**Re-Read**

I freaking finished it! I have to admit that I have watched and even own the boxsets of all the shows up to the current one. However, I can't watch the latest one because I don't have HBO! But I digress. There really isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said. So, I will just add a few excerpts, some pictures, and some thoughts. That stuff.

I love Jon Snow It seems like he didn't have much in the book. A few of the characters I love didn't have a lot of things going on in this book. But they will be back.

--->EXCERPT<---
The Dothraki named the comet shierak qiya, the Bleeding Star. The old men muttered that it omened ill, but Daenerys Targaryen had seen it first on the night she burned Khal Drogo, the night her dragons had awakened. It is the herald of my coming, she told herself as she gazed up into the night sky with wonder in her heart. The gods have sent it to show me the way.

I love Daenerys.

--->EXCERPT<---
Arya looked down at her ragged clothes and bare feet, all cracked and callused. She saw the dirt under her nails, the scabs on her elbows, the scratches on her hands. Septa Mordane wouldn't even know me. I bet Sansa might, but she'd pretend not to. "My mother's a lady, and my sister, but I never was."
"Yes, you were. You were a lord's daughter and you lived in a castle, didn't you? And you... gods be good, I never..." All of the sudden Gendry seemed uncertain, almost afraid. "All that about cocks, I never should have said that. And I been pissing in front of you and everything, I...I beg your pardon, m'Lady."

I love Arya :-)

There really is no point in loving anyone in these books or shows because they all die! I found a lot of the book boring and drawn out. I guess when it's not about the people you really like it's sort of... yawn. I loved how most of the book was about Tyrion. Or it seemed that way to me. I Love Tyrion.

Because Tyrion is too cool.

and he does this ↓

And Brienne finally arrives on the scene. I love her too :-) and Bran

to all of you I have loved before and still love, you will all die and I will miss you and I will hate that episode and so forth and so on!

and stop killing my damn wolves!

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

Song of Ice and Fire book 2, and I assume season 2 of the great HBO series. After the downfall of King Robert and his Hand, Joffrey ascends the Iron Throne. Here, we witness a clash of kings, and the Seven Kingdoms transform into a vast battleground. However, we have yet to hear that dragons have once again condescended to grace the world. This series possibly has the largest and yet extremely well-developed cast in any book or series I have ever read. It is superb. I can't wait for Book 3 to arrive! I rate it 9 out of 12, and the same goes for the 2015 reread.

In 2012, I read this book, and in 2015, I read it again. The story continues to captivate me with its complex characters, intricate plotlines, and vivid descriptions of a world filled with political intrigue, power struggles, and magic. The clash of kings adds an extra layer of excitement and drama, as each contender vies for the throne and the right to rule the Seven Kingdoms. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in this amazing series.

"Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less."

If A Game of Thrones was like the gentle introduction that carefully introduced the characters and set the stage for the exciting trials and conflicts to come, then A Clash of Kings is the fierce and battle-fueled sibling.

Four ambitious men are vying to seize the Iron Throne from the current king who sits upon it. Meanwhile, Daenerys, in the east with her Khalasar, is not only searching for ships but also growing more renowned each day as the Mother of Dragons.

We are also introduced to the new and mysterious religion of The Lord of Light, which is powered by the Red Priestesses and has the ability to strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest.

"For the night is dark and full of terrors."

All the characters have left their previous locations, whether for better or for worse. The entire Stark family has been torn apart and separated. New loyalties are being formed, while old ones are being shattered. Fights are initiated and some are won, but this is just the beginning of a long and arduous journey.

"A day will come when you think yourself happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you'll know the debt is paid"

The Lannisters still maintain their hold on Kings Landing, but for how much longer can they withstand the various threats and challenges that come their way?

A Song of Ice and Fire is truly the only series that has the power to continuously surprise and shock me. We never know what lies around the next corner or who will still be alive in a world where everyone is out for themselves and their own interests.

"If you step in a nest of snakes, does it matter which one bites you first?"

As if I could rate this series any less than 5 stars! It is an outstanding work of fantasy with remarkable world-building. There is an entire army of characters who ebb and flow in importance as the story progresses. I am completely entranced by it all. The magic within the series just keeps getting better and better, drawing me deeper and deeper into its captivating world.

