A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2

After I finished "Game of Thrones," I immediately downloaded "Clash of Kings" and began reading, eager to continue the story that so fully captured my attention. This series is highly addicting, and I'm incredibly late reviewing this because it's impossible to stop reading after finishing a book to compose a review. Also, the second and third book sort of run together, which makes it difficult to review them separately. This is the perfect follow up to the first book - carries the momentum from the events introduced there and sets up its own story. It somehow manages to be darker and grittier than the first installment without stepping into the realm of being gratuitous . In fact, it's probably one of the best second novels I've read. Spoilers follow. I usually give a brief summary of the novel's story in my review, but with "Clash of Kings," a brief summary simply isn't possible since there's so much going on in the book and a lot of it ties deeply to the events from the first novel. Instead, I'll supply a very brief overview. With Robert Baratheon dead and the legitimacy of his children brought into question, the Iron Throne is up for grabs and Westeros is plunged into civil war as (at least) four different people claim the Throne as theirs. Meanwhile, the Night's Watch in the North begins to investigate the people beyond the Wall, the Wildlings. In the East, Daenerys Targaryen moves forward with her plan to conquer the Seven Kingdoms for herself. Her following has dwindled after the death of her husband, but her three newborn dragons make her notorious. Though she refuses to give them away to secure aid, Daenerys hopes she can use her dragons to her advantage to reclaim what, in her mind, rightfully belongs to her family. Martin sure knows how to tell a riveting story. I've read a fair bit of fantasy over the years and eventually had to take a break from the genre due to becoming bored with seeing the same clichés and tropes used over and over again. As I read "Clash of Kings," I found myself waiting to see the book fall into the same pattern of predictability that I've seen elsewhere. The first book was great in being unique and unpredictable, but could Martin really maintain that high standard throughout a second book? The joke's on me because he definitely can...and I've learned better than to doubt his originality. There isn't much in the way of resolution in this book, but that's ok since there are several more books that follow it. Instead, "Clash of Kings" serves to propel the ideas established in the first book. We see how events from "Game of Thrones" have unfolded and developed into something bigger and more widespread, and what we see is fascinating. It's also worth mentioning that there are a lot of big players in this war, but Martin manages to make all of them distinct. None are just thrown in to be there and all of them are fleshed out. This isn't a generic world filled with the normal trappings of the genre - Martin's Westeros is unique and fully realized. Reading about the different factions alone would be compelling...combine it with an intriguing plot and you've got one Hell of a good read! It should also be noted that Martin pulls no punches when describing his dark, gritty world. If you're squeamish and prefer to read about characters that blush when thinking about kissing or battles that are over and done with relatively quickly and cleanly, this probably isn't your book. The big theme in "Clash of Kings" is the huge, ongoing civil war that has erupted across the entirety of Westeros, and no detail is spared. The full horrors of the battlefield - bones being crushed, flesh split, the gruesome results of someone being turned into a bloody pulp via being bludgeoned by a blunt object, soldiers being trampled by their own horses, pretty much any awful battle-related thing you can come up with - are portrayed in graphic detail. These fights aren't glorious; they're long, agonizing, and brutal, and Martin writes them so well that you'll find yourself on the battlefield alongside the characters (for better or worse, in some cases). He's done his research on the tools and tactics of the medieval period, and it definitely shows. He also doesn't hesitate to show us the other not-so-pleasant aspects of humanity. Sex (whether consensual or the spoils of war) is a common occurrence and it isn't portrayed in a nice, chaste manner. Like many other things in the books, it's blunt, realistic, and often uncomfortable...both for the characters and the reader. The people who populate Martin's world drink, curse, and entertain lewd, violent, or otherwise nasty thoughts. Sanitation is what you'd expect it to be in a war torn, medieval country. These things often aren't fun to read about, but they add a level of authenticity to the novel, and I personally find it refreshing to read an