Synopsis: 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 younger 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.
Title: A Storm of Swords, Book 3 Part 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire Series
Author: George R.R. Martin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 672
ISBN: 9780007483846
Rating: 
After reading Clash of Kings, I needed a bit of a break before re-entering the world of Westeros – I don’t know how other people have read this saga but I find the books so densely packed full of action and drama that I’m exhausted by the end of each part. I need a little break to recuperate and calm my nerves before I jump back in.
I’ve taken my need for breaks as a good thing – Martin manages to pull together such an intensely chaotic and realistic world, where so much happens in the space of 600–800 pages that you will actually feel you have gone on the journey with each of the characters.
A Storm of Swords is, in my opinion, almost on par with book two (my favourite so far) and features a lot more introspection. A Clash of Kings ended with an insane amount of carnage and I welcomed the slower pace – I don’t think I could have handled anyone else dying so quickly after the last book.
Martin continues to amaze me with his ability to create such believable characters – each has a heavy dose of strengths, flaws, and range of emotion. I simply can’t hate anyone … well, except Joffrey, of course.
The character I enjoyed the most in this book was probably Jaime, although I’m a little ashamed to admit it. Where I would have happily throttled him in other books (or throttled those who let him go); by the end of the book I couldn’t help but pity him, I think I even started to like him?!
Don’t get me wrong – Jon Snow is still the man for me – and I will always adore Robb; but the fact that I’m starting to like a few of the Lannisters (Jaime and Tyrion only) is very surprising and is a credit to Martins incredible writing.
A Literary Mind 
Being able to create a good character is almost more important than the action in my opinion. A very enjoyable and human review