Let me get this straight, sending the ships up to Hardholme (which was stupid). I get Jon's he's reasoning. Save lives. Less enemy later on. But come on... sending ships filled with Brothers, already depleted in number following the Fist of the First Men massacre, into a stormy autumn sea that has already sunk several ships to save wildings in a haunted town. It was stupid and destined for disaster. And it did, but I digress...

Then, with those Brothers now placed in peril, you basically say "PEACE OUT, GOING TO SAVE MY OLD HOME AND MY SISTER IN WINTERFELL" on the eve of going to rescue them. That's a clear breaking of his vow. The Lord Commander basically saying you are on your own as things go to shit? Dishonoring of the vows that he has fought for over FIVE BOOKS?

Am I really suppose to believe that? That was completely, utterly out of character for Jon. I just don't see why out of all the crap the world has piled on Jon to break his vows and abandon his post - he chose THAT one. Because Ramsay threatened his sister? Who he clearly admitted he didn't have? Without any confirmation that anything he wrote was true? When you've known about her marriage for weeks and upheld your vow. Really?

Hell, I would have stabbed him myself if I was there. Yes, I'm aware of the prophecy and Jon is likely to be resurrected. Doesn't change the fact that GRRM essentially character assassinated Jon's development.

Aware of what happened to Eddard Stark and Robb, given numerous warnings by Mel, having no body-guard around him due to not wanting to be seen as weak, not consolidating his power when his grip on the Nights Watch is still tenuous. In total, a convenient lack of any sort of political acumen so that Martin can advance his myth-arc further. Martin appears to have a sincere belief that a good person cannot be a good leader, and is bound by justice, duty, honor, mercy, what-have-you to do very, very stupid things. This seems to go double for the Starks. This is one of my major problems with this book. Characters are making mistakes that they should've learned from four books ago.

I really despised the parallels being drawn between Jon/Ghost and Robb/Grey Wind towards the end of his arc, REALLY fucking despised it. I thought he would have AT LEAST would have been smart enough to keep Ghost near him, especially considering how much the two had gone through and how close their bond was. You could never really be too sure about Robb and Grey Wind, even though from what you know Grey Wind was extremely obedient and loyal, but I can't help but think Jon should have known better.