A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin is a fantasy novel, the third in the series, preceded by A Clash of Kings. It begins in the final months of the year 299 in the land of the Seven Kingdoms and concerns the aftermath of a war for the Iron Throne. Little battles are raging to settle where the rewards of the war will fall, for the one who holds the Iron Throne rules the kingdom.

Chett is a member of the Night's Watch, soldiers who guard the Wall. They make camp in Fist of the First Men, an ancient fort. Chett speaks with his friends about a plot to kill the officers. The Watch plans to ride and attack the Wildings. Before either plan can go into effect, the Others attack the camp. Jaime Lannister is a prisoner escorted by boat from Riverrun by Ser Cleos Frey and Brienne. Catelyn Stark helped Jaime escape from prison so he could get his brother, Tyrion, to release Catelyn's daughters. While fleeing, a river galley pursues them. Brienne pushes rocks onto the galley, sinking it.

Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf in King's Landing, visits his father, Tywin. Tyrion asks to have Casterly Rock, the family's land, but Tywin refuses. Davos Seaworth is a sailor on a small island after the war. He is rescued by a ship owned by Salladhor Saan. At King's Landing, Sansa is invited to dinner by Margaery Tyrell and Lady Olenna Tyrell. Margaery is to marry King Joffrey Baratheon. Sansa tells them Joffrey is a monster. Olenna tells Sansa she wants her to marry her grandson, Willas.

Jon Snow is captured and taken to Mance Rayder, king of the wildings. Mance tells Jon he joined the wildings because he wanted to live free and make his own choices. Jon, who wants to infiltrate the wildings, tells Mance he wants to join them. Daenerys Targaryen is hoping to claim the Iron Throne. She is sailing for Pentos with Ser Jorah Mormont. Ser Jorah visits Daenery and tells her to change course to Astaphor and buy the Unsullied, highly trained fighters. Bran Stark travels with Meer and Jojen Reed and Hodor. Jojen wants Bran to go to the Wall to seek the three-eyed crow.

Davos learns few remain loyal to Stannis Baratheon. Davos tells Salladhor he wants to kill Melisandre, Stannis' advisor. When they land at Dragonstone, Davos is arrested. Jaime Lannister, Brienne and Ser Cleos stop at an inn and the innkeeper tells them to take a certain path to avoid hostile lands. Jaime is impressed when Brienne takes another path. Arya, Hot Pie, and Gentry escape from Roose Bolton. They hide when they hear someone coming, but outlaws discover them and take them to an inn. The group hears riders and Arya recognizes one of her father's men, Harwin. Catelyn Stark's son Robb returns home. She tells him she released Jaime Lannister. Robb introduces Catelyn to his wife, Jeyne Westerling. Catelyn tells Robb that the Frey family will now be angry, since Robb was supposed to marry a Frey woman.

Jon Snow and the wildings go to the Fist of the First Men. Mance Rayder questions Jon about the forces at the fort. Most of the Night's Watch is killed in the battle with the Others. Mance says he understands why the wildings were not attacked as they approached the fort. Sansa meets with Dontos, who is going to help her escape King's Landing. Arya and Gentry go with the outlaws. Harwin tells Arya he and the other men became outlaws after the deaths of King Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark. Arya discovers they are taking her to see Lord Beric. Sam Tarly is retreating from Fist of the First Men with other survivors. He falls and Grenn and Small Paul come by and help Sam. They are attacked by an Other. The Other kills Small Paul and Sam stabs it with his obsidian dagger and the creature dissolves.

Tyrion Lannister is told Petyr Baelish will marry Lysa Arryn to secure the Vale of Arryn for the Lannisters. Tywin wants Cersei to marry Willas and Tyrion to marry Sansa. Tywin tells them Robb Stark married Jeyne Westerling. Jaime Lannister, Brienne Tarth, and Cleos Frey are ambushed by archers. Cleos is killed and Jaime and Brienne chase the archers away. They are surrounded by Brave Companions (Bloody Mummers). Jaime and Brienne are taken before Vargo, who has Jaime's sword hand cut off. Arya, Gentry, and the outlaws are trying to find Lord Beric. Daenerys is in Astapor looking at the Unsullied. She is upset about the way slaves are treated. Bran and his companions are traveling to the Wall and Meera tells them a story.

