Review: A Feast for Crows - Winter did come

Like the previous books from the saga, A Feast for Crows holds your attention from the very beginning.

George RR Martin filled the story with strong characters. It avoids the cliché of damsels in distress and perfect, shiny-armor knights coming to save them. The characters are not stereotyped, and you can feel their anger, their fears, their love. You care about them (or you hate them). Either way, they look alive.

Reading the Books vs. Watching The Show

No matter what you do, you cannot ignore the massively successful show produced by HBO. That brings a few issues.

After watching the show, you cannot undo the image of the characters in your head. At least, not easily.

I will always listen to the voice of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau whenever Jaime Lannister gives an order. The bitterness in Cersei’s remarks will always be Lena Headey’s. Yet, reading is different and, once more, better.

Richer in detail and emotion, it makes a big difference to access the characters' feelings and thoughts.

The books also include more characters, with deeper connections among them. Some characters weren’t mentioned in the show, or they were merely a name. Even when they belong to the main families in the story. In these pages, they have a personality. They gain life.

Story differences

The differences between the books and the TV show are undeniable and impossible to ignore.

I was especially delighted by Brienne of Tarth. She is fascinating, more than in the show. In the books, we get much more information about her past, feelings, and thoughts. She is a powerful female character, and not only because she can fight. Brienne is resilient in every way.

Yet, the biggest difference between the books and the show is the fate of the young wolf’s widow, as well as his mother, Lady Catelyn. The pain changed the sweet Lady Stark, and she is now ruthless, even cruel sometimes. Perfect choice, unfortunately, ignored in the show.

The Winter is… Here

We get through most of the story reading (or listening) the characters saying that “Winter is coming.” Finally, it arrived, and it brings changes - both good and bad.

I loved Sam’s development and the fact that the Queen is starting to pay for what she’s done. On the other side, the Iron Men are becoming too powerful. The realm is falling apart. Yet, the worst of it all is that they are all fighting the wrong war!

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