I just couldn't give book 3 a perfect score. Here I am going against popular opinion. I am well aware that the deaths in this book are truly shocking. I had been spoiled for two of them, but the rest came as a complete surprise to me. However, the unexpected murders themselves did not really touch me deeply or perhaps only slightly. Although the final image of the epilogue was written brilliantly. So much suffering and sadness was encapsulated in that last imagery, and it couldn't be tainted by the mere death count.

I am rating book 3 highly for several reasons. Its plot is engaging and the pacing is nice, it has a great sense of drama, and it shows consistency and dogged imagination. Heaven only knows how many authors have attempted to write such a hefty novel and yet withered away and fell by the wayside, guilty of overambition. George R.R. Martin must have been supremely confident. He must have known about the most important details of his book before even starting to write them. But enough of the praise.

As it took me quite some time to read book 3, the initial part of the book has escaped my memory. My memory is not eidetic, after all. From what I can remember, I can barely state what the prologue was about. It couldn't be about Davos again. That's the problem. I don't remember, and the words have vanished from my mind. Maybe this is the reader's fault and not the book's, but what if this is true for many average readers? Does that validate my shortcomings? Enough of the questions.

I think a lot of stuff is beginning to be repeated in the plotting of A Storm of Swords. Although this medieval world must be going through a sort of Golden Age when it comes to the many ways of killing a person, there are not as many ways as in our real world. There are no bullets, no electrocution, no death by tampering with brakes. SPOILERS AHEAD... Joffrey was poisoned in the same way as Maester Cressen. Lysa was pushed from a height, and Robb died in base treachery, similar to his father (though that's a bit of a stretch). Apart from the deaths, there's the arc of Tyrion, imprisoned and championed by a knight. There's also fake Renly and fake Arya. Enough nitpicking. In fact, enough reviewing! I'll begin reading book 4 tomorrow. I just can't wait.

Each time I pick up another volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, I am immediately reminded of the sheer joy these books bring me! I am completely enamored with all the intricate plotting, the ever-shifting allegiances, and the vast array of diverse characters. What I truly love is that Martin allows us to experience life from all perspectives within the conflict. Many authors tend to favor one side or another in their fictional works, writing in a way that makes the reader cheer for their preferred characters. Martin could have easily made me a die-hard Stark supporter if he had chosen to, but I find myself also rooting for Tyrion Lannister. In fact, this volume has even convinced me that Jaime isn't as despicable as I previously believed.

The Starks do have a tendency to steal the spotlight. Just when you think they are gone for good, they return like the fearsome White Walkers. However, unlike those terrifying creatures, I am always delighted when they reappear and cause chaos. This volume is filled with numerous精彩的 scenes and memorable lines. I've never watched the TV show, but who hasn't heard the famous tag line, “You know nothing, Jon Snow!” Then there's Arya, counting the men she intends to kill every night, much like counting sheep as she drifts off to sleep. And Bran, still out there, determined to find a way to wage war despite being a crippled man.

Of course, there's also Jon's friend Sam. (Do you think that's a reference to Sam Gamgee in LOTR?) What would you do if ice zombies were tearing your horse apart and a strange, freaky guy with cold black hands offered you and your girl a ride on his giant Irish elk? You would say “yes please” and “thank you very much” and climb up onto that cervid's back, just like Sam does! Sam discovers more within himself than he ever thought possible, and I have grown quite fond of him.

And that epilogue! Well done, Mr. Martin! It truly took me by surprise in the best possible way. It has made me extremely eager to read A Feast for Crows, but that won't be until next year if I stick to my reading plan. Until then, I will savor the anticipation.

Book number 400 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.

Cross posted at my blog:

https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...

Tormenta de Espadas is an amazing book that captivated me from the very first page. It is incredibly intense and heart-wrenching, making it impossible to put down. With its 1200 pages, it passes by extremely quickly, and when you finish it, you feel an enormous void.

The story is filled with countless extraordinary scenes that are burned into our minds. Martin reaches the pinnacle of his storytelling with this book, at the most intense moment of the history, for now. There are so many deaths, so much pain, and so much distrust.

In this volume, the lives of the characters and the kingdoms change in every aspect; it is a turning point in the saga. The first half is sublime, and the second half is, although it seems impossible, even better. It has an ending that I expected, yet the way it unfolds surprises me.

Truly amazing. Martin has created a masterpiece. It goes straight to my shelf of favorites.

