A Storm of Swords [Apr 1, 2018]

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Buddy Read Starts 1st April.

[Barry]

Hello? Anyone for this BR?

I'll be starting in the next couple of days. And hopefully, the spoilers at the end of Season 2 of GOT are completely different than the book .... hahaha.

[Hacen]

Yea I’ll be doing this

[Barry]

Started a few days ago. On pg 300. I think Arya III.

Catelyn
(view spoiler)[I couldn’t believe she let Jaime go in exchange for his promise to let Sansa go back. Will she be the cause of death for Robb and Brienne as well? How could Brienne safely escort Jaime back to Kings Landing. (hide spoiler)]

Brienne
(view spoiler)[I really like her. She’s tough, determined, honorable and loyal to a fault. Her exchange with Jaime when he keeps calling her wench and she keeps replying I’m Brienne is so funny 😆 (hide spoiler)]

Robb
(view spoiler)[no idea how he’s gonna gain enough men to fight against the Lannisters now that basically half of his armies are gone (the Frey’s and Karstarks). Also, I really hope the Westerlings could be a savior for Robb and the Starks, but I’m afraid GRRM is that sadistic to make the Starks really suffer before bouncing back, if ever... (hide spoiler)]

Daenerys
(view spoiler)[so, will Ser Jorah Mormons be the one who’ll betray her for love/money? What’s the motivation here ... I get that Daenerys obviously needs a huge army to invade the Seven Kingdom, but should she trust Mormont? Somehow I don’t, even though Ser Jorah has shown his loyalty to her throughout the series so far.

Sansa
(view spoiler)[the conversation with Maergery and Grandma Tyrell is so interesting. How powerful are the Tyrells? And can the grandma pull it off? I think the probability is slim, now that we know Lord Tywin knows about the plan. Will she be forced to marry Tyrion? Out of the men in the series, Tyrion would be the one who’ll treat Sansa the best. So, it seems to good to be true for it to happen lol. (hide spoiler)]

Wildlings and the Others
(view spoiler)[I like how GRRM inserts some light moments even though it see,s the world is going to hell everywhere. Jon - Ygrette moments are subtly funny and light hearted. Even Sam’s recollection of the attack of the Fist is a mixed of despair, horror and humor.

Btw, I had always thought Mance Ryder was the king of both the Wildlings and the Others. But, apparently, it seems they’re two separate factions? Will they ever join forces to attack the Wall or will the Wildlings actually be the eventual savior of the Seven Kingdom ... in all appearances, the Wildlings appear to be the bad guys, but GRRM p, I think, did a tremendous job humanizing them ... depicting them as no different basically compared with the other powers in the Realm. Humans will always be humans with all the lust for power and glory ... (hide spoiler)]. (hide spoiler)]

[Hacen]

Tarly nocked and drew, held the draw a long moment as he tried to aim, and let fly. The shaft vanished into the greenery. Chett laughed loudly, a snort of sweet disgust.

“We’ll never find that one, and I’ll be blamed,” announced Edd Tollett, the dour grey-haired squire everyone called Dolorous Edd. “Nothing ever goes missing that they don’t look at me, ever since that time I lost my horse. As if that could be helped. He was white and it was snowing, what did they expect?”

I love Dolorous Edd 😂

[Barry]

Page 602 on Jaime pov

The Wildlings
(view spoiler)[so, the reason why the Wildlings seem so eager to go over the Wall is to get away from the Others? Otherwise, I’m not sure if they’ve other reasons. I’m not sure Mance Ryder really cares about acquiring some kingdom or a piece of land. (hide spoiler)]

Craester
(view spoiler)[his other sons were sacrificed to the Others? Or the Wildlings? If the Wildlings, why are his older wives so scared of them ...

Which leads me to these questions :
Why do the Others suddenly appear after not being sighted for hundreds of years north of the Wall? What do they want?

Which leads me to .,. (hide spoiler)]

Lord of the Light
(view spoiler)[Melisandre and Thoros subscribed to the same god, correct?
Melissandre mentioned that her purpose is higher than just ruling the Seven Kimdom. Iirc, it’s got something to do with fighting the Others? (hide spoiler)]

Lord Beric
(view spoiler)[how’s he still alive after getting killed by the Hound? Is his “immortality” somehow connected with the Others (of similar “magic”)? (hide spoiler)]

Robb
(view spoiler)[
I’d probably go back to Winterfell if I were him. Can’t rule without an actual kingdom. Go back and regroup. But that’d probably mean Riverrun left undefended. Indeed, Thoros prophesies that the Lannisters are gonna attack Riverrun soon while Robb and the others are attending the wddding at the Twins.

Btw, that’s a very fortunate development with the Twins after Robb’s blunder that could’ve easily caused him the entire war. (hide spoiler)]

Arya
(view spoiler)[getting kidnapped by the Hound. Don’t think he’d ever go back to the
Lannisters. So, is he joining up with the outlaws? Or is he gonna single-handedly protect her to the Twins.

