REVIEW: A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE - A DANCE WITH DRAGONS 2: AFTER THE FEAST ~ GEORGE R.R MARTIN

It is becoming increasingly difficult to write spoiler-free reviews of A Song of Ice and Fire.  I'll do my best, but if you are not up to date, beware.

A Dance with Dragons 2: After The Feast is no less interesting than A Dance with Dragons 1, and was by no means a disappointing read.  Several interesting things happen to shake up the Realm:

Stannis gains support of many Northmen and marches on Winterfell with the intent of taking it from the Boltons (and as such, the Lannisters), but with winter truly coming, can his company survive long enough to reach it?

Theon Greyjoy surprisingly remembers his name (with a little help from Bran Stark!), finds his courage (with a little help from Mance Rayder!) and helps Jeyne Poole escape the evil clutches of Ramsay Bolton, surprisingly winding up with Stannis Baratheon.

In the house of Black and White

We get to spend more time with Arya Stark, who is fast becoming the nameless, faceless girl of Braavos.  She is training with the guild of assassins known as the Faceless Men (such as her friend, Jaqen H’ghar) growing into a silent killer.  While I fear for Arya’s humanity, I can’t help but love the strong, brave, badass she is becoming.  Arya also discovers her skinchanger abilities, and alongside Bran is now one of only two Starks who actually realize what they can do (it is possible Jon caught on just in the nick of time, but we can’t be sure just yet).

Cersei Lannister gets her comeuppance to a degree, but she is still planning, plotting and conniving to worm her way out of punishment.  And her champion – Ser Robert Strong – could he truly be who I think he is?  

The penance walk

Tyrion, on his way to find Daenerys Targaryen and assist her in conquering Westeros, faces  his worst nightmare when he, Jorah and Penny are sold into slavery; however, with Tyrion’s wiles they are not slaves for long.  Interestingly, Tyrion and Jorah sign on to join a very unexpected company…

Contrary to my predictions, Daenerys does not marry Euron Greyjoy (who has sent his brother to fetch Daenerys – I can’t imagine her reacting well to that – not knowing Victarion intends to marry Daenerys himself), Quentyn or even Aegon.  Instead she marries someone far less interesting - Hizdahr zo Loraq. She does this purely to stop the attacks of the Sons of the Harpy.  This storyline really got on my nerves.  Daenerys is portrayed as strong and smart, and personally I think this is the dumbest thing she’s ever gone and done.  Previously she took what she wanted and came up with the most clever of ways to destroy her foes.  To see her rolling over like this was quite the disappointment. Anyhow, Ser Barristan soon starts questioning her new husband’s loyalty.  Does he truly love Dany, or did he marry her for the throne of Meereen?  Does he intend to share the rule, now that he is King?  Things concerning Dany’s dragons are certainly chaotic this time around, definitely more dangerous as well.  Dany ultimately decides to chain them up in a dark pit, with Drogon escaping and Rhaegal and Viserion tied up, largely leaving the dragons out of the picture – again, disappointing.  Can Dany possibly tame the wild Drogon, Balerion The Black Dread come again?  On the bright side Martin gives Dany a spectacular final two chapters in ADWD that more than make up for her disappointing actions and overall quite boring storyline.  

Daenerys and Drogon

On the wall the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow, has many enemies and must constantly watch his back.  His black brothers start grumbling when Jon makes a truce with the wildlings North of the wall, allowing the wildlings to enter Westeros and even joining the Night’s Watch to fortify the wall.  What Jon understands, unlike just about everyone else, is that something worse than the wildings is fast approaching.  Winter is coming, and so are the White Walkers.  Jon is doing his level best to prepare for the coming attack, which no-one else believes is coming.  Jon is smart, innovative and brave – an excellent Lord Commander (I must say, though, I kind of wanted him to accept Stannis’ offer of becoming a legitimate Stark, marrying Val and rebuilding Winterfel – while I never got into Jon with Ygritte, Jon and Val have excellent chemistry).  Melisandre, however, keeps warning Jon about daggers in the dark…

When Jon receives a taunting letter from Ramsay Bolton, “the lord of Winterfell”, Jon finally realizes that he can no longer keep trying to be neutral when reckless wars are tearing the realm apart.  Jon announces that he will ride south against the Boltons, violating his oath of neutrality.  How will his already peeved black brothers react?