The image of the dwarf rising from among the dead and looking even uglier than before is both disturbing and fascinating. The quote "Sometimes, the greatest fools are more astute than those who laugh at them" adds a layer of depth and wisdom to the story. Overall, Tormenta de Espadas is a must-read for any fan of fantasy literature.

HAPPY SEASON 4 FINALE EVE, NERDIES!!!

What an awkward Father's Day present for Tywin.

Success! I have managed to read this book without getting spoiled ahead of time!! So - ha! to you nerds talking loudly in my sci-fi section about the plot!! I ran to the history wall and hummed loudly until they left. Ha! to that jerk at BEA telling his colleagues every single thing that happened in the third book while he stood behind me in that Justin Cronin line!! I made Greg come back from his booth-browsing and hold our place (he has read all of these already), and I scooted over to the Chronicle booth and peered around the corner, while Greg stood in line wide-eyed and kept making "no, it is not safe yet" gestures and all I heard was the phrase "red wedding." Ha! to all you irresponsible but adorably enthusiastic teenage reviewers of these books with your spoilery status updates in my feed! I have scrolled through quickly quickly and managed to remain completely untainted.

And man, there would have been a lot to get spoiled, here.

And now it is my turn.

HERE IS A LIST OF EVERYONE WHO DIES IN STORM OF SWORDS

Okay, so that was a tease, and I would never be that much of a jerk. But now I understand. I feel powerful, stuffed to the gills with knowledge. And I am so freaking amped for season three to begin, because I cannot wait to see some of these scenes played out.

But apart from that, I mean, this is the third book in a series. So what can I possibly say in a review?? It is difficult to talk about a "middle" book without spoilers, and the casual goodreader isn't going to read this "review", probably, because there has been so much content, so much context, that it would make no sense to someone who has never picked up a book in this series before. I was re-reading some of my third-book reviews, for books that aren't just a trilogy, and you can see the struggle...

How do you talk about something that is continuing, for people who have no idea what you are talking about?

So, I assume only fans of Martin are reading this, and you people know how good this book is, so what can I possibly say? So I'm just going to whitter on about some things I like/feel like whittering about.

Oh, Dana, I am so sorry about that thing that happens to your beloved character.

Oblique spoiler:

I never thought I'd miss a hand so much

And in searching for that image, I rediscovered this site that has way more content than it used to, and I got sucked in for about an hour:

Which led me to this, which is a book-one spoiler, so careful, uninitiated friends:

It is worth a visit to scroll through their archives; I had me some guffaws.

Okay, but there were a couple of things that I didn't like in this book:

Number one: Shea's betrayal of Tyrion.

And the whole time it was happening, I was hoping she had some kind of plan, and it was all just some strategy, but nooooo! I really believed in her, and the way her story ended was heartbreaking to me. Way more heartbreaking than Robb, oddly. But doubly sad, because the actress who plays her is a love of mine, from one of my all-time favorite movies:

Which I try to promote as often as possible.

Number two: Telling Jaime you killed Joffrey??

I know you're pissed, Tyrion, but

You're better than that.

But those were just minor flaws in what is otherwise a great book. George Martin is good at a number of different things. For epic fantasy, which is usually defined by action sequences and the large-scale, his books are so skillful at the quiet moments. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of HUGE scenes in this book, but there are also so many small conversations that are seemingly inconsequential to the overall storyline, but they go so far towards character development, which is something lost in a lot of genre-fiction. These characters are vivid, and their decisions (mostly - see gripe number 2) make sense in terms of their positions and ambitions and survival instincts. And they will affect you.

I started reading this while I was re-watching the first season of the wire, which is an exercise I strongly recommend. There are so many parallels, in the way that characters operate within the parameters of "the game," and their individual codes of honor and behavior, and in the rises and falls of characters that are predicated upon such seemingly inconsequential events. The long drawn-out cause-and-effect situations, they are masterful and span seasons/books, which is such a delight to a fan.

Which search led me to this:

And, oh, god, I love the internet:

Is there anything you do not have, internet??

This book is "everyone's" favorite, but for me, I think I like the second book better. Yet I understand the feeling people have for this; the great love and the great heartbreak. And - oh - the way he takes things we thought we already understood from as far back as the first book; about Jon Arryn and about Tysha, and he's all "nahhhh, this is what happened for real." So very cool. Just when you thought you had closure...

It is an easy series to get addicted to. There are some problems, for sure, some of the writing occasionally can be cliched, and there is some repetition that is a little tedious, but overall, this is a character-driven series that has great scenes of action, is genuinely funny in a lot of places, and the strategies of characters are worth it. Remember that as you struggle through the lyrics to "the bear and the maiden fair" for the hundredth time.

