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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
5.0
Bullet Review:
Was that really 30 discs worth of a book?! I've gone through 9 disc books in more time!
Really enjoyed this, maybe more than the first one. Some really big plot twists in this one - more than one made me gasp and run for confirmation to Wiki.
Full review:
You know, there are three kinds of reviews I really hate to write:
1) I wanted to love the book SO MUCH (maybe because so many of my friends loved it), and I hated it.
2) I felt meh about the book. There wasn't really anything WRONG with the book, but there was also nothing really extraordinary to talk about.
3) I loved the book, but really, a review saying, "I love this and this and this and oh yeah, this was awesome too!" is exceptionally boring.
This review is Option 3.
A Game of Thrones was a great start to the series, but I'll admit, as I listened, I got lost a couple of times and wasn't 100% sold on its awesomeness. I held back that fifth star so that the series would have some room to sell me.
Which is exactly what "A Clash of Kings" did.
ACoK is exactly what every moviemaker attempts to do when creating a sequel - bigger, better, louder, faster, more awesome, scarier, whatever. ACoK takes new chance, goes to new places, pushes characters in new directions and throws the most INCREDIBLE plot twists and character changes at you.
I'd go into more detail about what I liked and why, but...spoilers. Seriously, people, this is good enough you shouldn't let yourself be spoiled and actually experience it by reading or listening.
I was going to end by talking about my favorite characters, but I realize that may have some spoilers too. So instead, here's a list of my favorite characters, and if you wanna talk about why they are my favorites, let's move it to the comments:
Favorite Characters
Daenerys Targaryen
Catelyn Stark
Tyrion Lannister (DUH!!!)
Sansa Stark
Cersei Lannister
Ned Stark
Asha Greyjoy
Khaal Drogo
Least Favorite Characters
Viserys Targaryen
Theon Greyjoy
Bran
The Song of Ice and Fire series is really endearing itself to me. I love its balance of fantasy and realism; I love how the characters are flawed, how so many women play such diverse and important roles, how you can never quite predict what will happen. I can't wait to start up on the HBO Season 2 and then proceed to book 3!
CONTENT NOTE: I get that some people may not like to read books with incest, rape, and graphic violence (along with CHARACTERS being sexist, racist, etc.). This book has all of these items and a bit more. So while I do heartily recommend, I also want to warn people that these items are present.
Was that really 30 discs worth of a book?! I've gone through 9 disc books in more time!
Really enjoyed this, maybe more than the first one. Some really big plot twists in this one - more than one made me gasp and run for confirmation to Wiki.
Full review:
You know, there are three kinds of reviews I really hate to write:
1) I wanted to love the book SO MUCH (maybe because so many of my friends loved it), and I hated it.
2) I felt meh about the book. There wasn't really anything WRONG with the book, but there was also nothing really extraordinary to talk about.
3) I loved the book, but really, a review saying, "I love this and this and this and oh yeah, this was awesome too!" is exceptionally boring.
This review is Option 3.
A Game of Thrones was a great start to the series, but I'll admit, as I listened, I got lost a couple of times and wasn't 100% sold on its awesomeness. I held back that fifth star so that the series would have some room to sell me.
Which is exactly what "A Clash of Kings" did.
ACoK is exactly what every moviemaker attempts to do when creating a sequel - bigger, better, louder, faster, more awesome, scarier, whatever. ACoK takes new chance, goes to new places, pushes characters in new directions and throws the most INCREDIBLE plot twists and character changes at you.
I'd go into more detail about what I liked and why, but...spoilers. Seriously, people, this is good enough you shouldn't let yourself be spoiled and actually experience it by reading or listening.
I was going to end by talking about my favorite characters, but I realize that may have some spoilers too. So instead, here's a list of my favorite characters, and if you wanna talk about why they are my favorites, let's move it to the comments:
Favorite Characters
Daenerys Targaryen
Catelyn Stark
Tyrion Lannister (DUH!!!)
Sansa Stark
Cersei Lannister
Ned Stark
Asha Greyjoy
Khaal Drogo
Least Favorite Characters
Viserys Targaryen
Theon Greyjoy
Bran
The Song of Ice and Fire series is really endearing itself to me. I love its balance of fantasy and realism; I love how the characters are flawed, how so many women play such diverse and important roles, how you can never quite predict what will happen. I can't wait to start up on the HBO Season 2 and then proceed to book 3!
CONTENT NOTE: I get that some people may not like to read books with incest, rape, and graphic violence (along with CHARACTERS being sexist, racist, etc.). This book has all of these items and a bit more. So while I do heartily recommend, I also want to warn people that these items are present.
bjoern's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
schnatti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
yaakovakiva's review against another edition
5.0
BETTER than the first. I can't even imagine where these stories are headed, because each of them has headed off in a direction I couldn't even have really anticipated. Love the characters, found myself genuinely surprised at a few points, and I continue to worry about everyone like they're my own. Dany was my favorite storyline in the first book and her story really fell short this time, while Bran and Tyrion remain favorites.
I also can't wait to see if the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones lives up to this book. Woo!