A Dance With Dragons concludes with the reader finally learning where Varys’ true allegiance lies and what he and Magister Illyrio have been up to all this time – and the confirmation that Winter has come.

There are several issues to be addressed in the next instalment of the series, The Winds of Winter. 

*SPOILERS! SPOILERS EVERYWHERE!*

Aegon has launched his attacks and is officially attempting to conquer Westeros – will he succeed?  Will Denearys reunite with all three of her dragons?  What will happen with Khal Jhaqo, the former Bloodrider of Khal Drogo who betrayed her after Drogo's death?  Will Dany exact her promised revenge and reform her Khalasar, adding thousands of Dothraki to her Unsullied?  (What army could possibly withstand the Dothraki, Unsullied and dragons?)  Will Tyrion convince the Second Sons to turn their cloaks and fight for Daenerys?  Will he rescue Daario Naharis and gain Dany’s trust?  (Truthfully, I can’t wait to see Dany and Tyrion together.)  What will happen now that Brienne has led Jaime into a trap set by Lady Stoneheart and the Brotherhood Without Banners?  (I want more scenes of Lady Stoneheart, already!)  Did Ramsay Bolton truly defeat Stannis Baratheon? As for the Starks - Davos is on his way to Skagos (have fun with the unicorns and cannibals!) to return Rickon Stark to the North.  Will Rickon and Shaggydog’s famous aggressive and distrusting temperaments come into play?  What is the point of Bran’s greenseeing?  Will he ever return to Westeros?  Will Arya?  Will she reunite with Nymeria? Will Sansa allow Littlefinger to manipulate her into doing his bidding? And most importantly, is Jon Snow alive? 

Martin has confirmed there will be two major battles in TWOW:  The battle of Meereen, and the battle for the North.  The release date for TWOW has not been set as Martin is still in the process of writing it.  His publisher has confirmed that the book is not slated to be released this year, meaning the earliest possible release date is 2015.  My guess is we’ll have to wait longer - I’m hoping for 2016, but I doubt TWOW will be released before 2017.  Here’s hoping I’m very wrong!

Product Information:

Title: A Dance With Dragons 2: After The Feast

Author: George R.R Martin

Number of pages: 592

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN-10: 0074660721

ISBN-13: 978-0074660720

ASIN: B00760BPQA

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Review: A Clash of Kings

Review: A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow

Review: A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold

Review: A Feast For Crows

Review: A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams And Dust

NEW RELEASE: OUT OF CONTROL ~ SARAH ALDERSON

While I eagerly anticipate the next book in Sarah Alderson’s Lila series (tentatively titled “Killing Lila”), the author is releasing a book which promises to provide an Alderson fix that looks to live up to the action of Lila and co!

Tomorrow is the official release date for Out of Control, which follows 17 year old Liva whose new life in New York quickly turns into a nightmare.  When Liva is the sole surviver of a brutal murder, she’s taken into police custody for her own protection. But when the police station is attacked and bullets start flying, it becomes clear that Liva is not just a witness - she’s a target.

Together with a car thief called Jay, Liva manages to escape the massacre but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

I highly anticipate this read, so look out for my review.  Get your hands on a copy! I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

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Review: Hunting Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review: Losing Lila ~ Sarah Alderson

Review: Fated ~ Sarah Alderson

REVIEW: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS ~ JOHN GREEN

The Fault in our Stars by John Green follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a terminally ill sixteen year-old, who meets the great love of her life at a cancer support group.  Hazel sees herself as a grenade, bound to blow up eventually, and her wish is to minimize the damage; so she keeps Augustus at arm’s length.  Augustus, however, will not be deterred.  This book is a beautiful portrayal of young love, complicated by living with terminal cancer.

