Did anyone find A Feast For Crows difficult to start?

December2012

I've read books 2, 3a and 3b in about a fortnight (read book 1 last year).

After the fantastic events of Book 3 I'm finding book 4 a bit difficult to get into and I wonder if anybody else found that?

Maybe new locations is it?

I'm on the first Arya chapter so please don't spoil me, but I found the other books unputdownable and this, so far at least, isn't.

Maybe it's always the same when a book begins.....

What do you guys think?

Todd Toddington III

December2012 wrote: »

I've read books 2, 3a and 3b in about a fortnight (read book 1 last year).

After the fantastic events of Book 3 I'm finding book 4 a bit difficult to get into and I wonder if anybody else found that?

Maybe new locations is it?

I'm on the first Arya chapter so please don't spoil me, but I found the other books unputdownable and this, so far at least, isn't.

Maybe it's always the same when a book begins.....

What do you guys think?

Yeah it's a slow burner. Stick with it though, the next one is brilliant

SparkySpitfire

Yep... my least favourite, but Dance shall be your reward!

wayne040576

December2012 wrote: »

I've read books 2, 3a and 3b in about a fortnight (read book 1 last year).

After the fantastic events of Book 3 I'm finding book 4 a bit difficult to get into and I wonder if anybody else found that?

Maybe new locations is it?

I'm on the first Arya chapter so please don't spoil me, but I found the other books unputdownable and this, so far at least, isn't.

Maybe it's always the same when a book begins.....

What do you guys think?

It's not a great book and to be honest in spite of what a lot of people say, I didn't think the fifth was much better.

kksaints

Its a tough read first time out but its considerably better on rereads. Dance with Dragons isnt that much better than A Feast For Crows imo especially if you reread both of them.

Sleepy

Take a break from the series. Go read a few other things then come back to it.

AFFC suffers from a considerable change of pace from the break-neck pace of the previous books. kksaints is right that it's much better on re-reads or when read slowly. This one is all about the foreshadowing, subtlely revealed political machinations and some back-story being revealed while the plot progresses slowly.

Mr.Prodston

Yes! I flew through ASOS and when I saw the chapter titled

"The Prophet"

I was like the cat that got the cream for a few minutes.

But yeah it's a tough one to get into with all the new characters and missing the staple but I really started enjoying it towards the end.

The one thing that stood out for me though was that I was happy to get a Sansa chapter :eek: :pac:

Yep took me a lot longer to read AFFC but just keep going slowly. A lot more to take in with a lot of new characters but for me it was worth getting to ADWD which I loved

Tom.D.BJJ

I took a break of about three months about half way through it. It was a tough slog at the time, but once i finish ADWD (77% at the moment) i'm considering doing a chronological reread during the summer.

Barna77

Yeah, it's a slow one, specially after the rollercoaster that is ASoS. It picks up towards the end.

eyeball kid

Found it pretty tough to get through as well. A lot of new characters. Thought Dance was a lot easier to get into.

Mr Velo

I've started from the beginning again - determined to read slower this time to take it all in.

When i get to AFFC however, i'm going to try reading it in Chronological order using this link as my guide: http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a

username123

Mr Velo wrote: »

I've started from the beginning again - determined to read slower this time to take it all in.

When i get to AFFC however, i'm going to try reading it in Chronological order using this link as my guide: http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a

Thats a good guide, I might try that.

Boom_Bap

I'm reading at the moment, it's defintely all the new characters that is making it more of a challenge. There is also alot more exposure to the places that were mentioned in earlier books so there is a bit more time spent on familiarising with those places.

Still enjoying the read.

jones

i'm just finished a storm or swords so think i might take people's advice and read AFOC a bit slower! ASOS was just epic

thehairyone

On my first reading, I found AFfC a tough read mostly because of the lack of some of my favourite characters.

The second reading (in time for the release of a ADwD) was much easier as I knew the characters I wanted to read about were only a book away.

However, at that stage I didnt know how poor ADwD would turn out to be. Worst book of the series by far. It is to be expected though, most series like this dip towards the middle books. I just hope GRRM can pull it out of the bag.

Lovely Bloke

I've just started it again, for a second time. I got about a third the way through it before - which was right after reading the previous books.

