Well now that's interesting...

[thistlechaser]

Cut for major spoiler near the end of Dance with Dragons. Assume comments have spoilers, too. Don't click unless you're in the last 10% or so of the book!



Jon Snow, you really know nothing now. Being dead and all. Maybe/perhaps/hopefully.

The spoiler I was tricked into reading was "I don't believe the major death at the end of the book will turn out to be real, the character won't really be dead". That was my first thought, too. I know GRRM killed Ned, but I almost think he likes Jon more? I don't know, the death just didn't feel as certain as it might. I'm probably/hopefully wrong.

I have no issues with Jon being dead. I fully understandable how it happened "ICly" -- in character'ly. He made so many major and perhaps questionable giant changes so fast, to an institution so old... Plus his intended running south with the wildlings?

I've never had any great love for Jon, so I'm not upset at all. I'm kind of almost satisfied, really. I could really see where the Night's Watch folks were coming from. And I really, really wonder what will happen to the organization now, with all the wildlings already there.

Comments

[fealubryne.livejournal.com]

I just finished the book like, two days ago. I'm still wavering on whether or not Jon's actually dead... I'm leaving it be until it's been confirmed. I mean, heck, I'm still not quite willing to believe Brienne is dead, from the ending of Feast. Dance hasn't really confirmed or denied, though it seems pretty sure...

There's another death that I'm curious if you've gotten to, but I can't remember what order it happens in so I don't want to mention it. But that one frankly surprised me, too. I had thought GRRM was setting up for something and then... well. Apparently not. I have to give it to the man, he tends to kill off/maim characters randomly and indiscriminately enough that it keeps you on your toes to some extent. At this point, while I definitely love certain characters, I don't get completely distraught over character deaths. It's like RP - if it contributes to the overall story I'm cool with it, even if it's horribly depressing at the moment.

Overall, I liked the book. Though I think my biggest gripe is what you pointed out in an earlier post - the book definitely doesn't stand alone. It's not an enormous deal to me, but it does feel sort of like watching a TV show with continuous cliffhangers. We're only getting a chunk of the story, and then it cuts off with the ever-hated "to be continued..."

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

There's another death that I'm curious if you've gotten to, but I can't remember what order it happens in so I don't want to mention it.

The only other "death" (not really a death, I'm quite sure) is Daenerys getting carried off by the black dragon. I expect her to show up sometime in the future, likely with a dragon who at least somewhat listens to her.

I have to give it to the man, he tends to kill off/maim characters randomly and indiscriminately enough that it keeps you on your toes to some extent.

And boy do I like that! More books should do that. Ha ha, imagine Twilight where both Edward and Jacob got killed! HEEE. Now that would make me read those books (maybe).

It's like RP - if it contributes to the overall story I'm cool with it, even if it's horribly depressing at the moment.

Ha! Yes, exactly. And in my case, it helps that I really only love one character (Tyrion).

Did you catch the small reference to a gay (tiny) character? Tyrion was talking to someone in the sellsword company, someone from Westeros, and he asked him who he missed. "A guy... um... a friend, yeah, a friend", something like that. It made me grin!

And yeah, overall I mostly sort of liked it. I'm not sorry I read it, though I sure do wish it were stronger on its own. Luckily the second half is better than the first half, which means I'll be left with a better memory of it. Zero interest in rereading it though.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

You know, I just realized who the second death was. I'm almost done with the book, just a couple pages left to go (eek!), and I was sitting there thinking "she said there was another death...". Then I remembered: That Dorne guy. His were the chapters I kept skimming, so when he died he seemed the most minor, uninteresting character. Was that who you meant?

[fealubryne.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's who I meant. I was actually really startled by his death - poor dumb kid, I felt bad for him. It was one of those cases of his death being reasonable, even pretty likely considering what he was trying to do, but I had hoped it would be one of those cool "OMG he did it!" moments. I had actually thought maybe he would play a significant role down the road. But... apparently not. What a nasty way to go.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Horrible way to go, yes. Days of third degree burns, without modern medicine...

I kept hoping his friends would hit him upside the head and point out how stupid this was.

Is it time for the next book yet? I'm stretching out these last few pages as much as I can.