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A Storm of Swords: Summary
This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin is a fantasy novel, the third in the series, preceded by A Clash of Kings. It begins in the final months of the year 299 in the land of the Seven Kingdoms and concerns the aftermath of a war for the Iron Throne. Little battles are raging to settle where the rewards of the war will fall, for the one who holds the Iron Throne rules the kingdom.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin is a fantasy novel, the third in the series, preceded by A Clash of Kings. It begins in the final months of the year 299 in the land of the Seven Kingdoms and concerns the aftermath of a war for the Iron Throne. Little battles are raging to settle where the rewards of the war will fall, for the one who holds the Iron Throne rules the kingdom.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2010
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4492 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
April 8, 2014
Take this stupid study guide pile of crap off my goodreads shelf you jerkoff of a shitty poop iPad app! Shhhhhhiiiiiitttt.
June 23, 2012
Interesting reading other reviews of this series, I get peoples disapointment at the loss of some of the charactors and that the scope of the books can bog you down a little (though I really have only noticed that books four and five) I like the world George Martin has created, it is a rich tapestry - having said that I hope it is all resolved and tied neatly up by book 8 it seems to be unravelling a bit in book 5 - he still has three to write. Wish list of things I would like to see - Cersei Lannisters head on a spike, Jaime Lannister and Brienne as an odd couple, Danyerus Targaryen get her mojo back, retirement for the onion knight, some form of happiness for Tyrion, and good things for Arya Stark and Jon Snow. I liked Aryas friend the Bravo, more of him would be good......and what is happening north of the wall. It is my selfish hope too that HBO keeps making tv series of the books - Awesome to see the charactors spring to life, and with some spirit of the books unlike Legend of the seeker which sanitised the sword of truth series and finished after only 2 seasons. Having said that LOTS has my all time favorite TV charactor Cara, and frankly I would have watched any old drivel to see more of her, because she utterly rocks!!
May 24, 2014
This is for the Summary Study Guide, which I am not interested in at all.
Keeps showing up in my Recommendations shelf. I click "Not Interested". It comes back. What kind of loophole was used for this book to show up repeatedly? Go away.
Edited: May 24, 2014
I may have inadvertently found a solution. My 1 Star rating seems to have bumped this book from the Recommendation area into the rated area.
Keeps showing up in my Recommendations shelf. I click "Not Interested". It comes back. What kind of loophole was used for this book to show up repeatedly? Go away.
Edited: May 24, 2014
I may have inadvertently found a solution. My 1 Star rating seems to have bumped this book from the Recommendation area into the rated area.
August 17, 2013
Okay, so I never read fantasy. Like, never. I mean, I read The Hobbit in the sixth grade because it was required. Since then, nothing. As you know if you've read the reviews on this blog, I gravitate toward relatable, character-driven, contemporary fiction.
But I got hooked on the HBO series for Game of Thrones. I watched the first two seasons on Netflix and then I suffered through the Facebook updates of people watching the third season. But I don't have HBO. So I decided to read the third book instead.
It amuses me to listen to debates about whether George R.R. Martin is a "good" writer. This seems to mean very different things to different people and readability (as evidenced by popularity and awesome sales) isn't always enough. I wonder if some people put the writing down specifically because of its broad appeal. The fact that it's accessible to a majority means it can't be "good". For these readers, a book is only "good" when indecipherable to most.
For me, it was in one of the first chapters of A Storm of Swords, when a low-speed sailboat chase had me on the edge of my seat, that it occurred to me that I was in the hands of a "good" writer. Martin's technique of killing off lead characters isn't a risk most writers are willing to take and it definitely ups the stakes. I also love the fact that these characters are so complicated. Morality is murky here and virtue often does not achieve external reward - much like in real life. Perhaps that realism is why I'm able to enjoy a book about dragons and magic. The fantasy elements are superficial; at its root, this is a story about people, relationships, and human nature.
