Was it a Feast or a snack?

[Wil]

Was anyone else not thrilled by A Feast for Crows?
There were some interesting things, but in the end not much really changed in the story.

Opinions?

 

[the smiling weirwood]

ooh! what an adorably fat kitty!

 

[Leer Baratheon]

I thought there was a lot of advancement in the story. The whole Cersei storyline was very nice to see -- she's had that coming for a very long time. The only POV I was not thrilled about seeing was Brienne; for some reason I was so bored during her chapters. I also enjoyed the Braavos chapters -- one of my favorite things about ASoIaF are the exotic areas like the Free Cities, etc. AFFC set everything up perfectly for ADwD. We get to see Undead Gregor, Cersei hopefully die, Jamie's redemption, Arya becoming a FM, etc.

I enjoyed it.

 

[Aegon the Unworthy]

I dont know if Georgie really furthered the plot all that much. This series seems more haracter driven as opposed to plot-driven, and as such he did broaden the number of main characters. In retrospect he's probably gonna kill half of the current POVs off just to keep us on our toes so thats a good thing I guess.

If you want to read a series where you can literally read an entire book and the plot hasnt even shifted one whit, please refer to Robert Jordans Wheel of time series....approximately books three through nine (or ten or 11 or whatever its up to now)

 

[Wiggum]

I thought it was a brunch.

You have a little melon, a little bit of pastry and a toast of champaign. You leave feeling good, and full, but a couple of hours later you realize that a proper meal is in order.

I liked the book, but there were far, far too many pages addressing already established ideas. I don't think I need to be told that Brienne is ugly any more. I pretty much got that when we were introduced to her.

What it suffered from more than anything else though was a lack of lively dialogue. There is only the instance of Jaime taliking to his cousin (I think), where Jaime ends up clocking him, that the banter of a Bron - Tyrion relationship is in evidence. Martin's droll interaction between characters is such a huge part of the attraction of the series, and this book missed the boat on that.

I liked it, and need to read it a second time, but it is certainly the weakest of the four.

 

[Wil]

ooh! what an adorably fat kitty!

Did you just call me fat?

 

[Wil]

The follow-ups are pretty much what I felt. The last 3 books were moving forward so quickly and with so much excitement that Feast (in comparison) felt like someone hitting the breaks. I kind of understand why G did it (he oringally planned to skip 5 years to get to Dance; he wanting to tie up loose ends realistically; he wanted to write about some characters he likes and wants to develop that the rest of the world hates (Brie...)). If Dance comes out within the next month to fill the void I won't be too bothered, but if he takes 2 more years to finish it then the "Brunch," sorry I mean "Feast" will have been unfilling and depressing.

 

[Wil]

I dont know if Georgie really furthered the plot all that much. This series seems more haracter driven as opposed to plot-driven, and as such he did broaden the number of main characters. In retrospect he's probably gonna kill half of the current POVs off just to keep us on our toes so thats a good thing I guess.

If you want to read a series where you can literally read an entire book and the plot hasnt even shifted one whit, please refer to Robert Jordans Wheel of time series....approximately books three through nine (or ten or 11 or whatever its up to now)

-and Aegon, I agree. Jordon is XXXX! How can anyone spend 2 pages writing about a dress and 9 books about nothing?

The question is who do you blame, the Fool, or the fools who follow? The dude has sold a hell of a lot of books...

 

[TK-421]

Now, to flogg this dead horse some more...

I think in past threads where this was discussed at nausea, the general consensus was that AFFC was a good book, did advance the storyline of the series, gave us interesting perspectives on certain characters (Cersei, Jaime, Sam, Arya), revealed some stuff (Dorne and Iron Island's plans) BUT was not as fast paced as ACOK or ASOS and the split in characters worked to a certain degree, however most people's favourite characters (Jon, Tyrion, Dany, Bran, Davos) were not in the book at all, thus wetting the appetite even more after a 5 year or so wait.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

Wait, is that kitty drinking a beer? That's funny. Wil, I just think your avatar is fat. And cuddly.

 

[Wil]

Wait, is that kitty drinking a beer? That's funny. Wil, I just think your avatar is fat. And cuddly.

On the couch, drinking a beer, watching _________.

 

[Wil]

Now, to flogg this dead horse some more...

I think in past threads where this was discussed at nausea, the general consensus was that AFFC was a good book, did advance the storyline of the series, gave us interesting perspectives on certain characters (Cersei, Jaime, Sam, Arya), revealed some stuff (Dorne and Iron Island's plans) BUT was not as fast paced as ACOK or ASOS and the split in characters worked to a certain degree, however most people's favourite characters (Jon, Tyrion, Dany, Bran, Davos) were not in the book at all, thus wetting the appetite even more after a 5 year or so wait.