Incidentally, I would read an entire series of novels featuring Jaime and Brienne on a road trip.

In closing:

DAENERYS!!!!

I love her so much.

Come to my blog!

Davos said, "She has broken him, as a man breaks a horse. She would ride him to power if she could, and for that she gave my sons to the fire. I will cut the living heart from her breast and see how it burns."

Tywyn Lannister told Joffrey, "When your enemies defy you, you must serve them steel and fire. When they go to their knees, however, you must help them back to their feet. Elsewise no man will ever bend the knee to you. And any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king at all."

Ygritte said to Jon Snow, "All men must die, Jon Snow. But first we'll live."

Daenerys Targaryen thought, "It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."

Rob Stark learned, "Love’s not always wise. It can lead us to great folly, but we follow our hearts … wherever it takes us."

Tyrion Lannister believed, "It all goes back and back…to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them. We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance in our steads."

Arya Stark declared, "I’m not a lady…I’m a wolf."

Sansa Stark said, "My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel."

Bran Stark hoped, "All the tales agreed that the green men had strange magic powers. Maybe they could help him walk again, even turn him into a knight. They turned the little crannogman into a knight, even if it was only for a day…A day would be enough."

The Night's Watch pledged, "I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."

Lady Olenna Tyrell said, "All men are fools, if truth be told, but the ones in motley are more amusing than the ones with crowns."

Jorah Mormont said, "There is a savage beast in every man, and when you hand that man a sword or spear and send him forth to war, the beast stirs. The scent of blood is all it takes to wake him."

