Review: A Feast for Crows by George RR Martin

I didn’t know before I started reading this book that the nearly 1000-page book was only half the intended book (A Dance with Dragons is the second half). When I finished the book, I was kind of like ?, but it makes sense now that I know it is only half the story.

Book: A Feast for Crows
Author: George RR Martin
Publish Date: 2005
Genre: Fantasy
Morality Rating: X (for the age of the characters and the incest, mostly)
Readability rating: 4 stars

Plot Summary:

Basically, most of the fighting is over. No one has one. All of the main kings have been thwarted or killed, and so, what is left, is the carrion of battle for the crows to fight over. I thought the title was appropriate. Basically, in this book, nothing happens.

Quick review:

I’m not sure where the Song of Ice and Fire universe is going, and because of that, I am starting to get a little frustrated with how long it is taking to get anywhere. I kind of feel like I wasted the 12 hours it took me to read the first 800 pages of this book.

Extended Review:

Characters:

Characters in this book include: a lot of Dornish people, Cersi, Jamie, Sansa, Arya, Brienne Aeron Greyjoy, and Sam Tarly. Also Pate the Pig Boy. I don’t really like any of these characters except Brienne a little, so I couldn’t really get into the half-book.

Plot:

Like I said before, I think this is a placeholder book. Perhaps George Martin is setting the stage for something epic, or perhaps he has no idea where he is going. It could be either one. This book seemed relatively plot-less.

Setting:

As always, the universe of this story is incredibly detailed and immersive. I haven’t seen a better put-together universe since Lord of the Rings. The setting and detailed universe is what moved this book from 3 stars to 4.

Writing Style:

I wouldn’t say that George Martin is the best writer ever. Good, yes, but he cannot write a good woman for the life of him. All of his female characters are pretty much men. They think like men, act like men, and are sexually interested in women- just like men. I put up with is through the first three books, but now, it is starting to really get on my nerves. But whatever. If GM wants to make all his female characters lesbians, he certainly can.

Overall Thoughts:

I liked parts of this book. I hated parts of this book. I wanted more to happen, but it was only half a book. I did not like that it took almost 1000 pages to make enough plot that probably could have happened in about 400 pages. Is the book still good? Yes, but only for the universe and plot potential. The rest of it could have been better.

Have you read A Feast for Crows? What did you think? 

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