Ranking all 11 sample chapters from The Winds of Winter

7. “Barristan I”

At the beginning of The Winds of Winter, Barristan Selmy is overseeing the final preparations before the upcoming battle of Meereen. This chapter mostly concerns the battle plans more than the fighting itself.

For this chapter, Martin takes inspiration from one of the first recorded uses of biological warfare in history, when Mongol forces reportedly catapulted plague-infested bodies over the enemy lines in 1347. The Yunkish troops are shooting dead men into Meereen with six trebuchets as the pale mare (dysentery) wreaks havoc within the walls of the city.

In the chapter, Barristan rides Daenerys’ silver to inspire the warriors of Meereen to be brave, while the dragoons fly loose above the city. The mercenary Stormcrows, five thousand Unsullied, the remaining Dothraki, pit fighters, and Brazen Beasts have gathered to fight enemy forces made up of two sellsword companies — the Seconds Sons and the Windblown — and the alliance of slavers.

Barristan mentally prepares for the coming battle and notes that his plans hinge upon the greed of the Tattered Prince, commander of the Windblown. The chapter ends as Barristan gives a speech to an assembly of his knights-in-training but is interrupted when the harpy on top of Meereen’s Great Pyramid takes fire, a signal. As the portcullis is lifted, Barristan dons his helm and readies for battle. “May the warrior protect us all. Sound the attack!”