Title: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)
Author: George R. R. Martin
Published by: Bantam Spectra
Published on: 16 November 1998
Pages: 1009
"Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them."
Chapter 3, Tyrion I
So I'm going to start this review by updating you with the current rumour that The Winds of Winter is set to be released in November 13, 2023. While it's still 2 years away and granted, 12 fucking years after A Dance with Dragons, I am feeling such a mixed emotion. Like, I want to be glad and everything, but 12 years of holding on to little to no hope leaves me with extreme trust issue with GRRM.
Aanyway, back to the book!
A Clash of Kings is the second installment in A Song of Ice and Fire series. Whereas A Game of Thrones starts off rather slow, ACoK immediately continues where the first book ended: the War of the Five Kings, Jon along with the Night's Watch rangers going Beyond the Wall in search of Benjen Stark, and Dany determined to conquer Westeros with her three dragons
But before that of course we get to read the prologue first, and the one with the honour is Maester Cressen, a maester in Dragonstone. After Robert's death, Stannis proclaimed hiself to be King because of course the psychotic blondie Joffrey wasn't Robert's biological son and technically Stannis was the next Baratheon in line. He was supported by Melisandre, more commonly known as the Red Priestess, a religion from far Essos that worshipped R'hllor, the Lord of Light. According to a well known prophecy, there would be a saviour-like figure named Azor Ahai who would save the world from eternal darkness. Melisandre believed it to be Stannis. With her power, she would do anything to ensure Stannis' path to the Iron Throne was nothing but smooth.
Meanwhile, the War of the Five Kings was raging. While Joffrey, Stannis, and Renly were fighting for the Iron Throne, Robb proclaimed himself King in the North, effectively ending House Stark's fealty to the Throne. Balon Greyjoy also did the same, as King of the Iron Islands. This would have been okay and well, yet he had to start with plundering the coast of the North, so of course that pissed Robb off. Oh, and Tyrion was acting Hand on behalf of Tywin. All was well, all was well.
Except not. Everyone's favourite protagonist (that includes GRRM, I kid you not), House Stark, proves once again how much of an honourable fool they could be. Robb decided to name Bran as Lord of Winterfell while he was off with his most competent army fighting the Lannisters in Riverrun. Then, to add sprinkle to the cake, he also sent Theon Greyjoy to the Iron Islands as an AMBASSADOR of the Starks.
Meanwhile, the Night's Watch rangers, under the command of Lord Commander Mormont, begun their search on the mysteries Beyond the Wall. They were in for a bit of a shock as almost every Wildling villages they discovered were basically empty, without any living thing, and no signs of attack or fight. According to Craster, a Wildling who often hosted Night's Watch rangers, these Wildlings were united under the command of Mance Rayder, who dubbed himself as the King Beyond the Wall. Their goal was simple: to invade the Wall. Lord Commander Mormont assigned a senior ranger, Qhorin Halfhand, with his team that included Jon Snow, to infiltrate these Wildlings.
While across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen and her Dothraky army walked through the desert of Essos with only the red commet as sign. After a long and tiring journey, with the death of some of her trustees, they were accepted in Qarth, an ancient port city in Essos. There, Dany learned a few mysteries of past and present that would prepare herself to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. But the problem still stands: how in the Seven Hells was she going to be able to return to Westeros? And what would become of Jon and Robb?
EGGLYSIS
I used to laugh at people who did not have the heart to continue reading the series past the first book, or even couldn't even go past the first season of the show. They'd told me that the twist was too dark and the series didn't spark hope as the usual fantasy books. I'd call them weak and missing out on so much.
Ten years later, and look who's laughing now.
GoT S8 never happened, never happened, no no no
While I'd like to discuss Dany's vision in the House of the Undying, do allow me to explain in a couple of paragraphs why the line that separates being honourable and being an utter fool is fairly nonexistent in Robb Stark's case.
