This book is truly brutal.

It is also cruel in its portrayal of events and characters.

Moreover, it holds no punches, presenting a raw and unfiltered narrative.

If you are seeking a typical fairy tale where the prince meets the princess and they live happily ever after, NOT HAPPENING IN THIS BOOK.

The numerous twists, betrayals, and sudden changes of events will shock you, especially the Red Wedding , stun you, rock your world, crush you down, and yet leave you craving for more!

It is an enchanting tale that Mr George R.R Martin has bestowed upon us.

The discussions on rape are somewhat tamer than in the previous two books, but they still horrify me.

New characters are introduced, along with new points of view, adding depth and complexity to the story.

The outcome for some villains may not be entirely satisfying, but I'll accept what is given. *toasting with my water* ADIOS SUCKER!!!

So, yes, I quite enjoyed this book and eagerly await more.

I have reached the conclusion that there are four distinct types of individuals who read (or at least commence reading) Song of Ice and Fire.

The first type consists of those who begin reading it, manage to get 100 pages in (or sometimes an entire first book) before giving up in disgust. They hurl the book across the room, wondering what became of the (usually) good sense and refined taste of their friends who incessantly and vehemently recommend these books.

The second type are the people who read the books, enjoy them to some extent, but don't become completely engrossed. Once they're done, they don't think about them much. They appreciate Martin's writing, admit there are some flaws, and then simply move on with their lives. (In my sample, this is a very small group.)

The third type are those who have a penchant for long stories. They read for the minutiae of detail and don't desire the story to end. They would have been easily charmed by Scheherazade. They revel in books that seem to go on indefinitely. They long for the next book, but are in no rush for the series to conclude, as that would mean there are no more to come.

The fourth type are those who are instantly drawn into the story. They love the characters and the plot, but it's more of an obsession than true love. They skim paragraphs that are predominantly about food and clothing. They become extremely angry with Martin when cruel and bad things befall their favorite characters. They swear they're going to stop reading, but like addicts, they keep coming back, even though they don't truly enjoy the experience. They want Martin to end the books, neatly tying up all the loose ends, so they can move on with their lives and not have their hearts and emotions tortured in such a way.

I believe the people in group four are the reason Martin gets so much criticism for taking three to four years to write each book. These books are over 1,000 pages long, and that seems like a reasonable amount of time to me to produce a work of that length. Novels, especially ones as complex as these, don't just roll off the production line.

These are the people who tell you they love the books, but then in the next breath, complain about how overly long they are, how there's too much discussion about food, how entire chapters pass with essentially nothing happening, and how there aren't enough battles and action scenes. When these people are griping to me about the books, I'm tempted to ask (and perhaps I should next time), "Well, why are you still reading them, then?" But I think it's the compulsion factor. I don't think they really have a choice. I'm not sure if they can transition from group four to group three. I feel a bit sorry for them.

I clearly fall into group three. I relish the descriptions. I take great delight in learning what people are wearing and eating and what the rooms look like. I enjoy the quirky humor that Martin slips in. I loathe long, convoluted battle scenes. When they appear in books by authors other than a select few who can write good battle scenes, I tend to skim over them. I absolutely adore Martin's books and am having a wonderful time reading them. I'm eager to read the next one, but I'm not desperate for the series to be over either. I'm savoring them.

Storm of Swords introduced us to some of my favorite characters and themes in the Song of Ice and Fire (so far). We have the Queen of Thorns, whom I adore. We have "The Bear and the Maiden Fair." And the Maid of Tarth. Jaime's character arc continues to develop (the beautiful image of him staring at the mostly-empty page). We see some characters we despised getting their just deserts, and tragic events befalling characters we love. We have two of the most memorable weddings I've ever read. The build-up to the first one was excruciating the second time around. We no longer have to endure Theon as a point-of-view character, and we get Jaime instead.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The group twos will enjoy its twists, the group threes don't need to be told to read it, and I can only plead with the group fours: Try to appreciate the lemon pies and Myrish lace, okay? It'll all be over soon enough, and then we'll all be sad.

