Does it get better? *SPOILERS*

[The Imp]

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

I read the audibooks. It never even occurred to me that that would be the easiest and most natural thing to do

 

[Culhwch]

I'm terrible like that. I can't remember specifically if I did it on this occasion, but I bet I did. Probably with Ned, too, but to no avail in that instance...

 

[NightStalker]

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

I did that aswell. Same with Bran, he got quite boring once he broke his legs and met with those swamp kids, but I like hodor and the wolves and I'm pretty interested to know more about "coldhands"
Arya had better not die though, not yet at least, although I can imagine G.R.R.M has some other lovely deaths lined up for the next few books.
Hopefully Cersei will be one of them, she thinks she's all that, but Tommen could really do better without her, he's too cool. Why are all the bastards the awesome ones???

 

[No One]

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

Heh, I know for a fact that I did that with Arya - I just HAD TO KNOW!

 

[NightStalker]

I'm terrible like that. I can't remember specifically if I did it on this occasion, but I bet I did. Probably with Ned, too, but to no avail in that instance...

I guess because, once you've been beheaded, it's pretty hard to have a pov.
The point is elsewhere and all you have is a view from atop a wall..

 

[Dundalis]

I don't even remember Arya having anything to do with the Red Wedding, nor her seemingly about to die, so I wasn't even aware I was spoiling anything. That tells you how long it's been since I last read it.

 

[HoopyFrood]

It's always difficult to tell if a POV character has died, because they can't really say "And then I died" (unless they want to do it Shakespearean-like, as with Paris "Oh, I am slain!") I definitely shuffled through the rest of the book at the end of the Red Wedding to check on Catelyn, as I wasn't sure. In fact, the only one I haven't been worried about is the Arya bit, I saw it more as a knockout blow (so that could've beena reverse shocker for me, really). The last chapter of a certain someone in AFFC I had to check ahead to see if there was more, because I was so angry at how it finished. I mean, what a damn line to end with! If I'm getting into a character's current chapter, I'll sometimes look ahead to see how long I have to get to their next one.

 

[NightStalker]

I don't even remember Arya having anything to do with the Red Wedding, nor her seemingly about to die, so I wasn't even aware I was spoiling anything. That tells you how long it's been since I last read it.

The different POV's are often at different times so the red wedding was told from two different POV's but Arya's was later in the book. She and the Hound go to the Twins in the middle of the castle and Sandor refused to let Arya help Catelyn(He knew it was pointless) and Arya ran away but he chased her and hit her with (the flat) of his axe.
But the chapter ends there and no one could tell whether she'd just been knocked out by sandor or actually killed by either Sandor or some other soldier.

 

[The Imp]

I don't even remember Arya having anything to do with the Red Wedding, nor her seemingly about to die, so I wasn't even aware I was spoiling anything. That tells you how long it's been since I last read it.

It's no big deal, I just use the theory that I won't correct anyone's assumptions, even if they are wrong at the time, as it might ruin something for them

 

[svalbard]

Something bad was always going to happen to Robb after he snubbed the Freys and executed the Karstarks. Martin was always building towards a grim ending for him. It was the complete OTT of the Red Wedding that got me. Genius.

 

[The Imp]

Something bad was always going to happen to Robb after he snubbed the Freys and executed the Karstarks. Martin was always building towards a grim ending for him. It was the complete OTT of the Red Wedding that got me. Genius.

The thing that makes this shocking event even better is that if you do a re-read, you'll see that GRRM drops hints all over the place about the coming event.

I really hope that at some point Walder Frey is added to Arya's prayers and she gets to do the deed herself.

 

[svalbard]

I like Walder Frey. He is a complete toad, but he is a fascinating character. Robb had to go. It paves the way for Jon Snow to lead the North.

The moment Ned was executed is one of the most shocking things I ever read in a Fantasy format. I must have re-read the passage a hundred times, then put the book down and sat in silence for(and I mean this) hours.

 

[soulsinging]

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

There are a few positive developments towards the end of ASoS, but overall it's a pretty bleak work. It could be worse then... in AFFC it just gets boring.

 

[Dundalis]

It's no big deal, I just use the theory that I won't correct anyone's assumptions, even if they are wrong at the time, as it might ruin something for them

Actually, given the fact I didn't even remember Arya coming close to death (I vaguely remember the scene now, but don't think it even entered my head that she would die from the blow), I thought the OP had mistaken Arya for another character that died.

 

[The Imp]

Actually, given the fact I didn't even remember Arya coming close to death (I vaguely remember the scene now, but don't think it even entered my head that she would die from the blow), I thought the OP had mistaken Arya for another character that died.

As I remember it, Sandor hits her in the head with an axe, and you are left thinking that she might be dead. In fact, given the events at TRW, you might even be led to belierve she WAS dead. It turned out that Sandor hit her with the flat of the axe, and she was just knocked out.

 

[Conor]

As I remember it, Sandor hits her in the head with an axe, and you are left thinking that she might be dead. In fact, given the events at TRW, you might even be led to belierve she WAS dead. It turned out that Sandor hit her with the flat of the axe, and she was just knocked out.

I see it the same way, the way it was written: "His axe took her in the back of the head." the Hound actually saved her life as she was running for the castle where the red wedding was happening. I stopped reading right there for the night and felt bad all night and into the next day.

How many writers can make you feel emotions like that?

 

[Ursa major]

I've only just realised that Arya must have another "power" in addition to her warging: she can see out of the back of her head.









(Unless a certain wolf was watching the incident.)

 

[NightStalker]

I like Walder Frey. He is a complete toad, but he is a fascinating character. Robb had to go. It paves the way for Jon Snow to lead the North.

The oaths of the brothers in black state that they cannot take wives or hold lands, but if something were to happen to have them rebel...?

It'd have to be something big though, because Jon is quite noble(I hope he still is, power does corrupt) and wouldn't attack what he is supposed to be guarding. Unless of course the North willingly rebelled and followed him. In which case the wall would be guarding just the North, and not all of the seven kingdoms. So it'd still be his duty, and he could tweak the rules slightly

 

[Conor]

I like Walder Frey. He is a complete toad, but he is a fascinating character. Robb had to go. It paves the way for Jon Snow to lead the North.

The moment Ned was executed is one of the most shocking things I ever read in a Fantasy format. I must have re-read the passage a hundred times, then put the book down and sat in silence for(and I mean this) hours.

Can't say I like Walder Frey at all.
I was hoping big time that Jon would take Stannis' offer and become Lord Stark of the North so he could get a rebellion going similiar to Robert's 15 years earlier.

I agree completely about the execution of Ned, he was the main charachter!! Most loved...I was hoping somehow he was smuggled out by Yoren and was one of the three outlaws that was locked up in the journey back north....but alas it was not meant to be...

I wonder how viewers of the HBO series that have not read the books will take Neds execution?

 

[southron sword]

I've only just realised that Arya must have another "power" in addition to her warging: she can see out of the back of her head.









(Unless a certain wolf was watching the incident.)

Thats a good point. From her POV we would only see the castle then darkness. Unless she glanced back quickly and saw the hound charging with his axe.
Or Nymeria....