A Storm of Swords: The bestselling classic epic fantasy series behind the award-winning HBO and Sky TV show and phenomenon GAME OF THRONES: Book 3 (A Song of Ice and Fire)

The third book in this series suprassed A Clash of Kings with flying colours, and even may be slightly better than the amazing first novel, A Game of Thrones. The best thing about it is that each POV feels like it is from a different author, the perspective of the character's so well crafted and individual. So i will review each POV individually. Jaime Lannister One of the two new POV's, it was intriuging to see the workings of Jaime's mind, and learn that underneath all the bloodshed, he's a nice man. The relationship between him and Breinne of Tarth is one of the best in the series. 8/10 Catelyn Stark Her grief for her sons was heart-wrenching, especially since we know their not dead. She is probably one of the most conventional characters in the series, but definitelly more interesting than her son. Robb's dullness made me root for Stannis. All the same, her eyes saw politics in a different light to the other characters, and this was interesting. 7/10 Bran Stark Bran is on an exceedingly selfish journey (he didn't even bother to tell any family members he was alive) to find the three-eyed crow. Bran's few chapters are full to the brim of rainy landscapes, light bantering and Hodor saying "hodor". Mild amuesment aside, it is the weakest of the narratives. 6/10 Arya Stark Arya is one of my favourite characters in A Song of Ice and Fire, a perfect foil to her dumb sister. Her storyline, though, is not as exciting as some of the others, but good all the same, as her, Gendry and Hot Pie make their way across the kingdom. Arya, at ten, is probably more capable than most of the adult characters. 9/10 Tyrion Lannister Although no longer the hand of the king, Tyrion, the witty, clever dwarf of house Lannister, has recovered from his wounds in the Battle of Blackwater Bay, and is cleverer than ever. Tyrion is great, and his storyline here is even better than in A Clash of Kings, espeically towards the end of the book. 10/10 Samwell Tarly The other new POV. Depsite being alot like him in terms of courage, i find Sam's personality quite annoying, and that drags down his chapters. The event's he witnesses, though, are very exciting, and while Jon is in the wildling camp, Sam shows us what is going on in the Watch. 8/10 Davos Seaworth Davos is probably the most bone-deep honest and true character in A Song of Ice and Fire since Ned died, and is the only one who sees Milisandre's evil for what it really is. Although nothing much happens, his influence is water to Milisandre's fire and he is a great addition to the series. 8/10 Sansa Stark Despite annoying me in the first and second books, here it seems that Sansa has, at least partially, grown up. Her marriage to a certain somebody (SPOILERS) brings out a cruel side to her that we thought was gone when Ned was executed, and her sadness is, although nothing compared to Catelyn's, touching. 9/10 Jon Snow In the first two books i saw Jon's chapters as chores to read, but here, everything in the north breaks loose, and while the Others attack Castle Black, Jon infiltrates the wildings, and starts a relationship with one, which tears Jon between the sides, and makes the infiltration harder than it first was. 9/10 Daenerys Targaryen Best for last. In A Clash of Kings, her storyline really dragged, and it was a letdown after hers in the first book had been prehaps the best. It really picks up here, as she becomes a very real threat, and actually does some conquering, like Aegon before her. Very exciting, showing the Mother of Dragons is back on form. 10/10

It seems clear to me that, when Martin originally plotted these books, he probably intended for the key events here to be the mid-sequence climax. It's extraordinarily eventful, with shock building on shock. The Red Wedding, Joffrey's own wedding, Tyrion's final moments with his father, Catelyn's return following the Red Wedding (who in their right mind would get married in Westeros?)... it's all go in Westeros, and makes this one of the most gripping books in the whole arc. Plots seeded years before begin to come to light, and what had seemed to be the set journeys of several characters are overturned entirely. There are dramatic returns, daring escapes, betrayals, maimings, murders, and much more. The Song of Fire and Ice has often been called the fantasy book that finally grabbed women from outwit the genre - a gateway drug for fantasy as a whole. However, it's also clear that it's a gateway drug for men too - a gateway to soap opera! Not that this is a bad thing - for all that this could be Dallas with swords (and a X rating), it's how every bloke would want soap opera to be. it's epic, frightening, and thrilling, and at the same time races to the pulse of characters that we've grown to know very well. I labelled the first book Ned's tale, and the second book Tyrion's. For me, this one is Jaime's story. For the first time we see the world from the Kingslayer's point of view, and it takes little time to see that he's not as black and white as he first appeared. The man who throws children from towers and screws his sister is also a man deeply in love, whose life has been defined by one moment when he both saved a Kingdom, and betrayed his most sacred vows. Maimed and on the run, I watched him evolve, and he's who I think of when I look back on this book.

