A Storm of Swords

As the third novel in Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Storm of Swords relies heavily on the reader’s familiarity with the major events and character arcs of the first two books, A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings.

A Game of Thrones begins when Eddard “Ned” Stark, Lord of Winterfell, is invited by King Robert Baratheon to become his Hand, or key advisor. Years earlier, Ned and Robert fought together to liberate the realm from the tyrannical King Aerys Targaryen. Ned accepts the offer, but soon uncovers a conspiracy: All of Robert’s children with Queen Cersei Lannister are actually the offspring of an incestuous relationship between Cersei and her twin brother, the Kingsguard knight Jaime. Ned tries to bring Cersei to justice, but is foiled when Robert suddenly dies and Cersei’s eldest son, Joffrey, ascends the throne. Joffrey orders Ned’s execution, provoking Ned’s heir, Robb, to declare war. To facilitate the Stark army’s passage south, Robb forges an alliance with Lord Walder Frey, promising to marry one of Walder’s daughters. During an early victory, Robb captures Jaime, which boosts the Northmen’s morale.

A Clash of Kings sees the expansion of the war into a contest for the throne of Westeros.