A Storm of Swords

Summary (from the publisher): Rarely has there been a tale as gripping, or one as likely to seize the minds and hearts of a generation, as George R. R. Martin's epic high fantasy series. In A Game of Thrones, an ancient kingdom was torn by the ambitions of ruthless men and women; in A Clash of Kings, war, sorcery, and madness swept over the kingdom like a voracious beast of prey. Now, as the brutal struggle for power nears its tumultuous climax, the battered and divided kingdom faces its most terrifying invasion—one that is being spearheaded from beyond the grave. . . .

A STORM OF SWORDS

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. 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. Filled with the stench of death and decay from the destructive dynastic war, Daenerys is gathering allies and strength for an assault on King's Landing, hoping to win back the crown she believes is rightfully hers. But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings bent on overwhelming the Seven Kingdoms arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. And as the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest in the quest for victory until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . . Brilliantly conceived and grand in scope, A Storm of Swords is the incredible tale of a world of harsh beauty and powerful magic, torn by treachery, ravaged by brutality, and consumed by greed and ambition. It portrays a war-torn landscape in which nobles and commoners, heroes and villains, the freeborn and the enslaved, all struggle to survive and to find their destinies...along with the dazzling bounty and wondrous enchantment that was once their birthright in the Seven Kingdoms.

Review: I have waited too many months trying to check this thing out at the library. Every thrift store I went in for the past year,  I looked for this book, and I almost broke down a dozen times and just bought it full price (but it bothered me to only own book three of a series). Finally, it was available at the library, and it was most definitely worth the wait. 

This epic fantasy is the third book in the Game of Thrones trilogy and it continues the story of the Seven Kingdoms and the great struggle for power. I really admire an author who has the ability to imagine a whole other world, and one with numerous ruling families and thousands of years of history. That being said, this book demands a lot from the reader. First off, its 973 pages. Second, the story is told from ten points of view, but that's only a sampling of the dozens of characters in its pages. But it is SO worth it.

I continue to be the greatest fan of the Stark family, especially Jon Snow and Arya. Like their father, they both have a great sense of honor and duty, and neither let me down in this book. I particularly enjoyed Jon in this book (ok, he's always been my favorite/fictional crush), and it was interesting getting to see more of the world north of the wall through his narration. I was also pleasantly pleased by Jaime Lannister in this book, surprisingly. 

I do wish I could see someone happy in this series.  There's a lot of violence, needless death, burned cities, raped women, etc. etc. in this series. I'd like to think the ultimate conclusion of the series is the selection of a final ruler who leads with grace and benevolence.  So let's hope and pray George R.R. Martin lives long enough to finish all the books.  Also, I knew full well that Martin is unafraid to ruthlessly kill off main characters but I let myself get complacent and so was mightily upset when numerous characters were suddenly killed.   

With most books, I enjoy them but am ready to move on when I finish. With A Storm of Swords, I still feel immersed in the world of the book, hours after finishing it, and I'm already anxious to start book four. Few books are worthy of five stars, in my opinion, but this is certainly one that deserves it without question. 

Stars: 5