’Thiswastheoriginalgameofthrones’GeorgeR.R.MartinNomanisimpervioustothepoisonsofthecrown...Havingmurderedhiswifeandexiledhismistress,KingLouisXofFrancebecomesbesottedwithPrincessClemenceofHungaryandmakesherhisnewQueen.However,thoughthematterofthesuccessionshouldbeassured,itisfarfromso,asLouisembarksonanill-fatedwaragainstFlanders.Wherehisfather,PhilipIV,wasstrong,Louisisweak,andtheambitionsofhisproud,profligatebaronsthreatenhispowerandthefutureofakingdomonceruledbyanIronKing.