Augustus (Ansel Elgort) and Hazel Grace (Shailene Woodley) in the film version of TFIOS

I love, love, love the way this book is written.  It’s very intelligent, very clever writing.  It is first and foremost a love story, but offers quite a realistic look at the life of cancer patients (to an extent, but hey, this is fiction).  If this book does nothing else, it will give you a whole new appreciation for every breath you breathe effortlessly. 

I adore the characters.  Hazel and Augustus are such unique, interesting characters – as are the supporting characters.  I love Hazel’s relationship with her parents and Augustus’ relationship with Isaac.  This book might have my favourite dialogue ever – I love everything that Hazel and Augustus say; like I said, clever writing.  Is this how the average teenager talks?  Absolutely not; but that's why I love it.

I have to say though, while I know this book emotionally wrecked a lot of people, it did not make me cry; and I had expected it to.  I worried for a while because this book did not make me ugly cry as it seemed to make everyone else do - is there something wrong with me? - but considering I easily get chocked up while reading very often, I have just come to accept that while I loved this book, I guess I just didn't connect emotionally. I have to say that the first half of the book was better than the second half of the book, and I think maybe there was just too much hype surrounding the book when I started reading. Maybe my expectations were unrealistically high. The book by no means fell short and definitely falls under the category of best books I’ve ever read, but the tears just never came for me.  

The Fault In Our Stars is a beautiful book I would recommend to anyone who is considering reading it.  TIME Magazine called this book “Damn near genius”.  I would have to agree.

I am just so thrilled this book didn’t end mid-sentence.  You’ll have to read it to find out why…

The film version of The Fault In Our Stars is set to be released in June, and stars the talented Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace, and Ansel Elgort as Augustus.  By the looks of the trailer the film is a faithful adaptation of the book, and I will definitely give it a go.

Product Information

Title: The Fault In Our Stars

Author: John Green

Pages: 337

Year: 2012

Publisher: Penguin Group

ISBN-10: 014242417X

ISBN-13: 978-0142424179

ASIN: B005ZOBNOI

REVIEW: STRANDED ~ DANI PETTREY

It has been months since reporter Darcy St. James left Yancey and the McKennas behind.  She had hoped Gage would stay in touch, but he hadn’t… and neither had she.  She returns to Alaska on an undercover assignment at the request of her former partner.  Darcy starts working on the Cruise Liner with her friend, but within hours – and before they have a chance to talk - Abby disappears without a trace.  Darcy needs to not only find her friend, but discover what Abby had uncovered on the cruise liner.  What put the fear in her friend’s eyes?  What lead to her disappearance?

Gage McKenna has taken a summer-long stint leading adventure excursions for the passengers of various cruise lines that dock in Alaska for a few days of sightseeing.  When Gage ends up on the same ship as Darcy, he knows trouble is brewing.  It is obvious Darcy went back to undercover work, something Gage has no respect for.  Lying and deceiving people is not something Gage can accept in a friend, much less a partner.

Gage and Darcy can't hide or fight their attraction to each other, but whether or not something can come of their attraction is another matter altogether.  Gage has serious issues with Darcy's profession, fearing she might be like Meredith - the former girlfriend who has left him disillusioned following the death of their infant son. Darcy can't be with a man who doesn't share her faith, and she has been praying for Gage since they met.  Can Darcy use this opportunity to help lead Gage back to the loving God who can heal his battered heart? Gage is surprised to find the stirring of his childhood faith in his soul, along with a stirring of something powerful for the woman who charmed her way into his heart.  

The cruise liner administration isn’t concerned with Abby’s disappearance.  They believe she simply quit without informing anyone.  Gage isn’t sure what to make of Darcy’s insistence that her friend is in trouble when there is no evidence to support her claims.  But when Darcy starts digging and ends up unconscious in the medical bay, it’s obvious someone has something to hide.

