THE BOOK BEHIND THE FOURTH SEASON OF THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONESFew books have captivated the imagination and won the devotion and praise of readers and critics everywhere as has George R. R. Martin’s monumental epic cycle of high fantasy. Now, in A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth book of his landmark series, as a kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on … kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on the brink of peace . . . only to be launched on an even more terrifying course of destruction.
A FEAST FOR CROWS
It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.
But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.
It is a time when the wise and the ambitious, the deceitful and the strong will acquire the skills, the power, and the magic to survive the stark and terrible times that lie before them. It is a time for nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages to come together and stake their fortunes . . . and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.
more
Back to The Song of Ice and Fire. These books are just so gripping! You can’t wait to find out what happens next. There is so much to love (and hate) about the characters in these books. Like all great stories, the people become real to you and you have to know what becomes of them. One more to go after this one. Waiting for the latest book to come out is going to be torture! Mr. Martin, please hurry!
My least favorite of the series so far, but still just so incredibly written and told that I couldn’t give it less than four stars. A Feast for Crows (book 4) is written parallel to A Dance with Dragons (book 5), and tells the story of King’s Landing during this time, while book 5 returns to the Wall and across the Narrow Sea.
Because of the focus on the characters I like the least: Cersei, Jaime, the Lannisters in general, I had a hard time getting as into this book as any of its predecessors. Still, the story it told was riveting, enjoyable, and necessary to the overall plot of ASoIaF. I’m eagerly looking forward to A Dance with Dragons!
A Feast for Crows is a novel that I feel very compelled to write a review for, due to the division of readers over its content. This is the fourth book in the series of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. Lesser known characters, such as Arianne Martell, Victarion Greyjoy, and Brienne of Tarth are the main focuses of this book, as compared to the characters highly focused on in the previous books, such as Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. While the chapters for these characters did not grasp and hold my attention as well as the previous books, I still enjoyed this part of the series and learning more about the backstories of these side characters, and what goes through their heads. I felt as though the book picked up with action towards the end as well.
Overall, another great read in this well-known series. If you are considering skipping this book because it doesn’t really address the “main characters”, I would urge you not to. The context of this book comes into play of the series as a whole, and lays the foundation for some major plot points.
Devastatingly awesome read!! I loved the book, wasn’t prepared for the story, if you haven’t read it, it will make you laugh and cry and miss your first love.
Loved all the books! They’re long, it’s true, but so worth it!
I read most all of the series. I’ve also read several of his other novels. Highly recommended.
I can see why people have problems with this volume of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, titled A FEAST FOR CROWS. We spend a great deal of time in the company of Brienne, Maid of Tarth as she wanders through Westeros looking for Sansa Stark, only to be told she was on the wrong trail. At the end of the book, she comes to a sad, unsurprisingly grisly end, and it all seems so pointless.
The other figure who casts a long shadow over this novel is the beautiful but cruel Cersei. As she is not a sympathetic character, and she gets increasingly paranoid throughout this book, and there is no resolution to her situation, I can see why people would get impatient.
It is true, that I found myself wondering, two-thirds of the way through, when this novel was going to come to some kind of resolution. And it didn’t, which was disappointing. But strangely enough, I did manage to read most every word, which is unusual for me as I am the most impatient person on the planet. So what kept me going?
I think the people who really kept me going throughout this volume were the Stark sisters, which is strange as we don’t hear much from them. But whenever they appeared, the volume came to life. That might explain why I stuck with Brienne through thick and thin, as she was looking for Sansa Stark, and I kept expecting them to meet up.
Otherwise, I have to agree with others who have said this needed a stronger editorial hand. In particular, I found the prologue to this piece as well as the prologue to A DANCE WITH DRAGONS (which I have just read) really unhelpful, and actually a turn-off to the book I’m about to read. In my opinion they give you hooks that are not really hooks, as they don’t seem to have much to do with the main characters. I hope that in his next volume THE WINDS OF WINTER, GRRM will do something about that. Four stars.
