I'd protect Dunk and Egg with my LIFE (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review)
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- I freaking LOVED A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George RR Martin if you couldn't tell! DUNK AND EGG FOREVER!
Wraithmarked Creative's A Darker Shade kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
03:00 - The "true" king
07:02 - The stories we tell ourselves
10:27 - Little choices snowball
12:32 - What is honor
13:06 - Sponsor
15:03 - On my Sansa shiz again
16:38 - On it being a prequel
18:36 - Conclusion
Channels mentioned
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Chatting with Nutts video: czcams.com/users/live_IjbIPSi...
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#gameofthrones #asoiaf - Zábava
Anyone who doesn’t like Dunk and Egg, or who hasn’t read these novelas, needs a clout on the ear.
AGREED
Or they're thick as a castle wall
@@Seb1066_ Dang it! That’s good.
Thick as a castle wall 🏰
I’m not reading a spin off until the Main series is continued how about that??? Dunk and Eggs lives simply do no matter
Honestly I love the idea of reading this between Storm and Feast. Those two books are DARK and Dunk and Egg is such a light and refreshing diversion!
Ayyy, love your channel man! Excited for the Greyjoy video
Hey I recognise this guy! He's a good kid.
Ayyyeeeee quinnn love your vids man🎉 keep doing what you do!
The novellas definetly help, considering the refences made to Dunk, Egg, Bloodraven and the Blackfyre Rebellions in Feast and Dance.
Reading Tales before you read Dance is also a great idea too. You really get to see the consistencies between Egg and Young Griff.
Dunk honestly feels like the character that is supposed to be what we think a knight is. When he calls out to the crowd and asks if there is a true knight I always get chills
Oh absolutely! He is trying to be as honorable as possible and acting on it. I love the juxtaposition of him having not been actually knighted. It’s in his heart 🥹
The two truest and most “ideal” knights in the ASOIAF aren’t actually knights. Dunk never actually being knighted, and Brienne being a woman. And they’re both so strongly thematically (and genetically??) linked. Clever work by GRRM.
@@Bookborn that’s honestly one of my favorite details in the text.
He could beat Ser Duncan the Tall, but he couldn’t beat Dunc from Fleabottom
"I dreamed of you," said the prince.
"You said that at the inn."
"Did I? Well, it's so. My dreams are not like yours, Ser Duncan. Mine are true. They frighten me. You frighten me. I dreamed of you and a dead dragon, you see. A great beast, huge, with wings so large they could cover this meadow. It had fallen on top of you, but you were alive and the dragon was dead."
Aaah Targaryen Dragon Dreams and foreshadowing, i just love GRRM's writing. A very interesting topic and very important to the overall series
Dunk and egg begins to build the sense that asoiaf is just a tiny slice of the history of westeros, and fire and blood hammers it home. With fire and blood you really learn that not only is asoiaf just a tiny peice of the timeline of westeros, it's not even necessarily the most interesting or important part, which is honestly so epic haha
“ARE THERE NO TRUE KNIGHTS AMONG YOU!” Sworn Sword is my favorite, but I agree there’s not much question that Hedge Knight has the best ending.
I also loev the Mystery Knight, more because of its connection to THE LORE.
It's not mentioned in the books, but Lady Rohanne eventually marries again years later with Gerold Lannister, and she'll give birth to Tytos, so she's Tywin's grandmother.
Also another detail which might go unnoticed on a first read, but Maynard Plumm is actually Bloodraven in disguise, using a glamour.
Great-Grandmother.
@@gokbay3057 Tytos is Tywin's father, so she's the grandmother. But she is great grandmother to Tyrion, Jamie and Cersei (unless some of Aerys's bastards theories are right, which I think they are for the twins)
@@hjalmarbasile Right, I remember you writing "Jaime's Grandmother" Not Tywin's. Because yes, she is Tywin's grandmother and Jaime's (and Cersei and Tyrion's) Great Grandmother.
I personally really dislike the Lannister's are secret Targaryens theories but it is somewhat more tolerable with the twins when compared to Tyrion.
And John the Fiddler is gay and has the hots for Dunk. Someone was a size queen.
@@johnreynolds2512lmao. Was that not explicit after Dunk gets attacked by John's close friend who pretty much says and thinks that exactly?
