143 replies to this topic

[voodooqueen126]

Okay, so in this chapter, Bael the Bard (whom we all know to be Mance Rayder) arrives at Winterfell.
Mance was previously sent out by Melisandre in chapter 31 of ADWD.
This chapter also notes that Stannis is marching on Winterfell.
We last saw Stannis in chapter 26 of ADWD, which culminates in Stannis capturing Asha at Deepwood Motte.
However this chapter probably occurs before

Spoiler

the King's Prize, in which Asha notes that it has been 30 days since they left Deepwood Motte when they arrive at the village by the lake, by the final  Asha chapter "The Sacrifice" Asha and Stannis's army has been trapped at the village by the lake for 19 days

So perhaps this chapter is set approximately 16 days after "The Wayward bride"

[Plem]

I finished this chapter last night and I feel stupid for missing so many things like the Frey pie (although I thought something was up with that, but I just didn't know what it was) or Mance. Thank R'hllor for this board

Theon's chapters have been excellent so far. He's not the most likeable character, but definitely one of the most interesting. I think in the end he will come through and save Jeyne. I don't know how, but I truly believe that he will. And I also think that he's going to be killed for it. It would be just like GRRM to start out the books with Theon being a complete asshole and then have him die a hero.

[Debb2]

I've just read the chapter too. Much as I enjoyed a lot of its subtleties, I'm afraid the ending was too much for me. At first I was shocked and then angry - it just went too far. It got me thinking about how far an author can go in terms of detailed descriptions of depravity, humiliation and pain. If it was some kind of misery literature or horror novel, you'd know what you were signing up for. But mainstream, popular fiction? I'm afraid it just left me feeling angry with the author.

[Wah-Tah]

So, I think this chapter kind of confirms what was mentioned in a couple of the older Reek chapters, that Ramsay has either flayed/completely castrated Theon's penis?

I did not pick up on the idea that the pies were the Freys. But now that you guys mention it, it makes complete sense. Although it makes me like Manderly more, it also makes me a bit queasy, since he ate like 3 servings of that Frey pie >.>

Reek chapters are quickly becoming my favorite of this book. They are incredibly disturbing, but written so well, that I can't help but be fascinated.

[the seventh direwolf]

Holy crap, if I hadn't come on here, I would never have realised the Frey pie reference nor Mance being the singer!!   You people are fantastic!!    I felt sorry for Jeyne Poole more than Theon to be honest.  Theon did manage at one point refer to himeslf as his old name, but he was quickly brought back down to Earth and continued to be Reek.  His prayers for death shows what a broken man he is.  He has a dagger now so I don't know what's stopping him. The end of that chapter was repulsive.  I hope the Boltons suffer a slow and painful death!!

Reek's chapters are definitely my favourite.  So damn disturbing but amazingly written.  It's like when there's been a car accident on the road and you slow your car down to witness the carnage.  You know it's gruesome, but you can't help but look on in curiosity.  I honestly hope that Theon and Jayne make it out together.

Edited by the seventh direwolf, 28 April 2012 - 02:10 PM.

[Gran de Lys]

@ SansaJo, if Littlefinger had been setting Roose up by letting him marry Jeyrya and marching on Winterfell with the real, and more entitled, Sansa, it's a measure of how evil and heartless he really is, because he would be doing so at the peril of poor Jeyne's immortal soul, to say nothing of the seven physical, mental and emotional hells she'll face by the end of that little charade. I shudder to think ...

And yes, Bran is empirically the heir to Winterfell (by the North's laws of kingsright), but I can't remember whether LF knows he's still alive, albeit half-tree. I believe he doesn't. So it would end up being a big, pointless goat orgy. Which, come to think, may be the only manner of depravity we haven't yet witnessed.

I'm down with Manderly forking in a Frey or two, and thrilled that Rhaegar was among them. After all, he's big-boned, and winter is coming. Must re-read chapter now to play Spot the Mance. Note to self: Don't read GRRM while drinking.

[redqueen]

I haven't thought about that.  Littlefinger does know Sansa is alive and she's the older sister.  Could Littlefinger be setting up Roose to take the fall?  It wouldn't surprise me.  Still, the last we saw of Littlefinger, he was in the Vale.  It would take a long time to travel to Winterfell.  Then, there are the storms.  Travel by water is dangerous and land more dangerous.  The storms at sea will kill you.  The blizzards on land will kill you faster.

