Ephemeris of the Mind (Book Review) A Feast for Crows
Time to read: 2 min read
Book Cover
I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood.
Previous A Song of Ice and Fire reviews:
Review
A Feast for Crows is the fourth novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series; the story continues in Westeros after the War of the Five Kings. The Lannisters consolidate their grasp on power while the rest of the kingdom deal with the outcomes of the war.
Martin decided to split the narrative geographically, with A Feast for Crows focused solely on what happens in Westeros and Braavos. This means that many of the cliffhangers from the previous book, such as the fate of Tyrion Lannister, are left unaddressed. Furthermore, some of the most exciting narratives in the world, such as Daenerys Targaryen’s story are also left out. Compared to the last book, which featured dramatic battles and shocking plot twists, A Feast for Crows feels lackluster with its small squabbles and minor intrigues.
That is not to say that the book offered nothing; for one, the focus on previously unexplored lands such as Braavos, Dorne, and the Iron Islands are very interesting. The book also sets up some very intriguing plots for later books. Perhaps my favourite aspect of the book are the character developments, in particular that of Cersei Lannister, who slowly descends into a cruel tyrant with sinister plots.
Conclusion
Definitely weaker than the previous books, but still an interesting narrative.