Love that A Game of Thrones has now made it onto the center shelf with Cap’s shield.
Haha it was just for this video BUT when I redo my bookshelves I plan to give it a good, central spot!
You should listen to the audiobook. It’s read by the person who plays Viserys in the show and he does an incredible job
I struggle with audiobooks a lot but maybe I'll get it from my library and give it a lil listen...
@@BookbornI was about to comment the same thing in regards to the audiobooks. That was actually my first experience with these stories, and Harry Lloyd does such an incredible job to where I have 0 regrets.
@@Bookbornwhy do you struggle with audiobooks?
Oh man thanks for the tip, that sounds incredible!
For a few reasons! One, and most importantly, whenever I listen to things, my brain tends to daydream a lot lol. Like it's not easy for me to focus while I listen in the same way it is when I read. Additionally, I don't usually like how an audiobook narrator decides how things should be read *for* me: I usually like having my own interpretations in my head. Also, I'm sort of a silence person - I don't really love multi-tasking, so I don't often have opportunities to enjoy audiobooks.@@DarkSitari
I guess the most direct connection to the main series is Egg being the brother of Maester Aemon.
In connection to your observations about Sansa: the people in this world that are the most knightly (protecting those who can't protect themselves; being honorbale) are actually not knights: Dunk, Brienne, The Hound. While some of the actual knights, in particular some on the Kingsguard, are terrible men who are anything but knightly. EVen Jaime, the accursed Kingslayer, actually did a knightly thing when he slew the Mad King.
I'm glad someone else noticed.
Walder Frey is actually in this book as a kid also.
I like that Walder Frey is unlikeable even as a baby -100% antagonist from the get go.
I’m enjoying your reviews of ASOAIF so much, and this one didn’t disappoint. You were pretty spot on with the themes, can’t wait for the next books! Imagine watching the Winds of Winter review this year😅😅😅
I’m personally loving the idea that I’d get into the series so late just to have winds drop like can you imagine ☠️☠️
Luckiest person ever haha @@Bookborn
Tbh if it ever get released, you probably will have waited less than 90% of the fanbase@@Bookborn
That would be so funny and awesome @@Bookborn
I think my favourite thing that happens in D&G (George does it with other characters too) is how we are consistently *told* that Dunk is thick, but what we are *shown* is that he is actually quite smart
Something I didn’t pick up on at first is that it’s heavily hinted that Maynard Plumm is Bloodraven in disguise
I don't think the Stannis/Renly conflict is all that comparable to Daemon/Daeron. Daemon & Daeron represent two different choices for king, not just in the type of man they were, but also the policies they represented. Reading between the lines, you can see a lot of the support has to do with the realm's policy toward Dorne. It also has to do with the kind of person they were using to help them rule and how one felt about that.
Meanwhile, the Renly/Stannis conflict was a clash of style versus substance. With the Blackfyre Rebellion, the argument as to who was the better choice depends largely on what one thinks would have been best for the Realm, and there are no firm answers. With the Baratheon conflict, there is no question that Renly is an empty suit, that his drive was for attention and glory, that he was a boy playing at war and kingship, with no real agenda or intention to govern, other than a blithe confidence that he could handle whatever issues arose, and that while Stannis' personal baggage and inability to deal empathetically with people were a severe handicap in getting them on his side, and while his resentments and grudges diverted him from pursuing the best policies, at the heart was a much better man and potential king. At the end of SoS, it is not a coincidence that Stannis is the last of the eponymous contenders of the War of Five Kings still standing, and the only one who has managed to accomplish something good for the realm.
Well put. This is why I'm still fucked off about what they did with Stannis in the show.
George is in top form here. It’s so refreshing to get a small focused story from him.
Thank you for being such an adamant Sansa fan! She's my favorite character in the series!
You and me out here spreading the good word of Sansa Stark 👯♀
When I first got into the series I was completely neutral towards her 15 years later she's one of the few I still care about and hope has humanity by the end of the story lol
Everyone is so harsh on Sansa! She's one of the most real characters in the book! Glad to see others agree!
Beneath the Gold, The BitterSteel.