Together Darcy and Gage dig for answers, with a little help from the other McKennas, and what they find is bigger and more terrible than either could ever have imagined.  Can the danger that surrounds them be the catalyst that finally forces Gage to admit his need for his Saviour and his love for Darcy?

Stranded is the third book the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey.  Each novel can be read as a stand-alone, but reads best in order as each novel features the same characters.  

I had really looked forward to Gage and Darcy’s story.  I adore both of them, and from their interaction in Shattered I knew they would be perfect for each other.  Truthfully, though, something is lacking. Throughout Stranded, Gage and Darcy don’t give off the spark I had come to expect.  The intensity of the story is also not as intense as its predecessors, and while the danger is no less significant this time around, I did not find myself truly fearing for Gage and Darcy’s safety as I had feared for Cole and Bailey, and Piper and Landon. 

Having said that, I loved returning to Alaska and meeting up with the McKenna family, whom I adore.  It was a joy to experience Gage's awakening faith, and the progression of his and Darcy's relationship.  While Cole and Bailey were only featured very briefly, we met up with Piper, Landon, Kayden and Jake.  We learn more about Jake’s mysterious past and start seeing a softer side to Kayden.  Jake and Kayden’s story is next in Silenced, to be released at the end of April 2014.

Product Information:

Title: Stranded

Author: Dani Pettrey

Pages: 352

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN-10: 0764209841

ISBN-13: 978-0764209840

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DIVERGENT

After a terrible war, the dystopic society of what we know today as Chicago is supposedly the last hub of civilisation, and is divided into five factions - each faction dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue they consider the one that could have prevented the war, and which will prevent future conflict.  Each faction values the opposite trait of that which they blame for causing the war in the first place: 1) Abnegation, the selfless who blame selfishness; 2) Candor, the honest who blame deceit; 3) Amity, the peaceful who blame conflict and fighting; 4) Erudite, the intelligent who blame ignorance; and 5) Dauntless, the brave who blame cowardice.

Every year the sixteen year-olds in this society must take an aptitude test determining which faction they are best suited for.  Then they must make the most important decision of their lives: will they remain with their families in the faction they were born into, or will they forsake their families and transfer to another faction?

The choosing ceremony

Divergent, based on the book of the same name by Veronica Roth, follows Beatrice Prior, an Abnegation born who never felt like she belonged.  Despite trying her hardest, being an Abnegation does not come easy.  Beatrice possesses traits completely unacceptable to the way of life of Abnegation, such as curiosity and sarcasm.  Beatrice is also very intrigued by the Dauntless faction and can't help but smile when she sees the fearless climbing poles and jumping out of trains. 

Instead of helping her to make the right choice, Beatrice's aptitude test leaves her even more confused when her results are inconclusive.  Beatrice's evaluator informs her that she is what is called a divergent, a person equally suited for more than one faction.  She deletes the computer records and leaves Beatrice with a warning to never share this information with anyone,  not even her family.  Beatrice struggles with her choice, feeling drawn to Dauntless, but knowing that abandoning her family would hurt her parents terribly.  She expects the decision is much easier for her brother, Caleb, who is a natural Abnegation; selfless to a fault.  The choosing ceremony brings the surprise of a lifetime when Caleb unexpectedly switches to Erudite.  Beatrice knows she now has no choice.  She has the perfect opportunity to prove herself a natural Abnegation – the most selfless choice of all stands before her.  Beatrice cannot let her parents lose both their children in one day; she will choose Abnegation.  However, after Beatrice has drawn blood from her hand and her palm hovers over the grey stones of Abnegation, at the last second her hand moves to the left and her blood drips on hot coals, proclaiming her Dauntless.  My favourite quote from the book was omitted from the movie:

A new life deserves a new name, and Beatrice renames herself Tris.  Once inside the compound the new initiates learn a terrifying truth: Only the top ten initiates will ultimately become Dauntless, the ten with the lowest rankings will be rejected and become factionless, rejected from society and forced to live on the street.  Tris is by far the smallest initiate, physically her chances don’t look good.  She will need to work hard and rely on all of her skills to secure a place in Dauntless. 

