Ahhhh that makes sense.

Eh, there's a theory about the Mirri Maz Durr prophesy is being realized in this book -

- Quaithe refers to Quentyn as the "sun's son". Quentyn travels from the west (Dorne) to the east (Mereen) and dies there (the sun sets in the east).
- Since it's autumn turning into the winter, the Dothraki "sea" is drying up.
- Viserion and Rheagal are busy turning the pyramids in Mereen (mountains) into dust.

As Dany's been especially...carnal...in this book, it's assumed that starvation and the berries she was eating made her miscarry, rather than her having contracted the bloody flux...meaning she isn't barren anymore.

So Quentyn is possibly in the book so Dany can be fertile again.

I do not agree with this MMD stuff. I have been reading the forums over on westeros.org where a lot of people also seem to be championing this theory. I honestly feel like it's just reaching. Quentyn's presence did not really do anything in the books except to ensure that Dany cut herself off from any support she could potentially get from Dorne in the future, leaving them to throw their lot in with Aegon. While I'll admit to some things fit if you make them (the dry sea and the 'sun'), I'm not convinced it's anything more than colorful writing.

The "prophecy" does not pertain to Dany being barren. It pertains to when Khal Drogo will return. Khal Drogo has -not- returned. Dany has -not- borne a living child. Pyramids are not mountains and neither are they crumbling into dust and blowing away. This wasn't a prophecy anyway!

I feel like this is just rooted in people's wanting Quentyn to have more significance than he did. :/

Obviously Gregor is going to grow wings.

Call it a despairing hope that GRRM isn't just rambling because he can and there's some significance in his utterly pointless sidetracked POVs >_>

I think that's why a lot of crazy theories have come up regarding this book, people are holding out hope that GRRM didn't lose his magical touch.

Sorry, but I'm not a believer. The combination of this book and A Feast for Crows was extremely depressing.

I think at least part of it has to do with how these two books were originally supposed to be put together.

Originally, the series was supposed to jump forward some number of years, I don't remember how many (20, maybe? That seems to long, but w/e), launching the child characters into adulthood with a lot of the in-between stuff filled in via flashback. GRRM decided that this wasn't really working out, so now the in between stuff is being told as full stories in-and-of themselves, despite their not being as universally grand as some of the other stuff.

That's my thought, at least. It's certainly not the sole reason they aren't as good as, say Storm, but I'm thinking it's part of it at least. Dance was definitely far better than Feast, though, IMO.

I didn't really care for the Quentyn chapters either, I said somewhere above, I don't really care for Dorne at all. They've had a very low-key presence in the series so far, yet they are still one of the seven kingdoms, with considerable influence to push in one direction or another. They will have a part to play in the long run despite there being very little action in Dorne, so I think it is important to include them more than just the one random Areo Hotah chapter. That they are stalwart Targ supporters has been hinted at before, but I think sparing 3 chapters in the series to drive the point home is not terrible.

Pretty sure it was Quentyn who recognized the poisoned locusts as Hazdir's attempt on Dany's life - possibly the only thing that would spur the honorable Barriston Selmy to take real action in Dany's absence. Quentyn's chapters also give a secondary tie to Pentos, which will keep Tyrion (in the second sons) in the vicinity of other Westerosi nobles (Quentyn's two buddies in with the Tattered Prince). It was also interesting to me to see someone with some Targ blood try to tangle with the dragons... it makes it pretty clear that they are Dany's alone, and won't brook pretenders. Considering how many could-be Targs are vying for them, should be interesting.

Having yet another POV character in Mereen where nothing happened was indeed annoying though. I wish that they had closed with a battle in Meereen, instead.

Edit - I liked Feast... I found the focus on the impact the war had on the low-born really interesting!

It's not so much that Feast was bad, exactly. It was well-written had had some interesting stuff going on through it, it just really was not as good as the rest.

I also was a little disappointed with the book. When Aegon was introduced, I literally gaped and maybe let out a squeal >.>. From then, I was sure that I was going to read some amazing chapters to come. Sadly, I was mistaken . I think GRRM gave his reasons why these two books came out the way they did (trying to balance the time lines and not overstep and make mistakes). Im hoping Winds of Winter will bring all that old flavor back. Please no more heros dying >.<. I want one happy ending !!

P.S: I was also disappointed with Dany in this book. She is my favorite character and I felt she lost a lot of the strength she had in the previous books. The last chapter with her made me happy because the voices and hallucinations she was having described perfectly everything I was thinking about her and what she had done (meaning how she had forgot herself and had lost her way).

Here's hoping it doesnt take another 5 years for next ^.^

I watched Game of Thrones before I ever read any of these books, so after I was done with that, I immediately bought all five books. I really enjoyed all of them. AFfC's didn't have nearly anyone (aside from Jaime) that I enjoyed, but even focusing on other characters, I really enjoyed it. The last time I was nearly this obsessed with a book series was Harry Potter, and it wasn't nearly as bad as this haha. I really love this stuff.