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...
But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings 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. 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...GOODREADS
Resumed reading : July 28th
Now commence very long review/rant
If you're a fan of this Song then you know these books aren't small. They are very lengthy books accompanied by a very small font (text). But it's worth the time and money you'll invest in these books. They are an amazing fantasy. My edition is the same as the picture and has an appendix. The book has 1177 pages, the plot ends on page 1128 and the rest is appendix and some unnumbered pages, excerpt from book 4.
I think because I started with the TV series first then the books the affects of the first two books weren't as great as a Storm of Swords. Then again maybe not. We'll never know.,but a Storm of Swords is.amazing. It will blow you away and piss you off and sadden you. You will fall down the rabbit hole into Westoros. If I were to pick this as my favorite book in the saga I'd be jumping the gun. There's still a Feast for Crows and Dance with Dragons. but on the other hand I'm just too scared to read them. I've only just returned from there. What I'm saying is: this book is great! Every chapter leaves you wanting to know "what happens next" but then you'll have to read another chapter to find out "what happens next" but then be totally engrossed in this other chapter and so on and so on. Like every chapter having it's own cliffhanger.
A note on chronology " A Song of Ice and Fire is told through the eyes of characters who are sometimes hundreds or seven thousands of miles apart from one another" George R R Martin
The book starts with a prologue as do the other books. The White walkers attack the men of the Watch at the Fist of the First Men. Smooth reading so far then the first chapter is none other then Jaime's! I hate these things. I don't want to sympathize with the bad guys. I know Martin's characters aren't really bad or good. They're all too freaking gray! but I had already picked Jaime as a bad guy so I didn't freaking want to know his motives or reasons or read about his unhealthy desire to bang his sister! Albeit I reluctantly read it anyways refusing to sympathize OR even develop any feelings for him other than dislike and a murderous intent( for his character). Well my attempt failed. By the end you'll know why Jaime did what he did, does what he does. is who he is.
"The boy had wanted to be Sir Author Dayne, but somewhere along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead""
You see Jaime did want to be a proper Knight (Aurthor Dayne) but somehow he became the villain (the smiling Knight). I'm not saying I like Jaime now, but I don't hate him anymore either. I just understand him now. Don't worry 'tho Jaime gets his hand cut off by Vargo Hoat. So if you have any moral issues with Liking his character I hope that makes you feel better. it does me.
Jaime isn't the only new POV. Samwell and Sansa get Chapters too.
The Red Wedding
George Martin has said he's most anticipating this event in season 3. Really Mr Martin are you some kind of sadist? Do you sit behind your computer/ typewriter giggling while you kill off most loved characters and have you're readers suffer and develop spontaneous angry fits. The Red wedding is the marriage between Edmure Tully and one of Lord Frey"s daughters, Roslin. Because Robb went and eloped with that girl , he inevitably broke his promise to Walder Frey( about marrying one of his daughters) thereby losing the Frey's support. This resulted in a new promise which entailed Edmure marrying a daughter of Lord Frey immediately. But it was a trick. The Frey's are a bunch of fickle little turds. They invite Robb ,Catalyn and Edmure to The Twins for the Wedding which took place immediately. but it was a ruse, a trap. They Kill Rob and Catalyn and the men Robb brought over. There was a battle and in the background the Rains of Castamere was playing.
It's good reading until you get to this bit and freak and yell at the damn book . Curse the author and just put it aside for a couple of days just to get over the shock of it all. I didn't particularly like Robb but he was a Stark and he Held the North. Now I'm just worried. what's gonna happen now? They can't seriously have Bolton hold the north?! or those iron thieves! It has to be a STARK!
