I had a like/hate relationship with this book. There were some interesting tidbits (mostly coming from Cersei's POV) but for the most part this is the worst book in the series by far. Filled with uninteresting characters and plots (even the couple of well-known characters were lackluster,) the book seemed like a never-ending wave of "oh COME ON! Something has to happen eventually!" This book filled me with anticipation in wanting to carry on the cliffhangers that a Storm of Swords left us on, as I was skipping pages of humdrum conversations and repetition. I must say that I am glad that this book contained Cersei and Jaime because now we have more insight of what may come, and I'm quite looking forward as to how their stories pan out. Thank goodness for GRRM's little note at the end, because now I can't wait to put this book behind me and get cracking on a Dance with Dragons.

First Line: "'Dragons,' said Mollander" (1, Prologue)

Last Line: "Tyrion, Jon, Dany, Stannis and Melisandre, Davos Seaworth, and all the rest of the characters you love or love to hate will be along next year (I devoutly hope) in A Dance with Dragons, which will focus on events along the Wall and acros the sea, just as the present book focused on King's Landing." (777)

Quotes:
"Nine sons had been born from the loins of Quellon Greyjoy, but only four had lived to manhood." (23)

"She dreamt she sad the Iron Throne, high above them all." (51)

"Arya never seemed to find the places she set out to reach." (96)

"How much can a crown be worth, when a crow can dine upon a king?" (138)

"history is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging." (185)

"We had one king, then five. Now all I see are crows squabbling over the corpse of Westeros." (187)

"In the game of thrones, even the humblest pieces can have wills of their own. Sometimes they refuse t make the moves you've planned for them. Mark that well, Alayne. It's a lesson that Cersei Lannister still has yet to learn." (376)

"Thrice that day she heard the sound of distant shouting drifting up from the plaza, but it was Margaery's name that the mob was calling, not hers." (743)
I had a like/hate relationship with this book. There were some interesting tidbits (mostly coming from Cersei's POV) but for the most part this is the worst book in the series by far. Filled with uninteresting characters and plots (even the couple of well-known characters were lackluster,) the book seemed like a never-ending wave of "oh COME ON! Something has to happen eventually! " This book filled me with anticipation in wanting to carry on the cliffhangers that a Storm of Swords left us on, as I was skipping pages of humdrum conversations and repetition. I must say that I am glad that this book contained Cersei and Jaime because now we have more insight of what may come, and I'm quite looking forward as to how their stories pan out. Thank goodness for GRRM's little note at the end, because now I can't wait to put this book behind me and get cracking on a Dance with Dragons. First Line: "'Dragons,' said Mollander" (1, Prologue)

Last Line: "Tyrion, Jon, Dany, Stannis and Melisandre, Davos Seaworth, and all the rest of the characters you love or love to hate will be along next year (I devoutly hope) in A Dance with Dragons, which will focus on events along the Wall and acros the sea, just as the present book focused on King's Landing. " (777)

Quotes:
"Nine sons had been born from the loins of Quellon Greyjoy, but only four had lived to manhood. " (23)

"She dreamt she sad the Iron Throne, high above them all. " (51)

"Arya never seemed to find the places she set out to reach. " (96)

"How much can a crown be worth, when a crow can dine upon a king? " (138)

"history is a wheel, for the nature of man is fundamentally unchanging. " (185)

"We had one king, then five. Now all I see are crows squabbling over the corpse of Westeros. " (187)

"In the game of thrones, even the humblest pieces can have wills of their own. Sometimes they refuse t make the moves you've planned for them. Mark that well, Alayne. It's a lesson that Cersei Lannister still has yet to learn. " (376)

"Thrice that day she heard the sound of distant shouting drifting up from the plaza, but it was Margaery's name that the mob was calling, not hers. " (743)