The point-of-view characters in this book are: Jaime Lannister, Jon Snow, Catelyn Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bran Stark, Samwell Tarly, Davos Seaworth, and Daenerys Targaryen.

\\n  2023 Update\\n


This installment was truly the series at its zenith. The plot was incredibly robust, and the characters were masterfully crafted. The real artistry in style lies in the element of possibility. It gives the impression that this story could unfold in countless directions, and the fate of any character could be sealed in an instant.


I've lost count of the number of times I've delved into this book, although this is my first reading in many years. With the conclusion of the TV show in mind, which we can only assume will mirror the ending of the books, there are numerous clues and hints scattered throughout, suggesting where the plot will ultimately lead. Of course, there will be significant differences, as there are several characters who never made it onto the small screen. However, by and large, I have no doubts that the main plot will conclude in a similar fashion.


As much as it pains me to admit, I don't believe we will ever see this series completed in print. Too much time has passed, and Martin doesn't seem to be making much progress. I suspect he has lost his passion for the work, and it has spiraled out of control. The story he initially began writing has evolved with each new book and character introduced. Once this book was completed, the process really took off, and the series ballooned, leaving Martin seemingly at a loss.


\\n  2015 Review\\n


It's easier if I break this down by characters.....


Jamie


When I first read A Game of Thrones, I despised Jaime Lannister. Now, I think he's simply amazing. If someone had told me back then that by the third book he would be one of my favorite characters, I probably would have pushed them out of the moon door. It's truly astonishing how George R.R. Martin managed to transform him in this way. Well, I say transform. What I really mean is that he showed the reader his true nature. Never before, in any novel, have my feelings of pure hatred completely disintegrated and turned into pity and admiration.


George R.R. Martin achieved this remarkable reversal by allowing us to see the man through his own eyes. Instead of the ignorant Ned Stark passing judgment on him in his point of view, we get to witness Jaime's thoughts. Indeed, we see his side of the story and understand why he committed the act of Kingslaying. It was not a thoughtless or cowardly murder; it was a killing born of pure honor and decency. Surprising, I know. I was swayed by Ned Stark's judgment. I, too, saw a backstabber and murderer. I was glad when the veil was lifted because never before has a character been so misjudged by so many. Jaime Lannister surely deserves more recognition for his actions. But, like a man of honor, he kept the details to himself and didn't care what the world thought. He knew that he had exacted justice, and that was all that mattered.


Jaime reached for the flagon to refill his cup. \\"So many vows...they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It's too much. No matter what you do, you're forsaking one vow or the other.”


Tyrion


And then there's Tyrion's little escapade with that crossbow. I mean, wow! I never saw that coming. I actually cheered the first time I read that; it was so perfect and so necessary. The way the chapter ended was also superb. I'd include the quote, but that would be a major plot spoiler. I guess there's only so much abuse and neglect a person can take before they finally break and lash out at the world. Tyrion had endured enough from those who were supposed to love him. What he did was completely justified and necessary for his own survival. He simply couldn't continue to live with that kind of treatment. The end he meted out to his victim will truly and utterly sully his reputation. It was the most fitting way to finish him off. What an awful, yet deserved, way to go.


Also, I think the impact of the red wedding has somewhat lessened over the years. Initially, it was upsetting and horribly unjust, but then when you read the build-up to it again, you see it in a different light. It's clear that it was entirely King Rob's fault. He caused it; he should have known better than to renege on such an important deal. It was sheer folly. He left himself completely exposed. But, he wasn't entirely to blame; he was very young after all. Maybe one day the Starks will be fully avenged. Well, I think it's obvious that there's only one person with the ability to do it.


Dany


By this point in the series, Dany has truly overcome her fear. She has come to realize who she is and what she is capable of; she has become the dragon her brother always wanted to be. However, for all her power, she lacks wisdom. It's not a lack of wisdom due to stupidity, but rather a lack of experience. She needs someone to guide her and help her fulfill her destiny; she needs someone well-versed in the game to lead her and ensure her politics don't have disastrous consequences. In short, she needs someone braver than Jorah and more cunning than Barristan; she needs a strong right hand. She needs an ally who can truly save her. It's just a shame that the TV show has beaten Martin to it! Nevertheless, she still has her own natural leadership skills. She has raised an army and liberated a city; she has found her voice and her confidence. But, she still needs assistance. Dragons are a powerful weapon, but they will only take her so far. They've saved her in this novel, and they will likely save her again. But, it takes more than Fire and Blood to claim a throne, although it does help.