[rebel_yell]

i can understand if people are revolted but dont get angry because the revulsion is exatley what hes shooting for here.  its the only way the ramsay saga is believable.  i totally missed mance and the frays.  i sorta caught on with the song but never thought of mance.  masterfully written.

[Shaggy Rickon]

LannisterStark, on 24 July 2011 - 07:52 PM, said:

I think it's true that the Starks are deeply respected in the North. But, I also believe it's true that Eddard Stark
did NOT know how to play the Game of Thrones. For example, Eddard went to Cersei to reveal that he knew that Cersei's
children were the result of incest. This amateur mistake cost Eddard Stark his life. He was a failure in the Game of
Thrones, imho.

I don't know why people keep on saying that Ned stark was a bad player of the game. Compassion and honor should never be confused for weakness or lack of skill. Give Ned an army and his health and we will see how bad of a player he actually is. Oh wait we already have. Ned won the throne. So there.

[Shaggy Rickon]

Why does everyone feel sorry for jeyne Poole? She was a vain little snot that thought too much of herself. She deserves this fate. I would like to remind everyone of her snide remarks about everyone in game of thrones. Her treatment of arya her liege lady. She was a daughter of a mere Stewart and thought herself better than everyone else.

[Bell]

Doesn't mean she deserves that.

[Xander Baratheon]

Shaggy Rickon, on 24 May 2012 - 02:28 PM, said:

Why does everyone feel sorry for jeyne Poole? She was a vain little snot that thought too much of herself. She deserves this fate. I would like to remind everyone of her snide remarks about everyone in game of thrones. Her treatment of arya her liege lady. She was a daughter of a mere Stewart and thought herself better than everyone else.

She's just a girl. Little girls can be snotty sometimes and she was only following Sansa's lead. If Sansa told her to lay off once Jeyne would never call Arya "horseface" again. Theon was much worse in the past and I'm not alone in feeling sorry for him.

[FacelessManOf TheShire]

Just wanted to post into this topic to say how much the discovery of this forum has opened up my eyes to the depth these books have... I would never have caught the Frey Pie reference, nor that it was Mance acting as the in-house entertainment. Even though, once pointed out, both were extremly obvious!

I'm a few more chapters ahead now - The Kings Prize just finished - and I can't read a chapter without coming to this forum to check what everybody else has to say about it.

Anyway.. as you were!

[Horny Eunuch]

Just finished the chapter. Great analysis from this forum. Glad I joined.

Just have to say that I can't predict anything out of these books. Man, how broken can Theon get? Come to think of it, he really didn't establish himself a personality. He was always a sort of outcast. He was a hostage at Winterfell and his father branded him as a wolf. He was on a crossroads to prove himself and was just not able to do so. Ramsay just made it worse.

[Dany Jon or Bust]

Man Oh man thank God for you guys.  How could I miss that.

[Dornish Red]

Best thing I ever did was register at this board!  Missed so many of the subtleties of this chapter.  Thanks, guys!

[Arya'sFury]

SeanF, on 24 August 2011 - 05:45 AM, said:

It is a great chapter.  While it was obvious that Manderly was responsible for the disappearance of the three, I wasn't aware that the three pork pies were actually Frey Bentos.  It's a wondefully sick idea, not just to be serving them up to other Freys, but to be wolfing them down himself, with genuine relish.

Manderly is clearly one of those people who likes others to underestimate him, but you mess with him at your peril.

Ah Frey Bentos!! Such a good shout!

[EddardCorleone]

Jeyne, Jeyne it rhymes with pain.
I didn't even notice the pie thing.

[The Tower of Joy]

Ah man I how could I have missed both Mance and the Frey feast?!
Glad I found and joined this forum, you guys are amazing, you always find the subtleties, though I must admit, these two were staring me in the face.
This forum has made me realize just how much depth there is to these books and I feel sorry for the peeps who only watch the show. Thank you

Great chapter, well written, as per usual with Reek/Theon. Perhaps Bran was in the weirwood, watching. Plus there were ravens everywhere.

I am a little surprised Manderly would knowingly eat human flesh. It was pretty kick-ass of him, but rly bro..rly.

The last few pages were just a horrifying read, some of the worst stuff in ASOIAF. Ramsay's an asshole, he deserves... well I'm not Ramsay so what do I know.

Edited by The Tower of Joy, 07 January 2013 - 06:36 PM.

[Zarkovich]

Wow, I can't believe I overlooked this. Just makes me wonder, how many more subtleties I might have missed. Must browse the boards more.