A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Book 3 in A Song of Fire and Ice Epic – The Perfect Fantasy Novel?
Aug 14, 2009 Stephen A. Butler
Hefty as ever, George R. R. Martin brings his War of the Five Kings to a head in A Storm of Swords (Bantam Books, 2000, 0-553-57342-X). Weighing in at over 900 pages, even a casual glance is cumbersome for the ill-prepared reader. But the third entry into George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" epic is a crowning achievement in fantasy fiction, and a fitting climax to the previous two books, A Game of Thrones, and A Clash of Kings.
Martin's tale follows not only one, but three separate story lines, as the inhabitants of the war torn land of Westeros struggle to make sense of, and in many cases, survive the civil war that began in the first book, A Game of Thrones, and tore their lives apart in A Clash of Kings. The story is never cut and dry, and mystery and intrigue continue even this far into the story. For every picture, there are two ways to look at it, and as various factions struggle for supremacy, we learn of motivations and machinations, and for the first time, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel! But, of course, for every question answered, another takes its place.
The Story So Far...
...In the Seven Kingdoms
As Jaime Lannister, one of the wildest cards in the War of the Five Kings is released from captivity, we get a look into the thought process of one of the most volatile men in the series. Crossing paths a few times, but never meeting him is Arya Stark, the missing daughter of Ned and Cat Stark. Having witnessed atrocity after atrocity since her father's death, Arya finds only capture after capture in her quest to return home, passing from outlaw to outlaw.
Back in the Riverlands, Cat Stark, who freed the Kingslayer at the end of A Clash of Kings, faces reprimand for her actions, and they could not have come at a worse time: her son has his own betrayals to answer for, namely breaking his marriage contract with the powerful Frey family, in order to preserve his and his new wife's honor. The prospect of a lost war looms over her head. Her other son, Bran, assumed dead, wanders the country side looking for the Three-Eyed Crow, hoping to unlock the magical powers he was promised.
After the Battle of the Blackwater, both Tyrion Lannister and Davos Seaworth escape desperately clinging to their lives. While Tyrion struggles to regain his former position in court, Davos is left questioning his king's adviser, and the intentions of her so-named Lord of Light. Sansa Stark, now freed of her former betrothed, the King-apparent, finds herself the victim of countless more machinations, while biding the time for her own attempted escape from her Lannister captives.
... In the North
In the north, free of one war but mired in another, Jon Snow is caught behind enemy lines after killing a fellow brother of the Night's Watch. He has found a new companion in Ygritte, a wildling woman, but when feelings of love complicate his mission, Jon finds the decision to return to the Wall and abandon his lover difficult. Meanwhile, his fellow brother, Samwell, struggles to survive after nearly every monster in the north seems to want to attack him.
... In the Far East
Far off, removed from the War, Danerys Targarryen hopes to reclaim her rightful throne, but has to work out the nasty particulars of finding an army to fight for her. What could a beggar Queen possibly trade for her throne?
The Verdict
The developments and pacing of the story as a whole are spot on. However, these elements don't carry over universally from each character. While Jaime and Tyrion's chapters are well rounded and interesting, Sansa, Samwell, and Catelyn only keep the reader's attention because the events they witness are important, not they themselves. Arya, Bran, only seem to serve as occasional exposition that sometimes weaves into the present action. Jon's chapters are both refreshing and heart wrenching; a welcome change from his previous Harry Potter-meets-Lord of the Rings role in the story, but overall, saddening with the inevitable choice he’ll have to make.
In conclusion, A Storm of Swords is the high point in a series that no doubt still has many shining moments to give us, as a world in conflict boils ever closer to critical mass. The book was released in 2000, making it almost a decade with us left hanging with suspense. While A Feast for Crows, the proper sequel is available, it doesn't feature the entire cast as A Storm of Swords. Hopefully soon, Mr. Martin will grace the world with these characters' continued adventures in A Dance with Dragons.
A Storm of Swords, Cover
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