George, not Steve. Great book though.Originally Posted by Nominus Experse
A Clash of Kings, by Steve R. R. Martin
The book expands on the fully realized world that Steve set forth in his first installment of the series - A Game of Thrones. What was ripe and interesting in the first installment is now utterly undeniable intrigue: the politics are slippery, cruel in times and horribly ambivalent; the warring grisly but also described in a fashion that can call upon the realms of romanticism, horror, surrealism, and/or the drunken madness of battle fever, a feat that leaves one thirsting, exhilarated and haunted; the characters are personal and human; and the grand sweeping vastness of a world and its characters struggling in a world with newly awakened powers calls upon a single word: epic. Where other authors may have relied upon magicks and tricks to serve the purpose of fantastic intrigue, Martin instead flowers a beautiful and yet darkly cast fantasy reminiscent of Medieval Europe and its surrounding areas.
Of all its hundreds of pages, I was unable to leave the book for long. So truly I was absorbed by its story.
There are long lists of characters, houses, and histories; yet, these play a prominent role within the story, disallowing one to simply dismiss them as simple lists to be rushed by. Within the names comes a story in of itself, and to be cast into a world where names act as people is a welcome thing.
Love and lust intertwine; fantasy and the harsh reality of the chaotic, harrowing world weave; religion and philosophy are discussed... there is little - if nothing - that this book does not touch.
It is a feast that leaves one hungrier for the next course, whether that be the next page, chapter, or installment.
9/10
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