Reviews

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

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enragedgoose's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ralfcazam's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is great, particuraly if you have read and enjoyed the first two books in this series. It is very complex, both in chracters and plot. It has lots of detail, but I think that all of the details only add to the story because they enhance the world that Martin has created. This world is enormously extensive, with its own history, religions, legends, politics, and many terrains and kingdoms.

nenacall's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

kbailey214's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

josiahadams's review against another edition

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5.0

My favorite fantasy book of all time, and for good reason. ASOS contains so many arcs and scenes that shock you to the core - it really is a novel that will keep you turning the page, despite it being over 1000 pages. The length of the novel is all worth it, and GRRM ties together a fascinating story that continues to entice readers decades after its release.
A Storm of Swords completely shakes the foundation of Westeros, leaving the reader yearning for the fourth installment, because now the world of Ice and Fire is in a state never seen before. Joffrey Baratheon is dead. Robb Stark is dead. Balon Greyjoy is dead. The War of the Five Kings is over - yet, the only king to have survived the ordeal is Stannis Baratheon, who was smashed at the Blackwater. And unbeknownst to most, the last Targaryen gains command of an army of Unsullied and continues her ascension to absolute power.
It wasn't just the Kings that provided the intrigue. New factions such as Dorne provided some insight into the politics of Westeros, and the duel between the Mountain and the Viper was simply incredible. With Oberyn's death, will Dorne rise to avenge their fallen prince? Or will they remain a pawn to the Lannisters? The constant shift in power dynamics is like nothing I've ever read in fiction.
Now let's talk about POVs.
All POV characters were sublime. Jon Snow, now Lord Commander of the Watch, is one of my favorite characters in this novel. His dynamic with Ygritte was executed brilliantly, and his ascension towards power in Westeros paints a stunning parallel with Daenaerys Targaryen, ascending to power in Essos. Tyrion Lannister continues to provide awe-inspiring chapters, and his monologue at the end of this novel was brilliant. 'Lord Tywin, in the end, did not shit gold.' What an incredible line to contrast Tywin and Tyrion's characters.
Arya was great in this novel - her rugged path of survival is unlike most other POVs, and her interactions with Sandor Clegane provided some much needed humor (God knows this novel needed it). Sansa remains a brilliant character in King's Landing, and the brilliancy of Catelyn's character should not go unnoticed. Unlike the show, it appears Catelyn reincarnates?? I was shocked by this outcome, but I'm all for it.
It would be a shame to talk about POV characters and completely ignore Jaime, the Kingslayer. Jaime Lannister is one of the more complex characters I've encountered, and his internal conflicts between his family and his own person is done in such a way that you sympathize with a man who pushed a kid out of a window.
Many people are turned off by ASOIAF's large page counts, but the length is certainly needed if you want to spin a story this rich and compelling. If there were a six-star rating here on GR, I'd award ASOS with it. The novel is simply that good.