What do I call all the terrible things that go on in this series? Is there a word to describe turning a human being into less than an animal? Not even a slave, but treated worse than a dog. This is what Ramsay Bolton did to Theon Greyjoy. I thought he died somewhere around the third book. But instead, he was taken captive by Ramsay and flayed, tortured, and forced to forget his name. He was driven crazy, responding to the name Reek, and not allowed to bathe, or even eat. And he obeyed, because he was afraid of what Ramsay would do if he didn't. Ramsay forced him to live with his hunting dogs, gave him a collar, and made him fight with the rest of them for food. Theon did some terrible things in the past, but he didn't deserve this. I used to hate him, but but now I wish he would go back to the way he was before. Even that was better than this, this pitiful husk of who he used to be.
Meanwhile at the immense Wall in the north, the one that keeps the wild people out of Westeros, Jon Snow, Ned Stark's natural son, is the Lord Commander. The Red Priestess, Melisandre, who has taken up residence at the Wall, tells him that she saw Arya(his half sister) in her fires. Normally, this would be fake. The god she worships, Rh'llor, seemed made up at the beginning of the second book, where he was introduced. But fake or not, Melisandre had some type of power. Now, though, I think it may be possible that Rh'llor is real. In this book, Melisandre has had one chapter where she was the main character. She truly believes in this lord of light, and has seen things in her fires. Whether it's Arya, however, is unclear. Arya is across the world, in Braavos, blinded by those she thought were her allies, and most likely a beggar. But, this is Westeros. The series has surprised me enough times already. Who knows what could be next?
"Magic is like trying to hold a sword without a hilt, but a sword without a hilt is better than no weapon at all." This is what sorcerers say about their art. That its dangerous, but its useful. And a good defense. No one quite knows what to think of magic, what with all their suspicions, and the war, and all the shifting alliances. It's the Lannisters, Stannis Baratheon, Daenerys, across the sea, and the supposed northmen. Who are the northmen now that Robb and the Starks are dead? Does Lord Bolton (Ramsay's father) wish to be King in the North the way Robb was? Will he be able to hold their loyalty the way Robb did? And if he does, will he march on Kings Landing, caught up on the unstoppable wave of ambition?
Trying to figure out who all the characters are up to in this series is very difficult, because no one will hold to their oaths. If only people could have a little loyalty and decency, maybe someone could finally end this war. But in George R. R. Martin's mind? Ha! Its likely he'll kill off all the characters by the end. Then there will be no one to root for, and we'll all just have to keep reading, just to see if it ever gets resolved. Because nothing in Westeros will ever be the same, no matter who wins the throne.
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