A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
First published on on August 8, 2000 by Bantam
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Pages: 1,179
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Get it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w2UAbD
Here is the third volume in George R.R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.
Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces manoeuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords…
Review
A Storm of Swords isn’t far from its previous two books. Why? Because of the ever “not expecting” death of your favorable characters. I’ve gone this far but I still hadn’t learned the lesson eh? I really hate that Red Wedding! Grrr! I think I wanna be Bran and be a direwolf and kill those bloody Frey myself! Sorry for being so violent, haha. Even if I already know that will happen (because obviously, I watched the TV series first haha), I still can’t help but be angry. I still haven’t recovered from Ned’s death, and now, his son and wife are dead or should I say murdered?! This is really too much! I hate it! But oops! I didn’t mean the book, only the characters haha.
I apologize for my somewhat “unpleasing” introduction up there. This book is just so intense that until now I still can’t recover and contain myself. A Storm of Swords as we all know, is the third book of the “A song of ice and fire series” and it all started on what the book two left off, which was the battle in the blackwater. Winterfell was razed, the Wall in the north, and the ascendant of both my most despised characters, Tywin and the little monster (even Jamie agreed to that), Joffrey.
The thing that I noticed about this book is that it started so slow which increased my agony and made me mad. (well, not fully mad but just half mad haha) I also remember that I fall asleep unconsciously while reading this book because I’ve been waiting for that intense part that I saw in the TV series. Well, it all goes to “watching the TV series first”. I suppose if you already watched the TV series it’s already unavoidable not to compare it to the book eh? And I don’t want to bore you by citing all the differences of the two for I’m sure one article wouldn’t be enough. I remember having almost 60 (or was that 100?, haha )in my list.
Though it started a bit slow, your agony is all worth it when you reach the middle part, especially those chapters almost at the end. As what most of the reviews in goodreads says, I also agree that this book is so far the highlight of the series. Almost all of my questions we’re clarified or even answered. Though it was a bit grim and dark, I think it is necessary (though, I’m still not fine with the Red Wedding. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from it) I think GRRM has to remind its readers, especially me how brutal the world is (especially before) and no happy ending should be expected. Haha, kidding. I’m sure there’ll be a happy ending, but I think that won’t be so soon.
For its characters, for me, Jamie is the most improved so far in this series. From being a kingslayer, sister f****r, child-shoving, in short a blonde monster in a making, turned into, well, not a saint-good character but atleast a little reasonable one. Jon, well what can I say about him? He grew more matured here and a good leader in the making just like his brother Rob. Arya is still as stubborn and brave while Sansa, hmm..Let me say that she’s also improved, she now knows how to lie, haha. And Daenerys, well, she’s not that little girl anymore and her dragons grew bigger and bigger and ofcourse, fiercer.
This book, just like the rest, is composed of some out of this world and chuckle-inducing x-rated scenes and overloads of descriptions. But mind you, a book as brilliant as this can never be too much. I would have given it 5 stars, but I’m still to read more, so I’ll probably come back if I mistakenly rated this book.
If you’re already watching the series, I suggest you stop and read this first. Learn from me, haha. You will never regret it.
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Good for you Vanny. I still haven’t finished the first GoT because, to be honest, I’m scared to reach the part where Ned was slain. It took me a while to get over that part when I watched the show. I guess I’m not ready to relive it again. Hahaha oh, the feels.