A Storm of Swords: Part 1 Steel and Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3)

The first book is by far the best. I just finished the fourth.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't, other than this really continues the serious emotional drain this series has. And where the magic really begins to be revealed.

I recommend taking a couple weeks off between books, because they are depressing & heavy and don't let up as you go along. The imagery is great, the battles exciting, the twists unexpected (yet a few are obvious).

Also the subsequent books twist away from the original book, so if you have strong opinions about how things should turn out or think you know how it will turn out, don't. It'll just disappoint you. If you don't expect certain things to happen, they're more enjoyable to read - though with all the tragedy in these books, enjoyable isn't the best adjective. :)

I like following the existing characters & meeting new ones and reading how the story unfolds - if you like adventure & not the standard happily ever after type fairy tale, then I highly recommend this series.

Some compare Martin to the US version of Tolkien, but he seems more Shakespearean or Poesque to me with the tragedies each character faces and the emotional heaviness. It makes you appreciate the lighter, good things in life a little more...

Be weary that this is only half of the third book. Just go somewhere else and buy the version with the entire third book in one copy. This book is kind of pointless. Was disappointed to have it arrive and found out I have to basically buy this book twice just to finish it.

This is one of the best series I have read in a long time and each book seems to just get better and better! I can't wait to get into the fourth book soon.

Continuing G.R.R. Martins story in Westeros and Essos. A fantastic fantasy epic that is very interesting and captivating. Be sure to read A Game of thrones and A Clash of Kings first!

george martin does it again :) Im buying the next one

I am addicted to this series of books by George R. R. Martin. It is the best series that I have read in a long, long time.

As always, the author seems to enjoy leaving his readers hanging at the end of each installment in this series. Luckily my copy came in the trade paperback format so that it may be re-read while awaiting the next installments without fear of breaking the spine and ruining the book.

I won't bother to attempt a summary as there are several web based sites, Wikipedia comes to mind, that do a much better job of summarizing each book and giving in-depth background and links.

Suffice it to say that when I read the last sentence, I wished that I had Volume 4 immediately at hand to continue the saga which is hopelessly addicting, despite the shabby television version.

I understand that a "graphic novel"(comic book)is now available for those who prefer that format.