The chaos reigns in the land as the kings engage in the game of thrones. Surrounded by the swords of outsiders and their enemies, between the clouds of winter storms approaching and the storm of swords. "A Storm of Swords" or as it is translated "The Sword of the Storms", the third song of "A Song of Ice and Fire". This part is larger than the previous ones, heroic, full of developments and bloody surprises... and poetry. It shows that George R. R. Martin's series contains, alongside drama and war, horror, fantasy, and magic... a touch of romance. In this part, along with the songs of swords and the sword of the storms, there are songs full of emotions. I can't say they are all romantic, but they will surely touch your emotions and make you feel more empathy for these unexpected pairs. It is the best part for me after the first part, and the most powerful one so far, with its huge character stories and many other features. The review will just present 3 important features to make it different from the previous reviews. Maybe because this part was planned before it was completed in the late 1990s to be the last one before the author changed his mind after the second part and turned "A Song of Ice and Fire" from a trilogy to a septology. First, known fates and revealed secrets. In this part, many fates and secrets that date back to the first part are revealed with the usual surprise and precision of the author. In the first part, King Robert's aide, "Eddard Stark", sent knights to stop the Lannister family's atrocities in the Riverlands and achieve justice. We didn't know their fate after the king's death and his aide Ned Stark's. Here, we will know their fate and their lives under the rule of the young King Joffrey and his aide Tyrion Lannister himself. So, what is the fate of these knights who the new king claims are outlaws? And what is the fate of the outlaws whom the Lannisters used to spread chaos in the Riverlands? Who sent the killer to assassinate Eddard Stark's young son in the first part? Will he pay the price? And what is the secret of Bran Stark's ability to enter his wolf's mind? Does his sister have a part of this talent? What is the secret of the Wildlings' movements, the free people north of the Wall? Do they have anything to do with the disappearance of Uncle Jon Snow in the first part? What happens after Robb Stark, the King in the North, wins all his battles? Does it guarantee him victory in the war? And why does his mother, Catelyn Stark, feel all this fear despite the victories? What is the next step for the Queen of Thorns? The legitimate queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Lysa Tully, and the mysterious man following her since the previous part? And what is the fate of her distrustful knight? What will King Stannis Baratheon do after his defeat? And what is the secret of his obsession with the late King Robert Baratheon's bastard son? Does the Red Woman have a role in this? That priestess whom his aide Davos kills? This part also reveals a strange and dark side of the beliefs and religions that still prevail in the Seven Kingdoms. There is a part with magic and mystery... and extraordinary powers of nature. It's hard to believe that all these powers increase because of the return of the dragons. But believe me, no matter how strong the magic is, nothing is more dark or cruel than human betrayal and treachery... and the storm of swords. Second, the new characters. Although some characters appeared in the previous parts as side or secondary characters to the main characters, this part sees them turn into essential characters with their own chapters that make you understand them better, feel their emotions, think with their minds, and see from their point of view. These characters are Jaime Lannister, the handsome, charming,弑君者, oathbreaker, the one with the illegal relationship with his sister Cersei... and maybe the one accused of sending a killer to Bran Stark, the nine-year-old, after pushing him from the tower in the first part. In this part, you will get to know him better, from his point of view in a style that doesn't lack Jaime's own spirit, the roughness and the constant sarcasm. But you will also understand his motives and the secret behind his section to protect the king and kill the previous king, "the Mad King". In a journey during this part, his life will change... but more on this later. Samwell Tarly, although he was just a side character in the "Jon Snow" part in the previous two parts, although he is the cowardly character who is afraid of everything except admitting it. But he shows some stability at the end of the second part. And as a result of his separation from the sequence of events from Jon Snow at the end of the second part and Jon Snow's own separation from the Night's Watch to join the Wildlings on a secret mission, there had to be someone to tell us what was happening between the Night's Watch and the Wall in the North, especially since the situation was more tense and dangerous than in the previous parts. The author shows that he writes each part in accordance with the character, as if a completely different character is writing the part. In this part, you will actually feel that a coward is writing it... in the midst of huge battles that combine the treachery of people, the fear of strange and wild ice creatures, and the natural sense of chivalry in protecting the weak woman... even if he feels weaker than her. In addition to these two characters, there are many other characters who appear for the first time, such as a group of free knights, "the Brotherhood Without Banners" and their leader, "Beric Dondarrion", and another priest, "Thoros", who follows the same strange and magical creed of the Lord of Light as the Red Woman, Melisandre. There is also the first appearance of "Mance Rayder", the leader of the Wildlings, or as he is called "the King Beyond the Wall", and whom Jon Snow meets for the first time to learn the secret of the Wildlings' movements towards the Wall and the villages in the North. He is a very exciting character and written in an excellent way despite his short appearance. Even the character who appears in the last chapter... 10 pages telling the story of his life in the "Frey" family and his bad luck... until his life ends in this single chapter as the last chapter itself ends with an unexpected ending that hasn't even appeared in the TV series yet, a strange and charming ending that makes you want to know more in the next part. But this is what we have come to expect from George R. R. Martin. Every character, no matter how small their role, has a life and a history. He always tries to write their features among the events. This is not just a description of the features, the clothes, the food, all the fine details to make you live in this world that he has created. And the developments and maturation that occur to the rest of the characters that we have been following since the previous parts. Arya Stark and her struggles to reach her mother in the midst of the storm of swords. Catelyn Stark and her successive shocks from the bad news and the deaths of her closest people. Sansa Stark, who realizes that life is not like the songs, at least not the emotional ones. Jon Snow and his mission as a traitor to the Night's Watch and the complications of that mission because he won't be easily trusted by either the Wildlings or even his brothers from the Watch. Bran Stark and his journey to the North and his strange talent to enter the bodies of his wolves, in the midst of the coming winter and the storm of swords. Tyrion Lannister and his struggle with his sister, his father's ambitions and rule, the political and moral stupidity of his nephew, King Joffrey. Davos Seaworth, King Stannis's aide, and his accusation of treason after the war just because he feels the darkness of the magic that the Red Woman, the priestess of the Lord of Light, practices. Daenerys Targaryen and her difficult and dangerous steps to gather an army and a fleet to be able to return to her legitimate throne, the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Third, the songs in "A Song of Ice and Fire". In the previous parts, we find Sansa Stark, a girl on the cusp of adolescence, who loves songs, the songs of brave knights, love, chivalry, and beauty. She used to feel that life was like those songs. But life in "A Song of Ice and Fire" is not of that kind, of a different kind of songs that were mentioned in the previous parts but here we find that two songs in particular had the most resemblance to the events and they are "The Bear and the Maiden Fair". The official song for the storm of swords. It is about a beautiful maiden who waits for a lord to save her. Instead, a hairy bear saves her and an unexpected relationship develops between them. This song is repeated in more than one chapter for more than one character in different situations. Although it was mentioned in Sansa Stark and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane's part at the end of the second part, it is played in full here in Sansa's part again. And you will find a huge resemblance between it and some of what happened to some characters, or the unexpected pairs as I mentioned at the beginning of the review. And we will start with Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth. This handsome, arrogant, charming man and "Brienne the Beauty", the daughter of Lord Tarth, the huge builder, not beautiful in appearance as her nickname is a mockery of her, strong, with values and morals, a completely different character from him, as different as the sky and the earth. She was tasked by Lady Catelyn Stark with a vow to deliver her prisoner Jaime to the king's lands in exchange for her daughters Sansa and Arya. But the winds, as that song tells us, never come as the ships desire. So Jaime and Brienne will face many enemies and dangerous adventures, and in this journey, a lot of their lives will change. The dialogue between them is written in an excellent style that made me love this part from beginning to end. The author has been very successful in highlighting the contrast between them and even makes us read and enter the mind of the弑君者 to the extent that it may make you feel a great deal of empathy for him... or at least tolerate him as Brienne does in their journey in a part full of bloodshed, and the storm of swords... and a real struggle between a beauty and a bear. To complete the song of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"... to some extent. The dialogue part is written in a way that has a touch of humor and comedy despite all its difficulties and bloodshed. A part that almost rivals the most beautiful love stories... and although it is not a romantic part at all. Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister. After the second part, their entire future has changed completely. Sansa is no longer betrothed to the brutal King Joffrey, and thus she is the beautiful maiden waiting for a knight to save her from the king's lands and Cersei's grip. And with another plan that the House of "Highgarden" is playing, from which the new king's betrothed, Margaery Tyrell, is, Lady Olenna decides to reward her by offering her the marriage of one of the Tyrell family and that she move to live in Highgarden and move away from King Joffrey and Cersei. And Sansa's hopes rise with this knight who will save her. But, it is the song of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"... it is the anthem of the storm of swords. So Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf, his future has also changed completely from the second part. He is no longer the beloved one from the war he fought to defend the king's lands. On the contrary, he has returned more hated, wounded with more scars from his victory over the attempt to assassinate his brother Jaime by his sister to show that he was defeated in the war. He was completely removed from his position as the "Hand" of the king in favor of his father, Tywin Lannister, who now rules with more harshness, and also his sister Cersei and even his nephew, King Joffrey. But what added to all this was his father's unexpected reaction when he learned of the secret plan of the Tyrell family to marry Sansa... for there was a previous decision and they would marry his dwarf son, who was disfigured by the war, "Tyrion", to Sansa Stark... the beautiful maiden. Both parts, Sansa's part and Tyrion's part, intersect a lot in the common events that make you feel sorry for both of them, and the irony that brings them together... just like the song of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair"... and the surprises of the songs that Sansa used to love. And as their parts will witness the developments and the bloody surprises. And although the parts are intertwined, they will part ways in paths you wouldn't imagine and the surprises of that storm... the storm of swords. Arya Stark and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane. She never asked for a knight to save her. She is a small, stubborn girl. She witnessed the execution of her father and endured hardships on the way to reach her brother, the King in the North. And after her amazing escape from Harrenhal at the end of the second part, she faces hardships on her way to Riverrun, the city in the Riverlands where her brother Robb Stark, the King in the North, and her mother are. But the way is difficult and full of roadblocks, and even the knights of the late king, the "Brotherhood Without Banners", who took Arya with them to get a ransom. But who said that being with these brothers would keep her safe from the storm of swords? In this part, we will get to know the Brotherhood Without Banners and the strange and extraordinary things their priest does. And Arya remains their prisoner, along with Gendry and Hot Pie from the previous part, but she finds herself always moving further away from reaching her family. But they are not the bear here. As I said, the song of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" is the theme here... but the bear is not in Arya's case... but rather the dog, "Sandor Clegane", and he will turn the events of this part. So will he be her savior? This part presents a strange relationship between Sandor and the Stark family. You actually feel something strange. Is he really a criminal all the time? Or is his human nature making him cruel but not as evil as his brother, "the Mountain", Gregor Clegane? Arya's desire for revenge on all those who wronged her family and her friends grows in this part. But this huge part, I can't deny that most of it was tiresome with the tricks of the swords between the outlaws and the free knights, and it could have been better summarized as in the TV series. And it will also witness unexpected, bloody surprises, especially when it approaches... but we will return to this later. Jon Snow and Ygritte from the Wildlings. After the second part and Jon Snow's joining the Wildlings, or as they call themselves "the Free Folk", in order to gain their trust as a deserter from the Night's Watch and to learn their plans and the reason for their huge gatherings and their march south towards their lands near the Wall. Jon will get to know Ygritte, whom he spared her life in the second part. She helps him gain the trust of her people. She helps him, gets close to him... tries to prove to him that everyone should be free, and that there is no difference between her people and his people... they are all humans of the same blood. The dilemma here is that Jon Snow does not want to go against his brotherhood of the Night's Watch, which requires him not to marry a woman. But if he is not naturally with Ygritte, then this will increase the doubts of the Free Folk. So what will he do? Which one of them is the bear, and which one is the maiden? She is the Wildling, he is the loyal watchman of his brotherhood. The matter here is complicated... in a beautiful story about equality, the right to freedom, courage, and salvation... and a love story more clear than any other story in the events, written by the author in an excellent and effective way when the two paths part... and at the same time merge into the general atmosphere of the events. You will love it, and you will love the phrase she says like a trademark. "You know nothing, Jon Snow." Samwell Tarly and Gilly from the Wildlings. Although he is a coward, his bravery showed when he found a girl from the Wildlings, Gilly, whose father/husband sacrifices her sons to the god of ice when she gives birth to a boy. And when Gilly learned that she was pregnant again, she found no one but Sam. And although he refused to save her in the previous part because of his brotherhood of the Night's Watch, the tragic and desperate events make him also need salvation. She is a different variation of the song... for both of them need salvation and both of them will save each other only by being together. Daenerys Targaryen and Ser Jorah Mormont. She is also a different variation of the song... she is the beautiful queen who tries to be strong, the widow of Drogo, the leader of the powerful Dothraki people, the mother of dragons, but she also needs someone to support and guide her. Her loyal friend as she sees him, Ser Jorah, and she doesn't know that at the beginning he was a spy on her for King Robert Baratheon. He loves her not just as a knight and his queen, but he loves her, tries to protect her from all men and doesn't trust anyone, which makes her feel suffocated. She also has her doubts about the knight who joined her later and helped her write the book for her, but she doesn't feel the same emotions towards Ser Jorah, which makes her in the midst of her part in the events always in that emotional struggle, until the events turn and the surprises begin, and don't forget the prophecy that Daenerys heard at the end of the second part about the 3 betrayals she will face on her way. And she has already faced the first one in the first part from the witch who cost her the life of her husband and her son in her womb... which made her very cautious towards everyone. Although the knight Ser Jorah doesn't have his own chapters, you feel his love for her through Daenerys's chapters, from the way he speaks and his suggestions to her and even his look at everyone around his queen, Daenerys. A part full of surprises, alliances, and doubts as well. "The Rains of Castamere". It is the second important song in the events of that part and the last one in this review. It is about the rains that fell on a castle of a noble