author who doesn't sugarcoat the realities of armed conflict. The details characterize the world and the people in it - if you read "Clash of Kings" and think "Wow, this person/event/place is awful!" then you're probably thinking what Martin intended with this characterization. Westeros is not a fun place to be, and Martin's attention to the dark, gritty, unpleasant details bring that into sharp focus. Much like with "Game of Thrones," this book has several main characters with the point of view changing in each chapter. This continues to work well by providing different viewpoints of big events without becoming repetitive and tiresome. More importantly, it showcases Martin's talent for creating dynamic, three-dimensional, complex, fully realized characters. I've read a lot of novels lately that have been in first person point of view, but have ultimately failed to capture the essence of the character or put the reader in the protagonist's head. "Clash of Kings," though written in third person, doesn't have this problem. Each character's viewpoint is distinctly different with the characters' biases and backgrounds moving prominently to the forefront. Even better, with the figures' biases colouring events, you'll often wonder whose version of events is the correct version or if any of them are truly accurate. It makes of an interesting, unique reading experience, especially with the big events that unfold in this book. It's also worth mentioning that although there are certain characters who are clearly protagonists and antagonists, whether or not you like them will be largely dependent on how you react to their characterization, not what their role in the story is. Since starting "A Song of Ice and Fire," I've noticed that everyone seems to like and dislike different characters - and what one person may like about a certain character may cause another person to dislike them. I think this demonstrates how realistic Martin has made his characterization. It's a lot like reading about an actual person: very few people are simply classified as good or bad - instead, they have numerous aspects to their personalities that resonate well with some people and act as turn-offs to others. The characters in this book are much the same...and with many of them doing or being witness to darker, nastier things in the second novel, there are plenty of opportunities for your opinions on certain characters to change. On a random, character-related note, I'm pleased to see that Martin actually has a wide array of female characters. I'll be honest and say that the stereotypical female tropes that pop up in the fantasy genre bug the Hell out of me: women tend to be either delicate damsels or kickass warriors, neither of which has ever struck me as particularly interesting or realistic. In "Clash of Kings," we're treated both to some of our favourite women from the first book as well as new heroines. There are no stereotypes here and each character embodies her own strengths and flaws. Sure, there are women who fall in line with the traditional gender roles of a medieval wife and those who prefer a more warrior-esque life (as well as many who lie somewhere in between), but they're so wonderfully characterized that they never become predictably stereotypical, nor are they overlooked in favour of the male characters. A lot of authors could learn something from Martin: it's possible to write a varied female cast without them becoming stereotypes. Furthermore, it never feels like a character is included to provide "another female perspective" (or another male perspective, for that matter) - they all matter and they all provide valuable insight into Westeros, the war, and their unique situations. While there isn't a "main character" per se, if I had to pick a point of view character that features most prominently, it would definitely be Tyrion. This is his book: how he rises to the lofty position of the King's Hand and how he uses his intellect and cunning to overcome his lack of physical prowess in a book that's largely about battles, knights, and their consequences. While Tyrion isn't my favourite character, his perspective is always interesting since he has to go about things in a vastly different way than the book's other figures. If you're a fan of Tyrion, this is your book! "Clash of Kings" is a solid follow up to "Game of Thrones." It manages to be darker and grittier than its predecessor without coming off as gratuitous and continues the story without seeming like it's being unnecessarily dragged out. Martin's writing and characters are just as satisfying as they were in the first book, and I finished the novel feeling like I needed to start the next one immediately (and I did - thank goodness I didn't have to wait!). "A Song of Ice and Fire" is a truly unique and refreshing entry in the fantasy genre...and it's impossible to stop reading after one (or even two) books.

