A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Jaime Lannister, defeated and captured by Robb Stark was released by Catelyn under oath. Overconfident and unquestionably a good warrior and talker, his life is about to change in his trip back to King's Landing with Brienne of Tarth and cousin Cleos Frey supposedly to Jaime's advantage. His moniker Kingslayer continues to haunt him despite his attempts to hide it.

Catelyn Stark is second guessing herself. Maybe she was a bad mother who made wrong decisions. Only the outcome of the war can tell if what she has done for her family was right.

Arya Stark is still on the run. What she has witnessed of the world so far only served to make her tougher and colder.

Tyrion Lannister, betrayed again despite what he has done for the realm, thinks he has found solace in a few allies and a woman whom he thinks adores him. It's just a matter of time until his enemies move to take him out of the game.

Davos Seaworth thought everything was lost until he recalled what he had given up to serve his king Stannis. He resolves to stay by Stannis's side and counteract or lessen Melisandre's influence.

Sansa Stark feels more alone now that the people at King's Landing have no use for her. Wiser than before but still gentle at heart, she has to keep playing her part in whatever role is given to her. Thinking she found allies in the Tyrells, she is disappointed but not surprised that Queen Cersei still has other plans for her.

Jon Snow joined the Wildlings as a request of Qhorin Halfhand. He still feels he's lost like he has always been. Not only has he lost his chance of returning to his family, but he might also lose the Night's Watch. Once an outcast, he is still an outcast. 

Daenerys finally finds the power she has always had: being a woman and a Targaryen. Everything seems to be going well for her, but she still cannot forget that the dragon has three heads. Her victories are dampened by that threat of another betrayal and the reality of ruling the conquered peoples.

Brandon Stark is still growing accustomed to his newfound power but it does not quell his longing for home and family. He has to go on a journey with new friends because he is compelled by a task he does not yet know.

Samwell Tarly has to be strong now. With no one to rely on, he has to face dangers mortal and otherwordly and prove he does not need to be brave and to be a skillful warrior to be a man of the Night's Watch.

***

Told from the point-of-view of eleven characters like the previous two books of A Song of Ice and Fire series, the third installment by far has the most action, twists and revelations. The character-driven story has kept up its excellent portrayal of unforgettable characters in a world that seems always torn by chaos and permeated with an ever-present feeling of despair.

The author may not be very skilled at vivid descriptions of hand-to-hand combat or large-scale battles, but his talent at spinning intrigues and surprising twists for his characters is an enjoyable experience. In the other two books, the threat of the White Walkers and the identity of the Wildlings were not yet apparent as they were overshadowed by the more immediate threat of war among the former subjects of King Robert Baratheon. In A Storm of Swords however, more players in the story are introduced and the reader's view of the world is still expanding.

So far, this third book is my favorite in the series because it's more action-filled and is a successful attempt to try to piece together all the individual stories. By this time, it's much more interesting to make hypotheses on the possible direction of the story and the ending of the series.

Rating: 9 out of 10