This is a listing of the people of the Summer Isles in A Song of Ice and Fire.
For the main character index, see here
The Summer Isles
An archipelago located in the Summer Sea, the Summer Isles are south of Westeros and distant enough from the setting's three main continents to not be considered part of any one of them. They're closest to Sothoryos, but are far enough away from the main body of the southern continent to still be habitable and to have little cultural contact; see both Mauritius and the Seychelles and their relationships with the rest of Africa-and-Madagascar.Tropes related to the Summer Isles:
- Crippling Overspecialization: Downplayed. The Summer Isles are very rich in exotic species, rare hardwood timbers used in ship construction, and tropical animals — but in contrast, they are very poor in metals. Not just precious metals like gold and silver, but all metals, even iron and tin. But the Summer Islanders long since worked around this so it isn't really a problem: they've practically got a monopoly on several major spices that don't grow anywhere else, so early on they developed a strong merchant fleet to trade with other lands for metals. Lannisport gives them gold and iron, the Summer Islanders give them cinnamon and sugar, everybody wins.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Although its population would qualify as "African" by real-world standards, the names of the Isles are reminiscent of the Polynesian islands in the Pacific Ocean. Their status as a major trading entrepôt gives them overtones of the Caribbean as well.
- Good Is Not Soft: Summer Islanders are in general peace loving, kind, polite, and respectful individuals and their society is one of the most well adjusted and progressive ones in the whole world. However, pirates and slavers are terrified of them and their Swan ships. This lesson was taught at the point of a volley or two of arrows shot from their famed (and dreaded) goldenwood bows.
- Intrepid Merchant: While most ships stay close to the coast, Summer Islands captains venture into the ocean aboard their swan ships.
- Love Deity: The Summer Islanders worship a love god and a love goddess. Sex is considered sacred, thus all noble Summer Islanders are expected to serve, at least for a time, in their temples giving pleasure to all those who seek it.
- Martial Pacifist: Summer Islanders have never engaged in conquest. However, they do arm themselves to protect their home and ships from slavers and pirates.
- Pimped-Out Cape: Summer Islanders are known for their cloaks and capes made from the feathers of colorful birds of their homeland.
- Scary Black Man: Invoked. The Ghiscari first arrived by accident to the Summer Isles and mistook its people for demons burned black by the fires of hell. Thereafter, the Ghiscari sailors took care to keep away from the Demon Isle (Walano).
- The Savage South: Averted. They're actually an idyllic and exotic group of tropical island city-states, famed for their skill at seafaring and exploration. Large-scale wars are forbidden by their priests: instead, disputes between city-states are handled by duels, or formal melees between two teams of warriors (sort of like a large-scale Trial of Seven from Westeros). This way no cities get sacked and no civilians get killed.
- Sex Is Good: Summer Islanders view every form of sex to be valuable and this applies to everyone, regardless of their high or lowborn class.
- War Is Hell: Thoroughly averted. Battles in the Summer Isles are highly ritualized, more similar to gladiator games. As a result, there is no sacking, looting, rapes, or even executions. The leaders of the losing side of a war are expected to leave the Isles and go into exile.
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Jalabhar Xho
Chataya
See the Other Westerosi Characters page.
Alayaya
See the Other Westerosi Characters page.
Crew of the Cinnamon Wind
Quhuru Mo
The captain of the Cinnamon Wind and father of Kojja Mo.
- Ascended Extra: Has a minor appearance in A Clash of Kings, where Jorah takes him to see Dany's dragons and reveals King Robert is dead. In A Feast for Crows, he takes Sam, Gilly, and Maester Aemon on their voyage to Oldtown in exchange for Aemon's books — which he plans on selling to the Citadel — and some of their clothes.
- Intrepid Merchant: The range of the places visited by the Cinnamon Wind is truly extraordinary, trading in ports all the way from Qarth to Braavos and Oldtown.
- The Captain: Owner and captain of the swan ship Cinnamon Wind.
- Omniglot: Speaks both the Common Tongue and the Summer Tongue.
Kojja Mo
The daughter of Quhuru and crew member of the Cinnamon Wind.
- Action Girl: She is an expert markswoman with her double-curved goldenheart bow, able to fire a shaft 400 yards.
- Cool Big Sis: She takes on this role to Sam and Gilly during their trip, urging Sam to act on his feelings towards the Wildling girl, and takes care of Aemon Steelsong (Dalla's baby, who Sam and Gilly are sort of forced to swap with Gilly's baby on Jon Snow's orders as part of Jon's plan to both save Dalla's son from being burned alive by Melisandre and protect Gilly's son at the same time) when Sam and Gilly finally get together.
- Culture Clash: The act of having sex is considered sacred among her people. She is confused by the restrictions that Westerosi society puts on it (vows of celibacy that certain orders require, shaming of non-virgins, etc.).Kojja: All you Westerosi make a shame of loving. There is no shame in loving. If your septons say there is, your seven gods must be demons. In the isles we know better. Our gods gave us legs to run with, noses to smell with, hands to touch and feel. What mad cruel god would give a man eyes and tell him he must forever keep them shut, and never look at all the beauty in the world?
- First Friend: Aside from Sam, Kojja is the first person that Gilly has been able to open up to.
- Omniglot: She can speak both the Common Tongue and the language of the Summer Isles, and translates Sam's eulogy for Maester Aemon into the Summer Tongue for her crew.
- Sassy Black Woman: Acts this way towards Sam when Sam begins avoiding Gilly after he sleeps with her.
- Shipper on Deck: She is determined to push Sam and Gilly closer together. When Sam starts to avoid Gilly after having sex with her, ashamed that he broke his Vow of Celibacy to the Night's Watch, Kojja says to him that there is no shame in loving and that he should go to her.
Xhondo Dhoru
A mate on the Summer Islander ship Cinnamon Wind.
- Big Damn Heroes: Saves Sam from drowning while at Braavos and pounds the water from his lungs.
- The Big Guy: For the Cinnamon Wind.
- Omniglot: Much like his captain, he speaks several tongues, although his Common Tongue is not as good as Kojja's.
- Precision F-Strike: Apparently, the first word he learned in Common Tongue was the F word. And he's quite fond of it.
- You No Take Candle: His Common Tongue leaves something to be desired.
Historical Summer Islanders
Prince Malthar Xaq
Malthar the Windrider, Malthar the Mapmaker
A prince of Koj and the greatest of the shipbuilding princes that ushered in an age of exploration and trade for the islands.
- Bold Explorer: One of the first and greatest explorers in the Summer Isles.
- The Wise Prince: The is remembered by history for his contributions to exploration and map-making.
Princess Xanda Qo
A Princess of Red Lotus Vale who unified the Summer Isles under her rule and put an end to the "Years of Shame", in which the princes sold rivals and foes to the Valyrians as slaves.
- Action Girl: She was a formidable and effective war leader, singlehandedly putting an end to the Years of Shame.
- The High Queen: She unified the Summer Isles and ruled them as queen.
- Made a Slave: She was once enslaved.
Xhobar Qhoqua
See the Band of Nine page.
