Sections
A Dance with Dragons, the fifth volume of the A Song of Ice and Fire, at the same time that it is one of the more concise novels of the series, containing virtually only three main plots – which helps to move the narrative forward –, it also suffers from the remnants of the bad planning surrounding the previous book, A Feast of Crows.
With the separation of these last two volumes by the characters’ location in the world created by George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons ends up with the stories that take place in two main locations: the North of Westeros, especially around the colossal wall of ice, focusing on the [...]
A Feast for Crows, the fourth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, was released five years after A Storm of Swords, following a troubled writing process. The author first decided that the plot would jump five years in time, which would allow the children and dragons to grow. However, long after he had produced enough material, George R. R. Martin abandoned that idea, noticing that more than half of what had been written was in the format of flashback. Martin then decided to start again from scratch, picking up the story from where the third volume left off. After some time, he also realized that this new novel had become too long, with more than one [...]
The third installment of A Song of Ice and Fire, A Storm of Swords, is the novel in which all the plots of the series really start to unfold: its narrative is permeated by major events that brutally modify the political structure of Westeros and the life and personality of its inhabitants. However, the book slips up precisely on the portrayal of some of these exciting scenes.
The story still follows the war for the Iron Throne, interspersing it with Daenerys’ search for power on the neighboring continent of Essos, and with the Night’s Watch’s resistance in the north, as they try to investigate and stop the advance of [...]
“In a room sit three great men, a king, a priest, and a rich man with his gold. Between them stands a sellsword, a little man of common birth and no great mind. Each of the great ones bids him slay the other two. ‘Do it’ says the king, ‘for I am your lawful ruler.’ ‘Do it’ says the priest, ‘for I command you in the names of the gods.’ ‘Do it’ says the rich man, ‘and all this gold shall be yours.’ So tell me-who lives and who dies?”
This riddle, proposed by lord Varys to Tyrion Lannister, summarizes the main question of A Clash of Kings, the second novel of The Song of Ice and Fire series, written by George R. R. Martin. With [...]
A Game of Thrones, the first volume of the A Song of Ice and Fire series presents a vast and intricate world, with a rich array of fascinating locales and characters, and focuses on how their troubled relationships help deconstruct the concept of honor.
The plot follows Eddard Stark, the lord of the city of Winterfell in the north of Westeros, who receives news of the incoming visit of his close friend and king, Robert Baratheon. Robert is traveling to Winterfell to propose that Eddard assume the position of his adviser as Hand of the King, since the last one, John Aryn, died. Eddard’s wife, Catelyn, however, quickly receives [...]