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A Song of Ice and Fire #2
Σύγκρουση Βασιλέων
Ένας κομήτης στο χρώμα του αίματος σκίζει τους ουρανούς των Επτά Βασιλείων ,ένας δυσοίωνος προπομπός θανάτου και καταστροφής.Καθώς ο χειμώνας έρχεται , οι μνηστήρες του Σιδερένιου Θρόνου είναι αποφασισμένοι να πολεμήσουν με φωτιά και ατσάλι γι την κυριαρχία της διχασμένης γης του Γουέστερος...
982 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 1998
47072 people are currently reading
305725 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,511 books119k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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June 14, 2012Instead of writing a review, I'm just going to post a list of the facial expressions I made while reading this book:
However... I feel this one most accurately sums up A Clash of Kings:
August 5, 2019
This isn’t going to be a cutesy review. I am well into the third book. I fear that if I don’t blurt out my thoughts about this one soon, then all the books in the series are going to meld together in my memory. Here are my three main impressions:
1. Bleak, dreary, and dismal
Don’t expect any happiness in this book. Martin is merciless with his characters. And if you do see a bright light, don’t trust it. One character learned she won’t have to marry an abusive, horrible guy. She and I were elated. Then someone pointed out that her ex-fiancé could still abuse her as he desires, and few would be able to stop him.
2. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
It occurred to me halfway through a big battle that I didn’t know who I was rooting for. The defender is a cruel king and has a tenuous claim to the throne, but I like a few of the characters in his castle and feared what would happen to them if they lose. The attacker would probably be a fair king, yet he is cold and distant. He has a better claim than most to the throne. However I doubt he could hold it for long. Precisely who did I want to win? It was not a problem of apathy. Martin drew the characters and politics so craftily that I just could not decide. Honestly, instead of picking, I sat back and enjoyed the twists and turns.
3. Better keep up!
The scope of the plot is ever-expanding. I give Martin kudos for having such a grand vision and keeping it all straight. I don't feel that any of the storylines are unnecessary (except, I hate to say it, maybe Arya’s). And I have complete faith that they will culminate in the most amazing way by the end of series. Yet it is inevitable that you will prefer some perspectives over others. I counted the pages in between Daenerys’ chapters – an average of 130 pages! And this is a middle book. There are no cliffhangers, but very little is resolved. If it is resolved, that means someone died. Unless they are only pretending to be dead, of course.
I lied. One more point.
4. Awesomeness
1. Bleak, dreary, and dismal
Don’t expect any happiness in this book. Martin is merciless with his characters. And if you do see a bright light, don’t trust it. One character learned she won’t have to marry an abusive, horrible guy. She and I were elated. Then someone pointed out that her ex-fiancé could still abuse her as he desires, and few would be able to stop him.
2. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
It occurred to me halfway through a big battle that I didn’t know who I was rooting for. The defender is a cruel king and has a tenuous claim to the throne, but I like a few of the characters in his castle and feared what would happen to them if they lose. The attacker would probably be a fair king, yet he is cold and distant. He has a better claim than most to the throne. However I doubt he could hold it for long. Precisely who did I want to win? It was not a problem of apathy. Martin drew the characters and politics so craftily that I just could not decide. Honestly, instead of picking, I sat back and enjoyed the twists and turns.
3. Better keep up!
The scope of the plot is ever-expanding. I give Martin kudos for having such a grand vision and keeping it all straight. I don't feel that any of the storylines are unnecessary (except, I hate to say it, maybe Arya’s). And I have complete faith that they will culminate in the most amazing way by the end of series. Yet it is inevitable that you will prefer some perspectives over others. I counted the pages in between Daenerys’ chapters – an average of 130 pages! And this is a middle book. There are no cliffhangers, but very little is resolved. If it is resolved, that means someone died. Unless they are only pretending to be dead, of course.
I lied. One more point.
4. Awesomeness
March 22, 2022
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: So much tension builds from uncertainty. Nearly everyone is helpless, and so the resolution is always unpredictable.
Notes: So much tension builds from uncertainty. Nearly everyone is helpless, and so the resolution is always unpredictable.
June 3, 2023
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: A book of sundry schemes: all hidden lives, strategic brides and switching sides; while honor ebbs and magic thrives.
Notes: A book of sundry schemes: all hidden lives, strategic brides and switching sides; while honor ebbs and magic thrives.
June 20, 2018
WINTERFELLLLLLL!!
obey your nerds. is what i am learning.srsly - i was never going to read this series, but once i started... it is like a drug. and - yes - i watched season two before i read this book, but i am not going to wait for seasons 3-4 to read the next one, no way, because i am hooked and I MUST KNOW! and if any one of you people spoils the third book for me, i am going to make one of those torture devices with the bucket, the rat, and the torch, and it is bye-bye stomach for you!
i see now why it takes him so long to write these things. this is the densest and more fully-realized world i have ever read. martin just plants these little seeds, and they sometimes take hundreds of pages to sprout but when they do - oh my word! and there are so many little details, so much backstory, so many overlaps and connections, and history and so much depth to this world. it feels so genuine. it is like my beloved donald harington - where he created an entire town full of people and then just set them loose and let them live their lives, and his touch is so light that it feels like he is just writing down his observances of them rather than creating them, because the mind simply reels at the idea that all of these details and tight storylines came from one person's mind. but with martin, the scope is so much bigger. and it kills me. there is just so. much. going on.
i loved the second season. and i love how reading the book after the season really enhanced my enjoyment. most of the show is faithful to the book, but not as much as the first season/book. but one is not better than the other. i am sad that some of the book-things didn't make it into the show, and sad that some of the show-things were not in the book.but together - ahhhh - my brainheart is pleased.
the characters whose stories changed the most from the book to the screen are
(??? it is almost entirely changed for the show)
and
i mean, really - what could be better than every single one of these scenes:
so i was sad it was not in the book at all.
and obviously, all his stuff:
cuz he isn't even in the book. robbed!
hmmm more thoughts...at first, i hated
because of his affectation-laden dialogue. but oh, man, did i ever come around. and now i want one for my very own.
and who is a worse human being??
or
??
i am still deciding, but i am rubbing my hands in glee in anticipation of just desserts. although martin's sense of justice is very specific and unpredictable. but a girl can dream.
the book is by no means perfect. every time it got to one of
's pov chapters, i was all zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
because, obviously, the only perspective that matters is
who is great in the books, but somehow even better onscreen. and everything with
is wayyy better onscreen, and since she is one of my favorite actresses, i am glad she has a lot more to do than was written for her originally.
and george r.r. martin...
so that is hardly a book review, but there are a lot of reviews for this book and i am pretty much ordering you to go out and read these right now, so just do it and stop your backtalk.
i leave you with this thought:
and this one, because oh my god - what a perfect comparison that i somehow overlooked!
twins!! my beloveds!
now go read.
oh, but p.s. - CHAINS!!!
god i loved this book.
come to my blog!
obey your nerds. is what i am learning.srsly - i was never going to read this series, but once i started... it is like a drug. and - yes - i watched season two before i read this book, but i am not going to wait for seasons 3-4 to read the next one, no way, because i am hooked and I MUST KNOW! and if any one of you people spoils the third book for me, i am going to make one of those torture devices with the bucket, the rat, and the torch, and it is bye-bye stomach for you!
i see now why it takes him so long to write these things. this is the densest and more fully-realized world i have ever read. martin just plants these little seeds, and they sometimes take hundreds of pages to sprout but when they do - oh my word! and there are so many little details, so much backstory, so many overlaps and connections, and history and so much depth to this world. it feels so genuine. it is like my beloved donald harington - where he created an entire town full of people and then just set them loose and let them live their lives, and his touch is so light that it feels like he is just writing down his observances of them rather than creating them, because the mind simply reels at the idea that all of these details and tight storylines came from one person's mind. but with martin, the scope is so much bigger. and it kills me. there is just so. much. going on.
i loved the second season. and i love how reading the book after the season really enhanced my enjoyment. most of the show is faithful to the book, but not as much as the first season/book. but one is not better than the other. i am sad that some of the book-things didn't make it into the show, and sad that some of the show-things were not in the book.but together - ahhhh - my brainheart is pleased.
the characters whose stories changed the most from the book to the screen are
(??? it is almost entirely changed for the show)
and
i mean, really - what could be better than every single one of these scenes:
so i was sad it was not in the book at all.
and obviously, all his stuff:
cuz he isn't even in the book. robbed!
hmmm more thoughts...at first, i hated
because of his affectation-laden dialogue. but oh, man, did i ever come around. and now i want one for my very own.
and who is a worse human being??
or
??
i am still deciding, but i am rubbing my hands in glee in anticipation of just desserts. although martin's sense of justice is very specific and unpredictable. but a girl can dream.
the book is by no means perfect. every time it got to one of
's pov chapters, i was all zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
because, obviously, the only perspective that matters is
who is great in the books, but somehow even better onscreen. and everything with
is wayyy better onscreen, and since she is one of my favorite actresses, i am glad she has a lot more to do than was written for her originally.
and george r.r. martin...
so that is hardly a book review, but there are a lot of reviews for this book and i am pretty much ordering you to go out and read these right now, so just do it and stop your backtalk.
i leave you with this thought:
and this one, because oh my god - what a perfect comparison that i somehow overlooked!
twins!! my beloveds!
now go read.
oh, but p.s. - CHAINS!!!
god i loved this book.
come to my blog!
May 4, 2023
4.5/5 stars
A Clash of Kings was a brilliant sequel that brought the spotlight of the series to one of the most well-written characters in fantasy: Tyrion Lannister.
A Clash of Kings is the second book in A Song of Ice and Fire saga by George R. R. Martin. The main story in this sequel mainly revolves around the multiple kings of Westeros battling in full force for the right to sit in the Iron Throne. This, however, is just scratching the surface of the story. Martin built upon everything he has established in the first wonderfully and with that, the scale of the story has become much bigger than before that I found it quite a difficult task to review this tome without spoiling anything, but spoiler-free review as always it is. Just like my review on A Game of Thrones, I’ll be doing some qualities comparison between the book and its TV series (Season 2) adaptation.
Picture: A Clash of Kings by Marc Simonetti
Continuing immediately from where the story left off in the previous book, Martin implemented a lot of incredible elements into the story such as shifting alliance, utterly engaging politics, intricate world-building expansion, and most importantly, compelling morally grey characters. There were new POV characters introduced in this installment and a lot of great character developments imbued. Although a lot of events happened in this book, this doesn’t mean that A Clash of Kings was a fast-paced read, honestly I found it even slower than its predecessor. Regarding pacing, in my opinion the TV series offered a better experience. However, unlike the first season where it pretty much adapted the book scene by scene, there were a few changes done for the second season of the TV series; some for better, some for worse, but overall I still think that the TV series did a spectacular job once again on adapting another installment of this series for the wider audience.
The devil lies in the details, and Martin delivered intricacies not only on world-building but on every aspect of the book/series. I can make this review longer than it should be by talking about each character’s merits and cons to highlight Martin’s awesome characterizations, but I’ll refrain from doing that here and instead focus on one main character, Tyrion Lannister.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s the book or the TV shows, Tyrion Lannister is my favorite character of the series and having finally read the two books of the original material, I can already vouch that he’s one of the most well-written characters in fantasy. He’s witty, cunning, smart, and despite all the physical disabilities he has as a dwarf, he never gives up and knows how to use the one thing he’s best with: his brain. Reading the book, I can feel that Martin had a lot of fun writing his character. Martin’s characterizations in this book shined the most when Tyrion’s POV came to play and luckily there were a lot of them. Don’t get me wrong, many of the other characters and events were crucial in making this book as good as it was, but overall, more than anything, I genuinely think that A Clash of Kings is a magnificent book about Tyrion Lannister and if you love his character as much as I do, you’re most likely going to have a good time reading this worthy sequel. Also, I personally think Peter Dinklage did a super terrific job in portraying this complex character, and it has been repeatedly proven as the series progressed.
World-building wise, the novel provides insights into more magic and setting of the series. Martin is an amazing world-builder, it gets even more evident the more I progress through the series. The politics of King’s Landings were meticulously written, the dialogue between characters was immensely enjoyable, and the world he created is brimming with mysteries and revelations; they all made up for the slow pacing of the tome. There was only one big action piece happening within this book, The Battle of the Blackwater that happened at the final section of the book. Action sequences aren’t really Martin’s strongest talent as an author, The Battle of the Blackwater was the only big action sequence and it happened for more or less 50 pages; that’s out the two books (1,800+ pages) I’ve read so far combined. However, the battle itself was finely written. Martin’s prose has a strong immersion and vivid power that during this battle, the frantic situation, the swirling flame, the madness of the river, the vanishing of the deck, and the chaos were so easily imagined in my head.
Admittedly, there were a few sections of the book that were simply too slow. I’m speaking specifically on Bran’s POV, which I found to be extremely boring. Remember, I’m reviewing this based on my experience as a first-time reader of the series who watched the TV shows first; I already know the major plot twists and events happening within the series. Because of this, Bran’s POV probably ended up becoming even more boring than it should be.
Although I loved A Game of Thrones more, safe for a few hiccups in pacing, A Clash of Kings is a worthy sequel that expands the world, histories, characterizations, and conflicts of the series fantastically. I truly enjoyed reading this one, and I have no doubt that I will enjoy the next one too. It goes without saying that I highly recommend this series to epic fantasy reader.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
A Clash of Kings was a brilliant sequel that brought the spotlight of the series to one of the most well-written characters in fantasy: Tyrion Lannister.
A Clash of Kings is the second book in A Song of Ice and Fire saga by George R. R. Martin. The main story in this sequel mainly revolves around the multiple kings of Westeros battling in full force for the right to sit in the Iron Throne. This, however, is just scratching the surface of the story. Martin built upon everything he has established in the first wonderfully and with that, the scale of the story has become much bigger than before that I found it quite a difficult task to review this tome without spoiling anything, but spoiler-free review as always it is. Just like my review on A Game of Thrones, I’ll be doing some qualities comparison between the book and its TV series (Season 2) adaptation.
Picture: A Clash of Kings by Marc Simonetti
Continuing immediately from where the story left off in the previous book, Martin implemented a lot of incredible elements into the story such as shifting alliance, utterly engaging politics, intricate world-building expansion, and most importantly, compelling morally grey characters. There were new POV characters introduced in this installment and a lot of great character developments imbued. Although a lot of events happened in this book, this doesn’t mean that A Clash of Kings was a fast-paced read, honestly I found it even slower than its predecessor. Regarding pacing, in my opinion the TV series offered a better experience. However, unlike the first season where it pretty much adapted the book scene by scene, there were a few changes done for the second season of the TV series; some for better, some for worse, but overall I still think that the TV series did a spectacular job once again on adapting another installment of this series for the wider audience.
“There's no shame in fear, my father told me, what matters is how we face it.”
The devil lies in the details, and Martin delivered intricacies not only on world-building but on every aspect of the book/series. I can make this review longer than it should be by talking about each character’s merits and cons to highlight Martin’s awesome characterizations, but I’ll refrain from doing that here and instead focus on one main character, Tyrion Lannister.
“People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up.”
It doesn’t matter whether it’s the book or the TV shows, Tyrion Lannister is my favorite character of the series and having finally read the two books of the original material, I can already vouch that he’s one of the most well-written characters in fantasy. He’s witty, cunning, smart, and despite all the physical disabilities he has as a dwarf, he never gives up and knows how to use the one thing he’s best with: his brain. Reading the book, I can feel that Martin had a lot of fun writing his character. Martin’s characterizations in this book shined the most when Tyrion’s POV came to play and luckily there were a lot of them. Don’t get me wrong, many of the other characters and events were crucial in making this book as good as it was, but overall, more than anything, I genuinely think that A Clash of Kings is a magnificent book about Tyrion Lannister and if you love his character as much as I do, you’re most likely going to have a good time reading this worthy sequel. Also, I personally think Peter Dinklage did a super terrific job in portraying this complex character, and it has been repeatedly proven as the series progressed.
“When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say.”
World-building wise, the novel provides insights into more magic and setting of the series. Martin is an amazing world-builder, it gets even more evident the more I progress through the series. The politics of King’s Landings were meticulously written, the dialogue between characters was immensely enjoyable, and the world he created is brimming with mysteries and revelations; they all made up for the slow pacing of the tome. There was only one big action piece happening within this book, The Battle of the Blackwater that happened at the final section of the book. Action sequences aren’t really Martin’s strongest talent as an author, The Battle of the Blackwater was the only big action sequence and it happened for more or less 50 pages; that’s out the two books (1,800+ pages) I’ve read so far combined. However, the battle itself was finely written. Martin’s prose has a strong immersion and vivid power that during this battle, the frantic situation, the swirling flame, the madness of the river, the vanishing of the deck, and the chaos were so easily imagined in my head.
