Reviews with content warning for Violence - A Fúria dos Reis

“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.

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msib129's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

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cas_voogt's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

Good book

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elijah__'s review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Liked it better than the previous book. As for characters, I continue to really like Bran, Arya, and Tyrion, and the character development of Catelyn and Sansa has really made them grow on me. Brienne is an instant new favorite secondary character. However, I have to say that how Lollys is handled is abysmal, gross, and totally unnecessary (one of Shae's comments in particular instantly killed any appreciation I had for Shae's character in a way I don't think was fully intentional by the author.) The plot itself is deeply engaging. Martin is great at twists -- they're not last-minute rug pulls for twists' sake, but subtly foreshadowed in such a way that you either get the dawning realization beforehand, or that moments before make sudden sense after the unexpected happens. Though plot threads are dropped and left for long stretches at a time, they do end up tying together in satisfying ways. I think the slower pacing works quite well here.

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pacifica's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

THIS IS A SPOILER-FILLED REVIEW! I DID NOT HIDE SPOILERS!

i enjoyed reading ACOK much more than AGOT. this book in the series ramps up the tension and the stakes greatly from the first installment and despite all the pieces moving on the board, George R. R. Martin proves his skill by keeping it engaging, exciting, and at an even medium pace.

favorite POVs:

Arya - she's my favorite character so no surprise there. Arya's chapters are just so clever. she really is a sharp little girl. her narration is full of both childish naivete and playfulness and absolute despair/horror. it's been said many times before that one of Arya's narrative purposes is to show the devastating effects of war and lordly politics on the common people, and GRRM does it masterfully here. can't wait for her ASOS chapters.
Theon - it surprised me that by the end, Theon became one of my favorite POVs to read. he was admittedly very obnoxious in his first couple chapters (and violently misogynistic honestly), but by the end i really saw GRRM's reason for including his story. Theon's inner conflict grows with each of his chapters and there's just an underlying feeling of despair and dread. throughout the novel he's absolutely torn between two aspects of his identity/past, and you feel that no matter the choice he makes, he's doomed. i grew to sympathize with him and it made me so sad knowing that the next time we see him in the books, he's a tortured, broken individual.
Tyrion - Tyrion really shines as a political player in King's Landing and his wits get the spotlight. i especially loved his dynamic with Cersei and how contentious it is. there are moments of small joy where it seems like they can be tentative allies, but then they stab one another in the back again and we're back to square one. really makes me anticipate reading her POV chapters in AFFC.
Davos - though his portion in the book was smallish, it's great to see the Stannis camp and Melisandre through Davos's lowborn eyes. Davos possesses a simple nobility and uprightness without being pretentious or holier-than-thou. he's just a good solid guy and it's extremely refreshing to read him.

least favorite POVs:

Jon - his chapters weren't as entertaining as his chapters from AGOT. i felt that his chapters meandered a lot once the Night's Watch leaves Craster's Keep and i didn't find myself as invested in each chapter.
Daenerys - this mostly had to do with the setting of her chapters. Qarth is interesting to be sure, but not nearly as dimensional as the culture and characters of the Dothraki, which we spend all of AGOT with. also, knowing that Dany never returns to Qarth makes her chapters feel like a setup with no real payoff. i know she hears prophecies from Quaithe and sees important visions in her Undying chapter, but these could have occurred in any other Essosi location and left the series mostly unchanged.

final notes:
i didn't expect to cry in the last chapter, not having cried the whole rest of the novel, but i did. GRRM builds a quiet atmosphere that could not even be called bittersweet, though nor is it wholly bitter. it's just quiet and somewhat reserved. one of the best endings to a novel i've read in a while, i think. anyway, onwards!

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