Having just finished re-read I felt the need to reevaluate. Upon first reading, I enjoyed DWD but had a lot of complaints as well. I think the balance has shifted somewhat now. Fewer complaints, more enjoyment! As some have said I think the long wait colored my expectations and not for the better!
Kinda working from best to least liked.
I'll start with my girl Arya! I really had not expected to see her in DWD so was pleased to see her at all. Very much enjoyed her story line, she is moving right along. Still not sure where exactly she is going, but when she gets there look out world! She is honing skills she has always possessed. She will be able to go anywhere, be anyone, she is also learning to use her warg abilities which before where only present in her dreams.
Some of the smaller storylines may have been the best!
Davos. praise the seven!, alive and well off to find Rickon! Love him! He and Selmy would be the first of my Queensgaurd!
Lord Manderly, who would have thought it! Freys falling out left and right around him, love it!
That Bravoosi banker is more than he seems. I can buy him just showing up once but he strolls around in the storms of winter like he is going to a spring picnic in the park!
My next best, help me you old Gods!, is Theon/Reek! I never really disliked Theon, felt more sorry for him than anything. His situation was forced on him by the generations before, how he dealt with may not have been perfect but who's would be! He certainly didn't deserve Ramsey! Is it possible he (with Asha's help) can take the Iron Islands back from Euron before dying the heroic death I definitely see in his future?
Jon, honestly for the most part I am very proud of Jon! He has made a lot of tough choices that others (Mormont, Ned or anyone else in the NW) could not have made. In hindsight I think it was part of why Ned had to die, if he was sent to the wall, with Mormont's death he would surely have been elected commander, and could not have made some of the clearly needed choices. Jon had to bring in the wildlings, he needs men, alive, fighting for men, not dead fighting against them! He sent his friends away for two reasons, he can trust them out off his sight and he cannot be their friend anymore, he must be their commander. The only real commander mistake I see is the ships to Hardhome (is that the place I mean, can't remember the name?) waste of time and resources and more lives. On a personal level, as someone said, when will these Starks learn that when they start locking up their wolves bad things happen! Cat got it with Bran and the rest of them should have too! Dany found it out as well, she was doing just fine till she chained her dragons!
Not sure how I feel about Stannis. He is doing many of the right things for the wrong reasons, does that make it right? Mel has used him terribly, what becomes of him when she finally figures out she is backing the wrong horse for AA reborn?
Tyrion, what of Tyrion? Still disappointed with this part of the story for him. I with some here that Penny was neccessary to bring home to him the cost to others for some of his actions yet I feel most of those actions he is feeling the pain of where done by others. I see why GRRM held him back from Dany, had he reached her before she flew off on Drogon he would have gotten the same reception as Quentyn, probable worse, as a Lannister she may very well have feed him to the dragons!
Which brings me to Dany, hated this part of the story, GRRM made her into quite the wimp! Can see it may have been needed to show the opposite side from most leaders as in what happens when the person at the top cares a bit too much about the little people. But did it need to take so long, don't think so! Chaining the dragons bah! Marrying someone because he got the harpies to stop killing bah! All that proves is he is The Harpy and you can hang him now with a clear conscience! Just have to hope she has now gotten her stuff together (with Drogon's help) and can get down to it!
Bran, was very pleased that he has found his niche just sad that it may well mean spending his life as a tree! I really hope this is not true, that he is strong enough for that to not be needed, he deserves better, but we know how GRRM can be, bittersweet anyone?
Has Cersei learned her lesson? As much as we can hope she has, I just don't think so! Actually I hope she hasn't so i don't have to feel sorry for her when she gets her's!
Anyway guess i'm done for now, still more to say but since I have already written a book here, will give you all a break for now! Please let me now what you think!