“So many vows... they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or the other.”
Admittedly, there were a few sections of the book that were simply too slow. I’m speaking specifically on Bran’s POV, which I found to be extremely boring. Remember, I’m reviewing this based on my experience as a first-time reader of the series who watched the TV shows first; I already know the major plot twists and events happening within the series. Because of this, Bran’s POV probably ended up becoming even more boring than it should be.
“He who hurries through life hurries to his grave.”
Although I loved A Game of Thrones more, safe for a few hiccups in pacing, A Clash of Kings is a worthy sequel that expands the world, histories, characterizations, and conflicts of the series fantastically. I truly enjoyed reading this one, and I have no doubt that I will enjoy the next one too. It goes without saying that I highly recommend this series to epic fantasy reader.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
August 17, 2024
Book #2 in The Male Soap Opera
In my review of Book #1 in The Game of Throne series (formally called A Song of Ice and Fire), I stated that it was a male soap opera. I stand by that sentiment in Book #2.
Now this book is an epic fantasy. It is massive! To get through this, I practiced immersion reading, listening to the audiobook while following along in a copy of the text. The audiobook was 30 hours. This is important when reviewing the book because I think I would have had a vastly different experience if I just read the book.
The narrator was amazing! And the storytelling was excellent. Never did I feel like reading this book was a chore, and I genuinely looked forward to reading this book. To me, storytelling is the most important element, so I am going to rate A Clash of Kings 5 stars.
The book rotates between different perspectives. My favorite perspective was Tyrion who is a person of short stature, and he must rely on his wits, not his strength. There were a couple of times that things didn’t look so great for Tyrion, but he had the upper hand.
My least favorite characters were probably Jon (not that much happened) and Daenerys (this character seemed a bit removed from the narrative thread, and her storyline seems to be dropped at times).
George R.R. Martin includes some of my favorite themes like the perseverance of underdogs, and I like how he has clearly invented a rich world full of history, language, religion, and traditions. However, he doesn’t get too lost in the world building, providing just enough to move the plot along and keep things interesting.
Again, storytelling is the most important thing with me, but there were a few elements that caused me pause.
First, good grief! The introduction. Recently, I have been watching a YouTube series by Brandon Sanderson, and someone asked him, “How long is too long for an introduction?” He responded that it depends on how famous the author is, and I started to laugh. Because the introduction to A Clash of Kings is 1 hour long! One hour. And it was really confusing. I felt so much better when the book began, and I recognized a character and didn’t feel completely out of sorts.
Secondly, I was having this internal debate (and now I guess it’s external) about which characters are most interesting. Two of the characters who really interest me are King Robb and Lord Tywin (Tyrion’s father). However, we don’t rotate to their perspectives. Does anyone know if there are other books which cover these two perspectives?
Third, there are just a touch too many characters. At the end of the book, George R.R. Martin has lists of characters. There are about 20 pages of characters……20! At times, a minor character would make an appearance, and I would go, “Who is that?”
Even though I just read 30 hours of this book, I already want to read the next one!
Food for thought: There are some great quotes in A Clash of Kings. The hardcover version that I have is gorgeous but at times I wish that I had a digital copy so that I could highlight and share the quotes.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
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In my review of Book #1 in The Game of Throne series (formally called A Song of Ice and Fire), I stated that it was a male soap opera. I stand by that sentiment in Book #2.
Now this book is an epic fantasy. It is massive! To get through this, I practiced immersion reading, listening to the audiobook while following along in a copy of the text. The audiobook was 30 hours. This is important when reviewing the book because I think I would have had a vastly different experience if I just read the book.
The narrator was amazing! And the storytelling was excellent. Never did I feel like reading this book was a chore, and I genuinely looked forward to reading this book. To me, storytelling is the most important element, so I am going to rate A Clash of Kings 5 stars.
The book rotates between different perspectives. My favorite perspective was Tyrion who is a person of short stature, and he must rely on his wits, not his strength. There were a couple of times that things didn’t look so great for Tyrion, but he had the upper hand.
My least favorite characters were probably Jon (not that much happened) and Daenerys (this character seemed a bit removed from the narrative thread, and her storyline seems to be dropped at times).
George R.R. Martin includes some of my favorite themes like the perseverance of underdogs, and I like how he has clearly invented a rich world full of history, language, religion, and traditions. However, he doesn’t get too lost in the world building, providing just enough to move the plot along and keep things interesting.
Again, storytelling is the most important thing with me, but there were a few elements that caused me pause.
First, good grief! The introduction. Recently, I have been watching a YouTube series by Brandon Sanderson, and someone asked him, “How long is too long for an introduction?” He responded that it depends on how famous the author is, and I started to laugh. Because the introduction to A Clash of Kings is 1 hour long! One hour. And it was really confusing. I felt so much better when the book began, and I recognized a character and didn’t feel completely out of sorts.
Secondly, I was having this internal debate (and now I guess it’s external) about which characters are most interesting. Two of the characters who really interest me are King Robb and Lord Tywin (Tyrion’s father). However, we don’t rotate to their perspectives. Does anyone know if there are other books which cover these two perspectives?
Third, there are just a touch too many characters. At the end of the book, George R.R. Martin has lists of characters. There are about 20 pages of characters……20! At times, a minor character would make an appearance, and I would go, “Who is that?”
Even though I just read 30 hours of this book, I already want to read the next one!
Food for thought: There are some great quotes in A Clash of Kings. The hardcover version that I have is gorgeous but at times I wish that I had a digital copy so that I could highlight and share the quotes.
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
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April 18, 2011
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 Ice and Fire 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 more exciting for me in this book. Minus the most clever and entertaining character to waddle through the pages of a fantasy book, who will go unnamed so I don’t spoil the fact that he lived through the first book. Okay, I may have given it away a little.) It’s not that the characters went through any unrealistic shifts; it’s just that Martin let us get to know them even better and we got to watch how they responded to new situations. Or at least I did. You may not have even read A Clash of Kings yet. Your loss.
I think enjoyed the first book more because the slow corruption of an innocent and stable world interested me. But everything else that utterly enthralled me from the first book—the complex and endearing characters, the mystery and intrigue, the moments when honor, family, love, and pride all seem at odds with one another—was there in the second, and was amplified because, with each chapter, I grew more and more invested.
Don’t start this series unless you’re ready to devote yourself to reading every published book of it. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I’ve finished the fourth book and have to sit around waiting for Martin to write and publish the rest. That will be a sad, sad day.
Quotes!
“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.”
“He who hurries through life hurries to his grave.”
“A good lord comforts and protects the weak and helpless.”
“When we speak of the morrow nothing is ever certain.”
“Only a fool humbles himself when the world is so full of men eager to do that job for him.”
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
"There's no shame in fear... what matters is how we face it."
"A man agrees with god as a raindrop with the storm."
"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."
"The best lies contain within them nuggets of truth, enough to give a listener pause."
"Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds and their thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem... but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea... Everything changes."
"The unseen enemy is always the most fearsome."
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 more exciting for me in this book. Minus the most clever and entertaining character to waddle through the pages of a fantasy book, who will go unnamed so I don’t spoil the fact that he lived through the first book. Okay, I may have given it away a little.) It’s not that the characters went through any unrealistic shifts; it’s just that Martin let us get to know them even better and we got to watch how they responded to new situations. Or at least I did. You may not have even read A Clash of Kings yet. Your loss.
I think enjoyed the first book more because the slow corruption of an innocent and stable world interested me. But everything else that utterly enthralled me from the first book—the complex and endearing characters, the mystery and intrigue, the moments when honor, family, love, and pride all seem at odds with one another—was there in the second, and was amplified because, with each chapter, I grew more and more invested.
Don’t start this series unless you’re ready to devote yourself to reading every published book of it. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I’ve finished the fourth book and have to sit around waiting for Martin to write and publish the rest. That will be a sad, sad day.
Quotes!
“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.”
“He who hurries through life hurries to his grave.”
“A good lord comforts and protects the weak and helpless.”
“When we speak of the morrow nothing is ever certain.”
“Only a fool humbles himself when the world is so full of men eager to do that job for him.”
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
"There's no shame in fear... what matters is how we face it."
"A man agrees with god as a raindrop with the storm."
"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."
"The best lies contain within them nuggets of truth, enough to give a listener pause."
"Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds and their thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem... but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea... Everything changes."
"The unseen enemy is always the most fearsome."
September 6, 2019
You can find the full review and more about this book on my blog!
I HAVE NO WORDS,just as the first one,perfection.After Game of Thrones ending,with the head on the spike and the naked mother of dragons with her dragons in her body,you can imagine my level of excitement.I recall reading this in 6 days,and I am proud about that.For my opinion the first one was better than this,but still this one was almost as enjoyable as the first.
My favorite is Daenerys Targaryen,I just like to read about her and the cities she goes.She is a badass hot character and you know I am a sucker for that.The scene with Unsullied was kind of predictable,but still awesome.Also in this one I started to like Jamie,I don't know,I just don't care about the incest anymore,and I am glad I got to see him more as a own character because in the King's Landing he was always in the shadow of Cercei.
And the ending,like what the hell was that,the white walkers? I must admit,I got a Walking Dead vibe there.I thought Winter coming would bring like Giants as high as the Night's Watch wall with spikes and stuff,but white walkers in horses? That was like the excitement for Hangover 3(if you know what I mean),but still I am so deep in this series,I can't wait to read the next book(Already read it)*grins*
Okay so you what you get from reading this:
My favorite thing ever:
A great cool character that is totally awesome and cool:
The person you always wanted to kill:
The second person you always wanted to kill:
Dragons:
Arya freaking Stark:
More Daenerys:
I can't recommend this enough:)
*Pictures from the review are not mine, I took them mostly from Google images or Tumblr*
April 21, 2012
If long Fantasy stories have fundamental rules, they probably go like this: 1) create a rich world, 2) put interesting characters in it, and 3) mix up some sequence of interesting things happening around them, happening to them, and being done by them. Martin’s first novel in this series, A Game of Thrones, fulfilled all three swimmingly. He forged one of the deepest Fantasy realms since Tolkien, with a mythology, culture and history. He spun characters of a few key families and then scattering them throughout that world and by the mid-point getting nearly all of them into some form of political, romantic or military intrigue. Active scenes illustrated the world and put it into motion, largely through political intrigue and the build to war.
This second book takes a mallet to what the first set up, dulling and dumbing down the world and putting the majority of the characters into boring or redundant situations where they do not escape the inertia of wasted prose until the final third of the book. Where the slow build to great promise was acceptable in the first, the sharp drop into bleak and sluggish chapters here is deeply disheartening.
Martin’s prose drops off noticeably. Fewer scenes generate atmosphere, and often it seems downright immature with sub-JK Rowling lines like, “The shame of that hurt worse than the pain, and the pain hurt a lot.” There is no language in this volume that rivals the blacksmith’s metallurgy or the dragon eggs in the first, leaving the thousand-page trek much less worthwhile.
Plotting and pacing have suffered similar fates. The first book took a few hundred pages to get off the ground but then flew into character development and action divvied up between a dozen (or so) lives, giving us a sense of a full and cohesive world. The narrative is divvied up again here, but with different results. A couple of characters are in intense situations: one girl poses as a boy, heading to an army garrison with a questionable guide and the possibility of being attacked by the enemy at any time on her attempt to get home; and a young soldier has gone to the other side of “the wall” and is risking facing creatures and perils never written about in the span of his homeland’s culture. They should have this volume to themselves, but instead we spend the first half waiting to hear more about them while we watch other characters sneaking into whorehouses and chatting about freshman-level theology. It’s especially annoying to leave someone hiding from enemy troops so you can read about some guy we haven’t thought about for hundreds of pages is getting a blowjob (Martin’s approach to sex is perhaps more adolescent than in the first book, and definitely has less appealing placement). While the last third expands the number of useful and interesting roles, the book has far too many chapters that serve as dull blockades to worthwhile narrative. These low-action chapters are not artistic or particularly expressive of original opinions (The Song of Ice and Fire seems like a prime franchise to expand into semi-literary fiction), but rather fumbles over clichés of sadness, lust and nonsense that are all strikingly less immediate than the situations we leave to read about them. We do not need another conversation about how some form of magic or divinity can’t possibly be real. Five or six of them will suffice.
It ties into a troubling sluggishness about this book. The first book ended on the verge of war with one major battle having ended. The second book ends on the very beginning of war, with a whole bunch of people arriving. It ends essentially on the same promise of future progress that the first did, and has so much unnecessary material that I couldn't help looking at my copy of A Storm of Swords, the 1,200-page third book, and wonder if it wasn’t bloated by the same problems. UPDATE: Storms of Swords conquered all expectations and was the best start-to-finish entry in the series so far. To read about what changed you can click here.
It stings worse because the first book ended with so many promises – NEW READERS MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH. We ended on the revelation that dragons are real, and three fell into the hands of one of the most tragic characters. In this volume they spend 1,000 pages doing little more than eat as we’re informed that they’re weak and helpless, and serve only as an excuse for their owner to go to a couple of fancy places. The revelation of the undead in the first book is even more underdeveloped here. Even the other side of “the wall” turns out to not by a realm of nightmares or perils, but more barbarians and sad people – a nice literary point, but severely underwhelming in delivery. There were so many things to look forward to, but they don’t manifest.
In short: Clash of Kings doesn't have much clashing and the kings do little of value. It would have been more aptly titled The Sadness of the People Who Aren’t Kings, but that wouldn’t have sold as well.
This second book takes a mallet to what the first set up, dulling and dumbing down the world and putting the majority of the characters into boring or redundant situations where they do not escape the inertia of wasted prose until the final third of the book. Where the slow build to great promise was acceptable in the first, the sharp drop into bleak and sluggish chapters here is deeply disheartening.
Martin’s prose drops off noticeably. Fewer scenes generate atmosphere, and often it seems downright immature with sub-JK Rowling lines like, “The shame of that hurt worse than the pain, and the pain hurt a lot.” There is no language in this volume that rivals the blacksmith’s metallurgy or the dragon eggs in the first, leaving the thousand-page trek much less worthwhile.
Plotting and pacing have suffered similar fates. The first book took a few hundred pages to get off the ground but then flew into character development and action divvied up between a dozen (or so) lives, giving us a sense of a full and cohesive world. The narrative is divvied up again here, but with different results. A couple of characters are in intense situations: one girl poses as a boy, heading to an army garrison with a questionable guide and the possibility of being attacked by the enemy at any time on her attempt to get home; and a young soldier has gone to the other side of “the wall” and is risking facing creatures and perils never written about in the span of his homeland’s culture. They should have this volume to themselves, but instead we spend the first half waiting to hear more about them while we watch other characters sneaking into whorehouses and chatting about freshman-level theology. It’s especially annoying to leave someone hiding from enemy troops so you can read about some guy we haven’t thought about for hundreds of pages is getting a blowjob (Martin’s approach to sex is perhaps more adolescent than in the first book, and definitely has less appealing placement). While the last third expands the number of useful and interesting roles, the book has far too many chapters that serve as dull blockades to worthwhile narrative. These low-action chapters are not artistic or particularly expressive of original opinions (The Song of Ice and Fire seems like a prime franchise to expand into semi-literary fiction), but rather fumbles over clichés of sadness, lust and nonsense that are all strikingly less immediate than the situations we leave to read about them. We do not need another conversation about how some form of magic or divinity can’t possibly be real. Five or six of them will suffice.
It ties into a troubling sluggishness about this book. The first book ended on the verge of war with one major battle having ended. The second book ends on the very beginning of war, with a whole bunch of people arriving. It ends essentially on the same promise of future progress that the first did, and has so much unnecessary material that I couldn't help looking at my copy of A Storm of Swords, the 1,200-page third book, and wonder if it wasn’t bloated by the same problems. UPDATE: Storms of Swords conquered all expectations and was the best start-to-finish entry in the series so far. To read about what changed you can click here.
It stings worse because the first book ended with so many promises – NEW READERS MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH. We ended on the revelation that dragons are real, and three fell into the hands of one of the most tragic characters. In this volume they spend 1,000 pages doing little more than eat as we’re informed that they’re weak and helpless, and serve only as an excuse for their owner to go to a couple of fancy places. The revelation of the undead in the first book is even more underdeveloped here. Even the other side of “the wall” turns out to not by a realm of nightmares or perils, but more barbarians and sad people – a nice literary point, but severely underwhelming in delivery. There were so many things to look forward to, but they don’t manifest.
In short: Clash of Kings doesn't have much clashing and the kings do little of value. It would have been more aptly titled The Sadness of the People Who Aren’t Kings, but that wouldn’t have sold as well.
October 1, 2023
2023 Review
This series is absolute fire and I'd almost forgotten how good the books actually are. There's so many great characters and plots here, but the thing that makes the series so compelling is the possibility and the openness.
