If you have to hand write and you're in practice, it's faster. We were required to use it for English classes and that was the explanation.

Didn't happen, yet, but he's the younger brother (Valencar). It was prophesied that Cersei would be killed by her younger brother. Of course, she thinks it's Tyrion, but Jamie seems to know that he and Cersei will die together. So he'll kill Cersei and then die (probably by his own hand)

Thanks for the clarification. In a chocolate shop, I'm guessing you're pretty much off limits with a nut allergy, though, unless they specialize.

I think you'll at least agree that even if he survives, he has to die to be relevant to the big picture, otherwise he's bound by his oath to the Night's Watch.

You've totally lost me here! Is this something from the Winds of Winter preview? I thought Bran was communing with the Old Gods at most. I like the idea that the Old Gods, the Seven and the Red God are different (even if the House of Black and White says it's not true)

Someone posted below about a brother who has this condition and it nearly killed him. It may not be an allergic reaction, but the results could be the same. I hesitate to say that one person's dangerous response to eating nuts is harmful to people who do have allergies, but I may not be thinking it through fully.

I have to agree with a lot of comments about the falloff in quality over the last couple books. Of course, they can't all be A Storm of Swords!

I don't know. We don't have a lot of context for that kind of magic. I was referring to her judgement, though. She also seems to be outcast from her land.

Maybe there's more to his family (siblings?) that would make his parentage interesting even if he were dead.

Can't edit. Doubly sorry.

I'm sorry about that. I'll edit my comment to avoid this for others.

She might have diverticulitus and not an allergy. Nuts aggravate the large intestine, but I think ground nuts are okay. She might have put it in terms of an allergy to simplify it (or not talk about her bowels)

I'm with you!

It could be. I really think that with the winter, we'll see the Old Gods be the ones whose power matters. I think she's made her decision (she just doesn't have a great track record of being right)

Gravely injured would render the entire stabbing scene pointless, because he'd still be commander of the Night's Watch, which ruins all of the other fan theories surrounding this.

It undermines a very popular fan theory, but GRRM has demonstrated that he can use a variety of devices to make his story develop beautifully. If Jon is dead, the result has great and unexpected potential.

Berric Dondarian did it 7 times, but it reduced his humanity every time. I think that Melisandre introduced the Red God's religion, but she's not the greatest of its priests (nor have we met a great one).

Those are all possible, but should they?

both.

I keep not reading the preview chapters, because it's not enough of a fix! Now, I'm behind!