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

Send us Fan Mail Jaime won Riverrun but lost the Blackfish. He confirms that Jeyne Westerling is not pregnant with Robb Stark’s child and gives Sybell her rewards for her scheming as well as a piece of his mind. He learns that Ryman Frey is dead and that Cersei is in trouble. Neither concern him much, as he ignores Cersei’s plea for help. Simon and Mackelly set their quills down. Chapter Review: J...

Send us Fan Mail Cersei’s day goes from an extreme high to an extreme low. She airs the charges against Margaery to the entire court and knows the young queen is in hot water now. However, when Cersei visits the High Septon she discovers that she might’ve cooked her own goose as well. Mackelly and Simon take the temperature of the situation. Chapter Review: Queen Cersei Lannister sits in the thron...

Send us Fan Mail Please enjoy some of the flubs, confusion, and mishaps that we suffered through this year and then compiled just for you. Thank you all for being part of this journey. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold , or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points...

Send us Fan Mail Brienne is held captive by the Brotherhood without Banners, as she battles the infection caused by her wounds. When she recovers, she’s brought before Lady Stoneheart - who is Catelyn Stark. Brienne stands accused of oath-breaking and must deliver Jamie Lannister or die. Simon and Mackelly weigh the possibilities.   Chapter Review: Brienne of Tarth is tied to a horse in agony from...

Send us Fan Mail Alayne coaxes Lord Robert down the mountain, while Petyr Baelish arranges a betrothal for his daughter to a ward of Lady Waynwood. The angle? Oh he just happens to be the heir to the Vale. Mackelly and Simon try to find the romance. Chapter Review: With winter coming it is time to mothball the Eyrie and for the Arryn court to move to the Gates of the Moon. Most of the castle has a...

Send us Fan Mail Princess Arianne Martell is confined to a tower room by her father. She wonders about the fate of her co-conspirators and Princess Myrcella, and laments the death of Ser Arys Oakheart. After what feels like an eternity, her father calls for her and reveals important family secrets. Mackelly and Simon raise an eyebrow. Chapter Review: After the ambush on the Greenblood, Princess Ar...

Send us Fan Mail Cersei gets a confession of Margaery’s wantonness from the Blue Bard. She will get the same from Ser Osney Kettleblack. The noose tightens around the young queen. Simon and Mackelly feel their throats constrict. Chapter Review: Queen Cersei Lannister blames Grand Maester Pycelle for the death of Ser Gyles Rosby. But leverages this anger to learn that Pycelle has been providing moo...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime takes control of the debacle that is the siege of Riverrun. He gets only scorn from the Blackfish, but he makes Edmure Tully an offer that would be hard to refuse. Simon and Mackelly consider the intestinal fortitude of the tormented Lord of Riverrun. Chapter Review: Jaime parlays with Brynden Blackfish Tully. He makes zero progress. The older man is resigned to Edmure’s dea...

Send us Fan Mail Brienne reaches the Inn at the Crossroads where she meets Gendry who she mistakes for Renly and then, less happily, she meets Rorge and Biter and their motley crew. Mackelly and Simon call for a medic. Chapter Review: Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne, Ser Hyle Hunt, and Septon Meribald plod through the Riverlands. It’s not great, with soldiers of all stripes hanging from every tree...

Send us Fan Mail Cersei learns that Dragonstone has fallen but that Loras has paid with his life - or at least he lies at death’s door. She delights in sharing this news with Margaery - who is stricken, but remains hopeful. Cersei dreams of her childhood run-in with Maggy the Frog and the details of the woman’s terrifying prophecy. Simon and Mackelly probably should have seen this coming. Chapter...

Send us Fan Mail Aboard the Cinnamon Wind, Sam and Gilly mourn the loss of Maester Aemon. The old man succumbed as the ship neared Dorne. Their tears bring them into each other’s arms and Sam’s vows are history. Simon and Mackelly sprinkle rose petals in the bathtub and try to light a scented candle. Chapter Review: Samwell Tarly eulogizes Maester Aemon to the crew of the Cinnamon Wind. The Summer...

Send us Fan Mail Arya murders Dareon for deserting the Night’s Watch. It appears that the Many-Faced God doesn’t agree, as she is struck blind. Mackelly and Simon grope for answers. Chapter Review: We learn of Arya’ Stark's (aka Cat of the Canals) day-to-day life as a seafood seller on the docks of Braavos. It’s a vibrant atmosphere that she relishes. She learns languages, skills, and informa...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime arrives at Riverrun hopeful of ending the siege without breaking his oath to Catelyn (not to take up arms against the Tullys). He gets some home-truths from his aunt Genna. Simon and Mackelly weigh up the impact. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister arrives at Riverrun and meets with his cousin Daven Lannister, the new Warden of the West. They have a good rapport. The younger man...

