To Their Kingdoms or Their Graves

"For when kings clash, the whole land trembles."

When the blood of the comet cuts through the sky, everyone feels it's a sign. But interpretations vary to the six people who fight for the right to call themselves King... or Queen. Those who worship the old gods, the new gods, and the Lord of Light, among others, all know that this comet has come to show them the way.

Zirconicusso

To their kingdoms or their graves.

The second novel in the series A Song of Fire and Ice, A Clash of Kings picks up where A Game of Thrones ended, revealing betrayal, war, magic, history, loyalty, and revenge. When each action claims several consequences, the throne isn't as easy to sit upon as some would like to think.

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George R.R. Martin's A Clash of Kings is a novel that shows no favorites and deafens to the sound of mercy. The struggle for the kingdom is chaos and everyone fighting for the land believes they're the one who should sit The Iron Throne. And all of them have good reason. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, although I found myself getting a little lost at times, trying to keep up with the various plot lines that carry through the novel. The world that Martin creates is so multi-dimensional that it's histories, characters, and motives are more than relatable. They're understandable. 

I was able to form a bond with various characters, whether I had sided with their cause or not. Martin makes it difficult to choose one ally and remain loyal throughout the entire story. The people I thought were villains at the beginning, had my understanding and respect by the end. (I'm still all for Winterfell, though, so don't worry)

But winter is still coming, and the Iron Throne is the fire that promises warmth.

       
        A Clash of Kings
                               on Amazon
                 
                            rating: 3/5 cups

Teaser Tuesday (4)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

A Clash of Kings (p. 405)
         - George R.R. Martin

"Spade?" Ser Alliser narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"If you bury your dead, they won't come walking," Tyrion told him, and the court laughed openly. 

Should Be Reading @ Wordpress

Gypsy Boy and Gentle Girl

Since childhood they have loved each other.
Win, the only one able to bring calm to Kev.
Kev, the one who doesn't believe he's worthy of Win's love.

Simon Howden

When Kev, a gypsy boy, is found by Win's father, he brings Kev home to be cared for and raised as one of his own in Lisa Kleypas' novel Seduce Me at Sunrise. Win is a gentle girl and as soon as Kev lays eyes on her, he knows he could never live without her. But a gypsy boy and a lady in society should never, could never, be together.

Then Win grows sick, severely weakened, the only answer a hospital in France. She would stay if Kev would only ask, but he knows he cannot, no matter how much they love each other.

But things change quickly when she returns to England - healthy. With a handsome doctor in tow who has his eyes set on marrying Win.

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Lisa Kleypas does yet another wonderful job in telling this love story. The reader can form a connection with Win almost immediately. The young girl who will do anything for love, but is unable because of something she cannot control. Readers will find themselves thinking as Win, struggling for a life of their own without the air of sickness and pity, and demanding charge of herself. A woman who wants to make her own decisions, strike out for what she wants, and damn what others want for her. 

Yet, stubbornness gets in the way, as it seems to want to do. Kev doesn't want to take any chances with Win in which she might be worse off. Therefore he ignores her love, or tries to. Stubbornness at its best. And though readers can connect with his fear of love and the unknown outcome, I'm sure they'll side with the other family members in wanting to scream "What in the hell are you doing?" and in turn, slap some sense into Kev.

  Seduce Me at Sunrise
                          on Amazon
             
                       rating: 4/5 cups

You Either Win or Die

It's a game unlike no other. A gamble with the roll of a dice.
"When you play the game of thrones, you either win or die."

The games take hold when an unexpected death breathes whispers of murder, revolt, and war.

Podpad

Lord Eddard Stark is asked to become the King's Hand, a respected position whose main responsibilities are counseling the King, carrying out his orders, and ruling the kingdom when he's away. Lord Eddard, who loves King Robert like a brother, cannot refuse the request, even though he knows the last King's Hand was the one murdered...

With the story centering around the Stark house, the family members take the main perspectives of the novel. (Though not the only perspectives as other characters are also given a chance to tell their tales.) With each chapter covering a different view of the Seven Kingdoms, everyone plays a part in this chess match, where one wrong move can mean death, while Eddard tries to discover why the last Hand was murdered before it's too late.

Meanwhile, across the sea, the last members of the dragon born are awaiting their chance to take back their land, the Seven Kingdoms. Before the current King Robert, the dragon born ruled. A war brought their end, with only two children surviving to carry on the name. And they seek their revenge.

Above the wall, the northern boundary of the Seven Kingdoms, men are dying, only to come back to life and fight. With black hands and ice blue eyes, the Others, a mere fairy tale, seem to be re-appearing, if they ever existed at all...

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Throughout the first installment of George R.R. Martin's series, A Game of Thrones, various characters take the role of main character. Each character carries the plot forward with different perspectives, showing the reader what they need to know, and allowing them to draw their own conclusions.

The entire novel was a joust with lies and betrayal battling honor and loyalty.

Podpad

The best and worst part of this novel was the amount of detail. A detail from chapter two made all the difference in chapter ten. Remembering every minute piece of information was a bit tedious, but it made the novel all the better. It made each motive understandable. Each event believable. And each character relatable. 

The amount of detail also makes the characters true to life. They have flaws and their own reasons behind their actions. Martin gives the reader a glimpse into their role of the game without allowing the reader to accurately predict their next move. Interesting and intriguing.

Of course I had my favorite character, Arya. Who I like to refer to as, the little-ninja-trouble-making-girl. A character of my own heart. And the one I'm most worried about for the second book.

A Game of Thrones 
                           on Amazon
               
                        rating: 4/5 cups