I read this in the paperback version but ordered the slipcase edition to complete my collection. Sadly Amazon Warehouse sent me the wrong book (book 5) which I already had, so I had to send it back. I can't find it anymore for the original £25 but will keep looking. All 5 books come in lovely hardback with striking gold lettering and a slipcase to protect it. It's one of the best fantasy series I have come across and also made into an amazing TV series, well worth watching in Blu-ray. I managed to find the missing book (book 3) and decided to order it from a marketplace seller. Harper Collins has re-released the slipcase versions in red leather selling for £45 to £60 each so here is another way to get the set in a luxury edition. You can also find the blue slipcased 1st editions on eBay for £50 to £100 though some sellers have got it for nearer £500, I think that's way too much as the original prices were £25.

Originally published in two separate parts, we have arrived at the mammoth third installment of the Song Of Ice and Fire. We are joined by two new narrators Jon's friend Samwell Tarly, and Jaime Lannister. This just after I praised the fact in my last post that not having Jaime as a narrator made him a more elusive character! Having Jaime on board does work though as he is one of the more fascinating characters and the events of Storm Of Swords serve to create a much different man from the one we've previously seen. Although there are certain sections in Storm of Swords that disappoint, Arya persistently lurches from disaster to disaster with no real purpose and I still can't warm to Daenarys...Storm of Swords is packed with amazing and unexpected moments. Though there are points along the way where chapters merely serve as exposition or to move characters from one event to the next, some of the major episodes and incidents in this novel and there are many, are breathtaking. There are several battles and several weddings, each more unbelievable, in the best of senses, than the last, several shock deaths, many plot twists you do NOT see coming, and a closing epilogue which leaves you open-mouthed. My personal response was "Wait....? Let me read that again....oh my god I DID read it right....WHAT? AWESOME!" It closes on a truly special twist following a twist, an ultimate cliffhanger. There are also some really satisfying moments for favourite characters, Tyrion particularly, and certain characters really do get the comeuppance the reader has been desperate to see in the first two books, and the two shadowy conspirators Varys and Baelish outdo themselves with their intrigues. Having read A Game Of Thrones and A Clash Of Kings you begin to presume. You presume you know where Martin is going with certain characters and certain plots, both in this book and the books to come and you are certain you know who the 'good' and 'bad' characters are. The joy of this book is that Martin laughs in your face and proves you presumptuous, suddenly everything you thought you knew shifts, and leaves you reeling in shock. I sincerely hope that the HBO series starting on Monday here succeeds long enough in order to bring this third book to the screen as some of its moments are almost made to be seen on screen. If this book were a theatre performance, there are moments where you would start applauding for the sheer talent of the writing, both in concept and execution. Although I was uncertain of it at the beginning, there are so many wonderful things in Storm of Swords from massive events to one line sentences, so many genius moments that I must give this book a 10/10

Love this book please let me know if you have any more of there series ill be intrested to see what you have is there a website or shop you have so i can have a look kind regs Andrew

The third book in the series brings several lines in the saga to a climax and makes this book the most exciting and enjoyable of the series so far. The writing is rich and well constructed with many twists and unexpected turns in the action and lives of the main characters. The kingdoms are still at war with many claimants to the throne and the north is stirring and moving to the wall.I haven't seen much of the TV adaptation but the book gives a better understanding of the complex nature of the plots and the background. Some people find the listing of families and many other things a bit too much and I partially agree but you they have been well throughout and sometimes off insights and humour which enrich the understanding of the main themes. I shall travel on to book 4 with great expectations. Robin Guy