This, for me, is the strongest novel in the series to date. The characters have developed and become figures we truly care about. The characters in this book are truly outstanding. It's why this series is so damn good. It's extremely difficult to pick a favorite because with each novel, my opinions seem to change as the characters do. It's also very hard to give each of them a proper mention in a review! I didn't even touch on Jon Snow. Oh well. I think it's clear what my opinion of this book is.


I do love this series!


A Song of Ice and Fire

1. A Game of Thrones- A life-changing five stars

2. A Clash of Kings- An Impish five stars

3. A Storm of Swords- A Lannister-loving five stars

4. A Feast for Crows- A flat 3.5 stars

**A Review of an Incredible Book**

BLOODY HELL THIS WAS PERFECT. This book immediately grabbed my attention from the very beginning. It had me completely engrossed, as if I was in a trance. The story took a thrilling turn when everyone started dying, and it was a chaotic mix of emotions. There were moments of shock and horror, like this and this . And then, when I read the last 4 chapters, I was left completely stunned, like this .

What I truly loved about this book was that it never made me think of the TV series, not even for a second. Despite having watched all the seasons of the TV series, I felt like I was experiencing these events for the first time. This book had an edge that the first book had but the second lacked completely. It is an extraordinary novel filled with twists and treachery, bravery and cowardice, faith and love, erroneous and righteous, gallantry and thievery, insanity and sanity, war and peace. There are kings and queens, bastards and first-borns, lords and ladies. I could go on and on about how amazing this book is.

Ummm, what else? Oh, yes, there is an abundance of \\"what the fuck\\" moments that are just to the point and leave you speechless. Mr. Martin once again leaves the readers breathless as he delves deeper into this fantastic world he has created from scratch. It is incredible to see the ordeals everyone is going through and how he doesn't hesitate to kill a character, even important ones. If you ask me which I think the best book in the series is, I'll reply \\"the third\\" without even blinking because it indeed was. What was special about this book was how Mr. Martin weaves certain things into a character's personality and then loves making stubborn characters who won't ever change for anyone or anything. Moreover, regarding some characters, the amount of character development is exemplary. And what is even more worth applauding is the fact that even though there are too many characters, there is still a balance in how he delivers the chapters.

The enormity of this book scared me in the beginning, but as I read more, I wished it was longer because at some point, you get lost in the story and just can't part with it. What I love about these books is how we see both sides of the world. The one that feels too real and the one that is full of magic and wonders. There is a harmony between the two, and the one is joined by the other. The lines are both blurred and kept at bay in an odd way. I bet it's the ice and fire thingy. Well, wow, the next book in the series is one I haven't even seen on screen yet. I'm that much more excited about it.

That was truly fantastic. However, after going through such a rigorous experience, I am in desperate need of a break.

(Real spoilery spoilers in spoiler tags). What exactly happened to Mr Martin in 1999? Whatever it was, suddenly he transformed into reverse Oprah - you get love that turns to tragedy, and YOU get love that turns to tragedy...EVERYONE GETS LOVE THAT TURNS TO TRAGEDY! - and the end result is that those amazing, incredibly real, three-dimensional characters turn on the reader, making this book a tumultuous journey.

I have also reached a conclusion that might be a bit controversial on Goodreads. After years of watching the show and only now starting to read the books, I have come to the realization that the books are so much better. I know, I know, I'm being very bold. But really - as much as I enjoyed the show, when I see what they added and omitted, I can't help but feel cheated. There's a stereotype about male authors writing women - well, it's all over the show, but nowhere in these pages. I haven't counted (nor am I likely to), but if the chapters following a female character don't outnumber those following the men, I'd be very surprised.

