Rating: 
Summary: Vivid, intensely gripping, tragic
Review: I think I read "A Storm of Swords" over the course of three days. George R. R. Martin is an amazing storyteller, and is particularly skilled at (a) bringing the medieval era to life; (b) getting you emotionally involved with the characters; (c) putting the characters into great danger. If you have even an ounce of sympathy for the characters, you can't help but be intensely involved in what happens to them. (The scenes with the Queen of Thorns and the Red Viper of Dorne -- both minor characters -- come to mind.)What further differentiates Martin's work is his sense of tragedy. There's a saying that to the young, life is a heroic adventure; to the middle-aged, a tragedy; to the elderly, a comedy. Martin definitely takes the tragic point of view. As many people have noted, sympathetic characters often die. I'm awestruck by the amount of work that Martin's been putting into this series -- it's basically a 10-year commitment. I hope the rest of the series continues to go well. For people who aren't sure whether to commit to reading this six-volume epic, I'd suggest trying Martin's story "The Hedge Knight" in the Legends anthology. (For fellow readers who are impatiently waiting for the next volume in the series, might I suggest some historical reading? In particular, Robert Graves' "I, Claudius" and Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" -- different historical period, but filled with intrigues and battles.) One final comment for fellow reviewers: could you please refrain from including plot spoilers in your reviews?
Rating: 
Summary: Long but worth it
Review: Realistic, engaging but long. Like reading a history book from the dark ages where sorcery and dragons actually exists. The treachery and deceit and politics could have come from any history book. The characters with their flaws and ambitions and mistakes could be the former rulers of any land of today. Martin gets it right with this novel. Very long but worth it and necessary for all that there is to tell.
Rating:
Summary: The Good and Bad
Review: The Good: Complex, much better than A Clash of Kings, exciting, many momentous events take place (in the context of the series), some nice twists and surprises along the way. The Bad: With the style of storytelling (having separate chapters for each main character), it can get frustrating leaving off on a climax of one character to begin reading the next chapter on a different character (which slowly builds up to a climax only to switch you to someone else, where you must start again). Also, one or two main events were a bit of an anticlimax. Overall: Very good read. Looking forward to the next installment. By the way, I've read lots of reviews here mentioning Robert Jordan's books. Personally, I lost interest completely in those after the 3rd or 4th book, and found them increasingly frustrating to read. And I found the style of writing to be inferior to that of Martin's, although the Jordan series could be targeted towards a different segment. If you want to read some other very good fantasy novels, I highly recommend the Black Company series by Glen Cook. The Black Company chronicles are probably the best fantasy books I've read, although they haven't been given the same marketing push as other fantasy novels. Martin's are good so far, but we'll have to see what he's building up to (there's been an awful lot of building up in the last few books of Martin's).
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: This book is hard to put down and harder to forget. Each book of this series gets better and better instead of becoming drawn out and repetitive like so many others. "Song of Fire and Ice" now ranks as one of my two favorite fantasy series along with the "Memory, Thorn, and Sorrow" books by Tad Williams. The grizzly details are what didn't make this my far-and-away favorite. However, that's just a reflection of my personal taste and doesn't affect my vote because the goriness was so skillfully done ... in fact, my sqeamishness is evidence of the incredibly visceral quality of Martin's writing. The characters are fascinating and convincing. The political intrigue and plot twists are brilliantly conceived and executed. The visual imagery is vivid and breathtaking. A "must read". WOW!
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: After reading this book, this series has become my alltime favorite fantasy series. I just can't say enough good things about it. The action, intrigue, dialogue, characters...everything is just unmatched. My favorite thing about this series is its ability to be totally unpredictable, unlike every other fantasy I have read. The reader has no idea who will be left standing at the end. As soon as you think it will be a certain character, Martin kills him/her off with impunity. I love it. I also like how there are no real clear cut good guys and bad guys. It is hard to take sides. Both of these characteristics make this the most interesting fantasy I have ever read. Quit reading Jordan and read this. It will be welcome relief from the bordom and predictability of most high fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: It don't get any better than this !
Review: Having waited with bated breath for the release of this book, I will join my voice to the growing legions of fans that feel this book (and series) is one of, if not the best ever written in the genre. The detractors of "A Song of Fire & Ice" constantly accuse Martin of basing this series on the War of the Roses, please, get off it. Just because all you know of old war history is the War of the Roses, don't try and shoehorn the most exciting and original series in decades into it. This book excels on so many levels that 1000 words won't be enough to do it justice. "The King in the North", "Kingslayer", "The Sword of the Morning","The Young Wolf", "The King Beyond the Wall"...Just the mention of those sends shivers thru you. I have become so involved with these characters,it's like I really know them. Where is the world is Arry going to end up? Can Jon handle the Night Watch?, how long will Daenrys wait before she continues her march to Westerios? will Tyrion get away with it?, and where in seven halls of Hades is Rickon ? Hurry up George!, "A Lannister always pay his debts" Just keep up the great work cause, "Winter is coming". P.S. I don't know why so many readers compare this series to Tolkien, they really don't have any thing in common. Martins world seems to be a lot closer to Robert E. Howard than anything in the LOR's. And remember, Howard was writing great Sword & Sorcery 20 years before Tolkien picked up a pen.