I'm a fast reader so bought the two in one thinking it might last me a while. Unfortunately that meant I barely slept for a week because I couldn't put it down. It's so exciting... I hardly wanted to talk to anyone, I just wanted to gobble this book up. The book has started splitting from the tv series in these books whereas the first is almost identical. It's good to see some changes and other characters. The most impressive thing is that the author can write books of such staggering size whilst keeping the stories so riveting and the characters so interesting. I've read other books in similar format, where one persons story is so much more exciting you want to skip other people's chapters to get back to it - but that's not the case here. There also isn't an overwhelming number of people - the next book 4 is the first point this storey starts sagging. If you love book one, then get this and you will not be disappointed. You'll then perhaps need to gather yourself for book 4, and I can't comment on book 5 as I'm slogging my way through book 4 at the mo :). I think I can only compare this series to Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series because of the size and fantasy - but as enjoyable as Robert Jordan is - this series is much more impressively written.

These books are taking over my life, I have never found a series of books so addictive. When I'm not reading them, I'm anticipating my next journey into Westeros. The Song of Fire and Ice series is fantasy for adults. Plenty of sex and violence, sure, but with a rich world and interesting, relatable characters, who are never really "good" or "bad", but are simply trying to survive their brutal existence as best they can. George RR Martin really brings the world to life with his descriptive prose (he seems to have a particular interest in describing clothing in detail, but you soon get used to that). He's also not afraid to kill off characters, even major ones, at any point in the story by any means. This adds a real sense of danger. As with most fantasy, there are dragons and giants and the like, but mostly the story revolves around the power struggle of the knights and lords in the seven kingdoms of Westeros. The chapters are each told from a different character's perspective, which is really refreshing. My only slight complaint would be that occasionally too many characters are introduced in quick succession. This can be overwhelming, and you find yourself not remembering the important ones later on. On to a Feast for Crows, then...

Ik zou een tweedehands boek in goede staat ontvangen, maar kreeg in plaats daarvan een bibliotheekexemplaar: geplastificeerd, met stickers, stiftkrassen en een kaft die loslaat van de rug.

The Game continues. Yet another fascinating book in this lengthy series keeps your eye glued to the pages. This is the third in the series. Having read books 1 and 2 previously I will launch into book 4 seamlessly. The depths. of detail the author, George R R Martin goes into are unbelievable. Descriptions of families, clothing and even the food they eat are described in such detail you can almost taste it.If anyone enjoyed the TV series they will enjoy the books as it takes them even deeper into the story and will explain many things the TV series left unexplained. I found series 1 followed the book fairly closely but as you move on to 2 and 3 the differences in the TV series and book become greater. So if you have read the books this far, and you would have had to enjoy them as they are not exactly short books, may as well get the next one and read on. With George R R Martins creative imagination who knows where we will end up. Book 3 keeps you fascinated just as books 1 and 2. So if you liked them, read on you won't be disappointed.

Una manera muy agradable de perder el tiempo. No aprendes muchas cosas, pero es una lectura perfecta para un viaje largo en tren o avion.

