Adwd First reactions (spoilers inside)

[Koopa]

Okay, i'm more or less 1/3 in the book.
And i'm starting to wish Dany drops dead this instant.
I can only hope she redeems herself in next 2/3 of the book.

To me she is like a child playing at queen.
She's mucking things up left and right.
I've never was all that fond of her character, but is seems like her
personality and her own maturity has regressed back into some adolescent teen. Which admittedly she is, only you'd expert more from one who has seen and been through all she has been through.

 

[Tansy]

I'm about the same point as you

She does seem to have turned hormaonal, its a bit late for her to get boy mad, hopefully she works it out now a certain person is heading back to her

 

[Koopa]

I've just read the Jon chapter where he recruits wildlings.
This chapter does not sit well with me, you see i've got the stinking feeling Jon's fate is doomed.
That Bowen Marsh seems to be getting more unhappier by the day with him, and the mood with the NW's was grim to begin with.
Damn.

 

[Koopa]

Minor complaints so far:
-A bit too many pointless descriptions, wilst it's fun to learn more about the free cities, Martin goes a bit oberboard sometimes.
-Too much repeating of certain sentences.
- It seems he's dumbing down lots of characters.

 

[Tansy]

on the plus side there is a lot more Dolorous Edd

I'm about 50% through at them mo and just got the the bit where Tyrion ends up on piggy back

Ii pulled an all nighter, it's taking some getting through but its entertaining, part of me doesn't want to finish as I may have to wait another 6 years for the next installment

 

[IlliferThePenniless]

I just finished and as someone who's liked her throughout the series I was super annoyed with her throughout.

 

[Koopa]

Okay, Jon just made a pact with wildlings and Melisandre whilst having advised king Stannis. he basically went against all the NW stood for.
I suppose i should thank GRRM for making it clear Jon is a goner.
All that is left is too find out how he dies. With bran becoming a tree, Sansa at heart a southron, and Arya (well i don't know yet what has happened to her), she somewhere in the free cities) all thats left is Rickon.

Why am i suddenly happy that he at least seems to have the wolfblood in him, and is guided by Osha.

Can you tell i liked house Stark?

By the way, i'm constantly thinking after learning more about the Boltons i find myself constantly thinking : They've doomed themselves.
What with Ramsay killing of Roose trueborns, theyre only 1 true Bolton left. And once Roose dies, Ramsay won't hold out long, whilst cunning, he's too bloodthirsty for the north too accept overlong.

 

[Koopa]

Okay, whereas i still think it could have been edited better, and some characters actions are not-so-smart or asking-for-betrayal the book is growing on me. or rather around the halfwaypoint the book gets better (and better), more interesting. The plots and intrigues come together.

I've just read the part of Jon's pact with Tormund, and the wedding. fact is his thoughts make sense. If he does not bring the wildlings on their side, he will be facing them as wights. He's just selling it wrong.

 

[IlliferThePenniless]

I don't know that there is a way to sell it to the Bowen Marshes of the world. Jon's plan is pretty self evidently good, there are Just an awful lot of folks who don't want to see it though.

 

[Niolani]

I've decided neeps is the new nuncle. What are neeps anyway?

Other than that, I just think some aspects seem out of character and other things seem to deviating. I just don't see Roose being so chatty, for example. I can't see Tywin suffering such an affront from the Mad King (can't remember his name right now) and then wanting to marry Cersei to his son without bringing about the Mad King's destruction 1st.

I like it better than AFFC, it feels more like the other books where AFFC didn't but there's still something off. On the plus side, I think the dragon with 3 heads is all set out, IMO it's obvious who they are now.

 

[Boaz]

Neeps must be some vegetable. I decided they were short for turnips and just pressed on

 

[Needle]

on the plus side there is a lot more Dolorous Edd

I'm about 50% through at them mo and just got the the bit where Tyrion ends up on piggy back

Ii pulled an all nighter, it's taking some getting through but its entertaining, part of me doesn't want to finish as I may have to wait another 6 years for the next installment

I am finished with ADWD and I had the same problem here! Started reading at my usual fast pace then thought "slow down! as soon as you finish you have to start waiting again!!"

Loved Tyrion pig jousting! Tywin is screaming in his grave!

I just finished and as someone who's liked her throughout the series I was super annoyed with her throughout.

