A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, Vol. 2)
by George R.R. Martin
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Read in October, 2005
A CLASH OF KINGS BY GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: A Clash of Kings is the second in the ongoing "Song of Ice and Fire" series, sequel to A Game of Thrones, and the series continues to be entertaining and interesting, one of my favorite ongoing fantasy series. What makes it different from other fantasy series is that Martin, instead of using chapter numbers and having everything be specifically chronological, has about five to ten characters whose heads you are in. So you can be immediately w...more
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Read in September, 2007
Those of you who remember my review of A Game of Thrones will remember that I recommended it with misgivings, mostly having to due with some personal issues and especially because of the way women were portrayed in the book.
Many MANY people, not the least of which is the guy I'm married to, asked me to give the second book a shot, that Martin's portrayal of women has a purpose, and that I would understand *WHY* if I got through the second book.
Unfortunately, about 10 or so chapters in the b...more
Many MANY people, not the least of which is the guy I'm married to, asked me to give the second book a shot, that Martin's portrayal of women has a purpose, and that I would understand *WHY* if I got through the second book.
Unfortunately, about 10 or so chapters in the b...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
fantasy/sci-fi fans
(Review applicable to entire series.)
George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series is still a work in progress after eleven years and four installments; I came to it late, so I read the first four back-to-back, and now I have to play the waiting game. Part of what's frustrating about reading them spread out over many years is that it's going to be virtually impossible to remember what's happened up to now when I finally get to the next one--there are so many damn subplots and ...more
George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series is still a work in progress after eleven years and four installments; I came to it late, so I read the first four back-to-back, and now I have to play the waiting game. Part of what's frustrating about reading them spread out over many years is that it's going to be virtually impossible to remember what's happened up to now when I finally get to the next one--there are so many damn subplots and ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Melissa by:
Steve
It was right about at the beginning of George R. R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings, the second book in his A Song of Fire and Ice series, that I admitted to myself that I wanted to quit my job and everything else in my life so I could stay home and read all day. I resisted the urge. I’m still not quite sure if I made the right decision.
You think you know someone, and then you read the second book about her. (Or him. Though, for the most part, the changes of the hers were mor...more
You think you know someone, and then you read the second book about her. (Or him. Though, for the most part, the changes of the hers were mor...more
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recommends it for:
people with serious time on their hands
Wow. This took me a month or so to read and that's actually quite a bit of time since this voracious reading funk has come upon me. Book 2 in the Song of Ice and Fire. Still don't know what the song is, after about 1500 pages they haven't gotten around to explaining that, but at least it was referred to in this one.
So, 1500 pages, huh? yep. And I'm still truckin'. As far as I know there are 2 more books with another one coming out soon. There is a whole GR group dedicated to this seri...more
So, 1500 pages, huh? yep. And I'm still truckin'. As far as I know there are 2 more books with another one coming out soon. There is a whole GR group dedicated to this seri...more
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Simply put, the entire Song of Ice and Fire series is my favorite (topping even my beloved Gaiman). I fell in love with the series and I obsess about it in the way that some people obsess about Tolkein or Harry Potter.
In my mind, it's the best epic fantasy since Tolkein. Like Tolkein, Martin creates a real world with an extensive history filled with its own languages and cultures and songs. Tolkein's world is high fantasy with elves and magic and even the main characters aren't human. Marti...more
In my mind, it's the best epic fantasy since Tolkein. Like Tolkein, Martin creates a real world with an extensive history filled with its own languages and cultures and songs. Tolkein's world is high fantasy with elves and magic and even the main characters aren't human. Marti...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
People who have read book 1
A continuation of the Song of Ice and Fire series. This book is somewhat on the depressing side, but the plot continues, and Martin continues to lure you in with his characters. Again, he goes with multiple point of views to share the epic scale of his tale. You read about one character and as soon as he gets you hooked on that part of his tale, the chapter ends, and you have to wait 50 to 100 pages to hear about that character. Mostly the tale concentrates on the struggle of power between t...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Rob Pete
After 1875 pages of "A Song of Ice and Fire" I am still as interested as ever. There are very few books and even less series that can hold my attention for that long. However, GRRM has been able to keep the story fresh and exciting despite the fact that long-loved characters die on a whim, and others come forward to take their place. Reading the first two books reminds me of a dream I had when I was a kid. I wanted more than anything in the world the Gi-Joe aircraft carrier. I wou...more
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Read in September, 2001
George R. R. Martin, A Clash of Kings (Bantam Spectra, 1999)
Martin continues on in his fictional depiction of the Hundred Years' War. The throne has changed hands, the exiled priness of the Targaryen line is marshalling her forces, the Yorks-- excuse me, the Starks-- have been declared the Kings in the North, and the Baratheon brothers are squabbling amongst themselves in the rural eastern bits of the kingdom. It all sounds rather boring when put that way, but it isn't. Martin has given us a w...more
Martin continues on in his fictional depiction of the Hundred Years' War. The throne has changed hands, the exiled priness of the Targaryen line is marshalling her forces, the Yorks-- excuse me, the Starks-- have been declared the Kings in the North, and the Baratheon brothers are squabbling amongst themselves in the rural eastern bits of the kingdom. It all sounds rather boring when put that way, but it isn't. Martin has given us a w...more
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The books in this series are all over 1000 pages, but you can burn through them quickly. They are well written and develop an interesting story. It is epic in scope and full of surprises. Basically, it is the story of seven kingdoms that are united under a single king. Political intrigue, murder, conspiracy, and treason ensue. The story is fantasy, but very little in the way of magic or monsters. It is mostly a conventional medieval story. As the series winds along, things get a little more supe...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommended to Arthur by:
Maya
Maya R. got me into this series of fantasy novels and I just tore through this second book in no time. Engrossing due to the enormity of the character cast and simultaneous advancing plot lines (there is an index of characters in the appendix and it includes over 150 names). Most of the author's energy is spent constructing a network of political tension in which each character vies for dominance or falls victims to another's ambitions.
