Rating: 
Summary: Lock him in a room with a typewriter
Review: I assume that if you're thinking about buying this book, you've already read the first two (if not, you want to start with "Game of Thrones"). So, I don't really need to say much other than if you liked the first two books, you will like this one, and if you didn't, you won't. Storm is as good as Game of Thrones, in my opinion. Very tightly plotted and paced, and all the unexpected twists we've come to love from Martin. The only character viewpoints I find a little less interesting is Davos and Stannis. Sansa thankfully begins to become more interesting and complex in this book. She seemed rather superficial in the early books, but she could turn out to be a very interesting character. Bran also shows promise and here he begins to discover his "special purpose" (he hates these cans!). We get to meet some interesting characters from beyond the wall and across the ocean, and there are hints that those regions in the southlands (Dorne) will be more important at some point.The main thing I don't like about Martin's books is that they highlight just how weak Robert Jordan's writing has become by comparison. It's clear that Martin has a good editor that is not afraid to tell him when something is too slow or not important. Assuming you are not put off by somewhat frequent graphic descriptions of violence and sexuality, you will not be disappointed by this. I only worry that Martin has created such high expectations that his future books will be hard-pressed to meet the gold standard he has set. Waiting for the next book is going to be pure torture. I hate hardcovers but I might have to go there for book 4 ("A Feast for Crows"...sounds bloody, yay!).
Rating:
Summary: Tolkien fan
Review: There are not many new fantasy novels out there that truly move me. But, when you read Martin and become depressed at what happens in the book (Red Wedding), that says a lot about a book. Martin truly belongs in the big leagues of fantasy novelists....And hopefully, like some other reviewers have stated, not become another rudderless Jordan, enjoying, the swells of money...
Rating:
Summary: Wow wow wow wow wow.
Review: This book is amazing. This series is amazing. I read the first book and immediately started the second one. The second book was barely closed before I started this one. When I finished this one I cursed the fact that I have to wait for another to be released. Martin beautifully develops the characters. The twists and turns are mind boggling. I finished each one with my mouth agape. I wish I could give this one 6 stars. THIS IS A MUST READ SERIES!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: You can never guess what will happen next!!!
Review: As a fantasy fan, I have read many of the good authors starting with Tolkien, Jordan, Eddings, Brooks, Weis & Hickman, Dennings and it goes on. Martin has gained an unquestionable place among them in my head with this series. It is just superb! There seems to be noone totally good or evil and events happen at a certainly unpredictable way. Everyone is prone to die at any time, while the most unexpected may prove victorious. The story, the plot is obviously the result of a genius mind in this aspect. In this 3rd book, I am nearing the end and yet have no idea whatsoever about how things will go. Trust me, you will never be able to guess what will happen next.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid and enjoyable
Review: I'm not a huge fantasy novel fan. Dragons, magic(k) and people with goofy Welsh-sounding names with lots of c's, l's and y's turn me off. So it was a most pleasant surprise when I found that this series does away with the usual fantasy-type stuff and concentrates instead on a firm plot with a direction, characters with depth and realistic motivation and the like. Martin's stewardship of the series so far seems to indicate that he's got a destination in mind and actually means to get there, which is more than can be said for the currently-rudderless Wheel of Time epics. This third book in the series shows us that there's plenty of surprises to go around. Hopefully I'll be saying that by the time the last book (6th or 7th) rolls around. My complaints with this entry are minor: we're "treated" to more than a few songs this time around - there must be more in this novel than the prior two combined. In a way this strikes me as an unusual change of pace; one can't help but wonder if someone commented to the author that Tolkien had songs in his works and thus Martin needed to follow that path as well. Still, they don't really detract from the story.
Rating:
Summary: Join the crowd
Review: There is no question that this book, and this series (to date) deserves 5 stars.
Tolkien opened up new concepts for us, and indeed created a unverse, Martin is one of the movers and shakers of that universe.
If we look at an author we have to consider them to be Gods in a sense. They are the creators of their worlds, and in another sense they are the parents of all of their characters.
George Martin woould be a terrifying parent to any character that he has created. He has no sense of loyalty to his characters ( read children), and has no problem portraying the brutal fact that in a feudal society those who are of a good bent often end up coming to a bad end.
It is unsettling and refreshing at the same time to realize that a character that you are identifying with and have come to like, and for that matter are rooting for should suddenly end up DEAD.
I have only one complaint and one concern for the series. First the complaint: it is not being updated swiftly enough.