I'm so glad that you listen to your viewers' recommendations! Also happy you enjoyed the read, Dunk and Egg are very sweet
I have a feeling I'll be seeing a mention of Sir Duncan the Tall 🥲
the dunk and egg stories are some of the best work martin has ever done and i cant wait for the tv show that is coming
Yes, these reformed the themes we see in the series. Publication dates also make some of the connections a bit more obvious too. Great video!
Oh...now I've gotta go look up those publication dates...
Also it's been confirmed that Brienne of Tarth is related to Sir Duncan the Tall.
Wow two absolute legends what a genealogy line
Rohanne Webber is Jaime's great-grandmother, too
@@Bookborn Daeron Targaryen's first words to Dunk at the inn was: "I dreamt of you"....
why would you spoil that? this was mentioned in AFFC, the book she hasnt read yet
@@mum-your What are you talking about? This was revealed by George in an interview, not in the books.
Glad you pinpoint the revelancy of the Blackfyre rebellions in regards to Catelyn and her treatment of Jon. For sure it doesn't morally absolve her, but you kinda understand why she is scared of Jon being raised almost as a legitimate Stark and of Robb choosing him as his heir.
Jon was a few months older than Robb I believe, could be a legitimate threat to her children's claim to Winterfell. Of course Jon would never kill his siblings (and of course it's not like this never happened before in the world of ASOIAF), but what about his children if Jon was legitimized ? His children against Robb's ?
Catelyn is a woman raised in a society that is very harsh on bastards, but her neglect of Jon was also rooted in fear for her children. Doesn't make her 100% right and justified, but she is a much more grounded and complex character with that scenario in mind.
Robb is older than Jon
@@testcase6997 that is what Ned says to help cover his story on who Jon really is but baby Jon is bigger than Robb so it is questionable who is older and it is a fear Cat has
@@jewsco When does he say that? I scoured the books for that info and I missed it :( ALl I found is that Jon was developing faster than Robb and also that Jon was already in WInterfell when Catelyn came back
As someone who deals with inheritance and probate matters for a living, I can say Cat was 100% right to have concerns about Jon and Jon’s kids posing a threat to her kids. Did she handle it well by taking those scared and angry feelings out on Jon ? Nope. Was she being angry and fearful for no reason? Also, 100 % Nope.
Highly recommend fire and blood, from a literary perspective alone it’s a must read and a highly unique book
Yeah, this has been on my radar for a long time! But I don't plan on reading it until after I finish the main series!
It's a good book. But it reads like reading a history story. It's not like the other books. Especially Dunk And Egg.
When we learn about Daemon taking so long to finally make a claim for the throne, it really shows thag he wasnt about it and likely got pushed by Bittersteel to rebel like 8 years after Daeron took the thrown. Very Robert esq, not really wanting wanting the power, but to just live his life.
My crippling ASOIAF obsession helped me understand real history because that first theme you we’re talking about, the cynical game for power, the game of thrones is being played everywhere in every time period in every country, in every castle and city and office and any little place where people get backstabby and competitive.
Love this.
I think of A Song of Ice and Fire as a fractal story. There are so many examples of history repeating itself, mythological stories reflecting the real-time story, all happening at different scales, etc.
A lot of other fans also believe Ser Arlan didn't knight Dunk. Glad you picked this up.
There is so SO many hints and implications at this. I can’t understand why people deny this, and it reinforces Martin’s message
well, the hints weren't exactly subtle.
I just read this book for the first time at the end of 2023 after reading the whole series for the third time. And I agree, it was incredible. It was more romantic than I expected l, which I loved. I liked the second one because of the romance, I really wanted Dunk to get with Rohanne even though I knew he wouldn’t. Lol
lmao and my only complaint with the second one was because of the romance, why am I like this, such a hater 🤣
@@Bookborn Wow, you are a hater! Lol, I’m kidding, I’m honestly just a big sucker for romance. I wanted Dunk to be with Tanselle after the first book and then immediately wanted him with Rohanne after the second. 😂
Recently found your channel, love your opinions, and find your video's very calming to listen to while working :)
It's a prequel because it eventually (slowly, very elaborate) ties very close with the main show. Duncan protecting Egg and a connection to the Targaryen in the main books. Eggs brother being Aemon at castle black and his story. Of course, from the lore, it is known where Dunk and Egg end up and what happens to them (how it relates to the next generation) and the Targaryen history in general. I like the fact that George RR Martin would have never got out of his way full of passion and write something small akin to cozy fantasy. Some events are more tragic and complex than the stuff we see in ASOIAF.