Looking back, this is one of my favorite books in the series. It marks beginning of Tyrion and Cersei's back and forth struggle for influence. Tyrion is the star of this installment, in my opinion. He develops more and more as a character and the reader starts to get a clear picture of where his head is. He sees there are some underhanded things going on around him and he continually uses his cunning to set things right, or to what he believes is right. He has to be a little underhanded himself to accomplish these things at times. Arya's story also picks up tremendously. We follow her travels and the perils she faces on her way to the Wall with Yoren (who is supposed to return her to Winterfell). Characters such as Hot Pie, and Gendry are central to her story as well along with the introduction of one of my favorites, Jaqen H'Ghar. Chance meetings with Amory Lorch and Gregor Clegane's forces make for an exciting read. We see Robb's further rise to power through the eyes of Catelyn Stark. She does her best to provide counsel, but the more Robb settles into his role as the king, the less he heeds it. We also learn more of Renly and Stannis Baratheon's new quest for the throne. We're introduced to Davos Seaworth who tells the story of Stannis Baratheon's bid for the throne through his eyes. He is suspicious of Stannis' new found religion, worshiping R'hollor, The Lord of Light. A red priestess, named Melisandre is introduced as a pivotal character in this story. Possibly the most important development in this installment is the story of Theon Greyjoy. He returns to Pyke and means to claim his rights as his heir to his father Balon. We're also introduced (in a hilarious way) to Asha Greyjoy, Theon's sister. Other new Greyjoy's emerge in his uncles Aeron "The Damphair" Grejoy and Victarion Greyjoy. He isn't received as warmly as he would have liked and gradually, becomes more desperate to make a name for himself. A wonderful depiction of what lust for power and riches can do to a man's soul. We also have Bran in Winterfell fulfulling his role as acting Lord of Winterfell. With a little help from Rodrick Cassel and Maester Luwin, he entertains guests who will later play an important role in the saga such as Wyman Manderly, and Jojen and Meera Reed. Bran faces some of the most heartbreaking challenges of anyone in the book. Sansa's story continues as she struggles with the death of her father and living under the same roof and her betrothal to the boy that ordered Eddard's demise. She endures much and remains wary of Cersei's ostensible comfort and grooming to become a queen. Of course, the story of Jon on the wall continues as they venture beyond the wall in search of answers and hopefully, Benjen Stark's whereabouts or demise. He travels with Qhorin Halfhand and faces a monumental decision that questions his very vows to The Night Watch. Also Daenerys' story continues as she tries to move forward after the death of Khal Drogo and gather power behind her dragons. We're introduced to Quaithe, Pyat Pree, and Xharo Xhoan Daxos, representatives of Quarth. Each with their own counsel for Daenerys to gather more power along the way. It's an amazing read just as the first and the three after it are. This series will certainly go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, fantasy stories of all time.

I don't get why people seem to hate this book so much more than the first book or two in this series. It's more of the same; I didn't see a decrease in writing quality at all. I wish you could give half stars, because I don't quite feel this deserved 4 stars, but it's better than your average book, so I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. I'd give books 2 and 3 the same rating, and book one would have half a star more at 4. I have not yet read ADWD, but I plan on doing so soon. I do hope after such a long wait that he gives us closure on a few of the stories that happened in this book, though. The only major criticism I can make of this book is that it adds so many new variables and plot lines to the story that, while good, are distracting to the overall theme. My understanding is that the big picture story here is that the Others (or the Other, the god opposing R'hllor, or whatever prophecy you want to go by) are coming, and somehow this fractured world needs to band together to oppose that which threatens all humanity. That being said, I think we've seen enough of the fracturing -- we need to get to the banding together part already. I mean, AFFC was already supposed to be the first half of a book, and then ADWD was split again. The writing is good, the stories are good, the characters are good, but by the fourth book, I expect him to be setting up for the conclusion, and it didn't seem that way to me. The major criticism aside, this book was very entertaining. The only people who won't like it are those who need constant action scenes and battles and blood and gore to be entertained. This book is the playing of the game of thrones at its heart: - The Ironborn play their own game of thrones amongst themselves and then re-enter themselves into the bigger game of thrones for the Seven Kingdoms. -Littlefinger brings Sansa into his plots and scheming and as he gathers more power for himself, you see that he has big ambitions and is actually a strong contender in the game. - Jaime's character develops even more as he discovers his sister is not all he thought she was, and strives to keep oaths he has sworn, despite being despised by all in the realm for breaking the biggest one. - Brienne discovers that honor is not always the high road, that life is more complicated than black and white. - Cersei plots against the little queen, makes good use of her court torturer, and fails to follow the age old advice of keeping your friends close and enemies closer. - Sam's story....admittedly, is the least compelling of the bunch. It's a bit slow, but of all the stories, it's the only one that seems to be contributing to the overarching theme of prophecy and dragons and saving the world, so I'll forgive him the slower plot line there. His chapters really could've been compressed all into one, though, if they were mentioned at all. While some parts were slower than others, it was solid reading throughout and I was never bored. I do want GRRM to finish, of course, but in the meantime, it seems pointless to get angry over waiting for him to finish. I'd rather enjoy the ride. The first installment so far has been the best, but as of this book, GRRM has not slipped yet.

