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 maneuver 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.
"Every man must die, Jon Snow. But first he must live."
The third installment in George RR Martin's phenomenal Song of Ice and Fire series brings more drama, more death and more destruction. You are once again swept up the lives of those fighting to be the one ruler of the lands of Westeros. With one of the contenders dead the other contenders just want the throne even more. But when The Others return it may not be a matter of who will rule but a matter of who will survive.
The end of the second book left me reeling. Wanting to know more about the mysterious others and I really couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. The Song of Ice and Fire series is fast becoming one of my favourite series of all time. It is most definitely one of the most amazing, incredible, well-thought-out and most cleverly written books I have ever come across.
I definitely have my favourite characters out of all of them but I also have the ones that I truly hate. Surprisingly one that I hated in previous books I actually started to warm to in this book so I am excited to see how that will play out in book 4. A Storm of Swords is definitely a turning point for many characters in the series. We see different sides to them and many, particularly Jon and Jamie go through a huge life change that changes their lives, and themselves. I really loved that. Like I said in previous reviews not one character is good or bad but a mixture of both and I loved seeing one character I had depicted as mainly bad having good parts to his personality.
A Storm of Swords is definitely a turning point in the series and I am so beyond excited to see what is going to happen next. If you love books that are action-packed and full of drama, bloodlust and violence this series is for you. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse George RR Martin throws another spanner in the works. I cannot wait to find out what happens next. Roll on Book 4.
"We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance in our steads."