Anything could happen. And reading this when you know the fates of many of the characters, it's so clear to see how easily things could have been different. A slight move in a different direction, or a different decision, could have lead to so many different outcomes. Victory would have been possible for so many characters that died had they made a different move in the game.
The plot is incredibly intricate and complex. And there are a few standout characters here that really begin to develop and show their qualities. However, I've always considered this one to be Tyrion's book, the book in which he is at his sharpest and begins to demonstrate what he is capable of, and how much he could actually do if given a proper chance.
So, 8 years after my first read, my opinion of this is relatively unchanged: Tyrion is a boss.
2015 Review
This is the Imp’s hour; this is the Imp’s book. Forget about Dany, and forget about Jon Snow because this is the book where we get to see the true quality of Tyrion Lannister.
Tyrion is my favourite character in this series, so I’m somewhat biased in my review. For me, he is the most unique, and original, character that George R.R Martin has written. He is wise beyond his years and has developed an acute perception of things; he knows his own place in the world and he knows exactly what it is. Instead of letting it destroy him, like a lesser man would, he uses it to his advantage. He is often overlooked and drastically underestimated by his family, and players of the game, so when he is thrust into the role of King’s hand he does incredibly well, much to the dismay of all.
This surprises no other more than Tyrion himself. So far he has been given no real opportunity to show the world what he is actually capable of, and when his chance comes he seize it and even comes to relish it. In this, we get to see the worth of the man. He is much more beyond the silver tonged drunkard he initially appeared to be; he is a man of great compassion, but also one who can be ruthless when he has to be. He learns to play the game, and he learns quickly to become its master.
If you look further beyond that you get to see a man who is as fragile as he is wise. But, as ever, he has learned to prevent that from becoming his weakness. He has learnt that love is a necessary facet for man, and he has learnt to use it to his advantage. He loves but one man, his brother Jaimie. No harm can come from that as there is small chance of losing the master swordsman. His lover he keeps in secret so his enemies don’t use her against him; thus, he is not weakened by his need for love in the face of constant rejection. He hides his only weakness.
Through all this Tyrion plays the game with a steady hand and take no chances. He learns to succeed over the other schemers and solidifies his place at court. And, if that isn’t enough, he does all this without losing his good nature whilst being in the company of snakes. Indeed, it is only because of his nature and a practical form of honour, that Ned Stark completely lacked, does he do so well in the most dangerous city in Westeros. Well, at least until his father shows up.
Tyrion is great character, and is reason enough to love this series. He is hilarious, wise and brave, but at the same time one of the book’s biggest victims. His revenge thus far has been bitter sweet. I do hope he gets the ending he deserves.
A Song of Ice and Fire
1. A Game of Thrones- A life chnaging five stars
2.A Clash of Kings- An Impish five stars
3. A Storm of Swords - A Lannister loving five stars
4. A Feast for Crows - A flat 3.5 stars
5. A Dance with Dragons - A convoluted 4 stars
___________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
This series is absolute fire and I'd almost forgotten how good the books actually are. There's so many great characters and plots here, but the thing that makes the series so compelling is the possibility and the openness.
Anything could happen. And reading this when you know the fates of many of the characters, it's so clear to see how easily things could have been different. A slight move in a different direction, or a different decision, could have lead to so many different outcomes. Victory would have been possible for so many characters that died had they made a different move in the game.
The plot is incredibly intricate and complex. And there are a few standout characters here that really begin to develop and show their qualities. However, I've always considered this one to be Tyrion's book, the book in which he is at his sharpest and begins to demonstrate what he is capable of, and how much he could actually do if given a proper chance.
So, 8 years after my first read, my opinion of this is relatively unchanged: Tyrion is a boss.
2015 Review
This is the Imp’s hour; this is the Imp’s book. Forget about Dany, and forget about Jon Snow because this is the book where we get to see the true quality of Tyrion Lannister.
Tyrion is my favourite character in this series, so I’m somewhat biased in my review. For me, he is the most unique, and original, character that George R.R Martin has written. He is wise beyond his years and has developed an acute perception of things; he knows his own place in the world and he knows exactly what it is. Instead of letting it destroy him, like a lesser man would, he uses it to his advantage. He is often overlooked and drastically underestimated by his family, and players of the game, so when he is thrust into the role of King’s hand he does incredibly well, much to the dismay of all.
This surprises no other more than Tyrion himself. So far he has been given no real opportunity to show the world what he is actually capable of, and when his chance comes he seize it and even comes to relish it. In this, we get to see the worth of the man. He is much more beyond the silver tonged drunkard he initially appeared to be; he is a man of great compassion, but also one who can be ruthless when he has to be. He learns to play the game, and he learns quickly to become its master.
If you look further beyond that you get to see a man who is as fragile as he is wise. But, as ever, he has learned to prevent that from becoming his weakness. He has learnt that love is a necessary facet for man, and he has learnt to use it to his advantage. He loves but one man, his brother Jaimie. No harm can come from that as there is small chance of losing the master swordsman. His lover he keeps in secret so his enemies don’t use her against him; thus, he is not weakened by his need for love in the face of constant rejection. He hides his only weakness.
Through all this Tyrion plays the game with a steady hand and take no chances. He learns to succeed over the other schemers and solidifies his place at court. And, if that isn’t enough, he does all this without losing his good nature whilst being in the company of snakes. Indeed, it is only because of his nature and a practical form of honour, that Ned Stark completely lacked, does he do so well in the most dangerous city in Westeros. Well, at least until his father shows up.
Tyrion is great character, and is reason enough to love this series. He is hilarious, wise and brave, but at the same time one of the book’s biggest victims. His revenge thus far has been bitter sweet. I do hope he gets the ending he deserves.
A Song of Ice and Fire
1. A Game of Thrones- A life chnaging five stars
2.A Clash of Kings- An Impish five stars
3. A Storm of Swords - A Lannister loving five stars
4. A Feast for Crows - A flat 3.5 stars
5. A Dance with Dragons - A convoluted 4 stars
___________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
February 15, 2011
Everyone seems to agree that George R.R. Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire are titans in the genre of Epic Fantasy. True, true.
Everyone also seems to agree that the best characters are Tyrion, Arya, and Jon Snow. They are indeed wondrous characters. They are heroes. They fail many times, but in a way they are infallible: they are so incredibly sympathetic, they are always trying to do the right thing, they have kindness & empathy & bravery & loyalty. In fact nearly every voice in the first two novels is of this type: the HERO. Sansa is one exception – however she is a victim, and I found her perspective to be very uncomfortable. But I found the tale of the novel’s other non-hero, barely even an anti-hero, to be particularly compelling: Theon Greyjoy. You’re the bomb, Theon.
The kid is an asshole, a smug and irritating asshole. He thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. He makes plans upon plans that seemed based entirely around the idea that because he is thinking these thoughts, they will no doubt occur. He is arrogant beyond belief. He has an annoying, self-pleased smirk whenever another character describes him. He is a rough sex-loving womanizer and he strings girls along. In the first novel, he kicks around a decapitated head like a soccer ball.
Favorite Theon part: getting a blowjob while thinking about how awesome his future successes will be. And then he climaxes as he considers how his great deeds will even overshadow those of his dear old dad. What a self-absorbed asshole! I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
And yet he has positive qualities too, he’s no cardboard cut-out. He has guilty feelings of loyalty. He is brave and quick-thinking and is no kiss-ass. His rapid response time saves a child's life. Unlike his men, he doesn’t enjoy cruelty or barbarism and actively stops their occurrence. He is thwarted repeatedly and never lets that stop him. He sees no point in the grim vendettas of the old. He is not, as they say, “all bad”. In Theon, perhaps the nurture of the Starks has had some slight impact on the nature of the Greyjoys.
I really appreciate that Martin included Theon’s voice because honestly, reading wall-to-wall heroic perspectives is enough to make me want to cut some throats. Theon is an asshole, but he’s the kind of guy I’d love to get a beer with, shoot the shit, and enjoy his various mean-spirited bitching and self-absorbed plans of conquest. He is seriously imperfect, quite unlike most of the other voices in the tale.
Everyone also seems to agree that the best characters are Tyrion, Arya, and Jon Snow. They are indeed wondrous characters. They are heroes. They fail many times, but in a way they are infallible: they are so incredibly sympathetic, they are always trying to do the right thing, they have kindness & empathy & bravery & loyalty. In fact nearly every voice in the first two novels is of this type: the HERO. Sansa is one exception – however she is a victim, and I found her perspective to be very uncomfortable. But I found the tale of the novel’s other non-hero, barely even an anti-hero, to be particularly compelling: Theon Greyjoy. You’re the bomb, Theon.
The kid is an asshole, a smug and irritating asshole. He thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. He makes plans upon plans that seemed based entirely around the idea that because he is thinking these thoughts, they will no doubt occur. He is arrogant beyond belief. He has an annoying, self-pleased smirk whenever another character describes him. He is a rough sex-loving womanizer and he strings girls along. In the first novel, he kicks around a decapitated head like a soccer ball.
Favorite Theon part: getting a blowjob while thinking about how awesome his future successes will be. And then he climaxes as he considers how his great deeds will even overshadow those of his dear old dad. What a self-absorbed asshole! I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
And yet he has positive qualities too, he’s no cardboard cut-out. He has guilty feelings of loyalty. He is brave and quick-thinking and is no kiss-ass. His rapid response time saves a child's life. Unlike his men, he doesn’t enjoy cruelty or barbarism and actively stops their occurrence. He is thwarted repeatedly and never lets that stop him. He sees no point in the grim vendettas of the old. He is not, as they say, “all bad”. In Theon, perhaps the nurture of the Starks has had some slight impact on the nature of the Greyjoys.
I really appreciate that Martin included Theon’s voice because honestly, reading wall-to-wall heroic perspectives is enough to make me want to cut some throats. Theon is an asshole, but he’s the kind of guy I’d love to get a beer with, shoot the shit, and enjoy his various mean-spirited bitching and self-absorbed plans of conquest. He is seriously imperfect, quite unlike most of the other voices in the tale.
December 2, 2017
Re-Read
I freaking finished it! I have to admit I have watched, well own the boxsets, of all the shows up to the current one. I can't watch is because I don't have HBO! But I digress. There really isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said etc and so on. I will just add a few excerpts and some pictures and some thoughts. That stuff.
I love Jon Snow It seems like he didn't have much in the book. A few of the characters I love didn't have a lot of stuff going on in this book. But they will be back.
--->EXCERPT<---
The Dothraki named the comet shierak qiya, the Bleeding Star. The old men muttered that it omened ill, but Daenerys Targaryen had seen it first on the night she burned Khal Drogo, the night her dragons had awakened. It is the herald of my coming, she told herself as she gazed up into the night sky with wonder in her heart. The gods have sent it to show me the way.
I love Daenerys.
--->EXCERPT<---
Arya looked down at her ragged clothes and bare feet, all cracked and callused. She saw the dirt under her nails, the scabs on her elbows, the scratches on her hands. Septa Mordane wouldn't even know me. I bet Sansa might, but she'd pretend not to. "My mother's a lady, and my sister, but I never was."
"Yes, you were. You were a lord's daughter and you lived in a castle, didn't you? And you. . . gods be good, I never. . ." All of the sudden Gendry seemed uncertain, almost afraid. "All that about cocks, I never should have said that. And I been pissing in front of you and everything, I. . .I beg your pardon, m'Lady."
I love Arya :-)
There really is no point in loving anyone in these books or shows because they all die!
I found a lot of the book boring and drawn out. I guess when it's not about the people you really like it's sort of... yawn.
I loved how most of the book was about Tyrion. Or it seemed that way to me. I Love Tyrion.
Because Tyrion is too cool.
and he does this ↓
And Brienne finally arrives on the scene. I love her too :-)
and Bran
to all of you I have loved before and still love, you will all die and I will miss you and I will hate that episode and so forth and so on!
and stop killing my damn wolves!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
I freaking finished it! I have to admit I have watched, well own the boxsets, of all the shows up to the current one. I can't watch is because I don't have HBO! But I digress. There really isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said etc and so on. I will just add a few excerpts and some pictures and some thoughts. That stuff.
I love Jon Snow It seems like he didn't have much in the book. A few of the characters I love didn't have a lot of stuff going on in this book. But they will be back.
--->EXCERPT<---
The Dothraki named the comet shierak qiya, the Bleeding Star. The old men muttered that it omened ill, but Daenerys Targaryen had seen it first on the night she burned Khal Drogo, the night her dragons had awakened. It is the herald of my coming, she told herself as she gazed up into the night sky with wonder in her heart. The gods have sent it to show me the way.
I love Daenerys.
--->EXCERPT<---
Arya looked down at her ragged clothes and bare feet, all cracked and callused. She saw the dirt under her nails, the scabs on her elbows, the scratches on her hands. Septa Mordane wouldn't even know me. I bet Sansa might, but she'd pretend not to. "My mother's a lady, and my sister, but I never was."
"Yes, you were. You were a lord's daughter and you lived in a castle, didn't you? And you. . . gods be good, I never. . ." All of the sudden Gendry seemed uncertain, almost afraid. "All that about cocks, I never should have said that. And I been pissing in front of you and everything, I. . .I beg your pardon, m'Lady."
I love Arya :-)
There really is no point in loving anyone in these books or shows because they all die!
I found a lot of the book boring and drawn out. I guess when it's not about the people you really like it's sort of... yawn.
I loved how most of the book was about Tyrion. Or it seemed that way to me. I Love Tyrion.
Because Tyrion is too cool.
and he does this ↓
And Brienne finally arrives on the scene. I love her too :-)
and Bran
to all of you I have loved before and still love, you will all die and I will miss you and I will hate that episode and so forth and so on!
and stop killing my damn wolves!
