A Storm of Swords Part 2: Blood and Gold

The avalanche that buries everything.

I remember someone telling me, before I started this book: "The first two are just the setup. This one is the war." They were wrong. A Storm of Swords is not the war. It is the aftermath of every war, the funeral of every hope, and the moment you realize that Martin is not writing a story; he is building a catastrophe and daring you to look away.

The first two books had trained me. I thought I knew what to expect. I thought I had built up a tolerance to Martin's cruelty. A Storm of Swords laughed at my arrogance. It broke me twice in ways I still cannot discuss without my voice catching. And it introduced me to a villain I ended up loving- a journey I never saw coming.

What it is:

The War of the Five show more Kings has raged for a year. Armies are exhausted. Alliances are crumbling. Winter is finally arriving, and the supernatural threats from the north: the White Walkers, the wildlings, the cold that does not die are no longer whispers. They are at the Wall. And the Wall itself is undermanned, underfed, and commanded by a boy who has no idea what is coming.

Meanwhile, in the riverlands, the remaining Starks are scattered, hunted, and slowly losing hope. In King's Landing, Tyrion Lannister tries to survive the aftermath of a battle he won but was never thanked for. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen has conquered a city and must learn to rule—a task far harder than conquering. And a new point-of-view character enters the stage: Jaime Lannister, the kingslayer, the oathbreaker, the man who pushed a child out of a window. Martin gives him a voice. And then he makes you question everything you thought you knew.

Why it is the best of the first three books (and why it destroyed me):

1. The pace is relentless. The first two books built slowly, like a storm gathering over the ocean. A Storm of Swords is the landfall. Every chapter matters. Every plot thread accelerates. You will tell yourself "just one more chapter" and then look up to find the sun rising. I have never read a 1,200-page book that felt this short.

2. The twists are earned. This book contains two of the most famous sequences in modern fantasy. I will not name them. If you have been online at all, you probably already know about them. But knowing they are coming does not prepare you. Martin does not shock you for the sake of shock. He shocks you because the world he built makes those events inevitable. When you finish those chapters, you will not be angry at the author. You will be angry at the characters and at yourself, for not seeing it coming.

3. Jaime Lannister's arc is a miracle. In the first two books, Jaime was a sneering villain: the incestuous kingslayer who threw a child to his death. In A Storm of Swords, Martin gives him chapters. He shows you his scars, his father's contempt, his complicated history with the Mad King. He does not excuse Jaime's crimes. He explains them. And then he asks: can a man who has done terrible things still change? The answer is messy, painful, and beautiful. By the end of this book, Jaime Lannister became one of my favorite characters in fiction. I did not think that was possible.

4. Arya's journey continues to break my heart. She is still a child. She has seen her father executed, her family scattered, and the countryside burned. In this book, she meets a man who offers her vengeance. The cost is everything. Her chapters are bleak, violent, and strangely hopeful, because Arya refuses to stop moving. She is the most relentless character in the series.

5. Jon Snow's arc on the Wall is no longer a slog. The first two books had Jon climbing mountains and wandering the wild. Here, the action comes to him. The wildling army marches on the Wall. The Night's Watch is split. And Jon must choose between his oath, his family, and a woman who loves him. His final chapter is one of the most heartbreaking betrayals I have ever read.

6. Daenerys becomes a ruler. She has dragons. She has an army. She has conquered a slave city. Now she has to govern it, and governing is ugly. She makes compromises that disgust her. She learns that freeing slaves does not automatically make them free. Her arc in this book is slower than the others, but it is essential. By the end, she is no longer a girl. She is a queen. And queens make choices that kill thousands.

7. The prose is sharper than ever. Martin is still not a lyrical writer, but his dialogue crackles. His battle descriptions are visceral. And his ability to write a scene of quiet horror: a wedding feast, a negotiation, a bath, is unmatched. There is a chapter where Jaime and Brienne talk in a bathhouse. Nothing violent happens. It is one of the best chapters in the entire series.