Anyway. I'm filled with all those emotions that come after finishing an absolutely spectacular yet completely emotionally draining book, so I'll stop myself before I start rambling further. But if, like me, you're a show watcher who hasn't picked up the books yet - don't wait any longer, friend. They really are that good.

EDITED TO ADD: Lady Olenna, Queen of Thorns and Queen of my heart. The one part the show got just as right as the book!

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An absolutely merciless and brilliant masterwork.

This was unbelievably amazing. A Storm of Swords could potentially be the zenith of George R. R. Martin’s writing career. I'm aware that I haven't delved into A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons, or the additional books in the series as of yet. However, realistically speaking, it would be extremely arduous for Martin to surpass what he has accomplished in this book.

Picture: A Storm of Swords by Marc Simonetti

I'll endeavor to keep this review shorter than my typical ones, and I won't discuss the story at all to avoid spoilers. Seriously, you must experience this for yourself. If, by some miracle, you haven't watched the TV series yet, A Storm of Swords encompasses seasons 3 and 4 of the TV series. I already knew the main twists and turns of this volume because I watched the TV show first, but somehow this remarkable novel was still able to fully capture my attention. It brings me back to this point: I can't even fathom how much I would have loved this traumatizing book if I had read it without having seen the TV series adaptation.

  
   

“Old stories are like old friends, she used to say. You have to visit them from time to time.”

  

This, of course, doesn't mean that you should skip the TV series. Up to season 4, the TV series adaptation remains mostly faithful to the original material. Granted, it's not like the scene-by-scene adaptation depicted in the first season anymore, but I truly believe that there were certain moments when the TV series did even better than the book, and vice versa. I've absolutely adored what I've read so far in A Song of Ice and Fire; this novel, in particular, is currently my favorite within the series, and that's saying a lot. From my experience of reading the series, Martin's prose during the battle scenes was excellent, but I personally feel that there are other grimdark fantasy authors—such as Joe Abercrombie, Jeff Salyards, and Steven Erikson—who write superior battle scenes compared to Martin's. The battle scenes were one area where the TV show excelled. Also, I will never cease praising Peter Dinklage’s acting performance as Tyrion Lannister. I found that the acting displayed by Peter Dinklage and many other actors/actresses in the TV show did justice to the superb characterizations that Martin gave to the characters of the series.

  
   

“Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honorably. And Rhaegar died.”

  

The main reasons why I loved reading the series are not because of the battle scenes, but rather for the outstanding characterizations, intricate world-building, how Martin skillfully set up each scene, and most importantly, the immense strength in the unpredictability of the storyline; all of which are clearly demonstrated within this book. The numerous pivotal events that took place in this single installment were simply insane and unforgettable. The Red Wedding, for instance, is one of the most traumatizing events to have ever occurred in a fantasy novel for me; it has pretty much become a benchmark for believable brutality and shocking scale in speculative fiction. “It wasn't as crazy as The Red Wedding,” or “It was more traumatizing than The Red Wedding.” You've probably read or heard these phrases in reviews or on social media frequently—lately more so due to the extensive exposure caused by the TV shows; let me assure you that they're there for many valid reasons.

  
   

“It all goes back and back,” Tyrion thought, “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.”

  

At a whopping 424k words—it took me approximately 23 hours to read—in total, A Storm of Swords has become the third largest novel I've read so far after The Stand by Stephen King and Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. It's truly astonishing that there were nearly zero dull moments in a novel of this magnitude; I didn't really enjoy Bran’s storyline, but his appearances here were relatively few. Excluding Bran’s story, I was completely engrossed, and I was in love with every page I read. Martin sang a song of violence, grief, and treachery with captivating impacts; the writing was thoroughly engaging, filled with a plethora of memorable passages, and the phrases were cleverly constructed to be evocative.

  
   

“The greatest fools are ofttimes more clever than the men who laugh at them.”