"Valar Morghulis"

After there were several kings, their number gradually decreased.

There was a fierce battle with a charming style. Some kingdoms fell and others rose, and the battle continued.

The fate of the Stark family became unknown after the family split.

It is one of the most wonderful fantasy novels and I am eager to read the third part, "Storm of Swords".

This story takes us into a world full of mystery and adventure. The changing fates of the characters keep us on the edge of our seats. We wonder what will happen next to the Stark family and how the battles between the kingdoms will end. The author's vivid descriptions make us feel as if we are right there in the story, experiencing all the excitement and drama. "Storm of Swords" is sure to be another thrilling installment in this amazing series.

Ashore, the arms of the great trebuchets rose one, two, three, and a hundred stones climbed high into the yellow sky. Each one was as large as a man’s head; when they fell they sent up great gouts of water, smashed through oak planking, and turned living men into bone and pulp and gristle. All across the river the first line was engaged. Grappling hooks were flung out, iron rams crashed through wooden hulls, boarders swarmed, flights of arrows whispered through each other in the drifting smoke, and men died…

This vivid description from George R.R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings" sets the stage for a world of intense conflict and drama. When I first picked up Martin's "Thrones", the first installment in his "Song of Ice and Fire" cycle, I had no expectations. I'd watched the first ten minutes of the "Game of Thrones" television series and was intrigued enough by an early decapitation to give the book a try.

To my surprise, "A Game of Thrones" was good in a way I hadn't anticipated. I discovered a fascinating world of complex characters, unique weather patterns, and a social system burdened by its own convoluted history. About halfway through, I found myself hooked and immediately ordered the next volume, "A Clash of Kings".

However, back in those days before free two-day shipping, I had to wait for the book to arrive. This led to a strange addiction-like state. I started refusing to eat anything that wasn't skewered, drank only wine from a flagon, and even bought a sword at a Ren Faire and practiced with it. When the book finally came, my expectations were sky-high.

In "A Clash of Kings", Martin does not disappoint. The story picks up where "A Game of Thrones" left off, with a scramble for the throne after the deaths of King Robert and his Hand, Ned Stark. Martin begins with a prologue starring Stannis Baratheon's maester, setting the stage for the religious and political turmoil to come.

The novel is written in the third-person limited style, with alternating chapters from the viewpoints of nine characters. This structure serves an important purpose by defining the boundaries of the story and limiting its scope. However, it also has drawbacks. Some of the best characters disappear for long periods of time, and the action is often told through hearsay, which can be frustrating.
Despite these flaws, "A Clash of Kings" is a worthy entry in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series. The final third of the novel is filled with unexpected plot developments, shocking surprises, and epic battles that make up for any slow moments earlier in the book. While it may not have the reputation of some of the other installments, it effectively sets up the events that will unfold in the later books.

Everyone seems to be in agreement that George R.R. Martin and his "A Song of Ice and Fire" are absolute titans within the genre of Epic Fantasy. This is indeed very true.

Likewise, everyone also appears to concur that the best characters are Tyrion, Arya, and Jon Snow. They are truly remarkable characters and can be considered heroes. Although they fail numerous times, in a sense they are infallible as they are incredibly sympathetic. They are constantly striving to do the right thing and possess qualities such as kindness, empathy, bravery, and loyalty. In fact, nearly every voice in the first two novels is of this heroic type. Sansa is one exception, as she is a victim, and her perspective can be quite uncomfortable. However, I found the story of the novel's other non-hero, who is barely even an anti-hero, to be particularly captivating: Theon Greyjoy. You're the bomb, Theon.

Theon is an asshole. He is a smug and irritating one at that. He believes he is smarter than everyone else and makes elaborate plans that seem to be based solely on the idea that because he is thinking them, they will surely come to pass. He is arrogantly confident beyond belief. He has an annoying, self-pleased smirk whenever another character describes him. He is a rough sex-loving womanizer who strings girls along. In the first novel, he even kicks around a decapitated head like a soccer ball.

