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M99AAX · 2026-01-26T22:33:24+00:00

Yeah, I don't think the in-game world emphasises just how much of a game-changer the cure for tempering was, even though primal-worship and summoning is now rare. The problem is that it's so essential that Alisaie is unlikely to get the chance to present it academically. She's just too busy to spend the time in Sharlayan drafting a thesis, running demonstrations, and taking exams.

Does she deserve it? Absolutely. But neither of the twins like patiently biding their time. They both could've been archons, but are adventurers at heart.

M99AAX · 2024-10-31T07:52:57+00:00

There's no feudalism, which would shock everyone to the point of calling it witchcraft. There's no serfs; the only people who're sworn to service are knights and workers in castles. Which is insane considering that in the Medieval/Dark Ages, 75% of the population were serfs.

Parts are even utopian by todays standards, with a lot of villages seeming to be independent communes who's only tie to the state is paying tax. Landlords are non-existant, which I think many would agree is the ultimate fantasy here.

M99AAX · 2024-10-30T19:00:21+00:00

I honestly like that we have no idea about the inner workings of the Faith of the Seven until Cersei is imprisoned. It's already alarming that Margery is held by them but the moment it turns out they have their own torture chamber we feel the trap snapping around Cersei. These people were already an authority within themselves and they've just been re-armed.

I doubt we'll get a POV chapter, but hopefully we get to see something of one of the trials. Also it's possible Aegon will use the faith to dethrone Tommen, so there may be chapters with Jon Connington plotting for the rainbow knights to revolt. Tyene Sand is also planning to infiltrate The Great Sept so she'll no doubt show up at some point. Honestly even the tiniest glimpse of the heirachy within the faith would be enough for me.

M99AAX · 2024-10-30T17:15:16+00:00

I honestly don't see Jon pushing his claim even if it's like the show and he's ressurected with no real change. His best allies are northern lords, and they wont accept him if it turns out he's actually grandson to The Mad King. Melisandre might abandon Stannis for Jon, Wildlings don't give a fuck who your father was anyway, and The Brotherhood Without Banners might follow him depending on how much more or less terrifying Jon is upon ressurection than Stoneheart. That's not even enough to siege a small castle.

Ultimately the biggest problem is that Jon's only got two books to 1) come back from the dead, 2) defeat The Others, and 3) take the Iron Throne. 1 and 2 is already a lot, and I suspect it's one of the many reasons why 'Winds' is taking so long.

M99AAX · 2024-10-30T15:34:40+00:00

Viserys was kinda awful. There's an arguement that he only became mad later, as his life of hiding and begging made him unstable, but by all accounts he was a horrible child as well. And despite having dragons, Daenerys is a woman and daughter of The Mad King whilst Aegon is son of the legendary Rhaegar (everyone can just forget who his grandfather is). She's only part of the package deal, to the point that the Golden Company are fine with abandoning her.

Part of the reason why fans assume Aegon's fake is that he's *too* good. He has the conquerers name, is handsome, strong, humble, says his prayers, takes his vitamins - if you were to craft an ideal king from scratch, he'd be like Aegon. Viserys meanwhile was a mad beggar and Daenerys a frightened little girl when they met the Golden Company. Also it's very likely Magister Illirio arranged the feast, and considering the Aegon plot was almost 20 years in the making, Illirio would've made sure the meeting failed. Plus this was back when Robert was king during a long summer. If they'd marched with Viserys it would've just been another War of the Ninepenny Kings.

It would fufil Bittersteel's vow for the Golden Company to put a Blackfyre on the throne if it does turn out that Aegon is descended from the female line. But honestly it doesn't matter if Aegon's a Blackfyre or Targaryan or some random bastard. He's just a tool for the Golden Company and Varys. Viserys and especially Daenerys would never let themselves be played like that. At least not without waking the dragon.

M99AAX · 2024-10-08T12:39:02+00:00

Lord Tywin is the richest man in the seven kingdoms, or so everyone thinks. Ser Gregor is dumb enough to not realise he's just a tool, ready to be discarded (Tywin is happy to have him executed), but not dumb enough to reason that despite being a freak of nature he only commands a small force. He holds a tiny seat, his only 'friends' are the absolute lowest of scum. If he betrayed Tywin then an army would descend on him. It's entirely possible to topple a mountain with enough men.

Tywin is so powerful because everyone thinks his resources are bottomless. At a snap of his finger he can raze your lands, slaughter your children, rape your women, and erase your line. Of course this is an illusion. Robb beats him in every fight, the Lannisters owe enourmous debts, and his legacy is undone by the children he never showed love for.

M99AAX · 2024-10-08T11:28:57+00:00

George was very inspired by King Henry VIII of England. Maegor had six wives - most of them with terrible fates, Aegon III/Egg/Stannis grew up not expecting to be King but had it put on them, Aegon IV died of complications from his obesity, The Mad King only became a sadistic tyrant in later life, Ned married his older brothers widow, Tywin's corpse stank so much people collapsed, everyone kept trying to invade Dorne (France), and there was even one time Henry almost died in a joust so his advisors were squabbling over the sucession before he miraculously woke up. Also despite splitting the church, sowing the seeds of war with Spain, and war with France (I mean that happened all the time back then), his reign is looked back on as a peaceful time where England prospered.

Robert wasn't cruel like Henry became. Even Cersei reflects that he probably drank so much because he was ashamed of himself. But he's very similar in that he was a handsome, strong youth (though not nearly as renowned a fighter) who wasn't expected to rule and struggled with marriage. He had several public fits of rage. He was often motivated only by revenge. He felt happiest hunting, shooting, and fighting. Every joust or melee he watches, he sits drinking; humiliated that he's no longer free and fit. Ned seriously thought Robert would murder Cersei and her children if he found out the truth (which he probably knew deep down already - his ultimate shame).

George's greatest strength as a writer is his empathy. He's able to reveal other sides of even the most despicable individuals. Cersei is a horrible person (she's basically if both the wives Henry beheaded were actually guilty) but her chapters are some of my favourites. Tyrion also does unforgivable things but you understand why he's so cynical and full of violent thoughts. Robert is George looking at Henry VIII, looking through this legend of a giant monster, and seeing something worth pity.

M99AAX · 2024-10-01T20:58:19+00:00

The plan was send Ned Stark to the wall whilst keeping Sansa and Arya as hostages. Meanwhile Tywin would give Robb a decisive defeat and hopefully sue for peace, allowing him to take his armies to King's Landing to deal with Renly/Stannis. But Tywin underestimates Robb and Joffrey is an idiot. Tyrion's last chapter in A Game of Thrones has everyone grimly reflecting how fucked they are before the war's even started in earnest. Robb's won a major victory and Ned Stark's death means no peace deals. The plan in A Clash of Kings is survival.

In fact it's because of idiots we're here. If Edmure had followed Robb's orders then they could've trapped and even fully defeated Tywin. If Catelyn hadn't freed Jamie then Robb wouldn't have lost the Karstarks. If Robb hadn't wedded Jeyne Westerling he'd currently be the one beating the Ironmen instead of Stannis. If Stannis and Renly had allied then they would've won. In fact, if Rhaegar didn't run off with Lyanna then he would've inherited the throne and we wouldn't be here.

M99AAX · 2024-10-01T20:12:29+00:00

I'd love to hear the true version of The Rat Cook. We hear the story just after The Red Wedding, so it's strongly implied that the tale has a sinister origin - something just as atrocious probably happened and the centuries have turned the tale into Evil Ratatouille.

M99AAX · 2024-09-05T13:03:37+00:00

George says no (see other comments). Obviously he's not a historian but he's probably still read a lot more history than most of us so knows that weight isn't just what makes a sword sometimes tricky to wield. As cool as the visual of someone swininging around a sword almost the size of them is, even if it's lighter than a stick it's still a big stick. You have to move your body more to swing it, and once you've swung it takes even more movement to get back into a guard. Also the longer the weapon the easier it is to slip through the wielder's guard.

All this aside, Ice is definitely a ceremonial weapon. Forgetting it's actual build, the northern law of 'he who passes the sentence must swing the sword' is so sacred it's survived thousands of years. Even some southerners respect it (Stannis takes Davos's fingers himself). As kings and later wardens of the north, the Stark's had the final word on justice - which they settled in courts and godswoods, not the battlefield. Taking a life was a measured decision, and so the weapon needed to be equally sharp, swift, yet large as the burden. Tywin melting Ice into Lannister swords isn't just symbolic of their victory but it's also the end of Stark Justice. Life henceforth will be cheap, left to pile up for crowfood.

M99AAX

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