Ranking all 11 sample chapters from The Winds of Winter

1. “The Forsaken”

The chapter follows Aeron “Damphair” as he awakes in a grim dungeon. He dreamt of his brother Euron Greyjoy on a throne of skulls, of gods impaled on the Iron Throne, and a kraken-like figure  sitting upon it, accompanied by a shadow in a woman’s form. Euron is busy harrowing the Reach with his fleet, and is preparing for the arrival of the Redwyne fleet and ships of House Hightower. Aeron sees Euron armored in Valyrian steel and believes Euron’s claim that he visited Valyria. Euron orders they depart by sea, and the chapter ends as Aeron tastes salt on his lips. His own brother has bound him to the prow of his ship, the Silence.

The Forsaken is a very dark and revealing chapter. Martin read it at Balticon in 2016. This is the last chapter he read, and he saved the best for last. This excerpt contains lots of little details that hungry A Song of Ice and Fire fans love to pore over. Euron Greyjoy has always been this evil, looming character, but “The Forsaken” sets him up as some kind of dark messiah here to bring Westeros to its knees.

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