Review: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (Steel and Snow + Blood and Gold)

At over 1200 pages A Storm of Swords is such a big-ass book that in some editions it has to be split in two separate books. Since I haven’t read the second part of the third book yet, this review will only reflect my thoughts on A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow.

In the wake of the battle at King’s Landing, the power balance has shifted once again. Shit’s going down in the North as well, and the Khaleesi is still collecting her army.

To be honest, if you would make a summary of the essence what happens in this book, you could probably condense it in a page or two. This is probably true for all of the Song of Ice and Fire books. Martin’s books are SLOW. They are honest to god the slowest books I’ve ever read. That being said, it’s so easy to drown in the world of Westeros. It’s like one big puppet play, set in dozens of locations, and Martin is the puppet master. His characters meet and clash, deceive or reveal, or narrowly miss each other.

I enjoy spending time in Westeros. But as I’ve said before, I don’t have the idea this story is actually going anywhere. I think the finale of the books will bring a lot of deaths, but I don’t think there will be a truly satisfying way to finish these books. There are just so many characters, and although Martin is great at culling the ranks, he adds more points of view than he removes.

As a book on itself, Steel and Snow feels unfinished and unsatisfying. It clearly isn’t meant to stand on its own, and it feels like the book ends before something big can really happen. Don’t start this one unless you have the second one near as well.

I can’t wait to read about a certain wedding everyone keeps talking about in the next one.

It has taken a while, but Martin’s world is finally in its maturity. All of the seeds he has planted in the first two books have grown into cut-throat plots and killer conclusions. Martin’s writing style is still dry, but the trials he puts his characters through made me forget that A Storm of Swords isn’t perfect. This is the first volume of the Song of Ice and Fire series that I managed to read in little over two weeks – usually these take me at least a few months. My favourite book in the series so far.

Winter approaches Westeros like an angry beast.

The Seven Kingdoms are divided by revolt and blood feud. In the northern wastes, a horde of hungry, savage people steeped in the dark magic of the wilderness is poised to invade the Kingdom of the North where Robb Stark wears his new-forged crown. And Robb’s defences are ranged against the South, the land of the cunning and cruel Lannisters, who have his young sisters in their power.

Throughout Westeros, the war for the Iron Throne rages more fiercely than ever, but if the Wall is breached, no king will live to claim it.

• Clash of Iron by Angus Watson
• Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
• Hounded by Kevin Hearne
• Blood’s Pride by Evie Manieri

1. A Game of Thrones
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons