Book Review: A FEAST FOR CROWS by George R R Martin

BLURB:

Crows will fight over a dead man’s flesh, and kill each other for his eyes.

Bloodthirsty, treacherous and cunning, the Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne in the name of the boy-king Tommen. The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life.

The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow’s Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel.

Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

REVIEW:

IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS, PLEASE DO READ… JUST TO BE SAFE FROM ANY POTENTIAL SPOILERS…

So, after the explosive events of A Storm of Swords (Book 3) we arrive at A Feast for Crows, the 4th installment, and a very dark chapter in the series.

The War of the Five Kings is coming to an end and Westeros is now knee-deep in the aftermath, the nasty bleak open road that now lies ahead. Where do the characters go from here? The war was devastating; people slaughtered, farms and villages burned. Winter is coming and there are hardly any crops or bounty to be had from the Autumn harvest. Not a particularly nice position to be in, really!

I loved the inclusion of Cersei Lannister’s POV in this book. She really is a nasty piece of work, and a crazy, sinister queen who is completely corrupt by power. Despite her overpowering dark side, however, Cersei does have one redeeming feature: the love of her children. It is an aspect of her personality that has always fascinated me. It makes you wonder about the nature of evil and how it is not as absolute as it seems. Saying that, I do not think that it will ever redeem her for all that she has done. Can she be? Her brother has been. Look how hated he was initially… But then there is far much more blood on her hands. I’m looking forward to seeing how she ends up!

The chapters set in Dorne are fabulous, some of my favourite moments in the book. I just loved the landscape and the ways they worked, and the planning of the Queen of Westeros plot! Very interesting! Will more come of that? A rival for Daenerys?

The cliffhangers made me scream and got excited for more – particularly the Brienne part! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the very end! CRUMBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m loving this series so much. Can’t wait to see how everything unfolds. On to A Dance with Dragons! Woo Hoo!

5 STARS!