open/close all folders
Book 1
Prologue: Below him, the city
- The way Lord Robert just passes away, miserably, after such a long life. He knows he is dying and that his house will die with him. Then there is the regret he has over the way he lived his life and the deaths of every family member he ever had. All in all, it is a pitiful, undignified death for this man.
- In the backstory of him and Eaton, the death of Morna Raylan manages to be quite saddening. Eaton harboured deep feelings for her ever since dancing with her during a feast and it was hinted that she reciprocated them. However, his status a Maester meant that he never acted out on them and with a heavy heart, saw her marrying a lord from another house. Then, tragedy struck, when she fell off her horse on her wedding day. Eaton was unable to help her and only able to give her a Mercy Kill to end her pain, something that haunts him to this day.
- Of course, Eaton's death. For a long while, it was the stories strongest Tearjerker, happening mere minutes into the read. After getting to know him for an entire part, quite well at that, learning about his hopes and regrets, he is confronted by the man that murdered Robert with poison. He only manages to realize that House Raylan is doomed and Raylansfair with it, before forced to jump down the tower and to his death in order to save the life of his young apprentice Dairon.
Chapter 1: Dark Wings, Dark Words
- Edmyn Tully's tale over how much the Riverlands suffer under the Ironborn really highlights the Butt-Monkey status of the entire region. Left at the mercy of a tyrant and his pychopath son, even the most powerful among them feel threatened and oppressed. One can only imagine how much worse it must be for the simple folk, if a man such as Harmund Hoare gets away with raping the daughter of Brandon Frey.
Chapter 2: Broken Vows
- Wolfius' first victim is this paired with some major Nightmare Fuel. Though we learn virtually nothing about her, there is the implication that she only had to die because he resembled the barmaid Ilish, who previously offended Wolfius. That's all there is, she has just been at the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Ilhan's death. The first major death of the story already offs a fan favourite and in a truly brutal way as well. After uncovering Harris' treachery, he refuses to go along with it, threatening to make it public. And unlike cases such as Ned Stark, he actually has the authority and power to go through with this, having Harris backed into a corner. It is only due to him being distracted by Halla and Jenna that he gets taken down by a surprise attack. Even then, he still puts up one hell of a fight before finally succumbing to his wounds.
Chapter 3: We Write History
- John's break-up with Cass. Having never treated their relationship as more than a fling, John is surprised to find out that Cass feels differently. She is crushed, heartbroken and disappointed when he voices his intention to just leave the next day.
- Harpy's backstory is quite probably one of the most depressing in a story full with depressing backstories, even if it is only hinted at here. The fact that behind her friendly demeanor lies such a dark, troubled person says a lot about how bad it must have been on her as a child.
- Kersea's entire situation is heartbreaking. An actually decent young woman finds herself Forced into Evil, having to fight alongside men such as Wolfius and Clayton, all to give her younger sister a slightly longer life. The stress this puts her in brings her close to a breakdown from the very beginning and it is unlikely to get any brighter for her anytime soon.
- Lunett's sorrow when revealing that she lied to Lucas and Leonard. At this point, it becomes clear that she is nothing but a young woman in way over her head, clearly crushed by the lie she was woven. Leonard's anger is hard to stomach after that.
- Cass' death. Just, Cass' death. A major case of Kill the Cutie, she dies while bravely trying to defend the man she had fallen in love with, despite having no guarantee that he ever feels the same. Her death devastates even the usually cold-blooded John.
Chapter 4: Butterfly
- Jenna's situation at the beginning of the chapter. Deprived of her only real ally, Ilhan Lagoon, she is left scarred by Wolfius' attempt on her life, more terrified and meek than ever before and without much hope for her own future. Not even the arrival of her father Richard, who went missing for a week before this, is able to cheer her up for long.
- Samantha's arrival in Oldtown is the first time we're given a glimpse beyond the cheerful smile she always has on her face. Turns out, she's a massive Stepford Smiler, who hides her bitterness and vengeful feelings towards Butterfly behind a cheeky smile. Deep down, she is perhaps one of the most grim characters in the entire story, which hits particularly hard due to how upbeat she usually seems.