Where it stumbles (minor, but honest):

1. The book is too long. At 1,200 pages, A Storm of Swords could have lost a few subplots. Some chapters (especially in the riverlands) repeat the same grim beats. A few minor characters blur together. But this is a small complaint. The book earns its length.

2. The violence is extreme. The two famous sequences are brutal. Beyond them, there is torture, sexual assault, child death, and psychological horror. Martin does not linger on gore for its own sake, but he does not look away. If the first two books tested your limits, this one will break them.

3. Some characters are absent. Bran and Sansa have reduced roles in this book. Their chapters are still good, but they feel like breathers between the heavier arcs. If you love Bran, you might miss him.

4. The ending is a cliffhanger. Not as abrupt as A Clash of Kings, but the final chapter leaves several threads dangling. The war is not over. The north is in chaos. Daenerys is stuck. And Jon's fate... well, you will have to read A Feast for Crows to continue. But that book splits the POVs, so be ready for that.

What it does better than any book in the series:

1. The emotional range. This book made me cheer, weep, gasp, and throw the book across the room (twice). It made me root for a character I had despised. It made me mourn a character I had barely noticed. It made me question whether honor is worth dying for, or whether survival is its own kind of honor.

2. The thematic weight. A Storm of Swords asks: what is justice? Is it revenge? Is it law? Is it mercy? And it answers: none of the above. Justice is whatever the survivors can live with.

3. The avalanche structure. Martin builds dozens of plot threads over 1,200 pages, and then, in the final 300, he detonates them all at once. You will not be able to stop reading. You will not be able to look away. And when the dust settles, you will realize that nothing will ever be the same.

Who should read this:

Anyone who finished A Clash of Kings and is still standing.
Readers who love moral complexity, shocking twists that are earned, and characters who grow through suffering.
People who are not afraid of long books or dark themes.

Who should skip it:

If you need a finished series.
If graphic violence, sexual assault, or child death are dealbreakers (this book has all three in spades).
If you hated the slow pacing of the first two books (this one is not slow, but it is heavy).

Final verdict:

A Storm of Swords is not just the best book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. It is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It is brutal, beautiful, and exhausting. It will make you angry. It will make you sad. It will make you question why you invest emotional energy in fictional characters.

And then you will turn to page one of A Feast for Crows because you need to know what happens next.

Five stars. Because it is unforgettable. And because after reading it, you will understand why so many of us have been waiting for The Winds of Winter for over a decade. The wait is agony. But the book that started it all? Worth every second. show less

← Part 3

I sauntered up to the crowd in the corner like no man has sauntered before. “That's some mighty fine sauntering,” said the security guard whose task was presumably to ensure the book reading didn't get out of hand.

“Why thank you,” I said. Something about the guard made me uneasy, but it would have been against all rules of propriety to behead him there in the fiction section, so I smiled charmingly instead.

“Are you here for the Wed Redding?” he asked.

“You mean the Wed reading,” I said, feeling ever more uneasy. The guard just smiled non-committally. “Yes, yes I am,” I said, and made for one of the seats, but the guard's outstretched hand stopped me.

“I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to leave your animal out show more here,” he said. I glanced over at my direpanda, Black-and-White-Draught. He'd been my faithful companion ever since I found him as a cub two years earlier. Normally he exuded a calm confidence; that or gas. But now he was munching nervously on some bamboo, his eyes seeming to say “我有一个不好的预感”. Unfortunately I couldn't understand Mandarin so I patted Draughty on the head and told him to sit. He obeyed, just as he always obeyed my commands. As long as my commands were either “Sit” or “Chew bamboo.”

This time the guard didn't stop me as I took my seat in the corner of the bookshop. I glanced around at the other people present. About half of them seemed to be thumbing through A Storm of Swords, enjoying its subtle intricacies but perhaps wondering like me when GRR Martin was going to throw his next curveball. The rest of the people present didn't look like Song of Ice and Fire fans, but before I could figure out who they were the reader appeared at the front.

