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eaglefang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Blood, Rape, and Slavery
maevesheehan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Child death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Blood, Colonisation, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Violence, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Vomit, and War
starcrossedsongbird's review against another edition
Graphic: Death
autumntune's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
“That's blood up there, child, smeared across the sky.”
“Our blood or theirs?”
“Was there ever a war where only one side bled?”
“I'm a creature of grief and dust and bitter longings. There is an empty place within me where my heart was once.”
“A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid.”
This is definitely one of my best reads in 2023. Attached above are the quotes that really stick with me throughout reading.
Such an excellent follow up from the first book, A Game of Thrones. When I first discovered that many like it less, I was discouraged, but I pushed through and came to a conclusion that I like it better. Does not mean that the previous book was bad in any way, but the conflict gets more exciting as it goes. I greatly admire George R.R. Martin's talents in creating this universe, regardless of what the others may say. AGoT's prologue was so hauntingly beautiful but ACoK did not disappoint either, both were so nicely done. And I'm here, again, to analyze some characters in the story:
I may tolerate Cersei's refusal to bear Robert's children, I completely understand her lack of love toward late King Robert. Yet enabling Joffrey's cruelty is another matter, she is well-aware of her son's malicious behavior and does almost nothing to stop it from happening. She also shamelessly tells Sansa to suck it up because she went through the same situation and survived it, what a horrible mother-in-law. What a terrifying woman. She truly depicts the typical mother who blames the world for destruction her child causes and I don't like that any bit.
As for Theon, disappointed would be an understatement. The betrayal doesn't taste so sweet now that it wraps a hand around your throat, eh, Prince of Winterfell? Make no mistake, I do hate Ramsay more (the most, actually), but I can't justify what Theon do to the Starks. Pity only goes so far, Theon.
And while I'm still dreading to go over Bran's chapters quickly, I love Hodor and wish no harm would come to him....
Out of all Catelyn's chapters so far, I find chapter 55 the most entertaining. Thanks to Jaime, his shared conversation with Catelyn rouses my curiosity to explore his character more in depth.
As for Tyrion, the most misunderstood Lannister, I still think of him as one of my favorite characters (beside Jon Snow). I wish Cersei, Tywin, and especially Joffrey will reap what they sow soon enough. He was a decent Hand of the King, clearly better than Cersei.
I love Samwell and I think the Hound is more decent than Joffrey.
Sansa, Arya, and Daenerys are getting more interesting. I'm the happiest that Sansa is spared from marrying Joffrey. I laugh at every ill wish she has for the King, it's very amusing. I knew her character development would be splendid and it's starting to show. She started as a lovely courteous girl who filled her head with stories of true knight and love so sweet until reality struck.
Jon and life beyond the Wall seems entertaining. Still unsure what to feel of Davos, but I'm really excited to pick up the third book. An epic fantasy, indeed.
Graphic: Death, War, and Violence
cas_voogt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Blood, Body horror, Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Incest, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia
avazee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Violence, War, Incest, Pedophilia, Cursing, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Death, Child death, Blood, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape and Slavery
Minor: Rape
hanhantap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Rape, Body horror, and Physical abuse
Minor: Slavery and Animal death
jayden_314's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Confinement, Death, Torture, and War
Moderate: Excrement, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Cannibalism, Infertility, Mental illness, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
sav_22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Pedophilia, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Torture, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Police brutality, Child abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, War, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Ableism, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Rape, Slavery, Cursing, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Trafficking, Alcoholism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Body horror, Sexism, Body shaming, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Abortion
atalea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Sexual assault, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Sexism, Mental illness, Infidelity, Incest, Cursing, Death of parent, Alcohol, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Child death, and Ableism