A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Two

During one of those endless nights when I just couldn't put Clash of Kings down, I wondered: "Why aren't there more books like this?" George Martin has created one of those most deeply involving and satisfying series out there. In only two books, he has crafted real characters involved in the horrors of war. Many of the reviews below accurately describe the way that Martin creates characters of grey, rather than comic book black and whites. Many of the scenes in the book fit well with dark and somber lighting. This is not your daddy's fantasy novel.

Martin's characters bring a more realistic spin on knighthood and war. Cersei describes it best to young Sansa when she destroys the young girl's romantic view of knights by remarking that knights are for killing, nothing more or less. And kill they do. The battle scenes are raw and unglamorous, like the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan. Its all very realistic and gritty and heck, it makes sense: what do you really think happens when a not-so-sharp sword is swung haphazardly at another person: I've never seen it firsthand, but I'm sure its not pretty. It may be an oxymoron to claim that a fantasy book can be realistic, but this series is: after seeing the battle scenes in Braveheart or Gladiator, I have a deeper understanding of the horrors of sword fighting in, say, the medieval times in English history. Martin's story is realistic in the sense that it doesn't gloss over the horror and pain and terror of battles and the rage of the people who fight them.

Martin's series is a hardcore fantasy adventure for adults. While other authors cater predominately to a younger fantasy audience, Martin seems to write for the "college and beyond" crowd (at 31, I'm well beyond). Sex scenes, like the battles, are not glamorous in the least. Whereas characters in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series constantly blush and stumble at the very thought of even kissing a girl, Martin's characters think lewd thoughts, perform graphic sex scenes, etc. Yes, its not for all ages, or for every taste, but for those of us who are tired of the same old antiseptic stuff, Martin is a mature breathe of fresh air.

Meanwhile, he continues to awe me with his story telling. The different kings are now in open conflict with each other. Whereas Game of Thrones focused on the Starks v. the Lannisters, in this installment, it seems as if the entire land is in termoil, with no less than six kings fighting each other and attacking each other. The battles are terrific, including the climactic battle. (no spoilers here)

One other note I feel compelled to make is that Martin has created strong and independant female characters in his series. People might assume, based on the reviews, that this is a male-dominated story. Nothing could be further from the truth. Martin spends as much time writing about the female characters (Sansa, Arya, Catelyn Stark) as the male characters, and the female characters rule (i.e. Cersei) and fight battles (I won't reveal any specifics on this point except to say that Martin introduces two female warriors.)

Martin has created a real world, with all the vices of our own, and given all his characters life. Here's hoping that other writers take note.

First off, I'm a heavy duty fan of GRRM. I've read over a 100 different fantasy authors in my time (started at 12; I'm now 32). Took about 5 years off from the genre b/c I felt it was all getting too formulaic and cliched. Typical archetype character who turns out to be the missing heir or boy wonder who saves the world against the Dark Lord.

So, when I came back to fantasy at the end of 1999, I read the usual: Goodkind, Jordan, etc. and then someone told me about GRRM and man, that was the kicker!

Here are the reasons to choose GRRM. I've also listed the reasons not to choose him to make it fair b/c I know their are certain personalities who won't like this series:

WHY TO READ GRRM

(1) YOU ARE TIRED OF FORMULAIC FANTASY: good lad beats the dark lord against impossible odds; boy is the epitome of good; he and all his friends never die even though they go through great dangers . . . the good and noble king; the beautiful princess who falls in love with the commoner boy even though their stations are drastically different . . . the dark lord is very evil and almost one sided at times . . . you get the idea. After reading this over and over, it gets old.

(2) YOU ARE TIRED OF ALL THE HEROES STAYING ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER CONSTANT DANGER: this gets even worse where the author kills a main hero off but that person comes back later in the story. Or, a hero does die but magic brings him back.

This sometimes carries to minor characters where even they may not die, but most fantasy authors like to kill them off to show that some risked the adventure and perished.

(3) YOU ARE A MEDIEVAL HISTORY BUFF: this story was influenced by the WARS OF THE ROSES and THE HUNDRED YEARS WAR.

(4) YOU LOVE SERIOUS INTRIGUE WITHOUT STUPID OPPONENTS: lots of layering; lots of intrigue; lots of clever players in the game of thrones. Unlike other fantasy novels, one side, usually the villain, is stupid or not too bright.

(5) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BIASED OPINIONS AND DIFFERENT TRUTHS: GRRM has set this up where each chapter has the title of one character and the whole chapter is through their viewpoint. Interesting tidbit is that you get their perception of events or truths. But, if you pay attention, someone else will mention a different angle of truth in the story that we rarely see in other novels. Lastly and most importantly, GRRM doesn't try to tell us which person is right in their perception. He purposelly leaves it vague so that we are kept guessing.

(6) LEGENDS: some of the most interesting characters are those who are long gone or dead. We never get the entire story but only bits and pieces; something that other fantasy authors could learn from to heighten suspense. Additionally, b/c the points of views are not congruent, we sometimes get different opinions.