Guessing your talking about Dany here, she definitely needs a good swift kick!!

I've just read the part of Jon's pact with Tormund, and the wedding. fact is his thoughts make sense. If he does not bring the wildlings on their side, he will be facing them as wights. He's just selling it wrong.

Jon definitely has the right of it. It is just that the wildlings have been considered the scum of the earth so long that people have willfully forgotten the "gaurd the realms of MEN part!"

Neeps must be some vegetable. I decided they were short for turnips and just pressed on

I have decided that neeps are a cross between beets and potatoes. Probably nasty but there are worse things!

 

[Mesanna]

Neeps are swedes (the vegetable, not the people), i.e. a type of turnip. Don't know if swedes have different names in different parts of the world? Here in Scotland, Haggis Neeps and Tatties is probably our national dish (that's Haggis, swedes and potatoes for those of you who don't speak the lingo!)

 

[Tansy]

neeps are turnips, slightly different to swedes? same family though i think

 

[Gry Wnd]

So what does everyone think? There aren't a lot of reviews or reactions to whole book in this thread.

I am personally too conflicted to even try yet, have to let it settle. I finished it on the 17th and still don't really know what I think.

Well I'll say this much. It's a GRRM book so you gotta love it but I don't put it in the class of ASOS (don't put anything in that class). I think it's on par with the others in series, but the Jon (hopefully cliffhanger) and my expectations after reading the reviews, and the wait, sabotaged my ability to be objective, I think..

 

[Needle]

So what does everyone think? There aren't a lot of reviews or reactions to whole book in this thread.

I am personally too conflicted to even try yet, have to let it settle. I finished it on the 17th and still don't really know what I think.

Well I'll say this much. It's a GRRM book so you gotta love it but I don't put it in the class of ASOS (don't put anything in that class). I think it's on par with the others in series, but the Jon (hopefully cliffhanger) and my expectations after reading the reviews, and the wait, sabotaged my ability to be objective, I think..

Gry Wnd. I feel much the same, with the long wait and anticipation I am not fully ready yet to decide! I finished several days ago and began to reread 2 days ago, hoping to figure it out this time!

My opinion for now-
First half was kinda slow, hard going, even though it was from different POV's it felt like a rehash of old info.

While some stories were advanced or ended (3 cheers for Slynt beheading anyone!!) for the most part there was not much of an advancement in the story. Things are beginning to move along yes, but not much.
ex: Dany- spent most of this book totally disgusted with her, chaining the dragons and all but forgeting about them, are you freaking kidding me! She may have regained her sense at the end but she made no progress whatsoever that I can see.

ex:Tyrion- Yes he made good his escape, yes he now has a pretty good idea what he needs to do. Did he really get anywhere though? Not really. Felt like a lot of unneeded rerouting and wrong turns.

ex: JAIME/BRIENNE WTF?!! Why put them in at all!! Very unhappy with this!!

Bran: 50/50 here. He got where he needed to be to learn what he must yet we leave him apparently trapped there. How on earth will they ever leave. No closure on the who the heck is Coldhands either unless I missed it.

Arya's part was TERRIFIC imho! She makes progress fast when she decides to do something!

Jon's part was the best. HE IS NOT DEAD! And we must hope not Un-Jon either. I was pretty impressed with his story line and progress.

As a whole good, with flashes of greatness. As good as ASoS? No. Better than AFFC? Yes. On par with AGoT and ACoK? Yes. Already waitin for TWoW? You betcha!!

 

[Gry Wnd]

Gry Wnd. I feel much the same, with the long wait and anticipation I am not fully ready yet to decide! I finished several days ago and began to reread 2 days ago, hoping to figure it out this time!

My opinion for now-
First half was kinda slow, hard going, even though it was from different POV's it felt like a rehash of old info.

While some stories were advanced or ended (3 cheers for Slynt beheading anyone!!) for the most part there was not much of an advancement in the story. Things are beginning to move along yes, but not much.
ex: Dany- spent most of this book totally disgusted with her, chaining the dragons and all but forgetting about them, are you freaking kidding me! She may have regained her sense at the end but she made no progress whatsoever that I can see.

ex:Tyrion- Yes he made good his escape, yes he now has a pretty good idea what he needs to do. Did he really get anywhere though? Not really. Felt like a lot of unneeded rerouting and wrong turns.

ex: JAIME/BRIENNE WTF?!! Why put them in at all!! Very unhappy with this!!

