a clash of kings: prologue

[verbicide]

Well. That was all kinds of fucking awesome. I always struggle with prologue chapters, because they're often from a random pov and I'm impatient. But after requiring some initial patience, this really packed quite a punch. Was dying to meet 'the other brother' Stannis. And what an unpleasant creature--if not unpleasant in the way of Cersei Lannister. And why are all the wives crazy bitches?

I felt so bad for the poor maester. All I could think of (in terms of why the red woman is unaffected by the 'strangler') was iocaine powder. She's got to have built up some crazy immunity. Very curious to read more about this third (?) religion. Also, not very impressed with how Stannis treated the man who basically raised him. What an asshole. It was painful to see how much Cressen loved the boys--especially the unlovable Stannis.

A great setup with the bitter rivalry between brothers. Loved the Onion Knight. Loved the glimpse into Stannis' character with the finger chopping.

So Stannis knows that Joffrey (and the other Lannister bastards) is not Robert's and thus have no right to claim the throne. He and Jon Arryn were obviously investigating that. But I'm confused about why he waited until now, when Robert's dead, to discuss the rights of succession? Was he going to tell Robert ever?

Comments

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Well, now you know why Renly described Stannis as having "the personality of a lobster" one or two episodes back on the TV show. It's a very good description, too.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

That's right--it's an excellent description.