All 5 Game of Thrones books ranked from worst to best

2. A Clash of Kings

Year Published: 1998

After the events of A Game of Thrones and the deaths of King Robert Baratheon and Lord Eddard Stark, all hell breaks loose in Westeros with five kings making claims for their territories and kingdoms. The War of the Five Kings begins with Robb Stark, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, and Balon Greyjoy launching their bannerman into war. The Baratheons are mostly concerned about who is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, while Robb Stark and Balon Greyjoy are seeking independence for the North and Iron Islands, respectively.

A Clash of Kings is the second book of A Song of Ice and Fire, and it’s easily one of the best books of Martin’s so far. While A Game of Thrones is more focused on the Stark family and what’s going on in King’s Landing, A Clash of Kings is an explosion that brings in dozens of new important characters and stories. There’s so much action and things happening in A Clash of Kings. There are so many twists and turns, and it’s impossible for readers not to start rooting for characters and the houses they wish to win the war and occupy the Iron Throne.

We also get to learn more and more about Daenerys Targaryen as begins to become a major force in this world. It does a great job setting the stage for the Queen to come.

For me, A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords, the third book of the series, are almost neck-and-neck for me. There are a few big moments in A Storm of Swords that set it apart from A Clash of Kings, but it’s so close.