It's not the spoilers that fazed me, I guess I'm just too tired of the whole thing at this point. I've been following ASOIAF for over a decade. Most of the mysteries readers have mused about for many years have already been given answers by the TV series. We are left with arguably the weakest part of the story - the fantasy-heavy invasions of the Others and Daenerys. Props to D&D for giving it a closure, though, since the story obviously ballooned out of Martin's capabilities to bring it to a reasonable conclusion.

Not to mention that, as the series and books move on, its quirks, flaws and literary tools become more evident and it's easier to guess how the plot will unveil, who has plot armor and who is going to die. For instance, despite the fame of ASOIAF on this issue, POV characters on the books very rarely die; none of the 16 main ones actually ever died besides the Stark parents.

Possibly why it's taking so long for Martin to finish the books.

They most likely left because there was no king and Baratheon house is officially dead, and no on knows about Gendry's true identity except Melisandre shame that he didn't have a bigger role in show. Also the Island is tiny and has no resources quote by Stannis "The island itself was and is nothing. It had no gold or gems to lure Valyrian nobility, all it has is rock."

still doesnt make sense why the Lannisters didnt take the castle, its incredibly important for defending Kings Landing from the east.

Because Joffrey was too busy torturing animals, Tommen flirting with the High Sparrow and Cersei drinking wine and blowing shit up. None of them are military tacticians - they probably saw no interest in taking Dragonstone since Stannis was dead. Tywin warned them - ''soon enough she [Daenerys] will be turning her eyes on Westeros'' and no one listened.

If the story takes the logical route soon Cercei will have Randyll Tarly (Tyrell, but hates Tyrell woman will proberbly defect) Euron Greyjoy and Jamie Lanniser as commanders im quite certain those 3 are by a landslide the best you could ask for Randyll Tarly is the mastermind of Westeros and even when Robb, Tywin and Stannis where still alive you would be best to let him lead your army.

Its not in military "mind" Cercei will lose I think

It's not the spoilers that fazed me, I guess I'm just too tired of the whole thing at this point. I've been following ASOIAF for over a decade. Most of the mysteries readers have mused about for many years have already been given answers by the TV series. We are left with arguably the weakest part of the story - the fantasy-heavy invasions of the Others and Daenerys. Props to D&D for giving it a closure, though, since the story obviously ballooned out of Martin's capabilities to bring it to a reasonable conclusion.

Not to mention that, as the series and books move on, its quirks, flaws and literary tools become more evident and it's easier to guess how the plot will unveil, who has plot armor and who is going to die. For instance, despite the fame of ASOIAF on this issue, POV characters on the books very rarely die; none of the 16 main ones actually ever died besides the Stark parents.

Because Joffrey was too busy torturing animals, Tommen flirting with the High Sparrow and Cersei drinking wine and blowing shit up. None of them are military tacticians - they probably saw no interest in taking Dragonstone since Stannis was dead. Tywin warned them - ''soon enough she [Daenerys] will be turning her eyes on Westeros'' and no one listened.