A Dance With Dragons Review 

"If you think you're gonna die, write faster". Someone should seriously tell Martin this.

Ben, you asked for my feedback when I finally watched this video in 5 years. Well, here I am in 2015 and I wanted to let you know that you did a great job! I loved the analysis from a super fan.

5 years later... still waiting

Oh, but FREY PIE was my favorite thing!!

At the beginning of this video I tell Ben that I won't be able to read the book until 2015, and that's the exact year that I finished it!

Quaithe mentions that Dany has to pass beneath the shadow first ie shadow at entrance of Asshai. So she's going to Asshai first then Westeros. My guess is that she'll only reach westeros by book 7.

This series has inspired many artists including myself with it's vivid imagery.

I just finished reading it yesterday and I agree its a great book. your review is spot on and i hope u r right about Jon. Also I hope Theon has some significant role in Ramsey's death.

Extremely good review, fair, balanced, and made some very interesting points about the plot and characters, especially Jon. I completely agree with both the order you ranked the books in the series, and the defense of the series' length... it's an Epic, and a damn good one!

*SPOILERS* The reason Tyrion is confessing to the murder is obvious to me. When he was on trial you hear his internal dialogue always saying "I almost wish I had done it, because people will think I'm guilty anyways"

1:25 broke my heart...

The thing with A Feast for Crows, is that it doesn't show anything outside of Westeros. It's meant to show the aftermath of the RW and the War of the Five Kings.

I believe Ned never revealed John's parentage because that would endanger the child, first he would be a Targaryen and the only heir to the crown (bastards are still considered better heirs than distant relatives), keep in mind that Robert did nothing when Clegane slaughtered the royal family (babies included) when King's Landing fell. Ned knew he couldn't trust Robert because of that and decided to keep Lyenne's baby alive, by taking him as his bastard child.

Hey, Tyrion definitely isn't Joffrey's murderer. He's just saying he is 'cause everyone thinks he is and he can't be arsed to convince them otherwise. "Well I did kill my dad, but I didn't kill my nephew." "Pfft, like I believe that."

I started reading the series in 2014 and just finished the 5th book. Can’t wait for Winds of Winter.

People 'damage control' Jon's (obviously questionable) actions because he isn't arrogant and selfish. He makes these decisions for the good of the entire realm more often or not (save the provocation from Ramsy and some Stannis related things). Dany's decisions are for herself, 'her' people and never once reflects upon her selfishness and arrogance and develops as a person. Jon is constantly reflecting his actions and often considers the consequences which makes him a better character.

I agree with you, except for your analysis on Daenerys. Her chaining up her dragons makes sense. Plus, she stays in Mereen to try to make herself a better ruler. She won't just LEAVE. THAT would be unrealistic. I LOVED her chapters, and her story ark the most.

I was looking for a good review and your is great man. I wonder if you watched the series already, it would be nice to have another video comparing and comenting the books and series. Keep up bro

I agree with you that Theon's storyline was the best and most well written of the whole book. I also agree with you that Dani's was the most frustrating, though i think it was good character development (even though she was regressing) Dani was kind of a mary sue in the first 3 books. In this one she makes serious mistakes, sleeps around--just one character flaw after another. Jon's story was second best. Extremely well written, and AMAZING ending. I think he's dead, but will return as AA

The thing is with Jon is, different members of the night's watch want him dead it seems, so I don't see how he can survive that attack we saw at the end. At the same time though, there are a couple things that are not resolved with him, like him knowing who his mother is. However, if he does survive, what does that mean for his character, and his storyline? I can't see him staying as a brother of the Watch. That is a very interesting theory you mention, and it makes a lot of sense.

There was a time I thought that too. Now I know that Jon, Stannis and Jaime are probably going to be alive...

The general perception is that Martin is a different kind of author because he kills prominent characters, but that's not really true. I think he's just better at making the deaths raw and shocking. Killing people like Ned and Robb was necessary to the story. Those characters usefulness had died. His use of the viewpoint just makes you slow to see that fact. I agree that Jon's "death", like Cat's was more of a change of scene than an end because his story is clearly not exhausted.

Sons have better claims than uncles/aunts in Westeros, in Dorne its a bit different since females have the same right as men so it is the oldest one that is the heir, and not the oldest male. So yes, Aegon being son has better claim.

care to explain how it's Aegon? the legend does foretell that A.A. would be (re)born amidst fire and salt

you deserve a thumbs up all the way... best review i have ever seen!