I also can't wait to see if the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones lives up to this book. Woo!
bborys's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ralfcazam's review against another edition
5.0
If your read the first one (A Game of Thrones), and liked it, then you should definetley read this one. It has the same continuous intrigue and multitude of characters. It also stays true to the lack of character invincubility. The main characters actually have a strong tendency to die (or at the very least be sorely wounded). It is well written and all in all a very good book.
cmehende's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ceevadee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
josiahadams's review against another edition
5.0
In fantasy series, you'll often see a steep decline in quality from the first to second novels. In a Clash of Kings, that is absolutely not the case. GRRM spins an all-encompassing tale that builds on the previous novel, including new POVs and worldbuilding, and leaves the reader yearning for A Storm of Swords.
The thing that stands out about A Game of Thrones is the political intrigue, and that component remains a large part in the second novel. The introduction of new factions like the Iron Islands and Highgarden fastens in new interesting plotlines that result in drastic consequences; additionally, in a ACOK, GRRM includes large-scale warfare that was absent from the first novel.
Now let's talk about the characters.
I enjoyed every POV in this novel, but my favorite storylines were a toss-up between these four: Theon, Davos/Tyrion, and Sansa. Theon is one of the more underrated characters in the books, and while he does get his flowers later down the line, alot of his characterization is glossed over in this novel. His internal struggle between Balon and Robb paints him as an increasingly complex character who is aware of his every action, but is blinded by the false promise of love. I enjoyed Davos mainly because we get to see Stannis through his POV. Stannis Baratheon... what a depiction of a king. Absolutely unwavering in his justice, I found myself rooting for Stannis throughout the entire novel. With Tyrion, we continue to see the dynamics between him and his family, and also a frontline depiction of the Blackwater. The fourth character is Sansa, who was admittedly quite annoying in the first novel. However, her slow-burning development as she treads the palaces of King's Landing is incredible. Gone is the naive and unburdened girl we saw at the start of the series. Sansa has begun her ascension towards womanhood, and as a lady of House Stark.
GRRM also includes several new aspects of the 'fantasy' element into ACOK; Melisandre being the cog that details the strange and dark magic of Westeros, and Daenerys' continued conquest in the East proves the absolute power that dragons wield in the current day. Unlike alot of series, GRRM does not place too much emphasis on the magic trope, which I greatly appreciate.
Next, the Battle of the Blackwater.
The show does not do Tyrion justice; the little man can fight! Blackwater also proves Tyrion's incredible intellect. Without Tyrion, the power dynamic of this world would look quite different. I enjoyed GRRM's depictions of the battle, and the tiny details that the show left out, such as the ships creating a bridge to the shore and Tyrion dropping the chain. The battle made for an incredibly engaging read.
Overall, A Clash of Kings only builds upon the success of the first novel, leading most readers urging to pick up the third installment. Looking back on the greatness of this novel, it is a little crazy in retrospect to realize that this novel was largely just a build-up towards A Storm of Swords; and what a build-up it was.
10/10.
The thing that stands out about A Game of Thrones is the political intrigue, and that component remains a large part in the second novel. The introduction of new factions like the Iron Islands and Highgarden fastens in new interesting plotlines that result in drastic consequences; additionally, in a ACOK, GRRM includes large-scale warfare that was absent from the first novel.
Now let's talk about the characters.
I enjoyed every POV in this novel, but my favorite storylines were a toss-up between these four: Theon, Davos/Tyrion, and Sansa. Theon is one of the more underrated characters in the books, and while he does get his flowers later down the line, alot of his characterization is glossed over in this novel. His internal struggle between Balon and Robb paints him as an increasingly complex character who is aware of his every action, but is blinded by the false promise of love. I enjoyed Davos mainly because we get to see Stannis through his POV. Stannis Baratheon... what a depiction of a king. Absolutely unwavering in his justice, I found myself rooting for Stannis throughout the entire novel. With Tyrion, we continue to see the dynamics between him and his family, and also a frontline depiction of the Blackwater. The fourth character is Sansa, who was admittedly quite annoying in the first novel. However, her slow-burning development as she treads the palaces of King's Landing is incredible. Gone is the naive and unburdened girl we saw at the start of the series. Sansa has begun her ascension towards womanhood, and as a lady of House Stark.
GRRM also includes several new aspects of the 'fantasy' element into ACOK; Melisandre being the cog that details the strange and dark magic of Westeros, and Daenerys' continued conquest in the East proves the absolute power that dragons wield in the current day. Unlike alot of series, GRRM does not place too much emphasis on the magic trope, which I greatly appreciate.
Next, the Battle of the Blackwater.
The show does not do Tyrion justice; the little man can fight! Blackwater also proves Tyrion's incredible intellect. Without Tyrion, the power dynamic of this world would look quite different. I enjoyed GRRM's depictions of the battle, and the tiny details that the show left out, such as the ships creating a bridge to the shore and Tyrion dropping the chain. The battle made for an incredibly engaging read.
Overall, A Clash of Kings only builds upon the success of the first novel, leading most readers urging to pick up the third installment. Looking back on the greatness of this novel, it is a little crazy in retrospect to realize that this novel was largely just a build-up towards A Storm of Swords; and what a build-up it was.
10/10.