Greywolf2375 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Is it that bad? No. It's not ASOS, but it is not a bad book - there definite ways to improve it but it still is a fine book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welease Woger Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 As one of my favorite things in the series is the politics, I enjoyed AFfC. As people had said before, it's slow paced, but by all means it's not bad. I can imagine why some people hated it so much, though: I'm a new reader, just like you. I started reading the books after watching Game of Thrones. But imagine the longtime fans who read ASoS when it was launched and had to wait 5 years in order to know what happened to their favorite characters only to get a book missing Jon (except for one of Sam's chapters), Tyrion, Davos and Daenerys? They had to wait more 5 years in order to know what happened to Tyrion after his escape. In their place, I'd hate AFfC for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podricksa Payne Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Also a new reader. Began AGOT roughly 10 weeks ago, and I'm now about 60% through AFFC. I quite like the 'lull before the storm' nature of the story. It allows us to explore so many new areas of Westeros. I love how we get a feel for the differing characteristics, beliefs and ways of life of the regions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SerJorahh Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I really liked AFFC. I just started reading ADWD and am already missing some of the POV's I got from AFFC (Sam Tarly's being one of my favorite, God knows why). I really love that GRRM split it up that way though. I think it's almost like Christmas, haha. AFFC lets you explore all these characters that you never really got a chance at before. However, I was pretty upset when I started reading AFFC and realized there was no Tyrion chapters (he's my absolute favorite). I think that probably bugged a ton of people, especially when AFFC was first published. But I wouldn't give up on AFFC. There's a ton of stuff that happens, and different viewpoints to enjoy. I think skipping AFFC could be classified as some kind of cardinal sin. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annara Snow Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 I enjoyed AFFC a lot and I don't find it a step down in the series, I think it's the same quality. It's just slower paced than ASOS and doesn't have so many huge events, there are big battles etc. and I'm guessing why it disappointed some people. besides the fact that it only deals with half of the characters. If you only care about Dany. Jon and Tyrion or Davos/Stannis, you're going to hate it since they're mostly not in it (Jon) or not in it at all (the rest of them). If you're interested in other characters and if you love/are interested in Jaime, Cersei, Brienne, Sansa, Arya or Samwell, you may love it. If you want to find out about the other places in Westeros (and beyond) that the first 3 books didn't focus on, you will enjoy it, too. The book introduces several new major characters and sheds light on some of the power players that hadn't gotten attention before, but will no doubt play a large role in the rest of the series. I read the book over the same amount of time I read ASOS, that tells you something. There are a lot of great character moments, lines, hints and foreshadowing, even if there are not many climactic and huge events. I had no idea people disliked Brienne's chapters. They were among my favorites, maybe favorite, both because her chapters are the window into what is happening in the Riverlands, which I found perhaps the most interesting as far as action goes, and because I really started liking her as a character and enjoyed getting to know her experience as a woman who does not 'fit in' and how much she had to endure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhaenyraTargaryen Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you started reading the books you should definitely continue! I am a bit more than half way through and It is a page turner, though not as good as ASOS. But it has some great character and relation development which I'm eager to follow. Also some insightful perspectives on some characters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digging Crazy Chicks Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yep, as someone that read through all five books and didn't have to wait, I quite enjoyed A Feast for Crows. Jaime became one of my favorite characters in A Storm of Swords and I liked getting introduced to Dorne. I know the last two books get a lot of flak but it's basically one huge transition book in the series that serves the purpose of showing the wide spread aftermath of ASoS, gets you into the mind of Cersei, introduces Dorne and the Iron Islands and how they all fit in the one big puzzle that is Westeros, while setting the pieces in place for what is hopefully a grand finale with The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. I'm of the opinion that the time between was the real issue, not so much the books themselves. Five years and then another six years to complete what is essentially Part II of AFfF...it's understandable for people to be frustrated. ASoS was a tough act to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maestor Tarly Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I think Storm of Swords was SOOO good that it makes Feast for Crows seem pretty dull... but Feast does set the tone for what is to come in the the last 3 books.