THEY ARE JUST BOOKS & A TV SHOW!!. Very enjoyable and well written books & TV SHOW for sure. I understand that short attention span American audiences do not have an interest in geeting inmersed into a fantastic world. But, let the rest of us enjoy them at least.

I really hope Aegon is Rhaegars son. Some people think he's a blackfyre. I think once Tywin stormed the red keep the first thing Varys did was save the young prince. Varys define try knows the rains of castamere

that was a really impressive review good job

I see so many similarities between Daenerys and Arya... it makes me nervous. They're both orphans seeking venge, and they both want to prove they're worthy of the family name. Watching last night's episode of GOT and hearing the Hound talk about "Being so close that it scares you". Made me think Daenerys ( the adult Arya) being so close getting back home/Westeros, but Daenerys is the one that dies. So far no one has made it home. Not Jamie, Theon, Ser Jorah, Sansa etc. I have doubts.

it's 2015, and it was so funny to watch the intro :D I watch you for the first time and I gotta say that this video was great, exactly what I was looking for, but man please learn how to pronounce the names of the characters correctly, it really bugged throughout the video :) Keep up the good work!

"When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt." Obvious 2 choices are Dany and Jon. Dany literally born on dragonstone, and island in the salty narrow sea and figuratively reborn in Drogo's funeral pyre admist smoke. The comet appeared above after her rebirth. Jon, assuming he dies, was said to have smoke seeping from his wounds and a salty tear appears in the eye of Bowen Marsh. Ser Patrek stands over him with a starry heraldry.

2.The red priest heals that heals Victarion Greyjoy’s mortifying hand establishes that red priest have healing powers.3.Ramsey Bolton demands, one of which was Melisandra. No one wants to save queen or Melisandra. There isn’t any one who could champion her cause except Jon. 4.As you said in the review Jon’s spirit can reside in Ghost, if Melisandra attempts to restore Jon’s body…

5. The Others are about to attack. The wildings and watch supporting Jon won’t be happy with Jon dead (possibly starting civil strife). Stannis is lost, dead or god knows what (and no one likes him). Ramsey is ready to rampage. Who else can handle this? Only Jon. Jon's coming back

I think it would have been alot better if Daeny made a move towards westeros and we had another POV in the eastern cities to tell us more about that part of the world. As for evil characters the pope-analogous high septon rivals the Boltons - they both abuse power but hiding behind deities makes the septon worse in my book.

Jon Snow is the prince that was promised. Lyanna starrk made Ned "promise" her something. This something being Jon Snow the love child of Rhaegar and Lyanna. Jon will be reborn as AA.

I think Daenerys is rather ill at the end of aDwD? The very last chapter of the book (except epilogue)? Also Targaryens are not fire and sickness immune, there was plague called The Great Spring Sickness that hacked half of the population of Kings Landing including 3 Targaryens, as for fire, google Aerion Brightflame.

@dbear The first chapter with an AFFC character takes place right around page 500

Okay I've tried to cut my post down to 500 words and it has become nonsense. I'm just going to post it in chunks. Sorry for the length...I totally agree with your suspicion that Jon is Azora Ahai. Here some more hints that might solidify it. 1. Jon has a nightmare where he’s killing foes, friends and family. He is waked by Moromont crow pecking on his chest. The crow lands near by saying three words snow Jon king snow (not necessarily in that order).

There is no mystery about who killed Joffrey. Baelish placed a poison pill in Sansa's hair, Oleanna grabbed it and then placed it to poison Joffrey. Tyrion is claiming he did it because thats what the general populace believes and he doesn't think he will be able to convince anyone otherwise, so he wears it as his armor.

whose pov chapters should i read? because this has been bothering me for a while. and i practically tore through SoS i guess i didnt pay too much attention.

“ I’m glad we didn’t have to wait 11 years after storm of swords 5.5 years was bad enough” “I want him to work now on winds of winter” It’s scary that 11 years wait for winds isn’t that far fetched anymore :”(

I don't think she is sick from the wild berries, I think Mirri Maz Duur's taunt to Dany has actually turned to prophecy fulfilled: "When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before." The sun rising in west is Quentyn (Martell's sigil is sun) and he travels east and dies so he sets in the east.....cont...

