Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

19 reviews

mattyvreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Definitely my favorite so far of the series. It is a well plotted story, and there are numerous successful elements: the world building, the characters, their relationships, the big plot twists. I am glad that I stuck with this series.

In terms of plot, this book is much more interesting than the last, in my opinion. On the crazy shit scale, this book is about a 7/10. If I hadn’t watched the show first, I would have been open-mouthed and wide-eyed the whole time.

On a smaller scale, I love learning details about each character’s history. How each character’s worldview shapes their justification of war, or alternatively, desire for peace. Or even who slept with who or caused some great insult. It’s all very interesting.

I still struggle with this series, sometimes, though. The sexualization of children is incredibly graphic and those moments are often written in first person. Deeply unpleasant and incredibly uncomfortable. For those who defend the author’s sexualization of children — fuck off. Why? Isn’t there another way to adequately convey exploitation or abuse without having the reader engage with it in first person, in such an explicit way? It’s graphic and unnecessary, and pretty disgusting. I think the readers are smart enough to understand the plot with or without those graphic depictions.

I also think some parts of this book  are coded a little racist. Hm…

Annnnywayyyy…… in terms of content, I think the good outweighed the bad parts of this book. I probably will read the next one. 

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vavocado's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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geminisoul's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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sucordera1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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jane_moriarty's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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annaparente's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was long, and it took me a long time to read, so something about it needs to be short (that something being this review). 

1. I could have done without the following lines (this book could have used a little more editing): 
“It felt as good as sex.” 
(I can’t remember what this referred to, but it might have been about Tyrion relieving his bladder. Not necessary, George. Not at all.) 
“Wedded and bedded.” 
(seriously??) 
“The beds were stuffed with straw and not too many lice.” 
(have you ever had lice, George? I have. Twice. If there is one, there will soon be many. There are either lice, or there are no lice. Nuisance, or lack thereof. There is no in-between.)

2. With that out of the way, here are some random thoughts with no context:  
  • Holy crap, what a book! 
  • The Red Wedding! 
  • All the weddings, really. There were three, and they were all just… wow. 
  • Tyrion is really the only redeeming character. 
  • Petyr Baelish, who tf do you think you are? 
  • I actually kind of like Jaime?? Not sure why I was expecting to hate him tbh. 
  • Ok, but why is Bran’s storyline slowly becoming more and more useless? 
  • Joffrey mwahahahahahaha!!!
  • (Sansa shouldn't have left her first husband) 
  • Can Daenerys please get to Westeros soon? 
3. Wonderful book, overall. 
4. I’m getting a little impatient but that didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book. 
5. A feast for crows indeed…

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samflowerv6's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

the best book I’ve ever read. A masterpiece. I will never forget this story. Out of ASOIAF, this is the best one so far!

“Every man must die, Jon Snow. But first he must live.”

“Old stories are like old friends, she used to say. You have to visit them from time to time.”

“Woman?” She chuckled. “Is that meant to insult me? I would return the slap, if I took you for a man.” Dany met his stare. “I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the Unburnt, Mother of Dragons, khaleesi to Drogo’s riders, and queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.”

I am the blood of the dragon. I must be strong. I must have fire in my eyes when I face them, not tears.
 
“It hurts so much, she thought. Our children, Ned, all our sweet babes. Rickon, Bran, Arya, Sansa, Robb… Robb… please, Ned, please, make it stop, make it stop hurting… The white tears and the red ones ran together until her face was torn and tattered, the face that Ned had loved. Catelyn Stark raised her hands and watched the blood run down her long fingers, over her wrists, beneath the sleeves of her gown. Slow red worms crawled along her arms and under her clothes. It tickles. That made her laugh until she screamed. “Mad,” someone said, “she’s lost her wits,” and someone else said, “Make an end,” and a hand grabbed her scalp just as she’d done with Jinglebell, and she thought, No, don’t, don’t cut my hair, Ned loves my hair. Then the steel was at her throat, and its bite was red and cold.— Catelyn Stark”


“Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are like to do next. Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purpose, or even seem to work against you. Remember that, Sansa, when you come to play the game.”
“What . . . what game?”
“The only game. The game of thrones.” 

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kkalicky94's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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theyannibannireads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Good book just really fucking slow , like George we don't need to know everyone name title and family line just get to the point  😒
But when we get story oh boy do we get story, every god damn storyline is exciting, dark and page turning 🔥🔥


Can't wait to read the next book shame I'll run out of them soon 

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joey1914's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75


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