The Ghosts of Harrenhal: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast (ASOIAF)

A Game of Thrones | House of the Dragon
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Join us, as we venture chapter-by-chapter through the books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" (ASOIAF) series, by George R.R. Martin. We will discuss the details of a chapter, provide insights, give background information, and hit you with other tidbits that we find interesting. However, one thing we won't do is give spoilers! So come, let us be your guides on this epic journey. Follow us on Twitter at @GhostsHarrenhal, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube!

  1. 1d ago

    Chapter Sixty-Nine - Jon 13 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Jon Snow tries to arrange for a rescue mission to Hardhome, but his plans are derailed by a taunting missive from Ramsay Bolton. He now decides to go south to confront his tormentor, but this is the last straw for his critics who gang up on him and stab him repeatedly. Mackelly and Simon try to find reasons for hope. Chapter Review: Lord Commander Jon Snow describes his plan to rescue the free folk at Hardhome to Queen Selyse. She suggests the simpler solution, of letting them all die. Her men are to marry Gerrick Kingsblood’s daughters and she wants Val for Ser Patrek. Jon explains his plans to Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck, who disagree. He sends them away and welcomes Tormund Giantsbane, who has come with 50 men to help save the trapped wildlings. While they talk,Clydas brings a letter. It is signed by Ramsay Bolton, and details that Stannis is dead, Mance and his spearwives captured, and that Reek and his bride are to be returned immediately. Jon presents a new plan to the assembled Night’s Watch: Tormund and his men to Hardhome while Jon rides south to deal with Bolton and free Winterfell. Many join his cause. Wun Wun, protecting Val from the unwanted advances of Ser Patrek, bashes the smaller man to death. Jon tries to calm the giant, demanding that the assembled men sheathe their steel. But instead several of them turn on Jon and stab him repeatedly. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Tormund Giantsbane - Leader of a large group of free folk. Queen Selyse Baratheon - Queen to King Stannis. Melisandre - Priestess of R’Hllor. Advisor to King Stannis Baratheon.  Val - Sister to Mance Rayder’s wife Dalla. Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward at Castle Black. Othell Yarwyck - First Builder at Castle Black. Hardhome - Once the closest thing to a town north of the Wall. Now home to thousands of Free Folk refugees. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 19m

  2. May 26

    Chapter Sixty-Eight - The Dragontamer - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Quentyn Martell tries to fulfill his destiny, and his deal with the Windblown, to obtain dragons. Not much goes to plan and the chapter ends with Rhaegal setting Quentyn afire. Simon and Mackelly hope his Targaryen blood will save him.   Chapter Review: Prince Quentyn Martell is determined to obtain a dragon. He cannot face the shame of returning to Dorne empty-handed. Gerris Drinkwater catches him testing his flesh against candle flame, with predictable results. Gerris thinks Quentyn needs a visit to a Red Grace. Quentyn is in no joking mood. He thinks his friends might be Dornish, but he is Dorne. He sees his future differently and is determined to make a name for himself. That morning they dress as Brazen Beasts and, armed with a password (“dog”) obtained by the Windblown, they try to make their way to the dragons. They get through one door but at the dragon’s lair they are forced to fight the guards. Within, the dragons have both broken their chains. While they take a brief interest in Pretty Meris, they quickly become unruly. Quentyn tries to act as Daenerys did, but his use of the whip only enrages the dragons. As he tries to subdue Viserion, Rheagal lights him on fire.     Characters/Places/Names/Events: Quentyn Martell - Eldest son, and second child of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne. Gerris Drinkwater “Drink” - Quentyn’s companion. Archibald Yronwood “Arch” - Final member of the trio. Windblown - Sellsword company that has entered the fight against Daenerys Targaryen. Tattered Prince - Captain of the Windblown. Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros, Queen of Meereen. Meereen - Largest of the major slaver cities of Slaver’s Bay. Brazen Beasts - City watch company in Meereen. Made up of freedmen. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 7m