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
May 8, 2019
مات ملك، أنبثق 5 ملوك كل منهم يري إنه الملك الشرعي..وأنقسمت البلاد
هذا غير ملك قادم بجيشه من أرض الجليد، وملكة قادمة من وراء البحار بالتنانين والنار
سبع ملوك في مملكة واحدة .. ماذا تتوقع أن يحدث؟
صـــراع الــملــوك
اﻷنشودة الثانية في أغنية الجليد والنار، إنشودة ملحمية لحروب الملوك علي عرشهم..وصراع اﻷبرياء للبقاء علي قيد الحياة في ظل لعبة الملوك
لعبة العروش
حيث 3 ملوك،خلفاء الملك السابق، أخويه وأبنه، يتصارعون علي عرش الممالك السبع..العرش الحديدي
و ملك ينصبه عشيرته ملك الشمال
وأخر ��عترض وينصب ملك الجزر الحديدية
وأخر منصب نفسه الملك وراء الجدار
و ملكة وراء البحار تخطط لأستعادة عرش الممالك السبع كأجدادها..نفس العرش الحديدي
العرش الذي أغتصبه الملك السابق من والدها
الأحــداث
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صراع ملحمي، بدأ بعد مصرع الملك روبرت بأحداث الجزء اﻷول ، مع أن شراراته بدأت قبل ذلك بشهور...منذ أكتشاف جون آرين مساعد الملك خيانة الملكة ، وأن أبناءه منها ليسوا من صلبه، وإنما من علاقتها اﻵثمة مع أخيها ، أي أن العرش ليس من حقه فهو ليس من صلب عائلة 'براثيون' وإنما في هذه الحالة هو ينتمي لمنزل 'لانيستر' منزل عائلة أمه الملكة
لقد عرف إدارد ستارك الحقيقة باﻷنشودة اﻷولي "لعـبة العـروش"، ودفع ثمنها هو وأسرته غاليا كجون آرين المساعد السابق
والشخص اﻷخير الذي يعرف السر هو ستانيس باراثيون اﻷخ اﻷخر للملك روبرت ، وعليه نصب نفسه ملكا 'الملك في البحر الضيق' وسعي ليأخذ العرش الحديدي ، عرش الممالك السبع كأخيه الراحل وجهز جيشا ليستعد للأبحار عبر البحر الضيق لأحتلال 'أراضي الملك' فور أعلان جوفري براثيون ملكا وأمه الملكة سيرسي الواصية حتي يبلغ سن الرشد
ويساعده في ذلك الكاهنة الحمراء...التي تتبع دينا غريبا عن الممالك السبع , دين "أله النور" والقلب المشتعل
ولكن هناك ملكا أخر 'الملك في هايجاردن' هو رينلي باراثيون ، اﻷخ اﻷصغر للملك الراحل، والذي يري أنه اﻷصلح بعد أخيه لتولي العرش بعدما عرف الحقيقة من ستارك قبل القبض عليه، وباﻷخص ﻷنه يحظي بجاذبية وشعبية لدي الكثير من الشعب واللوردات بعكس أخيه المتزمت ستانيس..والحق يقال انه يملك فعلا مقومات الملك الجذاب..فقط لا غير .. فهو يجد سعادته في تلك اللعبة .. لعبة العروش
وهو أيضا بدأ يعد جيشا باﻷشتراك مع كثير من لوردات الجنوب للهجوم علي 'أراضي الملك' للجلوس علي العرش الحديدي بتحالفه مع "هايجاردين" تلك العائلة العريقة حيث أنه سيتزوج أبنتهما مارجري
بينما علي العرش الحديدي أبن اخيهما المتوفي جوفري بارثيون والذي أثبت أنه من أكثر الشخصيات قسوة ووحشية بالرغم من أنه مجرد مراهق
وهنا أخيرا نجد شئ من شرارة ثورة الشعب, ثورة الجياع في "اراضي الملك ,كينج لاندينج" علي الملك المراهق المشكوك في نسبه وأصله
ثورة للاسف تخمدها حرس الملك..والحرب في صراع الملوك , في لعبة العروش
وفي الوقت الذي فيه روب ستارك الذئب الصغير والذي أختاره سادة ولوردات الشمال لمنصب ملك الشمال يحارب بيت 'لانيستر' الذي يغزو ويغير علي قري وبلدان قرب الشمال 'وسط قارة ويستروس' ..قرر بولون جرايجوي ،سيد الجزر الحديدية المعروف عنه بالتمرد والخيانة,فقام بغارات علي قري وبلدان بالشمال في غياب روب ستارك لبلدان النهر ليدافع عنها ونصب نفسه ملك الجزر الحديدية
أما في شمال الممالك السبع ، خلف الجدار الضخم بالشمال، فذهب الحرس الليلي ومن ضمنهم جون سنو للبحث عن عمه، والتحقيق في اﻷمور الغريبة التي تحدث وراء الجدار ليكتشف أن مانس رايدر الذي نصب نفسه ملك وراء الجدار يخطط ﻷمرا غامضا ، وضخما
وأخيرا سنتابع رحلة دانيريس تارجيريان، اخر عائلة التنانين، صاحبة عرش الممالك السبع شرعيا ، في منفاها في الشرق فهي 'الملكة عبر البحار' ..ولكنها لتعود للويستروس والممالك السبع تحتاج لجيش، و سفن.. وليس فقط ثلاث تنانين وليدة...فهل ستجد من يقدم لها هذا في مدينة كارث العجيبة بالشرق؟
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اﻷحداث هنا أكثر سخونه من الجزء اﻷول ولكنها أيضا اﻷكثر أرهاقا لكثرة اﻷسماء ووصف الحروب والمعارك والتحالفات... وكما أشرت في الريفيو اﻷول ، جورج آر آر مارتن مولع بالتفاصيل ودقة اﻷسماء ..والتاريخ والأساطير الخاصة بذلك العالم العجيب الذي أبتدعه
لا أنكر أن الخطط الحربية كانت جيدة جدا، ولكنها مرهقة في القراءة ومتعددة ، الغارات التي تحدث أيضا وتحالفات اللوردات والسادة ، ناهيك عن أن اﻷسماء متشابهة بشكل رهيب
وإذا ما قارنت بالمسلسل، فقد نجح المسلسل في كثير من اﻷختصارات التي بعضها كان يصلح ﻷن يحدث في الرواية دون الخلل بالقصة النهائية ، ججزء هارينهال وآريا ستارك ، وجزء ما بعد مقابلة الملك ستانيس والملك رينلي التي يرويها دافوس
ولكن دعنا نبدأ بمراجعة الشخصيات بالترتيب.. الشخصيات التي تطورت بشكل ملحوظ عن الجزء الأول , بأنخراطهم أكثر سواء بأرادتهم او رغما عنهم في .. لــعبة العــروش
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آريــا ستـارك
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نتابع رحلتها مع 'آيون' الحارس الليلي الذي ينقلها إلي الشمال لمدينتها ﻷنه كان يعرف والدها، متخفية كصبي مع مجندين جدد للحرس بجدار الشمال ... ولكن رحلتها تنقلب لمأساة عندما يغير عليهم جنود تابعين للانيستر ويأسروهم في هارينهول ، المدينة المحترقة
بالرغم من طول هذا الجزء ، إلا أن رسم الشخصية كان ممتازا ، تطور آريا من فتاة شقية أبنة أحد النبلاء، إلي التخفي بهيئة صبي فقير ، وشعورها الطبيعي وسط الخطر إنها مجرد فأر مذعور أحيانا , ثم جراءتها وشجاعتها ثم العودة لمجرد فتاة صغيرة مذعورة
ومن رعبها من مجرم خطير ثم التعاون معه بذكاء شديد فيما يخدم مصلحتها بل ومصلحة سادة الشمال..كل هذا جعل جزءها ثري، ومشوق حتي النهاية
من الشخصيات المثيرة هنا هو المجرم البافاروسي الغامض وهديته الساحرة 'فالار ماجوليس' والتي ستتعرف عليها بالأحداث
هناك أيضا جريندي اﻷبن الغير شرعي للملك روبرت والذي لا يعرف أنه كذلك، وهوتباي ، فتي الفطائر ..وكيف هذه الشخصيات قد تفضل أن تكون أسيرة عن حريتها في وقت ما خلال اﻷحداث طالما ينعمون بسلام عوضا عن الهروب والحرية في ظل الحروب
ولكن آريا تعلم أن لا أحد يسلم خاصا في منتصف الصراع، صراع الملوك
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سانـسا ستارك
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الحالمة التي تعيش أصعب كوابيسها، أغنيتها التي تحولت لنشاز ، وعد كانت تظنه حلما بأنها ستكون زوجة جوفري الملك، صار كابوسا علي وشك التحقق
واﻷدهي أن جوفري صار أسوأ ألف مرة...باﻷخص بعد قرع ناقوس الحرب سواء من أعمامه ستانيس و رينلي ، أو من تمرد أخيها روب ملك الشمال
من الشخصيات المثيرة في هذا الجزء هو الكلب 'ساندور كاليجان' وهي شخصية معقدة ومثيرة جدا بنفس الوقت، وغامض جدا تجاهها ، فهو يثير فزعها وفي نفس الوقت ربما هو الوحيد في حرس الملك الذي يحاول حمايتها
وهناك أيضا الملكة سيرسي، وهنا قدم المؤلف أثنان من أقوي المشاهد بهذا الجزء، عندما جلست مع سانسا تحكي لها عن تحولها لأمرأه، الولادة ، اﻷمومة ، وعلمها بمشاعرها الحقيقية تجاه جوفري
واﻷخر عندما وقعت 'كينج لاندينج' تحت الحصار
كم أتمني أن يصير لسيرسي فصولا خاصة بها
ولكن حتي سيرسي لم تختلف كثيرا عن سانسا في قلقها من صراع الملوك الذي قد يهدم حياتها وعرش أبنها في ظل لعبة العروش
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تايرون لانيستر
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هل منصب وكرسي يد 'مساعد' الملك مشؤم شؤم منصب مدرس الدفاع ضد فنون الظلام بهوجوارتس؟
اﻷنشودة اﻷولي كان إيدارد ستارك يلعب هذا الدور بشرف وأخلاص...ونال ما ناله
ولكن تايرون هنا يلعبه بدهاء، دهاء ومكر سياسي، متخذا كل اﻷحتياطات، واضعا الملك والملكة الواصية، أخته، تحت المراقبة قدر المستطاع وفي نفس الوقت يحاول حمايتهم وحماية المملكة من الحرب القادمة من ستانيس و رينلي، بجانب المؤامرات المتعددة التي تعج ب'أراضي الملك' سواء من الداخل أو الخارج، فلا يعرف بمن يثق
وضف فوق كل هذا ما سنراه ﻷول مرة هنا، ثورة الشعب ضد فساد الملك، ضد الفقر ، المطالبة بالعيش
وبالرغم من قسوة ووحشية جوفري، إلا أن كراهية الشعب تنصب علي القزم أو 'العفريت' كما يطلقون عليه تارة 'القرد' تارة أخري ..هو أكثر من حاول حماية الشعب والمدينة نال النصيب اﻷكبر من الكراهية
أما الجانب العاطفي المعقد لديه فهو أيضا مكتوب بعبقرية ، وإن كان في بعض اﻷجزاء جنسيا، ولكنه أقل من أجزاء شخصيات أخري كما يعد أقل من المسلسل
الشخصيات المثيرة بهذا الجزء، بجانب اﻷجزاء الممتازة مع سانسا، هي مرة أخري سيرسي، أخته التي تكرهه ولا تخفي ذلك، فتجد المشاهد بينهما كالقط والفأر ، ولكن المؤلف أيضا يذكرك في بعض المواقف أنها أخته في مشهد مؤثر وحيد بينهما الذي دار دون شجار أو خديعة
لورد فاريس ، سيد الهمسات، العنكبوت المخصي، من الشخصيات ذات الحضور القوي بهذا الجزء ، كما كان مع نيد ستارك في أخر الجزء اﻷول، شخصية عميقة أيضا ومثيرة
ولكن هل مساعدات فاريس ستخدم تايرون وقت صراع الملوك الشرس هذا؟
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بران ستارك
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في غياب أخيه الملك يجب أن يتعامل ك'لورد' وينترفيل، أو أميرها الصغير، ولكن صراعه الداخلي بأنه مكسور ، معاق عن المشي، يظل عائقا له
أعجبني تحول المؤلف في سرد هذا الجزء بين أفكار الفتي الصغير بران وبين أفكار ذئبه 'صيف' التي يشعر بها بران وقت حلمه
المشكلة هنا أن أعباء المحملة عليه كسيد الشمال ستزيد عندما يبدأ تمرد أحد الأبناء الغير شرعيين ﻷحد سادة الشمال "روز بالتون" وسبب مشاكل في بعض المدن بالشمال ، وأيضا تمرد ملك الجزر الحديدة وإغارة أبنه ثيون جرايجوي علي وينترفيل
في هذا الجزء سنري مصير وينترفيل في ظل تلك الصراعات , ومعاناة بران النفسية بالأخص في افتقاده لأخوته في مشهد مثير للشجن عندما كان في مأدبة مع سادة الشمال ,وحيدا دون باقي افراد اسرته
تذكر بران أخر مرة رأي والده يشرب من هذا الكأس في أحتفال
لقد كان هذا في ليلة الأحتفال بقدوم الملك روبرت وحاشيته إلي وينترفيل. الصيف مازال قائما. والديه شاركا روبرت والملكة المائدة , مع أخويها. العم بينجامين كان هنا أيضا متشحا بالسواد. بران وأخوته جلسوا مع أبناء الملك, جوفري و تويمن والأميرة ميركيلا التي قضت وقت المأدبة تتأمل روب بنظرات أعجاب. آريا تعمل وجوه مضحكة عندما لاينظر أحد وسانسا تسمع بشغف لأغاني الشجاعة التي يغنيها المغني الأعلي للملك , وريكون ظل يسأل لماذا جون لم يأتي معهم حتي همس له أخيه مضطرا "لأنه أبن حرام"
من الشخصيات المثيرة هنا هي شخصية من عائلة رييد التي تسكن المستنقعات، والذي هو و أخته وبمساعدة البربرية أوشا سيحاولا فتح عين بران علي موهبته العجيبة في الحلم والرؤية بعين ذئبه وماهو اكثر من ذلك كما تقول الأساطير
مما أضاف لهذا الجزء شيئا من الغموض والسحر من تراث ذلك العالم العجيب ، عالم أغنية الثلج والنار
فهل سيصمد هذا الفريق الضئيل عندما يبدأ الملوك صراعهم؟
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جـــون سـنـو
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قرر أخيرا مورمون قائد الحرس الليلي الذهاب وراء الجدار للتحقيق في أختفاء عم جون سنو 'بنجامين ستارك' والتحركات المريبة للبرابرة وهجرانهم للكثير من القري إما للشمال اﻷقصي أو التسلسل من الجدار
هذا غير عودة الرعب من الموتي اﻷحياء كما ظهر باﻷنشودة اﻷولي
وفي هذا الجزء نتابع رحلة جون سنو وزملائه من الحرس الليلي خلف الجدار بدرجة وصف المؤلف التي ستجعلك ترتعد من برودة هذا الجزء ومشاعر الترقب التي به حقا لمعرفه سر ترك البرابرة لقراهم خاوية ، وما يخططه ملك وراء الجدار...وخطر الموتي اﻷحياء
من الشخصيات المثيرة والتي تطورت بهذا الجزء هو سام تيلي ، البدين الجبان، والذي بالرغم من أنه كان أجبن الحرس الذي خرج في تلك الدورية خلف الجدار إلا أنه بمرور الوقت تزداد شجاعته شيئا ملحوظا بالرغم من أنخفاضها بشكل أكبر بين زملائه، خاصا عند الشعور بالقلق تجاه مخطط ملك ماخلف الجدار ..ذلك الملك الذي قد يتسبب في صراعات اكبر في صراع الملوك
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كاتـلـين ستارك
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تماما كالجزء الماضي، اﻷم ، الأبنة والزوجة -عذرا اﻷرملة- كمية مشاعر حزن تعتصر قلبها بأبتعادها عن بنتيها ولا تعرف حقيقة مصيرهما كأسري لانيستر في أراضي الملك، أنباء عن تمرد جرايجوي في الشمال بينما أبنيها الصغيران وحدهما في الشمال ، أبيها علي فراش الموت ، بينما أبنها ملك الشمال الذي ترافقه لا يروقه نصائحها ، ويسعي لأعطائها مهام تبعدها عنه ولو لبعض الوقت، فيرسلها للملك رينلي ليطلب منه طلب تحالف ضد آل لانيستر والملك جوفري ، العدو المشترك
من الشخصيات المثيرة بهذا الجزء شخصية راينلي باراثيون الملك، حيث في جزئها فقط يظهر في بعض المشاهد
راينلي شخصية محبوبة ولكنه مازال شاب صغير ، تقف كاتلين بينه وبين أخيه اﻷكبر ستانيس في صراع الملوك بينهما كلا يري أنه اﻷصلح ليكون ملكا...بينما هي -اﻷم- تحاول تذكيرهما إنهما أخوة -في مشهد ممتاز- ،ولا يصح أن يتقاتلا بينما العدو المشترك لهما مازال يضغي في الممالك السبع، ويراقب صراعهما بشماتة
الشخصية الثانية هي بيرني من آل تارث ، فتاة ضخمة الجسد ومتجهمة الملامح ، متواضعة الجمال -لقب بيرني الجميلة يعد سخرية صريحة- وهي شخصية قوية لها أبعاد وجمال دفين، مخلصة جدا لرينلي الذي يبدو أنها تحبه من طرف واحد ولذلك ترجوه أن يوافق علي تعيينها كحرس شخصي له، و ترافق كاتلين وقت وجودها في هايجاردن لعرض التحالف مع رينلي، وهذا قبل تصاعد اﻷحداث في صراع الملوك
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ثيون جرايجوي
~~~~~~~~~~~~
أثناء مشاهدتي المسلسل أعتبرته الشخصية الكريهة اﻷكثر ، وبلا أي أثارة في نفس الوقت -بعكس جوفري مثلا فهو شخصية كريهة جدا ولكن مثيرة جدا تلك اﻷحداث التي يكون بها-
شعرت كم هو بغيض، كريه ، حقود ، وشهواني جنسيا لدرجة مقززة
وفوجئت عندما وجدت أنه من الشخصيات الجديدة التي أضيفت للكتاب في فصول خاصة من وجهة نظرة مع باقي الشخصيات التي نجت من الجزء الأول
ما الفرق بين شخصيته في المسلسل والكتاب؟
الكتاب جعل في جزءه، والذي بالرغم من قلة عدد فصوله ولكنها أطول في الصفحات، كل المبررات الممكنة لكل الحقد، الكراهية ، البغضاء التي تعج بثيون جرايجوي -عدا اﻷجزاء الجنسية مازالت زائدة جدا عن الحد ومقززة كما بالمسلسل كما بالكتاب وربما أكثر من أي أجزاء أخري بالرواية والسلسلة نفسها-
شخصية معقدة للغاية ، من ضيف, أو رهين لدي عائلة ستارك كما تراه عائلته إلي ضاغية جديد علي المدينة التي عاش بها أغلب حياته فقط من أجل الحقد, وأثبات لأبيه أنه ليس ضعيفا
ورسم المؤلف شخصيته بشكل يجعلك تشعر أن كل هذا مبررا ولكن المهم هنا كيف ستسير اﻷحداث بالنسبة له، هذا هو ما كان مثيرا فقط في جزء ثيون جرايجوي وأخته آشا وأبيه المتمرد ملك الجزر الحديدية كما نصب نفسه في خضم صراع الملوك
***************
ديـفــوس
~~~~~~~~~~~~
فارس البصل، بحار ومهرب سابق نصبه ستانيس باراثيون بلقب فارس بعد مساعدته في حصار اﻷعداء له منذ سنوات بقلعة 'ستورم إند'
هو مساعد 'الملك' ستانيس ، وعين القارئ علي تلك الشخصية المتزمتة وخططها للإستيلاء علي العرش الحديدي ، عرش أخيه الراحل الملك روبرت
المثير في شخصية ديفوس أنه شخصية حتما ستجد ملامحها في الحياة في طبقات كثيرة، هو الجاهل أو الأمي الذي قد يكون له سوابق ولكنه تحول للشرف بعد عطف أحد اﻷسياد عليه
هو الرجل غير المتدين كليا ولكن يثير حفيظته بهجوم دين جديد -دين الآله الواحد آله النار- الذي تبناه سيده وقرر حرق رموز الآلهة السابقة
اﻷب لسبعة أولاد يري تدرجهم وصعودهم في الحياة السياسية وتحول أحدهم أيضا للدين الجديد الذي يثير حفيظته
ولكن من لا يستثار حفيظته عندما يري كاهنة هذا الدين، المرأة الحمراء، وأساليبها الشيطانية بأسم هذا الدين
أساليب مظلمة ، يستعين بها سيده ، الملك ستانيس، في صراع الملوك
****************************************************
دانـيريـس
~~~~~~~~~~~~
وفي الشرق نتابع رحلة دانيريس ، أكثر الشخصيات التي مرت بمراحل صعود و هبوط كثيرة. من أميرة ضعيفة منفية إلي خاليسي 'زوجة ملك، زعيم' لقبيلة همجية الي أرملة وبدون حتى مسكن سوي رفيقها المخلص سير جوراه
هنا تذهب إلي مدينة كارث ، مدينة عجيبة يحكمها تجار ، نبلاء و سحرة
تستضيفها المدينة ليس ﻷسمها، أو أعترافا منهم أنها الملكة الشرعية للممالك السبعة بالغرب، وإنما ﻷنها أم التنانين، فقط الثلاث تنانين الوليدة هي ما أثارت فضولهم..وأثارت أطماعهم أيضا
ما يميز جزء دانيريس في اﻷنشودة الثانية 'صراع الملوك' - والذي ليس بجمال جزئها باﻷنشودة اﻷولي- هو تطرق المؤلف لعجائب تاك المدن الشرقية ، والسحر بطريقة غامضة ومثيرة وتصل أحيانا لشئ من الرعب
فالجزء الذي تلتلقي فيه دانيريس ببيت السحرة مثلا ملئ بالترقب، الرعب و النبوءات العجيبة مع ملامح من الماضي عن أببها، والملك المجنون
بل وعن أغنية الجليد والنار والتي تذكر في السلسلة ﻷول مرة بهذا الجزء ، ولا نعرف حتي اﻷن ماهي بالظبط
بما لا يكون جزئها هنا بقوة الجزء الخاص بها في الأنشودة الأولي ولكنه مازال يعج بالعجائب والشخصيات المثيرة ونظرية عجيبه عن السحر والتنانين
و يعتبره المؤلف فرصته للتجول في خريطة عالمه العجيب نحو الشرق بعيدا عن الغرب وصراعات الملوك به
ولكن لا تنس أن خطتها الأساسية بعد أن ينمو تنانينها الثلاث هي العودة إلي الغرب..لتستعيد عرشها ..العرش الذي يلعب عليه الجميع لعبة عروشهم
-----------------
النهاية
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جزء حافل بالأحداث والصراعات والعجائب
تطورات للشخصيات ورحلات مرهقة تنتظرهم للنجاة من ذلك الصراع الدموي
قد يكون تقييمي للرواية أقل قليلا من الجزء السابق لكن فعلا شعرت بمدي التفاني في تقديم قصة وعالم محكم, يحاكي صراعاتنا السياسية وحكوماتنا الجشعة التي لا تفكر سوي في لعبة المناصب
لعبة العروش
وإلي ريفيو الجزء الثالث
محمد العربي
من 30 مارس 2015
إلي 15 أبريل 2015
January 2, 2019
I finished this book on the cusp of New Year's Eve 2018 into 2019. At the time, I was too ready to party so I delayed my review. Now, on January 1st, I am recovered and ready!