My concern is more to this point. the next book in the series was supposed to be a Dance with Dragons, but now is being reported as a Feast of Crows with book number five now to be a Dance with Dragons hmmmm, I am hoping that he is not simply going to add material in the manner that Robert Jordan has and draw this out into a cash cow.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfule series
Review: With a complex weave of fantasy and reality, George Martin continues to write this stunning series with an amount of depth and attention to character that I can't remember seeing recently in any high fantasy series. He continues on with his brutal look at a realistic world where no man or woman is spared from the bad things in life. Characters are so believeable in their creation with a heavy dose of flaws and range of emotion. The look at the world as a whole and lands outside of the main continent are terrific giving the whole tale a mighty scope that only whets your appetite for more. This third book finally starts to bring in the more magical aspects of the universe with subtlety and then smacks you over the head with a couple of stunning twists. The great thing is that the magic doesn't overshadow the deadly court intrigue and human wars, but mingles with it so perfectly that it seems very natural for it to be included. Unfortunately I see that the next book isn't going to be released for over a year! I don't know that I can hold out that long to find out what's going to happen next. I can't say enough positive things about this series. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading, not just those fantasy geeks like myself. It's a very fulfilling ride that just gets better with each page. Another Great book is The Price of Immortality by C.M. Whitlock The book has a complex weave of fantasy and reality that you will not believe
Rating: 
Summary: 900 pages and it's not over!
Review: A good read, but horrible ending... The Fire and Ice series as a good fantasy epic. Interesting world building and characters that you love and some that you hate. Always interesting when most of the "good guys" die. All in all, these were bigs books with plenty of originality to keep a epic fantasy lover happy, but... The series just ends after the third book with no resolution! At lease with the wheel of time we get a new book every few years. I don't know if Martin plans on finishing this series, but if he doesn't, well get ready to be disappointed. [added 1/2003] Looks like Martin is about to join the ranks of goodkind and jordan and write a never ending series. I hope he does better than the other two and actually advanced the plot line in each book. Seems that Jordan and Goodkind are just milking their franchises.
Rating:
Summary: A great series
Review: It has become difficult to read a modern fantasy series without coming across a kitchen boy, a farm hand or some other peasant lad who is actually a king, Thanks to Martin its now no longer as hard as it used to be. This set of books focuses firmly on the nobility and is all the better for it. After the huge battles of the 2nd volume, the 3rd volume picks up the fractured kingdom and builds up the tension magnificently, the background of a draining civil war and a greater menace on the horizon and handled with aplomb. Whereas the fantasy elements have been kept to the back up to this point, they begin to poke through in a quiet and sinister way that is not at odds with the construct of the fantasy world. Readers are kept on their toes by Martins refusal to make any one character untouchable and indeed a couple of deaths in this volume will leave the reader reeling. This series will keep you going until Mr. Whitlock finishes the new series in the swords of life and death, the first book is The Price of Immortality.
Rating:
Summary: Six Stars! Stunning Masterpiece!
Review: "A Storm of Swords" is the third book in George R.R. Martin's masterful "Song of Ice and Fire" series. When I started reading it, I was operating under the assumption that this was the conclusion of a series, as the series had once been advertised as a trilogy. The most recent information I have is that the series is now planned as a seven-book project. No matter which book in the series "A Storm of Swords" is, it is stunning. All of the magic of the first book, "A Game of Thrones", is here, but the tone is darker. Comparing "A Storm of Swords" to "A Game of Thrones" is similar to comparing "The Empire Strikes Back" to "Star Wars: A New Hope". Why do I like this book? 1) The technique of rotating viewpoints is again used to perfection. It lets the reader see situations and characters from inside and out, and from different viewpoints, resulting in a fuller, richer understanding of everything. It also allows the otherwise-unthinkable option of an apparently crucial main character dying. 2) The writing and editing are flawless. I remember no logical contradictions, no editing errors, and no slow spots. It's a huge book, but it moves well. I've read smaller books that had more slow spots. 3) Some of the characters continue the transformations from what they were in the first book. There is no longer any doubts that the characters are developing and evolving. Some of the transformations are stunning (No, I won't give them away!). Also, after starting with huge cast of main or possible-main characters, the cast is slowly but steadily narrowing, and the reader can easily see huge culminating confrontations on the horizon. 4) Possibly because of the shifting-viewpoint technique mentioned above, the author is able to create a plot that is extremely complex and intricate, but still coherent. This series is not for impatient readers. For moderately patient readers, wait for the series to be finished in five years or so, and then set aside a major piece of reading time and do the whole series. For die-hard fans, grab them when their released and gobble them up. Whatever your approach, you won't be disappointed.
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