Your favourite chapters [SPOILERS]

[Mount Suribachi]

Pretty self explanatory really, what are your favourite 5 chapters from the series? Doesn't have to be 1 per book, but it can be if you so wish. Of course favourite is subjective, you may like the writing, the shock, the badassery, the character. Major spoiler warning of course.

A Game Of Thrones - Prologue/Bran I

I first started reading AGOT using the sample chapters on Amazon and was instantly hooked. I've cheated and lumped the Prologue and first chapter together, but the way they draw you in is immense. So many books take a long time to get going, to figure who is who and what, but AGOT draws you instantly in. The Others, The Wall, The Nights Watch, Wildings, Winterfell and Wolves. Ned, Robb, Bran, Jon, Theon.
"You have 5 trueborn children" Jon said. "Three sons, two daughters. The direwolf is the sigil of your house. Your children were meant to have these pups my lord."


A Game of Thrones - Daenarys X

Unlike many readers, I totally got the love story between Drogo and Dany. When Dany smothered him, I think I got something in my eye But the last chapter is a masterpiece IMO, the way it builds and builds and builds, the imagery is so vivid. The young Dany walking into the fire, her hair burning away, the milk pouring from her breasts, the noise and the heat from the fire roaring around her....I love it. And for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.

A Storm of Swords - Tyrion VI

I know a great many folks will choose the RW for one of their favourites, but for me I much prefer the chapter immediately after Catelyn's and then Arya's. The reader is in shock, horror, confusion, anguish - what the hell just happened??? And then George throws us a curveball, we're transported to Tyrion and his new wife having supper together. A strained, painfully awkward, silent supper with a forced conversation over how well cooked the peas are (or not) which is in complete contrast to the bewilderment of the previous 2 chapters. Did I just read that? You ask yourself. Its a wonderfully brutal switchup. And then it gets better as we get to witness Tywin completely :wub: Joffrey and Cersei - its possibly his finest moment in the entire series. Ser Kevan, I can see the king is tired. Please see him safely back to his bedchamber. Pycelle, perhaps some gentle potion to help his Grace sleep restfully?

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII

Possibly the best written chapter in the entire series, this chapter is more like a play with a series of acts. It opens with a wonderfully beautiful description of the snow falling on the eyrie. Then Sansa goes outside to build a Winterfell snow castle in a scene that is achingly, painfully full of the most beautiful poignancy. And then LF comes out and asks to come into her castle And then he kisses her. And then she gets dragged before an off-her-rocker Lysa and suddenly it all kicks off. Of course LF appears, and we're finding out all kinds of stuff. And then Lysa makes that confession and it hits you like a hammer blow. So many of the twists and turns in the story are subtle, or "did I really just read that?" The Red Wedding was like a dream sequence. This twist punches you in the gut and drives all the wind from you. The full implications of that confession, right back to the letter that Catelyn received at the beginning of AGOT - it was LF all along...genius. You told me to put the tears in Jon's wine and I did!

A Feast For Crows - Brienne V

Brienne's chapters are generally terrible for the hungry fan after reading ASOS as she wanders pointlessly around Westeros looking for 2 girls we know the location of - there is no dramatic tension whatsoever in her quest. For the ASOIF geek they are interesting for all the background details they provide, but otherwise Brienne V however contains Septon Merribald's speech on broken men, 2 pages of wonderfully eloquent prose that encapsulate the life story of 99% of soldiers for 99% of human history in such a moving and compassionate way. Its the best passage in all 5 books for me. Kings and lords and gods mean less to him than a haunch of spoiled meat that will let him live another day.

Honorable mentions - every Cersei chapter is pure comedy gold, and every Reek chapter brilliant, but I couldn't pick a single favourite for either of them.

[ccllnply]

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII

Possibly the best written chapter in the entire series, this chapter is more like a play with a series of acts. It opens with a wonderfully beautiful description of the snow falling on the eyrie. Then Sansa goes outside to build a Winterfell snow castle in a scene that is achingly, painfully full of the most beautiful poignancy. And then LF comes out and asks to come into her castle And then he kisses her. And then she gets dragged before an off-her-rocker Lysa and suddenly it all kicks off. Of course LF appears, and we're finding out all kinds of stuff. And then Lysa makes that confession and it hits you like a hammer blow. So many of the twists and turns in the story are subtle, or "did I really just read that?" The Red Wedding was like a dream sequence. This twist punches you in the gut and drives all the wind from you. The full implications of that confession, right back to the letter that Catelyn received at the beginning of AGOT - it was LF all along...genius. You told me to put the tears in Jon's wine and I did!

A Feast For Crows - Brienne V

Brienne's chapters are generally terrible for the hungry fan after reading ASOS as she wanders pointlessly around Westeros looking for 2 girls we know the location of - there is no dramatic tension whatsoever in her quest. For the ASOIF geek they are interesting for all the background details they provide, but otherwise Brienne V however contains Septon Merribald's speech on broken men, 2 pages of wonderfully eloquent prose that encapsulate the life story of 99% of soldiers for 99% of human history in such a moving and compassionate way. Its the best passage in all 5 books for me. Kings and lords and gods mean less to him than a haunch of spoiled meat that will let him live another day.

