all, he had to...more
Aug 08, 2011 06:27pm

Heather I am similarly bewildered about why I enjoy these books so much, given the rampant racist, orientalist, sexist, & misogynistic cliches. It's embar...more
Aug 10, 2011 05:16pm

Wastrel I'm a bit perplexed by the idea that the books are racist and misogynist. The portrayal of people from other races and locales is generally positive -...more I'm a bit perplexed by the idea that the books are racist and misogynist. The portrayal of people from other races and locales is generally positive - even the Dothraki, while bastards, are given some nobility and the empathy of one of the main characters. [And if you think it's racist to have a race of utter bastards - well, they're horse nomads. From the perspective of civilisation, historically they HAVE been utter bastards. The prototypes for Khal Drogo are men whose actions make the holocaust seem kind: Genghis Khan may have killed up to 50 million, and Tamurlane up to 20 million. Tamurlane erected a pyramid of 90,000 human skulls after capturing Baghdad. If anything, the Dothraki are suspiciously genteel].

It's true that the "other" parts of the world don't feel as real as the "european" parts. But I don't think that that's RACIST. Indeed, it's inevitable. If an author attempts to model a culture directly off a RL one, he will be accused of insensitivity and racism, because he can never know that culture as well as his own and will inevitably make generalisations and exaggerations. If he creates a culture himself, it will seem less fleshed-out, less believable, than our real culture. I agree that the portrayals of Essos (etc) don't feel as real as Westeros, but there's nothing there that's actually historically unprecedented in our world, and if there is a fault I would put it down to poor worldbuilding rather than racism. [Why must people always ascribe errors to malice? Or treat human imperfection as equivalent to malice?] I think the morality in the books is clear: there is no suggestion that people of other religions, colours, cultures, etc, should be treated any worse, or have any less value, than the people of Westeros.

In terms of misogyny... I don't get that, either. The series is full of strong women. Arguably the main character, Dany, is a woman, and an Empress. Probably the most popular character, Arya, is a woman [and please don't tell me that having a tomboy is misogynist - as somebody whose female friends and family mostly tend to the tomboyish, I find the 'only girly girls are real women, anything else is women forced to pretend to be men' rather offensive, and frankly misogynist. (I'm not claiming you're saying that, just that it's a common thing to say, so I thought I'd pre-empt it)]. Catelyn is probably the most sensible and admirable of the characters. Cersei was a strong and independent woman, before he turned her into something else in AFFC (and I think that was due to plot requirements, not misogyny). Brienne is a brave, noble and strong woman (and yes, it's unpleasant that rape is mentioned so often around her, but... who said fantasy had to be set in utopia? Having women succeeding against prejudice is not itself prejudiced). Sansa starts off as an annoying little girl, sure, but is fast on the way to becoming a powerful woman in her own right (and her childhood naivity is hardly misogynist - Bran is also naive, for instance, and to a lesser extent Jon also).

I'm honestly surprised that anybody would take an author so clearly dedicated to equality and liberty and accuse him of being both a racist and a misogynist. [And with standards that high, I'm left wondering who in the world, and certainly who in the world of writing, is NOT a racist misogynist!]. I'm not trying to attack you here, I'm just genuinely baffled.

----

On the book itself, I largely agree (except on disliking Tyrion - I didn't realise anyone did, or even could, dislike Tyrion). Theon's storyline is the best, and the book suffers from poor editing and the lack of it's own arc.

On the other hand, having re-read AGOT just before reading ADWD: while the prose repetitions are annoying, the general quality of the writing is FAR higher now than in the first book (and I agree, by the way, that the prologue to AGOT is just terrible).

[I'm a little puzzled, by the way, that you want to sink into the world, but dislike the 'travelogue' elements - surely, the travelogues are the bits where we SEE the world, where the world is created for us to sink into. If the novels were all set in King's Landing, the world would feel very different indeed.]