March 17, 2013
A Storm of Swords is not only the most eventful and enticing book in the entire Ice and Fire Saga, but may also be one of the most well-written and interesting plots ever written. No one can envoke such empathy or hatred for their characters like Martin. No one can describe the breath-taking views of Westeros like Martin either. Each of his characters are interesting and unique, and continually develop throughout the series. I won't spoil anything since the greatest part about the plot twists is that you need to read them again to see if you really just read that. Everything Gerge R. R. Martin depicts happens so seemlessly that you can't believe he only spent a few sentences on such a critical event. It leaves you in a state of disbelief, like you just realized that you just had sex with a Malaysian hooker without any legs.(except the weat and shame)And it pulls you in to further inpect the finer details leading up to the impact. The story in A Storm of Swords moves by at a great pace that is fast enough to not be lulled over a lengthy conversation, but slow enough to understand and apprieciate all of it's contents. The absolute mastery of prose and good story-telling makes this an awesome gem among a bunch of other awesome gems. The adventure is riveting, the character development personally affects you as well as the characters themselves, and to top it all off, the sex is great too.
August 6, 2012
Dense and intense, this installment of Martin's Song of Fire and Ice magnum opus essentially progresses the stories of Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Arya, Sansa, Bran, Caitlin and Robb Stark by kicking everything casual readers would typically expect and brutalizing it beyond recognition. This is an exaggeration, mostly (certainly not in the cases of Robb and Caitlin) but there are several gut punchers that seem to leave all the families' fortunes hanging perilously over the edge of the Wall itself. Only Daneryis Stormborn seems to have the upper hand in regards to her fate, but hints of calamities to come are seen throughout.
ASOS is a seriously addictive but challenging read and for me, truly locks my interest into place for the revalations yet to be met. Gripping and superb storytelling.
ASOS is a seriously addictive but challenging read and for me, truly locks my interest into place for the revalations yet to be met. Gripping and superb storytelling.
April 15, 2012
I have trouble reading this series because I tend to get attached to characters in stories. This series is told in sequence from different characters' points of view, and some of them meet their ends part way through. This series in no way compares to the Master Tolkien. There are plenty of fights, and i think it must be better in visual form, such as the HBO series, which I haven't seen. There is very rarely anything happy in the books. I think that begins to drag me down after awhile, and i find myself reluctant to keep reading.
Read
August 8, 2011A tour de force of fantasy fiction, realistic characters that stride across a medieval landscape that has more reality than many a historical novel. The tale has a huge cast of characters and has many twists and turns. Seldom have I enjoyed a fantasy more it left me hungry for the sequel. A great read!
February 4, 2011
I don't know how I just "discovered" George R.R. Martin but this is the best fantasy I've read since Tolkien. His novels are very ambitious in scope and the characters are engaging enough to carry you through the different books and still be interested in their respective stories.
May 30, 2013
1177 pages.
I really like this series, and this book was really entertaining and hard to put down. I like how the author tells the story through multiple character's point of view, and I like how each character has their own story. This series is entertaining and tells a good story.
I really like this series, and this book was really entertaining and hard to put down. I like how the author tells the story through multiple character's point of view, and I like how each character has their own story. This series is entertaining and tells a good story.
August 24, 2025
Mostly read this to know in advance of my friends what was going to transpire in the tv show. Reading concurrently while the show was going on was an interesting experience, but the story arc as a whole ran a little stale when the show writers ran out of source material.
November 29, 2025
Might be the best in the series. Every chapter is fire. Jon’s are my favourite and dany is at her best here. The wall story is peak, kings landing story is peak, slavers bay story is peak, Stannis is peak.
February 5, 2023
Very respectable number of boobies
June 15, 2012
This review contains comments on Books 3 and 4 of the Ice and FIre series.
