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A review by zwiame
A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow by George R.R. Martin
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So. This is a complicated book for me to rate. Especially as it's technically only one half of a book.
Let's start with my qualms with it. Mainly, it's Jon's story that I just cannot bear to read. I simply don't fucking care for anything happening to him, barely care about him, and have had enough of their raid north. And yet, he has so many goddamn chapters!
And when it's not him, it's Sam, or even Chett. Please spare me.
I have a similar outlook on Catelyn's chapters, I understand she's there to inform us about Robb, but nothing ever happens to her so I find it hard to be interested in her POV (and she has so many chapters!!!). Also, Robb is definitely a more interesting character in the TV show.
Bran and Davos' chapters are also a bit slower for me to get through (as barely anything happens to them), but it's manageable.
I don't have much to say about Arya, except that her POVs are always interesting. Rarely revolutionary, but never boring because she's either moving around, or interacting with important players while hiding her identity, which gives us great "behind the scenes" info.
I feel the same about Danaerys, love her chapters, and wish there were more.
Sansa and Tyrion are great POVs in this book. The return of Tywin to King's Landing and Tyrion's consequent fall from grace is sooo interesting to see playing out. The Tyrell women's introduction is also one that I was really looking forward to, because of how good players of the game they are. Sansa's emotional roller coaster from fearing death, to joy, to content neutrality, to despair is also so fucking entertaining, though I feel terrible for her. Her trust of the fool (forgot his name) is so painful to witness, and you can tell she's still learning.
Oberyn's appearance at the very end of the book is the cherry on top, because then every resourceful and interesting player of the game is in King's Landing.
Now. Onto my very favourite part of the book, and the reason why it's rated so highly even though 50% of it kinda annoyed me: Jaime's POV. Jaime is my favourite character in this whole fucking series. His wit, his rashness, his humour, his devotion... The budding trust and companionship between Brienne and him I cherish. Every chapter they were in I adored! Can't express my love for them enough.
Especially after Jaime gets his hand chopped off, and really begins his redemption arc, I just can't get enough.
Let's start with my qualms with it. Mainly, it's Jon's story that I just cannot bear to read. I simply don't fucking care for anything happening to him, barely care about him, and have had enough of their raid north. And yet, he has so many goddamn chapters!
And when it's not him, it's Sam, or even Chett. Please spare me.
I have a similar outlook on Catelyn's chapters, I understand she's there to inform us about Robb, but nothing ever happens to her so I find it hard to be interested in her POV (and she has so many chapters!!!). Also, Robb is definitely a more interesting character in the TV show.
Bran and Davos' chapters are also a bit slower for me to get through (as barely anything happens to them), but it's manageable.
I don't have much to say about Arya, except that her POVs are always interesting. Rarely revolutionary, but never boring because she's either moving around, or interacting with important players while hiding her identity, which gives us great "behind the scenes" info.
I feel the same about Danaerys, love her chapters, and wish there were more.
Sansa and Tyrion are great POVs in this book. The return of Tywin to King's Landing and Tyrion's consequent fall from grace is sooo interesting to see playing out. The Tyrell women's introduction is also one that I was really looking forward to, because of how good players of the game they are. Sansa's emotional roller coaster from fearing death, to joy, to content neutrality, to despair is also so fucking entertaining, though I feel terrible for her. Her trust of the fool (forgot his name) is so painful to witness, and you can tell she's still learning.
Oberyn's appearance at the very end of the book is the cherry on top, because then every resourceful and interesting player of the game is in King's Landing.
Now. Onto my very favourite part of the book, and the reason why it's rated so highly even though 50% of it kinda annoyed me: Jaime's POV. Jaime is my favourite character in this whole fucking series. His wit, his rashness, his humour, his devotion... The budding trust and companionship between Brienne and him I cherish. Every chapter they were in I adored! Can't express my love for them enough.
Especially after Jaime gets his hand chopped off, and really begins his redemption arc, I just can't get enough.