A Feast for Crows

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

Length: 33 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

GAME OF THRONES: A NEW ORIGINAL SERIES, NOW ON HBO.

Few books have captivated the imagination and won the devotion and praise of readers and critics everywhere as has George R. R. Martin’s monumental epic cycle of high fantasy that began with A Game of Thrones. Now, in A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth book of his landmark series, as a kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on the brink of peace . . . only to be launched on an even more terrifying course of destruction.

A Feast for Crows

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears. . . . With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.

But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

©2007 George R.R. Martin (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

"Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best.... [He] is a tense, surging, insomnia-inflicting plotter and a deft and inexhaustible sketcher of personalities.... This is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien." ( Time)

"The only fantast series I'd put on a level with J.R.R. Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings…. It's a fantasy series for hip, smart people, even those who don't read fantasy…. If you're new to the series, you must begin with Book 1, A Game of Thrones. Once you're hooked…. you'll be like the rest of us fans, gnawing your knuckles until book 5” (Marta Salij, Detroit Free Press)

“THE MOST impressive modern fantasy, both in terms of conception and execution, is George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.… A masterpiece that will be mentioned with the great works of fantasy.” ( Contra Costa Times)

Umm what?

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The story has really drawn me in. The only thing that keeps bugging me is that the narrator has changed the pronunciation of some of the names and also changed some of the voices. Ex. Petyr is now pronounced like Peter and Arya's voice sounds like an old crone. Kind of offputting.

Dotrice as narrator..

Any additional comments?

I decided to listen to this book after reading it a few years ago. My initial impression of Roy Dotrice as a narrator was fairly negative. He could hear the age in his voice-which sometimes clashed with the character he was playing, and I was very unhappy with his treatment of many of the female characters - Brienne in particular.

But, the more I listened to him, the more I was impressed. Dotrice has a knack for picking out subtle details I hadn't picked up in my own reading. He managed to emphasize these details thru his acting and make the characters all the more 3 dimensional-the way Martin undoubtedly intended them to be, but I didn't fully comprehend on my own. His grasp of who these people are, and his ability to portray them so well is incredibly masterful. Dotrice makes the Song of Ice and Fire series so much more rich and full with his narration. My advice is, if at first you aren't impressed, stick with him. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised as well.

The Author is Amazing but...

If you could sum up A Feast for Crows in three words, what would they be?

Very well developed.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way the characters intertwine and how the author has so many details in each.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Roy Dotrice?

Yes and no. Yes because I like his voices but no because sometimes I can't understand him and I end up either going to the paperback to check on what happened or I listen several times to try and understand what the character said. If they offered this book by another reader I would most likely chose that one if it were easier to hear.

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

When Cercei was put in jail.

Any additional comments?

I love these series of books but the time it takes me to get to understand what the reader is saying is annoying. I hate to miss any words or sentences because every word in this book can mean something. It will either come up later in the plot or be necessary to understand what is going on at the time. I have literally made sure to buy the paperback so I can go to it when I simply can't understand what the heck the reader is saying.
That being said I am still hooked on this author and the amazing world he has created.

Changing the voice

What made the experience of listening to A Feast for Crows the most enjoyable?

I love this series!!!! I don't like the fact that Mr. Dotrice changed his voices for several of the characters! His voices changed drastically for Aria for one! Just don't like the change in voices!!!!!!

What other book might you compare A Feast for Crows to and why?

Outlander series

Which scene was your favorite?

I look forward to hearing of lady Brianna and Jamie

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There is a series

The book is good. The narration is awful.

The book is what it is. Interesting story. That said, the narrator in my opinion is awful. First, he makes a LOT of characters sound very old and too tough. Perhaps I am reading in from watching the show, but I don't think so. Second, the reading is VERY slow - be thankful for the speed control in the app, which is essential.

narration break

not as good as book 3. and in the time between Dotrice changed the narration and pronounciation of character names

Couldn't wait to get on to the next book

I really didn't enjoy how the voice for some of the characters changed in this book. Even though the book was interesting, I lost some interest when many of the main characters from the previous books kind of stayed in the background in this book and didn't have many chapters dedicated to them.

A Song of Ice and Fire book 4

I like the series but didn't like the fact that it didn't cover some of the main characters like Danaerys and Jon Snow point of views

Give the guy who reads this a medal

Like really, never heard a better reader. The book is good too. Spooky scary skeletons

roys old and tired and still makes this book sing

What did you love best about A Feast for Crows?

martin has created a series in which even the most marginal characters are compelling , however much you love the starks you will hate the lannisters frays and boltons more , this series is unique in that the ones you want to win NEVER do but you still root for them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Feast for Crows?

brienne hanging

Which character – as performed by Roy Dotrice – was your favorite?

sam

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

arya kills someone

Any additional comments?

I cant overstate the improvement of roy dotrice over john lee . lees narration was hard to folow and over acted while roy feels like an old friend