(7) WORDPLAY: if you're big on metaphors and description, GRRM is your guy. Almost flawless flow.

(8) LOTS OF CONFLICT: all types, too; not just fighting but between characters through threats and intrigue.

(9) MULTILAYERED PLOTTING; SUB PLOTS GALORE: each character has their own separate storyline; especially as the story continues and everyone gets scattered. This is one of the reasons why each novel is between 700-900 pages.

(10) SUPERLATIVE VARIED CHARACTERS: not the typical archetypes that we are used to in most fantasy; some are gritty; few are totally evil or good; GRRM does a great job of changing our opinions of characters as the series progress. This is especially true of Jaime in book three.

(11) REALISTIC MEDIEVAL DIALOGUE: not to the point that we can't understand it but well done.

(12) HEAPS OF SYMOBLISM AND PROPHECY: if you're big on that.

(13) EXCELLENT MYSTERIES: very hard to figure out the culprits; GRRM must have read a lot of mystery novels.

(14) RICHLY TEXTURED FEMALE CHARACTERS: best male author on female characters I have read; realistic on how women think, too.

(15) LOW MAGIC WORLD: magic is low key; not over the top so heroes can't get out of jams with it.

REASON TO NOT READ GRRM

(1) YOU LIKE YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS: GRRM does a good job of creating more likeable characters after a few die. But, if that isn't your style, you shouldn't be reading it. He kills off several, not just one, so be warned.

(2) DO NOT CARE FOR GRITTY GRAY CHARACTERS: if you like more white and gray characters, this may unsettle you. I suggest Feist or Goodkind or Dragonlance if you want a more straight forward story with strong archetypes.

(3) MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEWS TURN YOU OFF: if you prefer that the POVS only go to a few characters, this might be confusing for you.

(4) SWEARING, SEX: there's a lot of it in this book just as there is in real life. If you have delicate ears, this book may upset you.

(5) YOU DEMAND CLOSURE AT THE END OF EVERY BOOK: this isn't the case for all stories in the series. Some are still going on; some have been resolved; others have been created and are moving on.

(6) IF YOU WANT A TARGET OR SOMEONE TO BLAME: this can be done to some extent but not as much. This is b/c he doesn't try to make anyone necessarily good or evil.

(7) ARCHETYPES: some readers like archetypal characters because it's comfortable; we like the good young hero (sort of like Pug in Feist's THE RIFTWAR SAGA); it's familiar and we sometimes like to pretend we're this upcoming, great hero. You wont' get much of this in GRRM with the exception of one or two characters. There really aren't any super heroes compared to all the other characters as it's more grittier and no one is shooting fireballs every milisecond or carrying around some super powerful sword.

(8) LENGTH: you don't want to get into a long fantasy epic series. In that case, look for shorters works as this is biiig.

(9) PATRIARCHY: men are most of the main characters with lots of power (one female exception). While this is realistic of the medieval era, some readers may not prefer this if they want more girl power, so to speak.

By the way, if you don't want to commit to a big book until you know the author better, check out his short story, THE HEDGE KNIGHT, in LEGENDS. Overall, this is a great series and I happily purchase the hard cover when it comes out...

Everyone! There are like seven would-be Kings and Queens trying to take over the Seven Kingdoms! I haven't seen anything like it- Armies crawling all over the countryside. All throughout this book you find yourself trying to imagine who will run into whom. Hoping so-and-so gets his hands on this guy, and so on. And when they do encounter each other- it's incredible! You will love this series!

This story is told from the point-of-view of nine (at present) distinct main characters with a great supporting cast, and while some feel this gets too confusing- I love it. It feels like you are reading nine stories at the same time. Most are excellent... Sansa and Catelyn might have to go if they don't get better, but Tyrion is one of my favorite characters ever. What really rivets you is the fact that Martin is not afraid to kill off his characters. Not like in Wheel of Time where everyone manages to escape or make a comeback (look for Moiraine and Lanfear in the next one).

One small factor does manage to irk me... the language. Not the cursing mind you. That was used rather tastefully and not over done. What I refer to is the annoying speech habits of certain characters... The Crow was fine yelling, "Corn!" or whatever, but then you have the alchemist saying "...hmmm." in every sentence, Stannis' fool with, "I know! I know! Oh! Oh!" and there's a few others not to mention HODOR! This was annoying, but just a minor gripe.

I don't feel it was quite as good as Game of Thrones, but it sure comes close, and still enough for a "5 star". Martin's plotting and dialogue are truly masterful and you'd be a fool to pass up on reading this series (6 books projected). But there is a lot of painful waiting between each new installment and at least six years until the end- Oh the agony!