A solid 4 stars - action, world building, interesting characters, political intrigue, etc.
I am not quite sure how this book is so big yet so little happens. Sure, a lot of things do occur, but if you take everyone's individual story line, it's only 3 or 4 chapters spread out over 1000 pages. In addition to this, much of the action is not even the focus of any of the chapters This is all really more of an observation than a complaint. It was just that as I closed it my first thought was "so many pages, and I didn't get very far!"
I do like the writing - it keeps me engaged throughout. It is a bit rougher than some other fantasy books I have read, but Martin's fantasy world is quite a bit rougher than some other fantasy worlds I have visited. I thought the first book in the series was pretty similar to other fantasy I have ready, but this one definitely upped the violence and sex (and, in my opinion, the raping stared to get a bit out or control and seemed a bit unnecessary even if it was to set an unpleasant tone)
I suppose in the end it was a bit cliffhanger-ish, but it is probably more accurate to say that it didn't feel like a complete novel in itself and just left off before the story was complete. I did like the way this was handled, though, and it has left me wanting more. In a few months I will watch season 2 of the show and then follow it up with book 3.
A solid 4 stars - action, world building, interesting characters, political intrigue, etc.
I am not quite sure how this book is so big yet so little happens. Sure, a lot of things do occur, but if you take everyone's individual story line, it's only 3 or 4 chapters spread out over 1000 pages. In addition to this, much of the action is not even the focus of any of the chapters This is all really more of an observation than a complaint. It was just that as I closed it my first thought was "so many pages, and I didn't get very far!"
I do like the writing - it keeps me engaged throughout. It is a bit rougher than some other fantasy books I have read, but Martin's fantasy world is quite a bit rougher than some other fantasy worlds I have visited. I thought the first book in the series was pretty similar to other fantasy I have ready, but this one definitely upped the violence and sex (and, in my opinion, the raping stared to get a bit out or control and seemed a bit unnecessary even if it was to set an unpleasant tone)
I suppose in the end it was a bit cliffhanger-ish, but it is probably more accurate to say that it didn't feel like a complete novel in itself and just left off before the story was complete. I did like the way this was handled, though, and it has left me wanting more. In a few months I will watch season 2 of the show and then follow it up with book 3.
June 7, 2025
Loved this one better than the 1st for sure. George if you’re seeing this I’m making my way through the series.
Finish it. Pls
5/5
Finish it. Pls
5/5
February 24, 2021
لابد أن أقول أن مشاهدة العمل التليفزيوني قبل القراءة أعطت أبعاد مختلفة
الأمر يشبه لعبة النرد
فهناك مصائر تتغير
وخطوط أحداث تختلف
وكأنك تقرأ هنا ما كان يمكن أن يحدث
أو ما حدث في بعد آخر
أغنية الجليد والنار المعروفة شعبيا باسم لعبة العروش
إحدى أمتع الحكايات التي لا نعرف نهاياتها إلى الآن
ألف صفحة بعد ألف صفحة لا تشعر بمرورها
عالم آخر يجذبك إليه بقوة ساحرة
قررت قراءة الروايات لقراءة المزيد عن آريا
شخصيتي المفضلة من المسلسل
وكان قرارا حكيما
لأنني هنا أعيش في عقلها وأرى أفكارها مسطورة أمامي مستمتعة بكل واحدة منها
ولكني لم أتوقع كل هذه المتعة مع فصول تيريون
الذي هو هنا في الرواية أكثر دهاء ومكرا وشجاعة
إنه أحد شخصياتي المفضلة من الجزء الأول بالعمل الدرامي
ولكن هنا الروعة كلها
تيريون يتألق في كل فصل حرفيا
إلى عاصفة السيوف والمزيد من المتعة إذن
May 15, 2016
Whew! Another one down. These have got to be some of the longest audiobooks that I've ever listened to. Yet, despite the length, I cannot pull myself away from this series. I am completely hooked on this sordid and gory saga.
The second book in the series, 'A Clash of Kings' picks up the story and submerges readers in action and adventure. With all of the new kings coming forward to lay claim to different lands and all of the battles, I found myself again, lost at times. There are so many moving parts and so many characters that it was hard to keep track of everything at times.
Although the storyline continues to be very complex and multifaceted, I have immensely enjoyed the evolution of the storyline and characters. Tyrion especially has grown on me, in spite of his horrible family. He seems to be the only one in his family that isn't entirely despicable. Thank goodness that he is doing damage control or his wicked sister and her depraved spawn would bathe the streets in blood.
With Robb growing his army day by day, he is getting closer to avenging the death of Eddard. Deals are made that will, no doubt, prove to be influential later in the story. In truth, I'm growing a bit impatient waiting for him to storm Joffrey's castle.
Meanwhile, with multiple stories running parallel to one another, I have been completely absorbed in this book, waiting for the next little piece of each story. Dani and her dragons find themselves in a perilous situation. There are huge changes in Winterfell with Bran. New kings are coming out of the woodwork. Arya struggles to survive under the guise of an orphan boy. Things that go bump in the night are proving dangerous near the north wall. Without a doubt, there is plenty of danger and adventure to keep your head spinning.
Overall, I continue to be engrossed in this epic tale. It is brutal and grim, but I'm loving every minute. The narration is done superbly, but it is still a tough audiobook for me to follow. There are just so many moving parts with this story that I've had to rewind a few times to keep up with what is going on. I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves action/adventure. I'm on to book 3 now.
The second book in the series, 'A Clash of Kings' picks up the story and submerges readers in action and adventure. With all of the new kings coming forward to lay claim to different lands and all of the battles, I found myself again, lost at times. There are so many moving parts and so many characters that it was hard to keep track of everything at times.
Although the storyline continues to be very complex and multifaceted, I have immensely enjoyed the evolution of the storyline and characters. Tyrion especially has grown on me, in spite of his horrible family. He seems to be the only one in his family that isn't entirely despicable. Thank goodness that he is doing damage control or his wicked sister and her depraved spawn would bathe the streets in blood.
With Robb growing his army day by day, he is getting closer to avenging the death of Eddard. Deals are made that will, no doubt, prove to be influential later in the story. In truth, I'm growing a bit impatient waiting for him to storm Joffrey's castle.
Meanwhile, with multiple stories running parallel to one another, I have been completely absorbed in this book, waiting for the next little piece of each story. Dani and her dragons find themselves in a perilous situation. There are huge changes in Winterfell with Bran. New kings are coming out of the woodwork. Arya struggles to survive under the guise of an orphan boy. Things that go bump in the night are proving dangerous near the north wall. Without a doubt, there is plenty of danger and adventure to keep your head spinning.
Overall, I continue to be engrossed in this epic tale. It is brutal and grim, but I'm loving every minute. The narration is done superbly, but it is still a tough audiobook for me to follow. There are just so many moving parts with this story that I've had to rewind a few times to keep up with what is going on. I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves action/adventure. I'm on to book 3 now.
September 2, 2017
“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.”
So. Many. Pages. But I did it! It was a great read, but less satisfying than A Game of Thrones . I'm not entirely sure why, but I think the many Kings and their battles were a little tiring.
So here are the many POVs, starting with the chapters I liked the most down to the ones I didn't:
Tyrion - Unexpected turns, witty and intruiging
Daenerys - New unknown lands and strange magic, dragons!
Arya - Danger, Jaqen H'ghar, and many different faces
Sansa - King's Landing's games and intruiges and Sansa struggling to keep her head up
Catelyn - Tired of her sorrow, but loved the parts with Brienne and Renly
Jon - Love Ghost, like Halfhand and Sam, annoyed by winter and cold
Bran - Again: love the Direwolves, like Osha, Jojen and Meera but just not interested in Bran
Ser Davos - Melisandre is the only interesting thing in those chapters
Theon - Vain stupid little dipshit only thinking with his cock
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So. Many. Pages. But I did it! It was a great read, but less satisfying than A Game of Thrones . I'm not entirely sure why, but I think the many Kings and their battles were a little tiring.
So here are the many POVs, starting with the chapters I liked the most down to the ones I didn't:
Tyrion - Unexpected turns, witty and intruiging
Daenerys - New unknown lands and strange magic, dragons!
Arya - Danger, Jaqen H'ghar, and many different faces
Sansa - King's Landing's games and intruiges and Sansa struggling to keep her head up
Catelyn - Tired of her sorrow, but loved the parts with Brienne and Renly
Jon - Love Ghost, like Halfhand and Sam, annoyed by winter and cold
Bran - Again: love the Direwolves, like Osha, Jojen and Meera but just not interested in Bran
Ser Davos - Melisandre is the only interesting thing in those chapters
Theon - Vain stupid little dipshit only thinking with his cock
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June 23, 2019
By far the two biggest adjustments I've had to make going into these books after watching the TV show are:
1) Reimagining major characters and war leaders as children (they benefited from being a few years older, IMO. 13/14 year olds leading armies is odd, regardless of how "medieval-inspired" your fantasy setting is.)
And 2) Realizing that my beloved Tyrion is actually a creep. Peter Dinklage brought so much charm to the character, but in the book his constant obsession with his cock, plus the way he talks about Shae , is really unpleasant to read.
Still, I can't deny this story is addictive. It's a combination of rich world-building and great dialogue that makes it work so well, I think. I'm scared for Theon's chapters in the next book, though...
1) Reimagining major characters and war leaders as children (they benefited from being a few years older, IMO. 13/14 year olds leading armies is odd, regardless of how "medieval-inspired" your fantasy setting is.)
And 2) Realizing that my beloved Tyrion is actually a creep. Peter Dinklage brought so much charm to the character, but in the book his constant obsession with his cock, plus the way he talks about Shae , is really unpleasant to read.
Still, I can't deny this story is addictive. It's a combination of rich world-building and great dialogue that makes it work so well, I think. I'm scared for Theon's chapters in the next book, though...
May 31, 2019
“Ashore, the arms of the great trebuchets rose one, two, three, and a hundred stones climbed high into the yellow sky. Each one was as large as a man’s head; when they fell they sent up great gouts of water, smashed through oak planking, and turned living men into bone and pulp and gristle. All across the river the first line was engaged. Grappling hooks were flung out, iron rams crashed through wooden hulls, boarders swarmed, flights of arrows whispered through each other in the drifting smoke, and men died…”
- George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings
When I picked up George R.R. Martin’s Thrones, the first installment in his Song of Ice and Fire cycle, I had tempered expectations. That is to say, I really did not have any expectations at all. I’d watched the first ten minutes of the Game of Thrones television series and was intrigued enough by an early decapitation to try the first book.
A Game of Thrones was good in a way I had not expected. Never much for fantasy, I discovered instead a fascinating world of complex characters, unique weather patterns, and a social system besieged by its own tangled history. Yes, there were hints of magic that eventually became explicit, but there was also a tactility and earthiness to the proceedings. This was a book that took J.R.R. Tolkien’s tropes and did awful, terrible things to them.
About halfway through A Game of Thrones, a strange thing happened. I looked up and discovered I was hooked. I knew I was going to need the next volume right away. So I ordered it online.
Now, I should add, this was back in the day before free two-day shipping. Thus, when I finished A Game of Thrones, I did not yet have A Clash of Kings in my grubby hand. This led to that quintessential junkie’s moment, when you realize your stash is gone and your wallet is empty. I needed to continue the journey – and nothing else could fill that void. I tried reading a slim piece of literary fiction by Stuart O’Nan, but the stakes were too low. I tried reading a biography about George Washington, but all I wanted to do was learn more about the Mad King Aerys Targaryen.
It was a strange fate, to suddenly need something that, only shortly before, I did not know existed. The withdrawal symptoms hit me hard. I started refusing to eat anything that wasn’t skewered. I would only take liquids from a flagon, and those liquids had to be wine. I went to a Ren Faire and bought a sword – a sword! – and then I practiced with it, as though I were Syrio Forel, the First Sword of Braavos.
When the book finally came, it was like being a kid again, when reading was brand new and everything was unexpected and wonderful. My heretofore nonexistent expectations were suddenly cloud-high.
(I should note here that plot-points for A Game of Thrones must necessarily be discussed).
The thing about George R.R. Martin, though, is that he does not care about your expectations.
When A Game of Thrones ended, King Robert was gone, as was his Hand, Ned Stark, the man most thought would be our main hero. Robert’s “son” Joffrey, actually the product of incest between the brother-sister tandem of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, is now king. Due to Joffrey’s perceived illegitimacy, however, there is a scramble for the throne, with Robert’s two brothers (Renly and Stannis), the lord of the Iron Islands (Balon Greyjoy), and the now-Lord of Winterfell (Robb Stark), all vying for the seat of power (which is constructed of melted swords).