- In a way, Robb's death. After being an antagonizing Jerkass for the entire chapter, Robb is beaten several times, belittled, humiliated and even outright accused of conspiring with Butterfly. In the end, it turns out he holds utmost loyalty to the Burned Man and Harpy, to the point where he lays down his own life for them. The worst part is that the recognition he sought for was only granted to him after his death, meaning he himself never even learned about this.
- Lunett's death, unsurprisingly. After being built up as very sympathetic and her romance with Lucas receiving special spotlight in this chapter, she receives a horrifying death. Being raped, mutilated and ultimately blinded by Maron Mullendore, her own lover is Forced to Watch throughout the last bit of this procedure. Even worse is, she dies simply due to Lucas' unwillingness to work with Mullendore, meaning she is killed for actions beyond her own control or choosing. The fact that she pulled a Heroic Sacrifice to save Dairon in the very end does not make it any less heartbreaking.
Chapter 5: The Iron Price
- Samantha's reaction to finding Lunett's corpse. Despite her hardened demeanor, she cracks, tears up and blames herself for failing to find the girl in time. Beating herself up over something that has never been her fault is hard to stomach.
- Lucas torture is not only horrifying, but also quite saddening, considering that this once proud knight gets broken in more than one way, losing his confidence, his skill with a weapon and sense of self worth. In the end, even his honour is taken, when he is forced to give up on Dairon's location.
- Alexander Botwerys' entire lifespan in the story is terribly undeserving for a Token Good Teammate of the villainous Second Sons. There is not a single part in which he gets not beaten or otherwise belittled and his final good deed of saving Ilish even causes his death. He basically sacrificed his life for a stranger and got almost no recognition for it, in and out of the story.
- The Undying Loyalty Urid and Philip have towards Richard is hard to stomach for him, due to how clear it is they likely go into their doom for him. This is especially true for Urid, who is a father of three. When he is the only one critically wounded out of the three, the reactions from Philip and Richard are particularly hard.
- Dairon's death mirrors Lunett's in terms of how crushing it is. Not only makes it the former's final action a Senseless Sacrifice, it also turns out that he himself pulls a mixture between this and a genuine Heroic Sacrifice. He dies so that Samantha will survive the attack from the Moggy, but considering that the entire situation came due to her refusal to put him into danger, the revelation that he is not even in danger, due to Mullendore simply wishing to lure him over to his side makes his end quite more tragic.
Chapter 6: Masquerade
- For the first time, we get to see Lucas' mental state after his torture at the hands of Mullendore. He is a changed man. Fearful, aggressive and hallucinating, a far cry from the gallant knight he used to be not too long ago.
- Torvin's situation after the failed assassination on Harren Hoare sees him a changed man, broken, reclusive and bitter. He barely eats and seems content with dying in his cell. When Garthon accepts Harren Hoare's offer, he seems outright crushed, disappointed in his brother's apparent treachery.
- It becomes worse when Harren ultimately breaks his will. Leading him to the throne room, where he plans on humiliating him, a proud Torvin stands initially defiant, until Harren reveals that he has found his lover, Clarisse Pyke and taken her hostage. He then breaks completely, when it is revealed that Clarisse has been pregnant and that the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of Harmund Hoare caused her to miscarry. He then goes even further to present the fetus to his court. Unsurprisingly, it does a serious number on Torvin.
- Himani's capture at the hands of the Tom is horrifying and considering what undoubtedly follows next, not only Ellena has been horrified during this scene.
- The ending of the titular masquerade ball at Lord Vyrwel's estate sees the end of several well-liked characters at the same time. Never before has the story been this brutal with the offing of characters, as Himani, Keira, Jarek and Martin are all killed off in rapid succession. Even the death of Jaylon on Mullendore's side can cause this, once you remember his sympathetic backstory, torture at Mullendore's hands and Heel–Face Door-Slam.
- What follows is, despite the slight hopeful spot of Jaron and Harpy surviving and Mullendore's critical injury, a clear and depressing case of The Bad Guy Wins, with the Burned Man' organization felled in one swoop.
Chapter 7: Valar Morghulis
- Noelle's reaction at Otis' true colours, his murdering of Rachel and her being absolutely distraught over it. It says a lot that the previously cold and detached red priestess outright tears up at what happened, blaming herself and insisting on wasting valuable time to prepare for her fight against Terroma by giving Otis' victims a proper burial.