Davos is imprisoned for wanting to kill Melisandre. Jon Snow has been traveling with Styr and Jarl, two of the wildings, and their group. Jon gives Styr information about the Night's Watch patrol of the Wall. Daenerys meets with slave traders of Astapor and tells them she wants the Unsullied. She tells the traders she will give them a dragon. She gives the dragon to the slaver, and orders him to unleash his fire. Daenerys frees all the slaves and conquers Astapor. Cersei tells Sansa she is to marry Tyrion. At the Wall, the wildings and Jon Snow climb the Wall. At Harrenhal, Jaime Lannister and Brienne are brought to Roose Bolton. Tywin shows Tyrion new swords he had made for Joffrey and Jaime. Pycelle comes in with a letter from Castle Black describing the Others' attack. Tywin will help if Lord Janos Slynt is elected as new Lord Commander.

Sam and other survivors are at Craster's Keep. Gilly, a daughter and wife of Craster, gives birth. The men kill Craster and Mormont. Sam escapes with Gilly and the baby. Arya and Gentry are in a cave. The Mad Huntsman brings his captor, Sandor Clegane. Lord Beric and Thoros decide Sandor will be tried by battle. Sandor kills Beric, but Beric comes back alive. Robb tells Catelyn that Sansa is married to Tyrion Lannister. Catelyn says they should make peace with the Lannisters, but Robb will not. Lothar tells them Lord Walder Frey will accept a new marriage alliance if Robb apologizes and Edmure marries Roslin Frey.

Davos Seaworth meets with Stannis Baratheon. He asks Davos why he wanted to kill Melisandre, and Davos tells him he believes she lit the fires that sank his ship. Stannis says Melisandre is faithful. He names Davos to be his Hand. Melisandre enters and Stannis tells Davos that Stannis will be the hero in the final battle against the Great Other, the god of darkness. Stannis throws three leeches into a fire and says the names Joffrey, Robb, and Balon Greyjoy. Melisandre asks Stannis to sacrifice Edric Storm, but Stannis will not listen. Roose tells Jaime Lannister and Brienne Tarth about Robb Stark's marriage to Jeyne Westerling and Edmure's to Roslin Frey. They are ready to leave, but Roose says he cannot take both of Vargo's prizes away, and the guards take Brienne.

Tyrion meets Prince Oberyn Martell. Oberyn caused Willas Tyrell to be crippled. The Tyrells hate the Dornishmen for it. Lord Beric lets Sandor Clegan go. Arya says she thought Sandor had killed him, but Beric says Thoros brought him back to life. Bran Stark, Hodor, Meera Reed and Jojen Reed, together with Bran's direwolf, Summer, reach Queenscrown. Jojen sees some men near the shore of the lake, and Bran enters Summer to scout them. The wildings are heading for Castle Black. Jon Snow tries to lie about the defenses, but he knows if the wildings do attack, the castle will fall. The group comes to the village of Queenscrown. Summer, Bran Stark's direwolf, attacks them and Jon flees to Castle Black.

Daenerys Targaryen conquers the slave city of Yunkai. One of the captains of the city's sellsword companies, Daario, joins his group with her army. The Yunkai slaves are free. Arya sneaks off from the outlaws, but is grabbed by Sandor Clegane. Jaime is going back to King's Landing and has a dream about Brienne. Jaime decides to rescue Brienne. When he gets there, he finds Vargo Hoat has put her in the bear pit. Jaime jumps in to hold off the bear while archers kill the bear. Vargo lets Jaime and Brienne go. Catelyn Stark, Robb, and Edmure Stark and Lothar Frey set out for the wedding at the Twins. Jeyne Westerling begs them to take her, but Robb sends her back to Riverrun. Robb chooses to name Jon Snow as his heir. Sam Tarly and Gilly come on foot to an abandoned village. They sleep in the inn, but are attacked in the night by the wight of Small Paul. Sam manages to get an ember from the fire and kill it. They run and meet a cloaked person.

Sandor Clegane has taken Arya Stark. He tells Arya he will take her to the Twins and ransom her back to her family. Jon Snow rides to Castle Black to warn them. Jon learns the wildings are attacking all along the Wall. Catelyn and Robb Stark and their party reach the Twins, where the wedding between Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey will take place. Catelyn and Robb meet with Lord Roose, Greatjon and other loyal men. Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark are traveling as traders to the Twins. At the wedding, the Freys spring a trap and kill Catelyn, Robb, and their allies. Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane arrive at the Twins. As they approach the castle, the Freys come out and attack Robb's army. Arya tries to find her mother, but Sandor hits her and knocks her out. Tyrion is summoned to his father, Tywin, who tells him of Robb Stark's death. Tywin orchestrated the slaughter at the wedding. He tells his son that Catelyn died.

