Book Two of A Song of Ice and Fire, 761 pages
by George R.R. Martin
Mini-spoilers!
Volume 2 picks up right where A Game of Thrones ended. The title is spot on, because there are at least 5 contenders for The Iron Throne. Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, a Targaryen and assorted clans are all jockeying for control of Westeros (also known as The Seven Kingdoms). Martin is an expert with interweaving intrigue, violence and even bits of mysticism in his novels. He is most deft, however, with arcane plots and wanton wickedness. Kind of an Anti-Tolkien, if you will.
HBO has picked this up for a second season, and the latest in the series, A Dance With Dragons, was just released. Martin's novels read like historical potboilers, or as I like to joke, The Borgias with Dragons. Just be prepared to wait and wait for the next installment. Better idea....go read The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss while you're waiting. You won't be disappointed.
About the artwork: noted fantasy artist John Howe has done artwork for the series, though most people know him from the Lord of the Rings books and films. I go online and pick out alternative covers, usually from the UK editions, for most of my reviews.
by George R.R. Martin
Mini-spoilers!
Volume 2 picks up right where A Game of Thrones ended. The title is spot on, because there are at least 5 contenders for The Iron Throne. Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, a Targaryen and assorted clans are all jockeying for control of Westeros (also known as The Seven Kingdoms). Martin is an expert with interweaving intrigue, violence and even bits of mysticism in his novels. He is most deft, however, with arcane plots and wanton wickedness. Kind of an Anti-Tolkien, if you will.
HBO has picked this up for a second season, and the latest in the series, A Dance With Dragons, was just released. Martin's novels read like historical potboilers, or as I like to joke, The Borgias with Dragons. Just be prepared to wait and wait for the next installment. Better idea....go read The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss while you're waiting. You won't be disappointed.
About the artwork: noted fantasy artist John Howe has done artwork for the series, though most people know him from the Lord of the Rings books and films. I go online and pick out alternative covers, usually from the UK editions, for most of my reviews.
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