Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: It took me about a week to get half-way through this book, and one day to finish the rest. I'd put this novel up there with first two volumes of the Wheel of Time series. Martin is putting the breaks on modern fantasy and steering it into a new direction. His world is cruel, unpredictable, and unforgiving- much like ours, and it's high time someone broke the mold. A couple of minor complaints about the book: The quality of writing seemed sporadic at the beginning of a couple of chapters, and some of the repetitive whining got on my nerves. I've been "tainted" by Jordan's books so stop reading my petty bickering and buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Every Fantasy Fan
Review: Mr. Martin wins the prize for best fantasy book this year. The only book I've read in recent years with a comparably strong ending would be Jordan's "Lord of Chaos."Martin's series gets stronger with each installment. The plot twists get only more surprising with each chapter. If you haven't read this series, now is a great time to start.
Rating:
Summary: I'm not even done yet!
Review: I started reading some of the reviews already in place, and had to add some notes. I am not even halfway through! Martin is the first sci-fi writer I have read (yes,even Tolkien) who does not give you the "brave, determined, nobodies" who go out to battle the "all powerful, all evil, never born-never died" bad guy. No character in the story is faultless. None are completely demonic. Sometimes they win, sometimes they get their heads cut off. In fact, this series is more "realistic" that most of the spy-vs.-spy, Ludlum, type fiction. It's a great book, so far. It is a long read. But, I find that I read some here, walk away, and come back a few days later- actually anticipating reading what happens next.Well, there you go. If you are new to George Martin, get A Game of Thrones and catch up with us.
Rating:
Summary: Who needs to sleep?
Review: We have to give this author credit for not rushing his writing process-- clearly he loves his stories as much as we do. I never thought a series like this would be my kind of books--too manly or something. My husband convinced me to just give book one a try because he thought it was awesome. He was so right! It's kind of crazy, but these books really get into your head--I found that I even dreamed about the characters and events if I read A Storm of Swords too close to bed time. You'll stay up late to read, and be tired in the morning, but it will be worth every bag under your eyes!
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, absolutely stunning.
Review: I have been an ardent consumer of fantasy literature for 25 years or more and through those years I have reveled in the experience of a good read, a ripping good yarn, a can't put it down until it's finished experience. Until recently that is! The last few years that enjoyment has all too infrequent and much of what is out there is all too easy to put down. Jordan is the obvious if some what belaboured example. But in this desert of screaming mediocrity there are a few glints of hope, Goodkind for one, Farland is another and then theres George. One thing I learned on a recent historical tour of England was that there was very little that was noble about the nobility, rather it was a snakepit rife with greed and treachery and Song of ice and fire reflects this reality as well as anything I have ever read. The third in this series offers great twists and turns, betrayal, deception, murder, great battles, and enough surprises to keep even the most insightful reader guessing. Unlike the ersatz, fuzzy, bland, "everyone live happily ever after", pablum of the Eddings, A Song of Ice and Fire is the blueprint for future fantasy writers on how it should be done.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: When my brother-in-law first gave me "A Game of Thrones", I was a bit confused about the storylines because he would write about one person in one place for the first chapter, and then, write about someone different in a completely different place the next chapter. But, as I kept reading, I really liked the way the storylines all melded together as you went along. That's not how most books are written and it is a breath of fresh air to have a book written in such a way. I applaud Mr. Martin for writing about a fantasy world that is not very far from the real world.
