A Feast for Crows AudioBook

While it still follows the events from the earlier storyline, A Feast for Crows makes a drastic shift as many of its main characters such as Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jon Snow make no significant appearance. Instead, it is told primarily from Cersei and Jaime Lannister point of view, as well as introduction of new names and faces from lands such as Dorne, the Riverlands, and the like. Many fans of the series have mixed emotions about the author’s choice of veering away from the point of view of his usual cast to focus on what could be called the antagonists of the story. Bulk of the story focuses on Cersei and the now King Tommen (Joffrey’s younger brother) as they rule tenuously over Kings Landing, with Cersei all but the official leader of the realm in her role as Queen Regent.

This shift in focus was due to Martin’s decision to split the fourth book by first concentrating on the characters in the inner part of Westeros. This change disappointed many fans who had put a lot of emotional investment into the main protagonists of the first three books, namely – the Stark children, Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow, and Daenerys Targaryen. In addition, the setting for A Feast for Crows is the aftermath of the bloody battles in A Storm of Swords, which makes it fall flat after all the action scenes portrayed in the earlier novels. Lastly, the “once and future audiobook reader” of A Song of Ice and Fire, Roy Dotrice, had to back out due to time constraints. A Feast for Crows Audiobook was instead narrated by John Lee, much to the ire of fans who had bred familiarity with Dotrice’s reading style.

Despite its many setbacks, A Feast for Crows still manages being an entertaining read, a feat that rests solely on Martin’s innate writing talent. His famed penchant for realism is clear in the detailed descriptions of the devastation, dismemberment, horrible cruelty, rape, and torture experienced by the people of a war-ravaged Westeros. His characters keep their three-dimensional feel, each rife with emotion, history, and purpose – evil as they might be. The fourth book is more of an ode to the villains than anything else, delving into a maddeningly evil picture of Cersei, as well as Jaime’s journey towards self-discovery. The key players in House Martell are also introduced. One of the most interesting characters is Brienne, the female warrior knight who embarks on a quest to look for Sansa and Arya, thus providing the only real action throughout the book.

While A Feast for Crows pales in comparison to the other books in the series, it is still a must read for A Song of Ice and Fire fans as Martin continues to set up the stage for the series’ final chapters.

In the Seven Kingdoms, eight-year-old Tommen Baratheon assumes the throne in the wake of his brother Joffrey’s demise. In truth, it is his mother Cersei Lannister who holds the true power in her role as Queen Regent and she will stop at nothing to make sure that she can continue to reign through her son. Cersei’s twin, Jaime Lannister, leaves King’s Landing to face off with Brynden Tully’s forces at Riverrun.

Meanwhile, Brienne of Tarth continues to search far and wide for Sansa and Arya Stark. Her travels will bring her before old enemies and friends, culminating in a showdown with the Brotherhood without Banners. And in the Eyrie, where Sansa is posing as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish’s bastard daughter, the lords of Vale are none too pleased at the prospect of Littlefinger taking control after the death of Lysa Arryn. Littlefinger hatches a scheme to be named Lord Protector of Lord Robert Arryn.

At the wall, Jon Snow instructs Samwell Tarly to escort Maester Aemon across the sea towards the Citadel in Oldtown in the hopes of discovering more about the Others in their archives. Outside of the Seven Kingdoms, Arya Stark travels to the Free City of Braavos. She joins the religious sect of the Faceless Men to train as an assassin and avenge her family.

Cersei, Jaime, Brienne, Sam, Littlefinger, and Arya struggle with their own agendas, little knowing that the war of the kings is far from over. Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, and Balon Greyjoy are dead. Stannis Baratheon has fled to the north in defense of the Wall. Yet the game of thrones continues with a new set of players as both House Greyjoy and House Martell plot and scheme to take control of Westeros.

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