I mean one could argue that as Bran was the second oldest Stark, hence it's a no-brainer for Robb to hand over the Lord of Winterfell title to him. Considering that Bran was just a boy who just got paralyzed, I think this wouldn't have been such an error in judgment had Robb didn't take MOST IF NOT ALL of his army South. Bran and Rickon were technically only left with old men, women, and basically people with little to no experience of fighting. This was such a blunder in and of itself already, then Robb had to send Theon to his bloody family representing the Starks. I mean, dude WTF??
This is Theon we're talking about. Theon Greyjoy. A boy who's been, in the crudest term possible, abducted and kept as hostage by the Starks to ensure the GREYJOY's fealty. Mate, am I the only one seeing the ridiculousness? Sure, he was being treated kindly, even considered Robb a brother, but dude's got loads of issues. He wasn't a Stark so no matter what he'd always feel like an outsider; then, sending him to the Greyjoys, his own family, his own blood, to represent the family that basically abducted him? And his mission was to ask Greyjoys to still swear fealty to the Starks? Robb, my man, how thick could you get??
On the other hand, there were other interesting things happening. The Night's Watch plot promises a great fantasy espionage side plot, and it was good seeing Jon's character development. The most interesting was, IMO, Dany's vision in the House of the Undying. I had a thorough discussion with my fellow little bookworm group about this, making crackpot theories and stuff. Most have been confirmed by the show, but let me highlight one that the show didn't touch and thus become the pinnacle that book fans hold on to.
Glowing like sunset, a red sword was raised in the hand of a blue-eyed king who cast no shadow. A cloth dragon swayed on poles amidst a cheering crowd. From a smoking tower, a great stone beast took wing, breathing shadow fire. . . . mother of dragons, slayer of lies . . .
- Chapter 48
In significant order, this was what we came up with as the meaning of these visions:
The best guest is Stannis—he is shadowless as he had made shadow babies with Mel to kill Renly and Ser Penrose in ACoK. The red sword refers to his fake Lightbringer.
It is Young Griff. For those of you who have no clue who Young Griff is, he's basically a very important character that shows up in ADwD, whose identity was a mystery but most in the fandom know who he actually is.
This ties with with Shireen's dreams about the stone dragons in Dragonstone coming to life and eating here, as well as Mel trying to wake the stone dragons in Dragonstone in ASoS.
Note that these have the same "mother of dragons, slayer of lies" theme. Stannis is the fake Azor Ahai and Mel was trying to awaken fake dragons. Dany will somehow have a hand in proving that all three are lies.
. . . Her silver was trotting through the grass, to a darkling stream beneath a sea of stars. A corpse stood at the prow of a ship, eyes bright in his dead face, grey lips smiling sadly. A blue flower grew from a chink in a wall of ice, and filled the air with sweetness. . . . mother of dragons, bride of fire . . .
- Chapter 48
This scene was Dany's wedding night to Drogo, so I presume this vision was to remind her of her first love and husband, Khal Drogo.
This could be anyone from Maester Aemon to Euron or Victarion Greyjoy.
This refers to Jon Snow, and pretty much confirms that his mother was Lyanna Stark. Lyanna was associated with blue roses. Some have went on to argue that the sweet smell of the roses symbolise some sort of romantic relationship with Jon.
These carry the same "mother of dragons, bride of fire" theme, which we initially interpreted to be to the three significant husbands that Dany would take. However, upon further discussion, it does not necessarily mean that Dany had to be a literal bride. Perhaps "bride of fire" could mean Dany's marriage or commitment to discovering her inner fire and blood. Her marriage to Khal Drogo and his subsequent death was what enabled her to hatch her three dragon eggs and became the confident 'dragon' that she was.
Interesting, huh? Yet another proof that books are always better than the movie/TV show. *sighs*
Btw, the ending was really annoying in a sense that as the Winterfell plot thickens, it suddenly ended.
Overall, A Clash of Kings...
Click here to read the review in English.
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