This is not a negative review. So far, The Song of Ice and Fire saga remains interesting, somewhat unpredictable and well written. However, I must state that when nothing ever seems to go right for the most likable characters, it does tend to get REALLY tiresome and REALLY frustrating after a while (especially now that I am over 1300 pages into this thing). In fact, Martin seems rather to enjoy the fact that anything planned by the "good guys" goes awry. Sure, the Starks win some victories here and there. King Robb wins a few battles, but even here Martin usually tells us about them after the fact. We don't even get the satisfaction of reading about Robb's victories (for some reason, we don't get his POV). I have no problem with the bad guys winning sometimes. That's just reality and it allows us to understand the "good" in a more vivid perspective. But so far, this series has been a non stop descent into the evils that men do. Be prepared: At any opportunity, Martin ensures that these books are as cruel and crude as possible. If you are normal, this starts to drain you emotionally after a while. Nevertheless, I'm already reading book 3.

"A Clash of Kings" is the second book in George R.R. Martin's remarkable "Song of Fire and Ice" series. The novel picks up seamlessly where "A Game of Thrones," left off. The story deepens and becomes more complex as, (at least), four claimants battle for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms and unimaginable darkness and disaster threaten from the North. This riveting, multi-layered epic saga reads, in part, like superb historical fiction, (the novel is based more on history than on legend or myth), and in part like dark fantasy, with a huge cast of vivid, well developed human characters - and a few of the supernatural kind also. As with the first book, there is an Appendix at the back of the novel with the names of all the royal houses, their kings, queens, knights, histories, and mottos.

The ten year-long summer of peace has come to an end, and the darkness of a harsh, frigid winter is about to descend on the now splintered Seven Kingdoms. An ominous blood red comet, thought by some to be an omen of evil, by others a portent of good, blazes across the sky. In just a short period, war has ravaged the land. King Robert Baratheon, and Lord Eddard Stark, enforcers of thirteen years of peace, have been murdered - victims of political treachery in the game of thrones. Robb Stark of Winterfell has been proclaimed King in the North and battles, along with his liegemen and their armies, against the Lannisters, while dead King Robert's brothers, Stannis and Renly Baratheon, fight each other for crown and throne in the South. The House of Lannister attempts to hold on to their power through young heir apparent, Jeoffry Lannister Baratheon, the child of incest, who rules like a tyrant from King's Landing. His evil, manipulative mother Cersei and his uncle, Tyrion, the dwarf, dominate the sadistic young king and rule through him. Tyrion, called the Imp, tries to check his nephew's arrogance and cruelty and his sister's power plays. At one point he comments that he is all that stands between the family and the population, who despise him, and chaos. Deadly political intrigue is the name of the game at court.

King Balon Greyjoy, of the Iron Islands, has marshaled his forces in his own play for power. Meanwhile, major armies are massing against King's Landing from all points on the map, and from various sources, all with their own interests at stake. There is an extraordinary battle scene which occurs during the last 200 hundred pages that is detailed, intense and mind-boggling in scope and creativity. I don't like military/war/battle descriptions, yet I was absolutely riveted to the page. This is really superb writing!

Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons and royal heir from the previous dynasty, plans, from a continent away, to travel with her unlikely brood across deserts and wastelands to take back the crown that is rightfully hers.

Sansa Stark, Robb's sister, is held captive at King's Landing waiting for an opportunity to escape. Arya, the second Stark sister, is making her way north, toward home, disguised as an orphan boy. She is traveling with a band of miscreants destined for the Night's Watch in the far north. Back at Winterfell, the two youngest Starks, find themselves confronting a friend turned mortal enemy. And Jon Snow, the illegitimate son of Eddard Stark who is serving in the Night's Watch, discovers an invasion of a more heinous nature. Evil, destructive forces, far more deadly than thousands of mounted armed knights and soldiers, are mobilizing to wreck havoc on the land and civilization. Powers as old as the earth itself are preparing to move. Jon is a member of the contingent led by Lord Commander Mormont, (father to the disgraced Ser Jorah), who travel in the menacing frozen wilderness, north of the tower, in search of the lost Benjen Stark, and the King Beyond the Wall. But the dire danger in the North is ignored or forgotten as feudal lords vie for supremacy and wage war amongst themselves.

New characters are introduced in "A Clash of Kings," among them Lady Melisandre, a priestess of a god known as the Lord of Light. She has ensorcelled Stannis Baratheon and the powers she wields are terrifying.

Martin's prose is fluid and extremely well written. Compelling plots, subplots and counterplots are interwoven throughout as the characters go about their lethal quest for power and wealth. The descriptions are so vivid and three dimensional that this alternate world, one that in many ways resembles Europe during the Middle Ages, is really brought to life on the printed page. The author does not shy away from the brutal realities of civil war. There are appalling abuses of physical and governing power, frightening scenes of battle and strife, where the innocent civilian population is abused and horribly victimized. However, the narrative also includes spellbinding adventure, romance, war, battles, knights and their ladies, quests, infidelity, love, honor, incest and treachery, etc.. Simply outstanding!
JANA

Continuing and expanding the excellent story begun in "A Game of Thrones", "A Clash of Kings" takes us further into the chaos that has descended upon the land of Westeros now that king Robert Baratheon is dead. The "Seven Kingdoms" are fracturing, war and madness reign, and through it all George R. R. Martin ties the plot together and cranks up the volume notch by notch.