First off, I'm a heavy duty fan of GRRM. I've read over a 100 different fantasy authors in my time (started at 12; I'm now 32). Took about 5 years off from the genre b/c I felt it was all getting too formulaic and cliched. Typical archetype character who turns out to be the missing heir or boy wonder who saves the world against the Dark Lord. So, when I came back to fantasy at the end of 1999, I read the usual: Goodkind, Jordan, etc. and then someone told me about GRRM and man, that was the kicker! Here are the reasons to choose GRRM. I've also listed the reasons not to choose him to make it fair b/c I know their are certain personalities who won't like this series: WHY TO READ GRRM (1) YOU ARE TIRED OF FORMULAIC FANTASY: good lad beats the dark lord against impossible odds; boy is the epitome of good; he and all his friends never die even though they go through great dangers . . . the good and noble king; the beautiful princess who falls in love with the commoner boy even though their stations are drastically different . . . the dark lord is very evil and almost one sided at times . . . you get the idea. After reading this over and over, it gets old. (2) YOU ARE TIRED OF ALL THE HEROES STAYING ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER CONSTANT DANGER: this gets even worse where the author kills a main hero off but that person comes back later in the story. Or, a hero does die but magic brings him back. This sometimes carries to minor characters where even they may not die, but most fantasy authors like to kill them off to show that some risked the adventure and perished. (3) YOU ARE A MEDIEVAL HISTORY BUFF: this story was influenced by the WARS OF THE ROSES and THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR. (4) YOU LOVE SERIOUS INTRIGUE WITHOUT STUPID OPPONENTS: lots of layering; lots of intrigue; lots of clever players in the game of thrones. Unlike other fantasy novels, one side, usually the villain, is stupid or not too bright. (5) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIASED OPINIONS AND DIFFERENT TRUTHS: GRRM has set this up where each chapter has the title of one character and the whole chapter is through their viewpoint. Interesting tidbit is that you get their perception of events or truths. But, if you pay attention, someone else will mention a different angle of truth in the story that we rarely see in other novels. Lastly and most importantly, GRRM doesn't try to tell us which person is right in their perception. He purposelly leaves it vague so that we are kept guessing. (6) LEGENDS: some of the most interesting characters are those who are long gone or dead. We never get the entire story but only bits and pieces; something that other fantasy authors could learn from to heighten suspense. Additionally, b/c the points of views are not congruent, we sometimes get different opinions. (7) WORDPLAY: if you're big on metaphors and description, GRRM is your guy. Almost flawless flow. (8) LOTS OF CONFLICT: all types, too; not just fighting but between characters through threats and intrigue. (9) MULTILAYERED PLOTTING; SUB PLOTS GALORE: each character has their