I'll leave you with one comforting thought: hey, at least "your" world is Westeros. I grew up with Krynn! And if you think Martin is bad, try reading most Dragonlance novels. [And at heart I'm a Planescape boy - but i've only even read one Planescape novel, it was so bad].(less)
Oct 27, 2011 05:05am

Jul 26, 2011 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-song-of-ice-and-fire, wolves-jessi-s-wolf-shelf, dont-make-any-friggen-plans

Ok so I loved the first 3 books in this series, loved them.A Feast for Crows was a bit disappointing, but A Feast for Crows was a different format and was considered one half of a finished product. So A Dance With Dragons is the other half to make that this installment complete, but they never feel complete you need the next one right away because this George R.R. Martin bastard has created these characters that we love and we want to find out what happens to them. I kid,I kid, I love George Mar...more Ok so I loved the first 3 books in this series, loved them.A Feast for Crows was a bit disappointing, but A Feast for Crows was a different format and was considered one half of a finished product. So A Dance With Dragons is the other half to make that this installment complete, but they never feel complete you need the next one right away because this George R.R. Martin bastard has created these characters that we love and we want to find out what happens to them. I kid,I kid, I love George Martin, I just wanted more. There are new characters that I don't care too much about and when all said and done some meant little to the story, many of the unlikable characters are POV in this one, like Cersai and Theon, I fucking hate Theon! Theon is bad and not good bad like some people I know........

Just bad bad. You know turning your back on your trusted friend, killing innocent children and well those are the worst right there so I wont get into it. Theon is now having a rough go of it and I am not loving where this is going, who do we cheer for? Theon? Or the despicable psycho who is holding him? Well who? I don't want to cheer for Theon but he seems better then Ramsay.... but who isn't? So that pisses me off because I don't want to hope for him, I want to punch him in the face. I'm sure you see my dilemma.

I had missed Tyrion, so brilliant and funny,less funny now that it's all gone down the shitter, but still his chapters are enjoyable.

I cannot tell you how much I missed Daenerys in AFFC, my Khaleesi, and Khaleesi has a lot on her plate and some could be interesting, but most of the time is spent daydreaming about Daario who seems to be the most unattractive person inside and out always wanting to kill everyone,off with their heads and out with their entrails. I know what your thinking, yes I find Sandor Clegane very sexy,but he is a rugged strong guy who protects an innocent girl,who could blame my ladywood ?Who ? Daario on the other hand

"The captain wore striped pantaloons tucked into high boots of purple leather, a white silk shirt, a vest of golden rings. His trident beard was purple, his flamboyant mustachios gold, his long curls equal parts of both."

I was going to try to find a picture for this but all I could think to put into Google was "Skittle clown pirate" and there are some things you can't unsee so I went with no pic. It does not need to be said but this did nothing for me but he melted Daenerys into a puddle with one twitch of an eyebrow.....gross.

I sort of think George is a genius, he ends things in such cliffhangers that we are so grateful to find out anything that we will give him our money even if it took him over 5 years to get things done. Are they paying him by the hour?? Get on it man. There is a cliffhanger regarding our Jon Snow and when I realized I would have to wait for the next book I was irate.

Like seriously!!!

I mean

(less)

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Aug 23, 2011 Matt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a struggle between what I wanted to feel and what I felt.

I’m not going to lay false claim to being an early convert to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire cycle. To the contrary, up until April 17, 2011, I spent a great deal of time passively ignoring fantasy in general, and Martin in particular. (By passively ignoring, I mean I lived my daily life without ever thinking about the topic). However, on that date, HBO premiered Game of Thrones. Within three minutes, people were bei...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Christine (AR) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sff

It's real, it's here. He could have written about locusts and I would have been happy. 5 stars.

ETA: July 12, 2011. Oh, why not. I believe this one, too.

Amazon says this will be out September, '08.

I have no words for how excited seeing an actual publication date for this makes me. I've decided to believe it. And in pixies and unicorns and magic rainbows, too.

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Feb 27, 2013 Dan Schwent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Stannis Baratheon marches on Winterfell from the Wall. Daenerys's empire is threatened from within. Tyrion finds himself enslaved. Cercei finds herself in chains. The Crow's Eye desires Daenerys for his own but so do several other would-be suitors. And Jon Snow faces dissent from his brothers of the Watch...

