Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin starting on November 10, 2023.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Thank you, looking forward to joining you all.

Starting! Through 1st Theon, 7 hours in: (view spoiler)[I'm continually reminded just how young everyone is... and when we get Tyron's chapters, following Eddard's footsteps to Robert's bastards, and trying so hard to undo Joffrey's damage... I love when he shipped Janos Slynt up to the Night Watch! And reminding everyone... the King is 13! Like, all those things folk did in book 1 on his orders... it's like following illegal orders, but they followed illegal orders made by a tantruming pre-teen.

Sansa's starting to become an interesting person in her chapters--as she learns how to think before acting, or think without acting.

Theon's chapter reminds me of just what a huge ass he is. (hide spoiler)]

I am late in starting this due to other things/books but I'm starting it soon

Eh, you're not late, I'm early. ^^ When the crowd arrives, that'll be on time.

Up through 2nd Dany (view spoiler)[Man, I forgot just how horrifying it is to learn the truth about Craster... when Jon asks her "So, you're one of Craster's daughters?" and she says "Wife, now." Ugh. Just... ugh. *shudder* And then overhearing that they leave the boy-children for the wights, and that's why they've survived.... (hide spoiler)]

I started on this the other day too, only a few chapters in so far, so nothing really to say at the moment.

Yay! Welcome to the party Beena! I'll probably be bullying through to the end today--my borrow comes due tomorrow.

65% in, through second Davos (I think--the audiobook actually has 4 Davoses, but they're right next to each other, and I think that's where the "disk" changed over)--(view spoiler)[The crowd turning on Joffrey was both terrifying and satisfying. Tyrion looks at Cersei and thinks "Does she truly not see what he is?"

It made me think about Cersei... as much as I hate her, I also, kind of, understand... she was forced to marry someone she hated and found disgusting, just because she is a woman... she hates being powerless, and is filled with rage... I think she kind of lives vicariously through Joffrey--he has all the power to do anything he wants, and she wishes she could just be a force of destruction to express her rage too, but she recognizes that there are consequences... it isn't all "motherly blindness."

I actually feel the worst for Lollys and her mother. Lollys is constantly dismissed as being simple, which already gives her a difficult life, and then to have this horrible thing happen to her? And her mother clearly loves her dearly--her cries of help for her daughter as everyone ignores her were heartbreaking.

Through Davos's eyes, the shadow-birth scene is ugh. Ew. Eeek. But I think the conversation Davos & Melisandre have about darkness and light is interesting... I think I'm more on Davos's side than Melisandre's. I don't think she really knows the nature of that she serves. (hide spoiler)]

Through 9th Arya, 71% in--(view spoiler)[I love the moment when Arya tells Jaqen H'ghar his own name for her third... (hide spoiler)]

7th Catelyn, 82& in--(view spoiler)[I think this is the first time we really get a scene with Jaime, outside of the window scene. We've seen him from afar, maybe a line or two, described in people's memories... but is this the first time we've really gotten a first-hand look at him? A person who loves and is loved by both his siblings, Kingsguard, Kingslayer...

Also, I think this is one of the first big chunks of information we get about what happened before Robert became king... (hide spoiler)]

10th Arya (I think) 93% in--(view spoiler)[I just love that little bit when Arya comes upon one of the squires (I think) crying about his princess... I'm pretty sure he was promised to Arya... and she tells him she hopes his princess is dead... Just a great little bit of irony there, as he also says "no one cares about your brothers"--and her brothers are much the cause of the war right now...

The TV series has this whole sequence be Tywin Lannister instead of Roose Bolton, which I almost like more... (hide spoiler)]

8th Sansa 94% in--whole series spoilers... at least through the 3rd book, I think. (view spoiler)[The hair net, with purple stones! I did not remember how this got into Sansa's possession. If it came from Dontos, it must have come from Petyr... which means he was probably in the whole thing with Olenna from the start... but whose idea it was, who knows? (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "8th Sansa 94% in--whole series spoilers... at least through the 3rd book, I think. [spoilers removed]"

Does your spoiler get addressed in the books or was it a series thing? Because I definitely remember in the series, it was such a great scene!!!!!

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Finished! It was interesting--I didn't remember exactly where each person ended up at the end of this one... really just waiting for the bombasticness that is book 3...

Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "8th Sansa 94% in--whole series spoilers... at least through the 3rd book, I think. [spoilers removed]"

Does your spoiler get addressed in the books or was it a series thing? Becau..."

In book 3 (view spoiler)[Olenna straightens Sansa's hair-net, and she's the only one who touches it... I don't remember if Sansa openly connects that event with the death or not, but I think she must have--since Olenna being the actual poisoner was such a big fan theory that it was essentially taken as fact... I definitely took it as fact. But it isn't until the TV series that we get scenes like (view spoiler)[Olenna telling Margery straight up that she was never going to let her marry a monster. We never got a POV for that, in the books. And of course, the scene in your spoiler isn't until what, season 6 or 7? (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "8th Sansa 94% in--whole series spoilers... at least through the 3rd book, I think. [spoilers removed]"

Does your spoiler get addressed in the books or was it a s..."

I mis-read your post, those 2 were definitely in cahoots although I do not remember if it was ever confirmed. He had his hands in everything though, I can't imagine this was an exception.

I was thinking about how, in book 3--(view spoiler)[Dantos is the one who leads Sansa to Petyr when she escapes after the Purple Wedding--so thinking that he's pulling those strings already from this early isn't much of a step... (hide spoiler)]

Reading very slowly at the moment, not fully into it yet, and at about 15%. Nothing much to say either, I'mma take this with me on holiday and check spoilers in a few weeks time (though I might switch to something else if the mood strikes me :p).

Yeah, I feel like this is a slow & steady over OMG MUST GET NEXT PAGE-er....

Yeahh, I didn't actually read anymore lol. Since it looks like nobody else picked up this BR, I'm gonna put it on hold for a bit and join in some of the new BRs, then come back to it later.

Let me know when you want to pick it back up again, I'm here. ^^

I imagine once Winds of Winter finally is published there'll be clamors for a BR. Maybe in the next 10 years.

Yep will do!

Well... we'll see if actually gets published first! Can't say I have very high hopes!

I remember 10 years or so ago, when Sanderson finished Wheel of Time for Jordan, GRRM was asked if he was making arrangements for the same thing, in case of an early demise, and his response was something along the lines of "I'm healthy and I'm not that old." But I think he took it to heart, 'cuz I've read since then that he's got enough notes everywhere for someone to pick up if the worst happens... I'm less concerned about Winds and more about the next one after it...

Well that's good to know, as long as the chosen author manages to slot into the style well and do the storyline justice...

Cheers to that... feel like I should go knock on wood or something...