A Clash of Kings
core novel 1998 A Song of Ice and Fire
Record
| First published | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.42 (1,051,077 ratings, collected 2026-09-11) |
| Page count | 1009 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780553108033 |
Synopsis
A Clash of Kings, published in 1998-1999, is the second novel in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, set in Westeros. It begins after King Robert Baratheon's death, as the Seven Kingdoms fracture into civil war among rival claimants to the Iron Throne. Joffrey Baratheon rules despite questions over his legitimacy, while the Starks and his uncle Tyrion Lannister are rival powers, Tyrion serving as Hand to keep the capital under Lannister control amid tension with his sister Cersei. Robert's brothers Stannis and Renly raise claims to the crown, Robb Stark is proclaimed King in the North, and Balon Greyjoy declares independence for the Iron Islands. The Night's Watch, including Jon Snow, grows concerned by movements among the wildlings beyond the Wall, while Daenerys Targaryen, traveling with three dragons, searches for a way to reclaim her family's throne.
Where it sits
- Universe: A Song of Ice and Fire
- Series: A Song of Ice and Fire core; position 2 of 5 in the series' recorded order
- Author: George R.R. Martin
Notes
- From the series record (A Song of Ice and Fire): 5 of 7 planned novels published; The Winds of Winter unreleased (no date as of Aug 2026).
Neighbouring works
Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings and are never conflated: a book's place in one says nothing about its place in the other.
- Publication order, within the series A Song of Ice and Fire: position 2 of 5: previous A Game of Thrones (1996) · next A Storm of Swords (2000)
Sources
← A Song of Ice and Fire dossier · All universes
Part of the Library. Fields without an identified source are omitted, never guessed.