Thursday Tea: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

The Book: Last spring I raced through the first three books in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Okay, so raced is not exactly the right word. I listened to the fabulous Roy Dotrice read the books to me, which took about 120 hours. Nonetheless, I felt as if I had zipped through the story because I listened to the audios almost back to back.

To learn about this fantastic series, see my reviews of A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. Today's post isn't much of a review; it also contains no spoilers.

When I picked up the audio for A Feast for Crows, I was dismayed to see there was a new reader, John Lee, and almost elected to read the book in print. Let me clarify that dismayed. I am very familiar with Lee, and it's likely his voice has been in my ears for 200 hours or more over the years. The disappointment came with the abrupt switch in reader midstream.

The solution? Wait a few months before jumping into book 4. I'm glad I did. A Feast for Crows (a mere 31 hours in audio) took me immediately back the Seven Kingdoms and the fight for the Iron Throne. I had heard that many readers were upset by this entry in the series because Martin introduces new characters and new plot lines. In addition, many familiar characters are either not mentioned or never appear. I am not in that camp.

I loved getting to meet new people and visiting new towns. Although I missed some of my favorite characters, I was interested in the additional background and smaller political factions. The novel can be thought of as transitioning the reader into the next stage of the epic battle for the Seven Kingdoms.

To say the plot gets more complex is an understatement. Political alliances bubble up and then dissipate, siblings support and then betray each other, people forget their vows of loyalty, and nothing is what it seems. As with the other novels in the series, A Feast for Crows is less fantasy and more medieval tale. In this very adult world, death and torture come easy, and good people are not immortal. I can't wait to get to the fifth book (probably in December).

The Tea: This week I tried a new to me tea blended by Adagio called Ginger Tea. This is not a sweet tea or an herbal tea; it's a ginger-flavored black tea, and it's fabulous. A definite winner, probably one of my favorite ginger teas ever. The company's website says this tea "combin[es] the fresh, warming heat of ginger with the rich tang of Ceylon black tea." The aroma alone will win you over.

The Assessment: This is tough. The Seven Kingdoms are barely at peace. The land is still awash in blood and destruction. Most people would be lucky to get a cup of clean water or bit of ale. Perhaps Cersei Lannister, one of the richest women in the kingdoms, could afford tea. In fact, I'd recommend she drink this tea. The ginger would help calm her stomach, which is likely churning as she plots and schemes to keep her hold on the Iron Throne.

What About You? What would I find in your glass or mug this week? And don't forget to let me know what you're reading.

A Feast for Crows at an Indie

A Feast for Crows at Powell's

A Feast for Crows at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea was the brainchild of Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog.

Published by Random House / Bantam Spectra, 2005
ISBN-13: 9780553801507Source: Bought (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

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Review: A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

This post contains no spoilers for A Storm of Swords but assumes you've read the first two books in the series.

In the land of the Seven Kingdoms, the fight for the Iron Throne involves cunning, treachery, strength, honor, luck, and the help of the gods. A Storm of Swords, the third installment of George R. R. Martin's epic A Song of Fire and Ice series, recounts the continuing battle--both bloody and political--for ultimate power over the country.

One of the hallmarks of great fantasy is the creation of a complex, internally consistent, and believable world that hints of deep history and an uncertain future. Now inhabit that world with multidimensional characters who learn, grow, change, make mistakes, and do what they must to survive, and you begin to understand why Martin has garnered a large and faithful fan base.

No one is safe in the struggle for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Whether a ruling house stands together in solidarity or is divided against itself, all suffer losses in both people and property. While some families concentrate their attention on the battlefield, they are undermined by the conniving schemes of the wannabes. Everyone is mindful of relatives who are held hostage by various enemies, but few pay attention to the armies of Wildlings and Others, whose invasions from the north must be stopped by the politically neutral brothers of the Night Watch and the great wall of ice and snow. And from across the sea the young mother of dragons, daughter of the last Targaryen ruler, and widow of the great Khal Drogo is coming into her maturity and has turned her eye on her father's Iron Throne.

There is no less action on the individual level, and few people are left unaffected by the war. Deaths, political marriages, and unlikely alliances are to be expected, but what is less predictable is the changes in personalities. Some people have an inner strength (sometimes aided by money and power) to stay steady, remaining honorable and brave or redoubling their cruelty when it serves them best. Others, however, lose their spunk or become depressed, surprise themselves by their acts of kindness or bravery, or begin to question their most basic beliefs.

Be warned: Martin has created a realistic world in which no one is safe, and there is no obvious final outcome. The medieval-like Seven Kingdoms is not an easy place to live, and the reader is not shielded from its harshness. In addition, although there are fantasy elements to the series, this is not a story of magic wands and flying broomsticks; it's more firmly planted in the world of humans. And finally, once one enters the world of the game of thrones, he or she is in it for the duration; it's near impossible not to become invested in the saga.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Random House Audio, 47 hr, 37 min), read by Roy Dotrice, who continues to do an excellent job with the series.

A Storm of Swords at an Indie

A Storm of Swords at Powell's

A Storm of Swords at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Random House / Bantam Spectra, 2005 (originally published 2000)
ISBN-13: 9780553381702
YTD: 61
Source: bought (see review policy).
Rating: A
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Thursday Tea: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

The Book: A few weeks ago I listened to George R. R. Martin's A Clash of Kings, the second in his Song of Ice and Fire series. If you read my review of A Game of Thrones, you know how much I love these books.

A Clash of Kings begins just where the first book ended, with families and kingdoms regrouping after losses, betrayals, and new alliances. It's difficult to convey the complexity of Martin's world. The characters are as real as the people you know in your everyday life and cannot be described in simple terms. People regret their decisions and actions, the weak harbor hidden strengths, and the seemingly selfish show surprising generosity.

The novel delivers what the title suggests; this is a story of war, both on the battlefield and through deceit and cunning. Because no one is safe from death, the ultimate winner of the iron throne and the crown of the Seven Kingdoms cannot be predicted.

There are two more books in the series with more in progress. I'll be reading them all.

The Tea: Because of all the chill and rain we've had over the last week, I turned to a great favorite of mine: Harney & Son's Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. I've said it before, but this tea is fantastic and an true staple in this house. Here's the company's description: "medium-bodied black tea . . . naturally sweetened to perfection by a blend of cinnamons, orange, and sweet cloves. The remarkably assertive tea effuses a hot spicy aroma and sets off miniature fireworks on the tongue that'll have you exclaim WOW!" Just the aroma alone will win you over.

The Assessment: Daenerys Targaryen, the Khaleesi across the sea, would definitely be drinking this tea. She has married into an exotic clan, and the spices would be familiar to her people. In the Seven Kingdoms, the Lannisters, perhaps the richest of the clans vying for control of the throne, might be familiar with Hot Cinnamon Spice tea. Everyone else, however, is probably drinking more ordinary strong black tea. Tea of any sort will soon be welcome to all: Winter is coming to the land, and warmth will be hard to find.

What About You? What are drinking during these days of transition into summer in the north and winter in the south? And what books are you reading or listening to this week?

A Clash of Kings at an Indie

A Clash of Kings at Powell's

A Clash of Kings at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea was the brainchild of Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog.

Published by Random House / Bantam Spectra, 2005 (originally published 1999)
ISBN-13: 9780553381696
YTD: 49
Source: Bought (see review policy).
Rating: A
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

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