2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss George R.R. Martin‘s book, A Storm of Swords.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Rachael, Amber, Amanda, SarahKat, Allie, Amber, Rachel, Maheen, Luffy, Liv, Kiera, Lois, Mary Pat, Anky, Waco, Talia, Rachel, Carolyn, Bianca, Kate, Auntie Terror, Elina

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 206
Week 2: 206
Week 3: 206
Week 4: 206

I really enjoyed this one - looking forward to reading the group discussion!

I enjoyed this. In my opinion, it's the best so far.

I'm just over 100 pages in, and finally I start to get into the story again - even though I didn't wait between this one and A Clash of Kings. I couldn't say why it's so difficult for me this time.

I am about half way through and I agree - it is the best so far! Great pace, enjoying the characters and their exploits. The intensity of the events is great too.

OMG! OMG! It took guts to do that! (view spoiler)[Rob, Catelyn and Arya are all killed in less than a chapter! Major characters just gone! WOW! (hide spoiler)]

Blown away. I don't ever recall reading anything quite like that in a book - especially a series. Definitely the best so far and it will be very interesting to see what happens next!

So, I wasn't patient! Surprise after surprise after surprise!

I found the first two books a little slow but enjoyed the pace of this third book. I am fairly good at figuring out what is coming next but this book kept me guessing. It even fooled me once or twice and I love that.

Looking forward to the next in the series. Hope it is as interesting and as exciting! Can't wait to see where the trail leads.

I'm only about halfway through. This time around, I'm enjoying all the history more than I did the first time. I like reading about Jaime's experiences with the mad king, and some of the rumors surrounding Ned Stark regarding who Jon's mom might be.

Even my boyfriend-- who is not a book-reader, only a show-watcher-- likes me talking about the history. (He hates it when I point out differences).

Did we lose half our group, or is everyone just being really quiet about this one?

I'm being really quiet for one, and keep my complaints to my updates feed ;-) I'm really struggling a bit, and I can't even say why.

Auntie Terror wrote: "I'm being really quiet for one, and keep my complaints to my updates feed ;-) I'm really struggling a bit, and I can't even say why."

Bran's chapters go really slow for me. Now that (view spoiler)[ Catelyn's dead (yay!) (hide spoiler)], he's my least favorite character to read. I can get through anyone else's chapter in a minute, but whenever I hit a Bran one, it takes the entire rest of the day to trudge through.

I struggle with Catelyn, and Sansa, and Jon ever since he went "wild", oh, and Daenerys - Bran is more bearable to me now that he's stopped whining constantly, but I'm still not quite the fan.

So basically I keep waiting for Jaime, Davos or Tyrion (when he isn't with his wife) - or Arya, until just now when she went Sansa-ing off into the rain...

There is a lot happening, and some more fantastic elements at work, which I like.

But, as I said, I'm struggling... ^^'

I agree with Catelyn and Sansa. I have never liked reading their chapters. I still like Jon and Daenerys. I actually really like when Jon goes "wild." I feel like that's the first time in the series you get to see his personality, besides his impeccable honor.

After (view spoiler)[the Red Wedding (hide spoiler)] I actually really got into a reading flow for the first time with this book. And my favourite Fantasy moment so far with (view spoiler)[the Weirwood gate (hide spoiler)].

I don't know what it is with Daenerys for me. The feeling of constant underlying impatience with a character I have with her, I only had once before (without giving up on the book), and that was Lyra Belacqua from Northern Lights... ^^'

Interesting how many people love the books for different reasons. For me it's the history that mirrors real events. The thread of the Starks is terrific. SoS is a favourite for me too.

When I read, I find that I have to stop after almoust every chapter to think. It is like reading a very interesting history book. Sometimes I feel that I know more about Seven Kingdoms than the real world.
I'm a fan of Arya and sometimes I have to keep remembering that she is still so young, just a child. This my favorite book so far.

I've just finished. And this was my least favourite of the series so far, I must say.
It had its moments, especially fantasy-wise, and some characters had interesting developments which gave them more substance. But all in all, it took me about 700 pages to get into a reading flow. And that lasted only so long before I began to "stumble" again.
*don't open before finishing*(view spoiler)[Also, I began to feel bored by all the blood and gore and death and cruelty. And I was so relieved when I thought I'd gotten rid of Catelyn... but then she just goes and gets resurrected. :-/ I hope she won't get a personal point of view again at least. (hide spoiler)]

I hope for better "luck" for myself with book number 4. :-)