Rather than hopping right back into the machinations, Martin begins – as is his tendency – with a prologue starring unfamiliar characters in an unfamiliar setting. Here, that character is Stannis Baratheon’s maester, a man concerned about his lord’s newfound religiosity.
Once that throat clearing is done, Martin leads us back to the story left dangling at the end of A Game of Thrones. Ned Stark’s young, tomboyish daughter Arya, is led north by the ranger Yoren, disguised as a boy joining the Night’s Watch. Arya’s dimwitted sister Sansa is held captives by the Lannisters, and is subjected to brutal torments at the hand of Joffrey. In Stannis-land, the smuggler-turned-knight Davos watches uncertainly as his king falls under the spell of a priestess who serves the Lord of Light. Theon Greyjoy, the Stark’s ward from, returns to the land of his father, in preparation for an invasion of the north. All the while, the widowed wife of Khal Drogo, Daenerys, wanders the desert with her dwindling band of blood-riders and three dragons, birthed at the end of A Game of Thrones.
This is a summary that just scratches the surface of the overall plot. There is a lot going on, and Martin spends a great deal of time methodically putting his pieces into place, which often requires long journeys larded with dense expositions on various houses, their interlocking loyalties, and the burdens of the past that weigh upon them all.
The first time I read this, it all became a bit much. It is easy to get confused, especially if you don’t watch the show (which provides a streamlined and more-manageable version). Even rereading, knowing where it’s all going to go (at least, knowing how the show and the last book Martin has published ends), it requires concentration to keep all it all straight (though Martin does a decent job of giving you little nudges to help you recall how all the characters intertwine).
As with A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings is written in the third-person limited style, with alternating chapters from the viewpoint of nine characters, not including the prologue. Most are returning, though we are introduced to new blood in the person of former-smuggler Davos Seaworth (Martin loves his aptronyms!).
Having read through the entire series several times now, it is interesting to go back and attempt to discuss these characters objectively, since they have become like old friends (even the bad ones). Tyrion was great from the jump, but others, such as the self-righteous Catelyn Stark, the dull damsel-in-distress Sansa Stark, and the utterly disconnected Daenerys Targaryen, are simply not that pleasant or fun (though they evolve with time).
The alternating viewpoints serve an important purpose by defining the boundaries of the story and limiting its scope. Without confining the novel to nine narrators, the plot would simply explode like an overloaded blender. I totally understand why Martin has chosen to craft A Song of Ice and Fire in such a matter.
That being said, the structure has severe drawbacks. I first noticed these drawbacks in A Game of Thrones, but I was so dazzled and under the spell of discovery I didn't really care. In A Clash of Kings, they become more noticeable. As is often the case, once I started noticing, I couldn’t stop.
First off, let it be said that A Song of Fire and Ice is filled with awesome characters. In the first volume, I loved the bluff and blustery King Robert, the sly, ever-shifting Varys, the charismatic Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister, and the silver-tongued Baelish. In A Clash of Kings, some of these surviving characters, such as Varys, have important roles. Others, such as Jaime Lannister, almost disappear. Meanwhile, new figures spring up in supporting roles. (Such as the mysterious Jaqen H’ghar, who speaks in the third person and is very particular in the promises he makes). Unfortunately, the best characters (in my opinion), the ones who glitter with the most wit and inventiveness, disappear for long periods of time.
In their place we are stuck with the nine men, women, and children chosen by Martin to convey his epic tale, but who are hampered with some serious liabilities. Sansa, who spends the whole book as a captive, is a cipher. In the first book she was in love with Joffrey because the plot forced her to be in love with Joffrey, so that she would have a motivation to unwittingly betray her father. In the second book, she’s no longer in love, but she’s just as dimwitted. She keeps getting beaten for saying stupid things, but that doesn’t stop her from continually saying stupid things. The counterargument to this critique is that Sansa is just acting as any thirteen-year-old child. In that case, it is valid to question why Martin felt the need to have children shoulder the burden of an adult story.
(As I mention in my review of Fire and Blood, Martin displays certain weird predilections in his novels that show up so often they form a disturbing pattern).
The character deficits are underscored by Martin’s decision to highlight indirect, rather than direct action. Because his story is told through only nine characters, you end up looking at the wide world of Westeros as though through a pinhole. You only learn what is before the faces of these nine people. Thus, there are huge swatches of the story you never witness firsthand. You never learn much about Renly Baratheon or Tywin Lannister, except when the main characters come into contact with them. Everything you find out about Stannis comes from the perception of Davos, who often as not is not in Stannis’ presence. The viewpoint characters, oddly enough, often seem to exist only to tell us what more important characters are doing.
The ultimate consequence of Martin’s narrative style is that much of the action in the first two-thirds of Kings is hearsay. It consists of one character telling another character about something that happened. A lot of times, these conversations are really interesting. More often than not, they concern a battle that has been fought off-page. Once this happens three or four times, without any actual battles happening on-page, I started to get annoyed. Allegedly, the land of Westeros was engaged in “the War of the Five Kings.” Unfortunately, I wouldn’t know that, because I’m stuck with Sansa in King’s Landing.
Things get more wizardly in this second installment, which I thought might cause me to lose interest (I’m here for the swords and ale, not the magic). The gods are still indifferent, but sorcery has entered the picture. The overarching system is not exactly consistent, but more importantly – for me – is remains grounded, and the drama flows through the characters, not their superpowers.
While this was certainly a slower read than I expected, the final third of the novel forgives all sins. There are unexpected plot developments and shocking surprises and twists and turns and some people die and some people don’t and the stakes seem real and there is wildfire and swordplay and a castle siege and a naval battle and enough blood to slake the thirst of any fantasy reader. It is an incredible late-inning surge. When I finished, I was awed by Martin’s genius. All the talking, all the dense plotting, all those wasted pages of Theon receiving oral sex and then hitting on his sister are forgotten as the various storylines collide in an epic manner. Say what you will about Martin, but he knows (or at least, knew) how to make a long-game pay off.
A Song of Ice and Fire was originally conceived as a trilogy; in that sense, A Clash of Kings is the perfect middle book. It delivers a damn fine action sequence while leaving the main characters in precarious cliffhanger situations. In that way, it’s a bit like The Empire Strikes Back, right down to the weird brother and sister stuff.
Unlike The Empire Strikes Back, however, it does not have a lofty reputation. Indeed, it tends to be a bit forgotten. It lacks the freshness and air of originality of A Game of Thrones. And though it neatly avoids the morass of irrelevancies and dead-ends found in A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons, it pales before the masterpiece that is A Storm of Swords. Still, it is a worthy entry, if only for its showcasing of how to effectively set up a big sequence, and then allow it to pay off.
This is a feature sadly lacking in this series’ later entries.
- George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings
When I picked up George R.R. Martin’s Thrones, the first installment in his Song of Ice and Fire cycle, I had tempered expectations. That is to say, I really did not have any expectations at all. I’d watched the first ten minutes of the Game of Thrones television series and was intrigued enough by an early decapitation to try the first book.
A Game of Thrones was good in a way I had not expected. Never much for fantasy, I discovered instead a fascinating world of complex characters, unique weather patterns, and a social system besieged by its own tangled history. Yes, there were hints of magic that eventually became explicit, but there was also a tactility and earthiness to the proceedings. This was a book that took J.R.R. Tolkien’s tropes and did awful, terrible things to them.
About halfway through A Game of Thrones, a strange thing happened. I looked up and discovered I was hooked. I knew I was going to need the next volume right away. So I ordered it online.
Now, I should add, this was back in the day before free two-day shipping. Thus, when I finished A Game of Thrones, I did not yet have A Clash of Kings in my grubby hand. This led to that quintessential junkie’s moment, when you realize your stash is gone and your wallet is empty. I needed to continue the journey – and nothing else could fill that void. I tried reading a slim piece of literary fiction by Stuart O’Nan, but the stakes were too low. I tried reading a biography about George Washington, but all I wanted to do was learn more about the Mad King Aerys Targaryen.
It was a strange fate, to suddenly need something that, only shortly before, I did not know existed. The withdrawal symptoms hit me hard. I started refusing to eat anything that wasn’t skewered. I would only take liquids from a flagon, and those liquids had to be wine. I went to a Ren Faire and bought a sword – a sword! – and then I practiced with it, as though I were Syrio Forel, the First Sword of Braavos.
When the book finally came, it was like being a kid again, when reading was brand new and everything was unexpected and wonderful. My heretofore nonexistent expectations were suddenly cloud-high.
(I should note here that plot-points for A Game of Thrones must necessarily be discussed).
The thing about George R.R. Martin, though, is that he does not care about your expectations.
When A Game of Thrones ended, King Robert was gone, as was his Hand, Ned Stark, the man most thought would be our main hero. Robert’s “son” Joffrey, actually the product of incest between the brother-sister tandem of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, is now king. Due to Joffrey’s perceived illegitimacy, however, there is a scramble for the throne, with Robert’s two brothers (Renly and Stannis), the lord of the Iron Islands (Balon Greyjoy), and the now-Lord of Winterfell (Robb Stark), all vying for the seat of power (which is constructed of melted swords).
Rather than hopping right back into the machinations, Martin begins – as is his tendency – with a prologue starring unfamiliar characters in an unfamiliar setting. Here, that character is Stannis Baratheon’s maester, a man concerned about his lord’s newfound religiosity.
Once that throat clearing is done, Martin leads us back to the story left dangling at the end of A Game of Thrones. Ned Stark’s young, tomboyish daughter Arya, is led north by the ranger Yoren, disguised as a boy joining the Night’s Watch. Arya’s dimwitted sister Sansa is held captives by the Lannisters, and is subjected to brutal torments at the hand of Joffrey. In Stannis-land, the smuggler-turned-knight Davos watches uncertainly as his king falls under the spell of a priestess who serves the Lord of Light. Theon Greyjoy, the Stark’s ward from, returns to the land of his father, in preparation for an invasion of the north. All the while, the widowed wife of Khal Drogo, Daenerys, wanders the desert with her dwindling band of blood-riders and three dragons, birthed at the end of A Game of Thrones.
This is a summary that just scratches the surface of the overall plot. There is a lot going on, and Martin spends a great deal of time methodically putting his pieces into place, which often requires long journeys larded with dense expositions on various houses, their interlocking loyalties, and the burdens of the past that weigh upon them all.
The first time I read this, it all became a bit much. It is easy to get confused, especially if you don’t watch the show (which provides a streamlined and more-manageable version). Even rereading, knowing where it’s all going to go (at least, knowing how the show and the last book Martin has published ends), it requires concentration to keep all it all straight (though Martin does a decent job of giving you little nudges to help you recall how all the characters intertwine).
As with A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings is written in the third-person limited style, with alternating chapters from the viewpoint of nine characters, not including the prologue. Most are returning, though we are introduced to new blood in the person of former-smuggler Davos Seaworth (Martin loves his aptronyms!).
Having read through the entire series several times now, it is interesting to go back and attempt to discuss these characters objectively, since they have become like old friends (even the bad ones). Tyrion was great from the jump, but others, such as the self-righteous Catelyn Stark, the dull damsel-in-distress Sansa Stark, and the utterly disconnected Daenerys Targaryen, are simply not that pleasant or fun (though they evolve with time).
The alternating viewpoints serve an important purpose by defining the boundaries of the story and limiting its scope. Without confining the novel to nine narrators, the plot would simply explode like an overloaded blender. I totally understand why Martin has chosen to craft A Song of Ice and Fire in such a matter.
That being said, the structure has severe drawbacks. I first noticed these drawbacks in A Game of Thrones, but I was so dazzled and under the spell of discovery I didn't really care. In A Clash of Kings, they become more noticeable. As is often the case, once I started noticing, I couldn’t stop.
First off, let it be said that A Song of Fire and Ice is filled with awesome characters. In the first volume, I loved the bluff and blustery King Robert, the sly, ever-shifting Varys, the charismatic Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister, and the silver-tongued Baelish. In A Clash of Kings, some of these surviving characters, such as Varys, have important roles. Others, such as Jaime Lannister, almost disappear. Meanwhile, new figures spring up in supporting roles. (Such as the mysterious Jaqen H’ghar, who speaks in the third person and is very particular in the promises he makes). Unfortunately, the best characters (in my opinion), the ones who glitter with the most wit and inventiveness, disappear for long periods of time.
In their place we are stuck with the nine men, women, and children chosen by Martin to convey his epic tale, but who are hampered with some serious liabilities. Sansa, who spends the whole book as a captive, is a cipher. In the first book she was in love with Joffrey because the plot forced her to be in love with Joffrey, so that she would have a motivation to unwittingly betray her father. In the second book, she’s no longer in love, but she’s just as dimwitted. She keeps getting beaten for saying stupid things, but that doesn’t stop her from continually saying stupid things. The counterargument to this critique is that Sansa is just acting as any thirteen-year-old child. In that case, it is valid to question why Martin felt the need to have children shoulder the burden of an adult story.
(As I mention in my review of Fire and Blood, Martin displays certain weird predilections in his novels that show up so often they form a disturbing pattern).
The character deficits are underscored by Martin’s decision to highlight indirect, rather than direct action. Because his story is told through only nine characters, you end up looking at the wide world of Westeros as though through a pinhole. You only learn what is before the faces of these nine people. Thus, there are huge swatches of the story you never witness firsthand. You never learn much about Renly Baratheon or Tywin Lannister, except when the main characters come into contact with them. Everything you find out about Stannis comes from the perception of Davos, who often as not is not in Stannis’ presence. The viewpoint characters, oddly enough, often seem to exist only to tell us what more important characters are doing.
The ultimate consequence of Martin’s narrative style is that much of the action in the first two-thirds of Kings is hearsay. It consists of one character telling another character about something that happened. A lot of times, these conversations are really interesting. More often than not, they concern a battle that has been fought off-page. Once this happens three or four times, without any actual battles happening on-page, I started to get annoyed. Allegedly, the land of Westeros was engaged in “the War of the Five Kings.” Unfortunately, I wouldn’t know that, because I’m stuck with Sansa in King’s Landing.
Things get more wizardly in this second installment, which I thought might cause me to lose interest (I’m here for the swords and ale, not the magic). The gods are still indifferent, but sorcery has entered the picture. The overarching system is not exactly consistent, but more importantly – for me – is remains grounded, and the drama flows through the characters, not their superpowers.
While this was certainly a slower read than I expected, the final third of the novel forgives all sins. There are unexpected plot developments and shocking surprises and twists and turns and some people die and some people don’t and the stakes seem real and there is wildfire and swordplay and a castle siege and a naval battle and enough blood to slake the thirst of any fantasy reader. It is an incredible late-inning surge. When I finished, I was awed by Martin’s genius. All the talking, all the dense plotting, all those wasted pages of Theon receiving oral sex and then hitting on his sister are forgotten as the various storylines collide in an epic manner. Say what you will about Martin, but he knows (or at least, knew) how to make a long-game pay off.
A Song of Ice and Fire was originally conceived as a trilogy; in that sense, A Clash of Kings is the perfect middle book. It delivers a damn fine action sequence while leaving the main characters in precarious cliffhanger situations. In that way, it’s a bit like The Empire Strikes Back, right down to the weird brother and sister stuff.
Unlike The Empire Strikes Back, however, it does not have a lofty reputation. Indeed, it tends to be a bit forgotten. It lacks the freshness and air of originality of A Game of Thrones. And though it neatly avoids the morass of irrelevancies and dead-ends found in A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons, it pales before the masterpiece that is A Storm of Swords. Still, it is a worthy entry, if only for its showcasing of how to effectively set up a big sequence, and then allow it to pay off.
This is a feature sadly lacking in this series’ later entries.
July 29, 2022
Song of Ice and Fire book 2, and I presume season 2 of the great HBO series. After the fall of King Robert and his Hand, Joffrey is on the Iron Throne. Where we have a clash of kings and the Seven Kingdoms becomes a battleground… yet to hear that dragons have once again deigned to grace the world. Possible the biggest, and yet very well fleshed out cast in any book or series I have ever read... superb... roll on Book 3! 9 out of 12, and same again for 2015 reread.
2012 read; 2015 read
2012 read; 2015 read
February 19, 2019
George R.R. Martin demonstrates in Clash of Kings, his second Song of Ice and Fire novel, that he is the American J.R.R. Tolkien.
Raymond Richard, born in New Jersey, differs from Ronald Reuel, born in what is now South Africa, in many ways, but their fantastic world building is what puts them in a class with few others. If any.
While Tolkien’s Middle Earth is more poetic and his language more lyric, Martin’s Westeros and Essos is more adult (by far), and with more graphic violence and sex. More modern and more American.