Salladhor Saan reports to Davos Seaworth, Melisandre, Ser Axell, and Stannis Baratheon that Robb Stark is dead. Melisandre and Axell try to convince Stannis to sacrifice Edric. Stannis will still not give in. Davos is taking reading lessons from Pylos and they read a letter from the Wall. Jon Snow watches the wildings approach Castle Black. The Watch successfully defends the castle. Bran Stark, Hodor, Meera Reed and Jojen Reed reach the Nightfort. They meet Sam Turly, Gilly and her son there. Sam says the stranger that saved them from the wights told them to come to the Nightfort. Daenerys is in the city of Meereen. Arstan reveals he is a knight, Ser Barristan Selmy. Barristan says Jorah is a spy for Varys, the head spy for King Joffrey. Daenerys is mad at them both, and sends them on a dangerous mission.

When Tyrion and Sansa walk into King Joffrey's wedding, Lady Olenna Tyrell straightens the hairpiece Donto gave to Sansa. Joffrey eats Tyrion's piece of pie, and chokes to death. Cersei has arrested Tyrion for the murder. Sansa leaves the throne room and Donto takes her away. She learns Lord Petyr Baelish was behind the attempt to get her out of the city. He kills Donto. Jaime Lannister learns that King Joffrey Baratheon is dead. Jaime goes to see Cersei, who tells him Tyrion killed Joffrey, and she wants Jaime to kill Tyrion. Jaime says he wants to be open about their relationship and marry. Cersei tells him to leave. Jaime visits Tywin. Tywin tells Jaime he is to leave the Kingsguard go to Casterly Rock, but Jaime will not. Davos Seaworth helps Edric Storm escape Dragonstone. Davos reads Stannis and Melisandre the letter from the Wall. The wildling army attacks the Wall.

Arya Stark enters Nymeria, her direwolf. They smell Catelyn's body in the river, and Nymeria pulls it out. The next day, Sandor realizes the passes to the Eyrie are too dangerous, and Sandor decides to take her to Riverrun again. Tyrion is on trial for the death of Joffrey. Cersei has paid off many witness to swear they saw Tyrion put poison in Joffrey's food. Prince Oberyn comes to Tyrion and tells him he will serve as his champion in a trial by combat. Jaime Lannister meets with the Kingsguard members. He speaks with Ser Loras and tells him to judge Brienne fairly. Lord Petyr Baelish takes Sansa Stark Lannister to his keep. He is going to marry Lysa Stark Arryn, Sansa's aunt.

The fighting between the Night's Watch and the wildings continues. Janos Slynt accuses Jon of joining the wildings. At the battle by trial for Tyrion's life, Oberyn manages to get Gregor down, but Gregor crushes Oberyn's head. Tyrion is condemned to die. Daenerys conquers Meereen. She asks Barristan why he served Robert, and Barristan reveals King Aerys and Prince Rhaegar, Daenerys' father and brother, were mad. Daenerys forgives him. Ser Jorah says he has done nothing wrong. She sends him away and decides to stay in Meereen as queen. Jaime gives Brienne the sword his father made and tells her to find Sansa and Arya Stark and protect them.

Lord Janos Slynt tells Jon that Maester Aemon is the only thing preventing Jon from being hanged. He is sending Jon as an envoy to Mance Rayder, obstensibly to parley. Jon is to kill Mance. While Jon is there, King Stannis and his men attack the wildings and Mance is captured. Arya Stark and Sandor Clegane are attacked at an inn. Sander is greviously wounded, and Arya leaves him in the forest. She heads for the Saltpans and boards a ship. Sam is at Castle Black. He learns Stannis overcame the wildings. The Night's Watch are voting for a new Lord Commander. Sam talks with other members of the Watch, and he thinks he may try to convince Cotter or Denys to concede and support the other one, since they do not want Janos as Lord Commander. Stannis offers Jon the position of Lord of Winterfell. Jaime Lannister comes to Tyrion in his cell and helps him escape. Tyrion climbs up to the tower and finds Shae in his father's bed. He kills her and Tywin.

Sam talks to Cotter and Ser Denys to get one to concede in the election for Lord Commander. He gets them to support Jon Snow. At the election, Jon is nominated and elected as Lord Commander. Sansa Stark is at the Eryie, the home of Lysa Arryn. Petyr tries to kiss her. Lysa calls for Sansa and is angry and says Petyr is hers. Petyr shoves Lysa out a door in the tower and blames it on a singer, Marillion. Merrett Frey is going to Oldstones to ransom back his relation, Petyr Pimple. The outlaws show him Petyr Pimple has been hanged and prepare to hang Merrett. He says he had nothing to do with the Red Wedding. The brotherhood says they have a witness. Merrett knows Catelyn Stark was killed at the wedding, but she is there. Merrett is hanged.