  

Excluding the fame he garners from the TV series adaptation, if you're ever in need of clear evidence on why George R. R. Martin has become one of the most legendary fantasy authors of our time, A Storm of Swords is the answer. The series indeed remains unfinished to this day, and there's a possibility it might never be completed, but I wholeheartedly believe that the series is worth your time despite that. The first three books—especially this one—in A Song of Ice and Fire offered an exceptional reading experience that epic fantasy readers should obtain. I undoubtedly loved A Storm of Swords. I'm awarding this tome a full 5-star rating, and I'm extremely confident that it would have earned one of those ultra-rare 6 out of 5-star ratings from me if I had read it without watching the TV series adaptation first. I anticipate that I will end up loving A Storm of Swords even more on future rereads. This is truly a phenomenal magnum opus. Do yourself a favor. Read it, plain and simple.

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How clever you are, Martin... How clever you are.

I find myself repeating this sentence after each part of this thrilling series, and the excitement that accompanied me throughout reading it was truly unmatched. It is a delicate series, yes, very long, but you won't feel that way. You will find yourself flipping the pages to know what happens with the same passion and enthusiasm that you started with.

There are many thrilling works filled with the battles of kings and fictional creatures, but few of them succeed in attracting the reader's attention and compelling him to follow the events until the last page.

This thrilling series is full of excitement, mystery, and adventure. You will live in a whole world created by Martin with his characters, his legends, his kings, his battles, and the Iron Throne that many compete for.

In the game of thrones, there is no middle ground. You either win or you die in a world full of ambitions, victories, and defeats.

And in the clash of kings, the struggle for the Iron Throne intensifies between five kings who tear the kingdom apart among them.

We will come to the storm of swords, where the struggle and excitement become even greater.

Martin's style of narration is amazing, with his attention to detail being what I like the most, in addition to the great translation.

This part is my favorite so far, which is why I decided to write a review here, and my favorite character throughout the three parts is definitely Tyrion Lannister.

I will take a short break from the series and then return to read A Feast for Crows because I can't wait to know what happens.

DAMN!

It's as if you purchase a powerful muscle car on a Friday afternoon. You drive it home, and some friends come over to admire it. You know, and they all know how incredibly cool it is. Then, on the second day, you get to cruise around town in it, and everyone who sees it is aware that you've got a beast. A low growl emanates from under the hood. But it's not until the third day when you arrange to take it out onto a track and let it loose that you truly realize what a monstrous machine you've acquired. Even as the speedometer zooms past 100, you press down further, and it responds like a galloping horse, continuously accelerating. Your breath catches in your throat, and you know you're on the ride of your life. And you whisper: DAMN!

George R.R. Martin knew he had something remarkable when he first published A Game of Thrones in 1996. Martin had been laboring as a writer for over twenty years, experiencing struggles and poverty, much like many speculative fiction writers before him. While he had achieved some success with his fantasy and horror stories and books and had done some screenwriting work, it wasn't until he embarked on creating this epic fantasy that his status began to soar. His muscle car hit the nitro and fishtailed into wild success with the HBO adaptation and millions of golden dragons lining the coffers of his keep.

A Storm of Swords, first published in 2000, the third book in the series, is like the muscle car, the biggest and fastest horse. By this point, Martin, having achieved success and captured his readers' attention, put the pedal to the metal to see what this thing could do.

It's a wild and thrilling ride. Fans of the first two books were familiar with Westeros and Essos, the Starks and the Lannisters, and the faded glory of the Targaryens. They also knew about the raw carnality of the books, the guttural sex and violence that added a harsh realism to the story. ASOS takes it up a notch and shows that as good as the series already is, Martin can continue to make it a bionic man of fiction: faster, stronger, and better.

The violence in the book is intense. One of the criticisms of the 2004 Antoine Fuqua film King Arthur starring Clive Owen was the minimization of violence. While earlier adaptations of the Arthur legend were intentionally theatrical and atmospheric rather than realistic, Fuqua seemed to have a cool angle by presenting a historically accurate revisionist story of Arthur as a Roman leader fighting Picts and Scots. There were swords, daggers, arrows, and lots of fighting, but not as much blood and guts. The incongruity between the muddy realism and the stylized violence was distracting.

