7. Riverrun, Home of House Tully
In case viewers didn't know, Robb actually didn't have a POV in the first and second book. His actions were viewed only through Catelyn's eyes and he was never truly fleshed out as much as he was in the show. Readers never saw his marriage to Jeyne (Talisa in the show) as he randomly came back early on in the third book saying he got married and has broken his promise to the Freys. In the second book and the first half of the third, much of Catelyn's story takes place in her home of Riverrun. Catelyn's uncle Brynden and her brother Edmure are very important characters so it was good to hear they were finally being cast. Like Arya, Catelyn gets a lot of mileage in her story and being able to finally return home was a breath of fresh air.
6. Mance Rayder's Army
His name was generously mentioned over the course of the season 2 and it was no different in the books. The former sworn brother to the Night's Watch has raised an army of wildings beyond the Wall, but for what? What is Jon's role in Mance's grand scheme? Will Jon remain a wilding after he broke his vows? Though Jon's story was not something to look forward to in the second season, like Daenerys, he finally gets going again and readers simply cannot wait.