One of my favorites. Can’t wait for the HBO series. I know they’ll knock it out of the park.
I'm gonna at least try to watch it since this seems so much more mild than the main series...hoping it doesn't end up being too graphic 🤞
@@Bookborn last time i`ve watched the main series (first 4 seasons lol) was a couple of years ago so maybe im misremembering but i dont recall the show being THAT graphic. Not more than the books anyway
As long as Dumb and Dumber aren't involved, I'm in!
Dunc: We'd all be bastard sons of old King Aegon if half these tales were true.
Maynard Plumm: And who's to say we're not?
Ive been thoroughly enjoying your reveiws of A Song of Ice and Fire and Dunk and Egg. I first read A Game of Thrones in 2007, so years before the TV show and its super refreshing to see a person react to these books that has not been spoiled by the show. I hope youll continue to read the other books as well. Fire and Blood is very special to me now as are all the books. It adds so much more depth and its unique among the books as its written from the perspective of an in world Maester pulling from in world sources.
I love watching your ASOIAF journey I wish I could go back in time and relive the experience of discovering the ASOIAF books
It is so nice to see you discovering all this amazing lore ❤
What is crazy is how much the characters in these novellas go on to effect in the main series.
Love your analysis! and welcome to the sansa defenders club♥ I hope that when you finish the saga you also read fire and blood! And I also recommend you the world of ice and fire.
Keep it up! Very curious to hear your thoughts on Feast for Crows. There will be times you want to give up, but keep chugging along and try to appreciate the slower pace. I know it was hard for me the first time, but now I really enjoy revisiting.
Great video! I really enjoyed it!! I can't wait for your FoC review!!!
I'm so glad to see you getting into this series!!! Are you planning on reading "Fire and Blood" or the two world books as well?
The comparison of the views between Dunk and Sansa you made is fantastic. Thank you!
Im really enjoying watching these asoiaf reviews. Its like reliving the initial feelings of reading the books for the first time.
Once youve finished dance, i would LOVE listening to a theorycrafting video.
So glad to see you read this! This book is my favorite. I really like it because it's more of just an adventure with lower stakes.
LETS GOOO, AHH PERFECT TIMING. I read it last week 🙏
I enjoyed these short stories far more than I thought. The world George created along with his writing style make for a too irresistible combo for me.
The third novella was my favourite. I loved the mystery surrounding it, and all the stuff with Bloodraven (like him secretly being Maynard Plumm).
Both Dunk and Egg have living relatives in the main series. They are not at all subtlety hidden and book 4 will beat you over the head with them if you're paying attention. Seeing the Targaryens at one of their highest points, with heirs everywhere and a mostly peaceful kingdom, it's an interesting contrast to the glimpse we get of Robert's kingdom, and all that comes after. Fun fact: There's only 2 characters (that I can think of off the top of my head anyway) alive during both the novellas and the main series. 2 characters specifically mentioned I should say, we know Old Nan is eternal! :) Anyway, see if you can spot them (1 is in book 4, 1 is in book 5)!
I second the person that recommended Fire and Blood. It's dense with history but somehow also entertaining. I just started World of Ice and Fire, which is a little more like a summary of history and goes beyond Westeros and the 7 kingdoms. It's not as good but still better than not reading about the World of Ice and Fire!
Aren't there three alive in the main series? Maester Aemon, Bloodraven and Walder Frey?
Most people don't know who is related to Dunk in the main series so I highly disagree with the books "beating you over the head with it". I would hazard a guess 95% of people who read AFFC don't finish the book thinking someone is related to Dunk. The fandom overanalyzes everything so of course the super fans would catch it
@@readbykyle3082 I respectfully disagree. If you've read the first Dunk and Egg Novella, you know what his coat of arms is, how big and awkward he feels, his bone-deep chivalry and adeptness at arms. His self-doubt and naivety. When his relative gets their own POV in Feast you get a lot of the same behaviors, thoughts, etc. It's almost a recycling of Dunk's character. And then to really drive the point home, they have their shield painted with Dunk's coat of arms. I'll concede it's more obvious to super fans, but I highly doubt 95% of the people who have read Dunk and Egg, and Feast will walk away not wondering about a connection between those two characters. Again, not picking a fight, just saying that I would be surprised if that were the case.