In the latest installment of Incest and Intrigue, more of the pieces are placed on the board. Daenerys can't trust anyone. Jon Snow can't trust anyone. Iron Lords cannot trust their own broth...more Stannis Baratheon marches on Winterfell from the Wall. Daenerys's empire is threatened from within. Tyrion finds himself enslaved. Cercei finds herself in chains. The Crow's Eye desires Daenerys for his own but so do several other would-be suitors. And Jon Snow faces dissent from his brothers of the Watch...

In the latest installment of Incest and Intrigue, more of the pieces are placed on the board. Daenerys can't trust anyone. Jon Snow can't trust anyone. Iron Lords cannot trust their own brothers. Sellswords in general cannot be trusted. In short, no one can trust anyone while the Game of Thrones is being played.

This one had its share of memorable moments, both good and ill. I really like how Arya's story is developing but I don't see how it's going to tie back into things. The revelation of Young Griff's true identity was a game changer and its repercussions will be felt in the next couple books. I liked that Brienne is still alive and that Jaime Lannister chose to follow her instead of rushing to Cercei's defense. Jon Snow getting knifed on the Wall by his sworn brothers didn't sit well with me. I'm really hoping he's still alive come next book, whenever that may be.

It looks like Theon is headed for redemption but I'd rather see him dead or taking the black. Bran is progressing nicely. Whatever happened to Ricken and that bastard of Robert's that isn't Gendry? And who is Cercei's new champion Robert Strong, the Mountain, perhaps? Barristan rose a couple notches in my estimation. I'm hoping he continues to draw breath in subsequent books.

I honestly don't think Martin will be able to wrap things up in two more books, not with all the balls he has in the air. Plus, it would be all too easy for him to throw more players into the mix to keep the saga going indefinitely.
Still, with A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin has made an Oathbreaker out of me. I once swore I'd never get caught up in a neverending fantasy series. In fact, I believe I said I'd rather eat my own testicles. However, I'm pretty caught up in this one. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to join the tent city on George R.R. Martin's front lawn, to wail and gnash my teeth every night until the next book is ready.(less)

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Jun 25, 2008 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am ridiculously excited about this book. The Song of Ice and Fire series is one of the finest fantasy series ever created.

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Aug 16, 2012 Architeuthis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-and-after, fiction-that-speculates

Tyrion Lannister's horse was rubbing him raw as they rode onward, the branches of the trees above them swaying in a branch-like way. Ravens flew about among them, and clouds of dust hovered like halos around the hooves of their steeds.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Tyrion spoke to yet another minor character you've never seen before. "I hear that the Morvin and the Shornpel clans have sided with Darvus Farier from the great city of Bee Eff Eee, and are pushing forward late king Baratheon's bastard...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Steven E rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, I guess we know now why Martin took so long to release this latest volume: it's a steaming mess.

Forget for a moment the fact that of the many principal POV characters, only one (Jon Snow) has any discernible character arc throughout the tome's 940+ pages. Forget too that the only female POV characters (Cersei and Dany, and even Asha in her first chapter) can scarcely go two pages without pining lustily and pathetically for their male paramours. Don't trouble yourself with the chapters (Vic...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Netts rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't start reading this series expecting a literary gem. I was only hoping for an entertaining, dark, morally ambiguous fantasy series written somewhat competently. The 1st and 3rd books delivered that quite well but the 2nd, 4th, and now 5th fall short. Having only started reading the books a couple of months ago, I don't seethe with the frustration of fans who have waited years for it to appear only to find that the action still moves at a snail's pace. Nonetheless I am aware that it took...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Lowed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book reviews nowadays are becoming more and more varied. From airing out comments on the pacing of the author's ability to publish a book- to making social commentaries- up to how you found the damn book that took him six long years to finish. No, I ain't bitching out. But I would say six years was too long a wait.