“Hello everyone,” he said, smiling sarcastically. And no, I don't know how you can smile sarcastically either. “I'll get to the reading in a moment, but first feel free to follow me on Twitter, my username is @dieiceandfirefansdiediedie.” I let out a sigh of relief. Now that we were Twitter buddies nothing bad could happen, unless this guy was willing to break the ancient and sacred laws of hospitality and incur the wrath of Gods, men, and probably 4chan. I relaxed in my chair, but in doing so noticed a book in the pocket of the person sat in front of me. It had a black cover, but beyond that I couldn't see any more. I glanced around, and noticed the same book in many more pockets. I sat up, my nerves on edge once more. In the distance I could hear my direpanda making nervous panda noises.

“If everyone is sitting comfortably, I'll begin,” said the reader, and from his pocket he pulled that same black book. As it emerged I saw more details: a silver tie, and four words that made my blood run cold. I turned to my left, hoping to escape, but the man sat next to me rose to his feet, a riding crop in one hand and his copy of Fifty Shades of Grey in the other. “Listen,” he whispered, for the reader was speaking.

“Let's dive into Chapter two” said the reader. He licked his lips and began. “‘Christian's voice is warm and husky like dark melted chocolate fudge caramel… or something.’”

All around me I could hear fans of decent fiction and grammar groaning in agony and falling dead to the floor. There were entrails everywhere, though God knows why, it just seemed appropriate. I looked back at the person next to me. His dagger and eyes were shining brightly. “E.L. James sends her regards,” he said with a grin.

“Wait, didn't you have a riding crop a second ago, where'd the dagger come from?” I asked, although to be honest it was the kind of poor continuity I'd expect from a fan of Fifty Shades.

“Oh, right, sorry,” he said, looking flustered, “could you hold this for a second?” He passed me the dagger, and began searching his pockets. I knew it would take but a second for him to find the crop, but a second was all I needed. I raised the dagger high, and with all my strength I plunged it down and into my chest. The reader was still talking, something about an inner goddess and a chicken and a fridge, but it didn't matter anymore. I closed my eyes and smiled, as my song came to an end.

Part 5 → show less

← Part 3

I sauntered up to the crowd in the corner like no man has sauntered before. “That's some mighty fine sauntering,” said the security guard whose task was presumably to ensure the book reading didn't get out of hand.

“Why thank you,” I said. Something about the guard made me uneasy, but it would have been against all rules of propriety to behead him there in the fiction section, so I smiled charmingly instead.

“Are you here for the Wed Redding?” he asked.

“You mean the Wed reading,” I said, feeling ever more uneasy. The guard just smiled non-committally. “Yes, yes I am,” I said, and made for one of the seats, but the guard's outstretched hand stopped me.

“I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to leave your animal out show more here,” he said. I glanced over at my direpanda, Black-and-White-Draught. He'd been my faithful companion ever since I found him as a cub two years earlier. Normally he exuded a calm confidence; that or gas. But now he was munching nervously on some bamboo, his eyes seeming to say “我有一个不好的预感”. Unfortunately I couldn't understand Mandarin so I patted Draughty on the head and told him to sit. He obeyed, just as he always obeyed my commands. As long as my commands were either “Sit” or “Chew bamboo.”

This time the guard didn't stop me as I took my seat in the corner of the bookshop. I glanced around at the other people present. About half of them seemed to be thumbing through A Storm of Swords, enjoying its subtle intricacies but perhaps wondering like me when GRR Martin was going to throw his next curveball. The rest of the people present didn't look like Song of Ice and Fire fans, but before I could figure out who they were the reader appeared at the front.

“Hello everyone,” he said, smiling sarcastically. And no, I don't know how you can smile sarcastically either. “I'll get to the reading in a moment, but first feel free to follow me on Twitter, my username is @dieiceandfirefansdiediedie.” I let out a sigh of relief. Now that we were Twitter buddies nothing bad could happen, unless this guy was willing to break the ancient and sacred laws of hospitality and incur the wrath of Gods, men, and probably 4chan. I relaxed in my chair, but in doing so noticed a book in the pocket of the person sat in front of me. It had a black cover, but beyond that I couldn't see any more. I glanced around, and noticed the same book in many more pockets. I sat up, my nerves on edge once more. In the distance I could hear my direpanda making nervous panda noises.