@@jagvillani338 Bah! I forgot about Frey. I mean technically the person(s) hanging out with Bloodraven and the old woman on High Hill probably too. This is a slippery slope, I regret mentioning it 😅
I'm so glad that you love this series too! I love hearing your take on the story and the characters. The fact that you love Catelyn and Sansa so much, when so many hate them, just makes my so happy! I also wanted to ask you how you feel about Stannis? He grew on me a lot when I read the books, from being someone I thought was just power-hungry I didn't know how to feel about, to being someone I really root for. He sneakily became one of my favorite characters in the books, even though he isn't a POV character.
Right now I usually classify Stannis as a little bit of a baby ☠️ I don't dislike him but I feel that he "can't read a room" lmaooo. I know a lot of people love him so hopefully he'll grow on me (although I'll admit, that when he shows up at the end and he's "the only king who responded" my estimation of him went much higher! Although I mostly give credit to Davos, my sweet and lovely onion knight)
@@BookbornI personally didn’t find Stannis very likeable during Clash, but he really grew on me in Storm, especially when he makes Davos hand
Davos is forever my champion though throughout all books 🔥
The Tourney at Ashford and Sansa's Future Husband is a very fun theory about how the tournament foreshadows sansa's future!
Dont read it until you've read a Feast for Crows as it features a charcater that i dont believe you've seen yet but its a really neat one when you do.
Did you know ?
That Brienne is the descendant of Ser Duncan and Jaime is the descendant of Lady Rohan. Look how the things meets later in story.
Absolutely in love with your ASOIAF content, can't wait to dive into other areas
Reading these before Feast/Dance was a fun idea. I think you'll pick up on a lot of details I missed on my first read through
omg i never expected you to read this first. goes to show you are really genuine when it comes to giving reviews not just asoiaf
Loved this! I also thought the first novella the Hedge Knight was just perfect from start to finish, a wonderful cozy-esque ASoIaF palate cleanser. Still have to read the last one!
Thank you so much for the thematic analysis, I'd love to see a super deep dive into your thoughts on the themes! When I first read the books, I was shocked by 2 things. The first was his prose; There are so many lines that read like poetry, and so many great lines of dialogue. The second was how great the themes are. Reading the books gave me so much to think about in terms of the cycle of violence, and books 3 and 4 particularly make very strong statements about revenge.
There are also fantastic ideas, like how religion, sexism, and violence all perpetuate each other, or how the sexism of different cultures allows specific types of people to thrive. Ygritte and Brienne are both strong women, but Ygritte thrives North of the wall, while Brienne is loved by no one in the South. Catelyn and Cersei are both in powerful positions, but Catelyn wields her power as a wife, mother, and daughter, whereas Cersei tries to wield her power as a monarch, which her society doesn't allow for because women are seen as weak. Contrasted with Dany, who is able to rule her people because they believe in her. Just like Varys said, "Power resides where men believe it resides".
11:11 For the record, Maekar is a 4th child. He doesn't come directly after Baelor who was the firstborn of his family, so you can't assume that he will become king when there are 2 siblings ahead of him.
Egg ended up being 'Aegon the Unlikely' because he was the 4th son of a 4th son making him pretty far down the line of succession.
@@tanimal3964 Dude. I know. I was trying not to spoil.
Yes!!! I’m sure Dunk and Egg was so perfect for you. I’m about to finish the mystery knight. So excited to watch!
As always, I love your thinking. THANK YOU for seeing the tie to Sansa here. The stories of Ser Duncan the Tall WILL have been among those Sansa heard as a child, and yes, the stories that tell of knightly standards totally defines her view of them. I agree that Dunk likely was never knighted, though I wonder if we'll get a later story where he will be.
Egg is fascinating to read, I always struggle to find the through line between Egg, and Aegon V who caused the tragedy at Summerhall... [thoughts and prayers that GRRM stays healthy & writes all the tales still in his head!], though GRRM has stated he intends to get to Summerhall eventually.