I've just gotten used to assuming that any character who's death he doesn't show in a chapter has a chance of being alive. We still don't know if Benjen Stark's alive, or Syrio Forel. He's already shown that death can be deceiving with Brienne and Aegon. I just try to leave as many options open as possible. Another thing that bothers me more than it should: Who the hell is Coldhands? I know he's barely in it at all but it feels like there's something there that's going to come up again later.

@shinakuma8 Assuming the series ends well, do you think you'll feel differently about this volume when you have the complete story? I share some of your feelings but my disappointment is more about wanting to see what happens after Dany leaves Meereen than it does with actually disliking what's in this volume

Jon Snow is Azor Ahai? Well to be honest I find that a little more believable than the rumor about how Jon has Targaryen blood in him.

I got goosebumps when it looked like Jon was going to march on Winterfell, and when he died I was so mad. What I'd love to happen to Jon would be to see Melisandre resurrect him (like Beric Dondarrion got resurrected) and then Jon decides I'd lived as Jon Snow now I'm gonna live as Jon Stark. I would get so pumped if that happened.

Yes it did have Jamie. But it was also mostly cersei chapters where she was paranoid about Tyrion coming out of the walls, which we knew wasn't going to happen. Brienne's chapters were even more pointless because she's on a quest to find Catelyn's daughters which we as readers know will never happen, and then when she meets stoneheart we're meant to believe that she died. The last few ironborn chapters were the only worthwhile bits of Feast for Crows, and the last few Cersei chapters as well.

Good review I read it twice still waiting on WINDS OF WINTER SMH

-I relize that most of the people who read the book werent suprised when Jon got stabbed at the end, but I was like in a zone where I was not looking ahead or trying to figure out what was going to happen next. So when I found out he got stabbed, I was simply shocked and pissed off. Hopefully Melisandre revives him, or he just survives the attack like a badass.

Maybe the next book be out in 2015!! Me in 2020.......

I do agree with Meereen taking a bit too long. But in a way I understand the need, Daeny is positioned to be the savior and she really needs to go through ruling growing pains. She has to be able to control this one city, if she has any hopes of controlling Westeros. Also this gives her more time to learn to control her dragons. She is flawed in politics and this is why Tyrion needs to get to her, fast. Unfortunately that means another book.

"The gangling steward backed away, his hands upraised as if to say, Not me, it was not me. Men were screaming. Jon reached for Longclaw, but his fingers had grown stiff and clumsy. Somehow he could not seem to get the sword free of its scabbard." This was right before he was stabbed by Bowen, anyone know if this passage has any significance?

Unless Tyrion placed the stone in the wine or make sure that Joffrey drank from it before Joffrey drinks it. Tyrion might not have being part of the Littlefingers & Olenna's plan but added his touch to it maybe as a distracting factor.

Couldn't believe the pronunciation of Brienne

Another reason why Jon isn't dead is the only character at the wall who has had a POV chapter is Mellisandre and I don't think Martin will have us see what happens there through her eyes.

About criticism that the books are too long, Listening to vloggers like Preston Jacobs and Ankton, it is really clear that there are rivers of story flowing underneath the surface plot. There is genetic manipulation, Northern conspiracies, Dornish conspiracies, Blackfyre rebellions, and tons of other stuff I had absolutely NO IDEA was going on in the two or three times I read the books. (once on Audiobook.) Every major character who enters the book has an entourage accompanying them, each person having their own story arc and shifting loyalties that go back at least as far as the Aegon Conquering 300 years ago and sometimes longer, especially in the case of Winterfell and Castle Black. Bryndon Rivers is much more involved in the arching story than I realized, as is Maester Marwin and others. I think Martin put in all the superfluous details, the food descriptions and place descriptions, to hide the plot points, even more so than J.K. Rowling did in her Harry Potter books. Its not just that he's giving you a Westeros of rich description you can sink your teeth into, he's giving an epic history of a forgotten era.

(2)....As Dany flies on Drogon she notices that the once flourishing grass of the Dothraki Sea are now dying - the Seas go dry. The mountains blowing in the wind refers to the pyramids that Viserion and Rhaegel burned down and the ash blew in the wind. I think it makes sense that the blood she has in the last chapter is her able to menstruate again, or is now able to have a child. I think this will allow her to carry the stallion who mounts the world.

