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A review by readingwithmerb
A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow by George R.R. Martin
5.0
A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow, is part one of George R. R. Martin's third installment to his A Song of Ice and Fire series. In the first novel, A Game of Thrones, we are introduced to the world and characters, in the second book, A Clash of Kings, we begin to see stakes being heightened, and in this third installment, the repercussions of all the past events slowly unfold. The snails pace and dryness of George R. R. Martin's writing is still present, but more events and intensity are woven around his brilliantly written prose.
One of the most striking qualities of part one to A Storm of Swords, is the budding character development. We see characters change within pages of delicately written obstacles and situations that force them to change and self reflect. Something fantastic about each book in this series, is the reasoning behind character decisions, and how each character is not simply self serving, but rather just reacting in the ways they know to situations out of their control. I love Martin's writing, it is dry and slow, but I find it rich and immersive. As fantastic as the writing is, it is the characters that make this story what it is. No matter the terrible things they may do, we see the humaneness to them and qualities that we like and may even relate to. Many writers struggle to write two dimensional characters, let alone morally grey ones, but Martin exceeds to the point where you come to love characters who you once believed you never would. The theme of identity ties all these differing characters together, and it is such a meaningful and moving experience to watch them struggle and grow to understand who they are, in a world that demands they be so many differing things. I cannot wait to read part two, especially knowing the distress that is to come. This series tortures my heart and yet somehow I love it.
One of the most striking qualities of part one to A Storm of Swords, is the budding character development. We see characters change within pages of delicately written obstacles and situations that force them to change and self reflect. Something fantastic about each book in this series, is the reasoning behind character decisions, and how each character is not simply self serving, but rather just reacting in the ways they know to situations out of their control. I love Martin's writing, it is dry and slow, but I find it rich and immersive. As fantastic as the writing is, it is the characters that make this story what it is. No matter the terrible things they may do, we see the humaneness to them and qualities that we like and may even relate to. Many writers struggle to write two dimensional characters, let alone morally grey ones, but Martin exceeds to the point where you come to love characters who you once believed you never would. The theme of identity ties all these differing characters together, and it is such a meaningful and moving experience to watch them struggle and grow to understand who they are, in a world that demands they be so many differing things. I cannot wait to read part two, especially knowing the distress that is to come. This series tortures my heart and yet somehow I love it.