Welcome to Litsy!

Well. So far this is my least favorite. I have trouble enough keeping track of all of the characters without all the new ones added in this book. I‘m really looking forward to the next book, where all my favorites come back! Still a pick though- I did enjoy it overall. Izzy says hi!
#GOT
#GameofThrones

Easily my least favorite, though still a pick. You can tell this is where he got popular and let the story start to wander. #readingwesteros resumes 6/14!

It‘s still a pick but perhaps the weakest of the series. Things from the end of Storm of Swords don‘t get addressed until significantly into this one (but when it comes back around WOW) I missed some of our regular POVs &while the Greyjoy/Martell POVs added to the 7 Kingdoms, it seemed like a side quest, could have explained &wrapped up their impact without it.

#ReadingWesteros will return with A Dance With Dragons 6/17⚔️🐉

On the last leg of the voyage, Gilly doesn‘t cry with Dalla‘s baby. Approaching Oldtown their vessel is searched (a precaution against ironmen who have recently attacked). At the Citadel waiting for the Seneschal, Sam remembers something Maester Aemon said, he follows a man called Sphinx to the archmaesters. But Archmaester Mareyn says the Citadel has no place for prophecy &dragons. Tell Sam not to tell the others, &Marwyn heads to Slaver‘s Bay.

Such an impressive series. This is my least favorite book because so little is in it about the wall, but I enjoyed it throughly this time round again. Thanks for the readalong!

#ReadingWesteros @5feet.of.fury

3✨While this was still an epic read it was definitely not my favorite. The characters we follow were mostly new, or combinations of a few characters. Two characters I grew to hate are mostly the main focus, while others I loved from the other books are barely present. Still some big reveals, and mostly interesting storylines. My heart broke for a few characters, I applauded another character for cutting ties, and jumped for joy with another‘s fall

Edmure has surrendered the castle, Ser Brynden is missing
Tywin had promised good marriages for the Westerling children in exchange for no Stark heir. Jeyne mourns &Jaime forgets diplomacy at Sybell‘s scheming
Outlaws have hanged Ser Ryman Frey close by
He feels good about the outcome, & true to his oath, he didn‘t take up arms. He plots what he will do back in KingsLanding. The next day a raven comes with Cersei‘s letter &he throws it in the fire

His High Holiness detained Margaery &her cousins after Osney accused them of fornication &treason.Trial is needed
Cersei visits &tells her what will come, Margaery sees through the plan to stage trial by battle
the Septon will not release Osney. seeing Cersei, he begs for his life& confesses his true crimes
Her plot exposed she is captured &jailed
Harys Swift &Maester Pycelle are in control &doomed to the same fate as Margaery, she writes to Jaime

It had a bit of an unexpectedly unfamiliar start but it quickly went back to the usual. This book felt like a “cleaning up plot threads“ book but it was still as enjoyable as the rest in the series thus far. Looking forward to ADWD!

Brienne‘s thoughts are running together in her pain. Her hands are bound, Gendry says they won‘t release her until she stands before Lady Stoneheart. Her fever breaks &her thoughts begin to untangle. As they are judged for their crimes, Brienne realizes Lady Stoneheart‘s identity. She is asked to kill Jaime. Brienne pleads for his life, the good she saw in him. As Brienne, Pod & Ser Hyle are hanged - she screams a word-

She is tasked with getting Robert ready for the descent to the Gates. He complains Maester Coleman put something vile in his milk. She &the Maester argue about how to get him down safely, sweet milk is trepidatiously agreed upon. She meets Lady Myranda, Lord Nestor‘s daughter& they make their way down. At the castle she meets with Littlefinger who has set up a marriage with Harry the Heir &has a plan to take back her birthright

Arianne is locked away in comfort, but thinking of her dead or captured friends. She demands to see her father but he doesn‘t come
She begs, fights,tries to get messages out. She goes hungry & her father finally calls on her
Arianne realizes he needs her help. Balon Swann is coming &Arys is dead, Myrcella maimed.He reveals Arianne was betrothed to Viserys, now her brother Quentyn is across the sea to bring back their desire: vengeance, fire &blood

Cersei turns her malice to Pycelle, she extracts that Margaery has been coming to him for moon tea which Cersei concludes she must have a secret lover. But this won‘t be enough evidence &she needs Tyrell‘s armies until Stannis is defeated
She accuses the Blue Bard of laying with Margaery, he denies, Qyburn tortures him until Cersei gets the story she wants.
She sets her wiles onto Osney to goad his false confession. But he has demands of his own.