My favorite Theon part is when he is getting a blowjob while thinking about how awesome his future successes will be. And then he climaxes as he contemplates how his great deeds will even overshadow those of his dear old dad. What a self-absorbed asshole! I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

And yet, he also has positive qualities. He is not a one-dimensional character. He has feelings of loyalty that sometimes cause him guilt. He is brave, quick-thinking, and not a kiss-ass. His rapid response time saves a child's life. Unlike his men, he doesn't enjoy cruelty or barbarism and actively tries to prevent them from happening. He is repeatedly thwarted but never lets that stop him. He sees no point in the grim vendettas of the old. He is not, as they say, "all bad". In Theon, perhaps the influence of the Starks' upbringing has had some slight impact on the nature of the Greyjoys.

I truly appreciate that Martin included Theon's voice because, to be honest, reading nothing but heroic perspectives can be enough to make me want to cut some throats. Theon is an asshole, but he's the kind of guy I'd love to have a beer with, shoot the breeze, and enjoy his various mean-spirited bitching and self-absorbed plans of conquest. He is seriously imperfect, quite unlike most of the other characters in the story.

In this review, we will explore some of the events in this amazing fantasy epic, "A Song of Ice and Fire," which we started with the game of thrones. Here, the seven kingdoms are at war, a brutal conflict that tears the land apart and kills the innocent. The sons of summer engage in a bloody winter war. Alliances are formed, and betrayals are discovered, all in the name of the Iron Throne and various interests and ambitions.

Five kings divide the kingdoms among them: Robb Stark, the king in the north, seeking vengeance for his departed father, Lord of the North. King Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark, who is accused of treason and plotting for the throne after Robert's death. Joffrey Baratheon, the illegitimate son of Queen Cersei and her brother Jaime Lannister, believed by all to be Robert's son, and who wages a fierce war for his mother, Tywin Lannister. Renly Baratheon, the king in the south, who was mysteriously assassinated by dark magic. Stannis Baratheon, the king in the narrow sea, the rightful heir to his brother Robert. And Balon Greyjoy, the former rebel on the Iron Throne, who proclaims himself king of the Iron Islands and the north. No one yet knows of the existence of the sixth queen beyond the sea, Daenerys Targaryen the First! And no one yet knows of the real danger that threatens the seven kingdoms! The cold danger that has awakened after thousands of years! The danger beyond the Wall!

In this part, many new characters are introduced, and the spotlight is also shone on other characters we met in the first part. Stannis Baratheon and his family and lords appear, as well as the Red Priestess, Melisandre the Shadowbinder, who had a significant role in changing the course of events. Theon Greyjoy, the traitorous wretch who turned on the Stark family and seized Winterfell! Jaqen H'ghar, the Lorathi prisoner who helped Arya Stark in many situations. Gendry, Robert Baratheon's bastard. Brienne of Tarth, from the king's personal guard Renly, and then became Catelyn Stark's escort. Loras Tyrell, Margaery Tyrell, Asha Greyjoy. Ramsay Snow, and many others.

George Martin has an extraordinary ability to describe characters and depict them realistically as if they were real living people, very close to the reader, not just fictional characters on paper. He observes what goes on within them and in their minds amazingly, so we cannot easily decide whether this character or that is good or evil! Because this is the true nature of man, there is no completely good or completely evil person! Rather, the human soul is torn by all desires, impulses, and emotions! And in my opinion, Martin is a genius in this regard. We discover in this part many secrets and stories from the past that cast their shadows on the present and the future, and may justify the actions of some characters.

It is truly a waste of time trying to write a review of this magical, wonderful epic born of the creativity and ingenuity of one of the most alive human minds. I thank the translator Hisham Fahmy for the great effort he has made to give the Arab reader the opportunity to read this magic, and the translation is of a very high level of quality and professionalism.

I can't believe it's over so quickly! Looking forward to what the events will reveal in the next part.

The second reading date is August 31, 2019.

Not for me.

The very thought of attempting to sit down and actually read another one of these things scared the daylights out of me. So, I decided to give listening to it a try instead. However, after approximately 30 minutes, it became abundantly clear that this just wasn't going to work. My mind started to wander aimlessly, and I simply couldn't maintain any interest whatsoever in the characters.

I'm sure they are a lovely bunch of books. But at this particular moment in time, this just isn't my cup of tea.

