Does it get better? *SPOILERS*

[Baiten]

I just read the part of asos where Robb, Catelyn and Arya die and I can't help but wonder; does it get better? Less depressing, less heavy... I need some kind of revenge, retribution, a main character actually accomplishing something. Not this BS where everyone dies. I've read my share of fantasy books and I really like A Song, but this no longer an enjoyable escape from reality, this is becoming just as depressing as the real world.

So those of you who've read past asos, tell me please. I'm not asking for a fairytale, but this is too bleak.

Thanks

 

[TK-421]

AFFC is different in that it only tells you what happens to half the main characters. It does also introduce a slew of new POV's, so that mixes the plot up.

Short answer: yes...and, in some ways, no.

Just remember, Baiten, that before spring can come, there must be winter. It's no accident that the two last books after ADWD are The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

 

[Weasel Soup]

And it may not be as all bad as that aswell.

 

[The Imp]

Welcome to the forum

If you want "and they all lived happily ever after' this is NOT tghe series for you. It is not a "light" series. What to say without giving you spoilers? hmmmm.

The Red Wedding, which you refer to in your post, is the single most emotional event I've ever read in in fiction. I guess you could call it depressing, for me it was just amazing writing. Although the rest of what you can read now- whatever you haven't read in ASOS and AFFC will contain material which might also be "dark", nothing else in the series or in fiction that I've read compares the TRW.

So I guess it will get "better". I can state the obvious and say that GRRM is not killing off every major character in the series. I can say that AFFC is considered by many to be not as good as the first 3 books, although it is absolutely worth reading. You may just find the first 100 or so apges ummm, hard to get into? boring?

You've stuck it out this long, my advice would be to finish ASOS and then reconsider as to whether or not you want to continue. I think you'll ultimately be glad you continued, if you do. The first 4 books are the best fiction I've ever read, in any genre.

Let me finish by saying that I hate deaths in books or movies. I still am bothered by Jack London's "Call of the Wild", which I was forced to read in school. I had tears in my eyes yesterday at the end of Voyage of the Dawn treader. The have been Star Trek TNGs that have made me weep. I HATE animals getting killed in particular. I also like it when my entertainment makes me feel something, forces me to think about thinks in ways I haven't before, teaches me about things I iknew little or nothing about, allows me toleave this world for a very different one, albeit not necessarily better.

Ignore what I said above. Read on, suck it up, it's going to be worth it. I could have saved myself a lot of typing by saying just that

 

[Boaz]

I just read the part of asos where Robb, Catelyn and Arya die

I don't think it's possible to adequately respond to this statement without spoiling the story.

So those of you who've read past asos, tell me please. I'm not asking for a fairytale, but this is too bleak.

I feel for you. If I'd read ASOIAF before I turned twenty-three, I'd have put it down after AGOT. But now, I love it.

Was Robb really adding anything to the story? No. Widdle boy wants to be kingy... Mommy will hold his hand.

Was Catelny really an interesting character? So so. I hated her. Death actually improves her character.

Arya adds something different to the story. I dunno.

Jaime is the man. Tyrion is the halfman.

Edit: The Imp posted after I started my post.... Great post by The Imp. Amen.

 

[The Imp]

I don't think it's possible to adequately respond to this statement without spoiling the story.

I feel for you. If I'd read ASOIAF before I turned twenty-three, I'd have put it down after AGOT. But now, I love it.

Was Robb really adding anything to the story? No. Widdle boy wants to be kingy... Mommy will hold his hand.

Was Catelny really an interesting character? So so. I hated her. Death actually improves her character.

Arya adds something different to the story. I dunno.

Jaime is the man. Tyrion is the halfman.

Edit: The Imp posted after I started my post.... Great post by The Imp. Amen.

That is priceless. I don't often actually lough out loud.

No emoticons for you Boaz, but you're still one of my favorite posters ever, and i go back to the days when having a 14.4 baud modem was hot stuff.

 

[TK-421]

A side of the Imp we never knew existed. Bambi must of been a pretty traumatic experience as a kid. I feel for you, man.

Anyways, AFFC is great but certainly not "uplifting".

 

[The Imp]

A side of the Imp we never knew existed. Bambi must of been a pretty traumatic experience as a kid. I feel for you, man.

Anyways, AFFC is great but certainly not "uplifting".

I'm in touch with my feminine side, but not literally

 

[Boaz]

Imp, I'm one of your favorite posters?!?! Are you drunk this early in the morning? Or are you still hungover... or is it hung over? Are we at the mutual admiration stage of drinking? I love that stage of the buzz. When I think about you.... You know what, I'm not even going to touch this one.

Baiten, As you can see, TK, Imp, Weasel and I all have read through AFFC and are ready for more.