And how has he been avoiding detection from the outlaws. What poor scoutings and guards ... (hide spoiler)]

[Hacen]

Barry wrote: "Started a few days ago. On pg 300. I think Arya III.

Catelyn
[spoilers removed]

Brienne
[spoilers removed]

Robb
[spoilers removed]

Daenerys
so, will Ser Jorah Mormons be the one who’ll betray ..."

I really like Brienne too 😁

Others (view spoiler)[From what we’ve seen the Other’s are a different species. If youve got the first book go back and reread their description on the prologue. (hide spoiler)]

[Hacen]

Barry wrote: "Page 602 on Jaime pov

The Wildlings
[spoilers removed]

Craester
his ...

..."

Wildlings (view spoiler)[ Yes they’re just trying to get away from the Others (hide spoiler)]

Craestor (view spoiler)[ yes he’s giving his sons to them as sacrifices. Why have the Others appeared and why? I think it has something to do with magic getting stronger and the the dragons bit honestly it’s just a guess. (hide spoiler)]

Lord Beric (view spoiler)[was brought back by Thoros who follows the red god which is the same god Melisandre worships. (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

Page 706 just after the (view spoiler)[wedding of Edmure with Roslin. And **** that was a good trap by Lord Walder. No wonder it sounded too good to be true. I guess we know to whom Lord Tywin was writing those letters?? (hide spoiler)]

@ Hacen re Lord Beric
(view spoiler)[So, in a way this technique is like creating a living the Others only with their brain intact? (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

Page 940ish after the fourth wedding in the book. They should’ve called this a storm of weddings ...

Joffrey
(view spoiler)[that was quick. I was expecting him to die, but maybe a few days after his wedding. Maybe during a horse ride with Maergery and Grandma Tyrell...

Not sure if Littlefinger was telling the truth that it was Grandma Tyrell who killed Joffrey. I’m gonna assume it’s true. I found her to be a strong character who’s willing to protect Maergery at all cost. It seemed to me they both know exactly what they want and how to get it. (hide spoiler)]

Tyrion
(view spoiler)[not sure how he would escape another death sentence, if he couldn’t request a trial by combat. I’d love to see how the Red Viper fight the Mountain...

So what’s next for Tyrion? He wouldn’t be allowed to stay at Kings Landing. Would he sell his services to other kingdom? Or go to the Castle Black? Poor guy. Getting played by Littlefinger again...
(hide spoiler)]

Bran
(view spoiler)[
I’m confused. Those Undeads were the same ones that rescued Sam and Gilly. I think they were once Nightwatch Brothers as well. But, they’re supposed to be dead, yet they didn’t seem to be the Others? So, you can be Undead and be good?

Is one of them the 3 eye crow whom Bran is supposed to look for?

Btw, Sam must’ve been the luckiest character in the series lol.
(hide spoiler)]

Lysa is the definition of delusional ...

[Barry]

Ok finished just now. Better than the 2nd book, because there’s more actions here (and more deaths to important characters)

I have to say I’m very impressed with the depths that numerous characters have ... GRRM somehow managed to present a development or at least a hidden facet of the characters when I least expected. The motivations of the different characters are also complex.

Littlefinger
(view spoiler)[by the old gods and new, his schemes! Tywin might be his biggest competitor in this area. I knew he’s always wanted power and wealth, but I’m surprised that he developed the plan way way early in the game with the poisoning of Jon Arryn. Such a dangerous man! So devious! Boy, I’m excited to find out what other schemes he’s gonna cook up.

Poor Sansa. She kept falling into more dangerous “protector”. (hide spoiler)]

Tyrion
(view spoiler)[not sure why he killed his father ... to ensure he gets Casterly Rock? Also to ensure he doesn’t die? But I’d think with Tywin dead, Cersei would be even more reckless in scheming for his death ... did I miss something here? (hide spoiler)]

Lysa
(view spoiler)[ahhh ... so that’s what Lord Hoster Tully was saying on his deathbed.
Delusional till the end! (hide spoiler)]

Jon Snow
(view spoiler)[aw sucks to have Ygritte die like that.

Can’t say I’m surprised he’s elected as the new Lord Commander. Now, how’s he gonna handle Stannis that bullheaded idiot... (hide spoiler)]

The Others
(view spoiler)[so I guess there 2 levels of intelligence
1. The wights = common undead soldiers?
2. The Others = undead warriors with intelligence and directly controlled by the Lord of Darkness ... whoever that is.
I guess we’ll find out more in the next books ... (hide spoiler)]

[Hacen]

Barry wrote: "Ok finished just now. Better than the 2nd book, because there’s more actions here (and more deaths to important characters)

I have to say I’m very impressed with the depths that numerous character..."

I know I’m realllly late on this

Tyrion (view spoiler)[ killed his father because he found out that he lied to him about his first wife and he found Shae in his dads bed which just shows how hypocritical Tywin is. Basically he snapped. (hide spoiler)]