own separate storyline; especially as the story continues and everyone gets scattered. This is one of the reasons why each novel is between 700-900 pages. (10) SUPERLATIVE VARIED CHARACTERS: not the typical archetypes that we are used to in most fantasy; some are gritty; few are totally evil or good; GRRM does a great job of changing our opinions of characters as the series progress. This is especially true of Jaime in book three. (11) REALISTIC MEDIEVAL DIALOGUE: not to the point that we can't understand it but well done. (12) HEAPS OF SYMOBLISM AND PROPHECY: if you're big on that. (13) EXCELLENT MYSTERIES: very hard to figure out the culprits; GRRM must have read a lot of mystery novels. (14) RICHLY TEXTURED FEMALE CHARACTERS: best male author on female characters I have read; realistic on how women think, too. (15) LOW MAGIC WORLD: magic is low key; not over the top so heroes can't get out of jams with it. REASON TO NOT READ GRRM (1) YOU LIKE YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS: GRRM does a good job of creating more likeable characters after a few die. But, if that isn't your style, you shouldn't be reading it. He kills off several, not just one, so be warned. (2) DO NOT CARE FOR GRITTY GRAY CHARACTERS: if you like more white and gray characters, this may unsettle you. I suggest Feist or Goodkind or Dragonlance if you want a more straight forward story with strong archetypes. (3) MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEWS TURN YOU OFF: if you prefer that the POVS only go to a few characters, this might be confusing for you. (4) SWEARING, SEX: there's a lot of it in this book just as there is in real life. If you have delicate ears, this book may upset you. (5) YOU DEMAND CLOSURE AT THE END OF EVERY BOOK: this isn't the case for all stories in the series. Some are still going on; some have been resolved; others have been created and are moving on. (6) IF YOU WANT A TARGET OR SOMEONE TO BLAME: this can be done to some extent but not as much. This is b/c he doesn't try to make anyone necessarily good or evil. (7) ARCHETYPES: some readers like archetypal characters because it's comfortable; we like the good young hero (sort of like Pug in Feist's THE RIFTWAR SAGA); it's familiar and we sometimes like to pretend we're this upcoming, great hero. You wont' get much of this in GRRM with the exception of one or two characters. There really aren't any super heroes compared to all the other characters as it's more grittier and no one is shooting fireballs every milisecond or carrying around some super powerful sword. (8) LENGTH: you don't want to get into a long fantasy epic series. In that case, look for shorters works as this is biiig. (9) PATRIARCHY: men are most of the main characters with lots of power (one female exception). While this is realistic of the medieval era, some readers may not prefer this if they want more girl power, so to speak. By the way, if you don't want to commit to a big book until you know the author better, check out his short story, THE HEDGE KNIGHT, in LEGENDS. Overall, this is a great series and I happily purchase the hard cover when it comes out...

