Rating: 
Summary: I don't know what book they were reading, but
Review: This whole series has been extremely long winded, ill edited, and an attempt at either soft porn or fantasy, and coming up short on at least the fantasy aspect. The story line is good, however, it is lost in a deluge of side stories that does nothing but water down the story line. A good editor could have pulled the same story together in 1/2 the pages. Martin must of been getting paid the old IBM programming way- by the line. Better then Tolkien? I think not.
Rating: 
Summary: I would give it a six if I could.
Review: Intrigue, action, wonderful characterization. What more could you ask for? For Mr. Martin to write faster, that's what!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The series just keeps getting better!
Review: After reading some of the reviews on this page, I fealt a sense of dread as I picked up this book. I had been led to believe that this third book was nothing but a bloodbath where all my favourite characters would die gruesome deaths. I was completely misled.
This book is, I think, the best yet. The action and plot twists never stop as Martin provides us with new viewpoints and plot developements.
I would have to say that about 50 percent of the book deals with actions around The Wall, which is great, and the book really developes Jon's character alot more. But there are some interesting developements down south as well, Jaime's perspective on things really makes the book interesting, and you may find yourself beginning to like the incestuous kingslayer. The Hound(hooray!)and Tywin Lannister both make appearances as well, but the character who I am beginning to like best in the South is Littlefinger, he does some really devious things in the book.
Across the sea, Daenarys is still away from the main plot, but I found her chapters much easier to read in this book, because of really interesting characters and increased action. Bran is still kind of boring, but he isn't really in the book all that much.
There are characters killed, make no mistake, but thats just part of the realistic way Martin portrays the world, and just makes the book all the better, and not nearly that many die (some reviews make you think that everybody dies, and the last 100 pages is just their funerals)
I really loved this book, devouring its 1000+ pages in less than a week, but don't worry about the length, the chapters just fly by. Martin is definitely continueing to put out amazing work and I am eagerly awaiting his next novel.
~Richard S. Deem
(by the way, you must read always read series' in order, 1.The Game of Thrones 2. A Clash of Kings 3. A Storm of Swords 4.(coming soon, hopefully)A Feast for Crows.
Rating:
Summary: Just keeps getting better.
Review: The best of the three novels. They only get better as they are written. Keeps you hanging on for the next novel! Great read.
Rating:
Summary: Damn it...I was so shocked I couldn't sleep
Review: It was late at night, I was just past the halfway point in the book and decided that I needed to get some sleep. I told myself that I would read a few more pages then put the book down. A few pages later Martin, who was consistantly shocking me, turned up the voltage and really put the taser to me. I had just got to the "Red Wedding".Throughout the series, characters that I thought I would be reading about until the end were dying faster than I could turn the pages. I had, I thought, become used to it. Then GRRM tells of the "Red Wedding". WHAM! BAM! There goes a few more (not-so) main characters. Anyway, my night was shot. I could not get my mind off the book. I was now wide awake and would be for a few more hours. I was cursing Martin for losing sleep and loving him for his "A Song of Ice and Fire". The following morning I was re-telling everyone how much I loved the book and series. What a great series! I have been reading sci-fi fantasy for over 25 years this is the best I have ever read. Besides being Varys-well written (mis-spelling intended), the story is completely unpredictable. The characters are not your basic run-of-the-mill good guys and bad guys. All the characters are fallible, nasty, nice, caring, curt, apathetic, pathetic, heroic, self-serving and of course compelling. I imagine that if those of us that live today were to be teleported into GRRM's world and became part of the story, Martin would not have to change a thing. His characters are essentially real people acting and doing what real people do. Over the years I have grown used to the bad guys being evil and the good guys being saints, never the two will mix. I'm sure Martin laughs at that cliche. In his world people act like...well, people. I believe that that is Martin's genius. We have gotten so used to science-fiction being a black and white genre. GRRM has just introduced us to the color gray (or in redards to the "Red Wedding" the color pink) I HATE it. I LOVE it. "A Song of Ice and Fire" is the drug I am addicted to. I want to stop, but I can't. It hurts so gooooood. READ THIS SERIES. YOU WILL LOVE IT.
Rating:
Summary: Too much pain.
Review: 2.5 stars. Yes there is very good prose and very good characterization. Yes it's something fresh with a very comlex plot. These were the things that made me love this series(and the reason for the 2.5 stars), but now there's the Red Wedding, which is by far more painful than anything he's written in the first two books. I know that I've never read anything more upsetting in my life. I'm not one to shun realism or bad things happening in books, but there is a fine line to walk, and here George Martin crosses that line. We must all remember that the main purpose of reading fiction is for ENJOYMENT, and really, what is left to enjoy after the Red Wedding? It seems that in ASoS Martin is more inclined to showing us the gritty realities of medieval times than writing something enjoyable, and to me that's not fiction, that's a documentary. There are other authors -like Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, and Tad Williams- who manage to lace their books with enough realism and pain WITHOUT GOING TO EXCESS. In those books, when something bad happens, you of course grieve and fill bad for a little while, but then you move on, and what's more, it makes the book more enjoyable, not less. Not so with this book. I actually had to stop and read another book before I could finish this one. To me that's not good fiction, because good fiction is supposed to HOOK you and not let go. Fiction is, after all, supposed to be fiction. This is, after all, supposed to be fantasy. It's not supposed to be completely real. I loved the first two books and would hate to not know what eventually happens to all these characters I've come to love, but I don't think I could suffer another Red Wedding. George Martin has told me that he doesn't know if anything he writes will be that painful again, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I know that this time I'll be checking into A Feast for Crows before I buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Too much pain.
