Review of "A Storm of Swords" by George R.R. Martin

(Warning: this review discusses events which occur previously in A Song of Ice and Fire but will not spoil matters for A Storm of Swords.)

Like a master composer, George R.R. Martin, in his third installment of A Song of Ice and Fire, works with a theme he established in fresh fashion.  Readers who the enjoyed the first two books in the series will be bowled over reading A Storm of Swords (2001).  He has somehow managed to maintain the high quality without repetition or self-parody.  Having established the world and its characters, Martin takes story to the next, organic step in its progression, leaving Westeros in a more unpredictable yet strangely settled situation.  

As the smoke clears from the major battles of A Clash of Kings, subterfuge and backstabbing take center stage in A Storm of Swords.  Things get personal and petty, and not everyone survives.  And yet, all of the plot twists and major events still feel natural.  Unlike many other books which try to architect dramatic circumstances only for unrealistic coincidences to occur, little seems as forced in A Storm of Swords.  The stage set two books prior, events leading to this point have unraveled like a ball of yarn, the surprise stage exits feeling natural.   

The Battle of Blackwater, having driven back House Barratheon and its allies, has set the Lannisters firmly on the throne of Westeros.  While Stannis licks his wounds, Tywin Lannister wastes no time.  He uproots the king’s council, replaces them with people loyal to the Lannister sigil, and installs himself as the King’s Hand.  Along with shoring up family connections, he prepares for a siege everyone knows is coming from the Starks in the north.  In the Seven Kingdoms, Danerys continues her press for an army, a press that is muddied by a haunting, prophetic walk through the House of the Undying.  At the Wall, Jon Snow and a few hundred crows cross the Wall into the northlands on an expedition to find Benjen Stark.  Life only getting more difficult, the oath he took to defend Westeros from the Others becomes harder and harder to uphold with each step into the frozen land.  

A Storm of Swords introduces two new viewpoint characters.  Their identity best kept a surprise, suffice to say they fit into the gears within gears, with one in particular toying with reader's feelings given the (semi) juxtaposition of now being on the other side.  And lo and behold, there is somethign to hate, indeed, but likewise something to admire.

While there is a final page in A Storm of Swords, there is not a single conclusion.  Multiple conclusions scattered throughout the book, ends come and go.  While not as epic as the first two volumes from a broad Westeros perspective, the book nevertheless sees some very important personal struggles play out.  Lacking none of the impact due to this personal nature, the surprise readers had upon reading the climax of A Game of Thrones is renewed at multiple times throughout A Storm of Swords, but with differing characters and circumstances.  As usual, Martin proves he is willing to allow fate its role in the story, for better and worse, tears or cheers the result.

In the end, A Storm of Swords is more great stuff from Westeros.  Most diehard fans of A Song of Ice and Fire argue back and forth whether this or A Game of Thrones is the best.  This reviewer happens to think apples and oranges: the first establishes a fresh world with vivid characterization, uniqueness the result, while the third manages to take the story to a new level by finding ways to be surprising within established parameters.  The latter is not an easy task, and Martin should be recognized for it.  Suffice to say, nothing in fantasy exists like A Song of Ice and Fire and A Storm of Swords is another great installment that proves the story is still innovative.  Highly recommended for those who have read to this point and are curious whether the quality continues.  It does.