I also came upon this Jon Snow theory while looking for clues about his mother and am a firm believer in it. Im not entirely sure Lyanna was raped by Rhaegar however. in any case Ned having witnessed Roberts wrath at the other Targaryen children would likely see the end in store for R+Ls child that he concocted the whole story and had to live with this secret all these years not even telling Cat or ultimately Jon himself although he seemed poised to at there next meeting before his beheading,

I agree with you about AFFC it is definitely connected to ADWD . I hate Cersei but I love her chapters. Plus it also had Jaime's meeting with the Blackfish.

The first three books were incredible and stirred a lot of emotions in me ,but from the fourth (a feast of crows I think),it became repetitive.

I thought I was the only person who felt the same way about Daenerys,my goodness every time I listen to her chapter I get bored because she hasnt done anything at all......imo....Im about one-third of the way in " A Dance with Dragons" and I have feeling it gets worse with her......Overall the book is good so far.....

You never go full spoiler.

Tyrion must differently DID NOT kill Joeffry. When he tells Jeime that he did, he thinks to himself how ease the lie came to him. Plus we have Littlefinger telling Sansa how he framed Tyrion, partly because he wants her to be single again.

that is the most widely believed theory on jon snow

I´m almost speechless with this review man, i have the absolutely same opinions that you do and i am a hardcore fan as well, i even rate the books the same way: SoS/GoT/DwD anyway awesome work man Really amazing review the best i´ve seen so far!

I always assumed that Lyanna and Rhaegar were involved in a consensual affair. When Ned found her bleeding to death at the Tower of Joy it seems reasonable that she was dying from complications from labor and that she requested that Ned not reveal the identity of her child's (Jon's) father to spare the child Robert's wrath, being that he's a despised Targaryen and a claimant to the throne. I don't think even Ned could convince Robert that Lyanna chose Rhaegar over him. As for Jon's appearance...

I pretty much agree on all your points here. I thought the Reek/Theon chapters were amazing and once again, Martin makes us feel sympathy for a character that was greatly despised previously (like with Jaime) and almost root for him. I can't wait to see what happens with his character arc. I think people were just disappointed that after 6.5 yrs, it seemed like nothing happened much in terms of the plot, but youre right, it needs to be thought of as AFFC part 2 to help set up future events.

you have some gd insights, have you considered doing a series review/ discussion video?

I totally agree with the Theon chapters. I hated Theon so fucking much but MAN he did NOT deserve this :( also, is it just me or did Brienne make an appearance in one of Dany's chapters???

I never disliked Theon, even after the betrayal. He headed home to the Iron Island that was on a verge of attacking the North and he just went with the flow

I really believe that the song of ice and fire is about Jon Snow

@Tempest111 Wow, take it easy man. It's just a book :) You might want to double check what happened with The Hound. If you read the chapter in AFFC where we're told he's dead carefully, you can see that that probably isn't the case. There are some good explanations/theories regarding this on various fan sites

well george himself said that targareans aren't all immune to fire at a press conference but its evident from the historys particularly their attempts to revive the dragons that they burn like everyone else dany was/is special I have a theory it had something to do with burning drogo in the same fire and kings blood btw doesnt plumm have a purple tint from distant targarean ancestry

@outforsushi I shed a tear on the Reek chapters, when he was pleaing at the tree and saying how sorry he was

Kevan told Cersei that no matter how her trial ends she lost her place as regent. That may not be the case, it may have just been a guess on Kevan's part, we'll see. It may be different now that he is dead.

I enjoyed Tryrion storyline, except wished he had more satisfying resolution. But the whole Aegon twist was great reading about, and his travels with Jorah and Penny were fascination. Finally, Asha, Bran, and Davos few chapters were just excellent.

Feast for Crows and Dance with Dragons... Since they both were separated from a larger book and they happen simultaneously, it makes me curious to see how it'll be done on the show. I hope they manage, it might be possible to tell the stories of both books at the same time for 2 whole seasons with good organization.

I don't remember the "Man/Wolf/Man" Jon dream and I just finished it, I remember Melisandre has the dream with the boy with the wolf face which was obviously Bran and the Three-Eyed Crow. Also the last words Jon says are "Ghost". So I totally agree that I think that's the path it will go.

I remember Varys saying he hates magic and since the Dragons are strongly connected to magic that might be the reason for his change of heart.

feast of Crows and dance with dragons are thick ass books that made me read good stuff true..but got me no closer to what will happen...george get that book done dude wtf

Nice review man. I got the book when it came out and just finished it last night. I purposely took my time and enjoyed the experience. I wouldn't mind if the book was twice as long. The journey is always better than the destination and while I can agree there were some minor annoyances this was an awesome read and I enjoyed your thorough review. If he can wrap it up in 2 books then mad props - he has his work cut out for him.