Finding it much easier this time round.

Scuba Ste

It's probably one of my favourite books. It's definitely slower than Storm but in a good way. Jamie's and Brienne's chapters in particular are very good, developing the landscape of Westeros a bit more. Much better than Dance imo which is by far my least favourite. For such a big book not a lot happens in it.

KJY

I'm hoping the re read will be better but I have to say I found it tough going. Brienne and Dorne in particular were brutal. Jaime and Cersei were both strong, and the Iron Islanders were okay. Arya's ark is also much weaker compared to previous books, Sansa not great either.

Interrobang

Yeah, I found it slow going at first. I think it was made worse because I re-read the first three books before starting it, so the RW was fresh in my mind again and I wanted to find out what happened next with everyone else. It deserves a second reading, however.

Before ADwD came out I read through the books again beforehand and it was better second time around. AFfC and ADwD definitely benefit from being read alongside each other rather than one after the other.

Cienciano

I'm on chapter 36 in AFFC, definitely harder to get into. I'm not a fan of any chapters in Dorn. Iron Islands ones are good, so are the other established characters chapters. But not much happening really.

Richy06

I think the relative lull in comparison with earlier books is just setting everything up for some huge payoffs in the final two books. Also, I like how it fleshes out the whole of Westeros a bit more. I don't think the books get worse, per se, but that the break neck pace of the first few versus the relative slow moving later books kinda makes them into a slog.

Sleepy

Mr Velo wrote: »

I've started from the beginning again - determined to read slower this time to take it all in.

When i get to AFFC however, i'm going to try reading it in Chronological order using this link as my guide: http://boiledleather.com/post/25902554148/a-new-reader-friendly-combined-reading-order-for-a

I read them that way for my 3rd read of AFFC and second of ADwD. It definitely benefits both books.

I would, however, suggest that an eReader is extremely useful for this type of reading!

December2012

Okay so a few chapters in and I like the book, however I do think ill do the combined reading. Thanks for the guide.

Stench Blossoms

When I looked at the chapters I said 'UGH!' but I did slowly get into it.

Lovely Bloke

I'm 20% in now, and enjoying it as a slow read.

Was there a long gap between the release of Book 3 and Book 4? Because there are a lot of "reminders" going on - who's dead, who killed them, what battles happened, who won them etc

I think that if people re-read the whole series before reading it, they might find it a bit boring or full of superflous information - but coming back to it nearly a year after reading the first three, with countless other books read in between, it's nice to get those little reminders, and also to learn more about the other parts of the Kingdom.

Baldy Conscience

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I'm 20% in now, and enjoying it as a slow read.

Was there a long gap between the release of Book 3 and Book 4? Because there are a lot of "reminders" going on - who's dead, who killed them, what battles happened, who won them etc

I think that if people re-read the whole series before reading it, they might find it a bit boring or full of superflous information - but coming back to it nearly a year after reading the first three, with countless other books read in between, it's nice to get those little reminders, and also to learn more about the other parts of the Kingdom.

A decent point this, I read feast straight after book 3 and the repetitiveness along with so many new characters really made it harder to read.

Sleepy

Ever read the Harry Potter books? A Wheel of Time?

Any reasonably long series of books has a lot of repetition to jog readers memories. The gap between ASOS (2000) and AFFC (2005) was particularly long so no great surprise that he included plenty of reminders!

Retrovertigo

I felt very let down by AFFC, I found it to be way too long and a chore to get through. It just seemed very poorly edited, so many parts just felt like filler. And the walking, so much walking around doing nothing. He really went balls out adding Titles to chapters instead of names which after a while I found irritating. A lot of the smaller characters only appear relevant after reading a ADWD. It does pick up close to the end though.

I found ADWD better but not by a huge amount, after reading AFFC it was a relief to be reading about the main characters again but it also suffers from far too many characters, filler and travelling around doing nothing. It was at this point I decided that I'd much prefer Danaerys be killed and be done with it rather than to have to suffer another of her chapters.

Mickeroo

Retrovertigo wrote: »

I felt very let down by AFFC, I found it to be way too long and a chore to get through. It just seemed very poorly edited, so many parts just felt like filler. And the walking, so much walking around doing nothing. He really went balls out adding Titles to chapters instead of names which after a while I found irritating. A lot of the smaller characters only appear relevant after reading a ADWD. It does pick up close to the end though.