This book was truly amazing!

I'm astonished that I waited such a long time to read these books. As I'm reading, I'm also loving how many details I remember from the TV show. Yes, I'm completely comparing the two. I don't really have the inclination to discuss my favorite characters and how badass they were, nor do I want to talk about the characters I despise.

No, let's focus on all the deaths that occurred.

Ha, just kidding. This will definitely be a somewhat happy review... maybe?

Okay, I lied. I'm definitely going to talk about one of my favorite characters in this review: Tyrion. Why would I single him out? Well, he's a truly badass character who has a terrible family and deserves so much better. He gets accused of killing someone and then actually does kill someone. Honestly, his family definitely deserved it - they are truly terrible people. Death to all of them!

Overall, I'm in love with this book. I love this series and I just hope it continues to get better. I'm a bit sad that Robb died, but I don't really care about the other deaths - sorry, not sorry? I need more of these characters!

I can't wait for the next book!!!!!!!

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!

This book is truly George R.R. Martin at his absolute best, magnified by a factor of 1000. If you were enthralled by "Game of Thrones", with its unflinching portrayal of major characters' fates, moral murkiness, copious amounts of spilled fluids, and a high quotient of badassery, then "A Storm of Swords" is bound to blow your mind. I had a sneaking suspicion that I would like the series before delving into "Storm of Swords", but after reading this book, I was completely smitten.

The pacing and plotting in this installment are exemplary. There are no lulls or slow patches to speak of. Every single point of view is captivating, and revelations are scattered throughout the narrative like precious gems. In the latter half of the book, Martin continuously outdoes himself as the stakes skyrocket with each passing chapter. The number of character deaths reaches new and dizzying heights, while character development also reaches a zenith. Jaime Lannister, in particular, undergoes a remarkable transformation from being the incestuous, child-killing asshole #1 to a flawed knight in search of redemption. It's truly masterful stuff.

I award this book a full 5 stars based on the simple fact that I've read it more times than I can readily remember. At this juncture, with 3 books still yet to be published in the series, "A Storm of Swords" stands as the crowning achievement of the "Song of Ice and Fire" cycle.