Dear Ice and Fire Junkie
The popularity of the HBO series, Game of Thrones has enticed many folks to pick up and start plowing through the entire series of tomes from which the TV shows derive their inspiration. And, once you’re sucked in, it’s pretty much like quicksand. The brilliant acting of most, if not all, of the characters along with the masterful writing of their roles and place in this Tolkienesque saga makes us easy prey for this quagmire. But beware good reader, there is much more to this sticky wicket than a mere addiction.
Before you get too heavily invested in this series, if you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to pay attention to the negative reviews of Books 4 and 5. Among those reviews, the breakdown in narration after Book 3 is particularly egregious. I am generally a fan of Roy Dotrice. He is not my favorite narrator / performer but he is unquestionably a very good one but mostly for playing the roles of older men. The characters of young men seem to present Mr. Dotrice with something of a challenge and that of female characters, especially young ones, a challenge that is unsurmountable. That being said, Mr. Dotrice’s contribution to the powerful and stunningly produced first three books in this series was not insignificant. There were parts in the writing of those that seemed to drag on and on too long but they were still made entertaining by the narrator. In Books 4 and 5 there were many more dull, uninspired passages that were also made less entertaining by the narrator.
And, that being said, what in the heck is up with the changes in pronunciation of names and the voices of their owners? Was anyone paying attention to the editing and production of these last two books? I don’t know if it was Random House Audio or Audible who dropped the ball here but it all starts with Roy Dotrice. He’s the common denominator here and has to be aware of this huge distracting shift that took place between books and has to have the most responsibility for better quality control.
As far as the story goes, I will repeat here some of what I wrote in a review of Book 1. While I loved a lot about the writing in the first installment, I cared so much about the characters, to have so many of these good and honorable protagonists tortured and killed, I thought that I did not need to continue beyond Book 1. But, continue I did and was not sorry after Book 2. I enjoyed the third installment but things slid downhill in all respects after that. There are characters that I am still interested in and wish to know about their fates, even a couple of the villains. But, will I invest 2 more credits in this series? Me thinks not, at least not at this time. It is not That great.
Oh, and lest I not forget, the ending. Book 4 contains the very worst ending of any book I have ever picked up. If an author lacks so much imagination that s/he cannot satisfyingly end a book even if it is not the last in a series then me thinks the author's imagination needs work. I believe that authors owe it to their readers to finish a book and not just entice their readers to buy the next installment. Shame on you GRRM. Book 3 was an excellent book. It left many unanswered questions but at least had a decent conclusion. And, dear reader, you may wish to just end your addiction with Book 3. It's all downhill from there.
Dear Ice and Fire Junkie
The popularity of the HBO series, Game of Thrones has enticed many folks to pick up and start plowing through the entire series of tomes from which the TV shows derive their inspiration. And, once you’re sucked in, it’s pretty much like quicksand. The brilliant acting of most, if not all, of the characters along with the masterful writing of their roles and place in this Tolkienesque saga makes us easy prey for this quagmire. But beware good reader, there is much more to this sticky wicket than a mere addiction.
Before you get too heavily invested in this series, if you haven’t already, you owe it to yourself to pay attention to the negative reviews of Books 4 and 5. Among those reviews, the breakdown in narration after Book 3 is particularly egregious. I am generally a fan of Roy Dotrice. He is not my favorite narrator / performer but he is unquestionably a very good one but mostly for playing the roles of older men. The characters of young men seem to present Mr. Dotrice with something of a challenge and that of female characters, especially young ones, a challenge that is unsurmountable. That being said, Mr. Dotrice’s contribution to the powerful and stunningly produced first three books in this series was not insignificant. There were parts in the writing of those that seemed to drag on and on too long but they were still made entertaining by the narrator. In Books 4 and 5 there were many more dull, uninspired passages that were also made less entertaining by the narrator.
And, that being said, what in the heck is up with the changes in pronunciation of names and the voices of their owners? Was anyone paying attention to the editing and production of these last two books? I don’t know if it was Random House Audio or Audible who dropped the ball here but it all starts with Roy Dotrice. He’s the common denominator here and has to be aware of this huge distracting shift that took place between books and has to have the most responsibility for better quality control.
