The Prophet is Aeron Damphair Greyjoy, the local religious fanatic of Great Wyk, one of the Iron Islands. This religion is all about drowning and being, if you're lucky, resuscitated. And swigging seawater out of your hip flask. I think I'll pick another religion, thanks.
Aeron learns that king Balon is dead (so we have rewound a bit) and that one of Balon's brothers Euron wants to be king. Aeron doesn't like this, and comes up with the idea to Make the Iron Islands Great Again by choosing a new king at a Kingsmoot, which is a bit like an Entmoot but hopefully doesn't take so long.
Tuesday, 9 April 2019
AFfC: Prologue
Book 4 starts as most of these books have, by introducing us to an interesting character and then killing him. Poor Pate just wanted to be a Maester, but he was rubbish at that and fell in love with Rosey. He got involved with an "alchemist", and gave him a stolen key in return for a golden dragon. But he bit the dragon to check it was real gold, and found it was coated with poison. Oh dear.
It's not clear who the assassin is, but he's got Baratheon hair.
We also learn that rumours are spreading fast about Dany and her approaching dragons. Also there's an interesting Maester called "The Mage" who seems to have more of a handle on the spooky and weird non-scientific stuff that's been going on. In our universe he'd be a crackpot, but in this world the weird stuff really is happening. So I expect we'll hear more about him before long.
It's not clear who the assassin is, but he's got Baratheon hair.
We also learn that rumours are spreading fast about Dany and her approaching dragons. Also there's an interesting Maester called "The Mage" who seems to have more of a handle on the spooky and weird non-scientific stuff that's been going on. In our universe he'd be a crackpot, but in this world the weird stuff really is happening. So I expect we'll hear more about him before long.
Monday, 8 April 2019
ASoS Summary
So were have we got to?
Of the five kings fighting for the throne, Joffrey, Renly, Robb and Balon Greyjoy are dead. Only Stannis is left, and Tommen, but with Tywin also dead, it's Cersei left in the driving seat and we are under the impression that she is not the cleverest Lannister.
Jaime is still at King's Landing, so he might help her, but for now they have fallen out. Tyrion is presumably going to escape from King's Landing, but we're not sure yet since we last saw him killing Tywin and he might get caught.
Of the Starks, Sansa is stuck with Petyr at the Eyrie. Bran has crossed the wall with Coldhands looking for the Three Eyed Crow he dreamt about after he was pushed out of the window by Jaime way back when. Arya has boarded a ship and might be heading North to meet Jon Snow. Jon Snow has returned and is now Lord Commander of the Watch. We never did find Benjen Stark. Catelyn is in the woods somewhere near Harrenhal with the outlaws Arya escaped from. I don't know what became of Rickon but he's out there somewhere, too.
The Hound is lost and left for dead, but I bet we haven't seen the last of him.
Something is happening in the Iron Islands -- someone will replace Balon Greyjoy. I'm still not entirely sure what happened to Theon, but he might well be dead. Asha conquered some places but presumably she's been summoned back to the Iron Islands to help choose a new king.
The Wildlings are probably going to be allowed to settle the Gift, just south of the wall, because there are scary Others on the way.
Dany has conquered some places and is has stopped in Meereen for now, but at some point she will be on the way with dragons.
Of the five kings fighting for the throne, Joffrey, Renly, Robb and Balon Greyjoy are dead. Only Stannis is left, and Tommen, but with Tywin also dead, it's Cersei left in the driving seat and we are under the impression that she is not the cleverest Lannister.
Jaime is still at King's Landing, so he might help her, but for now they have fallen out. Tyrion is presumably going to escape from King's Landing, but we're not sure yet since we last saw him killing Tywin and he might get caught.
Of the Starks, Sansa is stuck with Petyr at the Eyrie. Bran has crossed the wall with Coldhands looking for the Three Eyed Crow he dreamt about after he was pushed out of the window by Jaime way back when. Arya has boarded a ship and might be heading North to meet Jon Snow. Jon Snow has returned and is now Lord Commander of the Watch. We never did find Benjen Stark. Catelyn is in the woods somewhere near Harrenhal with the outlaws Arya escaped from. I don't know what became of Rickon but he's out there somewhere, too.
The Hound is lost and left for dead, but I bet we haven't seen the last of him.
Something is happening in the Iron Islands -- someone will replace Balon Greyjoy. I'm still not entirely sure what happened to Theon, but he might well be dead. Asha conquered some places but presumably she's been summoned back to the Iron Islands to help choose a new king.
The Wildlings are probably going to be allowed to settle the Gift, just south of the wall, because there are scary Others on the way.
Dany has conquered some places and is has stopped in Meereen for now, but at some point she will be on the way with dragons.
ASoS Epilogue 1116
Poor old Merrett Frey and his constant headaches. He was supposed to drink the Greatjon under the table at the red wedding, but failed. Now he is sent to meet with Lord Beric's outlaws and ransom another Frey. But the boy is already dead. And who should show up but Catelyn! She is alive, after a fashion, healed in the manner of Lord Beric, though she can not speak due to the way she was killed.
She can direct an accusing glare at Merrett, though, which gets him hung by Arya's old friends Lem and Anguy. I guess that means Catelyn knows Arya is alive. Maybe there will be Stark family reunion after all!
