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A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

George R.R. Martin

Start date: July 12, 2011

Finish date: August 15, 2011

Discussion: 2011 Reads

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2011 Reads

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What Members Thought

Jul 17, 2011 Tom Merritt rated it it was amazing

My only critique of this book is that I feel like it stops right when it's getting very good. A common critique for a good book in a series I suppose. But I felt much of Dany's storyline felt like prelude and only got meaty in her last chapter. Jon Snow's bits were more satisfying, but my what a cliffhanger! And Tyrion while extremely entertaining seems to float upon the top of the plot without yet getting to his purpose. I could have done with a few more chatters on Ty and Dany, but then again ...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, dragon-books

I've been reading a lot of reviews of this book that say it wasn't everything they expected it to be. I think, after six years of waiting, it would be an awful lot to ask for this book to top all our expectations. However, I was very satisfied with the book. Yeah, it was a long time to wait. But it was a really good, and very satisfying, book.

This book had everything in it that I love from the others: rich, multi-layered, interwoven plots; incredibly vivid places and people; some beautiful image I've been reading a lot of reviews of this book that say it wasn't everything they expected it to be. I think, after six years of waiting, it would be an awful lot to ask for this book to top all our expectations. However, I was very satisfied with the book. Yeah, it was a long time to wait. But it was a really good, and very satisfying, book.

This book had everything in it that I love from the others: rich, multi-layered, interwoven plots; incredibly vivid places and people; some beautiful images; fascinating three-dimensional characters; and intrigue out the wazoo.

My only complaint about it is that there may have been even a few too many point-of-view characters. There were more than in previous books, and some felt very thrown-in. I really felt the Jaime and Bran chapters were really only there to keep us from complaining that they weren't in the book at all. They were interesting, but they really were just there to let us know that Bran and Jaime are still pieces in the Game of Thrones, and that they're moving to their own destinations. (Though Bran's arc is promising some very cool pay-off.)

Cersei's chapters just serve to underline how clueless Cersei really is. Cersei is the new Sansa in the depth of her delusions and misreadings of characters and situations. Tyrion's story was fascinating (and actually caused me to cheer at one point). Daenerys's was frustrating, but you get the sense that it had to be. Daenerys is making all her big mistakes across the sea from Westeros so when she gets there she can really kick some fanny.

Arya's chapters were very fun to read, but didn't progress her arc forward very much. I don't think she's going to end up Faceless, and I keep waiting for her to realize that. I don't know what she'd do instead though. The fan-girl in me really wants a Dany-meets-Arya scene. How could Westeros withstand the two of them as joined forces?

Some of the new point-of-view characters, including Melisandre and Barristan were incredibly interesting, especially the glimpses into Melisandre's past and the foreshadowing of how Selmy may come to be important to Daenerys.

I feel like Martin is starting to play more with how he heads each chapter. Rather than just a name, it's often a clue to how the character thinks of him- or herself or what piece in the game he or she represents. I really enjoyed seeing how each chapter heading plays off the chapter's events.

And now we're getting into spoiler territory.

For this book, even the list of point-of-view characters is minorly spoiler-y (view spoiler)[. They were: Tyrion Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Quentyn Martell, Davos Seaworth (knew he wasn't dead!), Theon Greyjoy (really hoped he was), Jon Connington, Asha Greyjoy, Lady Melisandre, Areo Hotah, Arya Stark (knew she wasn't permanently blind!), Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Barristan Selmy, Victarion Greyjoy, and Kevan Lannister.

The slow realization that the "new" Reek was Theon is one of the eeriest sensations I've ever felt while reading. He turned very interesting, but his chapters still mostly made my skin crawl. His progression from Reek (the Gollum-esque rhyming was thoroughly creepy) back to Theon was fascinating and very well done. I enjoyed his chapters, even while I hated them.

Martin got a little lazy with Martell. He was an interesting character, but from the beginning I got the sense he was a dead-end (and not only because his name was "Quentyn.") He never got fully fleshed-out and always remained a game piece rather than a character (which may be why so many of his chapters were headed with something other than his actual name.) So his death did not strike me as hard as it could have.

Victarion's chapters are interesting, but I'm worried about him. How much of an idiot does he think his brother is? And how dumb do you have to be to pour out your soul to a woman given to you by the brother you despise? That just doesn't seem like a good idea. I'm not sure Victarion's arc is going to have a good ending.

The book ended frustratingly (surely Jon Snow is not dead) but with some lovely images. I would wait six more years for the scene of Dany flying off on Drogon, and the final scene of her, filthy and raggedy, crouched beside him as an enemy khal approaches.

I was going to write something here about how Martin hasn't really ruthlessly killed off a major character since Robb. Which means he's really only killed (I mean killed-killed, not just mostly killed) four beloved characters: Lady, Ned, Robb, and Grey Wind. And those were all in the first three books. I was going to say he had to kill them to show he was serious, but that he's really not that cruel. But then I thought that somehow writing that would mean Jon is really dead. So I take that all back, Mr. Martin! I think you're very ruthless. Please don't kill Jon. The dragon needs three heads.

Now, about Jon: Aegon really did survived and is being groomed by Varys to rule with Daenerys, thus proving a popular fan theory to be true. My guess is that Martin meant either to reveal that Jon is Rhaeger and Lyanna's son in this book, but didn't because he's a little irked we figured out three of his best twists (Jeyne being Arya is the third), or that he will reveal it in the next book, following a "one huge revelation per book" regimen. He's getting a little ham-fisted with the "Jon looks like Arya who looks like Lyanna" stuff.

(hide spoiler)]

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I will reread it, and I wait in eager anticipation for the next book.

First read July 13 to 20 2011.

...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Dave rated it really liked it

While far better than the tepid fourth book, a Dance with Dragons still can't match the first three books. There's no set piece to equal those in those volumes, and the viewpoints skitters wildly around, without much point. Half the focus shifts away from Westeros to another kingdom, which feels far less compelling. That said, Martin does keep up the pace, and a few characters do meet their deaths, though often it's hard to tell whether a character does die. considering Martin's fondness for las ...more

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Sep 23, 2009 Matt rated it liked it · review of another edition

A bit overlong and Martin seems to have developed a habit of often providing detailed build up but then not really paying off. The book is often like a tease...and not in a good way. More than once I was let down by after multiple chapters of building up, finding out that a dramatic event had happened only because a character received a letter informing them about it. That's not to say the book is bad or even not worth reading. It was overall still entertaining and fans of the series will want t ...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Lydia Presley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, 2011

It really is impossible to write a review of A Dance with Dragons without reflecting on the wait any fan of GRRM had to endure to get this book into his or her hands. For years we've been waiting on this book, the other half to A Feast for Crows, and, while it certainly gave more of what we've come to expect of Martin, it also failed to answer many questions that we've had years to dream up.

I've never read a book quite so thick before and come away as dissatisfied as I am right now. Most of that ...more

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