As far as the story goes, I will repeat here some of what I wrote in a review of Book 1. While I loved a lot about the writing in the first installment, I cared so much about the characters, to have so many of these good and honorable protagonists tortured and killed, I thought that I did not need to continue beyond Book 1. But, continue I did and was not sorry after Book 2. I enjoyed the third installment but things slid downhill in all respects after that. There are characters that I am still interested in and wish to know about their fates, even a couple of the villains. But, will I invest 2 more credits in this series? Me thinks not, at least not at this time. It is not That great.
Oh, and lest I not forget, the ending. Book 4 contains the very worst ending of any book I have ever picked up. If an author lacks so much imagination that s/he cannot satisfyingly end a book even if it is not the last in a series then me thinks the author's imagination needs work. I believe that authors owe it to their readers to finish a book and not just entice their readers to buy the next installment. Shame on you GRRM. Book 3 was an excellent book. It left many unanswered questions but at least had a decent conclusion. And, dear reader, you may wish to just end your addiction with Book 3. It's all downhill from there.
July 10, 2012
First off, I just realized this is actually the guide rather than the book, but it appears most other reviewers made the same mistake. (Well, with the same cover picture..) Whatevs, I already did the update thing and I doubt that's transferable.
Now, as for the actual novel, I both loved it more than the previous books in the series and dreaded rereading it. However, there was more excitement than the second novel and more amusing characters. Grandma Tyrell in particular should have been featured more - she was hilarious.
So, I'm thinking it's a pretty good, if disheartening, read the first time through. Then again, I don't think Martin has it in him to make a happy Song of Ice and Fire novel - no matter who you're rooting for, they're pretty much bound to be screwed in some way. It's earned a rounded up five stars from me.
Side note: Davos is awesome, and he is basically Ned Stark 2.0: now with self preservation. Well, no. He still doesn't have that. But he's around a person with power that appreciates honesty, so cool!
Now, as for the actual novel, I both loved it more than the previous books in the series and dreaded rereading it. However, there was more excitement than the second novel and more amusing characters. Grandma Tyrell in particular should have been featured more - she was hilarious.
So, I'm thinking it's a pretty good, if disheartening, read the first time through. Then again, I don't think Martin has it in him to make a happy Song of Ice and Fire novel - no matter who you're rooting for, they're pretty much bound to be screwed in some way. It's earned a rounded up five stars from me.
Side note: Davos is awesome, and he is basically Ned Stark 2.0: now with self preservation. Well, no. He still doesn't have that. But he's around a person with power that appreciates honesty, so cool!
November 19, 2012
Ok I didn't realize this was the GUIDE to the book. Seems most others made the same mistake. I figure out how to delete this and change to the actual book. So I'll just do my review here because who really cares?
Well I loved this book! Clash of Kings I felt started out too slowly, but Storm of Swords was exciting all the way through. I found myself saying "Holy Crap!" At the end of what seemed like every chapter. There were very few dull points and I found myself interested in each characters story line (something I can't claim for the previous 2 books). Yes, there are some heart breaking scenes but I feel it just makes for a better story because you really don't know that everything will be ok in the end. A common complaint I here about these books is they are boring and sort of drag on without a lot happening. Although I have enjoyed this series greatly I can't say I don't understand where those criticisms come from. But I can say this book more than makes up for any low points in the previous books.
April 2, 2013
As it stands here in January 2013, this was the last 'great' book G.R.R.M wrote. and I use that in the true sense of the word where these first three novels in ASOIAF truly were books that strode as if giants among the other lesser novels.
Read the first three in this series, climaxing with this book they were innovative, well wirtten and tightly plotted. they changed the fantasy genre (probably for the better) and remain one of the best investments in time you can make.
It is just a shame books 4 and 5 succumb to the law of diminishing returns, here's hoping books 6 and 7 can return this series to the top.