I found ADWD better but not by a huge amount, after reading AFFC it was a relief to be reading about the main characters again but it also suffers from far too many characters, filler and travelling around doing nothing. It was at this point I decided that I'd much prefer Danaerys be killed and be done with it rather than to have to suffer another of her chapters.

I enjoyed it myself but I agree GRRM needs an editor (or a more stringent one than he has now at any rate). Genuinely think both of them could have been edited down to include

the battles that are on the horizon

rather than pushing them into the WoW. Hell they could probably have been squeezed into one book at a push.

Retrovertigo

Mickeroo wrote: »

Hell they could probably have been squeezed into one book at a push.

Agree 100%,

all that build up only to have to wait for the TWOW to see how things play out was disappointing. Especially as IIRC George said one of them was to be included originally and was removed.

Still there's always the sample chapter on his website for those of us who must have a sneak peak.

Oafley Jones

I think it took me 7 or 8 months to read this. Flew through the others, but this was absolute slog. Kept on having to restart it. If I was reading it on release, I'd have quit the series. It's the very worst of Martin, where all his dodgy impluses run rampant. Somebody really needed to reign him in on it.

dr gonzo

Funnily enough I got through AFfC in maybe three sittings, not because I loved it as much as the previous titles, but because I told myself to read it on its own terms. Its dreadfully unfair how much bad press this book gets, and while there certainly are legitimately bad chapters, it is still an excellent book. The problem is, as others have said, the pace and theme of AFfC is not worse but deliberately different. If you can disconnect AFfC from ASoS while reading it you'll find it a pleasure to read.

The other thing that probably worked in my favour is just how negative people are about this book, so I had low expectations going in anyway, and was VERY pleasantly surprised. I truly am a bit uneasy about ADWD though. How does it stack up? As much as I did enjoy AFfC, I dont know if I am necessarily in a rush to read the same book again...

googled eyes

I'm listening to the audiobooks ( having a toddler is really cutting into reading books). With audiobooks I can listen while I do stuff during the day or play with my daughter. I thought maybe it was the change in narrator was the reason I wasn't enjoying this one as much.

linute555

My mane concern here is, what they gonna do for the tv series?
Considering there're no Tyrion or Daenery's story lines.
I got a feeling, the producers will have to come up with something, otherwise there'll be plenty of unsatisfied (to say the least) fans of the show.

kksaints

linute555 wrote: »

My mane concern here is, what they gonna do for the tv series?
Considering there're no Tyrion or Daenery's story lines.
I got a feeling, the producers will have to come up with something, otherwise there'll be plenty of unsatisfied (to say the least) fans of the show.

They will do it timewise instead of book order. As in a mix of AFFC and ADWD

googled eyes

I'd say they could even use some of ASOS because I feel like there is lots to fit into the final 3 episodes. Some of the story lines could be stretched into the next series.

Washington Irving

googled eyes wrote: »

I'd say they could even use some of ASOS because I feel like there is lots to fit into the final 3 episodes. Some of the story lines could be stretched into the next series.

Season 4 of the TV show is going to be based off the second half of ASOS so they still have another 13 episodes to cover it.


There will probably be overlap in the events if the books, or bringing forward of events such as Theon's scenes this season.


AFFC and ADWD will almost certainly be merged and will be covered by seasons 5,6 (possibly 7 too) providing they stick with 10 episodes seasons.

googled eyes

SaulGoode9 wrote: »

Season 4 of the TV show is going to be based off the second half of ASOS so they still have another 13 episodes to cover it.

/quote]

Thank the Old Gods for that

Lovely Bloke

linute555 wrote: »

My mane concern

Lion of Lannister?

FishHook

I'm about 200 or so pages into AFFC. Although not too bad a read, it is definitely the poorest book in the series, so far.

intellectual dosser

I'm on page 480 or so and I'm finding it tough. Some of the chapters are a real struggle and force me to put the book down mid chapter (rare for me). Some people say the next book is better, some say its the same, which makes sense because it really cant get any worse.

