A Clash of Kings

A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2

By: George R.R. Martin

Narrated by: Roy Dotrice

Length: 37 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.

It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

©1999 George R.R. Martin (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

Locus Award, 1999

"A truly epic fantasy.... The novel is notable particularly for the lived-in quality of its world, created through abundant detail...for the comparatively modest role of magic...and for its magnificent action-filled climax.... [Martin] provides a banquet for fantasy lovers with large appetites." (Publishers Weekly)

"Fans of epic fantasy should appreciate this lavishly detailed sequel to A Game of Thrones." (Library Journal)

"Dotrice's range of vocal tones, from gravelly and commanding to silkenly dangerous, creates a mood of insistence that holds the listener captive throughout the epic story." (AudioFile)

"Grabs hold and won't let go. It's brilliant." (Robert Jordan)

Another Song of Ice and Fire

If you could sum up A Clash of Kings in three words, what would they be?

Tyrion, the Halfman!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Clash of Kings?

The Battle of King's Landing

What about Roy Dotrice’s performance did you like?

I love his manner and tone he gives, and his love and life of each performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh, usually at funny lines or at ironic parts.

Any additional comments?

An epic tale of revelry, vengeance, warfare, deceit, power, and death. This book starts seconds after the first, immediately driving the reader back into the Song of Ice and Fire mythos that the first book delivered. Overall, I felt the book was written very well. George R.R. Martin loves to end each chapter on a cliffhanger, and loves to drive his audience to different ends of the book. We get to learn more about the pasts of several characters in the Game of Thrones that we hadn't known about prior, see the cunning wit of Tyrion, or the honor-bound Jon, or new Mother of Dragons. We even get to see through Theon (who I have no care for) and a new character to boot. While I didn't find it as overwhelmingly grand and impeccably told as the first book, I found this one to be a different creature all together, and it told a tale worth telling. There are clear points of displeasure that I found in the book, like the overabundance of meaningless sex scenes, dreams, and food descriptions, it still didn't deter the overall story and the grand scheme of things. Just little notes. Some of the dreams placed real highly in the point of the book, such as the direwolve dreams, or Tyrion and Catelyn's recounts of past times. I would recommend to any that like mediaeval fantasy and adventure stories, though I will account that this novel is almost no good without its companion of the first, and could clearly not be a standalone novel. If one was willing to follow the full of the adventure, that it would be worth reading it at least once.

Fun Fantasy

Would you consider the audio edition of A Clash of Kings to be better than the print version?

Not, but certainly nice to listen to.

What other book might you compare A Clash of Kings to and why?

Lord of the Rings, Epic fantasy, great character development

What about Roy Dotrice’s performance did you like?

I thought he was enjoying the performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Winter is coming.

Thoroughly enjoyed

This was a treat since I have no time to read. it allows me to work and listen at the same time.

astonishing

Amazing and much better than the series. Its impossible not to dwell in the universe.
Favorite part was the House of the Undying
Favorite chapter was the conversation between catlyen and the kingslayer.

didn't think I would like but I did.

At first I thought I wasn't going to like it because there is nothing like READING a book, but this was great. it gave me a better view/perspective on the story and I was able to understand it better as well as get other things done while I listened.

Very enjoyable!

The story it self and the way it was narrated was very enjoyable. Good pace

Brilliant!!!

This is a great series that just gets better with each word written. I can not wait to start the next book in the series. The books are much better than the TV series.

Better and better

Each book is better than the one before. GRRM is the king of character development. Also cannot say enough about Roy Dotrice and his ability to bring characters to life. An all around mesmerizing tale.

Incredible read!

A refreshing continuation of the song of ice and fire. heartbreaking and breathtaking all in one!

Twists and turns

Book 2 is full of the unexpected, lots of emotion and holding you breath. Leaves you thinking about it long after you have put it down.