5/5 sin ninguna duda.

This expression clearly indicates a perfect score or a certainty without any doubt. It implies that something has been evaluated or achieved with absolute precision and confidence.

Perhaps it could refer to a test result where a student has answered all the questions correctly, obtaining a full mark of 5 out of 5. Or it might describe a performance that was flawless, leaving no room for criticism or hesitation.

The phrase "sin ninguna duda" emphasizes the absence of any uncertainty or ambiguity. It gives the impression that the outcome is beyond dispute and is regarded as excellent or exemplary.

In various contexts, such as academic, professional, or personal achievements, a 5/5 sin ninguna duda can be a source of pride and satisfaction. It showcases one's skills, knowledge, and dedication, and serves as a validation of their efforts.

Overall, 5/5 sin ninguna duda represents a standard of excellence that is highly regarded and aspired to by many.

Desde el título hasta la última página, todo ha sido maravilloso.

This saga has truly entered my life and become something very beautiful that I will remember in the future.

I know that the remaining books may not have the same quality as the volume I just read, but I am having such a special experience with this saga that regardless of my future feelings, reading "A Song of Ice and Fire" has been a great decision that I will never regret. These are truly great books and surely they will never have an end. However, the quality of the plot that Martin presents in the first three volumes is impressive. I remember feeling very satisfied when I finished "A Game of Thrones" and "A Clash of Kings", but after reading this volume, I feel as if the first two were really just an introduction to "A Storm of Swords". It may seem disrespectful, but after finishing "A Storm of Swords", those books seem very small in comparison to the great plot that Martin prepared for this work. And do you know why I will especially remember this saga in the future? Very simple, because of my brother: my great advisor on books, games, and movies. Ironically, I didn't want to read this saga; it seemed so long, so tiring, so boring. But when my brother got the crazy idea of listening to the audiobook, I remained in a state of anticipation waiting for his comments. "With so many books to discover, why risk losing time with a saga of more than 5000 pages? Let's hope my brother listens to it first, and if he likes it, he will promote it to me, that's for sure." Those were my most frequent thoughts. When he told me it was good, then I decided to read it although with some skepticism in the back of my mind. But as I advanced, I understood that so many praises and so many awards were not a coincidence, and that "A Song of Ice and Fire" was truly a masterpiece. From that moment until today, I have had a joint reading style with my brother, in which I tell him what I read and he, as he has already read it, remembers those chapters, his experience and his feelings, and thus we spend hours chatting about the content, without spoilers and without over-explanations. Reading is special, but sharing those feelings that you experience at the moment with someone you love very much - like a family member or a close friend - is something very different, it is quite special, and I think that is also the reason why this book is on its way to being one of my favorites and going straight to my heart.

This is a book that has completely captivated me, not only because of the content but also because of the prose that is so pleasant to read. Martin knew how to perfectly take advantage of the fact that the two previous books existed. He took advantage of it because here he did not need to introduce characters, nor describe places, nor prepare the context: nothing! In "A Storm of Swords", I felt a story completely driven by itself that advanced at the speed that the author wanted to propose. For example, every time I started a chapter, because of the serene prose of the first paragraphs, I thought I was facing a transitional chapter, but once I continued reading, surprise after surprise left me open-mouthed and on certain occasions, I was super excited by the unexpected twists that Martin had well hidden for us. All the time, the author played with my feelings, with my mind, and I could not guess at all the content that was going to appear later. There were about six chapters at a god level, another ten approximately at an epic level, and in general, many chapters that were entertaining, surprising, captivating, and very, very addictive. I don't know if Martin planned his work like this - I would believe so - but using "A Game of Thrones" and "A Clash of Kings" as an appetizer for this volume has been a great choice on his part. And the best thing is that for the structure of this book, he takes from "A Game of Thrones" the light prose, the length of the chapters, and the quite unexpected moments, but from "A Clash of Kings" he takes the intensity, the chaos, the wandering travelers, the bloody battles, the desperation, the death, etc. If you look at it another way, it is as if "A Storm of Swords" were a fusion of its two predecessors.

