Customer Reviews

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two

5 star:		(396)
4 star:		(66)
3 star:		(32)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I'm not sure how the author does it, but while other sprawling fantasy epics can have the characters and plotlines blend togther to the point where no one really cares anymore, this guy manages to make many different viewpoints and people distinct and three-dimensional. He juggles what seems to be an insane number of contenders for the throne to the Seven Kingdoms, and makes you realize what makes everyone different, and differently (or not) qualified to rule.
He is not afraid of killing his characters and what I also like is that everyone is believably shaded, morally. To often there are books like this with a hero that has one, single stock flaw, fighting villians that are plain crazy or evil without reason. These books have people that range all over the moral chart and it's refreshing.

By now, most fantasy fans have heard of this popular series. The hallmarks of George R.R. Martin's series have been political intrigue, swift and deadly violence (even main characters are killed without a second thought), and gritty, "realistic" fantasy. If this sounds like your cup of tea, dig in. If not - maybe you like a little more magic, a little more flash - tread carefully.

Here in volume 2, Martin picks up where he left off on A Game Of Thrones (quite literally) and further expands his epic masterpiece. In this second volume, A Clash Of Kings, Martin again pits lords and ladies, armies and rogues, and warring factions against one another in a sprawling, massive tale.

Featuring a huge page count and a tremendous cast of characters, this tome is dense, even moreso than A Game Of Thrones. More subplots are thrown into the mix than before, and more storylines are twisted together into ever tighter knots, expending the scope of the already lengthy tale. Like the first volume, Martin pulls this off by using fairly short, punchy chapters, each focusing on a different character and each serving to move the plot forward and keep this otherwise hefty book moving along at a rapid pace.

That's not to say Martin doesn't stumble slightly here and there. Unlike A Game Of Thrones, which was the leanest 900-page book you'll ever read, not every page in A Clash Of Kings is vital. A few of the subplots are given too much time, developing over a longer period than they need to; they serve only to slow the narrative. Also, several chapters appear to fill time rather than push the plot forward or offer an important revelation.

But these criticisms are minor. Martin weaves and twists plots as well as any, paints characters we can truly believe, and builds builds builds to a rousing, thrilling and surprising climax that is superior to the wrap up of volume one. All in all, this installment lives up to the expectations set by the first. And they were lofty expectations indeed.

Without question George R.R. Martin has once again given readers one of the best fantasy novels to hit the bestseller list in a long, long time. This is some of the best the genre has to offer right now and is a must read for any fan of epic, gritty high fantasy.

A Clash of Kings is a great follow up to The Game of Thrones. The story is heavy with political intrigue. Even more so than the first of the series. If you are looking forward to exciting battle scenes you will have to wait until the final 100 pages.

The characters' stories and back stories are what I love most about this series. A Clash of Kings follows the same main characters as The Game of Thrones, with some interesting new ones added to the mix. Everyone is written with great care and detail. There are no stereotypical heros or villians. All of the characters are complex with clear, identifiable motivations.

This book continues where the last left off, with twists and turns, many of which caught me by surprize. I have yet to encounter a predictable story line in either of the first two books in this series. I enjoy the type of story where no one is safe and the plot is unpredictable. Nothing comes easy for the people of this fantasy world and seldom do things turn out as you would expect.

If you are interested in delving into a world of King's, Queen's, magic and betrayal take up this series. It is not a light read and at around 1000 pages each the first two books are substantial. That said, there are no lulls in the story and it flows easily from one story line to another.

I found this novel riveting! The detail, the wit, the humour and the depth of each character the author provided kept me turning the pages.

A great sequel following the characters, established in Book 1, as they make their way around this vast and dangerous world. I particularly enjoyed Tyrions rise to "The Hand" and his dealings with Joffrey and Cersei. Another of my favourite characters is Arya who has matured despite her age, having gone through some amazing adventures in this book. The introduction of some magic is another interesting feature of this story which I will look forward to in Book 3 and Jon's changed role beyond the wall is a fascinating storyline. If you haven't got into "Game of Thrones" yet try it, you'll like it. But make sure you start at the beginning to get the full experience.

Love this series if you are looking for a good read it's definitely a must have, arrived on time and in perfect condition

This entire series of books has not disapointed in any way from book one to book five its quite the ride. "Winds of Winter" should be just as exciting

As in the first book the style remains the same. You don't read chapters of a saga but rather chapters of what is happening to various characters in the book. And the number of characters continue to grow! But isn't real life made of lots of people interacting and creating situations that affect others? My impression is that the books are written in a "TV Soap" style. We see things happening to various characters in their day to day challenges. Like in real life, the good don't necessarily succeed. Some characters you get really wrapped up in. My favorites are Tyrion, Jon, Daenerys and Arya. When I hit one of those chapters it is hard to put the book down. If you are looking for a more focused plot, you will be disappointed. You do get a sense that the plot will evenutally revole around the conflict between the enemy north of the wall, Daenerys and her dragons and the people we are currently reading about south of the wall. But for now it is a story about different individuals and how they are coping with the various pressures created by the triangle of conflict. This is not a bad thing. You sympathize for the characters in their decisions to try to deal with their situations not knowing all the details. It reads like real life situations. As the first the book is very long, almost three times a regular book. What is great, the author does not repeat or re-explain details to fill the book. It also means you really need to keep track of the characters. The book is well worth the money. Looking forward to start book 3 !
2012-12-04 review transfered from amazon.com

It is exactly what I ordered. I'm extremely happy with what I got. Keeps me coming back. Don't have much else to say about this.

A Clash of Kings is another superb read from George R. R. Martin in the continuing series of his original Song of Fire and Ice. The tale of Winterfell and the Lannisters gets more involved, along with Daenerys and her Dothraki clan in Qarth. The struggle for The Iron Throne intensifies and the reader cannot wait to see what happens next.The thrill of dragons, struggles and devastation of war, the craziness of Theon Greyjoy keep the pages turning at a fast rate as the characters fight, betray, and love their way through the saga. Another great read by Martin and his cast of superb characters. Highly recommended!!