You did make me laugh though, after years of 'never going to happen' to hear you telling people to read the novellas if they haven't already was delightful.
Great takes on this and love that you love Dunk and Egg. A few thoughts - one of the primary themes of ASOIAF is a critical look at chivalry and knighthood. Dunk (who is almost definitely not a knight) acts more like a knight than so many true knights in this and the main series. Contrast him with another larger than life person, Gregor Clegane (the mountain who rides), who is an actual knight and also one of the only true villains in the series. Another theme that I think you allude to that is also hit on both in D&E along with the main series is that doing the right thing does not always net a positive result...but that does not mean that you should not do it. If Baelor does not stand up for Dunk, he lives, but he will also live with the guilt of knowing he could have helped someone but chose to not. Similarly, if Ned tells Robert that Cercei's children are Jamie's, he lives but those children will likely be killed. I hate when people say that this series implies that there is no morality (or right vs. wrong) are misreading the series. In my opinion, the series is saying that doing the right thing is hard and sometimes doesn't work out, but there is right, wrong, and sometimes areas that are gray. Keep up the great work.
Yes. I also like the Hedge Knight because it says standing up for what is right, is Right, but doing right comes with risks and costs. Too often the hero risks much but wins every prize- the girl, the castle, the fame- at little to no cost. If GRRM every sets up a story like that you can bet either the story’s narrator is unreliable or a dragon is going to eat them all in a few moments…
This collection of novellas is a great prequel because beloved fan favourite Walder Frey makes an appearance.
Hope youre gonna read The World of Ice and Fire after the main series. Its mainly just worldbuilding and lore that might never be relevant for the main series. But worldbuilding is something Martin really excels at and its fun to spot all the easter eggs and references to other literature.
Yes. Perspective as a theme is, I think, once of Martin's driving ambitions for ASOIAF. loving the reviews
Loving the ASoIAF & First Law content. You're totally right about Sansa and Catelyn.
This is the story that got me back into reading in 2019! Since then ive read like 500+ fantasy books lol
Hell yeah i didn't realize you were gonna do these
The third story- the blackfyre rebellion one to be clear- I have read and listened to so many times. I absolutely love it. It's beautiful
When in doubt the king's name is usually Aegon. In this case Aegon the Unworthy legitimized his bastards 🤣
Fantastic video. Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall 🙏
Look every Targaryen practically has the same name it's almost as bad as the Silmarillion.
@@Bookbornyou have no idea how true this is. Just wait until you're halfway through Fire and Blood 😂
@@BookbornCan't wait for you to read Fire and Blood then 😂
Reading this before feast gives a wonderful perspective of knighthood and small folk that reflects really well in brienne chapters I think
Yes. It was an excellent recommendation to read this before Feast!
Always fun to see supervillains in the making. Such a cute little boy despite knowing how wrong it will all go.
The first story, The Hedge Knight, depicts events that I believe were referenced in Jon's first chapter in Clash of Kings. I believe the second two stories were initially released between SoS & FfC, so this was probably the time to read them. Also, there are references in aSoS to Dunk's eventual fate, if you are paying attention, when Jaime thinks about all the Lords Commander of the Kingsguard who have sat in his chair before him, like Gerold Hightower, Barristan Selmy, and Ser Duncan the Tall.
This is SO FUNNY because I ALMOST WENT BACK AND CHECKED THAT IN ASOS. I was like...wait, Jaime lists all the lord commanders, I wonder if he's in it? CANT BELIEVE IT I should've followed my instinct.
Egg doesn't seem like a villain to me, that's who you meant. He was likely right about needing dragons for The Others. Too bad the maesters likely caused Summerhall.
@@lanestapp2 Maybe. Or maybe he was going to sacrifice baby Rhaegar...
It seems a bit dubious that he was into dragons for a reason that has never appeared on page & only a spin-off TV show, when his history gives him plenty of mundane reasons to want them.
@@Gunleaver You mean the main overlying magic villain? I don't think the others will be completely defeated with valyrian steel. With egg likely sending is brother and blood raven to the wall years prior, it seems like he was focused on The Others.
@@lanestapp2 As with the Aegon Prophecy, the problem I see with Egg anticipating the Others is that he just didn't do enough.