Sure, everyone has been saying this isn't just what he is doing. After all he has a life of his own. And he also edits, comments, reads, and watches football. But I strongly believe wh...more

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Jan 23, 2009 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

extremely annoyed that the book basically expected to be the finale to this series was essentially chopped in the middle and left hanging.. and that the author has still not yet finished/published/released the second half of the "finale." and, annoying to see other books being published by this author instead of this one being completed!!!!

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Jan 07, 2012 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

More of a 3.5, rounded down because I'm reflecting my declining love of this series. It started out great, but grew too large & is now choking in its own waste of words. It didn't move along at anything like the pace of the first 2 books. There were long chapters set too close together, improperly titled, & riddled with cliff hangers. The gritty realism is descending into gross for its own sake. Not all the time, but consistently enough that it is wearing.

My biggest complaint is that man...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Jennifer Zhi Yi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: grrm

To George RR Martin,

What in the name of baby Jesus have you been doing for these effing five years?

Yours,
A very disgruntled reader

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Nov 28, 2011 J. Denton rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: martin, grrm, filler, boring, asoiaf, adwd

PROLOGUE

He awoke to the feel of sunlight on his face. At last the day had come. He stretched to work out the kinks in his joints and muscles, and he groaned at the throbbing in his head. On his nightstand lay a bottle of Dornish red, which he downed in one long swallow to clear his mind, wine dribbling down his beard and shirt. He spied the book at the corner of his room where he had hurled it, and nearly threw the bottle too as the rage resurfaced along with his senses.

The book was called A Dan...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Ryan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

These dragons can dance, but they can't polka.

Weighing in at one thousand and forty pages, George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons loyally, repetitively, returns to the same refrain: know thyself.

At this point, every conflict in George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons speaks to the quest for identity. Daenerys is torn between her desire to be a mother to her people and her need to be a conqueror of her enemies. Jon Snow is torn between his duty to lead the politically neutral Night's Watch...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Pat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

George R. R. Martin is an asshole. And you know what? I knew after finishing the first book (Game of Thrones) in the Song of Fire and Ice series. I remember being 14 years old and, (grievous spoiler, in case you’ve neither read the first book nor seen the HBO series) when that fateful moment came where our righteous and heroic Lord Stark was killed, walking up to my mom aghast saying “He KILLED the hero. You can’t kill the hero.” He was true to the series most quoted saying, then: Winter is comi...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Michael Greenwell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Martin excels at delivering disappointment. He builds characters up to the point where you think you know what is coming next, and typically want to see it happen, and then introduces dramatic changes that take the character either in a completely different direction or directly into the grave, all without seeming arbitrary. His style is a bit annoying in that almost every chapter ends with a dramatic discovery, which is a bit frustrating, especially given the breadth of the narrative and the am...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Sammy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. And so, "A Dance with Dragons" arrived. For me, thankfully, it had only been six months since I finished the series, and had re-read in the meantime, so no great loss. Perhaps people who've spent 15 years with this series will feel different about some reveals, but for me I didn't expect too many answers, so I was satisfied.

Is it a good book? I think so. There are parts where things take unexpected turns from a structural standpoint - storylines that take a whole book to get close and then never...more And so, "A Dance with Dragons" arrived. For me, thankfully, it had only been six months since I finished the series, and had re-read in the meantime, so no great loss. Perhaps people who've spent 15 years with this series will feel different about some reveals, but for me I didn't expect too many answers, so I was satisfied.

Is it a good book? I think so. There are parts where things take unexpected turns from a structural standpoint - storylines that take a whole book to get close and then never intersect, making things feel rather anti-climactic. But I'm sure in retrospect, everything will fit together nicely. In fact, that's my only real issue with this novel: I think that GRRM got a bit stuck with the structure of books 4 and 5, and unfortunately it makes them not quite perfect in terms of construction. But otherwise...

SPOILERS ABOUND....

