'A Dance with Dragons' in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by George R.R. Martin is a continuation of the epic saga set in the brutal and harsh world of Westeros. The book follows multiple characters as they navigate through complex story arcs, facing challenges, betrayals, and uncertain fates. The plot moves forward gradually, intertwining different storylines and leaving readers on cliffhangers, building anticipation for the next installment. The writing style is detailed and rich, immersing readers in a world filled with intricate political maneuvering, dark atmospheres, and unexpected twists.

Characters:

The characters are complex and well-developed, but the abundance of new and side characters makes it hard to keep track and detracts from the main story.

Writing/Prose:

Martin's writing is rich and detailed but suffers from repetition and pacing issues.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is intertwined with previous events and focuses on key characters. However, it progresses slowly with many cliffhangers and unresolved threads.

Setting:

The setting is vast and richly detailed, featuring various landscapes and cultures, but can feel overwhelming due to the numerous locations.

Pacing:

Pacing varies significantly throughout, with slow sections that can feel drawn out and tedious, especially in the earlier chapters.

The ship was small, his cabin smaller, but the captain would not allow him abovedecks. The rocking of the deck beneath his feet made his stomach heave, and the wretched food tasted even worse when ret...

Notes:

A Dance with Dragons is the fifth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.

This book runs concurrently with the timeline established in A Feast for Crows.

Key missing characters from Feast, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, return in this book.

The bulk of the story takes place in Westeros and Essos, particularly in the city of Meereen.

The novel explores themes of power, leadership, and the consequences of choices made by characters.

Readers experience the political intrigue and struggles of several main characters as they navigate their complicated worlds.

There are numerous cliffhangers at the end of the book, leaving many plot threads unresolved.

Several readers expressed frustration with the slow pacing of the book and its numerous subplots.

The book is filled with rich descriptions of food, clothing, and the settings that some readers found excessive.

Martin's writing style involves a rotating cast of point-of-view characters, making it challenging for some readers to keep track of everyone.

The novel introduces several new characters while also exploring the fates of existing ones, which some readers found overwhelming.

The characters' personal arcs evolve throughout the book, leading to emotional tension and unforeseen twists.

The relationship between the characters remains central to the story, showcasing their flaws and motivations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings include graphic violence, sexual violence, torture, and intense thematic content that may be distressing.

From The Publisher:

New threats emerge to endanger the future of the Seven Kingdoms, as Daenerys Targaryen, ruling in the East, fights off a multitude of enemies, while Jon Snow, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, faces his foes both in the Watch and beyond the great Wallof ice and stone.

Ratings (143)

Incredible (40)
Loved It (67)
Liked It (26)
It Was OK (6)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (222):

Read It (158)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (39)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (22)

3 comment(s)

katyana

Incredible

2 months

It is impossible to write a review that wouldn't be bursting with spoilers for all the friends I have that are reading this book or this series. So I am going to keep this very short and simple.

It was as spectacular as I had hoped it would be. All the threads are pulling together, and the major players are slowly all coming together at just a handful of major locations. It feels like we are steaming towards the end of the game now.

As always, there are a couple of cliffhangers with the individual character arcs that leave me in a near-panic, but regarding the one that I think people will find most upsetting, I say: no. There's no way he's dead. No way. He's far far too tied in to the overall arc. But this was a watershed moment that had to happen to him.

And finally, part of what makes this series so fantastic is that it can still surprise me. Though it is well-plotted, very obviously well-planned, and even though GRRM likes to sprinkle foreshadowing through the books, there are still moments that leave me with my jaw on the floor. Those I feel like I know where the overall story is headed for the climax, I know that between there are here, there will be more than a few moments that leave me stunned.

Please, please, let there not be another 6 years between this one and

Winter.

ehanut203

It Was OK

4 months

My main thought after finishing this was, "That's a lot of book." And it is. Not for the first time, I wonder if Martin is putting too many balls in the air. Do I really need to know about the political machinations of every single noble/semi-noble/former noble/wannabe noble in not just Westeros, but everywhere else? I guess I do, since the series could be subtitled Political Machinations and Why They Make Poor People Miserable.

Even though I complain, I did enjoy the book. There are some major events here, one in particular that I was completely shocked by. I don't know, I like to slog through epic fantasy. Not everyone's preference. But I would like to see a little more forward movement and a little less setting up the pieces.

Pallavi

Loved It

4 months

4.0 stars

Honestly I did not like half of the previous book [b:A Feast for Crows|13497|A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1429538615l/13497._SY75_.jpg|1019062]. It was all unnecessary and drag. Though I liked the story line which had all the main characters.

I share the same views in this book too. I know Mr. Martin is trying to bring all those secondary/tertiary characters to help the main plot but its too obvious. That was the another thing which annoyed me. As always I loved the main characters and their part of the story. Everything else just felt unnecessary. In book 4 and 5 the plot advanced at a snails pace. Very annoying. And not a single Dragon danced !

Finally I have finished all the 5 books which I started reading back in 2020.

And now I wait. For the Winter. Which was supposed to come in 2015.

My reading pace + George R R Martin writing Winds Of Winter pace= I will be completing the book with my grand kids :P

Happy Reading!!

What can you read after
A Dance with Dragons?

See the list (100 books)

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Activity

Recommendations

My Stuff

Account

More