A review by elijah__
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

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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