Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire
Rating: 5 out of 5
Picking up where A Game of Thrones left off, this second book of A Song of Ice and Fire series not only continues the breathtaking saga that has created a sensation throughout the fantasy world, but also surpasses the first book in grandeur confirming the series as a landmark of the genre, and establishing George R.R. Martin as a giant (demi-god, even) in fantasy.
King Robert Baratheon is dead. Eddard Stark, one of the main characters in the first book, has been treacherously executed, his children separated from one another, and in a flash, the whole of Westeros has plunged into war. Eddard’s eldest son and heir, Robb has been proclaimed as “King of the North” and marches off to do battle against the Lannisters who placed the cruel boy-king Joffrey and his mother Cersei on the Iron Throne. But the claims to the throne doesn’t end there as King Robert’s two brothers, Stannis and Renly Baratheon discovers that Joffrey is not Robert’s son but the result of an incestuous relationship between Cersei and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister, each now claiming the throne as their own. While Theon Greyjoy, a former ward of Eddard Stark, plots to help his father regain the power once held by his family.
The story is still seen through the points of view the main characters – those who survived the first book and some new ones, like the mysterious Lady Melisandre, priestess of the Lord of Light, who attaches herself to cause of Stannis Baratheon for reasons unknown, and with frightening powers at her command. We follow the march of Robb Stark as he wins battle after battle against the Lannisters who do everything they can to keep control of their power. We follow the machinations of the Stannis and Renly Baratheon, whose actions undermine the victories gained by the Starks. And we follow the other Stark children after their father’s death: Sansa trapped in King’s Landing and being forced to marry Joffrey, Arya who is lost trying to get back North to her home, Bran and Rickon back at Winterfell unaware of the danger close to home, and the bastard Jon Snow, who joined the Night Watch as they protect the far North from what seems to be the coming invasion of some other dangerous force, as if Westeros didn’t have enough problems of their own. And all the while, there is Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the king deposed and killed by Robert’s forces as she travels another continent gathering her forces an planning her own invasion of Westeros to regain what was lost by her family.
A complicated story effortlessly written by a masterful George R.R. Martin, who seems very much in control of the story as he weaves the numerous plotlines as skillfully as a master-weaver creates fine cloth. In A Clash of Kings, Martin seems to put head down and crash head on into battle himself as he approaches this book with more of a military epic take on it, climaxed by one of the most intense battle scenes ever written. Here, Martin continues to be as “realistic” as possible, not shying away from showing the realities of a life lead at a time and place similar to our own Middle Ages, where brutality, treachery and cruelty abound. An in a way, his style serves to increase the impact of the actions of the story hitting the readers like a hammer as never felt anywhere before in a fantasy story.
King Robert Baratheon is dead. Eddard Stark, one of the main characters in the first book, has been treacherously executed, his children separated from one another, and in a flash, the whole of Westeros has plunged into war. Eddard’s eldest son and heir, Robb has been proclaimed as “King of the North” and marches off to do battle against the Lannisters who placed the cruel boy-king Joffrey and his mother Cersei on the Iron Throne. But the claims to the throne doesn’t end there as King Robert’s two brothers, Stannis and Renly Baratheon discovers that Joffrey is not Robert’s son but the result of an incestuous relationship between Cersei and her twin brother, Jaime Lannister, each now claiming the throne as their own. While Theon Greyjoy, a former ward of Eddard Stark, plots to help his father regain the power once held by his family.
The story is still seen through the points of view the main characters – those who survived the first book and some new ones, like the mysterious Lady Melisandre, priestess of the Lord of Light, who attaches herself to cause of Stannis Baratheon for reasons unknown, and with frightening powers at her command. We follow the march of Robb Stark as he wins battle after battle against the Lannisters who do everything they can to keep control of their power. We follow the machinations of the Stannis and Renly Baratheon, whose actions undermine the victories gained by the Starks. And we follow the other Stark children after their father’s death: Sansa trapped in King’s Landing and being forced to marry Joffrey, Arya who is lost trying to get back North to her home, Bran and Rickon back at Winterfell unaware of the danger close to home, and the bastard Jon Snow, who joined the Night Watch as they protect the far North from what seems to be the coming invasion of some other dangerous force, as if Westeros didn’t have enough problems of their own. And all the while, there is Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the king deposed and killed by Robert’s forces as she travels another continent gathering her forces an planning her own invasion of Westeros to regain what was lost by her family.
A complicated story effortlessly written by a masterful George R.R. Martin, who seems very much in control of the story as he weaves the numerous plotlines as skillfully as a master-weaver creates fine cloth. In A Clash of Kings, Martin seems to put head down and crash head on into battle himself as he approaches this book with more of a military epic take on it, climaxed by one of the most intense battle scenes ever written. Here, Martin continues to be as “realistic” as possible, not shying away from showing the realities of a life lead at a time and place similar to our own Middle Ages, where brutality, treachery and cruelty abound. An in a way, his style serves to increase the impact of the actions of the story hitting the readers like a hammer as never felt anywhere before in a fantasy story.
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