Like the previous book, A Clash of Kings alternates between characters with each chapter. This one takes the reader through the eyes of nine characters, some of them different from those narrating in A Game of Thrones.
Due to the number of characters and complex, but intriguing, plotline, readers unfamiliar with the series must read A Game of Thrones before they begin A Clash of Kings. Some events that took place in the first novel will be revealed in the course of this review.
A Battle Between Kings
After the death of the king several men begin to vie for the throne of Westeros. Two are the brothers of the dead king, Stannis and Renly. Each is convinced that he is the rightful king, despite the fact their young nephew Joffery Baratheon now sits on the throne of his late father with his mother Cersei Lannister guiding him. The knight Davos Seaworth narrates some of the chapters as he serves Stannis.
Robb Stark in the north claims his father's title as Lord of Winterfell and moves out his army against the Lannisters. He seeks an alliance with House Greyjoy, masters of the ocean and naval warfare. Not only do the Greyjoys refuse they enter the battle as well. One of the narrating characters is young Theon Greyjoy, a former ward of the Starks. Once again Tyrion adds his own point of view to the mix, giving readers an up-close and personal look at the Lannisters and their devious plots.
A Family Divided and Scattered
After the events in the previous novel the Stark family was divided. Robb and his mother Catelyn, one of the POV characters, travel with his army. Young Sansa is imprisoned by the Lannisters and betrothed to Joffery. The other Stark sister, Arya, has escaped and is declared dead. Bran, now crippled, holds Winterfell for his elder brother but is plagued by strange dreams. All three of them narrate their own chapters.
The reader is drawn in as each Stark child faces his or her own battle and grows. Sansa begins to learn there is more to life than pretty dresses while Arya faces horror after horror as she masquerades as a boy to escape detection. Alone with young Rickon in the North Bran's dreams seem to be more than mere dreams.
On the Wall in the North
Jon Snow, another POV character, is earning his place as a man of the Night's Watch. But on a scouting mission to asses the growing threat of the Wildlings Jon and his partner Halfhand are hunted. The only way to escape the Wildlings and warn the Night's Watch of the massive approaching army is to break his vows to the Wall and become a Wildling himself!
Even as the Kings fight below the wall, the Others continue to press in on the Wildlings and the Night's Watch. Jon is afraid that if the warring armies do not unite soon then the Others and the Wildings will sweep across Westeros and destroy it.
Dragons and an Army in the East
Daenerys Targaryen, the last living descendant of the royal family, continues to gather her army. Her three dragons, hatched in the funeral pyre of her husband, are drawing both allies and enemies to her.
She makes her way across the eastern continent, awaiting her triumphant return to King's Landing where she will kill Jaime Lannister, the man who killed her father, and take her throne. Daenerys is another voice in the novel.
A Fantastic Sequel with a Great Plot
Fans of the first novel will be grabbing this one the moment they finish! A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin is intense, fast-paced, and will thrill readers. Published by Bantam Books in 1999, A Clash of Kings is a must-read for any avid reader.
The book builds upon the scattered chaos left by the events in A Game of Thrones and readers can never be sure of which characters are good and which are bad. And now, readers will no that no character is safe of the axe of Martin! A Clash of Kings, ISBN 0-553-57990-8, will have readers begging for more.
Katie Ouderkirk - Katie Ouderkirk started working at a barn when she was ten. As the years went on she worked at a number of different barns, two zoos, and ...
Join the Conversation