Welcome to the Historical Fiction Online forums: a friendly place to discuss, review and discover historical fiction.
If this is your first visit, please be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You will have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing posts, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
If this is your first visit, please be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You will have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing posts, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Game of Thrones: Books
Ash--"Too many divergent plots, too many characters that are started and dropped, too many character decisions that don't make sense...and it gets worse in Dance with Dragons. That being said - please don't skip the Sam and Arya chapters..."
I am now halfway through FFC and I will pay more attention to Arya and Samwell so that I don't miss what you have hinted about in your post...but my heart is full of trepidation because you do get to like these personalities and well...we all know what Martin can do with the characters. I hope DWD doesn't veer way off course because I do get tired of reading new characters only for them to have no real reason to be there. I am really missing Tyrion, he is such a joy to read and I will say this that Martin gives so many dimensions to his personalities that love them or loathe them the reader is hooked(re: Cersei and Jaime).
Brenna--"Bec-I had such trouble with FCC that I am taking yet another break to read Eragon.."
I felt the same especially at the beginning. I had reached the 'tear my hair out stage'
and decided I needed a breather and so read The Phantom(which I enjoyed) but FFC does get better and I truly am enjoying reading the Brienne chapters and Jaime as well as Cersei. I just wish the author would give a voice to Margaery(you just know she's a baddie). But I do hope that the author moves it along in Briennes search for Sansa..otherwise again he is dragging it out too long. Good luck with Eragon(I have not read them, but I enjoyed the movie).
Good luck Mythica. I enjoyed book 3 though not without a little criticism(but I wont re-hash my other comments). But a warning when you begin FFC you will have to persevere, it's very hard going at the beginning.
Bec
I am now halfway through FFC and I will pay more attention to Arya and Samwell so that I don't miss what you have hinted about in your post...but my heart is full of trepidation because you do get to like these personalities and well...we all know what Martin can do with the characters. I hope DWD doesn't veer way off course because I do get tired of reading new characters only for them to have no real reason to be there. I am really missing Tyrion, he is such a joy to read and I will say this that Martin gives so many dimensions to his personalities that love them or loathe them the reader is hooked(re: Cersei and Jaime).
Brenna--"Bec-I had such trouble with FCC that I am taking yet another break to read Eragon.."
I felt the same especially at the beginning. I had reached the 'tear my hair out stage'

Good luck Mythica. I enjoyed book 3 though not without a little criticism(but I wont re-hash my other comments). But a warning when you begin FFC you will have to persevere, it's very hard going at the beginning.
Bec

- Mythica
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1095
- Joined: November 2010
- Preferred HF: European and American (mostly pre-20th century)
- Location: Colorado
- Contact:
[quote=""rebecca""]
Good luck Mythica. I enjoyed book 3 though not without a little criticism(but I wont re-hash my other comments). But a warning when you begin FFC you will have to persevere, it's very hard going at the beginning.
Bec
[/quote]
Yeah, I'm already considering taking a break after the third book, at least until next year. Some of the criticism about the fourth book and the fact that I feel like I've burnt myself out on long, epic books recently makes me not eager to read the fourth or fifth book just yet.
Good luck Mythica. I enjoyed book 3 though not without a little criticism(but I wont re-hash my other comments). But a warning when you begin FFC you will have to persevere, it's very hard going at the beginning.
Bec

Yeah, I'm already considering taking a break after the third book, at least until next year. Some of the criticism about the fourth book and the fact that I feel like I've burnt myself out on long, epic books recently makes me not eager to read the fourth or fifth book just yet.
[quote=""Mythica""]Yeah, I'm already considering taking a break after the third book, at least until next year. Some of the criticism about the fourth book and the fact that I feel like I've burnt myself out on long, epic books recently makes me not eager to read the fourth or fifth book just yet.[/quote]
I feel the exact same way! That combined with the fact that I am completely OCD about buying series books in all one form (meaning I have the first 4 books in paperback and I cannot, cannot, cannot buy the fifth book in hardcover). I'm going to go back and forth between my challenge and the Eragon books for a while. Then, before you know it, it will be time for Sharon Kay Penman's Lionheart to be out!
I feel the exact same way! That combined with the fact that I am completely OCD about buying series books in all one form (meaning I have the first 4 books in paperback and I cannot, cannot, cannot buy the fifth book in hardcover). I'm going to go back and forth between my challenge and the Eragon books for a while. Then, before you know it, it will be time for Sharon Kay Penman's Lionheart to be out!
Brenna
- Vanessa
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 4326
- Joined: August 2008
- Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
- Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
- Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
- Preferred HF: Any
- Location: North Yorkshire, UK
I like book series sets and I'm like Brenna, I have to have them in all the same format. I hate it when they decide to change the design midway through a series! They don't sit nicely on my shelves otherwise!!




currently reading: My Books on Goodreads
Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
[quote=""Brenna""]I feel the exact same way! That combined with the fact that I am completely OCD about buying series books in all one form (meaning I have the first 4 books in paperback and I cannot, cannot, cannot buy the fifth book in hardcover). [/quote]
A few years ago, my daughter was collecting the "Traveling Pants" books in paperback and was coldly dismissive when her father gave her the newest release in hardback for her birthday. He had made a special effort to get her something she would like, so was totally taken aback by her response. Angry spouse, upset child and momma in the middle!
That said, I'm the same way. It bothered me to see the smaller bookclub hardbacks of Jean Auel's Children of Earth series next to the larger publisher version hardbacks. I finally decided to stack one set on their sides so it wasn't so obvious!
A few years ago, my daughter was collecting the "Traveling Pants" books in paperback and was coldly dismissive when her father gave her the newest release in hardback for her birthday. He had made a special effort to get her something she would like, so was totally taken aback by her response. Angry spouse, upset child and momma in the middle!