I'm going to take a break from reading George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series for a while. But it's not because I'm growing weary of the series; it's because I find myself so engrossed in it that the characters and settings are finding their ways into my dreams. A Storm of Swords, the third book in the series, is also the third book I've read in a row. The series is that good and that engrossing. (And I promised myself I wouldn't gush about never having cared for fantasy novels before as I did in my previous two reviews.) A Storm of Swords carries on the intricately plotted story of Westeros (and beyond) with both familiar characters and new ones. If you thought Martin was unafraid to kill off main characters after the noble-to-a-fault Ned Stark met his fate on the executioner's block in the first book, just wait until you get to A Storm of Swords. No fewer than five major characters meet their ends in these pages, including a couple that will break your heart and at least one who's death you'll cheer. The lives of several other characters seem in jeopardy by the end of the book. (Nope, I'm not going to spoil it for you. Just read the book!) I don't know how Martin does it. He weaves together the lives of several dozen characters over the course of this series. Such a task would be daunting, by Martin makes it look easy as his narrative swoops around Westeros and across the Narrow Sea. He intertwines the fates of the various characters in unexpected ways that, even after reading a couple of thousand pages, can still surprise you. This is epic storytelling at its very finest. Please don't confuse me with a literary sycophant. Martin does have a few minor tics that get under my skin a bit in A Storm of Swords. For one, I appreciate his deft turns of phrase, but in some places they come across as a bit strained and too close to the modern idiom. In one place he has Robb Stark say, "I told you to hold Riverrun. What part of that command did you fail to comprehend?" It seems a bit "modern" in the world of Westeros. Then later on in the book another character uses the expression, "What part of 'yield' do you not comprehend?" Yeah, it's a minor thing, but it just felt out of place to me. My other quibble is the fate of Arya. The poor girl has been wandering around Westeros since the end of the first book, and despite a few near misses she still has yet to reconnect with anyone from her scattered family. I think even Martin realized this since at one point he writes, "Arya was tired of making for Riverrun. She had been making for Riverrun for years, it seemed, without ever getting there." I heartily concur with that sentiment but I'm also guessing Martin has some major plot points ahead for Arya, so I'll be patient with the game of Where in Westeros is Arya Stark Today for a little longer. For those two quibbles I'd deduct maybe a half of a star. That slight deduction is offset by some of the new revelations A Storm of Swords contains. We're introduced in a big way to the Wildings (along with giants, mammoths and even, apparently, a close-up view of one of the Others). I'm particularly fascinated by The Wall and the Night's Watch, so I gobbled these sections up like a shadowcat chewing up a wilding. Then there are new settings such as the Pyke, Dorne, a glimpse of Littlefinger's ancestral home with its plentiful rocks and sheep ... ummm, "poop," plus several exotic cities across the Narrow Sea. As fascinating as some of the new characters are (yep, I'm looking at you, Brienne), the changes taking place in some of the characters who have been around since the first book are just as fascinating. Jaime and Tyrion both seem to be going through some major self-reflection. Jon Snow is growing into a man at The Wall. Even Sansa, my least-favorite character, is blossoming amid the drama that surrounds her. Like I said at the start of this review, I'll be taking a brief sabbatical from Westeros. But after bringing all that I love about this series to mind as I write this review, I don't think my break will last very long.

Ich finde die Game of Thrones Bücher äußerst fesselnd und mitreißend. Der Autor hat keine Hemmungen, auch mal die Charaktere, die man gerade angefangen hat nett zu finden, rechts und links sterben zu lassen. Nicht viel in der Handlung ist vorhersehbar. Bevor ich angefangen hatte, die Serie zu lesen, war ich wegen einiger Negativ-Kritiken etwas zwiespältig. Aber ich find überhaupt nicht, dass Frauen in den Büchern grundsätzlich schlecht wegkommen. Immerhin spielt die Geschichte ja in einer Art Mittelalter-Setting. Da war die Stellung der Frauen halt eine andere und es gibt eine Menge starker Frauen in dieser Geschichte, die sich durchaus behaupten können (solange sie ihr Haupt noch haben....). Für Leute, die sonst keine Bücher lesen, ist es vielleicht nicht gerade ideal. George R. R. Martin bedient sich sogenannter Reflektorfiguren bei der Erzählung. D.h. in jedem Kapitel steht eine Person im Vordergrund und der Leser erfährt nur, was diese Figur gerade erlebt. Diese Figuren tauchen dann auch in anderen Kapiteln auch, bei denen jemand anderes Reflektor ist und werden dann aus deren Augen beschrieben. Man muss beim Lesen mehrere Geschehens-Stränge, die sich teilweise miteinander verflechten, parallel verfolgen. Hört sich jetzt schwieriger an, als es ist. Die meisten guten Romane erzählen Geschichten nicht einfach von A nach Z. Die Romane beschreiben mitreißend, was der Titel verspricht - den Kampf um den Thron. Und dabei werden sowohl die schwarzen, also auch die weißen Flecken auf den Seelen der Romanfiguren offensichtlich. Das eine tun sie, um zu überleben - das andere, um an Macht zu kommen. Gleichzeitig verursachen Liebe und Gewissen einige Stolpersteine auf dem Weg zum Thron.