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyCat Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 I enjoyed AFFC a lot and I don't find it a step down in the series, I think it's the same quality. It's just slower paced than ASOS and doesn't have so many huge events, there are big battles etc. and I'm guessing why it disappointed some people. besides the fact that it only deals with half of the characters. This is what I found. I am finally up to the final chapter with Sam in Oldtown. I found the 2nd to 3rd quarter of the book quite a slog to get through, and that's what it is: after constant action from Ned's departure for King's Landing to the Red Wedding, we had to deal with the pause in the war. Armies are spent, lords are regrouping, the common people are getting decidedly fed up with being cannon fodder or dealing with brigands while lords parade around claiming thrones. Hoping that ADwD picks up the pace a little bit, BUT that said now I'm at the end of AFfC it's a key piece of the puzzle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaHaZe Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Started reading AFFC a week ago and I have to say I quite...love it? Before I started reading the books, there were 2 aspects pretty much everybody seemed to agree on: ASOS is the best of the series, AFFC is the worst of the series. I probably had really low expectations for book 4, I don't know, but it's nowhere near as bad as some people say it is. Only read about 200 pages and so far I absolutely LOVE the Martell/Dorne chapters. Can't wait to know who will they cast as Arianne. On the other hand, Brienne's chapters are a chore. What bothers me is that they're so freaking long (16-18 pages, mainly filled with descriptions). 10 pages per Brienne chapter would have been enough. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aldark Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 well , i started it too last week (i'm 200 hundred pages+ on it but i paused due to my heavy programme...i will continue it around christmas).Till now it's not bad. I think people hate on it because it's not as great as Storm of Swords. It's always a problem to be the sequel to a great book , but Martin again captured me with his writing. And oh! We have POV's from Dornish people or from Greyjoys something very positive. so i like it as far as i read it. only think i found strange was that for example Aeron Greyjoy was called The Prophet or something like that at the beginning of the chapter. But nevermind that , it was a good read , i'm looking forward to the next chapters :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annara Snow Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 well , i started it too last week (i'm 200 hundred pages+ on it but i paused due to my heavy programme...i will continue it around christmas). Till now it's not bad. I think people hate on it because it's not as great as Storm of Swords. It's always a problem to be the sequel to a great book , but Martin again captured me with his writing. And oh! We have POV's from Dornish people or from Greyjoys something very positive. so i like it as far as i read it. only think i found strange was that for example Aeron Greyjoy was called The Prophet or something like that at the beginning of the chapter. But nevermind that , it was a good read , i'm looking forward to the next chapters :) Aeron is not the only character who gets referred by something that's not his name in the title of the chapter. It's something GRRM does several times in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aldark Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Aeron is not the only character who gets referred by something that's not his name in the title of the chapter. It's something GRRM does several times in the book. i know (Asha or this soldier from Dorne had this reference instead of name too) , but he didn't till the fourth book as far as i'm concerned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormborn36 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I'm now 200 or so pages in and I'm loving it. Personally, I think the POVs have been fantastic, and I haven't even been craving for my favorites (Dany, Tyrion, Jon). I am starting to become a fuckin huge Jaime fan. I don't even know why... It's really not even because of his attempts at restoring some honor at this point... I just.. can't put a finger on it. His POVs make him an interesting and likeable guy I guess. Definitely my favorite POV from this book so far, and in the 200 pages I've read there was only one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fred of Mole's Town Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I would suggest the Boiled Leather combined reading order. Its spoiler free for a first timer and gives you a better sense of how events are proceeding in relation to each other. Couldn't agree more! The worst thing about AFfC and ADwD was the damn prolonged wait! 11 years between Tyrion, Stannis/Davos, Dany and Jon chapters? Wtf was that? Read in combined order...that is my command! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welease Woger Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 The Lannisters are a likable bunch after you get to know them. But my favorite is Cersei, hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ravenstark Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I liked the book. Arya's chapters and a little Jaime's.... and, well, doesn't have the endless chapters of Jon, as in ADWD, so it's a good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of the Road Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 It's still pretty good if you ask me, better than ACoK and certainly better than ADwD. Jaime's chapters are fantastic, it's where, if you ask me, GRRM really hits his stride. Some elements of the Greyjoy stuff work,and Cersei's chapters are also quite enjoyable. The only problem I have is that it's somewhat convoluted, with some chapters merely acting as scene-setters, it really lacks the pace of ASoS. But it's still pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annara Snow Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 i know (Asha or this soldier from Dorne had this reference instead of name too) , but he didn't till the fourth book as far as i'm concerned! Yes, he never did that before AFFC. But he does that in quite an interesting way in this book - he refers to the characters as they think of themselves at the time. You'll see more of it later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Sabotage Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 It defiantly takes a step back from SoS, but you get to meet some new characters, and some new POV. My favorite book of the 5 My favorite as well. It's really more King Landing-oriented with some spotlight on Dorne. Thumbs up: Cersei's, Jaime's Arya's and Sansa's chapters. Thumbs down: Brienne's, Sam's. I miss Jon and Tyrion, tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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