- Terroma's general state of mind during this chapter. Focussing solely on saving Ellena, whom he sees as his responsibility, he endangers himself and those around him, grows increasingly bitter and even violent. Seeing the previously mild-mannered and warm old man grow into such a bitter jerk is disheartening, especially to Raenna.
- Going back and forth between being an Alpha Bitch and being a Lovable Alpha Bitch, Argella Durrandon's Tsundere qualities are never more obvious than in this chapter. And for the first time, Ser Emphryus outright reveals why she grew up in such a way. A lot about her becomes clear once it becomes known that she lost her mother and brothers during a terrible storm. Back then, she nearly drowned alongside her mother and brother, but her oldest brother Davos, who already saved himself, jumped back in to save her. In doing so, he himself drowned, but she survived. As Argilac's only living child, she has always been put under a particular burden, being a woman, but also the heiress to the Stormlands, constantly questioned by the lords she is one day supposed to rule over.
- Kersea's talk with Alysanne is bittersweet. For the first time during their friendship, she actually gets through to the other woman, triggering a vulnerable, disturbed side of hers, in which Alyanne is perfectly aware of what she has become. She thanks her friend for being there for her, but assures her that she has come too late to actually redeem herself. It is surprisingly introspective for someone like her and Kersea is baffled and moved by this.
- After spending an entire chapter trying to save him, Jaron and Harpy arrive too late at the Burned Man's cell, as it is revealed that he has been mortally wounded by the Sphynx. Especially Harpy is distraught by this sight, given that she owes him her life and considers him the only father she ever had. In the end, it is up to Jaron to give him a Mercy Kill.
- The deaths of Terroma and Marak towards the end of the chapter. Both are among the first major deaths in the story and die in a completely senseless fight against each other. In in, Terroma sacrifices himself to take out Marak and prevent him from harming the two girls he considers his daughters. Right after this, Noelle has a Heel Realization, breaking down and calling off the attack, meaning both men died for nothing.
Chapter 8: What Is Dead May Never Die
- Terroma's final goodbye to Raenna at the beginning of the chapter. Raenna and Ellena are both tearing up as they hear his final, weak words, seeing him there, dying from the wounds he suffered during the fall.
- Lyria's and Urid' deaths during the raid are particularly tragic as they do not happen due to the Ironborn, but due to Wolfius. Even among the raid, he continues his killing spree, killing a father of three and a mother, traumatizing her daughter in the process by forcing her to watch as he, warged into a direwolf, eats Lyria alive.
- Jarow's last stand against Bear's men. He takes down a significant number of them to buy Richard and Hal time to escap, showing a surprising amount of insight on himself and his hopeless situation. In the end, despite being worn down, a drunkard and basically homeless, the old soldier dies with dignity, but that only makes it more tragic.
- Another Heroic Sacrifice comes from Jax Montclair. During the Stormlander retreat to the castle, he notices an archer about to fire at the princess. Blocking the arrow with his shield, it goes through to his arm, forcing him to block a second shot with his shoulder. Bleeding out, he still manages to shout orders and though he is saved from the archer, he later succumbs to his wounds and the poison in a truly painful death.
- After suffering through so much, surviving all the hardships thrown at him, Torvin Breaker meets his end, but not to his enemies, but to those he considered his allies. His stubborn refusal to sound the retreat in face of a losing battle is fuelled by his desire to keep Clarisse safe, even though he fears she already died at this point in the dungeons of Harrenhal. Edward Anturion has little compassion for this and so, he fatally stabs Torvin, killing him almost instantly.
Chapter 9: Valar Dohaeris
- Nymeria's Heroic BSoD after Lenrianda's death and the despair she feels over the death of her only friend. This previously so strong warrior woman is suddenly brought to near-catatonic state of despair over this.
- Samuel's defeat at the hands of his brother is devastating to him. He spent most of his life training to become better than Ryder, only to realize that Ryder had done the same and that even with Jaron's back-up, he is unable to overcome him. The fact that he is even denied death and instead taken as a prisoner feels like a humiliation, as do Ryder's final words, where he tells him they'll meet again in twenty years.
- The farewell between Daghan Oxus and John Gutten is very touching. Both men have become good friends during their time in the story and Daghan is genuinely remorseful he cannot support him in finding Janae. Both have their duties though, John to his friend, Daghan to his king. They know it is unlikely they will ever see each other again, with the War of Conquest coming, but Daghan nonetheless offers to meet again once this is all over. John agrees, but his narrative makes it clear that he does not believe it will come to this.
