The Jon chapter where that piece of trash Janos Slynt gets beheaded and The Ghost of Winterfell (Theon) chapter. Gripping in different ways.

Quentyn's last chapter. Im still not over that "oh".

Bran's last chapter is a close second tho.

Honourable mentions to:

• The Lady Dustin and Theon interaction
• Victarion I
• Both Arya chapters (especially the last one)

The Griffin Reborn

Congrats on finishing!

The prologue of ADWD is great. GRRM has a lot of great horror writing in the series, and I think that prologue might be one of the best examples. The atmosphere is so eerie and otherworldly, imagining Varamyr and poor Thistle while the dead are walking in the frozen landscape.

Something you might see on this sub, or in the fandom in general, is some level of division about Dany’s chapters in ADWD. Personally, I really liked them, and actually they’re some of my favorite Dany chapters in the whole series. The chapter at the fighting pits, and her flight with Drogon, is one of my favorite scenes I’ve ever read. I remember getting chills the first time I read it. I feel dorky calling it “awesome,” but really that feels like the best word, it’s such a great moment.

Just a small moment. But in the chapter where Ser Barristan arrests Hizdar, I love when the narration calls him Barristan the Bold

I loved Davos chapters, specially the second one. It had a court room vibe, and the side of the higher power refusing to (or pretending to) accept the truths, Davos calling the Freys liars in their faces, the outburst of young yet brave Wylla, and finally, a massive cliff hanger, that chapter was a great package to me.

What I love about ADWD is just how tense it is. Theon’s chapters in winterfell with the Freys, northmen, and boltons at each other’s throats; asha with stannis’ men marching through the cold to their deaths; dany and barristan figuring out wtf is going on in meereen; jon at the wall and the impending mutiny. I think it’s my third or fourth favorite in the series (toss-up with it and ACOK) but I just love how GRRM really found a knack for atmosphere in those last 2 books

I'll be the first to say that I haven't always liked Daenerys (and I still don't, not completely) and that it was less about her and more the fact that I LOATHED her fanbase, especially on the show side of the fandom. But before I get lost in that tangent, I will end it with this: my feelings on her have flip-flopped a lot--both show!Dany and book!Dany alike--especially recently.

That hasn't stopped Daenerys X from consistently being one of my favorites in the series, period. From the first time I read the books to now, it has always ranked high. Jesus everything about it works for me, especially when it's put into the context of the entire book. Her arc is about giving up her agency, morals and desires to compromise with people that she finds completely detestable and becoming more and more miserable trying to please these people because she needs Meereen to succeed in order to prove that Slaver's Bay can thrive without slavery. Then she finally gets fed up, peaces the fuck out and reaches the grasslands where she has a moment of serious self-reflection where everyone--Viserys, Jorah, Quaithe, the whole pack--is looking at her and just going "Girl, have you done lost your mind? What the fuck are you doing trying to bargain with these people?"

It's a catharsis, truly. Having her accept that dragons plant no trees and that it was a mistake trying to negotiate with slavers who were NEVER going to be truly satisified from the beginning was so satisfying. This chapter never fails to make me excited for Winds of Winter because I truly want to see where she goes from here.

Cersei’s walk of shame is really rough to read, but it’s such a well written chapter. Left me feeling sick but really stuck with me. You really felt like you were there being paraded around naked along with Cersei, and her descent into despair and the breaking of her pride was hard for me to read - even if she’s a horrible person, the misogynistic treatment she suffers here really gets to me.

Theon’s last chapter and Asha’s last one are both also fantastic. Theon’s final chapter might be my favourite.

It’s either that or Bran III. Masterfully written. Apparently George is having a lot trouble with Bran in Winds and with chapters this perfect, I can see why. Bran III is so unsettling and eerie and frightening to read, genuinely one of the best ASOIAF chapters and a contender for a perfect one imo.

Theon escaping winterfell was such a good chapter. I was so stressed reading it the first time

My favorite is the jon chapter where he reads the letter and then dies. Probably one of the greatest cliffhangers of all time

EDIT: You should definitely read the winds of winter sample chapters now because they’re easily some of the best in the whole series

The godswood scene in " a ghost in winterfell" gave me almost a proxy religious experience in Theon remembering his name.

The Epilogue

The North Remembers

Theon in Winterfell

Asha with Stannis

Barristan and Dany in Meereen

Sam in Oldtown

Sansa in the Vale

I love the chapters set in the north, especially the ones that tell about the march to Winterfell, Asha's POV, for that matter.

For me, Davos III has always been a highlight:

"Take his head, rather," suggested Ser Jared. 'Or let him meet me on the field of honor."

"What would a Frey know of honor?" Davos threw back.

Definitely one of the more notable comebacks in the series (so far).

Davos is underrated, if you ask me. Given the circumstances, he was absolutely fearless in Manderly's court.