The initiates are welcomed into Dauntless

Being Abnegation born, members and initiates of other factions are hostile towards Tris, especially the Dauntless born.  While Tris does make some friends among the transfer initiates, she is not secure in these friendships as her new friends alternate between exploiting what they know to be her weakness (her physical strength), and deeply resenting her strength (her mental strength) and progress.  Tris soon finds herself in danger from friends and foes alike. 

When Tris' score improves significantly, she is attacked and must fight for her life.  Who hides behind the masks might surprise her

Tris forms an unlikely friendship with the transfer initiates’ instructor, Four, even though he seems to have just as much of a problem with her Abnegation roots as everyone else does. While they do seem to have a connection, Four’s behaviour is unpredictable.  When he and Tris are alone he is unguarded, compliments her and gives her advice; in front of the other initiates, though, Four seems to be harder on Tris than any of the others.    

Four watches Tris during fight training

Abnegation, despite being peaceful, neutral, and calm, has a fierce ongoing rivalry with the Erudite.  Abnegation is the faction in charge of the Government, and the Erudite, who seek power, believe that Abnegation are in fact selfish people who only provide for their own faction.  When Erudite starts releasing reports heavily critising Abnegation, Tris seems to be the only one to grasp the seriousness of the matter.  When Erudite leader, Jeanine Matthews, is regularly spotted at the Dauntless compound (responsible for the military defence), Tris starts suspecting that Erudite is planning to overthrow Government and destroy Abnegation;  But how can one lone, lowly initiate prove it?   And more importantly, how can she stop it; especially when Tris starts hearing snippets of conversations confirming that Erudite is flushing out and killing all divergents.  The question is why?  What danger do divergents pose to Erudite?  Or more appropriately, what power do divergents wield?

Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews; Theo James as Four/Tobias

The film version of Divergent is very true to the book.  It was skilfully done, and the casting is spot on.  Shailene Woodley is the perfect Tris Prior and Theo James does a wonderful job of bringing Tobias Eaton to life.  Their chemistry is wonderful, making Tris and Tobias’ journey all the more enjoyable to watch.  The look of the film is exactly right, pretty much what I had expected, and the Dauntless compound looks very much like it did in my head. 

Tris and Tobias' tattoos are wonderful works of art! I just wish the movie made mention of the fact that Tris' tattoo was in honour of the three members of her family that she lost when joining Dauntless.  Omitted from film, in the book Tris also gets tattoos of the symbols of Dauntless and Abnegation similar to Tobias getting all five.

As with any adaptation there are small changes, but nothing that upset me over much; expect that the character Uriah is not in the movie – he’s one of my favourites, but I think the producers wanted to avoid even the hint of a possible love triangle.  I think it’s safe to say the whole world is sick of love triangles.  There is much less violence and death in the film than there is the in book.  I was looking forward to the fight between Tris and Molly, but instead of Tris beating Molly like in the book, for some reason Molly beats Tris.  They meet again later and have a small with a small scuffle during the game of find the flag, which Tris wins.  I do appreciate that in the film Tris is the one to find the flag, where in the book Christina took it because Tris couldn’t reach it, even though Tris was responsible for their team’s win. 

Tris inside a fear simulation to test her mental strength

Another addition to the film I really enjoyed is the showdown between Tris and Jeanine Matthews in the end.  This scene is not in the book, but after seeing it on screen I wish it was.  Kate Winslet does a good job of playing the sneaky Erudite leader.

All things considered I am very happy with the film version of Divergent.  The release of the sequel, Insurgent, has been earmarked for 2015.

Related post:

Review: Divergent ~ Veronica Roth