Summary

After the death of Joffrey in the previous book, Tommen is crowned the new king of Westeros. His mother Cersei attempts to break his wife Margaery’s grasp on him by accusing her of adultery. The tables turn when the High Septon arrests her for the same. Meanwhile, Stannis has come to the aid of the Night’s Watch, where Jon Snow has been elected as the newest Lord Commander. Jon sends Sam, Maester Aemon, Gilly, and her baby to the Citadel in Oldtown. Although Maester Aemon does not make it, Sam arrives at the Citadel by the end of the book to begin his training to become a maester himself. Arya travels to Braavos and joins the Faceless Men. In Dorne, Arianne Martell attempts to crown Myrcella as queen of the Seven Kingdoms because she is older than Tommen and, under Dornish law, age, not gender determines succession. However, her attempt is thwarted by her father, Prince Doran, who punishes her by locking her in a tower.