Rating: 
Summary: Read _A Game of Thrones_ first
Review: The _A Song of Fire and Ice_ Series is great. It's a compelling story with everything an epic fantasy fan could want. That said, this is the third book, and it's a very complex world with a lot of plot threads and characters.If you've read _A Game of Thrones_ and _A Clash of Kings_, you don't need me to tell you to buy this book -- it's been out enough, you've either already bought it or are waiting for the paperback. If you haven't read any of the series, you do NOT want to start in the middle. You may or may not get lost -- GRR Martin is a good enough writer that you may not -- but there's a lot of backstory to pick up. Equally importantly, a lot of the impact of the first two books will be lost. GRR Martin is a master of the surprise twist.
Rating: 
Summary: Smashing!
Review: One of the best series I've ever read! The characters are distinct and thoroughly, each with their own goals and triumphs and failures - no one is too evil to be lucky, or too central to the plot to fail. It's intricate and involved - don't expect to enjoy it if you can't stand something with depth and subplots. Have a little patience, and it'll pan out. And, *finally*, a fantasy series where magic isn't just pouring out people's ears. It's rare, thankfully - which helps it retain its identity as *magic*. Now if we could only hurry along the next book... ::grumbles::
Rating:
Summary: So great....
Review: ...that i almost broke down into tears when i heard how long id have to wait to get the next book.
this entire series is absolutely amazing! it is definitely not for those who are easily offended, because there is a lot of material some may find tasteless, but personally, i feel that all that material just adds more power. i love how there is no one archetypal hero. u have to find your own hero(es). anything can happen in this world. no one is invincible, with supernatural powers that aid him/her (but dont get me wrong, i like supernatural powers too). to expand on the powers part, i love how Martin keeps the magic "quiet", like Tolkien. its there, but its something strange to you because you dont know how it works. all together, this is a great series, and it just gets better and better w/ each installment. i mean it. this is a MUST for fantasy fans.
Rating:
Summary: I cant believe I didnt review yet! 5 stars! Of course!
Review: Storm of Swords is the BEST BOOK I ever read. There. I said it. I got my book in Sept 2000 (yay for the quick deliveries in Holland), curled up in my favorite spot on the couch and began to read. I believe we had visitors that fateful weekend, but I don't think I paid much attention to them. Storm of Swords grabbed me at the throat and wouldn't let go until I finished it.
Of course, it started off awesome already - Jaime, someone I felt highly fascinated by, got himself a POV. Yay! Good, now for the review. This book has teared emotions out of me beyond anything I've ever read. I've been seen chuckling, laughing, choking, and at somepoint downright crying over what happened. When I finished Storm of Swords, I was high on adrenaline and out of breath. Everything seems to come together what has been building in the past two books. About everything just explodes in your face. All the intruiges, everything. Some thing were to be expected, other's were most definately not. Want to know who killed Jon Arryn? Want to know how the Wall withstands it's first war? Want to know how long that brat Joffrey remains King of Westeros? Just read. It's more than worth it. Some people complain about the grimness of the books, and the bloodbath of Storm of Swords (hey, the next book isnt called 'A Feast For Crows' for nothing ;)) was, but on the other hand, the dominating negativity makes the positive happenings so more brilliant and intense. Especially Arya's revenge was wonderful, also because you're really rooting for her, and you *really* don't know whether she'll survive or not.
In other fantasy series, the main hero always lives. In WOT, for example, no one is dead until he's been vaporised by balefire. And even then you're not certain he's been hit. That gets old soon. In ASOIAF, you're gnawing your nails over a simple brawl fight in an inn. And that's the magic of Martin's work.
A Storm of Swords is his best book yet, and I'm eagerly awaiting more. Eagerly? Frantically would be a better word I think.
Rating:
Summary: Best book of best fantasy series
Review: it started out kind of slow, but after the first 500 pages it went quick. storm of swords is so shocking a leaves so much unsaid, i can't wait for the next book. anyone who likes fantasy or even history should read this book, it shames the other "best" fantasy authors, even jordan and goodkind.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Brilliant! - I hate it - Please hurry with #4 I will pay any price.
Rating:
Summary: Positively great
Review: Many times while reading a Storm of Swords I would forget I was reading a book. The world created by Martin is so compelling. There is very little of the redundancy that hampers many other books, even very good ones. Every word works hard in this (and the other two) novels. I thought the series started a bit slow in A Game of Thrones. A Strom of Swords reads just as it is entitled and as in a true storm where rain and lightening march across the landscape seemingly at random yet not so, so too does the action in A Storm of Sword beat on the reader in a frenzied action packed manner. Martin has a plan and unveiling it is part of the excitement of reading this series. I would give SoS six stars if I could. Not for the very faint of heart but anyone who has gotten this far knows that already.
Rating:
Summary: Pure gold
Review: What more is there to say? If you've read the first two novels of a Song of Ice and Fire, you know just how good George R.R. Martin's writing is, and nothing I say will likely influence whether you read A Storm of Swords. If you haven't read A Game of Thrones yet, do yourself a favor and add it to your reading list. Rest assured that this novel is every bit as good as the first two. The struggle for control of the Seven Kingdoms remains as engrossing as before. Martin continues to shine when it comes to character: with each chapter he jumps to another member of the cast, each one strong enough to support a novel in his or her own right. Jaime Lannister is a particularly welcome addition to the set of viewpoint characters. For the first time we see the world through the eyes of the Kingslayer instead of from the vantage point of those who regard him as a monster. Admittedly, the other new point of view character, Samwell Tarly, fails to be as interesting as any of the other characters. He doesn't get very much to do in this novel, and I can only assume that George Martin is leading up to a bigger role for him later. The only other criticism I can find about this novel is the sheer brutality of the last chapters. It doesn't bother me that fate (the author) doesn't have a happy ending in store for everybody, but I can't help but get the feeling that George Martin saved a flurry of staggering blows for the end so as to leave the reader reeling. It feels a little artificial. But overall, A Storm of Swords solidifies A Song of Ice and Fire's claim to the title of best fantasy saga on the market. I eagerly await the next entry and the fates of, well, to avoid too many spoilers, all the characters that survived this one. This is the good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing predictable here!
Review: It's unusual to read a series where you really never know what's going to happen next. The heroes are just as vulnerable as the villians, and you can't always tell which is which! This series is very disturbing but you can't help coming back for more...
Rating: 
Summary: A HUGE LETDOWN
Review: The first two volumes of Martin's "Song of Fire and Ice" were GREAT. Book 3 is a horrible disappointment. Can you say "Filler?" Literally hundreds of pages pass where absolutely NOTHING happens. Martin is on the money train now, the one being run by Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind and their clones. And Martin has his characters start doing stupid, totally out-of-character things just to shock the reader. It felt contrived, shallow, and, well, dumb. The few significant scenes in this book take up less than a hundred total pages. But you have to slog through a whole lotta to get to them. I know you'll read it, no matter what the reviews say. But you'll be profoundly disappointed.
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