I just finished reading “A Dance with Dragons”. Hmm…I don’t quite know. I have to assume that anyone who’s read this has to have read the rest of the series, thus, I also have to assume that George R.R. Martin knows this and yes, it’s his world, he can do what he wants, but I think a measure of fan service is due from anyone who creates such a beloved series. He didn’t really do that in this book. His “cliffhangers” as they were felt weak and unnecessary compared to the ones in previous books. I think he could have ended it better a few chapters/characters short of what he did. They don’t leave me anxious for the next book as much as irritated with this one.
Mind you, by no means am I saying it wasn’t a good read. Rather, it simply felt more like the filler episodes for backstory that you see in a lot of TV shows. The stuff between the big twists and turns in the series. Which is all well and good, but I don’t believe they work in a 1100 pg novel. The previous four books left you feeling like you do when that “to be continued…” flashes across the screen on a particularly intense episode of (insert name of your favorite show here), this one felt simply like Season 3 Episode 5 of ______.
I’ll be waiting for the next book more due to loyalty and fandom than excitement and anxiousness for what comes next and I’m hoping the wait isn’t in vain.
