History YMMV / AFeastForCrows

-->"Ten thousand of your children perished in my palm, Your Grace," she thought, slipping a third finger into Myr. "Whilst you snored, I would lick your sons off my face and fingers one by one, all those pale sticky princes. You claimed your rights, my lord, but in the darkness I would eat your heirs."

-->'''Cersei:''' "Ten thousand of your children perished in my palm, Your Grace, she thought, slipping a third finger into Myr. Whilst you snored, I would lick your sons off my face and fingers one by one, all those pale sticky princes. You claimed your rights, my lord, but in the darkness I would eat your heirs."

* AssPull: The [[spoiler: secret marriage pact promising Arianne to Viserys]] likely wasn't planned until this book. Given Viserys later status as the Begger King was well-known, Doran's plan rested on a destitute prince discovering a patron to grant him an army without him possessing any clear means to do so. Also, no one in prior books mentioned the Prince of Dorne offering his heir to the worst possible suitors, the exact sort of behavior the other nobles would comment on and mock, assuming much the same as Arianne did.

* AssPull: The [[spoiler: secret marriage pact promising Arianne to Viserys]] likely wasn't planned until this book. Given Viserys later status as the Begger King was well-known, Doran's plan rested on a destitute prince discovering a patron to grant him an army without him possessing any clear means to do so. Also, no one in prior books mentioned the Prince of Dorne offering his heir to the worst possible suitors, the exact sort of behavior the other nobles would comment on and mock.

* VindicatedByHistory: While still probably considered the least-liked book in the series by most fans, the release of subsequent material showing how the plots started in this book thread into the main series along with the fact that the [[''Series/GameOfThrones'' tv show]] cut about 90% of the plot from this book which resulted in controversial later seasons has increased the appreciation for this story in the years after its release. The fact that new readers don't have to deal with the long wait times before AND after this book also help its reception.

* VindicatedByHistory: While still probably considered the least-liked book in the series by most fans, the release of subsequent material showing how the plots started in this book thread into the main series along with the fact that the [['LiveActionTelevision/GameOfThrones' tv show]] cut about 90% of the plot from this book which resulted in controversial later seasons has increased the appreciation for this story in the years after its release. The fact that new readers don't have to deal with the long wait times before AND after this book also help its reception.

* VindicatedByHistory: While still probably considered the least-liked book in the series by most fans, the release of subsequent material showing how the plots started in this book thread into the main series along with the fact that the [[LiveActionTelevision/GameOfThrones tv show]] cut about 90% of the plot from this book which resulted in controversial later seasons has increased the appreciation for this story in the years after its release. The fact that new readers don't have to deal with the long wait times before AND after this book also help its reception.

* CommonKnowledge: Many readers seem to think the jousting dwarves performing at Joffrey's wedding feast were both riding pigs. Actually, one was riding a pig, the other a dog.

* HilariousInHindsight: In one of her chapters, Cersei is mentally complaining about Pycelle and describes him as being "as useless as nipples on a breastplate." Ten years later, when Season 5 of the [[TheShowIfTheBooks TV adaptation]] ''Series/GameOfThrones'' aired lots of viewers were left [[WTHCostumingDepartment questioning]] why the Sand Snakes' breastplates included nipples.

* CatharsisFactor: The High Septon imposing a KarmaHoudinityWarranty on Cersei when he gets the evidence that she committed adultery and was using him to get rid of Margaery. He lures her into a trap, confronts her with the evidence, and has her locked up. Cersei realizes belatedly that she can't get out of this one after TantrumThrowing her chamber pot and being naked, especially since Tommen legitimized the Septon.

* ContestedSequel: ''A Feast for Crows'' features only half the usual characters and places a lot of emphasis on new characters, giving the reader more of a commoner's perspective of Westeros than before. Many readers rejected the shift in emphasis, preferring the focus stay on the main plotlines and characters. Adding to the frustration is that the book came five years after ''A Storm of Swords'' and was followed by a six-year wait until ''A Dance With Dragons''. It's far better liked after ''A Dance with Dragons'' came out as well as by readers who came to the books from the show (which came out when all five books were on the shelf).

* ContestedSequel: ''A Feast for Crows'' features only half the usual characters and places a lot of emphasis on new characters, giving the reader more of a commoner's perspective of Westeros than before. Many readers rejected the shift in emphasis, preferring the focus stay on the main plotlines and characters. The frustration is also due to the fact that the book came five years after ASOS and was followed by another five year wait until ''A Dance With Dragons''. It's far better liked after ''A Dance with Dragons'' came out as well as by readers who came to the books from the show (which came out when all five books were on the shelf).

* {{Wangst}}: Jaime Lannister spendz much of the book obsessing on the revelations about Cersei. While this might be understandable at first, he angsts at such wearying length that it becomes half of everything he thinks about. His obsession extends to the exact wording as well ("Moon Boy for all I know") to the point where he starts considering absolute nonsense: Jaime begins question whether his sister had slept with a person that he well knows Cersei wouldn't touch with a twenty-foot pole.

* {{Wangst}}: Both Tyrion and Jaime Lannister spend much of the book obsessing on the revelations about their loved ones, Tysha and Cersei. While this might be understandable at first, they angst at such wearying length that it becomes half of everything they think about. Their obsessions extend to the exact wording as well ("wherever whores go" and "Moon Boy for all I know", respectively) to the point where each starts considering absolute nonsense: Tyrion starts wondering if there's a specific place in the world whores go (there isn't) and Jaime begins question whether his sister had slept with a person that he well knows Cersei wouldn't touch with a twenty-foot pole.

* TrappedByMountainLions: Brienne's storyline battling against the Brave Companions provides some awesome moments for her and Pod, but ultimately it doesn't add to the plot that much, at least until [[spoiler:Lady Stoneheart]] and the Brotherhood show up. Though ultimately it gives insight into her character growth and gives us a real look at post-War Westeros from the ground-up.

* TheyPlottedAPerfectlyGoodWaste: The Queenmaker plot was to demonstrate that the intricate plots of [[spoiler:her father Doran]] are also quite fragile. Also, it demonstrates that Arianne isn't as smart as she thinks she is. As well as giving her some hopes for CharacterDevelopment, as she quite clearly understands the consequences of her rashness and ''may'' learn from it.

* GeniusBonus: Lady Genna tells Jaime that Lord Tywin referred to his successor as Hand of the King as "The Chuckler" because the only thing he was good for was chuckling at King Aerys' witticisms. A similar derogatory nickname was given to [[Characters/NaziGermany Wilhelm Keitel]], the formal leader of the German Army in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, as his main qualification for the job was his ability to chuckle at the wit of [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler another insane dictator]].