Minor annoyance that the book is written more like a...more
Minor annoyance that the book is written more like a...more
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Read in January, 2004
Stop now and do not pass go if you don't have time for a four or five part series (so far) in which each book is at least a thousand pages long.
These are long-ass books, and I say that in the most loving way possible, because just recommending them to my friend Justin has reminded me how much I liked them and I'm currently bidding on an ebay auction for a set of them as used paperbacks.
Told from the points of view of a diverse cast of characters, A Game of Thrones is an epic fantasy saga...more
These are long-ass books, and I say that in the most loving way possible, because just recommending them to my friend Justin has reminded me how much I liked them and I'm currently bidding on an ebay auction for a set of them as used paperbacks.
Told from the points of view of a diverse cast of characters, A Game of Thrones is an epic fantasy saga...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Elise by:
Jackrecommends it for: fantasy fans
So at first this book started off feeling way too much like its predecessor: like one giant prologue. Having been coaxed by the people who read it to hang in there, I did. At some point, can't say exactly where, maybe 3/5ths through the book, boom! Addiction. I found myself moving from curiosity and patience to emotional investment in the characters: a sad twist towards the end of the book had me completely bummed out; other triumphs had me biting back a grin on public transportation. I have fav...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone who enjoyed book 1
This book focuses more on Tyrion, whom I like a lot because he is so much more multi-demensional than most of the other main characters. My main complaint is that some of the story arcs are still developing too slowly; Danearys, for example, could fall into the sea for all I care right now, and I'm still reading her chapters only because I'm convinced there's a HUGE payout coming when her arc re-intersects. On the other hand, there were a couple of things barely mentioned offhand in the first ...more
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Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
people who dig epics & can put up with the Part 2 issues that all Epics: Part 2 always seem to have
Although plagued by the same problems that plague most second-of-three-or-more books, A Clash of Kings is still full of the sorts of things that made you love its predecessor: swords (and sorcery), politics (mostly sword-driven), pageantry (shiny swords! and capes and stuff!), and tragedy (who would've imagined so many people would be killed by all those swords??). Lacks the cohesive feel of A Game of Thrones, which...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
everybody
fantastic book.
overall the story line was great, lots of twists and turns.
my favourite character at the moment is tyrion, theres something about his style that really appeals to me...he has something to say about everything, always a good come back.
once again the only character i dont like is joffrey...im still hoping that his head gets chopped off by Robb...but i guess ill find out soon enough!
the only bad thing i can point about this book is that there are so many characters that...more
overall the story line was great, lots of twists and turns.
my favourite character at the moment is tyrion, theres something about his style that really appeals to me...he has something to say about everything, always a good come back.
once again the only character i dont like is joffrey...im still hoping that his head gets chopped off by Robb...but i guess ill find out soon enough!
the only bad thing i can point about this book is that there are so many characters that...more
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i found this book a bit hard to follow, so many new characters are thrown at yo in the beginging. but that is part of why we love sticky, isn't it? you can go back and listen to is again and discover new things. sticky makes you work for it a bit, and you know it is worth it. WARNING- this series has alot rape in it, and i at time very difficult to get through. Martin does a good job of working with an increably difficult an disturbing topic. i normally find a male writer dealing with the rapei...more
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Read in June, 2008
We continue to follow the different stories, mainly the civil war in Westeros. But there's something more. Something is different. There's a new addition to the fantasy component of the book, there's magic.
There isn't much to add. Though few, the chapters concerning Jon (the story line related to the Wall) and Daenerys, were very interesting. I like this two story lines better than the civil war, but I understand the 'lesser' importance. While the civil war touches most of the characters, Jo...more
There isn't much to add. Though few, the chapters concerning Jon (the story line related to the Wall) and Daenerys, were very interesting. I like this two story lines better than the civil war, but I understand the 'lesser' importance. While the civil war touches most of the characters, Jo...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone over 13
A sequel to "A Game of Thrones", this book is truly amazing. I just am in love with this series. Martin has done a masterful job of creating an extremely unique "fantasy land" based on fuedal Europe. While there are the typical new types of flora and fauna, Martin's universe differs from ours by the creative way he plays with the seasons. While the universe is remarkably internally contained and consistent, what really sets this series repart is the chacracters. They are...more
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Read in January, 2006
The second volume in Martin’s massive series of books about conquest and intrigue in his imaginary world of Westeros is even more of a soap opera than the first volume. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it.
I wonder what kind of academic work has been done on the appeal of fantasy novels. While getting into a series like this is, of course, escapist, it’s a specific type of escapist appeal. Martin’s books for one are extremely dark, and despite his development of strong female cha...more
I wonder what kind of academic work has been done on the appeal of fantasy novels. While getting into a series like this is, of course, escapist, it’s a specific type of escapist appeal. Martin’s books for one are extremely dark, and despite his development of strong female cha...more
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