Jaime meets with Ser Brynden. He deflects questions about Cat‘s girls. Jaime offers to exchange Edmure for the Westerlings, which is rejected. Things escalate, but Jaime leaves with nothing
Further plotting devolves between the Freys &former Stark allies
Jaime &Payne approach Edmure at the gallows which rousts Ser Ryman. But they only cut him down. Jaime has him clean &fed &imparts the reality of what they will do if Riverrun is not surrendered.

They come upon many hanged corpses. &suspect Beric Dondarrion. They come upon survivors, mostly children left by the sparrows. The smith, Gendry, reminds her of Renly. She tries to place if any of the girls could be Sansa or Arya
Brienne brings Gendry dinner& questions him on his parentage. But they are interrupted. Riders arrive, lead by Rorge in The Hound‘s helm, Brienne kills him but is blindsided by Biter.

Ser Loras turned the siege into a slaughter, Dragonstone is won, but he is severely wounded. Margaery convinces herself he will live, but everyone thinks he is dying.
Cersei sits through the petitioners, tells Tommen what hard work ruling is. Tommen speaks up for himself &Margaery to Cersei‘s shock
She dreams of Maggy the Frog‘s prophecy. She tells Qyburn of her dream &he corrects the name to Maegi. Tells her the future can be changed.

Sam says the prayer of passing over Maester Aemon on Cinnamon Wind. At Braavos it seemed he may recover, eager to find Dany. It falls to Sam to convince the Citadel that Daenerys is their hope
Sam &Gilly drink for Aemon‘s passing &things get physical, Gilly declares she is his wife now. He feels guilt at breaking his oath & debates jumping into the sea, but the crew tells him to talk to Gilly, reminding him that he‘s all she has here.

Cat dreamed she was a wolf again. She can‘t get rid of Arya Stark. On the streets of Braavos to sell clams& learn secrets, she finds Dareon who has thrown his Black clothes into the river. She asks about Sam, while Dareon tickles the youngest girl from the Cattery
She helps the waif make potions. When the kindly man asks what she has learned she reports that Dareon is dead, his throat slit by Arya Stark. When she awakes the next day she is blind.

Ser Daven Lannister arrives. Siege continues at Riverrun. Daven has a marriage contract with a Frey, Lancel has recently broken his to take his vows
Edmure‘s wife is pregnant, once born Freys will have a Tully heir.The Blackfish still has Jeyne Westerling. They have not attacked because Lord Emmon doesn‘t want HIS castle damaged. But new ally Gawen Westerling wants his family rescued
Jaime realizes siege needs to end &will treat with the Blackfish

Margaery begs Cersei to help with the Ironmen at Shield Islands. Cersei blames Willas &convinces the others that this is a diversion by Stannis. Despite the threat to Highgarden, Cersei will not provide ships until the siege at Dragonstone is won. Loras says he can take Dragonstone if given command
Balman fails to kill Bronn
She goes to bed with Lady Merryweather, claiming her rights as Robert had done to Cersei, but doesn‘t take the same pleasure

They are at the Quiet Isle just outside Saltpans. Outlaws recently attacked, but they say it was not the Hound who committed the atrocities
The Elder Brother reveals it was not Sansa who was with the Hound but Arya. He can‘t say for sure if she survived. He found The Hound at the Trident & watched him die.
The Elder Brother asks her to give up her quest & go to her family, thinks of her siblings who have passed, but she can‘t give up her quest.