Maybe in the future, I'll give them another chance. But for now, I'm going to move on and find something else that suits my taste better.

My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.

A Clash of Kings, the second epic volume of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, is truly a masterclass in grimdark fantasy. It manages to enhance the already outstanding first volume, A Game of Thrones, in every possible aspect. Having firmly established the key characters in the first book, A Clash of Kings immediately plunges into the action and never relents.

The scope of this novel is truly enormous. Six warring families are all vying for power in the wake of the deaths of King Robert Baratheon and Lord Eddard Stark. The intense battles and strategic maneuvering among these families are accompanied by a healthy dose of intrafamily drama and betrayal.

Although the storylines are sprawling, they are presented from the perspectives of a vibrant cast of well-developed characters, which makes them highly effective. All the point-of-view characters from A Game of Thrones are retained, except for Eddard Stark. Additionally, there are two new characters: Theon Greyjoy and Ser Davos Seaworth. Theon is the more intriguing of the two, and his sister, Asha Greyjoy, is a delight.

Davos serves as a means to learn about King Robert's brother, Lord Stannis Baratheon, who proclaims himself the rightful King of Westeros. These chapters also introduce us to Melisandre, a red priestess and powerful shadowbinder in the service of Lord Stannis. She is one of the most captivating new characters in A Clash of Kings, adding further elements of magic to the story.

The real star of A Clash of Kings is Tyrion Lannister, who has been appointed by his father to serve as Hand for King Joffrey. Over the course of fifteen chapters, Tyrion becomes the most fully realized character in the series so far. Always witty and perceptive, Tyrion is a cunning master of political maneuvering, especially when facing his sister, Queen Cersei. He also has a warm heart. His love for Shae is particularly touching, as are his attempts to protect Sansa Stark.

Poor Sansa. She is betrothed to the temperamental boy-king Joffrey, who physically and psychologically abuses her. Sansa is essentially a hostage and used as a bargaining chip by the Lannister family in their attempt to free Jaime Lannister. Although initially presented as a rather superficial character in A Game of Thrones, Sansa grows significantly during A Clash of Kings and begins to understand how she is being manipulated by the Lannisters.

Sansa's younger sister, Arya, receives much more focus in A Clash of Kings compared to the previous book. Arya has escaped the clutches of the Lannister family and now assumes various false identities as she tries to find her way back to her own family. Arya spends much of the book disguised as a peasant boy, Arry, striving to survive in the cruel world of Westeros.

Meanwhile, Bran Stark oversees Winterfell while his brother Robb, now King of the North, leads their military campaign. Bran has developed a mental bond with his direwolf, Summer, which gives him unusually realistic dreams from the direwolf's perspective. He soon discovers that the bond with Summer is much deeper than he originally thought.

Further north, Jon Snow helps lead the Night Watch's exploration beyond the Wall to investigate the disappearance of several rangers, including Benjen Stark. Like Bran, Jon develops a powerful bond with his direwolf, Ghost, enabling him to control the direwolf's actions.

Of the main characters established in A Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen is the only one who receives significantly less page time in A Clash of Kings. Daenerys has named her baby dragons after her deceased husband and brothers and spends most of A Clash of Kings laying the groundwork for an eventual return to power in Westeros.

A Clash of Kings is a treat for grimdark fans, masterfully building upon the already solid foundation of A Game of Thrones while taking the story and characters to new heights.

A blood-red comet cleaves the sky, laden with ill omens. And there are more than enough reasons to think so: the Seven Kingdoms are rocked by the internal struggles among the nobles for the succession to the Iron Throne.

On the other side of the Narrow Sea, the princess Daenerys Targaryen leads her people of wild riders through the desert. And in the frozen wastelands of the north, beyond the Wall, an implacable army is advancing towards a territory ravaged by chaos and fratricidal wars.

George R.R. Martin, with a firm and energetic hand, delights us with a brilliant display of characters, interweaving a rich, dense, and surprising plot. He makes us witnesses of fratricidal battles, intrigues, and palace betrayals in a land cursed by war, where hidden forces rise again and lurk to reign in the nights of the long winter that is approaching.

Don't expect any kind of happiness in this book. Martin is very merciless with his characters. As some of them are.