Clash of Kings reveals more of the jaw dropping world building that made A Game of Thrones so much fun. I had compared this to Tolkien and Frank Herbert, but Martin might be king of the hill as this universe has enough detail and backstory to make a Western Civ professor choke on his Starbucks.
And have you seen the Interactive map?
OMG – I started exploring and an HOUR after I came up for air, still putting all the pieces together and absolutely enraptured with this story.
The king is dead, long live the king. Except little Joffrey Baratheon is a smug little s*** and his uncles and Robb Stark and the Greyjoys are getting in on the action too. (Thus the cool title).
Meanwhile, a world away, Daenerys Targaryen is in BFE Essos gathering her forces for a return to the Seven Kingdoms and her small but growing band now includes some juvenile (but getting bigger) dragons.
As in Game of Thrones, Martin divides up his narrative between several point of view characters and this lets the reader keep up with all the action across the enormous playing field. The backstabbing intrigue is as entertaining as the sword and sorcery action and Martin’s cornucopia of intriguing characters keeps the pages turning.
This time around we get to know the Greyjoys – a piratical kingdom in the islands off the western coast – as well as Davos Seaworth and some other new characters and we get to know the Starks and Lannisters better. Tyrion Lannister, the LITTLE brother to naughty Jaime and Cersei, takes over as the Hand to the king and proves he’s more than half a man up for the challenge. Tyrion knows how to play the game and keeps a copy of Machiavelli’s The Prince in his back pocket (but I think he has it fully annotated and memorized.) Matter of fact, Tyrion gets my STEAL THE SHOW award for this novel as the IMP makes this even better.
For all the great characters and action, though, the real hero is Martin himself and his incredible world building as he takes the baton from Tolkien and keeps running.
Raymond Richard, born in New Jersey, differs from Ronald Reuel, born in what is now South Africa, in many ways, but their fantastic world building is what puts them in a class with few others. If any.
While Tolkien’s Middle Earth is more poetic and his language more lyric, Martin’s Westeros and Essos is more adult (by far), and with more graphic violence and sex. More modern and more American.
Clash of Kings reveals more of the jaw dropping world building that made A Game of Thrones so much fun. I had compared this to Tolkien and Frank Herbert, but Martin might be king of the hill as this universe has enough detail and backstory to make a Western Civ professor choke on his Starbucks.
And have you seen the Interactive map?
OMG – I started exploring and an HOUR after I came up for air, still putting all the pieces together and absolutely enraptured with this story.
The king is dead, long live the king. Except little Joffrey Baratheon is a smug little s*** and his uncles and Robb Stark and the Greyjoys are getting in on the action too. (Thus the cool title).
Meanwhile, a world away, Daenerys Targaryen is in BFE Essos gathering her forces for a return to the Seven Kingdoms and her small but growing band now includes some juvenile (but getting bigger) dragons.
As in Game of Thrones, Martin divides up his narrative between several point of view characters and this lets the reader keep up with all the action across the enormous playing field. The backstabbing intrigue is as entertaining as the sword and sorcery action and Martin’s cornucopia of intriguing characters keeps the pages turning.
This time around we get to know the Greyjoys – a piratical kingdom in the islands off the western coast – as well as Davos Seaworth and some other new characters and we get to know the Starks and Lannisters better. Tyrion Lannister, the LITTLE brother to naughty Jaime and Cersei, takes over as the Hand to the king and proves he’s more than half a man up for the challenge. Tyrion knows how to play the game and keeps a copy of Machiavelli’s The Prince in his back pocket (but I think he has it fully annotated and memorized.) Matter of fact, Tyrion gets my STEAL THE SHOW award for this novel as the IMP makes this even better.
For all the great characters and action, though, the real hero is Martin himself and his incredible world building as he takes the baton from Tolkien and keeps running.
February 10, 2021
¡Muy difícil calificar este libro!
En realidad 4,5
¿Cuatro estrellas? ¿Cinco estrellas? En ocasiones como estas, es muy difícil decidir una calificación para un libro que me ha gustado el 85% de su contenido, pero que ha tenido una guerra y un tramo final que no me ha terminado de convencer. El problema, es que recién finalicé el libro mi disgusto por esa parte fue muy grande, pero ahora que ya han pasado varias semanas, mi perspectiva es diferente y siento que aunque no fue de mi gusto, el desarrollo por parte de GRRM ha sido correcto. ¿Me estoy contradiciendo? Tal vez sí, pero tal vez no, intentaré explicarme.
El inconveniente de este libro comienza justamente cuando finaliza Juego de tronos porque allí, en las últimas páginas, solo reinaba el caos y era inevitable que se presentara una gran guerra; guerra que debía ser la protagonista en Choque de reyes. Y sí, por supuesto que ese conflicto es el eje principal de este extenso volumen, pero honestamente, como lector, esperaba que en un libro tan largo fueran narradas las batallas y «choques de reyes» más importantes de la historia porque —como mencioné en mi reseña de Juego de tronos— esta historia es un juego de ajedrez, y como tal, deseaba personalmente ser testigo de las jugadas usadas por los combatientes que arriesgaban sus vidas en el campo de batalla. Desafortunadamente no fue así, volviéndose desilusionante conocer el método de GRRM para informarnos sobre los resultados de la guerra: Usar a los personajes que no estaban participando. Tantas páginas y que solo nos narrara una batalla fue muy desconsolador, y más con la corta extensión de la presentada. Si en este momento pudiera viajar al pasado, hablaría conmigo mismo y me diría: «Léelo, te encantará, pero no esperes nada relacionado a la guerra porque si lo haces te sentirás defraudado.» Pero, por otra parte, si se toma «la guerra» como el contexto de la historia y no como evento principal, tal y como ocurre en innumerables libros históricos, entonces llegaría a la conclusión que este conflicto presentado por GRRM es estupendo. Todos viven la guerra de una forma distinta, dependiendo de su rol y sus posibilidades, por lo que mostrarnos tantas perspectivas y reacciones diferentes, es un valor agregado muy alto que demuestra la calidad que posee el autor para crear historias y personajes bien desarrollados. Es tanta su calidad, que incluso el mismísimo cometa que es anunciado en la sinopsis puede servir de ejemplo para corroborar esta afirmación, ya que cuando se presenta ese fenómeno, todos, sin importar el reino, la edad o el sexo, al observarlo creen que es un mensaje revelador que les está indicando la decisión o camino que deben tomar en sus vidas. Este evento, solo nos ayuda a confirmar, que los personajes parecen reales y que la iniciativa la toman ellos mismos. Por lo tanto, ¿esta guerra ha sido una genialidad, o un engaño del autor? Resuelvan esa pregunta ustedes mismos porque yo, personalmente, no he podido contestarla.
El aspecto negativo más popular de este libro es la lentitud de su primera mitad: Y sí, efectivamente algunos capítulos se sienten muy lentos. Las descripciones, la presentación de personajes nuevos y las mini-historias que permanentemente están en continuación sin ofrecernos casi emotividad, causan que el lector sienta una clase de prisa por avanzar páginas y llegar a una sección con más adrenalina. Esta primera parte se asemeja a un carro que acelera a más de 100 km/h, frena repentinamente y luego vuelve a acelerar. Sin embargo, si analizamos la composición de este libro descubriremos que incluso ese aspecto está bien desarrollado. El problema no es el estilo del libro, el problema somos nosotros porque estamos acostumbrados a que la intensidad de los libros con historias paralelas vaya en aumento progresivamente hasta el final. Muchas obras que manejan ese sistema tienen el mismo funcionamiento, donde, entre más páginas vamos avanzando mejor se vuelve la historia, y donde las últimas páginas nos esperan con un nivel de adrenalina de otro mundo. Pero este libro no funciona así. En Choque de reyes cada historia presentada tiene un ritmo diferente, por lo que mientras algunos personajes están huyendo por su vida enfrentándose al mundo entero, otros muy tranquilos y sin amenazas no presentan novedades en los capítulos dedicados a ellos. Lo curioso es que ese funcionamiento es correcto porque la vida real es así: Mientras unos ríen, otros lloran; mientras unos están tristes por la muerte de sus seres queridos, otros están felices por el nacimiento de su hijo; mientras unos están cansados de dormir con su pareja, otros ansían tenerla; mientras unos desean llegar a su casa, otros quieren irse de ella. Así podría seguir sucesivamente citando ejemplos pero creo que no es necesario. Claramente GRRM escribe con mucha calma y delicadeza, lo que ayuda a que sus personajes e historias tengan el tiempo suficiente para madurar. Si el autor acelerara tan solo un poco la historia en esa sección podría llegar a alterar las personalidades de sus personajes, o simplemente exagerarlos, lo que llevaría a la indiferencia del lector cuando ellos son mencionados. Por tanto, ¿el inicio es lento, o nosotros como lectores somos muy ansiosos? Yo pensaría que lo segundo. GRRM ha tardado más de veinte años escribiendo esta saga y aun no la acaba, y no se ha precipitado con su finalización ni siquiera con la presión de los millones de seguidores que aclaman desesperados la sexta y séptima parte; ni siquiera siendo consciente de que su tiempo de vida puede no ser suficiente para lograrlo. Pero él, sigue haciéndolo con calma, y sin preocuparse por los acontecimientos futuros. Si él lleva tanto tiempo dedicado a este proyecto, ¿por qué nosotros como lectores nos desesperamos por unos cuántos capítulos «lentos»?
Pero no todo en esta saga son guerras y narración: Por supuesto que no. Uno de los mejores aspectos del libro sin ninguna duda es la inmersión de magia y poderes sobrenaturales a esta historia. Son detalles espectaculares que le dan a esta saga la chispa de misterio, suspenso e intriga suficientes para tenernos atrapados en todo momento. Me muero de curiosidad por conocer en los siguientes volúmenes todo lo relacionado a estos temas; temas, que fueron tan interesantes, que por momentos me hicieron olvidar que existían batallas, personajes con mil y una artimañas, y que todo giraba en torno al poder del trono.
Sobre los personajes siento que no es prudente escribir. La mención de algunos de ellos se convertiría en un spoiler para quienes van en el primer libro, o aún no han iniciado, porque ya conocerían que —por lo menos hasta aquí— X o Y personaje no morirá. Por otra parte hablar con la etiqueta de spoiler tampoco es de mucha utilidad porque aún me faltan tres volúmenes por leer y mis palabras solo estarían cargadas de ingenuidad e inocencia por mi ignorancia. Sin embargo, lo que sí puedo decir es que sigo creyendo firmemente que los personajes están muy bien desarrollados y que sus roles son correctos para ayudarnos a conocer más a fondo este mundo de fantasía creado por GRRM. Eso sí, me pareció imposible memorizar los nombres de la cantidad de personajes y familias que se introducen en este volumen: Son demasiados. En bastantes ocasiones confundí guerreros de ambos bandos y de no ser porque suelo hacer anotaciones me habría visto obligado a tener que repetir el libro desde el principio para orientarme. Ahora comprendo porque los lectores de esta saga deciden releerla una vez han finalizado: No es un capricho, ni fanatismo, es una necesidad.
En resumen, un libro con una historia extensa, pero con una gran calidad en su desarrollo, en sus personajes y en su argumento principal. Encontraremos violencia, crueldades, giros inesperados, estrategia, injusticias, manipulaciones, magia, grandes misterios y una gran aventura por conocer. Ya para terminar quiero hacer tres recomendaciones para esos nuevos lectores que se sienten interesados en esta saga: La primera, que hagan un mapa mental, anotaciones, etc., de los nombres de los personajes que sientan que serán importantes más adelante; la segunda, que de ser posible, lean esta saga conjuntamente con otra persona para que tengan con quien conversar sobre los acontecimientos que se presentan: En mi caso, lo estoy leyendo con mi hermano, aunque me lleva dos libros de diferencia; y la tercera, que bajen sus expectativas con respecto a las batallas que puedan presentarse. Siguiendo estas recomendaciones disfrutarán esta saga mucho más.
Es un libro que se merece las cinco estrellas, y que me gustaría otorgárselas; pero procedo a puntuarlo con 4,5 por la inconformidad inicial que sentí en el momento más esperado del libro. Mi próximo destino será Tormenta de espadas, libro del cual tengo las expectativas muy altas por sus innumerables halagos y por ser considerado como el favorito de la mayor parte de seguidores de esta saga de GRRM. Es momento de continuar.
En realidad 4,5
¿Cuatro estrellas? ¿Cinco estrellas? En ocasiones como estas, es muy difícil decidir una calificación para un libro que me ha gustado el 85% de su contenido, pero que ha tenido una guerra y un tramo final que no me ha terminado de convencer. El problema, es que recién finalicé el libro mi disgusto por esa parte fue muy grande, pero ahora que ya han pasado varias semanas, mi perspectiva es diferente y siento que aunque no fue de mi gusto, el desarrollo por parte de GRRM ha sido correcto. ¿Me estoy contradiciendo? Tal vez sí, pero tal vez no, intentaré explicarme.
El inconveniente de este libro comienza justamente cuando finaliza Juego de tronos porque allí, en las últimas páginas, solo reinaba el caos y era inevitable que se presentara una gran guerra; guerra que debía ser la protagonista en Choque de reyes. Y sí, por supuesto que ese conflicto es el eje principal de este extenso volumen, pero honestamente, como lector, esperaba que en un libro tan largo fueran narradas las batallas y «choques de reyes» más importantes de la historia porque —como mencioné en mi reseña de Juego de tronos— esta historia es un juego de ajedrez, y como tal, deseaba personalmente ser testigo de las jugadas usadas por los combatientes que arriesgaban sus vidas en el campo de batalla. Desafortunadamente no fue así, volviéndose desilusionante conocer el método de GRRM para informarnos sobre los resultados de la guerra: Usar a los personajes que no estaban participando. Tantas páginas y que solo nos narrara una batalla fue muy desconsolador, y más con la corta extensión de la presentada. Si en este momento pudiera viajar al pasado, hablaría conmigo mismo y me diría: «Léelo, te encantará, pero no esperes nada relacionado a la guerra porque si lo haces te sentirás defraudado.» Pero, por otra parte, si se toma «la guerra» como el contexto de la historia y no como evento principal, tal y como ocurre en innumerables libros históricos, entonces llegaría a la conclusión que este conflicto presentado por GRRM es estupendo. Todos viven la guerra de una forma distinta, dependiendo de su rol y sus posibilidades, por lo que mostrarnos tantas perspectivas y reacciones diferentes, es un valor agregado muy alto que demuestra la calidad que posee el autor para crear historias y personajes bien desarrollados. Es tanta su calidad, que incluso el mismísimo cometa que es anunciado en la sinopsis puede servir de ejemplo para corroborar esta afirmación, ya que cuando se presenta ese fenómeno, todos, sin importar el reino, la edad o el sexo, al observarlo creen que es un mensaje revelador que les está indicando la decisión o camino que deben tomar en sus vidas. Este evento, solo nos ayuda a confirmar, que los personajes parecen reales y que la iniciativa la toman ellos mismos. Por lo tanto, ¿esta guerra ha sido una genialidad, o un engaño del autor? Resuelvan esa pregunta ustedes mismos porque yo, personalmente, no he podido contestarla.
El aspecto negativo más popular de este libro es la lentitud de su primera mitad: Y sí, efectivamente algunos capítulos se sienten muy lentos. Las descripciones, la presentación de personajes nuevos y las mini-historias que permanentemente están en continuación sin ofrecernos casi emotividad, causan que el lector sienta una clase de prisa por avanzar páginas y llegar a una sección con más adrenalina. Esta primera parte se asemeja a un carro que acelera a más de 100 km/h, frena repentinamente y luego vuelve a acelerar. Sin embargo, si analizamos la composición de este libro descubriremos que incluso ese aspecto está bien desarrollado. El problema no es el estilo del libro, el problema somos nosotros porque estamos acostumbrados a que la intensidad de los libros con historias paralelas vaya en aumento progresivamente hasta el final. Muchas obras que manejan ese sistema tienen el mismo funcionamiento, donde, entre más páginas vamos avanzando mejor se vuelve la historia, y donde las últimas páginas nos esperan con un nivel de adrenalina de otro mundo. Pero este libro no funciona así. En Choque de reyes cada historia presentada tiene un ritmo diferente, por lo que mientras algunos personajes están huyendo por su vida enfrentándose al mundo entero, otros muy tranquilos y sin amenazas no presentan novedades en los capítulos dedicados a ellos. Lo curioso es que ese funcionamiento es correcto porque la vida real es así: Mientras unos ríen, otros lloran; mientras unos están tristes por la muerte de sus seres queridos, otros están felices por el nacimiento de su hijo; mientras unos están cansados de dormir con su pareja, otros ansían tenerla; mientras unos desean llegar a su casa, otros quieren irse de ella. Así podría seguir sucesivamente citando ejemplos pero creo que no es necesario. Claramente GRRM escribe con mucha calma y delicadeza, lo que ayuda a que sus personajes e historias tengan el tiempo suficiente para madurar. Si el autor acelerara tan solo un poco la historia en esa sección podría llegar a alterar las personalidades de sus personajes, o simplemente exagerarlos, lo que llevaría a la indiferencia del lector cuando ellos son mencionados. Por tanto, ¿el inicio es lento, o nosotros como lectores somos muy ansiosos? Yo pensaría que lo segundo. GRRM ha tardado más de veinte años escribiendo esta saga y aun no la acaba, y no se ha precipitado con su finalización ni siquiera con la presión de los millones de seguidores que aclaman desesperados la sexta y séptima parte; ni siquiera siendo consciente de que su tiempo de vida puede no ser suficiente para lograrlo. Pero él, sigue haciéndolo con calma, y sin preocuparse por los acontecimientos futuros. Si él lleva tanto tiempo dedicado a este proyecto, ¿por qué nosotros como lectores nos desesperamos por unos cuántos capítulos «lentos»?