They reach Darry which Lancel has claimed.however they are not immediately greeted by Kevan (who left) or Lancel (who is praying). There are many Freys there &he hears of the hanging & trap set by the outlaws.
Rumors of what the Hound did at Saltpans abounds, but Jaime doesn‘t believe it
The sparrows attempt to stop him from entering the sept, but Lancel welcomes him. Having found his faith, he confesses poisoning Robert…. & laying with Cersei.

Victarion leads battle at the Shields, but resents Euron-as king- will get the credit.
They won, but made an enemy of Highgarden.Euron wants to sell the defeated as slaves &some object. He thinks Euron‘s hold on the Seastone Chair may be weak
Euron calls for Victarion &says he once threw a dragon egg into the sea. He has another mission for Victarion. “When the kraken weds the dragon, let all the world beware.” But Victarion wants her for himself

Cersei &Taena conspire against Margaery.
The faith has not blessed Tommen. Hundreds are encamped at the Sept, she has to get out of the litter &walk to pass them. People are being killed for their faith, Cersei blames Stannis & Red witch&swears to avenge them, they ask only for protection
She meets the high septon who sold Lannisters gift to feed his people. To entice him, she repeals laws of Maegor so the holy can take up swords.

Jaime is to go to Harrenhal,Cersei dismisses his vow not to battle Starks or Tullys&his request that Loras lead the Kingsguard while he‘s gone
Tyrion‘s words ring in his head
He travels with Ilyn Payne, Addam Marbrand & a dozen others, Jaime spars with Payne -learning to fight lefthanded
Harrenhal has no leadership since the Hound killed Polliver.It‘s a horror. Ser Bonifer will restore order
Jaime gets his chance to fight when Brienne is insulted

Dareon abandoned them. Gilly cries endlessly, Sam is scared to talk about it
Maester Aemon‘s health is failing, he wants to know about the dragon sightings
Sam looks for Dareon to go the ships to ask of dragons. He is insulted by 2men when a child says “He‘s in the Night‘s Watch, stupid.” She helps find Dareon but he refuses to return. Sam pummels him, is knocked over the head &tossed into the canal he is saved by Xhondo -who knows of dragons

The return to Maidenpool. Lord Tarly is frustrated about the outlaws including Lady Stoneheart, when he casts out Brienne, Hyle Hunt offers assistance in finding the Hound.
Joined by Hyle &a septon they head to the Saltpans. Traveling through the riverlands they discuss theology & septon warns of a monsterous she-wolf &horrors of war.

Margaery told Tommen he should be a more involved King, but Cersei doesn‘t want to share her rule
Onion Knight‘s death
iron Bank comes for their money
Osney hasn‘t seduced Margaery
Tyrells flatter Tommen as he practices jousting& Cersei says “it‘s in his blood”, thinking of Jaime, but recovers
Dismisses rumors of dragons in Meereen
Later, Tommen is pacified that he will learn jousting (&get a kitten)
She recalls her failed betrothal to Rhaegar

Fully in role as Alayne, she surveys the armies outside The Gates. Lord Robert complains at breakfast but they can‘t get fresh food with the encampment. Littlefinger lets the bannermen parley. One has met Sansa before, but Littlefinger doesn‘t worry
They tell Littlefinger to vacate the Vale, go to Harrenhal. They want to take Robert. Swords are drawn but Bronze Yohn reminds them of hospitality laws. Littlefinger asks for a year to prove himself

Arya is caught whispering her prayer & learns about the many faced god. Everyday she is asked who she is & answers “No one” but can‘t forget her past &family. Confronted again, the kindly man tells her she must give all of herself. She throws her possessions into the sea -except Needle
She is given a robe & taught Braavosi
She asks about Jaqen, the man denies knowing him
She is sent out to Braavos with a new identity, Cat an orphan of KingsLanding