Review: The Red Wedding. I know that I've never read anything more upsetting in my life. I'm not one to shun realism or bad things happening in books, but there is a fine line to walk, and here George Martin crosses that line. We must all remember that the main purpose of reading fiction is for ENJOYMENT, and really, what is left to enjoy after the Red Wedding? It seems that in ASoS Martin is more inclined to showing us the gritty realities of medieval times than writing something enjoyable, and to me that's not fiction, that's a documentary. There are other authors -like Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, and Tad Williams- who manage to lace their books with enough realism and pain WITHOUT GOING TO EXCESS. In those books, when something bad happens, you of course grieve and fill bad for a little while, but then you move on, and what's more, it makes the book more enjoyable, not less. Not so with this book. I actually had to stop and read another book before I could finish this one. To me that's not good fiction, because good fiction is supposed to HOOK you and not let go. Fiction is, after all, supposed to be fiction. This is, after all, supposed to be fantasy. It's not supposed to be completely real. I loved the first two books and would hate to not know what eventually happens to all these characters I've come to love, but I don't think I could suffer another Red Wedding. George Martin has told me that he doesn't know if anything he writes will be that painful again, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Rating:
Summary: I have to WAIT for the next book? Arrrrghh!
Review: ...Simply incredible. I finished it yesterday and rather bummed out that it's over. It amazes me how well Martin is able to engage the reader and keep a 1000+ page book (if only it were 2000+) entertaining throughout. There has been nary a dull moment throughout the entire series, including the beginning of Game of Thrones. This book admittedly has perhaps a few more slow bits than the other books and Martin continues to evince a bit of TMI (too much information) Syndrome (something a certain other author seems to suffer from mightily). For instance, he goes into great detail in describing various carnal acts, such as describing what sound a (fill in the blanks) ___ makes when it comes out of a ___. Amazingly, however, this doesn't detract from the story. Martin is able to maintain the narrative flow despite his generously detailed prose. If anything, the author's descriptions, no matter how gratuitous some of them may seem, only enhance his story, they don't bog it down. Some are better than gratuitous, of course, and incredibly vivid; the details of the wilding hordes, for example. In short, Martin never bores the reader. As far as whether a Song of Ice and Fire is better than Lord of the Rings, however... well, I thought so myself for a while, but I'm not sure it's as simple as that. Certainly, Martin's work has more depth and is overall more entertaining, I think. But as far as strength of historical richness(via the Silmarillion), mystique and use of language, I'd say Tolkien is still king. But Martin isn't far behind in these categories either. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Martin further detail the history of the lands of Westeros and beyond in future (post Song of Ice and Fire) works. But right now, we have the unbelievable Song of Ice and Fire series. Put down that Wheel of Time Book and pick up Game of Thrones.
Rating:
Summary: The unparalleled saga continues
Review: With this third hit in a row, I think it's appropriate to call the Song of Fire and Ice series a phenomenon. Just when you think things can't get any better, Martin turns out another gem. Judging from the previews for the next book, A Feast for Crows, things are bound to get even more exciting. I can only hope that this series doesn't turn into a certain other series that started out promising then bogged down completely so that by the time the tenth book rolls around, readers are forced to stomp their feet in angry frustration. Every element that makes the first two book great are all here: tightly crafted narratives, convincing and memorable characters, realistic dialogues, exotic locales, and intriguing plots. Martin continues to make bold strokes which are completely unexpected. He introduces the point-of-view of Jaime Lannister for the first time. The Kingslayer turns out to be a far more complex character than his reputation thus far may indicate. More than ever before, readers will be completely unsure whom to root for. Martin goes on to eliminate a major character who had appeared certain to survive the series. This may come as a complete shock to many, even to those who have come to expect the unexpected. It would be wise not to become too attached to any character. Nonetheless, I must admit to having grown rather fond of little Arya and her nightly litany of the villains on her "hitlist" (Joffrey, the Tickler, the Hound, Ralf the Sweetling, etc.) In the aftermaths of the Battle of the Blackwater, the field of contenders for the throne is narrowed considerably. Stannis retreats to Dragonstone to lick his wounds, while the Lannisters form new alliances and are stronger than ever. Now firmly ensconced on the Iron Throne, Joffrey rules with unbridled cruelty, and only Tyrion dares to stand up to him. In the north, Robb is beset on all sides and the future looks even bleaker for the Starks. Bran is gradually gaining awareness of his shapeshifting ability in his journey to the north in search of the three-eyed crow. Arya faces many perils on her wanderings, but is getting closer to home. Sansa is more miserable than ever, but is becoming stronger and wiser. Jon makes a fateful decision that would ultimately gain him great esteem, but leave him with a broken heart. In the east, Daenerys is building a formidable army; when her dragons become fully grown, she would become invincible indeed. Samwell Tarly gets his fair share of space, though he's one of the few characters who don't appear to have much impact, yet. The story has grown more complex and the setting has become richer than ever. Martin has gotten a real mess on his hand, and whatever the outcome of the series, it would be phenomenal. The only complaint anyone could have against the series is the wait between installments. But if the first three books are any indication, it is well worth it.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Fantasy Epic Ever!
Review: Okay many people may consider that this series is overhyped but on a serrious note: Lord Of The Rings is overhyped. So it came out 'first' before a lot of other fantasy books came out and made fantasy popular but that doesn't meen I have to like Lord Of The Rings which was great until the third book. Martin's series seems to be only getting better and I can in good honesty say after reading some spoiler readings for his forth comming book, 'A Feast For Crows' that it will continue to get better. This series is going to be a total of six possably seven books but the seven is debatable. The fact that Martin actually kills characters off makes it entertaining but that isn't the whole reason why I like his books. First off Martin's world is more complicated than simple white and black, it is more based off of shades of grey. Every character is unique, has a unique style to himself. Whats more his series successfuly rises both negative and possitive emotions in me while I can't say this with Jordan: Sorry Jordan fans.
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