Hey TK, I didn't read every thread when I tost this one in. Had other things to do. Thanks for you summary. Sorry it hurt your tummy.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

I see it! That's a little disturbing. How did you get that cat to pose like that? It is a real cat, right?

 

[TK-421]

Hey TK, I didn't read every thread when I tost this one in. Had other things to do. Thanks for you summary. Sorry it hurt your tummy.

My tummy's fine thanks. Yes there are lots of threads in this forum. More than any of the other authors I think. Like the cat as well.

 

[Wil]

Thanks for the cat-compliments.

As for the posing, cats will do anything for a Coors Light (the sluts). I prefer Guiness myself.

 

[Gazz]

I actually agree with the author here.

Though i feel that George R.R. Martin is a FABULOUS author, the greatest i have ever read, and i love the series as a whole, 'A Feast for Crows' did leave me cold. It felt like he was trying to go through the drudgery of the 'in between' years and, indeed, irrelevant characters with this book (introcuding some drama now and again) simply to allow the transition between the youth of Dany, Jon, Bran and Arya to be a smoother, stabler passage in the next book.

That is not to say that it was a poor book - it was worth every penny i paid for it. That is to say, it is to be taken as read that it will not contain any highlight of the series. When we re-read the books, we will not look upon any moment in this novel as the defining moment for any of our favorite characters, with the exception of perhaps Cersei, for spoilers i won't reveal here.

It has, however, done the job that Sir Martin intended. It has filled a gap in time, and allowed us to explore fully the characters in-between phase in a way that for instance star wars certainly never could. To be honest. If I had never read any of George's previous works, Feast would be up there with the very best literary masterpieces i have ever read. It is only his supremely high standards to which i judge 'A Feast for Crows', and though it compares poorly, it fills a gap.

I hope the hooks it has left us with are explored in the next book, but either way, i feel that we can be sure that the next one has all the ingredients to be the best of the series. It has all my favorite characters (sans Jaime) for sure, and that will be its true Forté. It's almost as if the less enjoyable characters have now been pushed aside as the starter, so that we can now properly salivate our tongues for when the main course arrives...

 

[Werthead]

I dunno. The ending of Arianne's final chapter was pretty cool (when Doran reveals what a smart cookie he is), Arya's arrival in Braavos was excellently written and the final moment of Jaime's final chapter was very well done as well.

Also, since ADWD takes place simultaneously alongside AFFC, we'll be seeing Dany, Jon, Bran etc very shortly after we last saw them in ASoS. There won't be any time for them to 'grow up' in.

 

[Koopa]

I cant wait to see the north chapters, now that riverrun has fallen, the heat is on with the boltons and the freys versus the umbers and the karstarks. Cause i dont see the north fall in meekly, they are the first men and they aint going down without a fight, the south will soon find that out i think, that winning the south is comparably easier versus winning the north alongside it, cause alliances are easily made with money or other stuff in the south, the north will be less so, their honour will come in the way (beside from the boltons and those northerners close to the south, i havent met a bolton with honour in him)

and when sansa comes into play with the eyrie the lannisters and tyrells are in for a treat, especially with the ironmen harrasing them as well, i have a feeling they gonna abandon the north pretty quick the ironmen, but they gonna keep fighting the south

 

[Werthead]

AFFC actually explains some of the stuff that happens in the North (hopefully not a spoiler, but Sam starts off in the North and we get a brief glimpse of what's going on at the Wall before the rest of his story kicks in), including the way the factions fall out.

Let's just say that the North would be very formidable (Robb only had time to assemble 40-50% of the North's military potential before marching) if it wasn't massively divided. We have Stannis on the Wall seeking their allegiance, we have the Boltons in the east now entitled as Lords of the North (but most of their armies are still stuck in the South) and the Greyjoys in the west occupying quite a few castles. Also remember that quite a few of the Northern Houses may want to fight the Boltons and avenge Robb and Catelyn, but they are stuck because so many of their soldiers and followers were captured at the Red Wedding. The Umbers, for example, will not fight the Boltons as long as the Greatjon remains a prisoner in the Twins.

The only Northern Houses with full power of action (i.e. not under Greyjoy occupation or with hostages in the Boltons' power) are the Mormonts, Karstarks and Reeds. We find out how some of them are leaning in AFFC.

 

[Koopa]

the umber thing doesnt work for me, they will fight regardless the greatjon, i mean harrion karstark the true heir is also imprisonned, no they will fight, as for the ironborn, they have some castles yes, but they dont have any real strenght in forces, they are their in small scattered numbers, or at least thats how i read it, besides the freys are going down once the old man dies