All of us who dove into this series are now frothing at the mouth waiting for the next book... "Clash" ends with so many cliffhangers that I spent a decent amount of time lying awake at night wondering what in god's name was going to happen NEXT. This series is one of the best fantasy epics I have ever read, and I have faith that Martin will keep the pressure on, and fan interest up, unlike Robert Jordan.

If you have not started this series, go NOW and read the first book, and then (slowly!) read "A Clash of Kings", as the third book (Supposedly titled "A Storm of Swords") is not due out till Fall of this year. Hang on!

Both Song of Ice and Fire books go beyond standard fantasy conventions and present real worlds and real people. Many readers seem to be happy with generic 'elf and alien' books these days, so be warned: You won't find bland characters and dull plot developments here. Instead, you'll find real people, filled with love, rage, lust, anger, ambition, and all the other emotions that color the human spectrum. I can't recommend the books highly enough. Top notch adult fiction, not just the childish fantasy that traditionally clogs up the genre.

Of all the fantasy series on the market, only three, to me, combine page-turning plotlines, characters you could cry over, solid writing--and believable worlds. Martin joins Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, and early Katharine Kerr as the best of what modern fantasy has to offer. I know how popular Salvatore, Eddings, Feist, et al. are; but read them again, and what you get is good story with junior high school-level writing ability. Terry Goodkind spins a good yarn, but he's too derivative of Robert Jordan (why no copyright infringement lawsuit?) and his writing is average at best. Martin's series, though... wow. Tad Williams remains, to me, the best-written of all series, Jordan's plot is perhaps the most captivating, and early Kerr was so real you could smell the horse and steel. Martin is not the best in any one area, but he does it all so well you'll find yourself staying up all night turning pages. My only anger is the year-long wait until the next installment. I know some will chafe at the fact that this second volume is mostly build-up, with just about nothing getting resolved. But what a build-up; the tension gets so thick you want to scream at the characters to get a clue and see what's really coming. If your idea of fantasy is two-hundred pages of improbably-named Dungeons and Dragons cliches killing monsters plagiarized from Tolkien, go back to your Salvatores. But if you're into believable worlds crafted by authors who obviously have done some homework into late medieval history to flesh out the details, and characters who are _human_, with human failings, do yourself a favor and buy A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Better yet, wait until the series is done before you start, or you'll find yourself in agony, like I am now.

"A Clash of Kings" got me through two long airplane trips in steerage class, plus several sleepless nights when I was trapped in a noisy Roman hotel with sixty Episcopalian choir boys.

For that I am grateful.

I won't admit to being addicted to Martin's epic medieval war fantasy, but I've already started Volume III,"A Storm of Swords," from his projected six-volume series, "A Song of Ice and Fire."

After finishing "A Game of Thrones (Volume I)," I wasn't sure how the author was going to extend his story to six, thousand-page volumes. However "A Clash of Kings" opens up many possible plot lines---there are five kings in Volume II as opposed to one king in Volume I, and they spend this book warring against each other. If you like to read about trebuchets that "turned living men into bone and pulp and gristle," and you know the difference between a mace and a morning-star, then you'll probably enjoy the battle scenes more than I did. Martin did his research on medieval weaponry and tactics, and his action scenes are totally riveting, even though ripped entrails, ichorous fluids, spastic colons, and roasting flesh are prominently featured.

I guess you can't scramble for thrones without breaking a few yokels.

Martin splits his narrative between ten different characters, eight of them continuing their stories from volume I:

I think what needs to be said of the second book is that it does forward the plot of the first.

It definitely fleshes out the characters of the first book more!

Tyrion - must keep the delicate juggling act he has started going smoothly. He not only has to deal with who he KNOWS the enemy is, but must wade through the deception at the Rock to see who he can trust and who he can't. When you think you know, you're dead wrong, and there IS a price to be paid.

Dany - not enough of her in this book, but what is there is jam packed. Now with her sun and stars dead, she must take the few that follow her and build them into an army that can reclaim her throne. Along the way, however, are the curious and the deadly - people who want to see the Mother of the Dragons, but also want to take those dragons from her! Just when you think this poor kid can not catch a break, she gets one in the end.

Jon - Jon FINALLY gets a plot, and it centers around his missing Uncle. He and the Watch must take on the deadly mission of going into the woods and beyond the wall to find where their Black Brothers went. What they find frightens them, and staying alive becomes a daily struggle in the harsh weather.

Arya- This little girl is learning some hard, fast lessons about life. Through out the book, she buils a piece of mental armor for herself, and at the end, you can almost hear the last piece click into place as this little child leaves the days of youth behind her and becomes a young adult who will do anything to get back to what little family she has left.

The Lannisters - Ah, how fickle is youth! Just when Cercei thinks she has the control she wants, she finds out that she can not control her young son as she thought she would be able too. Her father is not pleased with the way Joffrey rules his land, and the neither is the town in which they live. They find out that lesson hard. Slowly, oh VERY slowly, the wheel of justice starts to turn back towards them. Not quickly enough, but it does. Two brothers go to war over the crown, one aided by a scary new ally/enemy.