I finished "A clash of kings" and I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I heard some people to complain about how long and confusing those series are. I disagree- I am not native English speaker but I read first two books in English and I understood them pretty well. Those books are huge but actually the language is quite easy and this is definitely a fast to read book. The main disadvantage of "Clash of Kings" is probably that it is a sequel. The GOT, the first one, was a great story- if you start you will never put this book down: lots of suspicion, great characters, interesting, smart, twisted plot. What else do you need for a great fantasy book? If "A clash of kings" was a totally new story with new characters, it would be probably easier to build something great again. But this book is a sequel. And Martin took a great challenge. That is to make this book at least not worse than the first one, which was, as I think, one of the best fantasies stories ever written. I have to say, he managed this task pretty well. As any good sequel, you will meet some new characters. Old ones will be still the same. The style of the book pretty much follows the style of the first one which is both bad and good. Bad- because you probably expect something new and different from the sequel. Good- because Martin's writing skills are pretty darned good in this style. He still makes you get attached to those characters and make them feel sorry for them. He plays with you by putting those characters on the edge between life and death; and you just can't help yourself except for keeping reading to find out what will happen with them. While some characters will survive, others won't be so lucky.... Those series are that kind of books where people can and do die. That is probably the strongest part because in this case pretty much everything can happen. In the sequel, there is also more magic. Not fancy, Harry Potter style but dark and dangerous one. I think that made the book even better and a bit creepier. Despite the fact that the story grabs you and never let go, there are still some disadvantages. The main one is talking. Especially in the first half, the characters constantly talk, plan but never do too much stuffs. When I read first 250 pages I suddenly found out that, except for Arya, nothing too important happened yet and that made me sad. Talking, talking, not much action and that can make you bored. On the other hand, if there was no so much talking, Martin's books probably never would be so great and unique. You get attached with the characters, they do lots of stupid stuffs but you would never understand their motives without this long prologue (about the first half of the book) where everything is described without so much of action. Martin's style makes his books alive. The closer it is to the end, the more stuffs happen. The last 200 pages, I would say, perfect. I couldn't go to sleep- just kept reading. As I said, the biggest disadvantage is that it is a sequel. Look, for example, on Harry Potter books. All seven ones hold one storyline but each book is also a separate story with the beginning and the end. In "The song of Ice and Fire", it is one big plot divided in several books. That can be quite tricky sometimes. It is like reading half of the book, then quit and then continue reading it but only from the half of the book again. The book never seems complete. You want more but when you get it by starting reading the next one, you need some time to get used to the characters and the plot again. It is not like getting familiar with the new story like in Harry Potter- it is reading the same story from the last book. In other word, those books have neither beginning nor end and that can be quite annoying sometimes. It is the same way with Lord of the rings- one story and three books. However, nowadays you have all three books available in the store. You just read it as one story and you don't need to wait six years for a continue to come out. That is what makes the whole series a bit confusing- starting with a clash of kings and further, books never have beginning or the end. Anyways, it is still a great story. I don't regret that I started it. A Clash of Kings is a bit worse than The Game of thrones but it still holds you tight and everything you can do is to beg for more.

After having read the first few books in the series over ten years ago in the late nineties I felt like I was forgetting huge portions of the plot as I read through book 4 and the recent entry in the series in A Dance with Dragons. I am even more amazed with the second read through of A Clash of Kings than I was with the first read through. Where Martin excels is his ability to transport the reader to another time and become absorbed with his detail. He is one of the few authors who isn't afraid to create a great character, only to kill them off (book 1 spoiler: insert Eddard Stark). Or to create truly awful characters that really make your blood boil just reading about them (insert Cersei and Joffrey). This is why this series is so great and A Clash of Kings is just as good if not better than A Game of Thrones. While you don't read too much about Joffrey and Robb except in passing, you certainly see plenty of action amidst the kings. We have several clashes of kings throughout the book that are momentous and huge, that make you eagerly read on to find out what happens. Tyrion takes on a much more prominent role not only in the series but at King's Landing, while Jon is front and center as the watch delves deeper beyond the wall in pursuit of the wildlings. Theon takes a front and center role in this one as he tries to prove to his dad and family that he is ironborn and pisses sea salt like they do. In the end you are left with the first 700 pages as captivating and interesting, and then the final 300 pages absolutely riveting (a trend of Martin's; everything escalates so that the last 300 or so pages have you glued to the book). I found in the second read through that Martin was hinting at a lot to happen in future books. Take Daenerys meeting with the Undying and the prophecies they gave to her. Many have happened throughout the book and in other books in the series, some even happened in book 5. My first read through I wouldn't have known, but my second read through made them glaringly obvious. A stellar fantasy and a great addition to the series. 5 stars.

