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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, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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, Violence, and War
msib129'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: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
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: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
elijah__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Excrement, Vomit, and Medical content
pacifica's review against another edition
- 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
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!
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Incest
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: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape and Slavery
Minor: Rape
cvkirkpatrick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Drug use, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
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: Death, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Slavery
billie_visible's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, and War
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Excrement
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Cannibalism