 

[Conor]

I just read the part of asos where Robb, Catelyn and Arya die and I can't help but wonder; does it get better? Less depressing, less heavy... I need some kind of revenge, retribution, a main character actually accomplishing something. Not this BS where everyone dies. I've read my share of fantasy books and I really like A Song, but this no longer an enjoyable escape from reality, this is becoming just as depressing as the real world.

So those of you who've read past asos, tell me please. I'm not asking for a fairytale, but this is too bleak.

Thanks

I know exactly how you feel!!
After reading what is called the Red Wedding and what happened with Araya, I was literally upset the whole next day at work.
Just a little hint at least one thing will get better to what you wrote up above.
Just think though, were you expecting this? Martin can really play with your emotions and that is part of what makes him a great writer.

One more thing, I suggest you stay away from these boards (after you read our repkies) at least until you finish Storm of Swords.

I'd suggest reading Feast of Crows but it does not live up to the previous books, then you can join us in demanding Martin finish and release the next book!

And welcome to the forum, there are some really cool Knights here.

 

[Baiten]

Hi guys, thanks for your numerous responses!

I guess I'll just have to keep on reading.

I agree with you Boaz, Robb wasn't interesting at all. But Catelyn was my favourite character by far. All the tragedy she'd been through would soon be blown away by her reunion with Arya. But then she died.

All I can say is that all my hopes are on Sansa and Tyrion now.

 

[The Imp]

Hi guys, thanks for your numerous responses!

I guess I'll just have to keep on reading.

I agree with you Boaz, Robb wasn't interesting at all. But Catelyn was my favourite character by far. All the tragedy she'd been through would soon be blown away by her reunion with Arya. But then she died.

All I can say is that all my hopes are on Sansa and Tyrion now.

I have also always like Cat. Her POV gave a very unqiue perspective, not often seen in fiction of any kind- that of a mother, wife and also "power behind the throne". She suffered as much as you could expect any character to, and carried herself with dignity and grace. She had every excuse in the world to be hateful and bitter, but for the most part she wasn't.

PS As i sit here thinking about it, it still seems kind of surrealsitic that she died, almost like a bad dream. The fact that I still almost can't beleive TRW happened speaks volumes for me about GRRM's power and ability as a writer

 

[Ursa major]

The fact that I still almost can't beleive TRW happened speaks volumes for me about GRRM's power and ability as a writer

It sounds like he has made you suspend your disbelief to such an extent that you don't believe something he has made up has really happened.


(But I do know what you mean. )

 

[Weasel Soup]

One of the aspects of Martin's writing is that all his characters are in legitimate danger pretty much all the time, and as frustrating as scenes like TRW can be, it adds an amazing element of true suspense to the novels. Can not tell you how many novels I read where I had absolutely no worries for the protagonists, Martin on the other hand has me turning pages and staying up all night. One of my favorite musings about the series has always been who will survive to the end. I have the 3 I believe will make it, but all bets off on the rest. (And by 3 I mean major players introduced on screen in AGOT.)

 

[The Imp]

One of the aspects of Martin's writing is that all his characters are in legitimate danger pretty much all the time, and as frustrating as scenes like TRW can be, it adds an amazing element of true suspense to the novels. Can not tell you how many novels I read where I had absolutely no worries for the protagonists, Martin on the other hand has me turning pages and staying up all night. One of my favorite musings about the series has always been who will survive to the end. I have the 3 I believe will make it, but all bets off on the rest. (And by 3 I mean major players introduced on screen in AGOT.)

Spot on.

One of the great things about AGOT is Ned and Drogo's deaths. By killing them off, GRRM put every other character in the story at risk. Later deaths, such those of Joffrey, Robb, and Catelyn only serve to reinforce this idea. No one is safe, ever.

Some are safer than others though.

 

[Dundalis]

Maybe I missed something, but when the hell does Arya die?

 

[The Imp]

In the word of the illustrious Homer Simpson

DOH

 

[Culhwch]

Spoilers for the events immediately following the Red Wedding, but if you are this far into the thread...

It does seem she is about to die, from memory, so if you'd read no further than her chapter immediately following the Red Wedding, you could easily think she was dead.

 

[The Imp]

Spoilers for the events immediately following the Red Wedding, but if you are this far into the thread...

It does seem she is about to die, from memory, so if you'd read no further than her chapter immediately following the Red Wedding, you could easily think she was dead.

I think the OP said he was going to continue reading, so the question above about Arya probably doesn't matter. I hope it wasn't spoiled for him.

 

[Culhwch]

If he's anything like me he flicked ahead to find another Arya chapter to make sure she wasn't amongst the departed...