One Sentence Summary
A Dance with Dragons is the fifth novel in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, in which Westeros is on the brink of a major conflict and the characters must battle the political intrigues within and without.
Book Genre
A Dance with Dragons is a fantasy novel, part of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of A Dance with Dragons is the impending conflict between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the encroachment of a supernatural evil from the north, the White Walkers.
Key Ideas
A Dance with Dragons revolves around key ideas such as:
- Politics: the clash of political factions and the ambitions of the characters to gain a foothold in the power struggles of the court.
- Betrayal: characters breaking alliances, and betrayal among characters both public and personal.
- Family: pivotal events driven by the characters’ desire to protect, re-establish, or avenge their lineage.
- Fate: the characters’ acceptance and struggle against a predestined fate.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
A Dance with Dragons is divided into two arcs. The northern arc is told through the viewpoints of five characters, while the southern arc is told through four characters and a mysterious figure known as the Reaver.
- The North Arc: this arc follows the story of Jon Snow who, as the new Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, is battling a factions within the Watch itself. It also comprises of the stories of Daenerys Targaryen, who is trapped in an endless game of thrones; Tyrion Lannister, who begins a new adventure in Pheonix; and the return of Bran Stark, who discovers mysterious powers.
- The South Arc: this arc follows the stories of Asha Greyjoy, who is struggling to reclaim her father’s throne; Arianne Martell, who is plotting to crown her brother the king; and the world-weary Davos Seaworth, who is searching for a legendary woman.
- The Reaver: a mysterious figure who may be related to the White Walkers, threatens the stability of Westeros and is the source of much speculation.
Key Takeaways
A Dance with Dragons is an epic struggle for power, with characters being tested to the extreme as Westeros is steered to war. The novel is full of high-stakes action, political maneuvering, personal drama, and supernatural elements. In the end, readers will come away with a better understanding of the complex world of Westeros and its inhabitants.
Author’s background and qualifications
George R.R. Martin is an American fantasy writer and creator of the popular book series A Song of Ice and Fire, of which A Dance with Dragons is the fifth installment. Martin is an award-winning writer, having won the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Bram Stoker Award.
Target Audience
A Dance with Dragons is aimed squarely at fantasy fans. It is a complex and fast-paced story with a plethora of characters and Deanerys Targaryen as the protagonist.
Publisher and First Publication Date
A Dance with Dragons was first published by Bantam Spectra on July 12 2011.