Rating: 
Summary: Lord of the Rings This Ain't
Review: I solemnly declare that, as I write this, I am of sound mind, and not under the influence of any mind-altering chemicals. I'm only on my first cup of coffee, so we can't even blame caffeine for what I'm about to say. This book, and this series, are mediocre at best. All these five-star reviews worry me, because this installment certainly didn't rate it. To deal in brass tacks, Martin's best aspect is his willingness to kill off main characters. It's a relief to be rid of a few people. He writes adequately. But this is going on too long, and I just don't care enough about these people (any of them) to want to read yet another 800 pages. I see that this series is scheduled for six books. Please, no! Look, guys, didn't any of you stay awake during your western civ courses, or your European history? Martin is playing with, and severely compressing, the Wars of the Roses. I don't mind, except that I'm tired to death of all these reviews raphsodizing over Martin's world-building. It's quite, quite recognizeable. Now, for these people comparing the Lord of the Rings and this stuff... Pay attention: Lord of the Rings is roughly 1200 pages. In those pages, you are presented with a world that is both recognizeable and exotic. There is heroism, and the vilest treachery, and small figures who achieve greatness. The reader is presented with a profound, wise, tolerant worldview in beautiful, lyrical, and what's more, appropriate, language. So many of us have grown up on Tolkien, we don't appreciate how extraordinary he was. More, many readers don't realize how incredibly erudite he was, and how internalized his knowledge. Middle Earth is Tolkien's personal codification of the literature and history he studied. Because most of us are pig-ignorant of that literature and history, and Tolkien's sources, we don't understand his accomplishment. Middle Earth is not a Manichean universe, as one reviewer insisted. That's an over-simplification brought on by superficial reading and Tolkien's gift for drawing us into sympathy with the protagonists. Remember, Frodo does not succeed in destroying the Ring. Gollum/Smeagol bites off the finger the Ring is on, and falls to his death, taking the Ring with him. Gandalf, the personification of "good", rallies and encourages the leaders of the West. But who destroys the ring-wraith king? Merry, a hobbit who hasn't done much else in the whole book except be cheerful and brave. Anyway, those are mere examples of what is great in Tolkien. By comparison, Martin's books are pitiful. In 2400 pages and counting, what have we seen? Muddled human beings, and what's more, people I, at least, can't care for. Who cares who dies? By the time I was half-way through this volume, not me. I'm tired of the whole thing. I want it over with. Unless there's a republican revolution, this stuff is boring. Martin has done his best to make some characters more sympathetic. We're supposed to change our view of certain characters because they have larger concerns than their own hides. Guess what? Everyone does, and it doesn't make them virtuous. And there is nothing, nothing happening in this book that justifies - gulp - 4800 pages. We don't need to kill this many trees. Let's start encouraging authors to finish their work in a reasonable space.
Rating:
Summary: Sold on Martin
Review: Having just completed the third book in his series, I can safely say that Mr. Martin is by far the most captivating author I've read in a long time. Unlike some other authors out there (you know who you are), Martin keeps his characters active and keeps the plot moving. If you enjoy fantasy books that are predictable, this series is not for you! I eagerly anticipate book number four!
Rating:
Summary: Finally: Something Old that really is New
Review: The fantasy background of Knights/Dragons/Kings/Queens/Castles/Swords, etc has been a story for the ages. So many books have been written with these romantic ideas in mind, so many that this type of writing has become somewhat of a cliche to me. I have read extensively in the fantasy and sci/fi genre, and it is very rare that you find a fantasy setting that doesn't include at least 3 of the above elements. Because of this repetitiveness it is very tough for an book/series to break out of the mold and stand above the rest. Very tough, but not impossible. George RR. Martin has proven this in his last book in this magnificent series. Every book that comes out in this series is a promise from Martin, a promise that everything you are thinking will happen in the book will not happen; and there is no way to predict what the final page will say in the book. The characters in these books grow; characters that you are familiar with for the last 3 books (it was overwhelming in the first book to be introduced to so many characters, but it pays off in the next 2 books) change and mature in inexplicable ways that you never would have dreamed possible from reading the first book. I would like to applaud martin on so many levels here, I don't even know where to start. .to try: The multiple plots he has created do not in any way take away from each other, but add a certain flavor/spice to the book that I have not found in any other books that use this style of split writing. I can't wait to read the other characters in the book, not once did I flip ahead to that characters next chapter, because by the time the chapter was over about 1 character and I had started another chapter with another character I was engrossed in the new characters trials and tribulations. The characters have grown. So often it is a big problem that characters in a series of however many books long do not grow. From the start of this series the characters have started dynamically changing and growing, and it is a pleasure to see where they will finally end up. I could go on and on, but I won't. Read this book yourself, and you will be rewarded. It is very possible that the characters you hate will die/ or live and become characters you like, and you won't be dissapointed at all as to where the book ends up. Read this entire series again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: Is he the best author ever??
Review: ok i will agree that this book is excellent, lots of good twists, especially with the Stark family. But why is everyone hammering robert jordan here? were not his first three books just as good, if not better? and will GRRM manage to still sell books on his ninth outing? And why are people saying he is better than tolkien as well? get a grip!! Anyway superb book and i can't wait for the next one i just thought i would put my 2p's worth into the martin/jordan arguement!
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