A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3) in A Song of Ice & Fire Fans

Mar 21, 2012 Susie rated it it was amazing

A Storm of Swords was perfection. This might be my favorite book in the Song of Ice and Fire series so far, although they’ve all been stellar.
This novel came together like a literary symphony. Up to this point, the woodwinds had their own melody and the horns had started an accompaniment. The percussion seemed to be on their own entirely at times. But as the novel progressed, all of the instrumental groups came together creating a fascinating and hypnotic harmony. As I write this, I’m thinking A Storm of Swords was perfection. This might be my favorite book in the Song of Ice and Fire series so far, although they’ve all been stellar.
This novel came together like a literary symphony. Up to this point, the woodwinds had their own melody and the horns had started an accompaniment. The percussion seemed to be on their own entirely at times. But as the novel progressed, all of the instrumental groups came together creating a fascinating and hypnotic harmony. As I write this, I’m thinking “geez Susie, this sounds obnoxiously pretentious”, but I can honestly say that this is the best method I can come up with to describe not only the mind-blowing writing quality but the overall effect that A Storm of Swords had on me. With as many plot lines and characters as Martin has going at any given moment, these books could seem more like a cacophony than a concerto and it speaks volumes about the author’s talent and organizational skills that they never come off as anything but entertaining.
Martin knocks off enough characters to be scarily close to homicidal status, but that’s another perk to the books: you seriously never know what’s going to happen next. I’m starting to love characters that I loathed and find cracks in the armor of the supposed heroes.
Martin can write incredibly gruesome scenes of blood and butchery, but he also knows when to leave the details up to the reader’s imagination and sum the carnage up in a sentence or two. Personally, I get a little nauseous when I come across topics like rape, the murder of children and the torture and slaughter of animals. I know they happen, but I don’t want the gory details. And I really respect Martin for knowing when to draw the line, unlike a lot of fantasy authors out there who seem to think that a chapter without a wench-rape is incomplete.
I had planned on reading a few books I’d been putting off while engrossed in the Song of Ice and Fire series before starting Martin’s next book, but that idea went right out the window after I read the last few chapters of A Storm of Swords. Looks like I’ll be cracking A Feast for Crows immediately.
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Mar 27, 2011 Alex Telander rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

The A Song of Ice and Fire series was originally intended as a trilogy, but as George R. R. Martin became fully imbrued with his epic fantasy series, the trilogy became four books, then five, and has finally (hopefully) stopped at seven. As for the lengths of the books, these have also continued to grow, with the hardcover of A Game of Thrones reaching 704 pages, followed by A Clash of Kings at 768 pages. A Storm of Swords is Martin’s longest effort to date, reaching a whopping 992 pages. While The A Song of Ice and Fire series was originally intended as a trilogy, but as George R. R. Martin became fully imbrued with his epic fantasy series, the trilogy became four books, then five, and has finally (hopefully) stopped at seven. As for the lengths of the books, these have also continued to grow, with the hardcover of A Game of Thrones reaching 704 pages, followed by A Clash of Kings at 768 pages. A Storm of Swords is Martin’s longest effort to date, reaching a whopping 992 pages. While this manuscript could’ve certainly used editing, with some character tangents going on for too long, hooked fans at this point are firm believers of the adage “the longer the better.” Plus, can you really call it “epic fantasy” if it’s not over seven hundred pages long?

To the north Jon Snow has infiltrated the wildings, looking to get close to Mance Rayder, the king-beyond-the-wall, and find out when they plan to attack the Night’s Watch, but he will find his loyalties challenged as he must fight and decide where his allegiances lie. Then there is the storyline of Bran, one of the Stark children, who is traveling to the north to find his brother. Theon Greyjoy now controls Winterfell through lies, deception and competing against his more popular sister for the love and support of his father, King Balon Greyjoy. Meanwhile, Arya Stark continues to get pulled back and forth from bad character to worse character, but because of her smarts and cunning she is able to scrape through alive. Jaime Lannister is let go to travel back to King’s Landing under the protection of Brienne of Tarth with the hope that the Lannisters will free Sansa Stark.

As for the war, things are not going well, but then that really depends on whose side you’re on. Robb Stark continues to win battles but make little headway in the war, but after falling for a girl who looks after him when he is wounded and marries her, he must meet with the Freys to soothe their relations. His uncle, Edmure Tully, will wed one of the Frey daughters and all will be well, it is hoped. Robb’s mother, Catelyn, doesn’t trust Lord Walder Frey, as she travels with her son, grieving over the loss of her father. But the Tully’s have something fiendish in store for them. Meanwhile in King’s Landing Joffrey rules in his cruel, childish way, while his uncle Tyrion, the dwarf, continues to fight with his sister, Joffrey’s mother, Cersei; then their father, Lord Tywin, arrives to upset the balance and organize things in his own way.

Far to the east, Daenerys Targaryen returns to Pentos by sea in search of an army. She finds one in the Unsullied, a slave army, but she must give over one of her dragons for the thousands of slaves. Daenerys has a plan and soon has her army which she immediately frees from slavery, making them unstoppable soldiers who will never defy an order. As she travels across the land, looking to grow her army and power and create peace among these peoples, she discovers two of her closes retinue are traitors and must decide what she will do with them.

A Storm of Swords is Martin at his best, as the events and actions that have been building in the previous books are brought to a harsh fruition, and the author continues to reveal what makes his series so unique. Some character storylines go on for too long and could use some heavy editing to shorten them down, or perhaps have been cut entirely as little seems to happen, while others are simply riveting, even when involving two character viewpoints covering the same event. At the end, just as with the first two books, readers will be left impatiently wanting more.

Originally written on April 10, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

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Jun 14, 2013 Thee_ron_clark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action, fanstasy, political-intrigue

This has been my favorite book in the Song of Ice and Fire series thus far. The action continues, the backstabbing increases, and the heads continue to roll. As numerous kings and one queen continue to battle over the throne of Westeros, an army of the undead is sweeping south toward the kingdoms of man.

As with the other books, one should not become too attached to any character. Martin has a way of shocking his readers by ending the lives of major players unexpectedly and suddenly. To me, this ...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Ashley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dragons, bestie-book-club, fantasy, book-to-movie

This has to have been my favorite one so far. The action kicked off a lot earlier in this book compared to the other two and I loved all the chapters on my favorite characters. I felt like having Davos and Samwell's viewpoints included helped to give a good "behind the scenes" view so to speak at certain points. It was hard to keep everything that happened straight but I think I've managed. My favorites are still Arya, Jon, and Tyrion, but Jamie and Samwell grew on me this book. I think Jamie ha ...more

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