The bold omen of a comet "the color of blood and flame and sunsets" opens "A Clash Of Kings" the second novel in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series "A Song Of Ice And Fire." Published by Bantam Books in 1999, "A Clash Of Kings" is a gripping multi-layered saga filled with characters that are interesting, witty, loathsome, or sympathetic. The title of this fantasy novel is entirely accurate. Following the suspicious death of King Robert Baratheon in the first novel, his Iron Throne that unites the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros is suddenly in dispute. Although Robert has three children and his eldest son, the adolescent and wholly reprehensible Joffrey, has ascended to the throne, the regency of his mother Queen Cersei is perceived as weak. More than one claimant seeks the Iron Throne and many kings clash as peace flees the land and challengers continue to scheme and multiply. The Competing Monarchs Stannis Baratheon: A younger brother of the late King Robert, he declares himself the rightful heir of the kingdom. He dismisses the children of Robert by claiming (correctly) that they are bastards. Cersei conceived all three of the children with her twin brother Jaime Lannister with whom she has had an ongoing incestuous relationship. The allegation is so shocking however that it is not sufficient to topple the regency of Queen Cersei. Additionally, Stannis Baratheon is supported by the sorceress Melisandre who is a priestess of the Lord of Light R'hllor. She is aggressively spreading this religion in the Seven Kingdoms and her power is real. Stannis has attached himself to her power and his quest to take the throne is deadly serious. Renly Baratheon: The younger brother of Stannis Baratheon also seeks the Iron Throne. Although he has no direct claim because of numerous heirs ahead of him, Renly is attractive and well-liked, which is not the case for the dour Stannis. Renly also has many important allies and supporters that make him militarily strong. Robb Stark: The eldest son of Eddard Stark who was executed at the end of the first novel, Robb does not seek the Iron Throne. Instead, as the heir of the northern kingdom that had been united within the Seven Kingdoms, Robb has reverted to an independent state and been crowned the King of the North by his followers. He is young, only fifteen, but battles have made him grow up quickly, and with his pet dire wolf Grey Wind, he strikes a strong pose and has earned the loyalty of his men and knights. As if a kingdom splintering into civil war were not sufficient, the plot of "A Clash Of Kings" is even thicker than good clam chowder and many more characters and subplots are woven into the story. As in the first novel in the series, the Stark children hold a central role in the story, but now they are separated by multiple conflicts. Although the daughters Arya and Sansa take up a good portion of the novel, their brother Bran and half brother Jon Snow tend to have more interesting storylines. The crippled Bran remains in the Stark ancestral home of Winterfell. Since being pushed out a window by Jaime Lannister, Bran has begun to experience supernatural abilities now that his body is broken. He can join with his pet dire wolf during his dreams, but he is not quite sure what it all means. Then the adventures of the bastard son of Eddard Stark, Jon Snow, with the Night's Watch on the Wall take him among the wildlings of the north. During his terrifying trek, Jon faces many trials and grows increasingly appealing as a character. He also learns about the gathering threats to the Seven Kingdoms in the wild lands. The Lady Catelyn, the widow of Eddard Stark, is also an important figure in the novel. She wields a fair measure of authority as the mother of Robb, now King of the North, but her diplomatic efforts ceaselessly fail and her decisions always turn out to be bad. Tyrion The Dwarf Of all the characters devised by the imagination of Martin, Tyrion Lannister, the reviled dwarf born of his noble family, draws the reader into his life with all the power that a novel can conjure. Despite being often scorned, disliked, and dismissed, Tyrion's power has been growing. He has cultivated a dependable group of cutthroat mercenaries to his side and in this novel his powerful father has installed him as the King's Hand, an important albeit thankless administrative position with the monarchy. Redeeming qualities for Tyrion are his intelligence, sharp tongue, sarcastic aptitude, and political boldness. Along with these strong traits, he gains the devotion of the reader simply by prevailing as a small man in a big world. He always seems to slip away from death despite his lack of friends outside the influence of his ample Lannister purse. Also near the end of the novel, Tyrion joins the fighters defending King's Landing from the invasion of Stannis, and it is Tyrion's strategies that save the city from the inept and inattentive leadership of his sister and regent, Queen Cersei. "A Clash Of Kings" presents fantasy readers with a robust and intelligent second novel of a series that thrives with complexity and political machinations. Some readers may be intimidated by the length and detail of Martin's fantasy novels, but the reader has little need to try to keep track of everything. Martin has the ability to endow characters with a fullness of life, emotion, ambition, and everything in between that is truly a gift to literature. Readers will care about the characters. Some you will want to throttle. Others you will want to save. While still others will awe you with their majesty, like Daenerys and her three hatchling dragons leading the remnants of her followers through a hostile desert as she seeks her destiny. I graciously give Martin another five sword rating for A Clash of Kings. I wish all books could be so good.