With this volume, it has become clear to me that in the Middle Ages, wars were not only won with great battles or heroic knights, but also through weddings; weddings that served as alliances to avoid disagreements, betrayals, and hunger in general. The more children you had, the more chances you had of having allies. There, one begins to understand why marriages were imposed before. With so many risks of being killed at any moment, or of starving to death, the most logical thing was to use marriage as a tool for survival, and not for happiness. If you could be alive, who cared with whom you got married or with whom your children got married? The most important thing was survival, and without alliances in that inhospitable and cruel world, the most natural thing was that you would perish sooner than you thought. This is an important situation that makes us remember that the priorities we have in our lives are always different for each era, and that, regardless of what your descendants may think that you were an "animal" for making such unjust and immoral decisions, the important thing is our present and the way we try to adapt to it. Sometimes we always see situations from the perspective of the victim, which in this case would be those committed to marriage, but it is also important to understand why the need to carry out such actions was required. We see it with marriage, with its customs, the way they killed, their constant need for sex, honor, commitment, etc.

One aspect that I ended very satisfied with was the development of magic in this story. Naturally, there are still many secrets to be revealed, but in this volume, magic goes from being a legend to being reality, and that I really liked. It is a topic that has left me with a lot of intrigue, questions in my head, and that I long to read about in the next volumes of this saga.

The characters continue to be excellent as always. I would like to go on and on in this section naming the number of conversations that have surprised me, but especially those that have made me laugh like crazy. I love cruel humor, sarcasm, and irony, so reading about characters who are professionals in doing so is a total pleasure. It seems incredible to me that some characters who did not seem important, or who simply did not appeal to me, ended up winning my complete liking. I can't say names, but surely those who have read this book will understand, and those who haven't read it will understand if they ever do. It must have been super difficult for Martin to write these books. It must have been because each chapter comes with a view of the world, such different feelings and thoughts, that it is complex to think about how a single person can convey so many personalities and different points of view without getting confused in the attempt. He does it with such mastery that in one chapter we can classify character X as evil, but if by chance the opportunity arose to narrate the story from that being X, then we would understand that perhaps he is not so bad and that he is just a shield that he uses to survive in this damned game of thrones. If we analyze it calmly, we will realize that these characters are like any human being in real life: they show one face, present a mask or a shield to protect themselves, but when in a safe place, with their friends, family, and/or with themselves, they completely change their personality and show themselves as they really are. That makes reading these books very special. In an adaptation, they may be able to tell you the same dialogues, the actors and actresses may be able to interpret them excellently, but their thoughts cannot be conveyed in any way. Reading those thoughts, reading the way to control their emotions to preserve life, reading their true being, that, sincerely, is a fucking genius.

A book with betrayals, great strategies, alliances, battles, chaos: a true "Storm of Swords". Now I understand why so many followers long for a new book in this saga: basically, everyone desires a book as good - or better - than "A Storm of Swords". GRRM has set a high bar as well, but regardless of whether he can surpass it or whether there will never be another book by this author, with the content I have found in this volume, I feel more than satisfied and grateful for the great work and dedication of this gentleman to write. I do not regret for a second the time spent on this reading, I would like to repeat it a hundred times, no, a thousand times! What more can I say? I loved it, I adored it, I will never forget it, and I recommend it from the bottom of my heart to all readers: so many pages, really, are worth it. A masterpiece in every sense of the word. Thank you, GRRM, thank you for so many hours of entertainment. Thank you very much!

Someday I’ll be able to put into words what the chapter featuring the Blank Blanking did to me.

It was truly a remarkable and life-changing experience. The way it was written, the details, the emotions it evoked - all of it combined to create an impact that I can't quite put into words yet.

I know that you all know what I'm talking about. It's that one chapter that stands out in our minds, the one that made us feel something deep within.

Maybe it was a moment of realization, a connection to a character, or a new perspective on life. Whatever it was, it was powerful and it will stay with me forever.

I look forward to the day when I can finally express in words the full extent of what that chapter meant to me. Until then, I'll continue to reflect on it and let it shape my understanding of the world around me.

I seriously need a "Whoa!" or "WTF?!" shelf for these books. They are truly in a league of their own when it comes to every aspect. I just completed reading, and the last chapter (prior to the epilogue) literally had me reading with wide, disbelieving eyes. This is despite all that I've witnessed before in these books, and that's a great deal.

I have a profound love for these books, and I am mentally chastising myself for never having read them earlier. The characters are simply fantastic. They are so real that they almost seem to step right off the page. The story is truly amazing. It holds nothing back and keeps me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It serves as a testament to how excellent these books are that I feel almost overly nervous to read them. I'm scared of what the next page turn will bring... who will enter the story - and who might depart from it.

This series is a story crafted for story lovers. If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend it.

Excuse me while I go and express my admiration to GRRM for penning this remarkable series.