Most of the reviews on any of the Song of Fire and Ice books I've read are universal in their agreement that George R. R. Martin is a unique and original voice in fantasy. Some have even called him a cruel god, as the creator of characters whom he them makes suffer in unexpected ways. In A Storm of Swords, Martin elevates his modus operandi to new extremes. The reader should never get comfortable in the Martin Universe because nothing will stay the same for long. Having had a day to reflect on the book since finishing it, I think this volume reminds me of LOST in some ways. Most LOST season finales were had some sort of big event that was a "game-changer" for the rest of the story to come. A Storm of Swords has more game-changers in one novel than all the LOST finales combined. So far in the series, the story has only gotten better. I have high hopes for what's to come.
