A Dance with Dragons is the fifth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. [Here my reviews of the other books.]

Plot:
A Dance with Dragons starts out parallel with the Feast for Crows timeline, but then continues on longer. It concentrates on the characters in the North and East, telling us what happens further at the Wall and in Meereen, but also with Tyrion, while winter is coming inexorably and threateningly closer.

Oh boy, Martin really is the kind of cliffhangers. I kinda hate him for it and I can kinda understand the Wrath of the Intarwebs when it comes to the seven years that everybody had to wait for this book. I sincerely hope the next one won’t be as far off – because despite a few weaknesses in this one I WANT MORE.

The thing that was a bit problematic was that you just notice that this book has taken a very long time to get written. Meaning that sometimes it felt a bit long. [Though that might also be connected to the sheer weight of this book. Reading this is quite a workout, especially if you – like me – carry your books around all the time because the most reading you get done is on public transport.]

I also had a few issues with a couple of the plot and character developments but I see that more as prove that I was so invested in it all and I DON’T WANNA, okay?!

Anyhoo, it was still a fantastic and engaging read and there were many characters I didn’t get enough of despite the general length and I’m moving into very SPOILERY territory now, so beware.

There’s way too little Bran, three or four meager chapters? I wanna know more. Really. And that greenseer is so freaking creepy in a very good way, I want to see more of him, too. [Also, is it just my imagination or is that dead ranger Benjen?]

And no Rickon at all? What is going on there? He was barely mentioned at all.

And what the hell happened to Jaime and Brienne? [If Jaimie is dead – which I don’t believe, not truly – there is going to be hell to pay.] The same goes for Sam – he should have showed up at least once. (I mean, after his repeat performance in the beginning.) And Sansa and Petyr!

Oh and btw, totally called that Brienne wasn’t dead. But was completely surprised that Cersei is still alive at the end of that book. I wouldn’t have thought she would survive the first half.

Tyrion really has to start to drink less, especially because he gets a bit misogynistic at times with his drunken japes and his obsession with whores. But he’s still an amazing character that I love to bits.

Daenerys lost a bit of her awesome in this book, admittedly – my problem is the Daario story arc. Apart from the fact that I just don’t get her crush on him, she’s just such a teenager when it comes to him. And she has every right to be like that – she is a teenager after all – but petulance doesn’t make for greatness.

And poor Quentyn. I liked him so much but it was so clear that he wouldn’t survive this book. Not a nice way to go.

It will be interesting to see how and when she encounters Aegon. I also think that it’s quite interesting that Martin obviously follows the politics of “royal blood, royal right” and I think that a three-way Targaryen rule is in the making with Daenerys, Aegon and a third yet to be disclosed person. Personally I think that it’s going to be Jon Snow who will turn out to be the son of Ned and a Targaryen – probably Rhaella. If Jon isn’t actually dead, as the end of this book would suggest. [Which I don’t believe, either. But much to my own suprise I noticed that it would be worse for me if Jaimie was really dead than if it was Jon.]

But then again it is George R. R. Martin, so all bets are off.

Anyhow, speaking of Aegon, did I mention how much I like Griff? He is a good substitute for the fact that I really missed Davos. Another person there was too little of. Just like Arya.

Who I did get enough off was Theon/Reek. It was not too much – I have to admit that I enjoyed tortured-out-of-his-mind Theon more than dickheaded-I-need-to-rule Theon (even though it’s probably a mortal sin to say so) but he’ll never be my favorite character.

But then again it is George R. R. Martin, so all bets are off there, too.

Summarising: despite some lack of drive especially in the second half, I can’t wait for the rest of this series. Especially since everything is in position now to really get started in The Winds of Winter.