Aegon I didn't both doing anything to prepare the realm, or reinforce the defenses. He was content to let each realm maintain its own laws and customs and left the task of integration to future generations and no hint of a plan. He made the Starks Wardens, yes, but undercut it by making three other Wardens, indicating the threats from beyond the Wall were no more concern to him than Dorne or the Free cities, or the Ironborn. Why did he keep the capital and his royal seat on Blackwater Bay, close to his family home of Dragonstone, instead of projecting his power by selecting a location for his court closer to the action he brought his family to Westeros to fight? Why not set up in Harrenhal, use the resources that would go to building the Red Keep to restore it, and create a centralize capital on the God's Eye, and claiming the eastern Riverlands (if not all of them) for a royal domain, to ensure Targaryen military dominance? Because he was more interested in keeping the nobles happy with his reign, which suggests he had no further goal than the rule of Westeros, and that ruling Westeros was not any sort of means to an end.
As for Aegon V, why was he creating a network of southern alliances, instead of shoring up support in the North? Why was he pushing through a series of reforms that did nothing to prepare the realm for a long-term invasion, while undercutting the power of the nobility, ie the military/leadership caste, who would be crucial to fighting any such threat.
Every single version of Aemon's taking the black has it for strictly political motivations, to remove himself from the politics of succession. Why does he talk to Jon about the pain of having to stand aside no matter what happens to his family, instead of pointing out that the real threat and foe are here, at the Wall? FFS, the dead rangers coming back to life should have been the culmination of Aemon's career at the Wall, the whole reason for his self-imposed exile come to pass, there should have been a reaction of SOME kind from him. When Stannis & Melisande show up at the Wall talking about those same prophecies, why didn't he speak up and point out that he had come to the Wall for that same purpose? Why didn't he bring ANY of this up with Sam on his fatal journey south, when he discussed his reason for coming to the Wall, and Bloodraven's presence among his recruiting class? Not even in his desperate last words about dragons and dreams and what they thought the prophecies meant, does he so much as say "these prophecies are why I came to the Wall, and why Egg tried to hatch dragons".
As with Aegon I, Aegon V's only apparent agenda seems to have been the consolidation of his own power and authority over the nobility of Westeros, with nothing in mind for any mystical destiny or prophesied threat.
Dunk is a medieval white hat cow boy. That’s why we love him. I mean, who doesn’t love a medieval white hat cow boy?! In my heads, I see Dunk like a teenaged John Wayne character, pre tragic backstory that most cowboys get in Westerns. I see the parallel with Sansa and, hear me out: most folks would love Sansa if we had no idea what she was doing or thinking, and saw her only through others’ POV. Then she’d fit the trope and we’d be cool with it. The fact that she has limited agency and we have to see it and deal with that frustrated a lot of readers - but again if she wasn’t a POV character, and we just saw her through someone else’s POV as a pretty maid locked up by baddies in a tower, most folks would be like “aw poor Sansa! We must rescue her!” She’d essentially be reduced to a princess peach waiting for Mario and Luigi. But I like Sansa’s arc so far in the stories and I like that she’s a POV.
I cant wait to hear your opinions on *certain* POV’s in Feast. I know you’ll love a certain one while utterly hating the character, since you’ll understand where their “darkness” has been coming from
It's funny to compare this to New Spring from Wheel of Time. Both "The Hedge Knight" and "New Spring" first appeared in the Legends anthology in 1998. The lineup of authors was so impressive that GRRM didn't even rate a mention on the cover, behind names like Jordan, McCaffrey, Feist & King, and Darryl K Sweet, the original WoT cover author did the inner cover painting, a scene from New Spring (Bukama's confrontation with the guards). The original form of New Spring begins with Lan's & Moiraine's respective arrivals in the borderlands, with the earlier White Tower stuff being added in a few years later when Jordan expanded it for release as a stand-alone novel.
This is a fantastic book. I believe this should fully be adapted for the television show. There shouldn't be too many changes. I think each story will be a season on HBO. So they would need to use most of the source material too get 6 to 8 episodes out of each story. So excited that your reading this book. I bet it makes you more excited for the television series now?
This one is on my list for 2024. I'm looking forward to it.
I hope to get a review of Fire & Blood eventually.
can't wait for the AFFC review!