George Martin sure loves his songs. In a Storm of swords there is a lot of singing. There are more songs in this book then the other two. I liked the repetition of the song "the bear and the maiden fair" . When the Tyrells plan too take Sansa away and marry her off to another Tyrell this song is being sung in the background. and later we hear it At Joffrey's wedding and in Arya's company too. The Rains of Castamere is played at both weddings
Stannis Baratheon
Stannis gets more chapters in this book through Davos ofcourse. I know in my last review I said he was dead. Well I thought he was . Davos is very much alive. He returns to Stannis and is made Hand of the King and a Lord. I like Davos he's honest and simple. If it were up to him he' d just leave and go home to his wife and raise the sons he has Left. but Davos is also loyal to his King. Another reason to like him is he doesn't like Milisandre either. Kudos man. I really hate the woman. everything she says goes back to Rh'llor. If she doesn't shut up about Rh'llor I'm going to strangle her with a potato!. Melisandre tries to convince Stannis to sacrifice Edric Strom (one of Roberts bastards) to raise stone dragons. Stannis is actually considering it but Davos saves the boy . He saves him knowing he might lose his life. Stannis's character has more detail now. He's not such a bad guy he's just trying to do his duty. He's actually a just man but not a likable one. Milisandre on the other hand (my opinon) is poisoning him.
Stannis moves his men to help defend the Wall which is being attacked by wildlings. Jon Snow returns . He escapes the wildlings . It's interesting reading Jon's chapters because he's growing on the pages. He's loved and lost and fought and lives. Stannis offers to make Jon Lord of Winterfell. Jon has moral issues accepting this. He doesn't in the end because Jon gets voted as the 998th Lord Commander of the nights watch.
Daenarys Targaryn
I wasn't very impressed with Dany's character before but I'm very won over now. She is bad ass. Jorah gives her advice to buy her own army before meeting Illyrio. So she goes to Astapor to buy an army of Unsullied. She wants to buy the whole army even the young boys in training (more to save them) but she doesn't have that much cash so she offers one of her dragons as payment. At this point I'm yelling noooo(she can't be serious) . What happened to mother of dragons ?. But it was a trick. when she gets ownership of the Unsullied then the city of Astapor falls. and she continues on to Yunkai'i and Mereen conquering and freeing the slaves and they name her Mother. She is bad ass and a true Khaleesi. Dany takes over these cities by being very clever and gutsy. That's what I liked about her ,the decisions she made against such uncertain odds were her own. It wasn't all smooth sailing tho. Ser Barristan Selmy returns , he's the old man protecting Dany now and he reveals that Jorah was an informant for the King.
Alright this is getting too long here are some interesting events that happen:
There so much more but it would make this as lengthy as the books. but I just have something to say about the zombie, lord Beric Dondarrion and the new zombie Catalyn Stark, back from the dead. eh well they're ZOMBIES!!!
Disgusting!
(While) read(ing) till pages 693- 710 " Devastation"
You should know I specialize in spoilers. As the warning in the header (or whatever you call it) sincerely states. I haven't finished a Storm of Swords yet but I'm putting it aside because of the Red Wedding. This book is amazing yet horrible and sad , badass and just, just epic! I fear picking it up and reading the rest . I fear what the other books might hold. I am really not liking George Martin right now but also admire his writing and what he's done and doing with this work. ///Reading hiatus July 24thResumed reading : July 28th
Now commence very long review/rant
If you're a fan of this Song then you know these books aren't small. They are very lengthy books accompanied by a very small font (text). But it's worth the time and money you'll invest in these books. They are an amazing fantasy. My edition is the same as the picture and has an appendix. The book has 1177 pages, the plot ends on page 1128 and the rest is appendix and some unnumbered pages, excerpt from book 4.
I think because I started with the TV series first then the books the affects of the first two books weren't as great as a Storm of Swords. Then again maybe not. We'll never know.,but a Storm of Swords is.amazing. It will blow you away and piss you off and sadden you. You will fall down the rabbit hole into Westoros. If I were to pick this as my favorite book in the saga I'd be jumping the gun. There's still a Feast for Crows and Dance with Dragons. but on the other hand I'm just too scared to read them. I've only just returned from there. What I'm saying is: this book is great! Every chapter leaves you wanting to know "what happens next" but then you'll have to read another chapter to find out "what happens next" but then be totally engrossed in this other chapter and so on and so on. Like every chapter having it's own cliffhanger.