Pero no todo en esta saga son guerras y narración: Por supuesto que no. Uno de los mejores aspectos del libro sin ninguna duda es la inmersión de magia y poderes sobrenaturales a esta historia. Son detalles espectaculares que le dan a esta saga la chispa de misterio, suspenso e intriga suficientes para tenernos atrapados en todo momento. Me muero de curiosidad por conocer en los siguientes volúmenes todo lo relacionado a estos temas; temas, que fueron tan interesantes, que por momentos me hicieron olvidar que existían batallas, personajes con mil y una artimañas, y que todo giraba en torno al poder del trono.
Sobre los personajes siento que no es prudente escribir. La mención de algunos de ellos se convertiría en un spoiler para quienes van en el primer libro, o aún no han iniciado, porque ya conocerían que —por lo menos hasta aquí— X o Y personaje no morirá. Por otra parte hablar con la etiqueta de spoiler tampoco es de mucha utilidad porque aún me faltan tres volúmenes por leer y mis palabras solo estarían cargadas de ingenuidad e inocencia por mi ignorancia. Sin embargo, lo que sí puedo decir es que sigo creyendo firmemente que los personajes están muy bien desarrollados y que sus roles son correctos para ayudarnos a conocer más a fondo este mundo de fantasía creado por GRRM. Eso sí, me pareció imposible memorizar los nombres de la cantidad de personajes y familias que se introducen en este volumen: Son demasiados. En bastantes ocasiones confundí guerreros de ambos bandos y de no ser porque suelo hacer anotaciones me habría visto obligado a tener que repetir el libro desde el principio para orientarme. Ahora comprendo porque los lectores de esta saga deciden releerla una vez han finalizado: No es un capricho, ni fanatismo, es una necesidad.
En resumen, un libro con una historia extensa, pero con una gran calidad en su desarrollo, en sus personajes y en su argumento principal. Encontraremos violencia, crueldades, giros inesperados, estrategia, injusticias, manipulaciones, magia, grandes misterios y una gran aventura por conocer. Ya para terminar quiero hacer tres recomendaciones para esos nuevos lectores que se sienten interesados en esta saga: La primera, que hagan un mapa mental, anotaciones, etc., de los nombres de los personajes que sientan que serán importantes más adelante; la segunda, que de ser posible, lean esta saga conjuntamente con otra persona para que tengan con quien conversar sobre los acontecimientos que se presentan: En mi caso, lo estoy leyendo con mi hermano, aunque me lleva dos libros de diferencia; y la tercera, que bajen sus expectativas con respecto a las batallas que puedan presentarse. Siguiendo estas recomendaciones disfrutarán esta saga mucho más.
Es un libro que se merece las cinco estrellas, y que me gustaría otorgárselas; pero procedo a puntuarlo con 4,5 por la inconformidad inicial que sentí en el momento más esperado del libro. Mi próximo destino será Tormenta de espadas, libro del cual tengo las expectativas muy altas por sus innumerables halagos y por ser considerado como el favorito de la mayor parte de seguidores de esta saga de GRRM. Es momento de continuar.
October 10, 2017
"Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less."
If A Game of Thrones was the introduction to the characters, setting the scene for the later trials and conflicts; then A Clash of Kings is the angrier, battle fuelled brother.
Four men strive to take the Iron Throne from the newest King currently sat on it. All the while Daenerys is over in the east with her Khalasar looking for ships and growing more famous as the Mother of Dragons day by day.
We are introduced to the new religion of The Lord of Light, powered by Red Priestesses who strike fear into even the strongest of hearts.
"For the night is dark and full of terrors."
All the characters have moved on from their previous location - for good or for bad. The entire Stark family is separated. New loyalties are created while old ones are destroyed. Fights are begun, and won. But this is only the beginning.
"A day will come when you think yourself happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you'll know the debt is paid"
The Lannisters still hold Kings Landing but for how much longer?
A Song of Ice and Fire is the only series to continually shock me. We never know what is around the next corner. Who will still be alive in the places where everyone is out for them and theirs.
"If you step in a nest of snakes, does it matter which one bites you first?"
As if I could give any less than 5 stars! Outstanding fantasy and world building. An entire host of characters who drift in and out of importance as it goes on. I am entranced. The magic just gets better and better.
"Valar Morghulis"
If A Game of Thrones was the introduction to the characters, setting the scene for the later trials and conflicts; then A Clash of Kings is the angrier, battle fuelled brother.
Four men strive to take the Iron Throne from the newest King currently sat on it. All the while Daenerys is over in the east with her Khalasar looking for ships and growing more famous as the Mother of Dragons day by day.
We are introduced to the new religion of The Lord of Light, powered by Red Priestesses who strike fear into even the strongest of hearts.
"For the night is dark and full of terrors."
All the characters have moved on from their previous location - for good or for bad. The entire Stark family is separated. New loyalties are created while old ones are destroyed. Fights are begun, and won. But this is only the beginning.
"A day will come when you think yourself happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you'll know the debt is paid"
The Lannisters still hold Kings Landing but for how much longer?
A Song of Ice and Fire is the only series to continually shock me. We never know what is around the next corner. Who will still be alive in the places where everyone is out for them and theirs.
"If you step in a nest of snakes, does it matter which one bites you first?"
As if I could give any less than 5 stars! Outstanding fantasy and world building. An entire host of characters who drift in and out of importance as it goes on. I am entranced. The magic just gets better and better.
"Valar Morghulis"
May 16, 2012
"Kill your darlings" is a popular piece of advice given in creative writing classes - it's the concept that you shouldn't ever be afraid to take drastic and destructive action on your precious baby of a novel in order to move the plot forward or improve the story. George RR Martin should be held up as the gold standard of this rule, since his books might as well come labeled with a giant "Don't Get Too Attached" warning. It isn't just major and beloved characters (Eddard Stark, you will be avenged!) that get killed off in the space of a sentence; entire plots that have been building slowly for hundreds of pages are laid to waste with a single action so a new clusterfuck can get started.
If Martin spent A Game of Thrones carefully constructing a miniature world and showing us around its various towns and characters, A Clash of Kings is when he suddenly starts stomping on everything and making Godzilla noises. Major characters aren't the only ones who get the axe (sometimes literally) here - towards the end of the book, one of the major setpieces of the story, a place whose geography I was just starting to understand, is burned to the ground and abandoned. Just like that.
Even if these books aren't your particular cup of tea (and they happen to be my particular cup of crack cocaine), you have to admire Martin's ruthlessness when it comes to this world he's created. Nothing and no one is safe, which makes reading the books a delightfully tense experience - nothing is off limits here, and I look forward to seeing how far Martin can push things.
(why only three stars, you might ask? Simply because this book, as I said in one of the comments, doesn't really have much of a plot, when you think about it. This book really feels like the second of a trilogy, which means it's mostly setting up events that will come around in the next installment. Still, I can't wait to see what Martin rebuilds in the wake of the destruction he wreaked in A Clash of Kings)
If Martin spent A Game of Thrones carefully constructing a miniature world and showing us around its various towns and characters, A Clash of Kings is when he suddenly starts stomping on everything and making Godzilla noises. Major characters aren't the only ones who get the axe (sometimes literally) here - towards the end of the book, one of the major setpieces of the story, a place whose geography I was just starting to understand, is burned to the ground and abandoned. Just like that.
Even if these books aren't your particular cup of tea (and they happen to be my particular cup of crack cocaine), you have to admire Martin's ruthlessness when it comes to this world he's created. Nothing and no one is safe, which makes reading the books a delightfully tense experience - nothing is off limits here, and I look forward to seeing how far Martin can push things.
(why only three stars, you might ask? Simply because this book, as I said in one of the comments, doesn't really have much of a plot, when you think about it. This book really feels like the second of a trilogy, which means it's mostly setting up events that will come around in the next installment. Still, I can't wait to see what Martin rebuilds in the wake of the destruction he wreaked in A Clash of Kings)
November 13, 2025
I reviewed ASOIAF over on my YouTube Channel I read ASOIAF in a month
I am reading these back to back and the addiction is taking over... I'm climbing the Mountain... the books are Hounding me!
Yeah this is really good. I think more people should read this series. Truly incredible from the first page.
I am reading these back to back and the addiction is taking over... I'm climbing the Mountain... the books are Hounding me!
Yeah this is really good. I think more people should read this series. Truly incredible from the first page.
June 26, 2018
بعد ان اصبح هناك عدة ملوك. اصبح عددهم يقل تدريجبا.
.صراع رهيب باسلوب مشوق. ممالك تسقط واخرى تقوم وما زال الصراع محتدما.
مصير عائلة ستارك اصبح مجهولا بعد تشتت العائلة.
من اروع روايات الخيال ومتحمس لقراءة الجزء الثالث"عاصفة السيوف"
.صراع رهيب باسلوب مشوق. ممالك تسقط واخرى تقوم وما زال الصراع محتدما.
مصير عائلة ستارك اصبح مجهولا بعد تشتت العائلة.
من اروع روايات الخيال ومتحمس لقراءة الجزء الثالث"عاصفة السيوف"
August 12, 2016
While reading A Clash of Kings for the second time, it struck me that George R.R. Martin makes writing fantasy seem insultingly effortless. At first glance, Martin hardly bothers to do more than sketch his characters, yet they become legends so quickly.
For example, Quorin Halfhand is a brother in the Night's Watch. He eats an egg and has perhaps five lines, but he is a character that readers will find difficult to forget. Why is he called "halfhand?" Well, he lost all but the thumb and an index finger of his right hand and had to learn to fight with his left hand. They say he's even more dangerous with a sword now than he was before. What about Roose Bolton? He's the lord of the Dreadfort, he uses leeches to purify his blood, and his sigil is a flayed man. He speaks quietly but no one dares to defy him. Behold.
Usually characterization has to be done well to create a memorable character, but all Martin needs to do is come up with a nickname, a slogan, and a sigil. Maybe a cool sword or a notorious deed.
Like it or lump it, it's tough to forget these characters.
Martin also has a talent for architecture. Here's how long it takes Martin to transform Lord Balon Greyjoy's distant castle into the coolest keep in Westeros:
I would rather not see Pyke in a movie if only so that I could continue to remember it as I imagine it now. In fact, I find that I have carried these characters and castles with me since I first read this story ten years ago.
It's easy to get caught up in the Tyrion's intrigues and Jon Snow's adventures, but even Arya's scrappy determination to exact revenge on everyone that has wronged her makes for a compelling storyline. Each night, Arya recites a list of villains that have wronged her, ranging from the Lannisters to Ser Gregor Clegane to Raff the Sweetling. After Arya rescues Jaqen H'ghar and his two companions from certain death, he declares that he will kill any three people she names to even the stakes. Could he kill King Joffrey in King's Landing? Jaqen explains
Arya is a courageous underdog, but perhaps the best part of her story is that she always attracts memorable mentors. Jaqen H'ghar is neither the first nor the last of Arya's guides, but like Syrio before him and after, he is impossible to forget.
It just doesn't seem fair that Martin is able to come up with so many great characters, and it seems criminal that he introduces and dismisses them so callously.
So I was happy to notice upon re-reading A Clash of Kings that Martin's seemingly effortless world building and characterization are largely due to a carefully structured series of revelations. Quorin is only impressive because of the many ways he stands out amongst the Night Watch's rangers. He is clean shaven, well mannered, and surprisingly loyal to the Wall's mandate. Roose Bolton is not just a strange lord with leeches: there are legends that the Starks once lost a battle to one of their bannermen -- who not only killed the Stark but also wore his skin as a cloak. Pyke isn't just a castle in the sea. It took the might of the realm to put down the Greyjoy rebellion. Jaqen H'ghar isn't just a strange man. Daenerys was betrayed by a maegi in the first novel that had occult knowledge that is tantalizingly similar to Jaqen's. Clearly, there is a great deal of thought that goes into these novels.
Thank goodness. The first time I read A Clash of Kings, I was struck by the hypocrisy of Westeros' ideals. Perhaps history teaches us that power and wealth shape our lives more than ideals and principles. So A Clash of Kings is sometimes quite depressing. However, this time, it struck me that talent counts for little without hard work, and I find that encouraging.
For example, Quorin Halfhand is a brother in the Night's Watch. He eats an egg and has perhaps five lines, but he is a character that readers will find difficult to forget. Why is he called "halfhand?" Well, he lost all but the thumb and an index finger of his right hand and had to learn to fight with his left hand. They say he's even more dangerous with a sword now than he was before. What about Roose Bolton? He's the lord of the Dreadfort, he uses leeches to purify his blood, and his sigil is a flayed man. He speaks quietly but no one dares to defy him. Behold.
Usually characterization has to be done well to create a memorable character, but all Martin needs to do is come up with a nickname, a slogan, and a sigil. Maybe a cool sword or a notorious deed.
Like it or lump it, it's tough to forget these characters.
Martin also has a talent for architecture. Here's how long it takes Martin to transform Lord Balon Greyjoy's distant castle into the coolest keep in Westeros:
Drear, dark, forbidding, Pyke stood atop those islands and pillars, almost a part of them, its curtain wall closing off the headland around the foot of the great stone bridge that leapt from the clifftop to the largest islet, dominated by the massive bulk of the Great Keep. Farther out were the Kitchen Keep and the Bloody Keep, each on its own island. Towers and outbuildings clung to the stacks beyond, linked to each other by covered archways when the pillars stood close, by long swaying walks of wood and rope when they did not.
I would rather not see Pyke in a movie if only so that I could continue to remember it as I imagine it now. In fact, I find that I have carried these characters and castles with me since I first read this story ten years ago.
It's easy to get caught up in the Tyrion's intrigues and Jon Snow's adventures, but even Arya's scrappy determination to exact revenge on everyone that has wronged her makes for a compelling storyline. Each night, Arya recites a list of villains that have wronged her, ranging from the Lannisters to Ser Gregor Clegane to Raff the Sweetling. After Arya rescues Jaqen H'ghar and his two companions from certain death, he declares that he will kill any three people she names to even the stakes. Could he kill King Joffrey in King's Landing? Jaqen explains
Speak the name, and death will come. On this morrow, at the turn of the moon, a year from this day, it will come. A man does not fly like a bird, but one foot moves and then another and one day a man is there, and a king dies.
Arya is a courageous underdog, but perhaps the best part of her story is that she always attracts memorable mentors. Jaqen H'ghar is neither the first nor the last of Arya's guides, but like Syrio before him and after, he is impossible to forget.
It just doesn't seem fair that Martin is able to come up with so many great characters, and it seems criminal that he introduces and dismisses them so callously.
So I was happy to notice upon re-reading A Clash of Kings that Martin's seemingly effortless world building and characterization are largely due to a carefully structured series of revelations. Quorin is only impressive because of the many ways he stands out amongst the Night Watch's rangers. He is clean shaven, well mannered, and surprisingly loyal to the Wall's mandate. Roose Bolton is not just a strange lord with leeches: there are legends that the Starks once lost a battle to one of their bannermen -- who not only killed the Stark but also wore his skin as a cloak. Pyke isn't just a castle in the sea. It took the might of the realm to put down the Greyjoy rebellion. Jaqen H'ghar isn't just a strange man. Daenerys was betrayed by a maegi in the first novel that had occult knowledge that is tantalizingly similar to Jaqen's. Clearly, there is a great deal of thought that goes into these novels.
Thank goodness. The first time I read A Clash of Kings, I was struck by the hypocrisy of Westeros' ideals. Perhaps history teaches us that power and wealth shape our lives more than ideals and principles. So A Clash of Kings is sometimes quite depressing. However, this time, it struck me that talent counts for little without hard work, and I find that encouraging.
June 9, 2023
Hot damn.
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