All the stars!

This movie had an abundance of action that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The scenes were so intense and exciting that it was truly breath-taking.

Every moment was filled with heart-pounding sequences that made it impossible to look away.

The special effects were top-notch, adding to the overall thrill and excitement of the movie.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves action-packed films.

It's a must-see for all movie enthusiasts.

You won't be disappointed!

So, grab your popcorn and get ready for an unforgettable movie experience.

Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

\\n  This book truly had an intense impact on me. It made me want to throw it against the wall in a fit of anger and disbelief. It led me to root for the death of a child (and then feel a deep sense of self-despise), to love a character I previously hated, to shed angry tears, and to bite my nails due to all the nail-biting suspense.\\n

**Pictographically, all of the above emotions were playing out within me.**

Thankfully, I did not actually throw the book across the room. Instead, I set it aside and stared at the wall for a few minutes, filled with grief and disbelief. If you've read this, you know exactly which part I'm referring to *SOBBING*. Then, I picked it up again because by that point, I was so completely hooked that nothing could have stopped me. (I also MAY HAVE cut my neurobiology class to finish it. I know, I'm bad, very very bad.)

Ah, you guys... Look at you, all innocent, before this book tears into you...

A Storm of Swords is, in my opinion, an undisputed high point of the series so far. It expanded the story in the most delightful and wonderful ways. It gave the entire narrative a truly epic feel. It delivered a cruel punch in the gut with the Red Wedding (excuse me as I go and cry myself to sleep) and reinforced the axiom that nobody is safe in the world GRRM created. (*)

* It was heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and completely unexpected. But it was necessary, even if just to remind us how cruel and brutal this world is, and how the smallest of choices can have huge consequences.\\n

I absolutely loved this book because of the immense promise it brought to the series. It brought our characters to the brink of greatness, placing them in positions that were certain to change the entire course of this story.

Examples: Jon and Dany. It was truly amazing to witness how these two very young characters grew and developed as a result of all the battles, losses, and betrayals they endured. Both of them at the end of this story carry such potential for the future of this series. Having read book 5, I think that so much of it was unfortunately wasted.

Ah, our favorite despicable Lannisters... Look at you BEFORE all the hell broke loose for you. Does it make you feel any sympathy for the Starks now? No? I thought so.

The character complexity in this book parallels the story complexity - both are executed masterfully. The characters feel alive and real. They are interesting and fascinating, and their personalities fluctuate between likable and despicable in a way that is not too predictable (*). The previously unseen connections between characters and events are truly mind-blowing. And seeing the select few skillfully manipulating so many others is quite unsettling.

* Let me use Jaime and Tyrion as my examples here:

\\nJaime became one of my favorites: understanding his background and seeing him humbled by his experiences transformed him from a monster to a deeply flawed but ultimately sympathetic man. (What he did to Bran was terrible - but it pales in comparison to all the other mind-bending twists GRRM gives us in this book. What he does with his sister - it's gross, but they are competent and consenting adults, and it's not my place to judge them).

Tyrion, on the other hand... What he did to Shae served as a reminder that darkness can reside within everyone, even our beloved Imp. Tywin, however - I did not give a crap about him (pun intended!), but Shae...Not cool.

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Don't misunderstand me. While I gush about it, this book is far from perfect. Just like its sequels (and predecessors), it suffers from an overload of descriptions and repetitions, gratuitous bodily functions, and elaborate banquets. Some storylines already begin to drag (Arya's, for instance). But most of these faults were easily overshadowed by the outstanding characterization, the masterful story, and the wonderfully built suspense. This is what I felt was unfortunately lacking in the books that followed, and what I hope they will return to eventually.



\\n  5 stars from my (many moons ago) yet-not-jaded self that happily devoured this delicious brain candy.\\n