A note on chronology " A Song of Ice and Fire is told through the eyes of characters who are sometimes hundreds or seven thousands of miles apart from one another" George R R Martin
The book starts with a prologue as do the other books. The White walkers attack the men of the Watch at the Fist of the First Men. Smooth reading so far then the first chapter is none other then Jaime's! I hate these things. I don't want to sympathize with the bad guys. I know Martin's characters aren't really bad or good. They're all too freaking gray! but I had already picked Jaime as a bad guy so I didn't freaking want to know his motives or reasons or read about his unhealthy desire to bang his sister! Albeit I reluctantly read it anyways refusing to sympathize OR even develop any feelings for him other than dislike and a murderous intent( for his character). Well my attempt failed. By the end you'll know why Jaime did what he did, does what he does. is who he is.
"The boy had wanted to be Sir Author Dayne, but somewhere along the way he had become the Smiling Knight instead""
You see Jaime did want to be a proper Knight (Aurthor Dayne) but somehow he became the villain (the smiling Knight). I'm not saying I like Jaime now, but I don't hate him anymore either. I just understand him now. Don't worry 'tho Jaime gets his hand cut off by Vargo Hoat. So if you have any moral issues with Liking his character I hope that makes you feel better. it does me.
Jaime isn't the only new POV. Samwell and Sansa get Chapters too.
The Red Wedding
George Martin has said he's most anticipating this event in season 3. Really Mr Martin are you some kind of sadist? Do you sit behind your computer/ typewriter giggling while you kill off most loved characters and have you're readers suffer and develop spontaneous angry fits. The Red wedding is the marriage between Edmure Tully and one of Lord Frey"s daughters, Roslin. Because Robb went and eloped with that girl , he inevitably broke his promise to Walder Frey( about marrying one of his daughters) thereby losing the Frey's support. This resulted in a new promise which entailed Edmure marrying a daughter of Lord Frey immediately. But it was a trick. The Frey's are a bunch of fickle little turds. They invite Robb ,Catalyn and Edmure to The Twins for the Wedding which took place immediately. but it was a ruse, a trap. They Kill Rob and Catalyn and the men Robb brought over. There was a battle and in the background the Rains of Castamere was playing.
It's good reading until you get to this bit and freak and yell at the damn book . Curse the author and just put it aside for a couple of days just to get over the shock of it all. I didn't particularly like Robb but he was a Stark and he Held the North. Now I'm just worried. what's gonna happen now? They can't seriously have Bolton hold the north?! or those iron thieves! It has to be a STARK!
George Martin sure loves his songs. In a Storm of swords there is a lot of singing. There are more songs in this book then the other two. I liked the repetition of the song "the bear and the maiden fair" . When the Tyrells plan too take Sansa away and marry her off to another Tyrell this song is being sung in the background. and later we hear it At Joffrey's wedding and in Arya's company too. The Rains of Castamere is played at both weddings
Stannis Baratheon
Stannis gets more chapters in this book through Davos ofcourse. I know in my last review I said he was dead. Well I thought he was . Davos is very much alive. He returns to Stannis and is made Hand of the King and a Lord. I like Davos he's honest and simple. If it were up to him he' d just leave and go home to his wife and raise the sons he has Left. but Davos is also loyal to his King. Another reason to like him is he doesn't like Milisandre either. Kudos man. I really hate the woman. everything she says goes back to Rh'llor. If she doesn't shut up about Rh'llor I'm going to strangle her with a potato!. Melisandre tries to convince Stannis to sacrifice Edric Strom (one of Roberts bastards) to raise stone dragons. Stannis is actually considering it but Davos saves the boy . He saves him knowing he might lose his life. Stannis's character has more detail now. He's not such a bad guy he's just trying to do his duty. He's actually a just man but not a likable one. Milisandre on the other hand (my opinon) is poisoning him.
