A Storm of Swords: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Three
THE BOOK BEHIND THE THIRD SEASON OF GAME OF THRONES, AN ORIGINAL SERIES NOW ON HBO.
Here is the third book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece. A STORM OF SWORDS Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler 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 left in the world. As opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a supernatural army of the living dead. 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. . . . A GAME OF THRONES - A CLASH OF KINGS - A STORM OF SWORDS - A FEAST FOR CROWS - A DANCE WITH DRAGONS
Here is the third book in the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and become a modern masterpiece. A STORM OF SWORDS Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler 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 left in the world. As opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a supernatural army of the living dead. 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. . . . A GAME OF THRONES - A CLASH OF KINGS - A STORM OF SWORDS - A FEAST FOR CROWS - A DANCE WITH DRAGONS
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Community Reviews
Love this series! The ending of this part had me flabbergasted. I can’t wait to get through the rest.
Captivating and heroic piece of work! I absolutely love the intense descriptions of the characters, setting, and food! I can't wait to see what comes next.
According to Goodreads, it took me 2 years to read this. Why, you ask? It's not because it was boring or a terrible book. It's because someone told me all about the Red Wedding. Details, in fact. I was spoiled and I couldn't bring myself to keep reading.
Here's a hint: someone says "Hey, I'm reading such-and-such book!" Your response should never be "Did you get to the part where there's a wedding and so-and-so and so-and-so are murdered? And the direwolf.... " etc. etc. Instead, say "Where are you at in it?"
Common sense, people!
I hated knowing the red wedding was coming so I plodded. But then, GoT on HBO showed the purple wedding and before I could log off Facebook someone posted all about it. Fork, just stick me.
I was told by friends who had read it to keep reading, that the story is well worth it even though I was rudely spoiled on 2 of the biggest events. So I took it on my vacation and finished it.
Now, I kindly tell you, dear reader, spoilers are ahead.....
What a fantastic book! Despite knowing the horrific red wedding and the exceedingly pleasing purple wedding, once I got back, I was sucked in entirely. So absorbed, I got sunburnt on vacation because I got lost in the book. I'll only hand out a few spoilers here because if you haven't read this, you should.
First off.... Jon Snow and Ygritte. Holy moses, I felt horrible for both of them through the course of this book. He was clearly getting smitten with wild woman Ygritte, and she with him ("You know nothing, Jon Snow!") and, while he did have to get back to the Wall, I was sad that she continued to attack and was killed. They could have lived in that cave forever and happy.
Dany and her story line didn't really do much for me and didn't draw me in very well. I am shocked that Jorah was banished and curious when we will see him again.
The red wedding. It has to be said. I was still horrified reading it, even though I knew what was going to happen. Catelyn and Robb dying such horrible deaths at the hands of Frey for.... revenge? That was a bloody massacre and it seemed commonplace when it was discussed among other families ("Yup, the Starks are out of the way"). I'm getting really upset with what is happening to the Starks. Sansa getting out of the Lannister land is good but to end up with Littlefinger and batshit aunt who tries to kill her? Oy. Arya. I have such mixed feelings about Arya. I love her but bad luck just follows the girl. I have honestly never cared for Bran's portion of the books, so I don't really have comments on him.
Now the purple wedding. Holy snikey.... little bastard King Joffrey is finally dead!!! And his mom/uncledad have sex right next to his dead body. What??! Keep it classy, Lannisters. We know Joffrey was poisoned and, if Littlefinger isn't lying, who killed him was a surprise (yay, something I wasn't spoiled on!). Uncle Tyrion is accused of the murder (but really, I think almost anyone in the book could be a suspect) and stands trial. Everything falls in his sister's favor and he's sentenced and thrown in a cell. Dun dun duuuun! Only to have his now one-handed brother Jaime break him free! Dun dun dunnnnn! But first! Before he goes...... let's kill daddy Lannister! Didn't see that coming!
Not a lot of people survived this book but damn, what a ride.
Here's a hint: someone says "Hey, I'm reading such-and-such book!" Your response should never be "Did you get to the part where there's a wedding and so-and-so and so-and-so are murdered? And the direwolf.... " etc. etc. Instead, say "Where are you at in it?"
Common sense, people!
I hated knowing the red wedding was coming so I plodded. But then, GoT on HBO showed the purple wedding and before I could log off Facebook someone posted all about it. Fork, just stick me.
