The Caffeinated Diva reads...

This second book in the A Song of Fire and Ice series is even more action packed than A Game of Thrones.  Chaos reigns in the seven kingdoms with now five kings fighting for the Iron Throne.  I love the format of these books, chapters that alternate between characters.  The chapters tell the stories of A Clash of Kings from their different perspectives, allowing us to see the war from within the minds of people from all sides.  

The military girl in me really enjoyed the battle tactics that were so much a part of this book, especially for Tyrion Lannister.  His character is continually undervalued and dismissed by the others in the series, simply because of his size.  In reality, he is extremely intelligent and an excellent strategist and I loved his chapters the most!  At first, he began to set things in motion that led me to wonder what exactly he was up to, wondering how it would all come together.  But he is brilliant and cunning in his plans, showing those traits that I think are most important in a battle strategist/commander... knowing the abilities/limitations of not just your enemy, but your own men and using those to advantage.

My Recommendation

Such a great novel!  This not a read for the faint of heart.  The battles, the betrayals, the violence, the seediness.  The only thing I truly wanted more of was Jon Snow and the Wall!