“If everyone is sitting comfortably, I'll begin,” said the reader, and from his pocket he pulled that same black book. As it emerged I saw more details: a silver tie, and four words that made my blood run cold. I turned to my left, hoping to escape, but the man sat next to me rose to his feet, a riding crop in one hand and his copy of Fifty Shades of Grey in the other. “Listen,” he whispered, for the reader was speaking.

“Let's dive into Chapter two” said the reader. He licked his lips and began. “‘Christian's voice is warm and husky like dark melted chocolate fudge caramel… or something.’”

All around me I could hear fans of decent fiction and grammar groaning in agony and falling dead to the floor. There were entrails everywhere, though God knows why, it just seemed appropriate. I looked back at the person next to me. His dagger and eyes were shining brightly. “E.L. James sends her regards,” he said with a grin.

“Wait, didn't you have a riding crop a second ago, where'd the dagger come from?” I asked, although to be honest it was the kind of poor continuity I'd expect from a fan of Fifty Shades.

“Oh, right, sorry,” he said, looking flustered, “could you hold this for a second?” He passed me the dagger, and began searching his pockets. I knew it would take but a second for him to find the crop, but a second was all I needed. I raised the dagger high, and with all my strength I plunged it down and into my chest. The reader was still talking, something about an inner goddess and a chicken and a fridge, but it didn't matter anymore. I closed my eyes and smiled, as my song came to an end.

Part 5 → show less

Whilst the Song of Ice and Fire books of course have their own pre-existing following, I imagine that many people now deciding to read this book will do so due to the success of the television series Game of Thrones, as I did. Therefore, I will not provide an ordinary review but try to give my impressions of the book as someone who had already been exposed to the television adaptation. Consequently, there may be spoilers for those who haven't seen the show.

Part Two of A Storm of Swords is a new and strange experience for me: the first of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books that I have read before its contents have been adapted onto screen. The fourth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones kicks off next year, and so for show more the first time I have read one of the books without prior knowledge of how it would develop. Thankfully, I adored the book; the plot twists and changes were new and shocking to me, and I can't wait to see how they pan out on screen. The Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow storylines are particularly exciting (I just know Peter Dinklage is going to nail it), with Daenerys not far behind, and the new character of Oberyn Martell will no doubt prove to be memorable. Oberyn's character arc demonstrates that if Martin insists on killing off a lot of good characters (A Storm of Swords, Part Two certainly has the highest number of major-character deaths so far), he is at least replacing them with other good ones. Coldhands, if he is indeed depicted in the show, will also be an intriguing and enigmatic addition, whilst the book's epilogue, along with the final scenes with Tyrion and Arya, open up a lot of possibilities. Some plot points are resolved satisfyingly (who provided the knife that was used in the attempt on Bran's life, for example) while others are teasingly dangled before us (who Jon Snow's mother was).

One thing I was disappointed about was the Theon Greyjoy plotline - or rather, the lack of it. There are no Theon chapters and the Second Greyjoy Rebellion is covered only in other characters' second-hand remarks (despite there being a few important developments on Pyke). There is also less going on with both Bran and Arya, though they both have their moments. But by and large the story remains as thrilling as ever. My review for this book has been shorter than the previous ones, as I don't want to inadvertently give away any spoilers, and a lot of the best things about the book cannot be adequately discussed without doing so. Even if they could, there's so many fascinating things going on in these pages that I'd have to write a lengthy tome just to address even half of them. The series remains easy to read and a real page-turner, and I just know that by the time I finish A Feast for Crows and the two volumes of A Dance with Dragons, I will be jonesing for more and more. These books really are something special. Oh, and Littlefinger is one magnificent bastard. show less

Wow. Dude can write. George, buddy, write #6 and #7!

If you've made it this far into the series, you know George isn't afraid to axe main characters, which, over and above the fine writing at the sentence and chapter level, lends an air of tension to the story. You really don't know if a character's stupid action will be rewarded, in a very bad way. Martin is just a master of writing the characters you love to hate and hate to love and everything in between! Or love to hate, and then he makes you love them! WTF??!?!"

