As the author here is my own top 10, it'll be interesting to see if you agree or not.
10.The feast after the Battle of King's Landing.
-Coming in at 10 is the feast, narrated by Larra Archer. It's one of the longest chapters at 20 or so pages and it's just a feel good moment within the story. It feels so inconsequential compared to everything else that was going on at the time, and it was a great reprieve to just have this high after the battle.
9.Aeyron crying on the throne.
-It's the last image we get of the book and it's incredibly powerful. I like the internal monologue of Aeyron and it really shows the struggles he faces as King. Throughout the book he's been hiding his personal struggle but finally at the end of it he sits on the throne and breaks his shell, it's a good moment of character realisation.
8.Ignis wakes up after the battle of King's Landing.
-Ignis's narration in this chapter is incredible, he's so distinct and his voice is so clear at that moment. You can really feel the emotion he has after the battle and losing his ear, he's cynical and also knows that he saved the city by himself but is left in some dark room. The visitors in Varlyn, Jade, Edmund and Taena are cool too - they each explore a different side of Ignis's emotions. It's very diverse from other moments.
7.Aeyron meets Jamie and Tywon Casterly again.
-It's cool to see the superiority Aeyron holds over Jamie Casterly, and the sort of fear-respect of Tywon. Aeyron pushes hard against Jamie and he holds his own, the Kingslayer pushes back and it's nice to see a battle going on amongst them. Jamie clearly rattles him.
6.Style words against Aeyron.
-I love this moment because for once Aeyron is actually lost for words. Style just says everything as it is and you agree with everything he says. It's against one of our favourites, Aeyron, yet I think we root for Style - I think we can understand his sort of helplessness and vulnerability, bless him.
5.Jax VS Ignis.
-The top 5 is full of belters. Jax vs Ignis was something to write aye. I assume the reader had their hearts in the throat with every swing of Jax's axe; he is formiddable and Ignis was getting thrown around. Just through sheer luck Ignis triumphs and it is such a tough fight, everything is tossed aside and there is hammers in people's heads - this was a showdown that delivered.
4.Aeyron rides in and saves the city.
-I love everything that sets up this moment, the rain hurling down King's Landing, the fire raging on in the background, the warcries and hum of the city. And through all of that, Aeyron comes riding down with a charging army like a hero from a song; they go around booting the rebels out of the capital with confidence. And then the final moment where he turns to all of them and anounces the battle is won is just perfect.
3.The Others attack Raymar.
-The very first thing in the book. The whole thing about these folk is just mystery and drama. We don't know anything, we just know that people are missing, there are arguments and the animals are quiet. Everything is foreboding and then when The Others show up, as mystical beings that terrify everyone. Raymar stood no chance.
2.Soniya saves Jon from captivity, in the setting of the thunderstorm.
-Similar to no.4, I loved the entire setting of it all. The thunder crackling, the rain pouring on to him, the men away in their tents. Soniya is one of my favourite characters and i loved her intro as The Medic, the whole time Jon's plotting something against her but then he realises she's a woman and his plan's gone. She takes charge and leads everything smoothly. But mostly i love the chapter for the noir aesthetics i feel while reading it.
1.Jax burning and drowning.
-I think for me undoubtly this is my favourite moment. He's on fire and drowning, it is insane. Jax's is in such a state of shock and you can feel it through the writing, he's thumbling to remove his armour and all of that business. It shows the massive uncertainty around anyone's life, to see Jax reduced to primative emotions - i wonder what the reader thought. The moment also has one of my favourite lines written - 'he would never admit it but Jax was scared to drown.'