The Man of Glass: Gaunter O'dimm makes his appearance to Geralt, showing the difficulties he's going to have finding Cirilla due to the source being weak at the moment. However, he also gives him the gift of his horse Roach as a sign that he believes that Geralt can be the hero the seven kingdoms need to rally around in the coming days. Oh, and Weavress is starting to make preparations to regain her power.
Tournament of the Hand, Fury of the Melee: Geralt opens up the world to know that he's a force to face. Deflecting Arrows, protecting Loras to earn the favor of House Tyrell for the future. Then in the Melee, he defeats 2 of the mightiest fighters, and even hamstringing The Mountain in single combat.
The Age of Strife: Realizing that he'd be in danger, Geralt takes Gendry under his wing, setting him on a very different path now that he knows the truth of who his father is. Meanwhile, at the fateful moment of destiny, Geralt rescues both Eddard AND Sansa, breaking Joffery's wrist in the process. However, just as the rescue party, along with Ser Barristan is about to escape, an assassin mortally wounds Ned. He gives some last words to his daughters, and gives Geralt the clue about Jon "not the father".
And Darkness: The Lannisters plan a very different strategy for the upcoming war without their leverage over the starks, with Tywin taking on the mantle of King Regent to ensure cooperation. Jamie begins to doubt Cersei earlier than before. The Crones are reborn, and new characters begin making their moves in the Riverlands. And meanwhile, thousands of miles away, The Red Comet finally frees Cirella from her limbo, dropping her with Danaerys and Jorah.
The Grey Princess: Geralt's escape party splinters for the first time, with Gendry choosing to stay on Dragonstone. Meanwhile, talking diplomacy and honor, Geralt manages to persuade Stannis to go not to Renly but Robb for his first meeting, changing the pace of the war forever.
The Winterstorm Alliance: After some uneasy negotiations, Stannis and Rob come to an accord, creating a war alliance, and ensuring a different kind of war to come.
The Dawn of War/The End of an Age: While Geralt unknowingly begins helping his rivals at Fairmarket, the rest of the world gears up for a new phase of conflict. Renly and the Tyrells start getting uneasy about the new northern alliance, and so set out for King's Landing. Zarim and Alya reveal themselves to the Lannisters with a new weapon to change the tide of war forever: The Cannon. The Tullys are being split and corrupted by the Crones, and Catelyn is forced to flee. Meanwhile, the Blackwoods are nearly wiped out due to the Brackens being influenced by the Crones as well, and Hadrian Rivers has to step up to lead them as new head of the house. And far away, Kai manages to escape the House of the Undying.
Brineblade: Euron returns to the Iron Islands a whole book early, and uses logic and a duel of honor to Kill Balon for the title of Lord Reaper thus cutting a whole king out of the war. Hadrian begins learning from Child of the Forest Root, giving his journey a spiritual dimension. And upon emerging from their secret tunnel, they manage to directly link up with Catelyn Stark.
The Red Dawn: After a difficult struggle, Geralt and his scouts manage to defeat Edmure Tully, but this unfortunately leads to his death and the burning of Riverrun, signaling uncertain times for the Riverlands in the future. Meanwhile, Kai takes over Qarth, with plans to test Dany and Ciri with his new power, while Quaite heads out to advise them as well.
The Battle of Blackwater Plains: The fight between the Tyrell/Baratheon alliance and the Lannister/Grimm grouping becomes a slaughter due to the effectiveness of cannons utterly disorienting and destroying the Tyrells. And the first victim of this massacre is none other than Mace Tyrell.
