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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
Was that really 30 discs worth of a book?! I've gone through 9 disc books in more time!
Really enjoyed this, maybe more than the first one. Some really big plot twists in this one - more than one made me gasp and run for confirmation to Wiki.
Full review:
You know, there are three kinds of reviews I really hate to write:
1) I wanted to love the book SO MUCH (maybe because so many of my friends loved it), and I hated it.
2) I felt meh about the book. There wasn't really anything WRONG with the book, but there was also nothing really extraordinary to talk about.
3) I loved the book, but really, a review saying, "I love this and this and this and oh yeah, this was awesome too!" is exceptionally boring.
This review is Option 3.
A Game of Thrones was a great start to the series, but I'll admit, as I listened, I got lost a couple of times and wasn't 100% sold on its awesomeness. I held back that fifth star so that the series would have some room to sell me.
Which is exactly what "A Clash of Kings" did.
ACoK is exactly what every moviemaker attempts to do when creating a sequel - bigger, better, louder, faster, more awesome, scarier, whatever. ACoK takes new chance, goes to new places, pushes characters in new directions and throws the most INCREDIBLE plot twists and character changes at you.
I'd go into more detail about what I liked and why, but...spoilers. Seriously, people, this is good enough you shouldn't let yourself be spoiled and actually experience it by reading or listening.
I was going to end by talking about my favorite characters, but I realize that may have some spoilers too. So instead, here's a list of my favorite characters, and if you wanna talk about why they are my favorites, let's move it to the comments:
Favorite Characters
Daenerys Targaryen
Catelyn Stark
Tyrion Lannister (DUH!!!)
Sansa Stark
Cersei Lannister
Ned Stark
Asha Greyjoy
Khaal Drogo
Least Favorite Characters
Viserys Targaryen
Theon Greyjoy
Bran
The Song of Ice and Fire series is really endearing itself to me. I love its balance of fantasy and realism; I love how the characters are flawed, how so many women play such diverse and important roles, how you can never quite predict what will happen. I can't wait to start up on the HBO Season 2 and then proceed to book 3!
CONTENT NOTE: I get that some people may not like to read books with incest, rape, and graphic violence (along with CHARACTERS being sexist, racist, etc.). This book has all of these items and a bit more. So while I do heartily recommend, I also want to warn people that these items are present.
Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Violence
kirstym25'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Incest, and Rape
Minor: Misogyny and Slavery
meadowdream'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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Incest, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
trapdorr'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Incest, Violence, and War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Torture
atalal01's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
silver_el's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
maras_readings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Incest, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexism
geminisoul'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sucordera1'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Incest
mattyvreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did not like it as much as the first, but it was not bad.
Idk. There’s something about these books that scream “this was written by a man!!!” I could give about 58 examples but I’d rather die than think about them.
Again, just like the first book, the discussion of underaged sex and sexuality will turn your stomach. It’s really not doing what Georgey thinks it’s doing. It’s pretty vile.
Other than that, the relationships and politics are quite interesting! Would not read again, but mostly happy I read it once.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, and Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Miscarriage, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cannibalism