Bran: 50/50 here. He got where he needed to be to learn what he must yet we leave him apparently trapped there. How on earth will they ever leave. No closure on the who the heck is Coldhands either unless I missed it.

Arya's part was TERRIFIC imho! She makes progress fast when she decides to do something!

Jon's part was the best. HE IS NOT DEAD! And we must hope not Un-Jon either. I was pretty impressed with his story line and progress.

As a whole good, with flashes of greatness. As good as ASoS? No. Better than AFFC? Yes. On par with AGoT and ACoK? Yes. Already waitin for TWoW? You betcha!!

Agreed 100% I can't even re-read it right now need to give it time. I think the fact that we waited so log is why we felt a little disappointed in not getting more closure. However I'm starting to put that on myself and trying to wipe the slate clean for the re-read. I'm going to give GRRM some credit by remembering the blistering end of ASOS. I mean you can't come right back and pull that off again. There needs to be some set up.

The Meerene knot however, surprised he solved it by storms, stalling, and excess Dany...

Yeah that Jaime chapter.. uggh- I liked the whole Robert Strong reveal but I'd have traded it for another Jaime chapter.

The Epilogue was one of the top 5 chapters, which I'm grateful for, but that says something.

There is too much going on now, unless the wall goes down (and maybe even if) I don't see this ending in 7 books. I'm hoping for TWOW to be pushed back and for him to add a quick 900 (call it "A Falling of Snow" or "The First Snow Fall") pages so we don't have to wait as long

 

[Bazza]

I thought the book was phenomenal. But again it is but one book in a sprawling series. Every so once and awhile I would check the pages and see how much was left, knowing that once it was finished I'd have to wait at least another 3-4 years.

With that in mind, Tyrion - traveled halfway across the world going from prisoner, to free-rider, to slave, to mercenary. On the way encountering one of the most important characters in the story, long since thought dead. In the process he found a reason to live again.

Jon- adjusted admiringly to lord commander on the wall. Bound the wildlings to his cause. I've read many complaints that he failed as a character. I disagree. He's saved thousands of lives and decreased his enemy's forces by the same amount. He understood his men more than people gave him credit for. He dispatched the ringleaders of his enemies expertly. How could he have known the "pomegranate" had the balls?

Dany- yes there is cause to complain about her storyline. I believe hers was the reason GRRM couldn't get where he wanted her to go and may have digressed her character in response. But I can still see her motives as sound. Despite her ascertation that she "does not have a gentle heart". She does. She was tired of war and death. She wanted peace. She didnt know how to control her dragons, and no trusted knowledgable advisors to help her. The murder of an innocent child by her children was too much for her. She followed the same path Robb and Jon did. Confine their animals for the best interest of those they ruled.

I judge this book as far better than AFFC and ACOK and on the same level as AGOT. nothing can top ASOS however.

 

[Koopa]

The book in an by itself is interesting. Lots of things to theorize about.
Like for instance from this book i have a whole new look and the direwolves, their names, and possible meanings in relations to their respected characters. Or the BloodRaven thing (just knew he was gonna make an appearance, i also liked how besides the obvious bloodraven attributes and his connection to the wall, we where also given some background information about house blackwood and their dead weirwood tree).
And so on.

Only, and i know i should not have expected this, since it happens more or less side by side with AFFC, the going remains a bit slow. And GRRM has a lot of work cut out for him if he wishes to finish this in the next two books.
Which i'm okay with if the books came at a regular time-period like eriksons did. We're probably gonna have to wait quite a bit for new developments.

Also i'm still hung up about Jon. I was okay with Eddard, Robb, and i could live with Sansa dying, but i wanted the rest of the Stark (and the one snow) to survive. Only hope is that he gets revived, and that GRRM pulls it off in a good way.

In any case, i liked the book well enough (had my doubt during the first half, but the second part was lots better), but i'm feeling left hoping for more in many ways because i know it will be years before the cliffhangers are resolved.

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

Just finished. Shaking my head and then holding it in both hands. It Seemed rushed (I know right) but was a good book overall. Would love to see the scrap pages he sent to the University.

Beginning the re-read....