That said, I'm the same way. It bothered me to see the smaller bookclub hardbacks of Jean Auel's Children of Earth series next to the larger publisher version hardbacks. I finally decided to stack one set on their sides so it wasn't so obvious!

FCC has been problematic for me both times I've read it. Oh, I flew through it fast enough the first time, but I grew increasingly impatient with the new characters and southern focus, and so little of significance with ANY of the Starks.
This time through, my husband and I are reading aloud to each other (his first read), but we've been rather sporadic. For example, we read quite a bit two weeks ago, but nothing since. Not exactly compelling, except for a few moments here and there. DWD is waiting for us, but I find I'm not in any particular hurry to get to it. I've read enough reviews and spoilers to have appropriately reduced expecations ... I think. I'll get to it when I get to it.
This time through, my husband and I are reading aloud to each other (his first read), but we've been rather sporadic. For example, we read quite a bit two weeks ago, but nothing since. Not exactly compelling, except for a few moments here and there. DWD is waiting for us, but I find I'm not in any particular hurry to get to it. I've read enough reviews and spoilers to have appropriately reduced expecations ... I think. I'll get to it when I get to it.
Well once again I reached near the end of FFC and again threw it across the room! I know Martin is ruthless when it comes to some of the characters...but WHY are all my favourites dying!!!!! But I did get one YAY! moment and about time too! Now that I have finished FFC I wonder if I have to wait until the 6th book is released(goodness when that will be!) to find out what happens to Cersei?
I have said it before and I will say it again. Martin has dragged it out too long. The entire story should have been compacted into 4 books and forget about bringing in oddball characters that simply disappear and one wonders why they were there in the first place?!
Martin has said it himself this was 'a bitch of a book to write' well then be ruthless with your plot lines and sub plot lines and stick with main characters and story lines that are believable.
I think I will now take a bit of a break and hope that DWD doesn't have screwy characters and even odder plots. I had the thought when nearing the end of FFC that one particular chapter should have been titled 'return of the zombie!' I found it silly.
I am becoming disgruntled and Martin is risking losing his fan base by how long he takes to get to the point or reach character conclusions. As it is by the time the next one comes out I'll forget what I read in DWD!
I hope the producers of Game of Thrones will pressure him to hurry up and finish the series! As it is the next books I read I will stick with trilogies that have already been written!
OK rant over lol.
Bec
I have said it before and I will say it again. Martin has dragged it out too long. The entire story should have been compacted into 4 books and forget about bringing in oddball characters that simply disappear and one wonders why they were there in the first place?!
Martin has said it himself this was 'a bitch of a book to write' well then be ruthless with your plot lines and sub plot lines and stick with main characters and story lines that are believable.
I think I will now take a bit of a break and hope that DWD doesn't have screwy characters and even odder plots. I had the thought when nearing the end of FFC that one particular chapter should have been titled 'return of the zombie!' I found it silly.
I am becoming disgruntled and Martin is risking losing his fan base by how long he takes to get to the point or reach character conclusions. As it is by the time the next one comes out I'll forget what I read in DWD!
I hope the producers of Game of Thrones will pressure him to hurry up and finish the series! As it is the next books I read I will stick with trilogies that have already been written!
OK rant over lol.
Bec

No, it comes in the 5th book, in that delicious way only the comeuppance of an evil character could be. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost (there is another hated character from book four who becomes something else in the 5th book. When I realized who it really was, I cheered. Yes! But then I felt horrible about it afterwards....)I wonder if I have to wait until the 6th book is released(goodness when that will be!) to find out what happens to Cersei?
Ash--"No, it comes in the 5th book, in that delicious way only the comeuppance of an evil character could be......I almost felt sorry for her...hated character from book four who becomes something else in the 5th book...."
The fifth book is Dance with Dragons?(right?) I ask because in a book pamphlet that arrived today in the post it had Storm of Swords as 2 books. As I wrote before I received SOS as one book from Amazon USA.
Now to your interesting post......Cersei receives her comuppance...and nah I am not gonna feel sorry for her('I'm mean
)and a "hated character' from book 4...the only one I can think of that I really don't like is littlefinger(what an odious little toad of a man-A pox on him!
) but it can't be...who is this someone who becomes something else....??
...Now I am intrigued. I will say that I did not like what the author did to Catelyn(what is it with Martin and the Starks?!) Acckkkkkkk!
...Are the Starks never gonna win anything??? Grrrr.....I also looked at some of the chapter headings and see that Tyrion is back YAY!
..and the author is also continuing with Jaime, though like I said before I swing like a pendulum with him.
Now I will have to read DWD. I simply have to find out!
Thanks Ash
heehee 
Bec
The fifth book is Dance with Dragons?(right?) I ask because in a book pamphlet that arrived today in the post it had Storm of Swords as 2 books. As I wrote before I received SOS as one book from Amazon USA.
Now to your interesting post......Cersei receives her comuppance...and nah I am not gonna feel sorry for her('I'm mean







Now I will have to read DWD. I simply have to find out!



Bec
