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Here is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction. A Storm of Swords. Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world.... But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...
As the War of the Five Kings reaches a violent crescendo, the fragile stability of the Seven Kingdoms collapses under the weight of shifting alliances and the encroaching threat of an ancient, supernatural enemy. The narrative follows multiple perspectives across a fractured continent, where noble houses maneuver for control of the Iron Throne while facing external existential threats. Protagonists must navigate lethal political intrigue, military campaigns, and personal betrayals, all while the physical world faces the return of long-dormant magic. The story employs a multi-POV structure, alternating between key players in the conflict to illustrate the vast, interconnected consequences of their choices.
This novel is widely regarded as a pivotal entry in the series, frequently cited for its high-stakes narrative shifts and the resolution of long-standing plot threads. Readers and critics often highlight the author's willingness to subvert traditional fantasy tropes by placing major characters in precarious and often fatal situations. The pacing is frequently noted for its intensity, particularly in the latter half of the book where multiple storylines converge into a series of climactic events. The work is recognized for its contribution to the evolution of modern epic fantasy, emphasizing political realism alongside traditional genre elements.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
2000-08-08
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ISBN-10:
0007424930
ISBN-13:
9780007424931
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