The Starks - Catelyn continues her hard road of justice and revenge. She has few allies, and is in constant worry of her remaining family as Robb marches into war. Bran finds an unexpected new side effect of his fall, some new friends to help him with it, and remembers the truth.

Towns burn, people die and stronghold's crumble in this book. Innocence is lost, brutality becomes common and hearts are broken. But the game continues on, because if you play the game, you win or you die.

There are no two ways about it. The Song of Ice and Fire is in a class of its own in modern fantasy writing. After some of the very poor writing (Brooks, Goodkind etc.) that has tended to saturate the fantasy market it is a breath of fresh air to read such excellent literature in this genre. The multilevel plot lines are quite brilliant with the characters being extremely convincing in that most show both "good" and "bad" personality traits and actions. The Clash of Kings is a worthy sequel to the first book although it takes quite a while to get going. Although I have given this book 5 stars, to my mind it is not without its faults. As others (no pun intended) have already mentioned Martin's use of different viewpoints for each chapter can be annoying at times - especially when it seems to break the flow of the story rather than enhance it. I would also hazard to guess that Martin (with no little encouragement from his publishers, no doubt) is succumbing to that terrible literary affiction of "Jordanitus" - a terrible propensity of keeping a series going on too long. Don't do it George! Along with a number of characters' (Theon Greyjoy for one) insatiable wenching you might also notice that Mr Martin tends to describe the meals in great detail - perhaps we are learning a thing or two about the author himself (please forgive me George). All in all, this is a brilliant book and I take my hat of to Mr Martin.

First of all, I'd like to point out that my rating is four and a half stars. I _loved_ A Game of Thrones; in my opinion, it's one of the best fantasies written in a long time (for those interested, see my review of AGoT from January, 1999). ACoK is even darker than the already dark Game, but it carries on the story in a tight, well-paced direction. The plot thickens substantially, and the chapters specifically related to Tyrion Lannister (arguably the coolest character in the series) are incredibly well-written! The only gripe I have with George's second installment is the lack of closure. I certainly understand that this is a middle book in a six volume series, but it still ended a bit too abruptly for my taste. Still, it is a masterful addition to one of the best fantasy worlds created in a long time.

For those who have criticized Martin for the profanity and graphic violence portrayed in his novels, I will say his series is not for the squeamish or easily offended. For those who have tough hides, it's definitely worth your time. The profanity is not excessive. Many people swear; you can't avoid it. So some of George's characters use strong language too; however, this is realistic to their personalities! Martin doesn't use these words to shock, but to simply strengthen the realistic nature of some of his characters.

The violence is harsh, yes, but I think it is also necessary to the plot. The land of Westeros is _brutal_. Many of the central characters are _not_ nice people. Let's face it. A realistic world is not all fun and games. Bad things happen. Those who want happy endings should read Cinderella. Those who want a gritty, realistic fantasy should read George R.R. Martin.

One last comment I want to make is directed to George. I read one of your latest interviews in which you name Tyrion Lannister a villain. I beg to differ. Tyrion is the _hero_ of the series. Sure, he may be on the wrong side for the time being, but he is a just person. Give him the credit he's due. If nothing else, call him an anti-hero. In the end, I think the Imp will be the most remembered character of the series.

One last plug. I suggest all fans of Martin read his short story, "The Hedge Knight," which can be found in a fantasy compilation of short stories called _Legends_. It's set in the same world as AGoT, and its characters are some of my favorites. If you're reading this, George, write a prequel novel about Dunk and Egg! :-)

Having made a stunningly successful debut into Fantasy with "A Game of Thrones", Martin continues with the second volume of the Song of Ice & Fire saga, "A Clash of Kings". To his credit, Martin manages to keep up the quality of the first volume, despite the number of characters and sub-plots growing seemingly uncontrollably. In what is perhaps an effort to reduce the complications, Martin resorts to killing off some of the main characters, so that by the end of the second volume, the cast is back to manageable proportions. In a sense, it is difficult to review this book as it is clearly meant as a bridging novel to the upcoming book 3. Without revealing the story, let me say that the main focus of the volume is to resolve some of the burgeoning sub-plots and lesser characters. In the process, Martin does leave one wondering about the cut threads now dangling in mid-air. Presumably subsequent volumes will connect them up but for the moment the suspense is awkward. What happens to Melisandre back on Dragonstone? Does R'hllor play any further part? Where and how does Jaqen H'gar disappear and will he re-appear? What exactly happens to Jaime Lannister in the end? What was the point, if any, of Daenerys' Dothraki Diaspora? When, if ever, will Arya resume her Stark identity? One is left wondering and a bit unsettled at the lack of answers. But on the plus side, having got several sub-plots out of the way (for now?) Martin finally turns to the main plot. The battle (if not the war) for Kings Landing and the Iron Throne is settled and the Night's Watch rides north in force; now Jon Snow must face an unknown and unlooked for destiny. Excellent character depictions and scene descriptions remain Martin's strength. As many of us readers suspected, the Imp, sympathetically portrayed by Martin in the first volume, returns to center stage in the second book and Martin does appear to be speaking through him. Still however, Martin refuses to heed his readers' pleas for a prologue and most annoying of all for me at least, is unwilling to take the trouble of mapping the geography of his world. Westeros is slightly better charted in this volume but the Free Cities, the Dothraki Sea and the rest of his world remain off the edge of the maps. Please Mr. Martin, do something about this in book 3. For those who have already read A Game of Thrones, don't miss A Clash of Kings. For those who are new to the saga, you will do better to read book 1 first (A Game of Thrones).

