Rating: 
Summary: Martin rolls, this book ROCKS.
Review: I've run out of superlatives to describe this series. All I can do is tell you why I love it, and why you should read it.This book is dark, darker than the first two combined, and pushes the story of the Starks vs. the Lannisters to new highs and lows. I can't tell you much of what happens, because it seems that a new dramatic development happens with every chapter ending. Martin has mastered the art of the middle book, in that things keep happening, certain issues are resolved, while more are created and central mysteries remain for future books. BTW, you may hate me for revealing this much, but I guarantee that at least one of your favorite characters will either die or be maimed in this book. Most fantasy authors are too chicken to kill characters. Martin, despite having created the most dynamic, multi-layered and interesting characters I have ever read, has no qualms about doing horrible things to them. Stephen King wrote recently that timidity can hamper a writer's prose. Martin displays no such timidity, and A Song of Ice and Fire has been stronger for it. I love the way Martin treats magic in this series. In the first book, there are hints of long-gone magic (the dragons, Valyrian steel, the Others, etc) that are all treated reverentially but consigned to history. Book 2 turns all of these up a notch, hinting that they may not be so far gone after all. In addition, a strange and dangerous priestess enters the picture, a woman who is able to know and do many things that are terrifying and powerful to others in the Seven Kingdoms. In A Storm of Swords, one gains a sense that the lifeblood of Magic is surging back into the world again. Martin's fantasy has it all. There is betrayal and politics. We see battles, journeys, tragedy and beauty. Through it all, Martin's elegant and simple words lead us, and by the end of this novel we are treated to bigger cliffhangers than we saw at the end of "Clash." I dream of Book 4. I don't care how long the books are; more pages means more story. I love the style Martin uses; changing perspectives allows you to learn more about each character. I have read many criticisms of this series, none of which I can agree with. If you don't like this series, fine, but if you love fantasy and you haven't read it, you OWE it to yourself to start. Trust me.
Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: I loved this book, and after reading it, the only disappointment I had was that it was over. I think that Martin does a wonderful job devolping the characters, and setting the scene, and his story flows very well, unlike Jordan's Winters Heart, which I'm reading now. A Storm of Swords hooks the reader almost immediately, and the only problem I had while reading the book was that I had forgotten who Davos was, and his chapters seemed a little boring to me. Other than that, I loved the book, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books i've read....
Review: When I first started reading this series, I wasn't quite sure that I would like it. But after reading this book, I am extremely glad that I kept with it. Book three is definatly the best one out of the entire series. And much to my friends dismay, I believe that it is written much better than Robert Jordan's series. In this one book, there are enough surprising events to fill two of RJ's. Some really shocking events come out in this book, that you wouldn't have seen coming. In fact, at one point, i found myself jumping to my feet, and screaming "what?!" at the pages in front of me. I think my favorite part of the book, is how Martin seems to set up these huge and intricate plans, and then because of one person, they come crashing down around the poor characters. If you have read the previous two books, then you MUST pick up this one as well. 900 pages don't seem like that many, with the speed that you'll fly through this book. Now if only i could bring myself to read the last 100 pages.....
