Reviews tagging 'Death'

Choque de Reyes by Corominas, Cristina Macía, George R.R. Martin

53 reviews

starcrossedsongbird's review against another edition

my life got busy and oh my god i just went through the absolute SLOG of drama that is the first book. now there’s a whole new pair of families i have to learn & care about??? if it’s not the Starks IDC rn!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

autumntune's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• 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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Violence

cas_voogt's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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

I cannot express how happy I am to have started reading ASOIAF. George R R Martin is a fantastic author and I feel so deeply encapsulated in the world whenever I open the book. I truly believe that there is not another author who has made me feel the way I have felt like Martin. The characters can be so easily hateable but the plot and story is so good that I can't even hate the characters. I feel like the world that has been built in this novel is so vast and detailed and I am never really left questioning something. I cannot wait to keep going because while I loved this book, the finale definetly did not have the same impact as Game of Thrones. A Clash of Kings is truly another masterpiece in this series and I recommend that anyone reads it. The world was expanded upon really well however I did feel like the majority of the characters do not have a fully completed arc (I know that it is a series but the first did not leave me with this feeling. Luckily I can just start the next book now but I cannot imagine waiting years for the next book to come out and being left with a feeling of incompleteness). I am excited for a few new perspectives that are introduced in A Storm of Swords (just wanted to mention that I love how the title is hinted at towards the end of the novel - 'a storm is coming')

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is a very good read. Massive trigger warnings!! George RR Martin is fantastic at writing deeply flawed, disturbed, and fascinating characters. He does not shy away from ANY taboo subjects or content. If you loved the show, the books are insanely good at world-building and the balance of political drama vs fantasy themes. Very long, sometimes boring but overall deeply interesting and worth it for the character deep dives.  

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous dark slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

girish0731's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

4.5

This book has taken awhile for me to complete with lot of other books being read simultaneously. The world, the characters and the plot expands and moves to incredible proportions. We get to see more of Tyrion, this time around which is brilliant and also we get into the heads of Theon, who disgusts me as he always as been. Sanza and Catelyn's POV were much more interesting and brilliant perspectives to add. Arya and Daenerys characters develop in a way which put them to being most badasses in this series. Onwards to next book which is considered to be masterpiece of this series and excited to start. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Gore, Incest, Death, Murder, and Child abuse

dovahkiin_freyja's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Torture