Saturday, October 22, 2011

A Clash of Kings, by George R. R. Martin

A Clash of Kings, by George R. R. Martin

The second book in Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series delivers a strong chapter in the political turmoil of the Seven Kingdoms. Tyrion’s character is fleshed out quite a bit, almost redeemed entirely in the eyes of the reader as he is shown to be both cunning and compassionate while maintaining the ruthlessness needed to run a country at war. His sister Cersei doesn’t fare as well, becoming even more of a one-dimensional shrew than depicted in the first book if possible. The four would-be kings battling across the continent is a compelling story, but every time the action goes east to follow Daenerys it drags considerably. Her story will obviously cross with the rest in some future book (although at Martin’s pace, it could be many, many novels away!) so there is plenty of time to save this thread.

Overall, though: another 1000 pages, another winner.

First Sentence:
The comet’s tail spread across the dawn, a red slash that bled above the crags of Dragonstone like a wound in the pink and purple sky.

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