My favorite chapter was The Watcher.

Areo Hotah POV.

The story about how Water Gardens came to be and the passage about Daenerys realization that all children looked the same, deserving of love and long life. How Doran explains that it's easy for him to call his spears but in the end children pay the price.

Amidst war and Kings and Lords calling their banners to fight wars, we have Doran thinking of his people before waging war against anyone. It felt as a fresh take to me.

Ellaria talking about the cycle of vengeance and where does it ends.

Also her talking about the skull or vengeance would not comfort her nor bring her lover back to life.

Doran asking if it was his shame or glory that none of his people had died in the war up until his brother.

Dany X blew my mind the first (and second) time I read it

It's been awhile since I read Dance, and there are so many good chapters, but off the top of my head I'd say the prologue. I just really loved how vivid George's descriptions were, I really felt like I was there, and Varamyr made for a really compelling POV.

The Ghost of Winterfell

Davos being let go by Manderly - 'The North remembers, and the mummers farce is almost done. My son is home' gives me actual chills

Daznaks Pit. Dany whipping Drogon and then riding him just amazing. Also Bran II and III are both magical

Cersei II, the walk is the best moment of the book in my opinion.

A Ghost in Winterfell, followed by Davos' last chapter, Jon's Last chapter, and Bran'slast chapter. There's so many good ones, though. The book is stacked.

The epilogue is the best chapter by far imo

bridge of dream Mother Rhoyne runs how she will

Very hard for me to pick but it’s between The Ghost in Winterfell and Theon but tbh tho both Victarion chapters are also so enjoyable too so I guess they’re my honorable mentions.

The prologue chapter is my favorite too. So fucking well written

Of all the chapters probably The Watcher.

Dorne is my favorite realm and I'm a huge fan of Doran.

Not too much happens in that chapter really, but the interaction between Doran, Arianne, and the sand snakes always get to me.

Tyrion travelling through the Rhoyne on the shy maiden.. not sure why but it was my favourite chapter in the whole series

The Prologue. I love all of the prologues and epilogues, but that Varamyr chapter was a GOLD MINE of lore/world building. The foreshadowing for both Jon and Bran sets up their stories in Dance and Winds really well, not to mention the fact that ANY concrete explanation for how magic works in the series is always welcome.

Varamyr’s explanation of 2nd lives for skin changers sets up Jon’s death and eventual resurrection really well. Not just that it’ll happen, but the details of how Jon’s time in Ghost will change him. Aside from that, Bran casually breaking 2 of the 3 skin-changer taboos (and likely working his way towards that last one) is some of the best subtle horror in the series.

“I’ll give it back, like I always do” makes my skin crawl. He’s a little kid with god-like powers who doesn’t truly grasp the full ramifications of what he’s doing to Hodor.

I love all Jon's chapters in Dance. I can reread them multiple times. It was fascinating for me to see Jon trying to handle his night's watch brothers, Stannis and his men, Mellisandre, Selyse and her men, wildlings, and giants. Phew. And all while trying to defeat Others, manage food and other resources. I loved his viewpoint. I'm not saying he took all the right decisions. He sent everyone who would have supported away from him and never really tried to develop good relationships with his brothers. He assumed people would just listen to him because he was the Lord commander. I mean, even Ned who had the privilege of being a Stark, made sure he was understood by his people. What was Jon thinking? But he tries his best and I loved him for that. I could feel his heart break when he gets to know his little sister will marry Ramsay. I could feel his hope when they tell him a girl has arrived on a dying horse. And even though I was confused at the end about his thought process, I got goosebumps when he said he was going south to fight Ramsay. Another moment where I got goosebumps was when he said nights watch oath is to guard the realms of men which includes wildlings. As you can see, I love Jon. So I loved his chapters. And even though we may never get another book, I really can't wait to read his storyline in twow

The Epilogue. Other than ASoS epilogue's revelation of Lady Stoneheart, this epilogue was my favorite. After a Small Council meeting where sanity seemed to prevail, Varys suddenly reappears with a bang. With Little Bird help Pychelle is dispatched. And we luxuriate in the Spidery discussion with the dying Kevan, especially about Aegon and his progress. This chapter teases the palate for delicious new Cersei mistakes and triumphs of Aegon in TWoW .

I know lots of folks hate on Danny's last chapter (shat har har), but I genuinely find it very powerful and intense to see her choosing blood after all the buildup.

I think if the books were organized differently (like, if dance was split into northern and esossi chapters, so there was room for the battle before we got that Danny chapter) it would be remembered more fondly.

Ooh, I also love the Theon's chapters in Winterfell, and when he meets his sister that's one of the most powerful moments in the series.

Welcome to the waiting zone.

The Dragontamer. Quentyn is my second favorite character and I can't wait to see where his story takes him in Winds.