A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4)

George R.R. Martin

Feb 2011 · A Song of Ice and Fire Book 4 · HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

HBO’s hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A FEAST FOR CROWS is the fourth volume in the series.

The Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne.

The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life. The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow’s Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles.

From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel. As plots, intrigue and battle threaten to engulf Westeros, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.

Ratings and reviews

I must admit, I was a little disappointed in this one - not enough to give it less than four stars, but it wasn't a five for me (like the previous three were). In each of the first three books, a lot happens. We're introduced to many characters, plenty of people die, there's lots of action, politics, and intrigue. In book four, not so much. There's plenty of travelling, plenty of posturing, and plenty of just plain waiting. It can't really be helped, I get that. The War of the Five Kings is all but over. Or, rather, I should say it's at a stalemate because there's still no clear winner. Joffrey's dead, Robb's dead, Tywin's dead, and Tyrion's missing. The aftermath of war is everywhere you look. Corpses float along waterways or hang from dead trees. Buildings are in disrepair. People are paranoid. In that respect, the title of this book is very apt: it really is A Feast For Crows. And that's why this book still managed a four-star rating from me. The writing is immaculate (I don't think I spotted a single typo), and the settings are described beautifully, as always. As you read it, you can smell the carnage, and feel the desolation, loneliness, and despair. It's a very bleak book. It's also only one part of the story, containing only half the characters we've come to know and love. Apparently, the next book in the series overlaps this one (although I'm not sure by how much), so it's the same time period told from the point of view of all those other characters. Hopefully, those characters' stories will be a little more eventful. I can't wait to find out.

I am so disappointed with this book I enjoyed the first, liked the second, got bored during the third and this one im wondering why im bothered, I'm about 9 chapters in and I've skipped through most finding them dead boring, repetitive and over filled with useless info oh and far to many pointless characters to keep up with at 11pm, one good thing is I haven't had to read any of Caitlyn Starks rubbish chapters yet though he dam well kept her alive... think ill wait for the tv series rather that waste any mo

A bit weaker than Martin's other offerings, he explains at the end that he only woes about certain characters in this book; the rest wait until the next. As a result there is a lot of focus on a few characters which is just a bit wearing. Some new plot lines, especially that in Dorne, are a bit tedious. However, it still kept me gripped through most of it and I shall be reading on in this series.

About the author

George R.R. Martin is the author of fourteen novels, including five volumes of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, several collections of short stories and numerous screen plays for television drama and feature films. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.