A Neurotic

62% through and finding it hard to continue.

Brienne in particular is very poor. It seems almost an intentionally frustrating reading experience, following her traipse around, knowing that she's on the wrong track.

Also, it's early days from her POV for me, but she seems to be a fairly poor, one-dimensional character. The scene where she breaks down and spills her life story to the healer priest monk whateverthefck dude was particularly bad. "All of it came pouring out then, the betrayals and betrothals, Lord Renly dancing with her, LITERALLY EVERY OTHER FACT OR ENCOUNTER OR ASPECT OF HER CHARACTER THAT WE HAVE EVER BEEN EXPOSED TO AS READERS".

All of it came pouring out of Brienne then, like black blood from a wound... the voyage down the Trident, dueling Jaime in the woods, the Bloody Mummers, Jaime crying "Sapphires," Jaime in the tub at Harrenhal with steam rising from his body, the taste of Vargo Hoat's blood when she bit down on his ear, the bear pit, Jaime leaping down onto the sand, the long ride to King's Landing, Sansa Stark, the vow she'd sworn to Jaime, the vow she'd sworn to Lady Catelyn, Oathkeeper, Duskendale, Maidenpool, Nimble Dick and Crackclaw and the Whispers, the men she'd killed...

This is just not something that would happen. An illuminating insight from her past, yes. Every single thing she's ever felt or done, no.

Mr.Prodston

Persevere with it. Trust me. I was in a similar position to you but you're through the worst of it IMO. There were times for the first half of the book I actually didn't want to pick it back up as the change of pace from Storm was hard to take but it does pick up. Well I thought it did and I actually liked Brienne's POVs. It's the one book I actually want to re-read the most as I gave it such short shrift at the time.

December2012

The boiled leather combined reading list really made a difference for me

calex71

I say it because its true , the way books 4 and 5 were structured in terms of running currently was a massive mistake, i realise different plot arcs had to be brought in somehow but how they were brought in was a total snooze-fest and sucked the life out of the series for me, and left me with a f'd if i care attitude towards the series,as for the end of a dance with dragons I would personally love to kick GRRM in the nuts for it, it was pants!!!!

I'd struggle to read those again but i'd read books 1-3 in a heart beat again, anyone finding it hard to get through them I empathize they are seriously tough after the 1st 3. They introduce some great ideas and essentials, but by christ they are hard work. I really hope winds of winter is another storm of swords now.

Gbear

The quality of the writing (perhaps because of **** editing) drops off a cliff as well.

It turns into a mess of Westerosi clichés and generally the writing feels mechanical and lacking the same care and attention it got in the previous books.

riffmongous

I actually skipped almost all the iron islands and dorne chapters, mainly to get through the book faster and move onto the more interesting characters in adwd, but also because 3 books in I had no interest in getting to know these new characters, who were just taking time away from the people I already knew and liked

Lovely Bloke

riffmongous wrote: »

I actually skipped almost all the iron islands and dorne chapters, mainly to get through the book faster and move onto the more interesting characters in adwd, but also because 3 books in I had no interest in getting to know these new characters, who were just taking time away from the people I already knew and liked

I didn't skip chapters, but I agree with this sentiment (I'm currently 66% or so through ADWD).

ADWD is so much better because most of the main characters who are left are back.

Martin invested too much time in Dorne, and maybe to a lesser extent the Iron Islands (Theon was already a "main" character, and we'd seen the sister too, so a story about them and their part of the world was expected imo, but the Kingsmoot shenanigans could have been shorter).

Dorne though, there was no "main" characters from there early on, yes, we knew about it, but why the need to introduce a whole new set of charachters like that?

I didn't and don't care about them.

calex71

calex71 wrote: »

I really hope winds of winter is another storm of swords now.

If the sample chatpers are anything to go by it could be or even better. It's going to be the biggest book of the series as well I think?

Elmidena

I bought the box set in the Black Friday sales, and if I hadn't already owned the last one I would have rage quite AFFC. Too many new people I didn't care about, and the epilogue made me think he was just being a giant troll, and guaranteeing sales for the last book in an underhand way, especially given how long he takes between each book being released. It wasn't just the new unlikable cast for me, he took existing characters and twisted them around to someone else entirely.