Finally, a fantasy series for grown-ups. GM's books have real people in real situations, rather than the cliched old fantasy superheroes battling tired villains with yet another plan to take over the world. It reads almost like an historical novel (for an imaginary world), with just a little sprinkle of traditional fantasy elements. The story actually makes sense, and makes me think of the 'Kingmaker' period in old Britain. Great stuff. If you like your stories linear and predictable, this won't be for you. Otherwise, get it at all cost.

For this review, I'm including all the three of the books that have been released so far in the Song of Ice and Fire series. George RR Martin doesn't like to wrap up all the plotlines at the end of each book, so if you like the first one, you will definitely want the other two. The three books so far in the series read like one long narrative, and it is far from complete at the end of book three.

Most people put these books into the fantasy category, and to be fair, magic does play an increasingly important role as the story progresses, but these books are different from every other fantasy book I've ever read. The books are more like historical fiction except that their wonderfully vivid world is entirely made up. I'd almost put them in the sci-fi category if it weren't for the medieval setting. It is very much different from the traditional fantasy series.

A lot of people pick up these books expecting to get traditional fantasy novels, and wind up very disappointed. If you've read the entire Wheel of Time series, and are eagerly awaiting the next book, then this series may not be for you. Many people like fantasy books for the escape from reality that they provide. Evil is embodied in one dark villain, and you know that no matter how bad it seems, the heroes will come through and win in the end. I enjoy books like this from time to time, and I've read and enjoyed books from Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, but George RR Martin is something else entirely. Comparing him to them is like comparing apples to oranges.

At times it seems like this series was written to be the antithesis of the "escape from reality" fantasy novel. There is no overarching "force of evil" in this series, and no real heroes either. The books are set in Feudal times, and there's a lot of feuding going on. There are good and bad people on all sides of the conflicts, and sometimes I'm not sure who I want to win. Looking back historically, medieval times were hard, and they made for hard people, and that is exactly what George RR Martin tries to portray in his books. I've read a few negative reviews of these books which say the characters are not believable, or are unrealistic. I must say that anyone who thinks that the world in these books lacks realism probably doesn't have a clear idea of what life was like in the Middle Ages. They need to put down the fantasy book they've been reading and spend a little time in the non-fiction section.

Some reviewers have compared these books to a great medieval soap opera, and I'd say that's a fairly accurate description. Imagine the HBO series "Deadwood" set in the middle ages, then add in a little more sex and violence, and cut down a bit on the cussing, and you will have a good idea of what to expect in these books. There are a lot of complicated characters struggling with each other, and you have no idea how it's all going to end up. I'm not at all sure that the series will ever be ended, but if it keeps up its current level of quality, I'll be there reading as many pages as he cares to churn out.

I'm not much of a finisher when it comes to books in series. I stopped at book 5 in the Sword of Truth series, and I thought it went downhill after book 2. I stopped in the middle of book 4 in the Wheel of Time series after I asked my friend what was going on in book 9, and I found out that not much had changed since book 4. I stopped at book 4 in the Dark Tower series after getting fed up with Stephen King recycling his old material into his new books. I will probably finish all of these series eventually, but it will only be because I can't find anything better to read.

The Song of Ice and Fire is the first series in a long time to really grab hold of me and keep me interested from start to finish. I love the realism in these books, and it brings in a whole new level of intensity when you're really not sure if this character is going to live or die, and when you really don't know whether the Starks or Lannisters are going to win the next battle. The politics in the land of Westros is even more interesting than the battles. Who is allying with who? Who is going to be assassinated? Who's getting double-crossed? And then in the background, you have magic as the wildcard that throws carefully laid plans out the window, and the constant foreboding of the coming winter.

There was one point in the second book where I literally threw the book across the room and spent several minutes fuming and pacing around before I picked it up and continued reading. Those of you who read the book can probably guess the part I'm talking about. I've never had a book get me that worked up before or since, and I am eagerly awaiting the fourth book in the series. I hope it will be as good as the first three.

If you haven't yet read this book, I'd advise you to be a little wary when going through these reviews. There are a lot of spoilers, especially in the negative reviews, and I think you will enjoy the books much more if you let yourself be surprised by their twists and turns. There's a very helpful review by "Mister SJEM" which should be close to the top if you sort the reviews by "most helpful". It should give you a good idea if this book is for you without giving away too much of the plot.

