Authors check in with 'Game of Thrones' expectations
On Sunday our favorite characters are back for the fifth season of Game of Thrones. Already, people are buzzing about Cersei's walk of shame, Arya all fancied up, three supposed upcoming weddings and, of course, which characters will die. If you aren't already watching this show, I definitely recommend starting. We have four awesome authors and Game of Thrones fans to help satiate our need for more dragons and death until tomorrow: MaryJanice Davidson (Undead and Unwary), Jay Kristoff (Illuminae), Damon Suede (Bad Idea) and Melissa Grey (The Girl at Midnight).
5 things want to see in season five
• Daenerys' crazy dragons and whether or not they're out of their terrible 2s.
• Where Arya is and what's behind that door.
• Anything involving Lady Stoneheart.
• Jon Snow going beyond the wall.
• Anything about my favorite character, Margaery Tyrell.
Favorite should-be couple from Game of Thrones?
MaryJanice: Arya (the most badass of the Starks, destined for assassin training in season five) and Missandei (Daenerys' translator/assistant). The young women from the show, not the little girls from the book. I think those two should have their own show, where they travel Westeros solving crimes and righting wrongs while keeping each other safe and loving each other in a terrible world. HBO, enough with all the GoT boobs, just make this spinoff happen!
Damon: Ramsay Snow and Jaime Lannister, please! They're both physically gorgeous, gleefully amoral and ruthless in their willingness to get where they need to go … plus the sight of Iwan Rheon and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau making out would possibly end hunger, cure cancer and usher in an era of peace, miracles and universal bacon. Then again, I'd also like to see Khal Drogo and Cersei get down on it because the fireworks (and offspring) would be legendary. Or how about Hot Pie and Sansa? Hell, I'm hoping that the formal union of Jon Snow and Daenerys would be the best possible ending to the series: Ice and Fire, baby!
Jay: Well, until last season it was Tywin and Olenna. But you know. Dat privy scene.
Melissa: Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. Fire and ice. It just works.
Which of your couples would rock in the GoT world?
MaryJanice: I think Sinclair and Betsy would do very well there; Betsy would be a kinder, smarter, better-shod Cersei (that's a low bar, though), and Sinclair would make an excellent king. He sees the big picture and is used to looking out for the little guy at this point in his afterlife. He's also ruthless, but bends to Betsy in all matters emotional ("No, you *can't* have them burned alive, what's wrong with you? Just lock them up for a year or so, jeez."). Of course, since they're both incredibly vulnerable to fire, once the dragons showed up I think that'd be all she wrote ... (literally!)
Damon: Scratch and Isaac from Horn Gate, no question. They're rocking serious polysexual chemistry, magical firepower and badass daemonic allies, so they're totally equipped to rock Westeros. Even better, in a world with that much horror and angst, having the ability to literally feed off human suffering would serve them both well. I can think of about 15 characters that need Scratch, stat: Theon/Reek, Cat Stark, Tyrion, Brienne of Tarth, Stannis Baratheon … So much operatic misery waiting to be itched and scratched!
Jay: Yukiko and Buruu would probably shake things up a bit. There's no griffons in GoT. Or did you mean the other kind of couple?
Melissa: If we can play a little fast and loose with the term "couple," then I would say Dorian and Caius (who are certainly a duo, if not a couple, though whether or not everyone's on the same page about their desires in that direction is another matter entirely). Caius didn't become the Dragon Prince by playing nice — his race, the Drakharin, are a cutthroat people. They elect their monarchs and if those monarchs show weakness, they don't hesitate to tear them down. Caius has been on the throne for over a century, so he's learned to play the game. Likewise, his best friend and loyal guard, Dorian, rose to the rank of captain by learning quickly and assuming the worst of pretty much everyone. Together, they're almost unstoppable. Almost.
Which of your own characters would you pair up with a GoT character?
MaryJanice: Tina (Sinclair's major domo, an intelligent, loyal vampire turned just after the Civil War) and Daenerys. No question. Those two would be unstoppable. Daenerys probably wouldn't even need her dragons!
Damon: Eesh. Tough one. I'm gonna go with Rina (from Bad Idea) and Oberyn Martell (from Dorne) because they both have a kind of ripe sexiness and humor that would dazzle folks. Two great tastes that taste great together! Or how about Beth from Hot Head and Arya Stark because they'd be amazing as a power couple and wouldn't take any crap from anyone, especially each other.
Jay: Joffrey and Yoritomo. Match made in heaven, imo.
Melissa: That's a tough one. There are so many awful people in Westeros. Maybe Echo and Jon Snow. She would be good for him the same way Ygritte was. He's had to take himself very seriously by necessity, but he needs someone who sees the world in shades of gray to broaden his horizons. Echo definitely does that. She learned how ugly the world can be at a very young age so she's not quite as naive as he was when he first got to the Wall. Jon Snow knows nothing, but Echo could teach him a thing or two.
What is one thing you want to see in season five?
MaryJanice: Lady Stoneheart. And I am not alone in this. HBO, stop jerking us around already and cough her up! We know where you live!
Damon: Honestly? For them to keep honoring George R.R. Martin's world and characters the way they have. I've been a fan of Martin since before A Song of Ice and Fire began, so my take on the (amazing) HBO adaptation is probably skewed. Full disclosure: I have friends who work on the show, both onscreen and behind the scenes and I think they're kicking all kinds of epic-fantasy ass. Frankly, I'm psyched at the way (David) Benioff and (D.B.) Weiss expanded on the novels and rejiggered the timelines working closely with Martin. The series has already earned its spot as a cultural icon and I want them to hold the course. For season five, I hope the producers take their sweet-Texas-time so Martin can get Winds of Winter and Dream of Spring done before the show needs those storylines.
Jay: LADY STONEHEART.
Melissa: Lady Stoneheart!
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Game of Thrones airs on HBO on Sundays.
Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions departments at Dreamspinner Press and Entangled YA. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).