From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

George R.R. Martin

Start date: March 1, 2015

Finish date: March 31, 2015

Discussion: 2015 Challenge Prompts

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2015 Challenge Prompts

Prompt 25: A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
By Ann · 67 posts · 992 views

last updated Jan 17, 2023 03:51PM

Prompt 39: A book with magic
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last updated Jan 02, 2019 05:46AM

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What Members Thought

Oct 06, 2008 Lydia Presley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, 2011

A Clash of Kings is just that - it's the story of King after King, each taking the title for himself and going to battle to defend his own crown and capture the others. There's death, there's gore, there's rape, there's plunder, there's magic and there's just some creepy stuff that had me wrinkling my nose and thinking about puppies and kittens to get away from the imagery.

While A Game of Thrones was more about politics and introducing the "game", the end prize being a crown, A Clash of Kings i A Clash of Kings is just that - it's the story of King after King, each taking the title for himself and going to battle to defend his own crown and capture the others. There's death, there's gore, there's rape, there's plunder, there's magic and there's just some creepy stuff that had me wrinkling my nose and thinking about puppies and kittens to get away from the imagery.

While A Game of Thrones was more about politics and introducing the "game", the end prize being a crown, A Clash of Kings is it's bloody younger brother. Gone are the pages upon pages of talk and introduction, these characters have now been solidly introduced and are biting at the bit for action - with the slight exception of one.

Tyrion Lannister, the "Imp", shines in this book. Honestly, I cannot decide whether to love or hate the dwarf. His cunning makes me admire him, his wit makes me want him to win (he's the only REALLY likeable character in the series aside from Renly - It's impossible not to like Renly) and he's the underdog, and I always cheer for the underdog.

But that means I'd have to forsake the noble Starks and how it kills me that the Starks and the Lannisters have done to each other the actions in this book. There is no going back there, no forgiveness.

And then, most of all, there is betrayal of the most magnificent sort. There is deaths, deaths that taught me, once again because I'd forgotten it from the first time I read these books, that you cannot become attached to any character because Martin does not hesitate to sacrifice them for the good of the story.

The only thing that really disturbs me about A Clash of Kings is the stories of Jon Snow and have Queen Daenerys. Dany's story is disturbing to the point of making me severely uncomfortable in reading it, and Jon's story seemed one gigantic setup to something even bigger and more amazing - but the set up was so long and drawn out I really struggled to keep my interest in it.

There's no doubt about it - Martin knows how to tell a story and how to make a person really get caught up in the lives of these fantasy characters. ...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Jennifer Medeiros rated it liked it

This series has been so talked about it is difficult to make independent judgments. I was not as captivated by this book as its predecessor, but I am still engaged in the lives of the Starks. Martin's storytelling ability does not dissipate in the sequel, but it does suffer from the sequel disease. You know what I'm talking about- the dragging out of plot line to carry you forward to the next book in the series, followed by the predictable cliffhanger to nudge the reader into book three. I will ...more

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