A Clash of Kings (1999) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“At roughly 900 pages I thought I was going to die, but I'm a tough cookie, so I persevered. This one took me longer to get into than the previous installment, however I did eventually become enthralled. Same thing as with the last with POV's, although the character's that I care the least about seem to have the longest chapters, which can be quite frustrating. Bit over reading about rape though, getting a bit squeamish. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“Español (Spanish, read BELOW for ENGLISH) – Juego de Tronos, Choque de Reyes

(4) CUATRO ESTRELLAS // EC17+
(Dale una mirada a mi blog si quieres más detalles acerca de mi criterio de ranking
http://jalanderseries.blogspot.com/2012/11/metodos-y-criterios-de-critica-review.html)

Martin me ha sorprendido por partes iguales con este libro. Por un lado, las sorpresas positivas de una trama bien armada que te lleva a querer saber qué es lo que sigue a continuación. A lo que se suman un buen desarrollo del ambiente y los detalles de las diversas culturas, reinos y reyes. También en esta segunda parte se hacen presentes elementos fantásticos (principalmente mágicos) que le dan un nuevo sabor a la historia.

Por otro lado, creo que, si este libro hubiera sido presentado por otro escritor, entonces la mayoría de los agentes y editores de estos días no lo hubieran aprobado. En primer lugar el libro es largo, muy largo (aunque uno se mete y lo lee igual, haciendo un pequeño esfuerzo para continuar en algunas partes –dije pequeño!-). En segundo lugar, la trama se aleja de algunos personajes (que podríamos considerar principales) y se mete de lleno en otros (que entonces toman el escenario principal). No es que yo veo mal esto, pero es cierto que este detalle le resta algo de fuerza a la historia (creando esos momentos en los cuales uno tiene que empujar un poquito para seguir adelante). Por último, el libro deja varias de las historias principales sin un cierre. Sí, entiendo que este libro es parte de una serie, y sé que es normal dejar temas abiertos en las series. Sin embargo, aquí hay demasiadas historias que están demasiado abiertas. Esto último es una diferencia notable con el primer libro (Una canción de Hielo y Fuego), ya que en ese primer libro las historias tenían una tendencia a continuar que era obvia (y agradable) pero este efecto se lograba sin dejar de dar a la historia un cierre adecuado.

En cuanto al público para este libro, así como al primero, también le doy también una clasificación EC17+ debido a la presencia de algunas escenas de sexo, lenguaje crudo y violencia. Si bien es cierto que no hay una excesiva descripción de estos aspectos ni excesos. Esta es una novela para un público adulto.

Por último, vamos a aclarar que recomiendo este libro a todos los fans de Fantasía. Es un buen aporte de Martin y promete mucho para los siguientes libros.


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English (Inglés) – A Game of Thrones (Clash of Kings)

(4) FOUR STARS // EC17+
(Take a look at my blog to find out my ranking criteria and method
http://jalanderseries.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-method-and-criteria-for-reviewing.html)

This book was as much a positive surprise as little bit disappointing (but let me be clear the last word may be too strong for my feelings, just cannot find a better word in my poor English vocabulary). So, anyway, in the sunny side the plot sizes you from a page to the next on many parts of the book. The setting is very well developed and rich on details while new fantastic elements ―mostly magic― start to develop with a very well chosen doses of unknowns which produce the positive effect of buildup suspense. The fact Martin does not abuse of magic and other fantastic elements causes a higher impact on the reader when he does (a he creates that feeling thru his characters point of view, a masterful work).

On the negatives, I really believe that, if this book would have been presented by any other writer (not that popular) then most agents and editors would not have approved it… First, the book is too long, long, and long. Too long. Which compounds with the second negative factor, there are too many new characters. At some times those characters move from background to focus and then the plot slow down while the reader struggle to feel (fall) in empathy with these new guys and gals. Those two factors would have killed a book on most of agents and editors´ desks. But on top of that, I got the strong feeling the book did not have a real ending. I know this is the second book in a series, and series do have the right to let key plot lines open but even so, here there are too many plot lines open in too many characters. This is a notable contrast with the first book, which did let key openings to continue but also delivered a proper ending.

As per content rankings, I´ll rate this book EC17+ ―adult reading― due the necessary use of crude violence and language need to characterize the story.

Finally, and just in case somebody had fixed on my second paragraph, let me clarify I do recommend this book to all fantasy fans since it does make a good contribution to the genre.
”

• Rated 3 stars

“I'm loving how the characters I thought I would hate are the ones I really want to see live to an old age. And the Dragon King's line is much better than I anticipated.”

• Rated 4 stars

“While I did not absolutely love it as I did the first book, I still love the characters and am looking forward to the next installment. The Song of Ice and Fire series can only get better!”

• Rated 5 stars

“awesome great awesome”

• Rated 5 stars

“As Series Three of 'Game of Thrones' is building up on my Sky Plus recorder I need to start to watch series one and two. Of course I can't do that until I'm up to date with the books, hence reading reading this - volume two.

I read Book One in the series as a bit of a gamble. At few people had recommended it to me and fairly disparate friends they were, there must be something if an unpleasant holiday companion, a multi-pierced computer fiend and a straight-laced teacher all rave about the same books. I started book one and was hooked.

Martin has produced something incredibly special, it's a multi-layered sword and sorcery epic, a fantasy and yet politically sophisticated. The plot rolls along at a pace and yet never seems to reach a climax. There are hundreds of characters with back-stories, alliances and suspect morals. Imagine Lord of the Rings with less elvish names and poetry or John le Carre rewritten as fantasy and you're somewhere there.

In A Clash of Kings the same families are plotting, politicking and occasionally fighting. Some come to the fore e.g.. the Greyjohns and the Baratheon brothers and the Stark children tie the narrative together. The multiple narrators keep the interest and the plot swings and turns through 900 pages.

I'll take a bit of a break to watch the first two series and then read book three - I could devour it in one fell swoop but a like a short intense burst of pleasure!”

• Rated 3 stars

“What can I say, George R.R. Martin is one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time. But his choice of base language, open sex are very adult and not something I can take in very big doses.”

• Rated 3 stars

“For me the most important characteristic about this book is that the characters are not good or bad guys, every character has his own good side (included the "Dog" ... I'm not sure about Cersei ;-)) and bad side. Other point that makes this book absolutely recommendable is that the author surprises you continuosly. I've just started to read the third one ... (14/06/2011)”

• Rated 0 stars

“on to book 2!”