Martin, on the other hand, takes the Tolkienesque legend, adapts it to fit his alternate War of the Roses inspired fantasy, and doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of war and survivalist feudalism. Razor-sharp blades cut, people bleed and die, women are raped, and slavery exists. In his passion for creating a fantasy that also feels real, Martin shines a light on the good, the bad, and the ugly, and his narrative is all the better for it.

Martin's POV chapters highlight and showcase his great talent for fully developed characterization. The characters are complex, and the dynamic depth of their relationships is mesmerizing. His world-building, adding detail and history to an already spectacular creation, continues to impress.

There are several standout scenes: the Red Wedding, Daenerys at Astapor, Tyrion's trial by combat between Gregor Clegane and Oberyn Martell, and many others that fill this thick tome and make it a page-turner.

This is the best one so far, and I'm already eager to move on to the next one.

Each one of these humongous books has managed to completely captivate me.

I have loved listening to the characters evolve with this series as their fantastical world changes around them. Nothing is off-limits and nobody is sacred. As anxious as it makes me, the fact that I never know what to expect next is a big plus for me. When you read as much as I do, it is rare to be surprised, but Mr. Martin manages to keep me guessing.

While the second book had multiple kings rising to power and fighting for their piece of the Iron Throne, this book took the story in an entirely different direction. What goes up must come down. In this epic saga full of scheming and betrayals, the power players are constantly changing. 'A Storm of Swords' completely changes the landscape of this story yet again.

Aside from the fall of kings, the way the characters are presented had me rethinking my previous judgments. As each character's thoughts and actions were explored, it became clear that there is no "good" or "bad" person. Even despicable characters had redeeming qualities and/or motivations that were understandable, if not admirable. Similarly, the less than pure intentions and actions of some of my favorite characters were brought to light. Everyone is flawed and vulnerable in some way.

The only exception to this was Joffrey. I couldn't find a single redeeming quality in that evil brat. Maybe it was there and my hatred for him just wouldn't allow me to see it. Nonetheless, he remained true to his role of "ultimate villain".

As with the first two books in the series, be prepared for plenty of blood and gore. Characters will die, sometimes gruesomely. Don't get too attached. This definitely isn't a series for the faint of heart.

Now that I've finished the third book, I can begin to spot some of the inconsistencies between the books and the HBO series. There are some omissions that have been made, but nothing that I thought was critical to this story so far. I've also noticed that a few things are presented out of sequence. Again, this didn't take away from the enjoyment for me, but it was noticeable if you're reading and watching subsequently.

Overall, I am still loving this story. It is still confusing at times, with an extremely complex storyline. However, I feel like I'm getting a better grasp on things. It's on to the next one for me.

I can't wait to see what other twists and turns Mr. Martin has in store for us. The world he has created is so vast and detailed that I feel like I could get lost in it forever. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good fantasy story with complex characters and a thrilling plot.

By far, this book stands out as the absolute best in the series when it comes to shocks, turns, and twists.

Things that were previously unthinkable actually took place. Mr. Martin had the audacity to kill off two or three main characters, and he also revealed to us who was behind the commencement of all this chaos.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would come to like Jaime. However, after he shared his story and performed some good and kind deeds, I have not only come to like him but truly love him. At one particular moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of pity for him due to what had happened to him and how everything seemed to always circle back to the "Kingslaying" event.

Brienne and Mance Rayder were two other characters who made a significant impact. Loyal, unattractive, and stubborn Brienne remained true to her word by escorting Jaime to his intended destination. Brienne, you are a true knight in every sense of the word. I had initially thought of Mance Rayder as a cruel and power-hungry king, but he was quite the opposite. He was caring and humble, and he won my heart with all his concerns for the wildlings.

This book is an outstanding final product that combines mystery, great characters, and dark secrets. Over the course of more than 1000 pages, Mr. Martin has shared these elements with us, making it a must-read for any fan of the series.

Martin truly outdid himself in this installment. And to be honest, he didn't really have to exert that much effort. I was already inclined to give him five stars solely based on this one scene: THE RED WEDDING! The fact that the King of the North, Robb Stark, was brutally murdered is简直令人难以置信!

