If you like: stew * Tyrion * brazenness
A Dance with Dragons
is the fifth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. Fans of the
series will find much of what they have enjoyed throughout the previous
books. (Honestly, I think the title implies a little more dragon content
than there is, but in this series nothing is ever as it seems.) As
with its predecessors, there are so many double crosses, imposters, and
murders that it is impossible to sum up without giving away too much.
Readers will enjoy A Dance with Dragons more than the slightly disappointing A Feast for Crows.
Many of the favorites are revisited, and the lesser liked are mostly
avoided. Tyrion continues to face dire situations and come out of them
far better than he should. Many knights are prideful fools that bring
about their own ends in the name of glory and their king. The story is
not without its flaws. At times, readers might find themselves wondering
if it is a chronology of gastronomy with the exhaustive descriptions of
seemingly every meal. Additionally, Martin becomes increasingly
creative with the names featured in the chapter titles, which is
occasionally befuddling, but mostly innocuous.
The
series continues to engage readers with tales of folly in the quest for
power. The main thing it lacks if the feeling that persisted in A Game of Thrones:
a sense that all the varied story lines would come together at the end.
Though that is a clear end game for the series, each installment would
benefit from a more cohesive narrative. The vast number of plots,
subplots, and cover stories is commendable, but having a little more
integration would help to remind the reader of the sense of dread that
persisted A Game of Thrones.
The addition of new heirs to the throne and other claimants serves the
story well in its quest to show that the game of thrones will never end.
This series is at its best when the characters’ motivations are most
clear. As each makes his or her play for power the greed, bravado, and
ignorance of the players provides endless entertainment.
If you believe you are deserving of a seat upon the Iron Throne, read A Dance with Dragons.
Martin, George R.R. A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five. New York: Random House, Inc., 2011. Kindle Edition.
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