A Clash of Kings
by George R. R. Martin
★ Top 5 book of 1998 · #3 on Best Books of 1998
This thrilling sequel to A Game of Thrones comes from George R. R. Martin and is presented as a work of great vision, power, and imagination. It carries readers into a world where feasting and vengeance meet magic and war.
Best for: Readers continuing from A Game of Thrones who want magic, war, and vengeance
A Clash of Kings is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 1998, out of 36 1998 books that cleared our data bar.
What A Clash of Kings is about
The second novel in Martin's epic fantasy series picks up in a kingdom that has lost its king. Robert Baratheon is dead, and several claimants now want the Iron Throne: young Joffrey, who sits on it, and Robert's brothers Renly and Stannis, who say it belongs to them. Robb Stark is named King in the North, and Balon Greyjoy declares himself ruler of the Iron Islands, so the realm splits into what people come to call the War of Five Kings.
The story moves between the war and the scheming at court. Tyrion Lannister arrives in King's Landing as acting Hand of the King and begins a quiet contest for influence with his sister, Queen Regent Cersei. Elsewhere, the priestess Melisandre backs Stannis as a prophesied savior, loyalties are tested, and young Arya Stark finds herself at Harrenhal, where a stranger named Jaqen H'ghar makes her a strange offer. Gritty and politically tense, it follows ambition, betrayal and the cost of ruling.
A Clash of Kings on the Best Books of 1998
A Clash of Kings came out in 1998. Of the 36 books first published in 1998 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #3 on our Best Books of 1998 list.
Why it made the list: 984 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (193 ratings); 39 are reading it right now. The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
It earns Reader favorite.
Nearby on the 1998 list
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling, #1
- Holes Louis Sachar, #2
- Bag of Bones Stephen King, #4
- Among the Hidden Margaret Peterson Haddix, #5
See all Best Books of 1998 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 1997 Best Books of 1999.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 645 want to read it, 39 are reading it now and 300 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 4.3 out of 5 from 193 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 92 | 55% |
| Reader love | 100 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 89 | 20% |
Questions about A Clash of Kings
When was A Clash of Kings published?
A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin was first published in 1998.
Was A Clash of Kings one of the best books of 1998?
A Clash of Kings is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 1998, out of 36 1998 books that cleared our data bar. 984 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (193 ratings); 39 are reading it right now.
Why is A Clash of Kings on the Best Books of 1998 list?
984 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 4.3 out of 5 (193 ratings); 39 are reading it right now.
More of the best books of 1998
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling, #1
- Holes Louis Sachar, #2
- Bag of Bones Stephen King, #4
- Among the Hidden Margaret Peterson Haddix, #5
- Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson, #6
- No, David! David Shannon, #7
See the full Best Books of 1998, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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