She can direct an accusing glare at Merrett, though, which gets him hung by Arya's old friends Lem and Anguy. I guess that means Catelyn knows Arya is alive. Maybe there will be Stark family reunion after all!
ASoS 80: Sansa 1098
Sansa is a bit fed up at the Eyrie, since there isn't a lot going on and she doesn't have any friends. She builds a snow-Winterfell, but Petyr joins in and then kisses her. I'm pretty sure he knows Lysa will see and get jealous, and sure enough that's what happens.
Lysa is really a crazy cat lady. She summons Sansa and blames her for seducing Petyr. Then drags her to the Moon Door out of which is a sheer 600 foot drop. It's the door Tyrion would have been dropped out of had he lost his trial after Catelyn brought him to the Eyrie. Petyr turns up and saves Sansa.
We learn that Lysa wanted to marry Petyr before, and almost gave him a son, but Lord Hoster murdered the son (tansy being one of the ingredients of the poison, all of which explains Hoster's death-bed murmerings). Lysa spills the beans about Petyr telling her to kill Jon Arryn, which is how Ned Stark became King's Hand right at the beginning of all this. We also learn that Petyr told her to tell Catelyn that she suspected Lannisters of killing Jon Arryn. I'm not sure what this achieved apart from Ned doing some investigating: perhaps that helped him to get in trouble and get killed. I'm still not entirely sure what Petyr is trying to do but it is very complicated.
Anyway, having calmed Lysa down, Petyr pushes her out of the door. I suppose that has got her out of the way. Petyr will probably try to marry Sansa next, and become lord of Winterfell as well as the Eyrie.
Oh, and he put the blame on Marillion. That guy had it coming, to be honest.
Lysa is really a crazy cat lady. She summons Sansa and blames her for seducing Petyr. Then drags her to the Moon Door out of which is a sheer 600 foot drop. It's the door Tyrion would have been dropped out of had he lost his trial after Catelyn brought him to the Eyrie. Petyr turns up and saves Sansa.
We learn that Lysa wanted to marry Petyr before, and almost gave him a son, but Lord Hoster murdered the son (tansy being one of the ingredients of the poison, all of which explains Hoster's death-bed murmerings). Lysa spills the beans about Petyr telling her to kill Jon Arryn, which is how Ned Stark became King's Hand right at the beginning of all this. We also learn that Petyr told her to tell Catelyn that she suspected Lannisters of killing Jon Arryn. I'm not sure what this achieved apart from Ned doing some investigating: perhaps that helped him to get in trouble and get killed. I'm still not entirely sure what Petyr is trying to do but it is very complicated.
Anyway, having calmed Lysa down, Petyr pushes her out of the door. I suppose that has got her out of the way. Petyr will probably try to marry Sansa next, and become lord of Winterfell as well as the Eyrie.
Oh, and he put the blame on Marillion. That guy had it coming, to be honest.
ASoS 79: Jon 1087
Well I was wrong, then. Personally I would have taken the castle, married Val, had lots of sons and lived happily ever after. Ok, I probably would have had to go into battle for Stannis, so maybe not. But Jon isn't averse to a battle or two, I thought he'd go for it. I certainly wouldn't worry about chopping down a few silly trees, as Melisandre wanted him to, or have any kind of guilt trip for taking the Winterfell that should have belonged to others.
Jon decides he will stick with the watch, but before he can tell Stannis his decision, he is made Lord Commander anyway! Sam has deftly manipulated the situation. Sam is a player, not a pawn. Who would have thought?
Jon decides he will stick with the watch, but before he can tell Stannis his decision, he is made Lord Commander anyway! Sam has deftly manipulated the situation. Sam is a player, not a pawn. Who would have thought?
ASoS 78: Samwell 1074
Stannis is getting annoyed that the Watch have not chosen a new commander yet. He's also pretty interested in Sam killing an Other with dragonglass, and luckily he has a supply of it on Dragonstone. Stannis shows Sam and Aemon his magic glowing sword, and for some reason Aemon is suspicious because it only glows and isn't hot. Melisandre is confusing because she seems to be simultaneously wrong (about Stannis being the chosen one of some prophecy), fraudulent (I'm sure a lot of the fire visions are suggestive, and she gives off a self-serving vibe), and correct (she does have magical powers -- though they're definitely more like Dark Magic with all the sacrifice and shadows). I think she's basically Wormtounge and Stannis is Theoden. Which makes Maester Aemon Gandalf.
Sam doesn't want Janos Slynt in charge and decides that if he can convince Mallister or Pyke to back the other then that might be averted, so he goes to have a word. Only he radically overstretches himself and ends up, more or less accidentally, pulling some Varys/Littlefinger style tricks and, through a series of lies, getting them to vote for Jon as well.
But Jon is going to be lord of Winterfell! Sam what have you done? Just when things were starting to look neat and tidy, you've gone and made it all complicated! I'm pretty sure Jon won't thank you, either. Oh dear, oh dear.
Sam doesn't want Janos Slynt in charge and decides that if he can convince Mallister or Pyke to back the other then that might be averted, so he goes to have a word. Only he radically overstretches himself and ends up, more or less accidentally, pulling some Varys/Littlefinger style tricks and, through a series of lies, getting them to vote for Jon as well.
But Jon is going to be lord of Winterfell! Sam what have you done? Just when things were starting to look neat and tidy, you've gone and made it all complicated! I'm pretty sure Jon won't thank you, either. Oh dear, oh dear.
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