A Song of Ice and Fire series (spoilers for all 4 books)

[andiminga]

As a starter: what was the moment in the series, if any, that made you have to stop reading for a while?
For me it was the Red Wedding. Between reading the whole thing from Catelyn’s perspective and then hearing from another character what the Freys had done to Robb horrified me, especially since Robb was my favorite Stark kid after Arya.

I’m lucky to not get too angry about GRRM killing characters to need a break of reading the books. But if he killed Arya and/or Tyrion it might be too much.

I have another topic for discussion, Jon’s parentage. The first time I heard the theory that Lyanna and Rheagar were his parents, I was dubious at best. About ten minutes later I was pretty much convinced that they are. It’s bound to be relevant. I just wonder if Lyanna and Rheagar were married first.

Yeah, all indications point in this direction. Lyanna asked Ned to promise her to keep Jon safe and he looks to be a possible heir for the throne.

Another topic: What are your favorite characters?

Tyrion and Arya by far. Jon a bit behind. Also liked Dany in the first few books, but now she grew boring. Unless she makes it back to Westeros. And I grew fond and interested into Jamie’s character. Especially due to the adventures he has in A Storm of Swords.

[andiminga]

I’d probably agree with the Arya Jon and Tyrion choices as far as main characters go. I also quite like Jaime. Then there’s the more minor characters. I’m a big fan of the Blackfish, a total badass. I also really liked Syrio. There’s talk of him being Jaquen H’gar. It’s a stretch, but as the mythbusters would say, plausible. Also Dolorous Edd Tollet is hillarious.

Oh yeah, from the secondary/tertiary characters Syrio, Jaqen H’gar and Dolorous Edd are also in my fav. list. Plus Bronn and now even Theon.

Having read all the books, right now? Arya, Dany, Jon. On a second tier, Brienne, Jaime, and Tyrion. I also really liked the Dorne storyline in A Feast for Crows and want to know more about Arianne

I’m interested to see where the Dorne storyline goes as well. I forgot to mention earlier how much I like Asha simply for the way she plays Theon. I am hoping that Arya and Asha both end up in Dany’s party somehow, she needs some women/girls around her that can do more than serve as her maids.

It seems to me that GRRM delays the meeting of important characters very often. Oh yeah, seeing Arya, Asha and Dany together would be fun.

The moment Arya woke up blind, I put the book away for a full day.

Thoughts on Arya’s blindness? Permanent or temp? Punishment or training? I remember there were some of the blind acolytes fumbling with putting candles out. Maybe that’s phase two of Faceless University.

You are correct. And for a moment there I was also shocked as you about her story ending with being blind.

[andiminga]

I’m currently re-reading A Clash of Kings and I’m curious, does anyone think Stannis’ sword is actually Lightbringer? I know the first time I read it I believed it was but the more I re-read the books the more I’m convinced it’s not and it is part of some scheme by Melisandre.

For some time I had the inkling that “Ice” might be the magic sword. Regarding their “savior”, yeah Dany or even Jon might be choices. Or Le Femme Arya.

To make the Red Wedding even worse, George totally told us it was going to happen back in A Clash of Kings, which I missed the first two times I read it. Dany has a vision of it in the House of the Undying.

For my taste he overdoes it with all the visions who are hinting at future events. At first I was fine but now it is like overkill.

Averting my eyes from the thread (don’t want to be spoiled!), but I just finished one of the Davos chapters in book 2, and holy crap, the image of Melisandre birthing a Stannis (I’m guessing) shadow on the boat underneath Storm’s End will forever be etched in my head.

WTF IS THAT?!?!?!

I had to pause for a bit and catch my breath before continuing, it so disturbed me. Holy crap. Poor Davos, he had to see it right in front of his eyes.

I’m now really curious who they’d cast as Melisandre now (And Stannis and Davos, oooh, and Penrose) next year. In my head, she’d be played by Tilda Swinton.

Oh yeah…only a few more episodes and we shall see how they will depict this “birth”. :eek:

[andiminga]

Of course it was probably the fact that a lot of action is now centering around Dany that took the book so long to be written.

Ähhhhhm, actually no much action until the end. Before it was way too repetitive. :mad:

Didn’t Doran Martell state this is exactly what was planned. He knew that the other suitors he set up for Arrianne were going to be unacceptable to her.

Watch out for the Golden Company. I’m almost certain they’re going to get involved. It’s possible that a Targ decendant still runs it and I would wager that they have Blackfyre in their possession. I wonder if they’ll be for Dany or against her, it really could go either way. But Blackfyre would make a good symbol for a legitmate Targ monarch.

Congrats for your foresight.

Heh! So cryptic. “It’s either a YES…or a NO.”

But yeah, even in just one chapter, I just want more scenes of Jaime and Brienne snapping at each other. I don’t really care either way whether they hook up or not. Yet. I mean, I like Jaime and all, but he’s a guy who loves doing his sister. Yeesh. Brienne deserves better.

Please in the next book!!!