Progress on A Storm of Swords

[Marvolo]

I'm on page 202 of the paperback copy of A Storm of Swords.

I just finished a chapter with Catelyn and, having been extremely concerned for Robb so far, I am terrified now.

All of the plotlines being fleshed out so far seem to spell doom for a good deal of the character I enjoy.

Just wanted to post this. Did anyone else feel this way at this point of the book? A little shy of a quarter way in?

 

[Boaz]

ATTENTION! No spoilers, folks. This is Marvolo's first read!

Marv, I'll let you know how I felt at that point when you are done with ASOS.

 

[Jyrbian]

I felt the exact same way. But that's what kept me reading.

 

[Lubbock]

Yup that was a fantastic chapter, and i agree there was a feeling of foreshadowing, i loved Catelyn thinking when she realises whats going on "On no Robb what have you done".

 

[chopper]

If nothing else, GRRM has taught me to fear for absolutely everybody in this series. I always thought Ned would be a strong lead character, but no...
And then Renly and Theon, both of whom seemed so pivotal... (although I'm still not certain what happened to Theon).
Even though I'm now re-re-rereading the series, I dread every chapter...

 

[Marvolo]

I"m further now, and even more worried for Robb. My hopes for Sansa may still pan out. I can think of many more monstrous choices for her than Tyrion.

 

[The Curious Orange]

I'm assuming we're talking about the Rickard Karstark thing? I'm re-reading ASOS at the moment, and to be honest I didn't remember that scene at all. Second time around every word seemed to drip with fear and foreboding...

There have been several scenes where I got the raised heartbeat, the sweaty palms, etc as I read. It's a real sign of literature when you can read even though you know what happens.

And there's more to come before the book ends!


To me, this was the genius of killing Ned in the first book. You read the subsequent books with a real sense of jeopardy - The threat is real, and no one is safe!

 

[Shacklock]

The Red Wedding (I assume you mean?) really threw me, but it's a good twist

 

[Marvolo]

I haven't got to the actual wedding, but right now Twyin has demanded that Tyrion marry Sansa.

 

[Shacklock]

I haven't got to the actual wedding, but right now Twyin has demanded that Tyrion marry Sansa.

*laughs quietly in a corner* Mwhahahha...or somethig.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Let us know when you reach the red wedding and what your reaction is.

 

[Boaz]

Out of respect for Marv, I'm trying to limit my post to only what he's read.

If nothing else, GRRM has taught me to fear for absolutely everybody in this series. I always thought Ned would be a strong lead character, but no...

To me, this was the genius of killing Ned in the first book. You read the subsequent books with a real sense of jeopardy - The threat is real, and no one is safe!

Absolutely correct. GRRM hooked me by killing off Ned. I think three things happened when Ser Ilyn was summoned.

First, Eddard's death was a real declaration that no character is safe. (I personally feel Jon and Bran are safe, but other than them, it's all up in the air.) We readers must pay attention to details now. We must feel more for the characters because they may soon vanish.

Second, Eddard's secrets died with him. Sure, Benjen, Howland, Barristan, Varys, and Quaithe may know some or all of those secrets, but they don't have POVs. GRRM has buried the secrets until he's ready to reveal them.

Third, Eddard's death allowed the main story to drift off in different directions... especially to be replaced by competing viewpoints... i.e. Lannister viewpoints. We knew all about Ned's memories of Robert's rebellion, but Jaime's memories make interesting counter points. And Ned's kids are forced to try and figure out how to be a Stark and survive alone in the wild.

Marv, there are more monstrous men than Tyrion, granted.... but give Tyion some time. Sansa has kissed two men so far, Sandor and Tyrion... they are probably the two most physically hideous men at court.

Marv, my suggestion to you is to either 1) read ASOS immediately if not sooner or 2) stop reading these forums (this thread in particular) until you finish ASOS.

 

[Marvolo]

Well, what I meant, and I hope this remains true, is that I almost feel Sansa would be safer in Tyrion's hands. I trust him the most with her at this point. She's been through a crazy amount since Ilyn lopped off Ned's head in A Game of Thrones. Tyrion marrying her and removing her from the constant threat of Cersei would be a welcome relief.

I just can't imagine GRRM serving it up so peacefully.

 

[Boaz]

Tyrion has a tender side that is aching to get some excercise. But no one else wants this... and Tyrion tends to default to the Lannister MO... a Lannister always pays his debts.

 

[The Curious Orange]

Ah, I guess he means the chapter where Robb brings Jayne Westerling back as his bride - that one starts on page 202 of the UK paperback, so I guess the page-count is in line with the US edition.

 

[Slyde]

All I can say is that my girlfriend was ahead of me in reading the books, and was very frustrated waiting for me to catch up so we could discuss the things that happen in these chapters...

 

[vervain_ashe]

My first turn at the [first four] books was so fast-paced that I hardly had time to appreciate what was actually unfolding in print. I'm in process of reading them a second, third, and mayhaps, a fourth time, or until ADWD is released. I, too, was hooked at Eddard's death. There were many incredible things since, but the Red Wedding was the only other time I found myself holding my breath. I had to keep re-reading it, just to make sure I read it correctly!

If one thing's to be said about the series, it's that the reader does NOT get bored!

 

[Lubbock]

Was just rereading them for the first time and to think of all the details i missed on first reading, but i just came upon one passage that made me curious

Its Tyrion and The Red Viper talking

Red Viper "It was when i visited Casterly Rock with my mother, her consort, and my sister Elia. I was, oh, fourteen, fifthteen, thereabouts, Elia was a year older. Your brother and sister were eight or nine, as i recall and you had just been born,"
Tyrion "A Queer time to come visiting."His mother had died giving him birth, so the Martells would have found the Rock deep in Mourning.....

So why would the Martells come to visit at the worst possible time, there was bad blood yet between the families. So perheps Tyrion was special.

They even describe a omen that said that Tyrion´s birth would bring Famine, plague and war, and winter and the long that night that never ends and the Viper adds, ohh and the fall of your father.

So as we all know some of these things have already come true and could Tyrion be a ******* son og Taegaryen dynasty <ranting over>

 

[Boaz]

Could Tyrion be a ******* Targ?

It is known.

 

[viZion]

Could Tyrion be a ******* Targ?

It is known.

Whoa. I've done a fair amount of reading about ASOIAF theories and I've never heard anyone come up with that one. I guess I haven't read enough. The thought never occurred to me, either. I'm definitely going to have to read A Storm of Swords more carefully when I get to it.