@hewhostalksdeth I think you're probably right about Varys but does that mean that he's loyal to House Targaryan or loyal to whatever is best for the realm? What you're saying definitely lines up with his actions and seems to indicate his loyalty is to the Targaryans but what he says to Kevan seems to indicate his true loyalty is to the realm. Questions like this are why Varys is such an awesome character

def missing the reviews :)

@hewhostalksdeth I agree. Like I said on the review, it feels disappointing at the moment but in the grand scheme of things I think the way Martin is writing things will make for a better overall story.

Robert Strong is kind of like a Frankenstein's monster, he's a product of Qyburn's experiments with Gregor Clegane's body and the other prisoners sent to him by Cersei

@MissRayemm I did finally figure it out, but thank you for the answer.

@Chirios1 Joffery was killed by Littlefinger and that Queen of Thorn (Tyrell) with some help from Sansa who was oblivious of it, right?

@Tempest111 If dany went to westeros half the realm would fight for her no one loves the lannisters and the Tyrells were loyal to the targs and would most likely support her. If u remember during the Blackfyre rebellion not a single Great house lent them there support only smaller house. and vassals but they still caused alot of problems for the targs. The lannisters are kinda weak at the moment they lost most of the army in the war of the five kings.

Great review, I agree that Martin left not closed too many storylines to finish them up in the next book.

@thescifichristian Yeah the Queen of Thornes is the one who killed Joffrey. She had Sansa wear that special hairnet, the book mentions her touching Sansa's hairnet, and then Sansa sees one of the stones is missing, which the Queen of Thornes put in the cup to poison Joffrey.

My overall view of the series is, of course, that its very well written. As far as structure of the series goes... I figure that the first three books deal with all the feuds and other business lingering from the past; as well as how this latest round of bloodletting affects the current generation, highlighting how the last round affect the old generation. Feast and Dance then portray the calm before the storm, so to speak. They set up a worst-case scenario for what's to come.

btw, I just remembered something! In one of the Bran-chapters he's talking to the three-eyed crow about green seers. The crow says something like: the best green seers have red or green eyes. Now... all the dire wolves have yellow eyes except Ghost and Shaggydog! Ghost has red eyes and Shaggydog green.. Could that mean that Rickon and Jon are destant to become the greatest green seers in the world and not Bran? I like to think so :D

If she lands in Westeros I'm sure the Lannisters, the Boltons, Freys, Tyrells and Stannis might disagree with you there, maybe even the Martells if they blame her for Quentyns death or if they get behind Aegon because he's Elias son. However if the Dany and Aegon combine their powers Dorne may back them.

I'm not sure about the flux, I thought it might be Danny miscarrying in her final scene due to her exhaustion/berries indicating her fertility post the prophecy passing. sun rising in the east setting in the west=quentyn representing the sun due to the martell banner, the mountains blowing in the wind = the giant pyramids turning to ash and blowing in the wind and the sea going dry, she notes the dorthaki sea is slowly dying and turning brown. Might be a little far fetched though. great review

cont... Also when Melisandre asks the lord of light for his hero she says he only shows her "Snow". Victarion Greyjoy is an outside possibility. After Moqorro saves Victarion from a deadly wound, his arm literally smokes. Victarion is a follower of the drowned God they all have a rebirth/drowning in the salt water. Moqorro sees greatness for Victarion in his flames. I never expect GRRM to follow any sort of fantasy structure but I just don't believe that he would have Victarion be the hero.

you're not the only one r+l=J has been around for years

Hello Daniel when start a dance with dragons am going Redding keep quiet get found my safe I wish but when trying book season I don't now when get other as I would from Daniel

@Tempest111 George could simply write into his book that Dany's dragon's are controllable, like Stark's wolf and avoid the whole Mereen saga

Aegon would have the better claim, there is no maybe. Aerys death means that the throne would pass to his oldest child. Since Raeghar was already dead though Aegon even though he was a baby would be KING.

@Chirios1 I think you're probably right. The thing that still makes me wonder a bit is how open Tyrion is about claiming credit. It isn't just a lack of denial when someone else brings it up. He himself raises the issue multiple times in DWD and each time claims credit for the murder. It's enough to introduce a small amount of doubt in my mind about whether or not he's as innocent as I'd been assuming