A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire #2)

[Trisha]

This thread is to discuss A Clash of Kings, the second book in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin.

Pages: 969 pages

Length: 2 Months (May & June)

Participants: Shareen, Ruthie, Trisha.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Shareen]

Thanks again!

[ruffles]

Looking forward to it!

[Dominique]

I'll try and squeeze this one by mid-May.

[Trisha]

Hi friends, I will not be starting this book from the beginning and will rather cheat my way to the middle of it, where I left it 2 or 3 years ago and still have my bookmark there. Please don't hate me for this!

[ruffles]

Go for it Trisha! I wish I remembered where I left off when I started it a few years ago. But, I'll be doing audiobook instead of reg book this time. The first audiobook was pretty good narration wise so I'm sure this one will be good too.

[[deleted user]]

This will be the next book I start. I really like this series. 🐉

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This topic has been moved to the June Buddy Reads folder.

[Trisha]

Ladies, how far are you in the book? I’m planning to start today and read a chapter a day since I have a few other buddy reads in progress.

[ruffles]

Haven’t started yet but hope to either later this week or the beginning of next

[ruffles]

Just started it and already noticed...

Don't read unless you've seen all the seasons of the show!

(view spoiler)[
It's so sad to read Arya is so excited to see John since she is amidst the black brothers heading back to the wall when those of us who have seen the show know that she won't see him for years and years. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

I didn't start the book as planned. :( Although since I have to start from the middle, I think I can still manage it!

Ruthie - I can feel what you've written in your spoiler. :'(

[Trisha]

Please confirm in the Buddy Read Sign Up thread if you wish to continue the series next month; in the absence of a confirmation, the thread for the next book will not be posted.

[Trisha]

Okay, as a reader, I’m not sure if I’d be on time to start with the third book next month. I’d like to start with the third book in August, and finish second by end of June.

How about the others? Don’t think anyone else has started other than Ruthie.

[ruffles]

I like your suggestions of the third book for August I’ll go post

[Trisha]

Thanks Ruthie! 😊

[ruffles]

Some more thoughts! From the beginning-ish of the book. These thoughts relate to the TV series too so only read if you've seen the series

(view spoiler)[
So in the beginning-ish during Dany's first chapter it talks about how they take refuge in the ruined city and Quarth coming to them. I don't remember this I think they arrived in Quarth directly and talked to them by the gate (hide spoiler)]

[ruffles]

Some more thoughts from the middle-ish. Again-the TV series will be mentioned in this comment, esp details from the last season so don't read unless you've seen the whole show

(view spoiler)[
So I really hate that Dany turned bad in the end so I'm going to try and find any pointers towards that end and when Dany is in Quarth she has some internal dialogue when she talks about how she understands her brother now and how he went mad from going to city to city begging for help and she says "I'll have to be careful it doesn't turn me mad" or something like that. So this might be one of the pointers that George meant us to start to see that she might turn mad (hide spoiler)]

[ruffles]

A thought from close to the end of the book and again will mention the latter series of the show

(view spoiler)[

so I think I'll have to read some fan theories about what the visions and prophecies given to Dany mean from the warlock palace. I do remember there was a theory about the "three heads has the dragon" and before we found out that Jon was a Targaryen there was a fan theory that he was and the Tyrion was the "third dragon" though we don't find out in the show. I wonder if George will change this in the book since he's planning to do things a bit differently in the last book if he gets it written.


Also, I almost cried when Catelyn was talking to Brienne about her children when she was talking about the note from Winterfell. thought it was beautifully written and makes Catelyn feel like a real person and not just a character in a book. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Ruthie, I was actively following the fan theories when we were seeing the TV series. And I remember the one which (view spoiler)[ predicted Tyrion to be the third dragon alongside Jon and Dany. I don’t really remember all the clues tied up with this theory but it made quite sense why Tywin never loved Tyrion, and said “You’re no son of mine” before Tyrion killed him. There were arguments stating that Joanna Lannister(Tyrion’s Mother) was raped by the mad Targaryen King, making him Dany’s half brother. Perhaps that was why he could handle Dragons which is a Targaryen trait. (hide spoiler)] Since the last two books are still being written, and the rumoured fact that Martin was not happy with the last season (no surprise here, no one was happy), there is a chance that the theory could actually come true. For sure, (view spoiler)[ Jon Snow can’t be Aegon Targaryen, who is a different character all together in the books. (hide spoiler)]

Also, I just picked up the book and I’m at the place where Jojen Reed tells Bran that he is a (view spoiler)[Warg - a shapeshifter. There is no mention of the wolf dreams in the TV series. In the book, Jojen says that Bran’s soul is divided, and when he dreams, his soul seeks out its other half. (hide spoiler)]

[ruffles]

Yes I can't wait to see what Martin writes and how it differs from the show and whether the fan theories will come true! Wish he would hurry lol

(view spoiler)[ I also thought the "Bran is the Night King theory" was interesting too but I don't really want it to be true. There's also a theory that he warged into the mad king and when the mad king said "burn them all" It was supposed to refer to the white walkers. I didn't like that Bran was king at the end. It was weird he would say no to warden of the north but yes to king lol

I still hope Jon is a Targaryen though and I hope that Dany doesn't go mad in the books he writes

I like that part in the book and I also like reading more detail about his dreams and about being a Warg since the show don't do that good of a job of it (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Ruthie wrote: "Yes I can't wait to see what Martin writes and how it differs from the show and whether the fan theories will come true! Wish he would hurry lol

I also thought the "Bran is the Night King theory"..."

Yes, yes! I was also following all these theories. Looks like we both are crazy GOT fangirls, lol! (view spoiler)[And I hated the last season - nothing made sense. Seemed so rushed despite the 1.5 years gap. Wonder what they did with all the time! (hide spoiler)]

Also, Ruthie, will you be continuing with this series next month? I’m personally way behind this one, but if you are planning to read the third book in August, I’ll stay with you in the buddy read and try my best in catching up. Since Shareen had to back out from this one, it’s just the two of us now.

[ruffles]

We can push it to September if that’s better!

[Trisha]

Sure, thanks Ruthie! I swear this is the last time we are moving it! xx

[ruffles]

No worries I don’t mind! I always sign up for too many

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

Loved it! The various voices really add to the overall experience.

[Trisha]

Margaret wrote: "Loved it! The various voices really add to the overall experience."

That's so right!