Book Review: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
Title: A Clash of Kings
Author: George R.R. Martin
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #2
Published: 1998
Publisher: Bantam
Pages: 969
From: Barnes and Noble
Rating: 8/10
It took me four years to finish the first novel in George R.R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire, called A Game of Thrones, but it took me far less time finishing this second installment.
And I am so glad it didn’t, because the more I read Martin’s works, the more invested I become. I love Arya Stark’s storyline, and how much change Theon Greyjoy has gone through to figure out who he is. I love the grace and governance Daenerys Targaryen has taken upon herself. I thoroughly enjoy the entire storyline of every character and his or her family.
I love every character and the chapters for them, except Caitlin Stark, and that is only because I relate to her far less than any of the others, and because I find her relatively boring. I know her chapters are necessary for the political plot advancements from the Stark and Tully points of view, but if I didn’t have to read her chapters anymore, I would be quite happy.
Also, I felt the dry writing in A Clash of Kings was easier to read, far less distracting, and more involved than in A Game of Thrones. I enjoyed the expansive descriptions and political change and all the battle scenes in the story, and how each character plays a vital role for each of those things, as well as how they affect each others’ story arcs.
I also enjoyed the HBO TV series, and how each episode in general gets better and better, and how the second season, based on A Clash of Kings, is even better than the first.
The thing I do love about this series is that it keeps going. Martin is at this point in time still working on the sixth novel in the Song of Ice and Fire saga, and I am currently working on the third book. Which I may be working on for some time. But that is the charm of it, the amazing medieval fantasy world Martin has drawn up continues on.
For the works of George R.R. Martin, visit any brick and mortar bookseller or visit any online. For another review of A Clash of Kings, check out Bloggy Come Lately’s review of this novel here.