I was told by friends who had read it to keep reading, that the story is well worth it even though I was rudely spoiled on 2 of the biggest events. So I took it on my vacation and finished it.
Now, I kindly tell you, dear reader, spoilers are ahead.....
What a fantastic book! Despite knowing the horrific red wedding and the exceedingly pleasing purple wedding, once I got back, I was sucked in entirely. So absorbed, I got sunburnt on vacation because I got lost in the book. I'll only hand out a few spoilers here because if you haven't read this, you should.
First off.... Jon Snow and Ygritte. Holy moses, I felt horrible for both of them through the course of this book. He was clearly getting smitten with wild woman Ygritte, and she with him ("You know nothing, Jon Snow!") and, while he did have to get back to the Wall, I was sad that she continued to attack and was killed. They could have lived in that cave forever and happy.
Dany and her story line didn't really do much for me and didn't draw me in very well. I am shocked that Jorah was banished and curious when we will see him again.
The red wedding. It has to be said. I was still horrified reading it, even though I knew what was going to happen. Catelyn and Robb dying such horrible deaths at the hands of Frey for.... revenge? That was a bloody massacre and it seemed commonplace when it was discussed among other families ("Yup, the Starks are out of the way"). I'm getting really upset with what is happening to the Starks. Sansa getting out of the Lannister land is good but to end up with Littlefinger and batshit aunt who tries to kill her? Oy. Arya. I have such mixed feelings about Arya. I love her but bad luck just follows the girl. I have honestly never cared for Bran's portion of the books, so I don't really have comments on him.
Now the purple wedding. Holy snikey.... little bastard King Joffrey is finally dead!!! And his mom/uncledad have sex right next to his dead body. What??! Keep it classy, Lannisters. We know Joffrey was poisoned and, if Littlefinger isn't lying, who killed him was a surprise (yay, something I wasn't spoiled on!). Uncle Tyrion is accused of the murder (but really, I think almost anyone in the book could be a suspect) and stands trial. Everything falls in his sister's favor and he's sentenced and thrown in a cell. Dun dun duuuun! Only to have his now one-handed brother Jaime break him free! Dun dun dunnnnn! But first! Before he goes...... let's kill daddy Lannister! Didn't see that coming!
Not a lot of people survived this book but damn, what a ride.
A Song of Ice and Fire is beginning to feel exactly like I was afraid it would. It's turning into this huge plot driven enormity without a strong sense of the world Martin is building. So, while I'm enjoying this epic fantasy series, I feel that it's lacking in the world building. It has an immense cast of characters and a gigantic landscape and yet I feel a lack of culture. I'm three thousand pages in and I know there are old gods and new gods but not a whole lot about what that means to the people. Martin is trying to include it, but in my opinion his style prevents it from really creating a fully realized culture for me.
The series strength lies in it's huge plot and cast of characters. I gave 5 stars to A GAME OF THRONES and A CLASH OF KINGS because I felt like I understood the story he was telling. I felt like it was the story of the Starks - that they were separated and they would find their strengths and then come together. Now that I'm three thousand pages in, I don't feel like I could tell the story anymore. It's not about the Starks anymore, it's not about the seven kingdoms even - it's outgrown that. So for me, if the story doesn't somehow settle it will soon become too epic for caring. If the culture and this struggle between the faith in old gods and new, or between the Kingdom and Freedom became stronger themes then I think this could get better. At this point in the series, I feel that this huge plot will just outpace itself and I will fall out of love with the characters, most of whom seem to be floundering with little purpose other than survival.
The series strength lies in it's huge plot and cast of characters. I gave 5 stars to A GAME OF THRONES and A CLASH OF KINGS because I felt like I understood the story he was telling. I felt like it was the story of the Starks - that they were separated and they would find their strengths and then come together. Now that I'm three thousand pages in, I don't feel like I could tell the story anymore. It's not about the Starks anymore, it's not about the seven kingdoms even - it's outgrown that. So for me, if the story doesn't somehow settle it will soon become too epic for caring. If the culture and this struggle between the faith in old gods and new, or between the Kingdom and Freedom became stronger themes then I think this could get better. At this point in the series, I feel that this huge plot will just outpace itself and I will fall out of love with the characters, most of whom seem to be floundering with little purpose other than survival.
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