  3. May 19

    Chapter Sixty-Seven - The Kingbreaker - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Ser Barristan Selmy commits to the plan to oust King Hizdhar. He’s not thrilled about it, and extracts promises from Skahaz that blood would only be shed as a last resort. His capture of Hizdahr is interrupted - the dragons are loose. Jenny and Mackelly fetch buckets of sand. Chapter Review: Ser Barristan Selmy plots with Skahaz mo Kandaq to dethrone King Hizdahr zo Loraq and to establish a council to rule Meereen until Queen Daenerys Targaryen returns. If all goes well, they’ll treat with the besiegers for the return of the hostages. Selmy knows that Daenerys would be heartbroken if Daario Naharis were to be lost, but he considers how often the realm has suffered when rulers are led by their hearts rather than their heads. He advises Missandei to stay in the Queen’s chambers that evening, as he fears his actions may precipitate further bloodshed. He’s armored but helmless. With several loyal Brazen Beasts in tow, he gains access to the king’s chambers with fake news from Daenerys. He confronts Hizdahr with having tried to poison the queen and kill her dragons. The king denies it. Instead, he calls for his bodyguard Khrazz. The former pit fighter doesn’t know how to fight an armored opponent and Selmy defeats the larger, younger man. As Selmy moves to arrest Hizdar, news arrives that the dragons have been loosed. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard. Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys. Now King of Meereen. Skahaz mo Kandaq (aka The Shavepate) - Ghiscari noble, loyal to Daenerys and opposed to Hizdahr. Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal. Advisor to Daenerys and Hizdahr. Khrazz - Pit fighter turned Kingsguard for King Hizdar. Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 20m

  4. May 12

    Chapter Sixty-Six - Tyrion 12 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Tyrion makes a deal with the Second Sons which gives him, Penny, and Jorah a second chance. Mackelly and Simon weigh up the deal that he’s struck. Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister signs a stack of parchments, each gifting an increasing tranche of gold to the senior members of the Second Sons. He feigns anguish at the amounts but knows that he’s good for it if he comes into his inheritance and dead anyway if he doesn’t…so it’s all an act. After the bookkeeping he formally signs up to the Second Sons in blood. He wakes Penny and they visit the armor wagons. He wants her protected if battle should come. He gives her his usual dose of tough love. But her feelings for him remain undimmed. They encounter Ser Jorah Mormont who is freshly bedecked in armor of his own. And he’s showing signs of coming back to life after suffering miserably as a slave.  Jorah agrees that there is real danger. He thinks the Yunkai’i have lost the war. Between the Pale Mare, the unsullied, and the dragons the Meereenese have nothing to fear. The two men reckon that their salvation lies in convincing Brown Ben Plum and the Second Sons to turn their cloak one more time and fight for Queen Daenerys.    Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister, whom he murdered. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Ser Jorah Mormont - Twice-disgraced knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In love with Daenerys. Penny - Dwarf who performed at Joffrey’s wedding. Her brother Oppo was murdered. Brown Ben Plum - Westerosi sellsword who claims Targaryen blood, but has betrayed Daenerys. Meereen - Major city on Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 10m

  5. May 5

    Chapter Sixty-Five - Cersei 2 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Cersei does the walk of shame through King’s Landing. Mackelly and Simon wistfully recall their college days. Chapter Review: Queen Cersei Lannister is shaved (all over) and must walk through the streets of King’s Landing, from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep to atone for the cherry-picked sins that she has confessed to. She’s a lion and won’t be cowed.  She keeps her eyes on the Red Keep and the promise of seeing her son King Tommen again as the crowd pelt her with insults and rotten flora and fauna. She stumbles, slips in excrement, and sees faces from her past in the crowd. Eventually the abuse takes its toll and she realizes that she has made a fatal mistake. This crowd of baying peasants will never again see and fear her as the queen. WIth this she breaks and runs, then crawls the rest of the way. But she is met by Qyburn and the newly appointed Kingsguard brother Ser Robert Strong - all 8ft of him. Suddenly she feels a great wash of relief. Her chances to prove her innocence in the trial by combat have just increased meteorically.  Characters/Places/Names/Events: Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen. Tommen Lannister - Younger son of Cersei and King of the Seven Kingdoms. Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, King regent. Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven. Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei. Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei. Ser Robert Strong - new member of the Kingsguard. The size and shape of the now (believed) dead Mountain (Gregor Clegane). Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 21m