If you think you see a bright light or a happily ever after, don't trust it. Everything will go to hell. A lot of tension builds up from the uncertainty. Almost everyone is defenseless, so the resolution is always unpredictable. You never know what's going to happen and that this happens in a world as vast as Westeros with so many well-developed characters, to the tiniest detail, is something very difficult to achieve.

You think you know someone, and then you read the second book and they've changed. Some were more exciting for me in this book than in the first.

I think I enjoyed the first book more because I was interested in the corruption of a Westeros that seemed stable. This one was longer and I admit that I didn't like Bran's parts until the end. Tyrion, as in the first book, conquered the whole book. Jon Snow, I like his plot and especially where it's going.

But everything else that completely captivated me from the first book, the complex and very endearing characters, the mystery and the intrigue, the moments when honor, family, love, and pride seem to contradict each other, with each chapter, I got more and more involved.

I took away a star because everyone agrees that the next "A Storm of Swords" is the "best" of the saga. And because, although the reading was very good, it took me a long time to read it.

What more can I say that I haven't already said in the review of the first one, and that by now in the year 2023 of our Lord is not already known. Yes, that I came late to the party..

But damn if I'm enjoying it. Afterward, I'll join the group "George, give me the sixth book already.. please. The famous winds of winter, I don't know if they'll blow, but the clock has been ticking for too long"..⏳️✍️

My brain is completely fried xD. I've been reading like a crazy person! I don't even take the time to sleep. All I do is read.

These books are just so incredibly addictive!! You simply HAVE to know what happens next, and that's what keeps me up at night. Damn you, Martin!! :P

I can't put these books down. They have me completely hooked. Every page turn is a new adventure, a new mystery to solve. I find myself losing track of time, completely immersed in the fictional worlds that Martin has created.

I know I should probably take a break and get some rest, but I just can't help myself. The urge to know what comes next is too strong. I'll just have to deal with the consequences of my lack of sleep tomorrow. For now, I'm going to keep reading and see where this journey takes me.

It was precisely at the beginning of George R. R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings, the second installment in his A Song of Ice and Fire series, that I confessed to myself that I desired to resign from my job and abandon everything else in my life, just so I could remain at home and read all day long. However, I managed to resist this urge. I am still not entirely certain whether I made the correct decision.

You believe you know someone, and then you read the second book about her (or him). Although, for the most part, the transformations of the female characters were more thrilling for me in this book. Excluding the most ingenious and entertaining character who toddled through the pages of a fantasy book, and whose name shall remain unmentioned so as not to spoil the fact that he survived the first book. Okay, perhaps I have given it away a little. It is not that the characters underwent any unrealistic alterations; rather, it is simply that Martin allowed us to become better acquainted with them, and we got to observe how they reacted to novel situations. Or at least that is what I experienced. You may not have even read A Clash of Kings yet. That is your loss.

I think I enjoyed the first book more because the gradual corruption of an innocent and stable world intrigued me. But everything else that completely captivated me in the first book – the complex and endearing characters, the mystery and intrigue, the moments when honor, family, love, and pride all seemed to be in conflict with one another – was present in the second book as well, and was enhanced because, with each passing chapter, I became increasingly invested.

Do not embark on this series unless you are prepared to dedicate yourself to reading every published book of it. I have no idea what I will do when I have completed the fourth book and have to sit around waiting for Martin to write and publish the rest. That will indeed be a very, very sad day.

Quotes!

“Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.”

“He who hurries through life hurries to his grave.”

“A good lord comforts and protects the weak and helpless.”

“When we speak of the morrow nothing is ever certain.”

“Only a fool humbles himself when the world is so full of men eager to do that job for him.”

\\"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up.\\"

\\"There's no shame in fear... what matters is how we face it.\\"

\\"A man agrees with god as a raindrop with the storm.\\"

\\"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say.\\"

\\"The best lies contain within them nuggets of truth, enough to give a listener pause.\\"

\\"Oh, to be sure, there is much we do not understand. The years pass in their hundreds and their thousands, and what does any man see of life but a few summers, a few winters? We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem... but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea... Everything changes.\\"

\\"The unseen enemy is always the most fearsome.\\"