Honorable mentions - every Cersei chapter is pure comedy gold, and every Reek chapter brilliant, but I couldn't pick a single favourite for either of them.

Definitely agree with these two. I don't remember as much detail as you but:

Catelyn's chapter where she captures Tyrion. Actually gave me goosebumps at the end. I despise Catelyn but I loved that chapter

Tyrion's chapter where he reveals the identity of Aegon. Wasn't expecting it at all.

Arys Oakheart's chapter with Arienne for the first time. Loved the descriptions and really sensed the guilt that Arys was feeling. Also.... tits

Overall though, after reading this thread I find myself rather disappointed that I can't remember any chapters that really stood out for me.

[RLuke07]

Will have to skim back through the books to remind myself of favourite povs but a favourite chapter I can remember is when Littlefinger promises Sansa/Alayne to retake Winterfell. I didn't mind her chapters as much as most people although they probably are my least favourite but I can remember reading this passage and gripping my book thinking 'yes, finally revenge for Ned'. Powerful stuff!

[beckyolt]

My favorite one is surely the chapter with Merigold's speech about broken men - easly the most powerful passage in the whole series and one of the most amazing book parts I've ever read.

Tyrion's Blackwater chapter.

Red Wedding
Purple Wedding

Don't know a fifth one far too many great chapters in this series.

[The Forgotten]

Any of them where Joffrey gets slapped. (Tyrion)

[Pat_Mann]

Mine is the chapter from affc where victarion is in the battle at the shield islands, the one where he wounds his hand.
ohh he is such a badass

[Nicolaos]

the chapter where joffrey dies
i also liked how tywin died

[Pat_Mann]

ing spoiler alert

[Mount Suribachi]

ing spoiler alert

And that's why it says "Major Spoilers" in the thread title and "Major spoiler warning" in the opening paragraph.

[Nicolaos]

ing spoiler alert

haha one advice: Don't come to this section of the forum if you haven't read the books yet

[Pat_Mann]

did not spoil it for me (i have read all the books) but that is a biggun

[ButtSwag]

Every major spoiler was spoiled for me (RW, tywin, etc etc)
But I think the Red Wedding would have been so suspenseful to read. It got my heart pumping even though I knew what would happen, which was pretty crazy. I feel like there are a few but sadly I've forgotten the chapters that I really liked. It's a shame. The one where Kevan told Cercei how bad a mother and ruler she was was a good chapter too

[Gallus]

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII
and
A Dance with Dragons - Epilogue

[ByzantineCaesar]

A strong one was ASOS's epilogue. Overall, all the chapters after the RW were the best of the series. Tyrion in the Rhoyne was good as well, especially that chapter.

[Tyrion King on the Iron Throne]

Tyrion at the blackwater was my favourite, and its preceeding davos chapter is so tension building! Also tyrion during the battle with roose boltons northmen. Really almost any tyrion chapters. I also enjoyed sansas chapters after lf took her in. Actually started to like her! I also e joyed cerseis walk of shame. Felt like justice! Mellissandres chapter in dance was also excellent! Oh so many. Im gonna have to have a think about this one!

[Deska140]

Favourite chapters? Would take too damn long to name every one of them.

As I first saw the show, the battle in the first book was quite a suprise for me (got mad at HBO at that point xD).
Then the Blackwater battle of course and all of Tyrion's chapters in the second book (love the schemes at Joffrey's court).
RW was quite a ride but I have spoiled myself in the wiki long before...
And all chapters involving Tywin Lannister and Roose Bolton( the thing with everybody getting silent just to hear him and his calm, cold behaviour). No matter what he did, the leech lord is just badass ;p

[Rhaegal]

AGOT Bran 1- Capital punishment + Direwolves!
AGOT Tyrion 38 -Awesomeness from tyrion, Bronn Vs Ser Vardis
AGOT Arya 50- Go, read it now!
AGOT Catelyn 71- THE KING IN THE NORTH!
ASOS Jon 55
ASOS Tyrion 70

[zaracassie]

I love the scene at the wall when john is lord commander and executes Janos Slynt for not following orders, the way he does it the old way and looks up at Stannis who nods. Epicness!

[ByzantineCaesar]

I love the scene at the wall when john is lord commander and executes Janos Slynt for not following orders, the way he does it the old way and looks up at Stannis who nods. Epicness!

Epic indeed.

[Tyrion King on the Iron Throne]

I love the scene at the wall when john is lord commander and executes Janos Slynt for not following orders, the way he does it the old way and looks up at Stannis who nods. Epicness!

Agreed. I read this the other day in my re read and it has the same excitement and impact as it did the first time. Top quality storytelling!