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Martin, please finish the next book soon!!!
Review: I have just finished reading this book, the third in the "Song of Ice and Fire", and will most likely be waiting on edge for book four like a junkie waiting for a fix. If it doesn't come out this year, I fear I may not last. . . Fortunately, there will other pick-me-ups along the way, like the conclusion of Raymond Feist's "Riftwar Legacy" series, and other books that I haven't gotten to yet, but "Dance with Dragons" is the one I will be truly waiting for. Have I mentioned that I really, really like this series yet? George R. R. Martin has created a world that rivals Middle Earth, Arrakis (aka Dune), the world of Thomas Covenant, the world of the Riftwar, and the world of the Wheel of Time for detail, richness, and complexity. And, he really does something with it. He populates it with incredible characters with deep personalities, throws in plot twists worthy of Machiavelli, and stretches your own sense of right and wrong with ethical dilemmas right out of ecclesiastical philosophy. Although the saga is cloaked in medieval fantasy, it is not a story of sword and sorcery. This is first and foremost a work of ideas and ethics. Political intrigue enters the equation, but the true treasures in these books are the characters. They are everyday people thrown into situations that test their strength, both physical and spiritual. The feudal framework forms the perfect foil as brother is pitted against brother, father against son, husband against wife, and sister against brother. In the name of honor, family, and justice, these people are asked to make judgments that require the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of Hercules. And, since this is not brought to us by Disney studios, they don't always make the "right" choices. The "heroes" sometimes do the "wrong" thing; the "villains" sometimes perform acts of outright nobility. The only thing that is predictable is that the story is not formulaic and predictable. As the series progresses, the presence of magic increases, but it is not benign magic - every visible aspect is dark. Characters who appear to be the most upstanding are killed off by treachery; sometimes the treacherous get theirs and sometimes they don't. Every chapter ends with a mini-cliffhanger and sometimes what you assume happened, didn't. As the sword master told Arya in the first book, you must see with your eyes, not with your mind. I think I have finally figured out where the story is going, but I won't divulge my thoughts for two reasons. One, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has not read this book yet, and, two, if I'm wrong, I don't want to let on to you all how stupid I am. . . This series is intense, as anyone who's made it this far knows. It most likely isn't for everyone. But if you haven't started book one yet, give it a try. If you get through the third book, I guarantee you will be affected, as well as hooked. You will find yourself looking at moral and ethical situations with different eyes; you will not be as judgmental as you were before. You will learn things about yourself as well as enjoy one mighty fine read. I know. I went into this series cold, and I'm a convert. Please, Mr. Martin, please finish book four tonight!!
Rating: 
Summary: Blasphemy--it was not as good as the first two
Review: Sorry if saying this is not a 5 star effort may get Martin fans to band together and take out a hit on me. This is a well written book. The problem for me is that Martin's brutality, which was refreshing in the earlier volumes, is getting old to me. I'm gonna need Prosac before this is done.
Rating:
Summary: This is not fair !!!
Review: George R.R. Martin is just too good. I have read some awesome fantasy series. Jordans WOT, Tad Williams dragonborn chair series (Which I thought was as good as it gets),L.E. Modesitt's Recluse (still one of my all time fav's), Terry Goodkinds SWOT whose last book FOTF was superb. Wies & Hickmans Death Gate series. Then along comes George R.R. Martin and blows them to dust. That is soo uncool Mr Martin. NOT FAIR. Some times your so far above everyone else, no body has a chance to even compete. I'm not talking about just fantasy, I'm talking about the Clancy's, The Stephen Kings, The Grishams of the world. Nobody even comes close to story telling like this fella. And for the Pro Reviews that say everyones game to Axeman. Not True, if you haven't figured it out, the real heroes in these books are Jon and Danearys. I swear, if you kill Danearys off I will never ever read another of your books. heh heh heh
Rating:
Summary: Three Simple Facts
Review: Fact 1: I am a minor, and not the nerdy type. I could easily have a spot on our high school football team if I wanted it. And yet I took a week and five days out of my busy schedule to read this utterly fantastic book. Fact 2: I am an avid reader. I always have been, and unless I am struck blind I always will be. Not all teenagers are out smoking pot and having sex. Fact 3: This is hands down the best book I have ever read. Period. I do not know anything about the style or the form or the history behind the story (War of the Roses, indeed), but I do know that this book stretched my imagination to the utmost. I noticed subtle tricks Mr. Martin used to play on my mind, and I swallowed them with glee. The story is hauntingly beautiful, and, unlike the god-like characters in an Eddings' book (still one of my favorite writing teams), the normal laws of faliure and death still apply here. Just when you think you've figured out the game Mr. Martin is playing, he will hurl the chessboard to the floor. I have two bits of warning: Read the first two books before starting this one (A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings). And don't look back.
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