Winter approaches Westeros like an angry beast.
The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and blood feud. In the northern wastes, a horde of hungry, savage people steeped in the dark magic of the wilderness is poised to invade the Kingdom of the North where Robb Stark wears his new-forged crown. And Robb’s defences are ranged against the South, the land of the cunning and cruel Lannisters, who have his younger sisters in their power.
Throughout Westeros, the war for the Iron Throne rages more fiercely than ever, but if the Wall is breached, no king will live to claim it.
Rating: 5 Stars
Positives: Firstly George R. R. Martin has brought us a new range of characters to join our much loved ones. We are now finally meeting the Tyrell's with sweet Margaery and her prickly grandmother Lady Olenna; we also get to properly meet Jon's wildling girl Ygritte, and she has a right sense of humour to her. This is something we definitely needed as far too many beloved characters were killed off in the previous book. It's nice to see as well despite the cliffhangers we were given for both Jaime and Davos that the two of them have survived. I don't think I was quite ready to say goodbye to either of them just yet.
And as far as plot twists go, I have to say that I bow down to George R. R. Martin here as well. Who would have suspected that Sansa would marry this particular person? Yes she may not have been consenting to it, but she's still married to him ... For now at least.
Also we finally saw the return of The Others, and oh my are they scary. Hell I'm glad I don't live beyond the Wall because if one of those things ever came after me I'd be doomed to die a craven's death . That said with their return it was nice to see Sam gain some courage, especially as he's never really had anything going for him. A nice boy by all accounts but not really someone that you'd consider a man of the Night's Watch. Admittedly Sam may still be craven, but he's getting a lot better.
Negatives: And just when I thought maybe our beloved author planned to stop killing people off he goes and kills the Old Bear. Was that really necessary? I kind of liked him, as a grandfather kind of figure who is very set in his ways. But I suppose the Night's Watch has to have change in order to be able to move forwards, and what better change than by having your Lord Commander killed off?
I also would have liked to see what became of Theon Greyjoy after he loses Winterfell. For all we know he's dead or dying, and we haven't seen him for a whole book. Then there's little Rickon Stark as well, I wonder how he and Osha are faring and where they've ended up. Yes I know that as a boy of only four years of age Rickon may not be that interesting a character, but still I'd like to know what has become of him.
Finally what was with those last two chapters? How can you bring Bran and Jon in such close proximity of one another and not have them meet? That's just utterly heartless.
Would I recommend this book? As always with this series, this book gets a huge thumbs up from me. You definitely need to read it.
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