110 replies to this topic

[HyacinthGirl]

It was probably the most challenging of the series to get into, as it was going at a completely different pace, but about halfway through -BAM- couldn't put it down. It wasn't my favourite book of the series but it was definitely the most subtle, there are some really great chapters in there that the adrenaline junkies amongst us may have found boring but were some of GRRM's best: such as Septon Merribald's "Broken Men" speech.

Edited by freyar_88, 08 December 2011 - 06:06 PM.

[Fryie]

I'm re-reading AFFC in parallel with my first ADWD read-through, and I must say that I tend to like the former more (although it seems now that after 300 pages, the latter finally starts to get interesting). xD
I wasn't as thrilled when I first read it, but now I'm fascinated by the character depth. Brienne, Jaime, Samwell - all awesome. Plus, I don't understand why everyone hates the Greyjoy chapters that much. The Damphair, now, is a real character, someone you can despise with all your heart, and yet very authentic and original. I love to read about the struggles of the Iron Islands amongst themselves, and how the very simple picture we had of them before (they're all just brutal jerks) turns out not to be the whole truth (consider the Reader, e.g.). And I'm interested to hear a lot more about Euron Crow's Eye. Plus, I like Asha as a character!
I found the Dorne chapters (which seem to be more popular) more boring in that regard. Arys, well okay, but Areo Hotah is boring and the Sand Snakes all seem to be variations on the same theme. If only one had made an appearance it would have been better. Arianne is more fleshed-out, though. I like how she tries to be tough, but is genuinely hurt by what she thinks her father intends to do with her.
The Brienne chapters could have been shorter, but in the re-read they seem less pointless than they did before.
Like the Cersei chapters because it shows that the game she plays is still the same as it was with Tyrion or Eddard, but that she is so completely bad (and becoming worse) at it (even Jaime gives better counsel) that she completely loses control.

[EdricBaratheon]

Overall, I thought it was a great read!

Before I began reading it, I immediately knew that there wouldn't be much combat action, as Stannis would be gathering his strength at the Wall, The Lannisters would be mourning the death of the late Tywin Lannister, and the kingdom would be quieting down since The War of the Five Kings is at the Endgame stages.

Overall, I thought Martin handled the plot well, showing that The Lannisters are far more frail with the aftermath of the war, and Tywins death. Also it is highlighted thrugh Cersi's paranoia and anxiety over the Tyrells. I thought the way Martin portrayed Cersi was great, showing her to become a frail, agile character who causes her own downfall by driving her allies (i.e. Jaime and Kevan) further away, whilst trying to grasp upon power over a frail kingdom, showing Cersi to becoming an oppourtunist.

I think what readers do need to remember is that so much happened in a Storm of Swords, that A Feast of Crows had to address all the ramifications, concequences and outcomes of those events, which was handled very well!

[Ser Ilyn's Tongue]

Completely agree with Fryie.  First time around I found it a difficult read, but maybe was hard to adjust to the change of pace.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed it second time around and think some of the criticisms are a bit harsh.

It's definitely the most intimate of the series and, maybe because there is less action, you get to know the POVs much better than in previous novels.

Also in it's favour are the backstories, prophesies, the Ironborn, Samwell, Cersei's frightening mental state, the random people Brienne meets and especially the final lines from Doran.

[Lord of Long Lake]

Underrated.
Sure it wasn't as good as the others but in no way was it a bad book.  It gave us Dorne which most of us wanted to see after getting to know Oberyn in ASOS; we got awesome iron men in Asha and Victarion; we got Sansa and Petyr's plot; we got badass Arya in Braavos, and we got the most amazing speech in all 5 books by Septon Meribald that really made us take a step back and question all the violence and wars.
We didn't get our favorites but were intoduced to characters that have become some of my favorites.

[Fey]

I really appreciate it for breaking from the pace. It felt and was very different, which is why I really liked it. It was nice to break away from "the big 3" and focus on other characters, too. It just made me want to read DwD even more.

And I absolutely loved Cersei's chapters.

[DornishKnight]

Weakest in the series, but still very good. Cersei chapters were the best, followed by the Ironborn.

[Ladywhiskers]

Elgernon, on 27 November 2005 - 12:44 PM, said:

I just can't help but wonder if it was really a "descent" into madness or if she was already there. . .

Seems pretty obvious to me that she was already there, from her childhood treatment of her bff.

[ManyFacedOne]

I have to say, I thought Feast was excellent, for the most part. True, the book has a slightly slower pace - there's not as many big game changing moments as there were in the first three books - but that's sort of to be expected after Storm. There's some off chapters - Damphair and a few Dorne Povs - but other than that I thought most of the character arcs were excellent.

Jaime's chapters were particularly good (I've never went from hating a character as much as I hated Jaime to absolutely loving them) as were Sam's and Brienne's. Special mention to Arya's as well. I loved seeing her training and Braavos itself turned out to be a whole lot more interesting than I thought (my only complaint was that there's wasn't more of it). I definitely agree that it's underrated.

[Arkash]

I loved it.

[WenchofTarth]

Best part of the book for me was seeing Brienne finally using her skills to kill some truly worthless excuses of human beings.  Yes Brienne you didn't hesitate.  You go girl.

[BluCypressLily]

Feast is actually one of my favorite books of the series, so I was surprised to come on here and read so many that were dissatisfied with it. Yes, it has a slower pace, but I think that's to be expected given all the regrouping that must take place after the events in Kings. Plus, there is a ton of character development in Feast...there is no way I could have foreseen myself liking Jaimie Lannister and yet now he's one of my favorite characters.

[Petyr Middlefinger Baelish]

I'm a fan. I think it gets so much hate because the title is apt. The fighting is over, and now all the scavengers are about. It's not really about fighting, but political scheming. Also because a lot of people's favorite characters are not present. My favorite character is Littlefinger, so I didn't have a problem. Getting a peek into his plans was great fun, especially after the final chapter of ASOS. Ultimately, I enjoyed it far more than ADWD.

[Rhaegar Targaryen's Ghost]

When i started the series i was "warned" that AFFC was the worst book, yet at the end of it I found that I had really enjoyed it. Tyrion and Jon are two of my favorite characters so it was tough doing without them, but after finishing all 5, AFFC is my third favorite, with ADWD being #1 and ASOS #2.

[Lord Bear Mormont]

My least favorite book in the series but at the same time I am anxious to see what happens with Brienne, Jaime and Sansa

[DornishKnight]

ManyFacedOne, on 18 January 2012 - 10:18 PM, said:

(I've never went from hating a character as much as I hated Jaime to absolutely loving them)

Theon?

[Lord Bear Mormont]

I enjoyed reading the Jaime chapters in Crow.

[Hodorific]

I've never liked a character that throws little kids from windows so enjoyable.  Well played, GRRM, well played.

[Jojen]

I'm nicknaming Jaime "Maime" from now on. Who's with me?

[Casperjd2]

I think its great.  Westeros has 7 Kingdoms and Martin has now taken us to Dorne and the Vale.  I hope to see some action in Casterly Rock!  We have only met a couple of the Lannisters from the west.  We havent actually been there in real time with the rest of the events in the song.