The Saucy Wenches Book Club

I don't know about you, Saucy Readers, but I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones and it's book equivalent, A Song of Ice and Fire. I am also a fan of hot men. So, for this Fangirl Friday, I am combining the two. I actually had so many men listed from this show, that I had to break it into two different parts. This one features characters that are still alive. Still alive 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 delicious 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 only time a man can be brave is when he is afraid.” 

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

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. 

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…

2015 was an interesting reading year for me. Alarmed by the amount of time I’d disappeared into Outlander books over the last few years — not that there’s anything wrong with that! — in 2015 I vowed to read a few other things. I was determined to check some books off my TBR list, surprise myself from time to time, let my intuition guide me to stories that would resonate with Real Life, and last but not least, reward myself by revisiting my other favorite fictional world, the one in Dublin rather than the Scottish Highlands.

As I look back at my literary year, I’m delighted to realize that I accomplished all these goals and enjoyed every single book along the way!

I actually survived reading no Outlander books the entire year!! (I’m not going to say how many times I watched the Outlander TV episodes. Or what percentage of my Facebook news feed is Outlander. Or that I plan to reread AT LEAST the first three books before season 2 begins in April.) Oops, I did read Finding Fraser (review…

We have survived another year of book releases. You can see our top ten 2015 releases here, in case you missed it! Now, that we are into 2016, the Wenches are gearing up for this year's crop of new books. There are a lot of new books being added to some of our favorite series' that we are just dying for, and one or two new non-series books as well. A new book in a series is like catching up with an old friend. It is such a delight. Plus, it gives us an excuse to revisit the whole series! Not that any of us really needs an excuse for a re-read. Anyway, keep reading after the break to see which 2016 releases the Wenches are looking forward to!

There's no shame in fear, my father told me, what matters is how we face it.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

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

Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin.

Well it looks like Winds of Winter isn't going to be out in 2015 with Martin's publisher saying at least 2016 as per the UK paper The Independent  . I'm all for a writer writing whatever they want. I don't really care how long it takes as long as it's a great book. I have very few book series I read as soon as they hit the shelves. This is one of them. I regularly check GRRM's This is not a Blog in my fervent wish that a release date is announced there. Plus I know GRRM isn't going to spoil the readers. Of course for the 1000's of times I've checked there and the multiple of other projects GRRM is involved in, it became clear that Book #6 wasn't going to be out anytime soon.

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.

Later, when Ser Corliss Penny wondered aloud whether an entire army had ever frozen to death in a winter storm, the wolves laughed. "This is no winter," declared Big Bucket Wull. "Up in the hills we say that autumn kisses you, but winter fucks you hard. This is only autumn's kiss."



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

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…