Send us Fan Mail Cersei learns of the attack on the Reach by the Iron Born and feels unmotivated to react. She gets a gift from Ser Loras, which leaves Cersei with a golden win-win opportunity. She has an unexpected drop-in by Falyse, whose husband has been killed by Bronn and also confessed Cersei’s plot. Qyburn is given instructions that Falyse should never see the light of day again. Finally, s...

Send us Fan Mail Brienne learns that she’s been on the scent of the wrong Stark girl, and gets definitive intel on the Hound… or does she? Mackelly and Simon consider the probabilities. Chapter Review: Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne, Ser Hyle, and Septon Meribald reach Quiet Isle, an island in the mouth of the Trident that houses a penitential septry. They see a fearsome looking horse named Drift...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime tarries in Darry to confront his cousin Lancel. He finds a man lost to his faith, a faith that has taken up arms with relish. Mackelly and Simon consider converting. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister finds Darry being rebuilt but still scarred by recent wars. His uncle Kevan has left, having quarreled with Lancel after the wedding of Lancel to Amerei Frey - heir to Darry. Jaim...

Send us Fan Mail Victarion Greyjoy fights through his opponents and his misgivings about his brother King Euron. He’s dispatched to Essos to bring back a fiancé (for Euron) and three dragons, but Victarion has other ideas. Mackelly and Simon ponder who would win The Bachelor: Iron Islands. Chapter Review: Victarion Greyjoy gets back to what he does best: following orders and taking names. The Iron...

Send us Fan Mail Cersei gets an update on Margaery court, while being waylaid by sparrows. She negotiates a deal with the new High Septon. He’ll bless Tommen and erase the crown’s debt to the Faith for a law allowing the re-emergence of the Faith Militant. Finally, she makes a veiled threat to Margaery. Mackelly and Simon bow their heads in prayer that she knows what she’s doing. Chapter Review: Q...

Send us Fan Mail Jaime is booted from King’s Landing by Cersei to settle matters in the Riverlands. He finds a sparring partner, installs new leadership at Harrenhal, and sends Wylis Manderly home. Finally, he defends the honor of Brienne of Tarth. Mackelly and Simon give high fives. Chapter Review: Jaime Lannister thinks the plan is folly. Queen Cersei doesn’t care for his opinions on the matter....

Send us Fan Mail Sam tries to find the increasingly flighty Dareon and someone who knows something about dragons - to fulfill the dying wish of Maester Aemon. He gets bruised knuckles, a lungful of canal water, but he does meet a sailor who knows about the dragons. Simon and Mackelly share his pain. Chapter Review Samwell Tarly is in desperate straits in Braavos. Gilly is inconsolable, Maester Aem...

Send us Fan Mail Brienne decides to follow the only lead she has: the Stark girl was traveling with the Hound. She gains a couple of new companions. Mackelly and Simon join her peregrination. Chapter Review: Brienne of Tarth heads back to Maidenpool, no nearer finding Sansa. Ser Hyle Hunt brings the heads of Shagwell, Timeon, and Pyg with them for Lord Tarly to display on the walls of Maidenpool....

Send us Fan Mail Cersei has a busy day as queen regent of the seven kingdoms. She squashes tiny rebellions by her little king, cheers the death of a foe, plots the downfall of Margaery Tyrell and Bronn, spurns the Iron Bank, and so much more. Simon and Mackelly hope she knows what she’s doing. Chapter Review: Little King Tommen Baratheon wants to be more involved, he is king after all. Queen Cerse...

Send us Fan Mail Sansa does her best to embrace her new identity as Alayne Stone. She and Littlefinger prepare for the arrival of the Lords Declarant. They want Lord Robert and they want Littlefinger gone. However, when the unexpected arises during the parlay, Littlefinger prevails and earns a year as Lord Protector, to prove himself. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark is now going by the name Alayne Sto...

Send us Fan Mail Arya acts as a servant in the House of Black and White. Despite her claims, she still can’t shake her identity as Arya Stark. She decides to shed her worldly possessions, all except Needle, earning her a promotion to acolyte. Armed with a smattering of Braavosi, she’s next to go out into the city and sell seafood. Mackelly and Simon ask for a menu. Chapter Review: Arya Stark is se...

Send us Fan Mail Arianne Martell and conspirators try to spirit Myrcella Baratheon away in order to crown her Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Their plot is foiled by Areo Hotah - who ambushes them and kills Arys Oakheart. Mackelly and Simon will miss the big guy. Chapter Review: Princess Arianne Martell and a handful of her closest friends wait at an abandoned holdfast for Ser Arys Oakheart and Princ...