REVIEW: A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Publishing Information: 2011 (first publishing) 2011 (current edition)

Publisher: Bantam, Hardcover, 959 pgs

ISBN-13: 978-0-553-80147-7

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book #5

Reviewer: Andy

Copy: Out of Pocket



Synopsis: (from inside cover):

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys.. But his newest allies in this quest are not the ragtag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever. Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone-- a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch, but also beyond in the land of creatures of ice. From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitable to the greatest dance of all.

Its been a long wait. For years until this book was released, I often encountered bitter A Song of Ice and Fire fans. There was always a certain pessimism that was characteristic of Martin fandom (much like Chicago Cubs fans)- though they loved the books, they weren't holding their breath that Martin would ever complete the series. Some even believed, that Martin had lost his grip on the story, introducing too many new characters and tangent plotlines, leading to a consensus that the books were going seriously downhill. The fourth book, A Feast For Crows, had been the worst received ASoIaF book yet, and many fans had sworn that they would abandon the series rather than put their time and energy into a ship that was sinking fast (or not very fast). However, a hit show on HBO reminded former fans what they loved about the series, and the timely release of A Dance With Dragons - just a month after the end of the first season, propelled the book to the very top of the bestseller list.

But when it comes to gritty fantasy, ASoIaF is still one of the best things out there. Martin's ingenious blend of historical fiction and low-magic epic fantasy helps endear fans who wouldn't normally read the genre. Not only that, Martin's unflinching use of realism and Machiavellian treachery finds its influence in real-world history, and the series is evidence that some of the best characters and stories have already been played out in reality. Martin employs magic sparingly, leading to him utilizing genuinely clever plot devices rather than the ad-hoc deus ex machina rubbish so often utilized by less talented storytellers. There's a reason why Martin is still one of the best out there - and it most certainly is related to the time he takes between novels. Constantly writing and rewriting is part of Martin's craft, and other writers could take a lesson from his attention to detail and willingness to perfect his language.

Even though I agreed with the majority opinion that AFFC was in fact the weakest book of the series, I still thought it was still an interesting installment. Martin was still evolving as a writer, and there was especially a lot of attention paid to world-building and character development. It did not contain as many of the heavy hitting big moments of previous books, but I trusted gratification would come eventually, and characters still needed to transition from point A to point B before that could happen. A Dance With Dragons, on the other hand, was the perfect synthesis of the old Martin and the new Martin. Westeros and Essos are more richly imagined than ever before, and there are plenty of big highlight moments from characters we haven't seen in over 10 years.

Although many fans still remain pessimists - this book renewed my faith in Martin. Isolated plotlines are beginning to converge and there is indeed a light at the end of decades-long tunnel. ADWD proves also that Pentos is just as fascinating of a continent as Westeros, and that the Wall is still one of the greatest architectural wonders in all of literature. The iconic characters we love and hate are just as interesting as before, and one former bastard turned lordling with a sadistic passion for flaying his prisoners might be the most despicable villain yet. I have few complaints here. Some fans will find the pacing and long voyages frustrating, but a series I once read about a hobbit carrying a magic ring contained plenty of long voyages as well. If instant gratification is what you are seeking, wait for Season 5 of HBO's Game of Thrones. However, if you want to read one of the masters of fantasy continue his excellence, read this book.

Plot………8.5/10



Characters………10/10



Style………10/10





Overall………9.5/10