The Wall: Jon Snow's storyline was fascinating, as he had to put aside the boy and become a man. In fact, he parallels Dany considerably here (which should have plenty of fan theories stoked) and it's a very character-based turn for both characters, as they must face the realities of ruling. Through Jon's camp, we see the massive changes that take place at the Wall, the rise and fall of Stannis Baratheon, and - of course - the seemingly tragic consequences of Jon's reign. I don't think Jon is out just yet, but he has taken actions that will significantly impact Westeros, both for the good and the bad.

Nearby, meanwhile, Theon Greyjoy has the most heartbreaking chapters, being sadistically tortured and reduced to a 'dog' in the eyes of his captor, the vile Ramsay Bolton. Bolton is one of the most disgusting characters to ever appear in literature, and Theon's psychological journey is hard to read at times due to its disturbing nature. Oddly, this bitter kid emerges as a sympathetic character by book's end. I don't know where his story will go from here, but I actually hope he gets some respite.

The rest of Westeros really play second fiddle here (I realised late in the book how few descriptions of heraldry we've been privy to, which feels strange after four very Seven Kingdoms-heavy novels). Asha Greyjoy has a small plot that intersects and, impressively for only four chapters thus far, she comes across as vividly real. Davos Seaworth sets himself up for plot in book six, but that's about all. We briefly drop by Jaime Lannister, but for only a chapter that - honestly - could have happened in AFFC. In King's Landing, I enjoyed Cersei's chapter immensely, as her pain and humiliation fought with the stronger part of her, that part that has been raised as a power-hungry lion since birth. I can't wait to get back to KL full-time soon. And that epilogue, which is a real game-changer, suggests that things are about to get very real.

Finally, beyond the Wall, young Brandon Stark becomes attached to what I think is the 'Other' plotline: the god who opposes R'hllor; theirs is the true song of ice and fire, not these petty humans. It'll be interesting to see whether Bran remains an active player or just a manipulator from outside of the world.

A good majority of the book takes place across the Narrow Sea, though, which is interesting and allows GRRM to prove just how many cultures he can conjure up. Arya Stark, in Braavos, continues her affecting and mature journey to becoming an assassin; Victarion Greyjoy battles his way to Meereen by sacrificing his principles; new POV character Lord Jon "Griff" Connington turns the other way with Aegon Targaryen, throwing a cat among the pigeons (not just a metaphor - there appears to be an actual cat in KL, who could be someone's warg!).

The big question with the Meereen storyline is whether it works as well as the rest. Quentyn, Tyrion and Victarion head toward Dany, but only Quentyn makes it in time, and then Dany is spirited away! She spends the entire novel in Meereen discovering who she is as a ruler, and all she has caused. But I think we all expected the novel to focus on her choosing between these men and what they could provide, whereas instead Dany chooses between two other characters. I really enjoyed all of these plots - Quentyn as the failed knight and a man who wished he could have been elsewhere, Tyrion rising out of any situation, etc. So many little things happen that will pay off later, such as Tyrion's murderous dreams, but for now, it can feel quite half-cocked, I concede. Since events end with Dany on her own, possibly going in another direction altogether, while her men gather in Meereen... I'll be very intrigued to see what GRRM has up his sleeve to make this worthwhile!

In my opinion, this was a very enjoyable extension of the series. I said in my review of AFFC that it would've been better received had it come out two years after ASOS, and two years before ADWD. Instead, AFFC had six years as the 'newest' book, after a five year weight; of course it couldn't have lived up to that, particularly being the post-war, autumnal, reflective novel that it was. ADWD furthers a lot more plot, but it will be served best as *part* of the series, and I hope George brings us more soon. Still, there's no denying it's a complex and re-readable book, and I'm happy to wait if we get two more of these. (But just two, please, George?)

I'll try and edit this with more coherent thoughts at a later date, but I'd love to hear what other people thought were the flaws and highlights?(less)

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About George R.R. Martin

George R. R. Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.

Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies,...more George R. R. Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.

Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: "The Hero," sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.

In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.

As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.

In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.

Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.

Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...(less)

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Books by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)

A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)

A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire #3, Part 2 of 2)

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Quotes from A Dance with Dragons

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” — 11,327 people liked it

“Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born.” — 113 people liked it

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A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5)

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