Sunday, November 22, 2009
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Fantasy Book Reviews

George R.R. Martin: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 2)

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The brothers of the once King Robert (now dead) are fighting amongst themselves. They share no wish to unite against the powers of the usurping Lannister’s. Despite the protests of Lady Stark.

The head of Lord Eddard Stark is rotting on a spike at King’s Landing and his suffering younger daughter, Sansa, is still betrothed to Cersei’s son, and disputed heir to the throne, Joffrey Lannister.

The stakes are getting higher as Joffrey has declared that anyone opposing him is guilty of treason. However, many of the other contenders to the throne are saying the same thing. Lord Eddard Stark’s son, Robb has taken on the mantle of King of the North, with his base in his ancestral home, Winterfell. Potentially splitting the kingdom in two.

Further North at The Wall (the last defence from the outsiders/free men) things are turning considerably worse. The "Crows" have sent an army out into the lawless wilderness where the inhabitants bow to no king. The way is perilous and they are forced to seek help from the strangest of places. John Snow (the bastard child of Eddard Stark) has sallied forth with the group, and finds out why these expeditions are always approached with trepidation.

But in these lands the biggest danger and fear is not the blade, the warring Lord’s or even the "others" or Free Men. The biggest fear is winter, and the Citadel has sent a white raven declaring summer’s end.

A Clash of Kings is an excellent sequel to A Games of Thrones. I felt it was darker than the first with more warfare, while maintaining the political interactions and intrigue. The story has settled down a little though, in as much as it comes across as being less busy (less balls in the air). But that could largely be due to my familiarity with the characters and Martin’s style. I'm now just waiting to get my hands on the third instalment, which I hope will live up to the standards already set by this excellent series.

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