It will be very interesting to discuss Jon Snow when we have all finished this book

JOHN SNOW GETS STABBED?!?!?!?!? He cannot be dead. AHH!

Also, other questions. Is Bran going to become some sort of psuedo heart tree? Will he end up like Lord Bryndon?!?? I'm really concerned that Bran is going to be trapped down there for eternity, eating weirwood mash.

And Dani? With Drogon. I knew!! Drogon would be out there for her. And her marriage..very! bad idea! Why would she do that? Didn't Ser Barristan know??? So. Many. Questions.

I've decided also that Quentyn is very foolish and selfish, right? He doesn't seem to have a sense of honor, just obligation to his father and Dorne. Why would he want the dragons? Dorne needs Dani. I didn't really understand that at all.

I'm gonna have to re-kilt A Feast For Crows and A Dance with Dragons again to make any sense of all this. And yes, Jon Snow, the one character I thought would not get done in! What will happen? What can it mean? Dang you, GRRM!!

I personally do not think Jon is dead, like Brianne of Tarth was not dead. Just a cliff hanger to keep us on our toes...(or so I hope!)

I really believe that Jon should have taken up Stannis's earlier offer, declared for Winterfell...

I think Winterfell is Jon's destiny.

I do too. When Alys Karstark came, I thought aha! the perfect match for Jon...

in my fantasy world, he will recover from his wounds, save winterfell, marry Alys Karstark and eradicate every living Bolton.

Brienne sounded very scary, in this book - I wonder if she has met the same fate that Catelyn did? I hope not, I kind of like the chemistry between her and Jaime...but it's looking like GRRM is planning another twist -argh!

And Jon Snow, please! Save him, GRRM! I keep hoping Ghost gets out, somehow, to help him. I've been hoping he'd be at Winterfell, too, but only to hold it until Bran can get back. The Black handed widling/night walker reminds me of someone, does anyone else think it may be Benjen Stark, transformed somehow? He helped Bran, and Samwell before him, and just seems to be more human than "other".

Arya's character took quite a twist, aye? I wonder where she will wind up, I'm just glad she can see again, hopefully home or at least safe with Gendry until she can get home.

The Prince of Dorne seemed desparate, after Dani refused to marry him. I guess he thought it would be better to return home with Dragons, if he couldn't return with Dani. I don't think her new husband will last long...and I think Ser Barristan rocks! If anyone can protect her and her dragons, it may be him.

NE, at first I thought Cold Hands was Benjen. Maybe he is? I started to think he was a random wight controlled by Lord Bryndon for a while, but now I'm not sure.

I don't know about Bran ruling Winterfell. It seems his path, as warg, might not allow him to come into his own at Winterfell. Maybe he will be offered a choice? But if the choice is Winterfell or helping humanity, what would Bran choose? I think Bran will choose to help humanity as a whole. He manages to forgive Theon and help him in the Weirwood. That takes a lot of courage and a lot will power. As a Lord, though, Bran could be very good- but I doubt he would be respected. He might not be yielded the same amount of power because he is disabled. But as a warg, he is equal, if not more powerful, than a Lord.

Rickon, if he becomes tame and more learned, could rule Winterfell. Jon could be Castellan of Winterfell (hoping he survives!!) until Rickon comes into adulthood.

Dani's new husband is toast, for sure. But still Dani is in a sticky spot. I like Ser Barristan, but he has not told Dani all the truths about her father and brother. Dani needs to know what her father did before she can rule. She needs to know why Robert, the Starks, the Tully's and the Arryns rose against the mad king. If she does not know, how will she effectively rule?

Benjen's disappearance left so many questions, especially since his body was never found, a wight is a definite possiblity as well, though.

Bran as a warg and a lord might make a powerful combination, and one that would leave Winterfell well fortified against future attacks, especially after he develops his abilitities even further. Rickon is so young, but I agree, he could be a very good lord of Winterfell. He seems to have more insights in the series, than the books, and I hope everything he's been throught helps to make him stronger.

Dani's next move will be interesting - will she return to her current position, or decide to try to get Dragonstone back, especially with Stannis gone. Or is he? It was kind of confusing, in the letter that was sent to Jon from Bolton -do you think they were the ravings of a madman, or the truth?

Maybe Ser Barristan is reluctant to tell Dani the truth, but I agree he has to tell her soon. It seems as if he's been watching her carefully to see if she has one foot on the banana peel into madness like Arys and Viserys, or if her trials will keep her on track to rule. Then there's the matter of her nephew...will she ally with him or try to bring him down? With her care and concern for children, I hope she chooses to join forces, especially since he is her last blood relative.

Personally, I think Bolton lied to lure Jon out of the Wall. Perhaps he knows or has heard rumors of his unpopularity? Maybe Bolton just wants to eliminate the threat.

I'm not exactly sure, but I do not trust either Bolton and I don't think Stannis is dead. For one, how could he know about fake Arya? He claims to have lost her to Rayder and the spearwives, even though he definitely lost her before then. Bolton wants his Reek back, and both would be presumably with Stannis. I need to read that section again more carefully. Ramsay is evil and desperate. Neither Ramsay or Roose have control of the Northern lords. Maybe he hopes to whip them into submission by taking Jon as captive and turning him into the next Reek.

So I re-read the ending a little bit- and I am still wondering about Jon Snow! Could he have survived so many daggers? After all, Melisandre didn't say he dies, just that there were daggers. I truly hope Ghost gets out...

and I'm also intrigued by Val's idea that the Grey Scale that Shireen has is mortal. Stannis doesn't eat. Maybe he has Grey Scale, too? Like Jon Connington? I know that is grasping at straws, but the grey men could "live" even when almost stone.