A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3 part 1)
- Author: George R.R. Martin
- Publisher: Harper Voyager
- Classification: A Song of Ice and Fire, A Storm of Swords
Book three of A Song and Ice and Fire is actually spilt into 2 parts: Steel and Snow and Blood and Gold. As they are printed as two separate books (in the UK), both a good 600 pages long, they have their own reviews…
The War of the five kings looks to be all but over, with the Lannisters as the victors, or at least claiming so. But Robb Stark is still the King of the North, and hasn’t lost a battle. Though the young King’s naivety at politics are ultimately letting him down.
But it’s not just the Stark’s politics that are causing problems in the North. Mance Rayder has raised a huge host of wildlings, many thousands strong, and is looking to move home. The Night’s Watch is much diminished due to a lack of new recruits and some massive defeats at the hands of both wildlings and The Others. So it remains to be seen if they can hold the wall against the invaders. Particularly as none of the five kings are inclined to send men to help defend the wall.
There is also a personal tragedy being played out within the wildling’s camp. Jon Snow is still acting turncoat, but he is finding himself having to do more and more to prove himself to Mance. And Snow’s relationship with Ygritte is becoming ever more… cosy. But if he breaks this last vow, will he still be a brother of the Night’s Watch, or will he become a wildling?
In the South, Stannis is still being advised by Melisandre. Who is putting ever increasing pressure on the King to sacrifice Edric Storm, the bastard son of King Robert (Stannis’s brother). The blood of a king is believed to bring more power to Melisandre’s dark magic.
Finally in the East, Daenerys Targaryen has started on a quest to build a new army. An army of Unsullied, slave born warriors who feel no pain and obey orders unquestionably.
Every day he [Jon Snow] spent among the wildlings made what he had to do that much harder. He was going to have to find a way to betray these men, and when he did they would die.
As is to be expected, this short summary of the plot does little justice to the book. Which again has the usual heady mixture of betrayal, politics and dark fantasy. Martin also shows his usual disregard for key characters, so the reader really has no idea if someone will live or die…
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