Daenerys Targaryen! (A Dance with Dragons spoilers)

[NewJeffCT]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book - and, she finally friggin' does something when she jumps on the back of Drogon and flies off over Meereen. About friggin' time!!

The rest of the book has gone along pretty well with Jon, Tyrion, Reek/Theon, etc. However, it seems like the Dany chapters had been about her sitting around Meereen, worrying, and deciding what she should do next...

(Ser Barristan rocks, though, finished the first Queensguard chapter at lunchtime, on to The Iron Suitor, which I assume is Victarion Greyjoy.)

[FloridaJudy]

1. He saves the *real* surprise for the very end....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo!


Damn you, GRRM!

[NewJeffCT]

2. well, a few things have surprised me so far

I figured Brienne was still alive, but her running into Jamie was a surprise. (waiting for the other shoe to drop on that one with Lady Stoneheart...)

And, Jon Snow saying "hang him" in regards to Janus Slynt, and him taking charge of the Night's Watch (heck, even Stannis followed his advice about gathering the mountain clans and attacking Deepwood Motte) and welcoming the wildings.

Davos still being alive was a nice surprise, but it was not a huge shocker.

Theon has become almost heroic so far after being a major villain in book 2.

Best line was when Tyrion got sold into slavery and the slavemaster comes out and says something about how if they behave, they'll be well treated, and that eventually, I hope you treat me like you would treat your father, and Tyrion's response was "Gladly!" I was ROFL on that one.

(dying for the next Tyrion chapter after Dany saved him from the lions...)

[XemaSab]

8. I know!

:o

[NewJeffCT]

12. however

Aegon Targaryon being alive was certainly a surprise as well.

[Duer 157099]

3. Hey I just read that chapter this morning!

I'm only reading Daenerys and Tyrion's chapters. It's confusing when he throws in other chapter titles that still follow those storylines.

I know I'm nearing the end. Then I will go back and read Jon and Samwell's storylines (I only followed those up through the second book so far). This is my strategy to make the books last longer.

[NewJeffCT]

4. I'm not patient enough to go through each point of view

and, my old brain would get confused with the timeline.

Plus, some chapters should be read back-to-back: events around Joffrey's wedding (Sansa/Tyrion) and the Red Wedding (Catelyn/Arya) in Storm of Swords, for example.

[Duer 157099]

5. Yeah, in SOS I did read those 4 story lines together

It is only in this last book that I'm sticking with just Tyrion and Daenerys for now. Some storylines seem self contained, although until I read them I can't know for sure (eg, Bran and Jon).

When I've read them all, then I will read another time completely chronologically and it will seem like an even bigger picture.

I'm really just trying to make it all last as long as I possibly can.

[FloridaJudy]

6. I'll have to go back and re-read it.

To see if he left an escape clause. One of the things I learned about Fire and Ice is that not everybody who appears to have been killed stays dead. There's a rather surprising resurrection in Dance with Dragons. Actually, there are several, but one's a real "OMG! I never would have guessed that!"

I hope he has an even bigger surprise in the next book.

[NewJeffCT]

7. I think one resurrection is already implied from A Feast for Crows

with Gregor Clegane (Feast for Crows was the request for plate armor for somebody 8 feet tall...)

I haven't gotten to it officially yet, but I'm almost positive that it's him that's going to be wearing the armor... but, whose head? The Cersei chapter implies that they needed a new head.

[FloridaJudy]

9. Let's just say that one of Daenerys' would-be suitors

Has a rather interesting history. I did not see that one coming! It also has huge implications for the rest of the series.

[cemaphonic]

10. Victarion is so hilariously awesome in this book.

Normally, pretty much everything having to do with the Iron Islands bores me to tears, but I'm starting to really root for the old pirate. He certainly has a sensible approach to Pascal's Wager in a setting where there is a lot of evidence for divine intervention. For that matter, Bran's story finally started to get interesting.

As for Dany, her arc didn't annoy me as much as it seems to have done for many (aside from setting up a bunch of stuff that won't be resolved until the next book - but that is a problem with many arcs in the book). It was good to see her needing to struggle a bit after the victory lap that was her story in ASOS, and most of her choices (or lack thereof) seem pretty consistent with the constraints of the political situation in Slaver's Bay, and her own ideals. Plus, she's still the least-murdered teenage monarch around, so she should get some credit for that.

[NewJeffCT]

11. good point on Dany

at least she's not in the same boat as Joffrey Baratheon or Robb Stark

[BreweryYardRat]

13. See, I was rooting for Victarion up until he started sacrificing people en masse.

And murdering people just for being gay.

Now I'm hoping that one of the dragons roasts him.