Arianne Martell conspires to crown Myrcella, Gerold thinks it‘s better to kill her but when Myrcella comes they bow, she is unaware why. Arianne introduces her friends to the queen-to-be. Myrcella‘s handmaid Rosalind is impersonating her at the castle.
They reach the boat but unexpectedly are confronted by Hotah. Arianne‘s father was aware of the plot &sent men to capture them. Arys is slain &Arianne is to be taken to Sunspear

Brienne &Pod proceed with Nimble Dick as their guide. Her mistrust grows once they leave the roads.
At the gate, Nimble Dick reveals that the info he gave the fool was false &smugglers don‘t stop there now
Instead of Dontos, they find Timeon,Pyg &Shagwell. When she tells them she is after a fool with a Stark girl, they point her to the Hound. She‘s forced to kill them
She was followed by Hyle Hunt, she says they will follow the trail to Riverrun

Aeron starts the kingsmoot. Contenders make their claims with visions for the future or gifts. Victarion bides his time. When he does put himself in he says it will be more of what they had with Balon, which pleases the masses. But Asha interrupts &recalls the tragedies under Balon too, she calls for peace with the North. Many call her name whil others support Victarion. Euron makes his claim with a mission to win the 7 Kingdoms -by using dragons

Victarion returns to make his claim. Ralf Kenning is holding Moat Cailin while he‘s away.
With some trepidation at facing his brother, but wanting to preserve the Greyjoy legacy; he tries to ally himself. Some want to end the war
Asha greets him “I am pleased to see you at my queensmoot”, then she accuses Euron of killing Balon. Asha makes an offer to Victarion to back him if she can be his Hand. She wants to ally with the North. He declines

Qyburn & SerHarys are promoted
To deal w/Stannis they need a fleet, but need coin. So withhold payment to the Iron Bank of Braavos
She delays punishing Freys for the Red Wedding
She swears revenge on Sansa &continues that Arya is with the Boltons,”if the North must have a Stark we will give them one”&they plot against Lord Commander Snow
Osney Kettleblack will be useful to resolve 2 problems if he deflowers Margaery & is sent to the Wall..

As the procession departs, Jaime & Kevan have a confrontation then he picks at Lancel seeking out of Tyrion‘s words were true, he tells himself again that Tyrion was lying.
Lollys named her baby Tyrion. Cersei & Lady Merryweather joke &plot, having come to an understanding w/Margaery‘s spy. Cersei has no use for Kevan, she has a plan for the Boltons to handle the North. They bicker over who will be the next Hand & she throws her wine at him

Sam, Gilly & Maester Aemon set sail. The ship will take them as far as Braavos. Sam is seasick and anxious, Gilly is upset-Sam thinks the sea scares her-& the baby is having a hard time. The Maester remembers his last trip past & imagines the sights. Dareon, now a recruiter, is faring the best.
They hit a storm &the mood of the crew get worse, some blame Gilly.
The Maester knows the reason for Gilly‘s sadness, her baby is back at the Wall….

Brienne trains Podrick. They run across 1 of Lord Tarly‘s captains, the soldiers are rebuilding Maidenpool while Lord Tarly is in the market dispensing justice
She‘s forced to confess her mission to him, he tells her of Lysa‘s death. With that, she thinks the Vale isno longer Sansa‘s place of refuge
She talks to Nimble Dick who tells how he helped frightened fool with 2 girls. She hopes it‘s Sansa and Arya. He promises to take her to the smugglers

Arys Oakheart has forgone his white cloak to avoid attention. Things are well between Myrcella &Trystane but he keeps her guarded by men they brought from KingsLanding. Doran Martell tells him that Myrcella is in danger from Dornishmen trying to start war.
His lover Princess Arianne -Doran‘s daughter-says Myrcella is more fit to rule than Tommen. She divulges that they have moved Myrcella to hide her from those that would crown her, not hurt her.

