If you’ve read all the books in the saga, the events of A Clash of Kings may seem like they happened light-years ago. If you’ve chosen to keep the anticipation for the Game of Thrones adaptation series, you’ve probably stayed as far away from spoilers and therefore have no idea what to expect. But here are seven things about season 2 you need to know – no plot spoilers, only enough to whet your appetite!

The second season of Game of Thrones is still months away; as is the season 1 DVD box set release. But while we continue to wait, a little foreshadowing wouldn’t be amiss; plus, casting news, small video clips and behind-the-scenes images have given us a pretty good idea about what’s to come! Here are seven things that should convince you why season 2 is worth the wait:

#1 Dragons

The dragons appeared for only a few brief, shocking moments at the very end of the first season, and they were magnificent! In my opinion, Daenerys stepping out of the fire was the best moment of the show so far, and if that’s anything to go by, season 2 will have some amazing visuals in store for us. While we know from a set report that the dragons will be conveniently kept out of sight in saddle bags a lot of the time, expect to see Dany bonding with her rapidly growing fire-breathing babies throughout the season. There was so little magic in the first season; season 2 will allow the visual effects team to come out and play a lot more with interactive elements as opposed to only scenery.

#2 Ice and Fire

One of the most anticipated new characters in the second season is the sorceress Melisandre, who accompanies Stannis Baratheon on his quest to the throne. With her comes a new religion; the one of fire and the One God. In contrast, across the kingdom Jon Snow and Sam Tarly begin their journey beyond the Wall, into the cold land of ice, wildlings and wraiths. It’s here we’ll meet new characters like Craster, Gilly and Ygritte, and watch our two young Night’s Watch recruits face some really tough trials. These are both spectacular developments that not only allow us to explore new areas of the world George R.R. Martin has created, but also allows for a lot of action and very iconic moments.

#3 New material

One thing about adapting a series from a book is that existing fans already know what’s gonna happen – the anticipation is more about seeing how the actors and writers have interpreted the materian than analysing lines and looking for clues and foreshadowing. But even book fans might be in for some surprises, according to the producers! The characters Jaime Lannister and Loras Tyrell, who hardly appear in the second novel, are to receive bulked-up character arcs, and Benioff and Weiss have stated that some characters will be starting their A Storm of Swords journeys early. So we won’t quite know what to expect!

#4 Introductions of fan favourite characters

This is something which the book fans may appreciate more than other viewers, as they can feel all in the know: there are so many players in Game of Thrones, but when a really huge character (whom you may first assume to be insignificant) steps on screen, it’s a rush for everyone who knows what’s to come for them. Some very significant characters are coming into play this season, including one of the most popular characters in the saga: Brienne, the Maid of Tarth. We’re also seeing iconic characters like Ygritte, Asha (Yara) Greyjoy, Gilly, Davos Seaworth and Jaqen H’ghar enter the fray – all characters you’ll want to keep your eye on, for one reason or another.

#5 Girl power!

Leading nicely on from all the new characters being introduced, here’s another great thing about the series as it progresses: while the first season was all about men wielding their power (which has led to the series being criticized as being anti-feminist), A Clash of Kings sees the female characters stepping up and taking control. There are many powerful women in the series, and after King Robert and Ned Stark died and left a destructive power vacuum in Westeros, we’ll see a great number of female characters like Catelyn, Arya, Cersei, Melisandre, Brienne, Asha, Ygritte and of course Daenerys seize power in different ways. While they are still fighting in a man’s world, they do it on their own terms, which is very empowering.

#6 The Battle of the Blackwater

The episode covering the Battle of Blackwater Ridge has been written by George R.R. Martin himself, who has promised epic proportions of awesomeness (as far as the budget will allow it). The sea plays a major role in A Clash of Kings as we are introduced to both Stannis Baratheon and the Greyjoys, and a lot of the storylines are leading up to this major battle towards the end of the book. Martin is very excited for this episode, and that in itself should be enough to get us fired up with anticipation!

#7 Shocks and surprises

If you thought Game of Thrones was shocking in its first year, wait till you’ve seen this season! There are several jaw-dropping moments in the book, and as the season progresses you’ll be blown away. There is one twist in particular which I still regard as one of the best pieces of writing I’ve ever come across – I’m not gonna say you won’t see it coming, but I certainly didn’t.

This column post was written by Hypable staff member Selina Wilken. Follow her on Twitter @SelinaWilken!