  6. Apr 28

    Chapter Sixty-Four - The Ugly Little Girl - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Arya gets her first assignment as an assassin for the House of Black and White. She also gets a new face, that of a little girl who had been badly beaten. After a successful mission, Arya is promoted to Acolyte and given her first apprenticeship. Simon and Mackelly decide to stop biting their coins. Chapter Review: Arya Stark witnesses a meeting of priests of the House of Black and White. When the meeting ends, one of the men talks with her. He accuses her of being too soft, selfish, and proud to be one of them. However, in the end, he gives her an assignment. She is to kill a ship insurer. To scope out her target she will resume the role of Cat of the Canals. While selling her cockles and watching her mark, she notices that he bites every coin he receives. A plan comes to her as to how best to deliver him the “gift.” The Kindly Man takes her deep into the heart of the temple where the faces are stored. He removes Arya’s face and replaces it with that of a girl who had been beaten by her father to the point of disfigurement. From her perspective, Arya can’t tell the difference. However, the Kindly Man assures her that nobody who sees her face will soon forget it. The next day Arya waits for a man to walk by on his way to pay the ship insurer. She cuts his purse and grabs a handful of coins. The man turns to stop her and coins spill to the ground. Arya runs and hides for a while. When she returns to the House of Black and White, she tells the Kindly Man that she replaced one of the man’s coins with one she had poisoned. When her target receives the payment he will bite the coin, and at some point later that day his heart will give out. The Kindly Man tells her she might not be hopeless after all. He gives her the robe of an acolyte, but tells her not to get too comfortable in it. Starting tomorrow she begins an apprenticeship. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Kindly Man - Priest of the Many-Faced God. Waif - Priestess of the Many-Faced God. Many-Faced God - God worshiped in Essos that embodies all gods. House of Black and White - Temple of the Many-Faced God in Braavos. All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 8m

  7. Apr 21

    Chapter Sixty-Three - Victarion 1 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Victarion Greyjoy follows Moqorro’s advice and gains many victories. He believes that he is now blessed by two gods. Simon and Mackelly wonder if poly-religiosity is frowned upon by the deities. Chapter Review: Victarion Greyjoy is advised by Moqorro where to sail. Repeatedly the red priest comes up with the goods and the Iron Fleet swells with each captured vessel. Victarion emulates his intended (well intended by him) Daenerys Targaryen by freeing the galley slaves. They still have to row, but now as freemen. The captured captains don’t do so well. Particularly those who tell him that Daenerys is dead or that he is a fool - well the Drowned God needed some offerings. Moqorro inspects the dragon horn that Euron gave to Victarion. The priest can read the runes and explains that the horn will bind the dragon to the master of the horn, but that he must establish that mastership with blood. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Victarion Greyjoy - Younger brother of Euron Greyjoy, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. Euron Greyjoy - King of the Iron Islands. Daenerys Targaryen - Queen of Meereen, wanted as bride by Euron Greyjoy to allow him to claim the Iron Throne. Moqorro - Red priest of R’hllor. Recently shipwrecked from the Selaesori Qhoran. Dusky woman - Unnamed and tongueless slave given to Victarion by Euron before the journey.  Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay. Isle of Cedars - Island at the mouth of Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 17m

  8. Apr 14

    Chapter Sixty-Two - The Sacrifice - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Asha Greyjoy watches a preview of her own possible gruesome fate, listens as Stannis’ army argues over their best course of action, and has a most unexpected reunion. Mackelly and Simon must remember their names. Chapter Review: Asha Greyjoy stands, cold and hungry, as the Queen’s Men chain four naked men to poles before setting the men on fire. The condemned men’s crime was cannibalism. Asha isn’t surprised. The lords and knights have access to horse meat and a warm longhall. The smallfolk are left to starve and freeze. King Stannis attends with Arnolf Karstark at his side. After the show is over, Ser Clayton Suggs asks Asha if she enjoyed watching her own fate play out? He’s chased off by Aly Mormont and Ser Justin Massey. After Justin escorts Asha to the longhall for dinner, she eats horsemeat while noticing the clear divide between King Stannis’ army. The northmen sit on one side while the southrons sit on the other. When Justin begins to argue with the others about the best path forward, Arnolf says if they march on Winterfell they will defeat Bolton’s army within a moon’s turn. Justin disagrees, and when his courage is called into question, he storms out of the hall. Asha follows him out but is immediately lost in the snow. She’s once again accosted by Suggs. However, they’re distracted by the sound of horses. Out of the snow and night comes a band of riders. After a tense few moments, Tris Botley bends his knee in front of her. He and several other Iron Born were ransomed by Tycho Nestoris, who urgently needs to speak with King Stannis. When the Braavosi banker realizes who Asha is, he says he brought her a gift. He presents an old man and a young woman. Asha is confused until the old man calls her sister. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Asha Greyjoy - princess of the Iron Islands. Stannis Baratheon - Claimant to the Iron Throne, as Cersei's children aren't Robert's. Justin Massey - Knight of the Crownlands. Clayton Suggs - Knight and Queen’s Man. Arnolf Karstark - Castellan of Karhold, sworn to King Stannis. Tycho Nestoris - Envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 6m
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Join us, as we venture chapter-by-chapter through the books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" (ASOIAF) series, by George R.R. Martin. We will discuss the details of a chapter, provide insights, give background information, and hit you with other tidbits that we find interesting. However, one thing we won't do is give spoilers! So come, let us be your guides on this epic journey. Follow us on Twitter at @GhostsHarrenhal, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube!

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