Book Review: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 969
Acquired: ???
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have it: Series
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire (2)

The battle for the Seven Kingdoms continues as up to five different people have declared themselves "king". The exiled Targaryan princess gathers her strength and a plan to return and reclaim her throne. Beyond the Wall in the north, strange things have are rising and the wildlings are on the march.

Once again the reader is drawn into a complex plot that it hard to walk away from. It continually amazes me how much detail Martin has put into the series and his skill at pulling all the different people and storylines together in a way that seems so effortless. The characters are constantly being forced to change and adapt as the war quickly covers the entire kingdom. The only ones that manage to stay out of it is the Night's Watch in the far north on the Wall. And they have their own problems to deal with as strange creatures have risen beyond the wall and it is rumored that the wildlings have gathered and are on the march.

A fantastic second book in the series that takes off running from the first pages. I can't wait until it's time to start the third.

5/5

Book Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R. R. Martin

Genre: Fantasy, Medieval
Pages: 864
Acquired: 2005
Book of Your Shelf? Yes
Why I have/read it: Fantasy February, Re-read, Group Read
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire (1)

The seven kingdoms, united under one ruler, have lived a life of peace and comfort since King Robert took the throne. But nothing is ever as it seems. Within the king's court there is murder and treason, with no one aware of what is really going on. Across the seas, the last remnants of the previous royal family gather forces to reclaim their throne. To the north, the unthinkable gathers, the creatures of myth and legend that have been forgotten.

The first book in the series centers around the Stark family, the lords of the northernmost part of the kingdom, and the last Targaryens. The Starks, close friends of King Robert, are quickly drawn into the turmoil at court without realizing it. The Stark children are fascinating. I find it difficult to pick a favorite of the four (five if you count Lord Stark's bastard).

The last of the Targaryens plot revenge and invasion from across the seas to reclaim their throne. Daenarys Targaryen is one of my absolute favorite characters of all time. The Princess is soft and delicate, yet hard and proud when the situation calls for it.

I find it very difficult to describe the story without giving too much away about the characters and the plot. I admire Martin's honest writing. He does not flinch from including practices that were very common in real life medieval kingdoms: murder, execution, brothels, arranged marriages, and abuse. The way he weaves it into the story only enhances the sense of realism. Now, I don't want to scare anyone away. While the times were brutal, Martin is not overly graphic in a way some writers can be. It's there for a reason, not for only for shock effect.

The kingdom sits on the brink...on the brink of war, destruction, and invasion. But no one realizes it yet. The noble families of the kingdom are about to be plunged into a web of lies and intrigue. Even the most honorable among them will find themselves doubting those they trusted the most and doing things would have never considered in the past. The peace has lasted too long and people are growing soft, but as they say, "Winter is coming." And this one promises to be long.

5/5