A Clash Of Kings (A Song Of Ice And Fire Book Two) by George R.R. Martin (Audio Book)

 

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice And Fire Book Two) by George R.R. Martin. 

Audio book narrated by Roy Dotrice.

Released 3rd November 2015 by Harper Collins.

From the cover:

The complete, unabridged audiobook of A Clash of Kings.

Throughout Westeros, the cold winds are rising.

From the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding lands of Winterfell, chaos reigns as pretenders to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms stake their claims through tempest, turmoil and war.

As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky - a comet the colour of blood and flame - five factions struggle for control of a divided land. Brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night.

Against a backdrop of incest, fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory is measured in blood.

HBO’s hit series A Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s internationally best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A Clash of Kings is the second volume in the series.

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A Clash of Kings is the second instalment on my journey through the currently published, hefty volumes of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and it is even more chunky than book one, weighing in at a sizeable 913 pages all told (including the many helpful appendices).

As for the first part of the series, I opted experience this second book through the audio book narrated by Roy Dotrice (more on that later), who guided me through the many significant happenings in the lives of the people of the seven kingdoms... and beyond.

A Clash of Kings picks up the story in short order after significant happenings at the end of book one, presided over by the blood red comet that heralds any number of omens depending upon who is looking at it. In Essos, widowed Daenerys Targaryen, now adding the title of Mother of Dragons to her growing number of epithets, has followed the comet to an exotic city in search of supporters for her bid to win the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, with Robert Baratheon having shuffled off this mortal coil (with a bit of help from strong wine, an angry boar, and the hatred of his wife), war reigns in Westeros. A number of factions are fighting for the right to take the throne; the Starks battle to hold the North, leaving Winterfell at the mercy of an unexpected enemy; Joffrey is proving to be a cruel and feckless king (what a surprise); and trouble is brewing beyond the Wall where Jon Snow must now venture...

Far too much happens to cover the details here, but the plot now pits brother against brother; magic is stirring with the return of dragons; and the game of thrones brings mayhem and misfortune, and reveals both friends and enemies in unexpected places. As previously, the story flips between members of the Stark family (minus the beheaded patriarch Eddard), Tyrion Lannister, and Jon Snow. Their voices are now joined by Theon Greyjoy on his misguided mission to prove himself a worthy son, and Davos Seaworth, who weaves in a new thread to the tapestry by introducing Stannis Baratheon's contribution to the clashing kings element, with all that entails. Suffice to say that not everyone is going to get out of this alive, including all of the clashing kings...

This is the book where things begin to diverge from the Game of Thrones TV adaptation, sometimes quite markedly, so I had to really concentrate to keep up. However, I loved the surprises this threw into the mix as it kept things interesting, and Martin's original text towers above the adaptation in every respect. The twists, turns, growing cast of characters, and ever more expansive plotlines give rise to an absolutely gripping tale on every front - the battles are especially exciting, and each separate part of the whole packs an emotional punch alongside the action. So, if you are thinking of taking up the chunky originals, I say go for it, because I am loving them.

My complicated relationship with Roy Dotrice's narration has not abated, but I think this mostly stems from the fact that the cast of this story is so darned huge, which is a big ask for a single voice artist. A few of his pronunciations and accent choices continue to baffle me (is Tyrion supposed to be Welsh?), and the halting style he chooses for some is still a little disconcerting (even at my habitual listening speed of x1.5), but I will admit he does a great job of pulling you into the story, and at times I was hanging on his every word, which is deserving of praise. However, I do think that, should Harper Collins choose to revisit these books, making this a multi-voice narration would really add the the enjoyment of the story. 

Audio quibbles aside, I am firmly invested in A Song of Ice and Fire now, and in awe of Martin's skill at weaving complex and gripping, multiple threads and filling them with excellent characters for you to love and loathe. I cannot wait to continue my journey with book three, A Storm of Swords.

A Clash of Kings is available to buy now in various formats.

About the author:

George R.R. Martin is the globally bestselling author of many fine novels, including A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons, which together make up the series A Song of Ice and Fire, on which HBO based the world’s most-watched television series, Game of Thrones. 

Other works set in or about Westeros include The World of Ice and Fire, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. 

His science fiction novella Nightflyers has also been adapted as a television series; and he is the creator of the shared-world Wild Cards universe, working with the finest writers in the genre. 

He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.