Martin pens a worthy follow up to his fantasy epic, "A Game of Thrones," with "A Clash of Kings." Mainly set on the land of Westros, several men fight for the crown of the seven kingdoms. Will there be a winner? In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the mother of dragons, seeks to find a way to return to Westros. The story opens with the main characters observing a comet in the sky. Each has their own personal interpretations of the comet - good and bad. What I liked about Martin's use of the comet was how he evoked "an impending sense" about what was going to occur and what was inevitable. This tone lingers in the reader's mind as the story enfolds. Stannis, the previous king's rightful heir, has turned to sorcery and believes the time is right to attack Westros and secure his throne. With his backers and sorceress, he sets out to accomplish his inevitable mission. In King's Landing, the 13-year-old king, Joffery, demonstrates cruel brutality and little concern for the subjects who follow him. It's up to his uncle, Tyrion Lannister, to defend the city and carry out justice. Tyrion has quite a challenge considering the obstacles in his path. Tyrion's father, Tywin, fights north of King's Landing, but is unable to defeat Robb Stark's forces or secure his son, Jaime's, freedom. Ayra Stark finds herself at Harrenhal, serving first the Lannisters, than Robb's man, Bolton, and she must rely on all her wits to stay alive. Will Syrio's lessons prove enough? To the west, Balon Greyjoy, self-styled king of the iron islands, attacks the northern coast. His son, Theon, returns to a prodigal greetings and finds his sister holds much favor with their father. Wanting to earn prestige in his father's eyes, he attacks the Starks at Winterfell. Bran and Rickon flee Winterfell and are presumed dead. North of Winterfell, Jon Snow and the Night's Watch explore beyond the wall in order to determine the nature of the impeding threat. Catelyn Stark journeys to Storm's End and has an adventure before returning to Riverrun where she is determined to support her son, Robb. An explosive confrontation with Jaime Lannister towards the end of the story settles several issues for her. In the south, Renly Barathron makes plans to attack King's Landing, but first he must deal with his brother, Stannis. In the far the far east, Daenerys leads her Khalhaser through barren land before finding hope in the city of Quarth. Martin's story is told from several perspectives, giving the novel its epic fantasy feel. The writing is sharp and never lingers, moving from event to event at a crisp pace. Martin's characters give the story its heart. For Daenerys, her character continues to grow in inner strength and resolve. Theon's deception is heartbreaking, while Tyrion's honest approach as the King's Hand had me rooting for him despite the darkness behind the Lannister's bright colors. "A Clash of Kings" stirs a passion within the soul, making the reader feel as if they're a knight in Westros. The only drawback, while minor for me, were the open plot points at the end of the novel. While several ends were tied up, new ones developed. There's no feeling of satisfaction at the end just a restless anxiety that promises to continue with "A Storm of Swords." Martin, though, has me hooked, so I'll read to find out what happens next. Some, however, may find the unresolved ending frustrating. Who will be the king of the 7 kingdoms? Joffery? Renly? Stannis? Balon Greyjoy? Robb Stark? "A Clash of Kings" promises surprises, fast-paced action, and will leave the reader anxious to read the next book in the series. Overall, "A Clash of Kings" will leave you breathless and wanting to know what happens next.