Jaime‘s search through the tunnels did not reveal Tyrion & Varys whereabouts. He warns that the Wildfire reserves are a danger.
This wedding is much more modest. Margaery wears the same wedding dress she wore to marry Joffrey. Cersei wears mourning clothes & seethes at how soon this is.
Ser Kevan discusses Lord Beric hanging the Freys, hears that the Hound joined him
Lady Merryweather tells Cersei her maid is a spy
She burns the Tower of The Hand

Asha Greyjoy has her doubts about the nature of her father‘s death. Her mother is like a ghost in her grief, & she must tell her that Theon is dead as well
She goes to see her nuncle who tells her about the kingsmoot. He tells her not to go, that she will not be chosen.
Tristifer tells her that it will be dangerous there, he wants to marry her & have a dozen sons. He thought she would wait for him, when he presses her she holds him at knifepoint.

Marillion sings in his cell. Lord Nestor Royce comes to hear what happened to Lysa.
Robert tells the men that Marillion threw Lysa through the Moon Door. Sansa tells the same. Marillion confesses.
She overhears Nestor tell Littlefinger this won‘t be the end of it. Littlefinger names Nestor Keeper of the Gates. He is impressed when Sansa understands why it was done the way it was
He tells her she must be Alayne all the time, even in her own heart

Brienne arrives in Duskendale. She gets her shield painted &stays at an inn while the paint sets,is reminded of the baths at Harrenhal, tries not to think of Jaime there.
It‘s clear Sansa is not in Duskendale. The Lord suggests Dorne, Oldtown, far away. But she think Sansa will go where she has people. To the Wall? Riverrun? The Vale? She gets some other “leads”
She realizes she is being followed by a familiar squire hoping to find Tyrion

Jaime feels the guilt of his fathers death. He hasn‘t seen Varys since helping Tyrion escape. When he went to question the undergaolers they were all killed by the Kingsguard at Cersei‘s behest.
Cersei comes to see him in The Great Sept & She pleads with him to be Hand & they can rule like King &Queen. He declines.
Still upset with her, but he gives Cersei advice on handling Mace Tyrell, but it means rushing Margaery &Tommens wedding

At the funeral she speaks with Lancel, ill since Blackwater, she regrets sleeping with him &wonders if he had confessed to the septon -about that or Robert‘s wine
The Tyrells try for positions of power, Mace Tyrell wants to be Hand, Cersei thwarts them while keeping the alliance for now
Her Uncle, Ser Kevan will only be Hand if Cersei makes him regent &goes to Casterly Rock. She refuses &he makes threats
Qyburn wants to tend to the Mountain

Arya goes ashore in Braavos. She is intimidated &feeling like a little mouse again. She passes temples of all the gods, new, old & almost forgotten alike. She climbs the stairs of a windowless temple &t he doors are opened for her, inside it is filled with the dead & dying
In the House of Black &White, the temple of the many-faced God, she uses all her aliases before revealing her true identity. The Priest challenges her, asking if she fears death

Jon shows Sam a letter to King Tommen & Sam has trouble keeping Bran‘s secret when Jon recalls Tommen &Bran playing with swords
They debate the War &whether Lannisters will see the Watch as traitors
Gilly had been sent to plead for Mance‘s life, which seems doomed. Gilly is being sent away & Sam with her… & Maester Aemon. They are to go to the Citadel & Sam to become the Maester, the news doesn‘t please Sam as Jon thought it would. Jon orders him.

Brienne searches for Sansa
Ser Creighton offers to travel with her for her protection. She is a lady. Ser Illifer says she is accused of killing Renley. She swears on the Seven she did not harm him & they travel on peacefully
They come upon Ser Shadrich, who also searches for Sansa
Rumors circulate of how Jaime lost his hand & Brienne recalls admiringly his strength in their fight
In the morning she leaves before the others, continuing after Sansa

Cersei is awoken by guards & she is confronted by tragedy, she is appalled at the way everyone is reacting & she doesn‘t know how to react herself.
Jaime is searches the hidden tunnel, but needs to find keys to a gate where the tunnels converge. Cersei tells Jaime he must be Hand now, he rebuffs her
As her mind reels she notices Varys is absent.
Tyrion is discovered to be missing from his cell