Read the first three in this series, climaxing with this book they were innovative, well wirtten and tightly plotted. they changed the fantasy genre (probably for the better) and remain one of the best investments in time you can make.
It is just a shame books 4 and 5 succumb to the law of diminishing returns, here's hoping books 6 and 7 can return this series to the top.
May 16, 2012
Most of my early reading was in the fantasy genre, but by the time I finished college I was losing enthusiasm for fantasy. Everything was the same. I began a Patrick O'Brian binge. Then I discovered Bernard Cornwell, Ken Follet (The Pillars of Earth), and others. I happened upon a library audio book of The Game of Thrones and became enthralled with the story, character, and low-magic fantasy of George RR Martin. Now I have them on Audio book and Kindle and am on my second read.
August 14, 2012
I just finished this book and it was filled with Martin's classic twist and turns and unbelievable surprises. But as with all his works, I felt that he could've accomplished the same in about 300 pages less than he did. Even though his writing is verbose and overly full of description, and could use to be streamlined, I enjoyed the book immensely. I look forward to reading the next in the series when I have another week of my life to surrender to his world.
June 25, 2012
Mismo estilo de las novelas anteriores. Interesante y cautivador, aunque después de 3.000 páginas empieza a resultar un poco monótono y aburrido. Esta en particular es bastante sangrienta, pero vcreo que continuare con las dos siguientes. A veces uno desea que el autor se hubiera dedicadoa dedicado a cualquier otra actividad en vez de a escribir novelas.
October 7, 2012
Loved this book. The author seemed to back off of some of the endless description of the countless Lords and Ladies , which for me gets tiresome. There was a lot of good plot twists that left my jaw on the floor. I'm about 1/2 thru the 4th book right now and this book is by far better than the next.
July 27, 2013
Sorry - I didn't read this. I am trigger finger happy and clicked the wrong book. I am reading the George R R Martin in full - not the review. I can't find out how to delete a currently reading book when I've tagged the wrong one. The rating here does not count as I haven't read it but couldn't change my currently reading any other way.
March 15, 2014
Oh jeez - this is one of the longest most boring.....
get an editor!
So sad that some of my favourite characters have become whiny and annoying.
Don't think I'll be going on with this series...
I admit defeat.
get an editor!
So sad that some of my favourite characters have become whiny and annoying.
Don't think I'll be going on with this series...
I admit defeat.
Read
August 29, 2012Excellent book. Continues the stories of Jaime Lannister and Brienne, Arya, Rob Stark while also exploring the character of Roose Bolton. One of my favorites of the series. Possibly the favorite though it faces staunch competition with A Game of Thrones and Dance with Dragons.
September 30, 2012
George R. R. Martin writes. He is god with a little g in his universe, and although he relies too much on foreshadowing for my taste, it is more of a challenge to put his books down than to pick them up.
October 7, 2012
This one I've had to sit down about 1/3 of the way through the book. The lulls are painful despite how wonderful the story develops in the end. I have too many projects going on at the moment, but as usual George R.R. Martin does not fail to deliver.
October 30, 2012
An excellent book. The character development is simply awesome. You think you know them, but they can change within a heart-beat. Martin has taken full advantage of his story-telling gift and ends each chapter in a cliffhanger. A feat taht can be likened to Scheherazade's. 3 thumbs up!
Read
January 27, 2013This whole book and series is amazing!!!
All I want to say is that the last page of chapter 80 JUST BLEW MY MIND!!! By no means do things get settled in this book but you start to see the strings get knotted and where they will lay on the end. I will probably start the next book tonight...
All I want to say is that the last page of chapter 80 JUST BLEW MY MIND!!! By no means do things get settled in this book but you start to see the strings get knotted and where they will lay on the end. I will probably start the next book tonight...
April 5, 2013
I loved this book. Being able to see things from so many different perspectives keeps you entertained throughout. There are so many unexpected twists, you are always on the edge of your seat just waiting to find out what craziness will happen next. Can't wait to start the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews