A Dance with Dragons

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 5

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

Length: 48 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Dubbed the American Tolkien by Time magazine, George R. R. Martin has earned international acclaim for his monumental cycle of epic fantasy. Now the number-one New York Times best-selling author delivers the fifth book in his spellbinding landmark series - as both familiar faces and surprising new forces vie for a foothold in a fragmented empire.

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again - beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times 3,000 enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone - a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all.

Enchanted? Check out the rest of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.

©2011 George R.R. Martin (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

"Filled with vividly rendered set pieces, unexpected turnings, assorted cliffhangers and moments of appalling cruelty, A Dance with Dragons is epic fantasy as it should be written: passionate, compelling, convincingly detailed and thoroughly imagined." (The Washington Post)

"Long live George Martin...a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers." (The New York Times)

"One of the best series in the history of fantasy." (Los Angeles Times)

great story

character voices seemed different but still a great story. can't wait until the next. hope it comes out soon.

Good fantasy but anoying voices...

What made the experience of listening to A Dance with Dragons the most enjoyable?

The story is well told and the scenery very lively described. I got this far, that says a lot.

How could the performance have been better?

I was thoroughly annoyd with the attempt to make different voices... most of them made the characters sound uninteligent and annoying - excpecially Daenerys who sounded like an old crone...

good, enjoyable, not great

story drags at times in detail, narrator only decent, but worth it for fantasy lovers

Much improved from book 4

This book returns to the quality of the first 3 in the series after the disappointing quality of book 4. The story lines focus heavily on the people overlooked in book 4.

I can't wait for the 6th book

I can't believe how many people are in this story. The got rid of over half of them.

So good!

Martin is a storytelling genius. This book is amazing! Can't wait for the next one!

Loved this story! Listened to the series twice now!!

The story and the narrator did a superb job! I get lost in the story!!

I dislike that book 6 is not out. I'm sad John Snow was stabbed. Praying he will be revived by the Red Woman. I hope the dragon queen will ride her dragon more.

Recommend this to adults over 16 years of age!

Kind of sliding...

What did you love best about A Dance with Dragons?

I loved to continue to learn about the characters I have come to love over the course of the first several books.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Roy Dotrice?

Yes, although the first two books in this series were the most amazing narrated books I have ever heard. After that, though, he seemed to change the characters' voices up and they weren't consistent at all. I was pretty disappointed, because up until the third book it was downright tremendous.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes - there were parts that made me laugh. I haven't cried, but then again I don't do that very often.

Any additional comments?

It's a great series. I wish my favorite characters wouldn't keep getting killed off, but I'm dying to get to the end to see what happens.

love it!

I have now listened to it 2 times! may go back for a 3rd before the next book is out!

Fantastic story and wonderfully narrated

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would highly recommend this audiobook to a friend because, as many others can attest to, George R.R. Martin is a phenomenal story teller and never fails to impress with an endless array of twists and turns.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Arya is a favorite character of mine and her chapters are wonderful.