Yes i just gave this book five stars. I never thought I would ever give a book five stars but it has happend with A clash of Kings. Here's why.

I grew up reading fantasy all through my teen years. Tolkien, Feist, and Goodkind used to take me to another world and take me away from everything. Now that im older none of these authors (well except Tolkein of course!) can give me that same feeling. That was until I encountered Geroge R R Martin. Here is fantasy for grown ups.
What really appeals to me about George R R Martin's books is that it doesn't do what most modern fantasy writing seems to do. There are no black or white characters, there are no immortal-all-powerful characters who never seem to be in any sort of danger (and therefore, in my opinion, are not worth caring about). There is no done-to-death plot about an ordinary person who against his wishes suddenyl is thrust in to a hero role. No huge magic, bad writing (which most fantasy writers these days seem to be guilty of)
What this series has is realistic characters who are guilty of displaying emotions, making bad decisions and acting and reacting as you would expect people in the situations that these characters are in to act. This is what appeals to me about Mr. Martin's writing. It is real and substantial, the characters seem alive and multi-dimensional. This is what fascinates me about this series, it is character driven.
This is fantasy for adults. There is no holding back with anything. Sex, violence, language. Some people (and some of the reviews) named these as the bad points of the book but I think the opposite. After all, if you dont like certain parts of the book simply skip through them. This is not Jordan or Feist after all.
Finally a fantasy series that resembles reality more than a cartoon series! This series has me absolutely hooked! Long live George R R Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire! After reading this series I can't go back to any other author (well maybe David Gemmel but that's an entire different ball game....)

One of the first books to introduce the artform of character development to me was Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. An epic following an ex-con throughout his life, and the lives of those he touched. And since I read that years ago, I have longed for another epic that could be as powerfully written, as dramatic and intense, and convey personas that were more than text. Finally, I've found something that fits this criteria, and A Song of Ice and Fire is it. Martin has established himself, in my mind, as one of the top authors in today's market. His style is unique and extreme, he takes many risks right down to the vulgarity and brutality of A Clash of Kings. Instead of censoring his work so he doesn't offend or disgust those readers who think fiction should reflect the 9 'oclock news, he pursues the reality of the situations. By far my favorite character (who probably absorbed the best scenes of the book) would be Tyrion Lannister. Previously John Snow was simply blowing my mind, but Tyrion's twists throughout this rampant world struck me not only as brilliant, but somehow uplifting. John Snow's ending battle was a masterful stroke in the story, and Arya's progress keeps the drama and heart attached. I would like to see Draenary's playing a larger role in the next book (if I spelled her name right, if not my apologies), but I was content in seeing her establish a strong footing in a foreign land. I'll be waiting on pins and needles for the third book, and I heard the same rumor as some other reviewers, that there may be a five or so wait until the 4th edition. I only hope this proves false.

A monster creation of gritty realistic proportions, building on the previous volume with almost majestic qualities. Fantasy styles and novels come and go, but I believe that "The Song of Ice and Fire" will stand the test of time and become a classic very soon.

Fantasy elements are kept in restraint at all times, this could almost be a historical novel set in the times of the English Wars of the Roses, but this makes it all the more better, as the whizz-bang of wizards, magic swords and the like are refreshingly missing. I haven't read a Fantasy novel for a long time that gets the sense of large countries and populations across realistically. Normally with an army of a few thousand and a handful of characters, the lead protagonist makes his move. Here armies' number in the hundreds of thousands and Martin has hundreds of well-placed, well thought out characters (with suitable family histories) in more than one location to back this up. Action takes place simultaneously with far distances separating places and people effectively. With literally hundreds of sub-plots, histories and motivations to go with it. Action is often brutal, bloody, dirty and realistic. Again I am reminded of the War of the Roses. The detail and description is heavy and rich without being dense and boring. Events keep you turning the pages and I am looking forward to the next volume. I cannot praise it enough.

I disagree with those saying the book is in a "holding pattern." Perhaps that's the "in" thing to say about fantasy series after Jordan's latest. But while I definitely felt that way about Jordan's, A Clash of Kings was an enthralling book. Events do happen which are extremely significant (people do die) and there is that ever-present sense of mortality. Martin does an excellent job of bringing a sense of reality to the genre. You get a great sense for the lethality of warfare compared to the typical heroes slaughtering faceless hordes.

The series so far does lack a sense of fantastic grandeur or the sense of massive history that Tolkien and others bring to bear, but on the other hand it presents a grippingly ruthless and exciting adventure, as well as intricate and involving political intrigue with believable characters.

Ok, I just finished Book 2, and I have to say I'm not quite as happy as I was with Book 1. Don't get me wrong - it's still a very entertaining read, but I'm encountering enough things that irritate me to actually speak up a bit.

(1) LEADEN PACE: Yes, I can now see what others have complained about. Book 1 moved along slowly, but Book 2 positively crawls at times.

