When it happens, it feels like winning the lottery. An email arrives out of the blue, from one of my publishers or a festival director or a member...
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nrlymrtl, May 10, 2013 (view all comments by nrlymrtl)
Through Book 2, we see plenty of personal growth for Daenyres, Jon Snow, Sansa, and Arya. Each of them has their own internal fight going on, based largely on inherited expectations, but then each has their own unique external struggle. We learn more of the Wildlings and the Grey Men. Theon Greyjoy shows his true colors, and they were not what I was expecting. While Rob Stark takes more of a back seat in this installment, his mother Catelyn plays a bigger role as the various kings vie for superiority.
By far, my favorite character is Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf and Uncle to the kingling Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion often had the best lines and there are so many instances in this tale where he did the right thing �" partially because he was in a position to do so �" but also because it was something his moral code required him to act on. This is the book where Tyrion won my heart.
There’s battles and betrayal. Intrigue spills from every darkened corner. Dark magic is employed in nefarious deeds. Everyone has secrets, and not all those secrets will stay hidden. Those that appear creepy, are not always evil; and those that appear pristine are not always good. Poor Arya learned this all in one fell swoop.
I know some folks have shied from these books because of the length. I know some feel that the HBO series is adequate. I say that these books are eminently worthy of your time. The level of detail adds to the richness of the setting and the motivations of the characters. If any of you have been waffling about whether or not to make room for these books, then I strongly encourage you to treat yourself to some of the best epic fiction out there.
Mrs G, April 4, 2012 (view all comments by Mrs G)
Wow. Even better than the first installment. This series is my first venture into the fantasy genre and I couldn't be more hooked.
The book does not closely follow the TV series, so definitely read it first (a million times better anyway). However it does pick up without a beat, introducing a few new characters whilst delving deeper into some less explored in the first volume. I was absolutely glued to every page, gasping out loud more than once at the developments.
Four kings valiantly fight for the Seven Kingdoms. Allegiances form and are then shredded with the knight’s mighty sword. This was non-stop action & suspense and I found myself rooting for all characters (save that punk Joffrey) at different times in the tale.
If you enjoyed the first, it’s an absolute must read
Edward Hahn, September 26, 2011 (view all comments by Edward Hahn)
Well, I don't know how best to epress how much I am enjoying this series: "A Song of Fire and Ice". "A Clash of Kings" is volume 2 in the series. I actually think it's a better written book than Volume 1 but then Martin didn't have to spend a lot of time setting the scene in this book.
Volume 2 picks right up where Volume 1 left off. The major characters continue to evolve. Joffrey, the child king, becomes more and more of a jerk, Jon Snow, the bastard and Night Watch Brother loses his arrogance and begins to mature into a fearsome warrior, Princess Arya continues to get in trouble while trying to work her way back to Winterfell, Sansa, her sister, and Joffrey's fiancee has the scales taken off her eyes, Tyrion, the Lannister Imp shows what a basically good person he is, though his father will never admit it, Cersei, the widowed Queen Mother, shows what an absolutely amoral person she is, Catelyn, the widowed Mistress of Winterfell is unbelievable as the dutiful doyen, Bran, the crippled young lord continues to develop his extrasensory abilities, His older brother, Robb, King in the North, though only 16, proves both his manhood and his military prowess, Varys, the court eunuch, continues to play all sides against each other, Theron Greyjoy shows his true colors as a disloyal, arrogant power seeker, and Danaerys, the Dragon Queen, continues to search for a way to reclaim the Iron Throne her father lost.
There are other characters too which makes this series as interesting as it is. There is also enough action to satisfy any reader's need for more than narrative exposition and dialogue. The battle at the end of the book is as well described as anything Bernard Cornwell, the dean of battle descriptions, has done. I can hardly wait to get to volume 3.
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bookgirl94, September 18, 2011 (view all comments by bookgirl94)
This is the most epic series. The best fantasy books of all time. This was impossible to put down and I sped through it. I completely recommend it!
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"Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"[Martin] provides a banquet for fantasy lovers with large appetites — and this is only the second course of a repast with no end in sight."
"Review"
by Kirkus Reviews,
"The rewards are considerable: a backdrop of convincing depth and texture; intricate, flawless plotting; fully realized characters; and restrained, inventive magical/occult elements."
"Review"
by Roberta Johnson, Booklist,
"Aided by an appendix of kings and their courts, Clash can be enjoyed on its own, though many then may retreat to Game, reread Clash, and impatiently await more of Westeros."
"Review"
by Library Journal,
"Martin has created a rich world filled with characters whose desires for love and power drive them to extremes of nobility and betrayal. Fans of epic fantasy should appreciate this lavishly detailed sequel to A Game of Thrones."
"Review"
by VOYA,
"This work of superior world building inhabited by fully-developed characters is for a mature audience because of the violence, strong language, and sexual encounters. Great cover and a great read!"
"Review"
by Cleveland Plain-Dealer,
"A classic work of fantasy."
"Synopsis"
by Ingram,
This second novel of Martin's "New York Times" bestselling fantasy series, the sequel to "A Game of Thrones", transports readers to a world of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare--where six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. Includes 16-page preview of the upcoming hardcover, "A Storm of Swords".
"Synopsis"
by Random,
A NEW ORIGINAL SERIES, NOW ON HBO.
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has become, in many ways, the gold standard for modern epic fantasy. Martin—dubbed the “American Tolkien” by Time magazine—has created a world that is as rich and vital as any piece of historical fiction, set in an age of knights and chivalry and filled with a plethora of fascinating, multidimensional characters that you love, hate to love, or love to hate as they struggle for control of a divided kingdom. It is this very vitality that has led it to be adapted as the HBO miniseries “Game of Thrones.”
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
