Arya is interesting as well. As a faceless woman, I'm curious to see where her story goes. Jon Snow is my 2nd favorite character in the series, behind Tyrion. I always figured TWOW come out sometime in 2015, so late 2014 would be pretty good.
I wouldn't be surprised if Arya's training gets derailed at some point. That has been the theme of her existence for all of the books. Jon is so important. That is something that we have been led to believe. But so were Ned and Robb. I think Jon has some sort of huge role to play in the endgame, but don't be surprised if it is something that isn't focal compared to Bran and Arya. After years of poring over these books, I have come to the conclusion that they are the two most important Starks.
I think Arya will be the next Stark to die. I see Bran, Sansa, and Rickon lasting all the way to the end. Bran to me is definitely the most important Stark.
That would definitely be a surprise to me. I hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, I think Arya ends up living inside her wolf. Never thought of that possibility. Thanks for the mindmeat.
And I know what you mean about Ned and Robb, but I think Jon lasts all the way through (or at least till the final book ADOS, where he dies mid-way or towards the end). Ned had to die in order for the series to progress, and the same with Robb. Jon Snow is still very much crucial to the story line.
That's what ASOS led us to believe about Robb. Granted, Jon is a far more reader-friendly character than Robb, but what has GRRM taught us most? Expect to get your heart ripped out of your throat. Since ASOS, we really haven't had much of the patented dick-kick that made us really love these books. I think he is really setting us up for some fucked up shit. Maybe Jon makes it to the end. What makes you think he will end up being the hero instead of the villain?
I just think Jon has been written to be the main underdog hero of the series. A bastard child who rises to stardom so to speak. Jon will clearly be saved or something in TWOW, and then I can't see GRRM killing him off good in this book. Like I said, maybe towards the end of the final book. Speaking of ASOS, that was an amazing read. Best book in the series by far, and among the best fantasy books ever. TWOW should be on par with that (maybe even better).
I think you may be a little jaded, but I won't blame you, because I held your same opinion a number of times. I also don't want to convince you otherwise, especially if you are right. I wouldn't mind seeing Jon be the hero. Instead, here is a recent interview with GRRM. I'm only halfway through it. It's long as hell. Enjoy. http://observationdeck.io9.com/george-r-r-martin-the-complete-unedited-interview-886117845
From one of GRRM's supergeek insiders: http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.ph...-winter-the-latest-info-updated-29-june-2013/
There's a scene in DwD I just noticed on re-read. Mel is looking into the fires, saying that she keeps asking the lord of light to show her Azor Ahai, and she is getting frustrated because the lord of light won't show her Stannis (who she thinks is AA). "I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R’hllor shows me only Snow." I know Martin likes to mess with the readers, but I think that's a pretty clear indication of who AA is.
Martin is not the greatest writer in the history of the world. He does plenty easy. If Jon and Dany are main characters, then Ned, Robb and all the others don't matter at all in the grand scheme of things. So when Martin killed Ned, it appeared shocking because he was the main POV from book 1. Now that we know Snow is AA, he is the main character all along, and nothing seems as "shocking." I say all that thinking that GRRM is a wonderful writer, but he just isn't on another plane of existence with writing.
Sure but that's all hindsight. During the journey of reading the actual novels it's still shocking. By your logic of looking at things retrospectively if everyone else that has been a major character (i.e. Jon, Dany, Tyrion, the Greyjoys, etc.) dies except Rickon and he's been the "main character" all along then nothing that happened before was really shocking or of consequence because GRRM knew all along that he was the main character. That's a pretty hollow stance to take.
Yes, I use my hindsight to say those things. Again, I think Martin is a wonderful writer. I think Fevre Dream is one of the best books I've ever read. The problem is GRRM has taken so long in between books (over 20 years from the interview abyz posted before) people have read his prophecies, figured out what they mean and after 3 more years are still waiting, so they are thinking up conspiracy theories. After book 1 we didn't know much, after book 4, we know that Jon is a major character and is likely AA. That was GRRM's plan all along. I still think saying he "never does easy" gives him a bit too much credit. I feel I'm just not getting my point across correctly. He's a great writer, just not GOAT? Maybe that is all I'm trying to say.
We don't really 'know' anything. We are guessing by a pretty blatant tell that Jon Snow is AA based on the visions of a red priestess that can't even interpret her own visions correctly. You can assume that this is the smoking gun proof of AA, but there are half a dozen characters in the books that qualify the criteria for the AA prophecy.
I'm not so sure she will finish her training with the FMs. If she does... I have a stronger feeling that she will either be sent to kill Jon or Dany. Cersei doesn't even really seem like a threat at the moment. (although I guess it should be noted that Cersei is now an enemy of the Iron Bank, and if anyone has the money to hire a Faceless Man for vendetta, it is the Iron Bank.) Wildcard is that she is sent to kill Varys. I think there's a distinct possibility that she will end up dead at the end of the next book.
I'm pretty sure Cersei will win her trial, and then she'll fall into an even bigger downward spiral (especially after the deaths of Kevan and Pycelle). Only Jaime is left, and he's forsaken her. I see her becoming the mad queen so to speak. And Cersei is still on Arya's whisper list. Maybe Arya is sent to kill Littlefinger and then both sisters reunite?