Have you ever witnessed a car accident? I'm not talking about the aftermath that causes traffic chaos, but the actual incident itself. Having driven in both Atlanta and Houston during rush hour, I've seen a few. It's truly horrible. There's that distinct sound when thousands of pounds of metal collide. It just blows my mind. One side of my brain is in denial, constantly repeating, "That did not just happen." While the other half is already thinking ahead. "Is anyone hurt? Don't stare – don't want to get rear-ended myself. Do they have insurance? Has someone called the police?" I get all clammy and shaky, and even teary-eyed when I think about all the emotions they'll have to deal with. And even though I wasn't directly involved, I still have this on-edge feeling that lasts the whole day.

Reading THAT scene was like watching a multi-car pile-up. I completely freaked out. I literally slammed the book shut, stood up on the bed, and cursed for a while. Then I curled up into a ball, hugged the book to my chest, and kept muttering "No no no!" on a loop. I wailed to my concerned husband, "What is going to happen now?" And then I proceeded to dwell on this development for days.

Looking back, I wonder why it shocked me so deeply. This series is filled with twists, deaths, and revelations. So what's one more? And Martin definitely gave some hints leading up to this event.

I think it caught me off guard because he had just spent a significant amount of time on this part of the plot. Through the first two books, I kept wondering why Robb was the only character in the Stark family who was largely overlooked – except for Rickkon, but he was too young at that point to be involved. To be honest, I ignored my own advice after reading the second book: if you see a bright light, don't trust it. That was a cruel trick on Martin's part to make me empathize with a character only to turn around and kill them a few chapters later. The moment I thought, "huh, I kind of like this Robb guy", I should have been on high alert. I was actually expecting him to be taken prisoner at the Twins or fight off an attack. The thought that Martin would actually kill this potentially great king never crossed my mind. I guess there's a new, additional lesson: never get into a romantic relationship with Martin. He would toy with my emotions mercilessly and leave me heartbroken on a bathroom floor.

Also, THE scene made me question where this entire series is headed. Imagine you're reading a safe, mainstream book. You can be sure that no matter how much hardship the author throws at the protagonist, they'll survive because (a) the author/publisher doesn't have the courage to disappoint their legions of readers and (b) there's a sequel! I thought the main goal here was to see the Stark family emerge victorious and save the Seven Kingdoms. Now I'm not so sure. And after reading approximately 3,000 pages and with 2,000+ pages still to go, it really shook me to feel so uncertain.

Anyway, kudos to Martin for eliciting such a strong reaction from me. I read enough that I'm becoming increasingly immune to authors' surprise attacks. And this series is so extensive that the plots from each book are already starting to blend together. It's hard to remember in which book this or that character was introduced or where I learned a crucial piece of information. But THAT scene will always be the defining moment of book three for me.

I also love that just when I thought the book was winding down (with only 200 pages left), Martin threw in some more shockers. While they weren't on the same level as THE scene, they still forced me to reset my expectations for the next book. Of course, I'm referring to Stannis saving the Wall and, more importantly, the murder of Joffrey, Tywin, and Lysa. Hooray! I won't be missing any of them. It seemed out of character for Martin to kill off the bad guys. But I thank him from the bottom of my heart. The idea of watching Sansa become the king's abused mistress or be subject to her crazy aunt was just too much for me to handle.

Martin, I'm starting to figure out your sneaky ways. And I'm begging for more.

Three months, it has taken me three months to read this novel. Also, my current situation has robbed me of a lot of reading time, but I think it's an achievement to have finished this novel.

I believe that, so far and I doubt that the following ones will surpass it, it is my favorite novel of A Song of Ice and Fire. Despite the many spoilers I knew, I have really enjoyed reading it and each of the plot twists. My goodness, there are some that I really didn't expect. The pace has improved a lot compared to the previous book, in which almost nothing happened in a whole bunch of pages that were almost filler. The truth is that I don't have much more to say. I still adore Tyrion and I like Arya more and more, and I'm very curious about how this third installment ends.

Now it's time to read A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons at the same time on the recommendation of several of you. ☺️