A Storm of Swords

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

Length: 47 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

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....

©2000 George R.R. Martin (P)2004 Books On Tape, Inc., published in arrangement with Random House Audio Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Locus Award, 2001

"A riveting continuation of a series whose brilliance continues to dazzle." (The Patriot News)

"I always expect the best from George R. R. Martin, and he always delivers." (Robert Jordan)

Wow.

I had a very hard time turning this one off... I'd find extra house-work to do or look for traffic jams on the way to work just so I could keep listening.

The narrator, Roy Dotrice, is fantastic.

The characters in this book are amazing... We see the bad parts of the good guys, and the good parts of the bad. We get an understanding of what motivates both, and it's not always what we think. And, just as in the first two, G.R.R.M. has no problems setting people up with opportunities to win or escape or get out of whatever mess they're in...sometimes they get out, sometimes they die - no matter how important a character they've been...

This is not a kids book. This is not the usual "you are special and need to save the world" drivel with hollywood happy endings we usually feed on... This one is more...real.

The story keeps moving, plenty of action, laugh-out-loud funny parts, hardship, and surprises.

Anyone who says G.R.R.M. was only trying to make the book long, probaby wasn't paying attention.

The best so far

What can I say? If you are reading this review you have probably read the first two books in the series so you know how good they are. So if you are wondering if this book is just as good the awnser is YES! If fact its my favorite so far. The Characters keep developing and progressing, The story is fasinating, and its all completly unpredictable.
My only problem with the whole thing is the agony I will have to endure while waiting for the next book. Have no fear some how I will live.

Awesome!

There's no deviation in this book from the excellence of the series, and if anything it has more moments of shocking revelation than the first two. Go downlaod now!

c'mon!!!

next book please!!! the the whole series is incredible

Need Cliff Notes to review

WOW, where do I start with the third book of A Song of Ice and Fire. I'm really amped to be reading the series back to back to back. I can't wait to be reading the next book, A Feast for Crows. Something truly epic happens in A Storm of Swords, wanting to read more and more. I couldn't wait 10 days to my credits for the month. I ended up buying ASOS. I have 3 more days until my credits to renew for the month and I'm starting to scratch myself because of the wait. ASOS is not an easy book to read because it's 47+++ long and you almost need to read the Cliff Notes to review the highlight, but I wouldn't even think reading anything but the unabridged. I don't like to give away the highlights in my reviews, but something epic happens in the saga that change everything. The series gets better and better and I can't wait for AFFC. It will be a long 3 days for my credits.

Rather gripping story

Amazing depth of story, and you more than likely know by now if you are thinking of getting the 3rd book. I must say it is not a PG-13 story, but that again lends to the edge of the story. I listened to these on audio on the way to and from work, and I found myself eagerly anticipating the drive. Well done Martin! Hats off to the reader, each character had their own voice and it simply made for a fabulous yarn.

I'm hooked- cant put it down

What made the experience of listening to A Storm of Swords the most enjoyable?

I hate violence but in historic dark ages it was more fact of life. Superstitions and witchcraft lore were their answers for unexplained. Therefore historically Enlightening even though totally fiction.

The orator is fabulous.

What did you like best about this story?

It captured me. No easy happy endings just twists and turns constantly surprising.

What does Roy Dotrice bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Character , depth. Authenticity, drama

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Rob and his Lady Mother died at the wedding feast

Any additional comments?

Please bring us more of this calibre. It's unsurpassed.

Great book, horrible narrator

He speaks normally for everything but the dialog. Every person sounds like a 106 year old drooling man on the verge of death. He talks normal for some of the people so I know he CAN. He just doesn't. Ruining the book for me. I think i'll just read it. The book itself is excellent.

My #1 for Greatest Book of All Time

I can't say enough good things about this book. It transends fantasy for me and rates at the very top of every book I've ever read. After 2 lengthy books in this series, and with 4 more to go, Mr. Martin has a lot to do in this book. With several point of view characters and plotlines floating around, even a highly skilled author would feel daunted by what needs to be done. Martin pulls it of spectacularly. His ability to wrap up something like 6 different storylines, one after the other at the end of this book is pure skill and perfection. It inspired me. It's that good. I've had aspiring writers read this and tell me it put them into doubt whether they had any business writing anything. Anyway, the series itself is fantastic, and thus far, this is the shining jewel of the whole series!

Masterpiece

This is yet another masterpiece from GRRM. It’s very well written with lots of interesting characters. Unlike many other authors GRRM succeeds at keeping his hosts of characters unique and believable. The plots are both intricate and unpredictable with twists and turns in every corner. Prepare to laugh, weep, morn, and shudder all at the same time. I haven't read all the fantasy books out there, so I can't say it's the best ever written... but "A Song of Ice and Fire" is by far the best series I've come upon so far.