- He knew, it might have been their last talk. Men like them, they didn't get to meet again, old and grey. It was only a nice thought they kept with them until they died, young on the battlefield.
- Sherryl's death is a major case of Alas, Poor Villain. Though by no means a good person, her death is nothing short of pitiable. Disfigured by an arrow, she is abandoned by the only man she ever loved, as she has to realize he merely used her as a pawn and has no further use to her now that she has suffered this gruesome disfigurement. The realization that she has been used to commit terrible crimes weighs so heavily onto her that she pulls a partial Heel–Face Turn, revealing crucial information on Mullendore and the conspiracy, before commiting suicide. Even Arthur is shocked by this and comforts her in her dying moments.
- And right at the end, the greatest Tearjerker in the entire story, the death of Lucas Flowers. After being the main protagonist for the first book, the first third of the entire story, he dies in a trial by combat, after a serious Hope Spot in which he manages to wound his opponent, the Tom. Despite everything he has been through, for all the battles he fought, it is in vain, as he dies due to the schemes of his own brother and of Maron Mullendore.
Interlude
Interlude: Seven Letters
- Sharra's Interlude deals with the aftermath of a young mother and her two sons being left behind when her husband, the King of Mountain and Vale, got killed during a skirmish with the Mountain Men. Sharra's grief is particularly clear, as much as she tries to hide it and it shines through in sentences such as this:
- Alester had been the king, her dashing, reckless falcon, gone too soon. She knew him, loved him, missed him.
- Though it had been hinted at before, Harren's Interlude reveals that Clarisse Pyke shared Torvin's fate, dying a month after him. For all he went through, Torvin's hardships have truly been for nothing.
- Argilac's Interlude starts with him visiting the crypt of Storm's End, where his family lies. The proud warrior king suddenly shows a completely different side of his, a grieving father and husband, who has lost more than most people ever have in a lifetime and is clearly still in mourning.
- “There's not a day I don't miss you”, he mumbled. “All of you” His fingers wandered over Daeria's features, gently touching a stony cheek. “There's not a day where I don't regret that you're not here anymore”, he continued. “And Gella... you should see her, my love. She's so much like you”
Book 2
Prologue: The Black Dread
- The death of Grenn Mooton is every bit a Tearjerker as Maester Eaton's death before him. Over the course of the prologue, we meet him as a decent man, who simply wants to protect his home, having been convinced by his friend, Lord Darklyn, but getting serious doubts about their chances against Aegon. He then sees his friend and many of his men burned alive, the heir to Duskendale taken captive, his own brother remains behind to face an opponent he cannot defeat and during his retreat, he receives a gruesome death when Balerion himself eats him alive. His final thoughts are of his daughter, the person he tried to keep save the most with his actions and the feeling that he failed her.
Chapter 1: Fires Far
- Amerei Mooton's reaction to her father' death. The poor girl is clearly crushed, to the point where she can hardly keep herself from crying. She is so shocked by what happened that she outright refuses her inheritance, making a move that would have been the last thing her father wanted for her.
- Richard Harking's death is undoubtedly this. After surviving all the dangers and hardships in the previous Book, he's betrayed by his own brother. Then he lets himself be beaten to death by Maron Mullendore so Kersea, Leonard and Jenna have a chance to reach safety.
Chapter 2: Thorns
- Kyra's account of Elaena Mallister and Harmund Hoare's wedding is just as miserable as you would expect. The newlyweds are the only ones who aren't having a good time, and nobody with the possible exemption of Kyra gives a damn.
- The ending of the chapter ends differently than the previous ones. Instead of the POV character dying, on this case Wilfred Reyne, most of his companions are killed.
- Vashord Tallian displays one final act of bravery by allowing Wilfred and Prins to escape by facing The Tom despite knowing his wounds are fatal.
- Prins chooses to face The Moggy so Willfred can escape despite knowing it's suicidal. The man considered he had failed his liege lord, but Willfred had to assure he hadn't failed him.
- Roger Hill is fatally injured by The Tom. He urges his nephew to leave him behind and escape. Willfred can't even stop himself from crying as his uncle, who had grown close during the journey, lets himself fall from his horse and dies, before telling Willfred to tell everything he saw to his father, and the king.