Rating:
Summary: Just another five star rating
Review: This may just be another five star rating, but I need to share my enthusiasm for this book. I loved the first book. Picked it up on a whim and was amazed by the complexity of plot and character. I especially loved the way Martin played with good and bad, protagonist and antagonist -- who's what?. But I was disappointed with the second book in the series. (Although I did reread it prior to reading Clash of Kings and enjoyed it more the second time around.) Fortunately, NOTHING prepared me for the excitement of the third book. Clash of Kings is absolutely riveting. More unexpected happenings and surprises. More untimely deaths. And far more supernatural. This book is phenomenal and truly worthy of all the five star reviews. I can't wait for the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy soap opera
Review: The twists in the plot are truly serpentine in the third volume of A Song of Ice and Fire. Like a soap opera, the schemes, plots, and turns of fate are unpredictable and unending, but never disappointing. The character development continues to draw the reader deeper into the story. When you put this book down, you will feel as if you have left the world of Westeros.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterfully Written, Brutally Realistic Fantasy Epic
Review: Wow... I dont know if there has ever been a fantasy series as well written, realistic, unpredictable, morally ambiguous and ruthlessly brutal as 'A Song of Fire and Ice' is. Despite this books considerable length (900 odd pages)I literally could not put it down for longer than 10 minutes, and spent the best part of 2 days engrossed in reading it. In writing this book George R.R Martin has succeded in combining a brilliant narrative and 1st class dramatic writing, with conventional fantasy elements (magic, dragons etc) and a complex 'War of the Roses' type political situation to make a truly gripping and innovative fantasy novel. Indeed in some senses the book is almost a semi-historical fiction rather than pure fantasy novel because of the amount of elements and plot situations drawn from the 14th century English dynastic 'War of the Roses'. This serves to make the book an excellant read for anyone who is interested in medieval European/English history, regardless of whether they like the conventional fantasy genre or not. However even if u dont care about the history i would have to recomend 'A Storm of Swords' and indeed the other 2 books in the series to just about anyone who can handle the fact, that these books are brutally Realpolitik, with a morally ambiguous situation (no clearcut good vs evil), brutally unpredictable twists (much loved main characters can and do die) and complex realistic style (none of the characters fits the true hero mold, all have their own weaknesses and dark side that readers may find repulsive). In fact if there is anything bad about George R.R Martins writing it would have to be the fact that it takes him nearly 2 years to write each installment, which makes for a long and agonising wait.
Rating: 
Summary: only 900 plus pages
Review: ok;so i just finished 900 plus pages.ok,so the characters do evolve change and mature as they interact with each other and changing events.ok,so their roles and personas are consistent with their changing circumstances.ok,so it was a bit slow going trying to remember all the relationships and names early on.ok,so the fantasy, mystery,strategy,intrigue,and action of events are fascinating.ok,so now what do i kill time with while i'm waiting for the next book.ok,so i hope it is 3000pages.ok,so this is way better than DUNE series which became trite.
Rating:
Summary: The saga continues...
Review: Like your fantasy long, intricate and full of likeable characters in deathly peril? Come on down, this book is for you! I confess, I had to start the series over to find out who was who. The alliances are changing constantly, and if you were hoping to pick it up as you go along you're likely to drown in incomprhension of the smaller details. And this book (indeed this series) deserves better than that. The strands of plot are intricately woven (oh, insert some more cliches, Wen!), and I am looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. The thing I like most about this series is the way the heroes, well, aren't. They all have their good and bad sides, and they mostly dislike (to put it mildly) each other, leaving me with no idea who to cheer for. You'll need to concentrate, but it's worth the effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Same story again..need new editor
Review: I loved the first two books. Unfortunately, this one is a lot like them. Same basic story of competitors for the throne with flashes of foreboding of "the Others." This time, Martin needed a good editor. There's endless wandering about the woods in a grey rain (or snow) with characters arriving at sites just after other characters left or passing one another in the night. And this goes on for the first half of the book (500 pages!). A good editor could have cut this part down quite a bit. A lot was unnecessary and self-indulgent and didn't add anything. In the second half, things pick up quite a bit and the story really kicks in. It's well-written, engaging, and surprising. Wonderful, in fact. I hope the next book picks up where this one left off, rather than taking the first half to set the tone yet again. While I will buy the next book, I don't anticipate it with the same eagerness I had before book 3. I'm afraid I won't get to the second half next time.
Rating:
Summary: A literary force of nature
Review: Martin is absolutely amazing. In a genre that grows increasingly placid and static (assemble rag-tag group of adventurers, search for item/weapon/place, defeat villain), here comes this series of books that blows the doors off the competition. Quite simply, Martin is writing the most intricate and satisfying fantasy out there. His narrative structure is brilliant, telling the story of his world through dozens of characters. Each chapter a new character takes the spotlight and a new piece of the story is revealed. This takes a little getting used to as you may become engrossed in one character's trials and tribulations, and not see the conclusion of that series of events for a hundred pages. However once you learn to accept this narrative scheme you will love it. The thing that I truly love about this series is that it is full of moments that not only take you by surprise, but absolutely shakes the pillairs of heaven. I don't think I've ever actually dropped a book from shock at a plot twist before. I definitely hope it happens again. Enough of this. Stop reading my words when you could be reading his.
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