So the series from which the grimdark genre sprung as if from the head of Zeus continues to be awesome with awesome sauce and awesome sprinkles.

And how can you not freakin' love Tyrion, and Daeneryrs, and Arya, at least show more those are my favorites. And even MC Jaime L. is moving up in the ranks.

If it isn't already obvious, I love love love this book. show less

Poucas pessoas sabem a aventura que foi para mim ler este livro. Já li muito e sempre gostei de algum drama nas histórias, algumas desgraças e maldades, que fazem parte da vida real. Afinal, já ninguém acredita em contos de fadas. Mas regressando ao livro... Algumas pessoas tomaram a liberdade de me aconselhar a não me apegar às personagens, falaram-me da genialidade do GRRM e do colosso que é este livro. Tinham razão em tudo. Contudo, é impossível não nos apaixonarmos por estas personagens tão ricas e, esse mesmo facto, levou a que estivesse meses sem pegar neste livro! Nunca tal me aconteceu... E isso marca o génio deste escritor maravilhoso. Apesar das contrariedades, continuamos agarrados à história e às show more personagens, querendo sempre saber mais e mais ainda. Aqui estou eu a dar 5 estrelas a um livro que me fez experimentar um sem número de sensações e que me obrigou a metê-lo de lado uns tempos. Não é assim que funcionam as grandes histórias? show less

For other reviews and bookish things go to http://youmaysayimareader.blogspot.com

"In King’s Landing, there are two sorts of people. The players and the pieces."

Something weird happens to me with these books. I love them, but when I'm reading them it's like: "Dear God... It's sooo fucking long... Love it. Why I don't feel like reading it right now, or tomorrow? Love it. Who is this character again? Love it. Dear God... It's sooo fucking long..."

Then I finish them and always give them 5 star ratings because they're just that amazing.

When I start reading another book not in these series, I find myself thinking about them all the time and really missing the stories and the characters.

And then, when I start the next one, It's the same all show more over again. The oh so fucking long, but love it, the who the hell is this character, but love it, the why I'm not reading something easy and not super-depressing, but love it. 5 stars. Miss it again.

Pretty weird. Anyway, let's start with the review, shall we?

"If we leave our smells behind us when we leave a room, surely something of our souls must remain when we leave this life?"

Happens soooo much stuff in this book, too much for my poor little desperate soul. I watched the tv show before reading the book so I knew what was coming (winter? lol? not lol?), but that didn't lessen the wreckage that were my emotions at the end.

So what is this book about, you ask?

(SPOILERS if you haven't read the previous ones)

The War of the Five Kings continues. In King's Landing, with King Joffrey Baratheon in the Iron Throne and Tywin Lannister commanding the troops, are celebrating their victory against Stannis Baratheon. But not all Lannisters feel that happy and safe.

Stannis Baratheon, King in the Narrow Sea, licks his wounds after losing the battle and keeps playing with fire.

Robb Stark, King of the North, is worried because although he is winning all the battles, he may still lose the war.

Meanwhile, Jon Snow and the Night's Watch defend the Wall and fight against hordes of Wildlings and sacrifice themselves for the safaty of all.

And Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, wants to build a great army to return to her land and claim her right to the Iron Throne.

"Jamie Lannister sends his regards."

The plot keeps you guessing, unless you have watched the show, then there aren't a lot of surprises, but it's still good.

In a book that has so much battle planning and political stuff I don't usually care about, it's never boring.

Yes, the plot and all the twists and turns of this book (and all the books of the series) are great, but for me the best part are the characters.

This book makes you love some characters even more, makes you start to love people you didn't think you would and makes you hate some of them like a LOT. But you're interested in all of them.

I mean, there are a shitload of characters and I care about every single one of their stories. So much pain. Too much pain.

I love you, [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg], but I hate you with the burning passion of a thousand suns. But I love you, you cruel motherfuc...

"The only game. The game of thrones."

S. show less