If I've learned one thing about the world of GOT in these three books, it's that Martin's fantasy realm is wonderfully complicated. It is tempting to chalk it all up to "Starks, Tullys, and Baratheons are good, Lannisters and Greyjoys are bad," but damned if it's really that straightforward. Tyrion Lannister remains a favorite, and while Lord Tywin is cold and cunning, I could never quite bring myself to hate him or wish for his death (view spoiler)[(though I didn't shed a tear when he died sitting on a garderobe, either). (hide spoiler)] 
 More surprising to me were the characters I began by hating, but grew on me. Jaime Lannister takes the gold on that. I don't know if his character actually changed over the course of the story or if he has just always been a bit misrepresented by Stark, Tully, et al. (maybe a bit of both), (view spoiler)[but by the time he reached King's Landing (hide spoiler)] I actually liked the guy nearly as much as I like Tyrion. The Hound receives an honorable mention in my book, too. Certainly not a character I began by liking, but his interactions with the Stark girls over the course of a few thousand pages brought him up a good few notches. Also, Daenerys Stormborn. She was alright for the first two books, but up until she pulled that fantastic (view spoiler)[coup d'etat in Astapor (hide spoiler)], I always thought she was too much of a dramatic, self-important little girl, and not enough of a queen. The moment she had (view spoiler)[Drogon melt off the face of that slaver in Astapor (hide spoiler)], she was worthy of the Iron Throne in my book. 
 On the other hand, Cersei. I didn't flat-out hate her in the first book. She was as cruel and cunning as Tywin, and played dirty, and I sure as hell didn't like her, but I didn't hate her at the conclusion of A Game of Thrones. Hah, those days are over. She's downright evil, and the worst thing about her is how she gloats so prettily. She's even horrible to her theoretically beloved Jaime. She makes #1 on my most wanted list at the end of book 3: more than anyone else in Westeros or Essos, her head is the one I want to see on a stick, after a very very slow death. 
 And speaking of that list, I was happy that #2 got dispatched at the end of book 3. If you guessed (view spoiler)[Lysa Arryn (hide spoiler)], pat yourself on the back, because that's precisely who I was referring to. I've detested her throughout the entire series, and was glad she didn't get any more stage time than she was given (I would have gone half as crazy as she is... was). The woman was unstable, delusional, out of control, and in power.... and completely self-absorbed. Needless to say, I breathed easier when she (view spoiler)[got kicked out the Moon Door (hide spoiler)]. Her death was possibly the most satisfying thing I've read in the whole series. Okay, not really, but it was a big relief to me. 
 And I can't forget Arya; her character development has been fascinating to watch as it unfolds. I don't know where this brave little dervish is headed, but I like her, and I'm seriously hoping she's headed the way of (view spoiler)[Jaqen H'ghar and the Faceless Men (hide spoiler)]. That's a story I want to read more of. 
 And I really like this "Valar Morghulis" far more than I should, probably. I'm pretty sure Martin took the idea from a medieval (Christian?) concept, phrased in Latin as "Memento Mori," or "Remember that you must die." I've always been fond of reflecting on my own mortality... it keeps my pride small and gives me some perspective, which we seem to lose so easily. Some call it morbid, I call it reality. Reflecting on mortality is invariably intertwined with reflecting on eternity, and it never fails to make me feel like a man standing at the edge of the ocean - a feeling that never loses its impact on me. 
 Anyways, I'm loving the books, and I'll be starting the next one very soon. It'll be hard to part with Tyrion, Jon, and Daenerys for 850 pages, but I am really looking forward to following Arya's story. 
 Valar Morghulis - Valar Dohaeris 
 All men must die - All men must serve