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)

The plot long and uneventful.

I am a fan of the series overall, this one felt like all words no action.

Audible messed up the download sequence

If you could sum up A Dance with Dragons in three words, what would they be?

Audible reversed the last two segments of the download. Hard to catch, given how choppy the book is generally. Make sure you reverse them.

It was great

Where is book 7 at? You guys left me hanging thank you audible out to dry. Please post book 7 thank you

loved it! give me more asap!

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

I literally savour each moment of all of these books. I will be rereading from the beginning while Mr Martin completes the next installment. So glad to have Mr. Dotrice back reading with his great characterizations. This is the fastest I have ever gone through a series. I will clean my kitchen just so I have an excuse to have in my headset!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Dance with Dragons?

The whole book is fabulous. I can't mention anything here without infuriating true fans.

What does Roy Dotrice bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Roy Dotrice is the voice of this series, he takes you awato...the Wall and King's landing and Winterfell. Godspeed to Mr. Martin on the next, so we can get more material in this man's hands!

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

I laughed, I cheered out loud...give me more!

Great story, only slightly marred by the reader

Any additional comments?

Great story, although Mr Martin puts a lot of effort into creating a tapestry of detail that really become a drag to the storyline. Less words, sir, less words.The reader tends to get his voices mixed up a bit. For example a character that has one voice (Tyrion Lanister, sorry for the spelling) is picked up by his sister. Great voices, but relies on the same ones too often.

Good book. Reader didn't do so great on voices.

I liked the story. But the reader sounds like a boy in all vocalizations of characters. And there are a lot of female characters. So I had to pay very close attention to who he said was talking, because the voice wasn't quite right for the women.

Enjoyed

I enjoyed every minute! Roy Dotrice was absolutely incredible. Thank you for the many hours of entertainment!

Great book except the reader

Great book but reader did terrible job this book. the first 4 he was great but he changed voices from what he did in earlier books and mis pronounced names that he had correct in other books

Now what?!

After listening to this book I ask myself now what. I have fallen I love with the series and look forward to the continuation of it. Another great performance by the late Roy Dotrice. The series will not be the same without him.

I love it.

these books are something I am so happy, to have been alive to take a journey inward. Thank god for this man's imagination.