Dunk and egg are a palette cleanser 😂 love them sm
"Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall." A knight of the Seven Kingdoms is up there right next to Storm of Swords in my rankings. Its too good and I love it so much. I almost want the last 3 short stories of Dunk and Egg before Winds of Winter. Also I recommend checking out the 'Boiled Leather' reading order for 'A Feast for Kings' and 'A Dance with Dragons'. The books take place alongside one another, and fans have made a chronological reading order, weaving both books together perfectly. It personally made me like AFFC a LOT more than before and it lets me still catch up with all the characters missing from AFFC, like Jon, Tyrion and Dany.
The last 3 stories?? My sweet summer child. He plans 12 😂😂
Dunk and Egg Hype, let’s go! Seriously, I think I might actually prefer these to the main series!
Your respect for GRRM will exponentially rise after the 4th and 5th books.
Btw , have you heard of the Boiled Leather reading order for 4th and 5th books ? Basically the next 2 books are divided geographically and not chronologically, so both 4&5 starts immediately after storm of swords. So if youre ready to juggle between 2 books then check out the Boiled Leather reading order.
Bookborn pulled a George? Doing spin offs before completing the main series? Fitting 😂
Haha the fans told me to do it this way!! Blame them 🤣
@@Bookborn I wish I knew why genuinely, going back to that specific point in time after finishing the war of kings then picking back up after the war of kings makes no sense to me (not in a mean way)
I love your first reactions
Love all your videos! Have you or will you watch House of Dragon?
I love that book. It was good for me to read it after the first 5 books of the main series, because it's not as dark or dramatic. It was a fun read. Also, the main book series made me want to know a lot more about them.
Not sure if you’ve heard his yet but maybe consider doing the “FeastDance” order for your read of the next 2 books. It makes it much longer before you get an ending but also don’t have to wait for certain characters.
Great review as always. To piggyback on your comment about referring to it as a “prequel,” keep reading the main series. No spoilers, but there’s more connection than you would initially think.
I'm so happy when I watch Bookborn defending Sansa!! XD
You queen!!!
Yeah. Common, that is the best book ever. Everytime i feel like it i just read a hedge knight or the hole book again. I love it so much
Just finished The Mystery Knight. Now, to watch...
I love the writing of the series because often times the narratives provided by each character's chapter can differ, even if describing the same events.
Dunc and egg castings for the upcoming series got announced today 😍😍 they look exactly as i inagined them.
So they've just announced they're adapting Dunk and Egg onto the screen (and will be released alternative years to HoTD if that makes sense). SO keen!
Eagerly awaiting your review (i assume its on the way) of "A Feast for Crows".
That's where the _real_ fans of the series are separated from the casual fans. (If i may say so, without sounding like an intense gatekeeping snob😳, but I'll take that risk anyway).
I actually wont be upset if you don't like it, i actually love affc. I'm just curious, been enjoying your reviews of the first three, definitely you have alot of interesting takes on the themes that i liked alot. Affc is very different. But....i want to point out, theres a big connection between the dunk and egg series and the Brienne pov. I suspect you'll notice it thematically. And im sure you're gonna love Briennes chapters based on this review of d&e
Nice video Bookborn! I have only read the first couple chapters of the first book Game of Thrones I have enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the first season of the T.V. show and the card game.
I can't wait for your review of Feast 🙊
There are tons of references to these characters and the events that they are involved in all the song of ice and fire, wait till you find out about what’s next!! I wish I had read this before feast for crows!! Enjoy the next book!!
I absolutely love the Dunk and Egg books. My favorite little detail is that in The Mystery Knight, Dunk mentions the young son of Lord Frey running around being annoying with an irritating laugh and wishes he could throw him down a well. The son Dunk is talking about is actually Walder Frey from the main books.
I hope they make this into a series.
“Hard things only grow harder if you put them off” I tell myself this a lot at work.
After you finish the mains series definitely recommend Fire & Blood which follows the first half of the Targaryen Dynasty and The world of Ice and fire which tells much of the history and the places in Planetos.
There are also quite a few clues of foreshadowing for the main series and how some historical events turn out. It's really interesting. Also... Baelor took after his mother, dark of hair and eyes, so Targaryens don't all have silver hair. Interesting...