The entire GOT series is incredible! The television series it spawned was a national obsession, but the books are far better. There is so much more to the original stories than they would ever have time to put in the limited time for a series. The series was great, but read the books or listen to the audiobooks, they are so much more intricate and enthralling. Believe me, you’ll be happy you did!
Each page kept you yearning for the next. Was over to fast
Instant classic thanks Mr. Martin for sharing your world
Can’t wait for the story to continue – the books are so much better than the series on HBO.
Great series. Really enjoyes
Continuing the story of Westeros and following our heroes, this turns really dark and ugly. But if you’re a fan of the other books, you really have to keep going to see what happens. There are things that are hard to read but the characters are so compelling, it’s hard to look away.
read the whole series could not put it down. I am only afraid they’re will never be a last volume but I am 10 to watch it on TV HBO.
Of the four books in this series that I have read, this is my least favorite. It was incredibly boring for a few hundred pages. Then it got really good, dropped back to boring and ended really good. Maybe it was the lack of Jon Snow or Daenerys, but I got through it and have started A Dance With Dragons. 4 chapters in and I can’t put it down!
Game of Thrones is unbeatable!
This is such a great book. I started the show first and then started the books and I definitely think the books are so much better. This is the one where I see the show taking a lot of different turns and now I’m mad they didn’t stick to the books because it’s so much better. Excited about the introduction of Lady Stoneheart and to see where he takes her. I loved all the Brienne chapters. She is one of my top 3 favorite book characters for sure!
This is book 4 in the Game of Thrones book series. King Joffrey is dead. Cersei is now ruling the kingdoms until Tommen comes of age. The war that raged is over. The 7 powers seem to be at an uneasy peace.
Tommen is married to Margeary Tyrell (lake King Joffrey’s wife), but Cersei is uneasy with the little queen. She keeps Tommen close at hand becuase he is only 8 years old. She wants it known across the lands that she is the queen regent.
Brienne has left King’s Landing in search of Sansa Stark. Sam Blackwell is heaing across the sea with Gilly and the hidden baby. Measter Aemon is at death’s door. Jon Snow is the lord of the wall. Jaime is off securing lands and preventing war. Sansa is in hiding with Littlefinger and little Lord Robert. Arya is also in hiding and learning to fight.
While Cersei is busy trying to get Margeary accused of treason, she herself doesn’t realize that she is being watched. Arya – thinking that no one she loves except Jon is alive, tries to become an unknown and learn to fight against the enemies of her past. Sansa – trying to figure out how to keep hidden and unseen soon finds herself betrothed to someone she doesn’t even know.
This book was broken into two because it is too big of a story to tell in one. So this book only tells the tale of Cersei, Jaime, Brienne, Sansa, Sam, Aryan and a few other characters. We don’t hear from Jon Snow, or Khaleesi or Tyrion. They are to come in the next book.
This book was a MONSTER in size! I did read it while I was reading other things – trying to put in at least 50 pages here and there. And then in the last week I have tried to take in around 100 pages of this book just to get it done this year.
I do love George R.R. Martin’s books. They are incredibly long and have thousans of characters and are in no way a light read. But his writing is amazing. His talent is unbelievable. I do wonder what the inside of his mind must be like – because every character, even ones only mentioned once or twice, has some kind of back story. I have a very hard time keeping everyone straight, yet he has developed this incredible world.
I don’t think I will get to book 5 in the new year with my new challenge ahead. But I may have to try and sneak it in so thatI can hear this story from the other character’s point of view. This book was filled with my least favorite characters – except Sam – so I am anxious to see what my favorites are up to.
What else can be said about George RR Martin’s seminal series (besides asking him to “write faster)?
A Feast For Crows takes a different approach than his previous three books in the series. This book focuses on the courtly intrigue in King’s Landing, the rise of the Iron Islands, the journey of Samwell Tarly from the Wall, the search by Brienne of Tarth for Sansa, and the strange transformation of Arya Stark.
While I wish it had more of a paced plot instead of “he did this” and then “she did that” I still deeply enjoyed the world-building and love characters like Arya, and Jaime Lannister.