The Saucy Wenches Book Club

“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.”

Here I am again! Bringing you delicious Man Candy from Wench favorite, Game of Thrones. I've already featured Game of Thrones men still among the living. Check that out here! This one features characters that have gone on to the great beyond. Dead on the show, I should clarify. None of us know, yet, what will happen in the last two books. Did you hear that George RR Martin? We don't have the last two books yet! Keep writing! Anyway, stay with me after the break to see some yummy Game of Thrones actors. And, here is your obligatory spoiler warning. This post will reveal some details of this past season! Wench Angela, you've been warned.

The Fangirl Friday where I write a very tongue in cheek letter to George R.R. Martin for a book lovers amusement. It's a perilous position trying to remain a spoiler avoider / flirt when it comes to Brienne and Jaime Lannister in Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. The television show Game of Thrones keeps trying to spoil me.  So in jest, I decided to write a note about some of the perils of being a book lover first and a TV viewer second. Well in regards to this one series.

Spoiler avoiders please don't read this post if you haven't read the books and plan to. 

The reading roundup after three months of the year. There have been books that have rocked my world and books that have been so so. I made a vow to myself that this year I would read more books by male authors. So far I've read 16 books and 6 have been by male authors. Which is pretty good as the book I'm currently reading will take me up to 7 and I only read 7 books by male authors last year! Way to go me. 

So let's see what I've been reading in 2016 after the jump.

I've been re-reading A Game of Thrones. I think this is probably the sixth time I've read the novel. As I read the words, the story comes back to me as familiar as always. I'm re reading in the vain hope that Winds of Winter might actually come out in 2016. At one point I had optimistically hoped that the book would be out before the next season of the show. Of course that plan has since been scuttled due to George R.R. Martin's Not A Blog post on January 2nd. My originally aim was to read one book a month from now until I'm up to date again. (This intention went out the window quickly as real life took over). On the plus side I now have plenty of time to finish my reread.  I've also found that actually I don't mind that much when Winds of Winter comes out. I know GRRM will do a great job and I can wait for that to occur. I'm also crazily thinking of trying to read A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons in tandem this time around. Amanda and Kathi d…

Once a man has seen a dragon in flight, let him stay home and tend his garden in content, someone had written once, for this wide world has no greater wonder.

~ A Dance with Dragons, George R. R. Martin

What do we know of George R.R. Martin? He writes brilliant, epic, fantasy novels. He takes *forevah* to write a new release in the series. (A Song of Ice and Fire series has been around since the publication of A Game of Thrones, in 1996!) Oh, and he will kill off the characters we love, as well as the characters we love to hate. No one is safe in his world! Yet, still, like the idealistic, hopeful fools we are, we believe that he can't shock us *again*! Oh, yes, he can.

If this intrigues you, I urge you to read this series. It is not a super easy and quick read, especially with the average book being approximately 1,000+ pages. I promise you though, it is SO worth it.

A Song of Ice and Fire series order of books:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
A Clash of Kings (1998)
A Storm of Swords (2000)
A Feast for Crows (2005)
A Dance with Dragons (2011)

HALT! Go no further unless you have read ALL the books in the series or have been spoiled through book #5, A Dance with Dragons.

My Fangirl Friday is about Stannis Baratheon, the First of His Name, second son of Lord Steffon Baratheon and Lady Cassana of House Estermont, Lord of Dragonstone, the man styling himself King of Westeros. If you are a Game of Thrones (on HBO) fan, you are probably wondering, “Why???” I know, I know…he does seem super boring, lame, and a whiner. He's also like that sibling that pitches a fit when he doesn't get his way. However, in my defense, I’m reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, so I probably have more information than you do if you are only watching the show. Follow me through the jump for some *spoilery* reasons why Stan should be Your Man! (For King of Westeros…not for anything else…he’s not hot…LOL)

"No man has ever died from bending his knee," her father had once told her. "He who kneels may rise again, blade in hand. He who will not kneel stays dead, stiff legs and all."

~A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

"I warn you, Arianne, I am out of patience."

"With me?" That is so like him. "For Lord Tywin and the Lannisters you always had the forbearance of Baelor the Blessed, but for your own blood, none."

"You mistake patience for forbearance..."

~Conversation between the Prince of Dorne and his daughter, Arianne
~~A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

"He understands that well enough," said Lord Piper. He was a short, rotund, bowlegged man with a bush of wild red hair, the father of one of Jaime's squires; the resemblance to the boy was unmistakeable. "The man's not bloody stupid, Norbert. He has eyes...and too much sense to yield to such as these." He made a rude gesture in the direction of Edwyn Frey and Walder Rivers. 

Edwyn bristled. "If my lord of Piper means to imply---"

"I don't imply, Frey. I say what I mean straight out, like an honest man. But what would you know of the ways of honest men? You're a treacherous lying weasel, like all your kin. I'd sooner drink a pint of piss than take the word of any Frey."


~A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

"Can our morrows be foretold?" he repeated slowly. "Mayhaps. There are certain spells in the old books...but Your Grace might ask instead, 'Should our morrows be foretold?' And to that I should answer, 'No.' Some doors are best left closed."

~ George R.R. Martin, A Feast for Crows

Tommen did not seem to notice the sudden chill in the air. "Mother, did you see me?" he burbled happily. "I broke my lance on the shield, and the bag never hit me!"

"I was watching from across the yard. You did very well, Tommen. I would expect no less of you. Jousting is in your blood. One day you shall rule the lists, as your father did."

"No man will stand before him." Margaery Tyrell gave the queen a coy smile. "But I never knew that King Robert was so accomplished at the joust. Pray tell us, Your Grace, what tourneys did he win? What great knights did he unseat? I know the king should like to hear about his father's victories."

A flush crept up Cersei's neck. The girl had caught her out...It is not like me to forget myself..."Robert won the tourney of the Trident," she had to say. "He overthrew Prince Rhaegar and named me his queen of love and beauty. I am surprised you do not know that story, good-daughter.&qu…

“A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf,

but no man could truly tame a wolf.”

We need villains in our novels to give us some drama and spice things up. In my reading, I'm currently back in Westeros, doing a combined reading of A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. My problem right now is that Daenerys Targaryen is boring me to death. I almost want to root for Cersei Lannister because at least she has a personality! Sure, she's a horrible person, but I just want some action and entertainment! So, this Fangirl Friday is all about Cersei Lannister. Love her or despise her, she is never, ever boring! (Disclaimer: I have only read up to the beginning of AFFC and ADWD, and beware of spoilers.)

After a long and arduous winter, it’s finally the glorious season of rebirth and renewal! When trees burst into bloom, critters croon courting calls, and the bodily appendages start flying again on Game of Thrones. Continuing my recent celebrations of the dangerous women in my life, I thought this an excellent time to fangirl about the winsome, witty, and wickedly wild wenches of Westeros.

Splendidly outrageous and diverse, these women are anything but tame! Whether by nature, nurture, or the exigencies of circumstance, they refuse to hide in a corner while men and major events pass them by. I hope you’ll join me in a light-hearted look at these fabulous females after the jump.


Warning: Spoilers for the tv show (mid-season 4), which correlates to about 2/3 through A Storm of Swords, book 3.