Stannis moves his men to help defend the Wall which is being attacked by wildlings. Jon Snow returns . He escapes the wildlings . It's interesting reading Jon's chapters because he's growing on the pages. He's loved and lost and fought and lives. Stannis offers to make Jon Lord of Winterfell. Jon has moral issues accepting this. He doesn't in the end because Jon gets voted as the 998th Lord Commander of the nights watch.
Daenarys Targaryn
I wasn't very impressed with Dany's character before but I'm very won over now. She is bad ass. Jorah gives her advice to buy her own army before meeting Illyrio. So she goes to Astapor to buy an army of Unsullied. She wants to buy the whole army even the young boys in training (more to save them) but she doesn't have that much cash so she offers one of her dragons as payment. At this point I'm yelling noooo(she can't be serious) . What happened to mother of dragons ?. But it was a trick. when she gets ownership of the Unsullied then the city of Astapor falls. and she continues on to Yunkai'i and Mereen conquering and freeing the slaves and they name her Mother. She is bad ass and a true Khaleesi. Dany takes over these cities by being very clever and gutsy. That's what I liked about her ,the decisions she made against such uncertain odds were her own. It wasn't all smooth sailing tho. Ser Barristan Selmy returns , he's the old man protecting Dany now and he reveals that Jorah was an informant for the King.
Alright this is getting too long here are some interesting events that happen:
- Tyrion is forced to marry Sansa (for her claim to Winterfell) but Tyrion does not consummate the marriage
- Tyrion kills his father while he's on the privy
- Jaime and Brienne's odd friendship
- Petyr Baelisch is a sneaky vile loathsome roach!
- Joffrey dies eating pigeon pie at his own wedding
- Sandor and Arya
- Arya gets to use the coin and the words "vallar morghulis"
Some revelations:
- Lysa Arryn murdered her own husband because Petyr encouraged her to.
- Joffrey was the one who tried to have Bran murdered
- Tysa, Tyrion's first wife wasn't really a whore . She was just a gold digger.
- you can also kill white walkers with dragon glass
- 'vallar morghulis" means "all men must die". This is high valyrian. Missandei says this to Dany.
- 'vallar morghulis" means "all men must die". This is high valyrian. Missandei says this to Dany.
There so much more but it would make this as lengthy as the books. but I just have something to say about the zombie, lord Beric Dondarrion and the new zombie Catalyn Stark, back from the dead. eh well they're ZOMBIES!!!
Disgusting!
Jaime arrives in Kingslanding . First thing he does is go looking for his sister. He finds her in the Sept mourning her son. Then they do it. Disgusting. not only are they brother and sister doing it in a church. Martin went and had them saying "oh brother, sweet brother, you're home, home". somebody strangle ME with a potato. There's a part I'm leaving out because it tops the fruitcake off. I like spoilers and Me not mentioning the certain bit tells you how disgusted I am. *I used fruitcake instead of cake because I like cake.
Dear reader, you read it to the end? are you sane? or just as engrossed with this song as I am. A lot of people or so I've heard didn't like how the story turned out . I'm not particularly happy with Mr Martin. but he wrote a wonderful story . and good story. I just hope the ending isn't as cold as Mr Martin says it might be.
Grade:
Grade:
OMG! I LOVE it that you actually give out spoilers. LOL. Joffrey dies like THAT? That's amusing. Tyrion marries Sansa? Cool. Love it that Dany is getting stronger. Robb dies? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
ReplyDelete"Do you sit behind your computer/ typewriter giggling while you kill off most loved characters and have your readers suffer and develop spontaneous angry fits?"
Yes, I do believe he does. Authors just love killing/making our favorite characters suffer. *nods repeatedly*
can't wait to see what you'll say when you're done.:)
I just like knowing what happens, I've never liked surprises. And I'm very happy you're not too touchy about it and that you seem to have read the whole thing :D. Thank you reader.
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