(2) EXCESSIVE LENGTH/COMPLEXITY: The author should have put this book on a treadmill, and made it loose 250 or so pages. It's too flabby, even for someone of my laid back literary nature. The chief problem is that the author tells the tale from too many different angles at the same time, and the result is a story that's fragmentary ... and difficult to get back into if you put it down for more than a few days. Working from 8 different moving points on the same map, in simultaneous fashion, is a too fragmentary, and makes it difficult for the reader to relax into the tale. Instead, the reader is left to paddle furiously, like a poodle dropped in a swimming pool, with people shouting "over here !" from multiple different angles. It's sink or swim.

(3) EXCESSIVELY GRAPHIC VIOLENCE: I have the same complaint with movies these days ... the author seems to revel in describing sucking chest wounds, ropy intestines spilling out, and festering wounds. I'm well acquainted with the harsh realities of limited medieval medicine, but the author goes overboard at times, and there are moments when it feels like I'm watching a "splat" movie. Also, his "maester" healers seem rather under skilled, medically ... for all their supposedly great training, all the author seems capable of having them do is do simple bandages, pour boiling wine into gashes, apply leeches, and give people "milk of poppy" or "dream wine". There's a lot more to first aid, even at the medieval level, than just that.

(4) EXCESSIVE SEX: I've noticed a definite trend in both TV, SciFi and Fantasy over the past 20 years towards more and more sex. There were a few scenes in Book 1 of this series that raised my eyebrow, but not enough to carp about. This book, however, raises the bar considerably ... we see fellatio & cunnilingus, as well as repeated references to anal sex, buggery, incest, rape-murders, and even a reference to necrophilia {re: the character "Reek"}. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to name a chapter than didn't seem to have an obligatory sex scene, or sexual reference in it - and more often than not in an unsavory context. Don't get me wrong - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, and these things are realities of everyday life ... but there was no warning on the cover that the book is liberally interspersed with such content. Things have come a long way from the days of Robert E. Howard's Conan, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars pulps, in which we occasionally see women clad in gossamer veils, the occasional flash of nipple, and a quick fade-out on people who begin to get it on. GRRM doesn't leave the room at all ... he just lowers the action from XXX to NC-17 (single x) in order to avoid excessive complaints. In other words, he's pushing the envelope of the genre. I don't mind mature content at all ... but I *do* mind the lack of notice on the cover. The book should be marked as such, for the convenience of prospective readers who don't want to get blindsided by such things.

(5) EXCESSIVE MORTALITY: Ya know, I've played in some role playing campaigns in which the mortality level was gratuitously high - to the point where it seemed like the GM was perhaps overcompensating for their own real life shortcomings (e.g., no career, no sex life, no control over their fate) by making everyone else's life a living hell. In the case of this book, the author seems (to me) to go overboard in setting up characters and sub-plots, and then killing everything (and everyone) off, just to keep people guessing. Some people call that being bold and taking risks with the plot, whereas I think of it as being excessively sadistic - what's the point of sitting though all GRRM's long and plodding buildup, only to have the author crumple it up and toss it in the trash and go off in a completely different direction ? Where's the intellectual and emotional payoff ? Although gripping and entertaining, I'd be hard pressed to find much in this book that's uplifting, comforting, secure, nostalgic or inspiring, because the author is constantly ripping down plots and characters and papering up new ones every other chapter ... like a frothing tyrant, setting up elaborate patterns of dominos, just so he can gleefully kick them over. There's a fine line between having enough mortality to make death and failure a constant presence in the overall story (as it is in real life), and having half the characters die horribly, from book to book. It's too much, IMHO.

(6) ERATTA: There are some things that the author just plain gets wrong. For instance, the author's distance terminology usage appears wrong. I haven't analyzed it too closely, but it seems (to me) like he uses the term "leagues" as if they were the same as kilometers. They are NOT the same. One league = 3 miles = 4.83 kilometers. If his usage of the term were correct, then it should take a *lot* longer for people to get from place to place than it seems to in his plot. The author, however, doesn't seem to have the patience to support that sort of slow travel pace however, so he just seems to ignore the consequences of his improper use of terminology.

(7) CULINARY SHORTCOMINGS: I enjoy writers who take their food seriously (big props to GRRM for that), but it bothers me when people make mistakes. For instance - people going on multi-week trips over rough terrain, on foot or horse, don't typically lug lots of raw eggs with them for breakfast ... they're fragile, they're heavy (mostly water), and they easily spoil. Rib bones don't have soft edible marrow ... only the bones of extremities have soft marrow that's suck able. I'd also complain about blueberries (early summer), mint (late summer & early fall), and grapes (fall) not being in season at the same time, but since the seasons in the author's world span multiples of years, I think we can let that one slide. However, if the main continent of the seven kingdoms is truly a thousand leagues long, then Dorne and The Wall should be in different hemispheres, and the growing seasons should be reversed ... however, the plot seems to imply that the entire continent is in the same hemisphere, with much the same growing season. Perhaps there's something that the author is not telling us, and that perhaps their world is 10x the diameter of Earth (and spins faster on it's axis to make up for it). Still, I find it hard to believe that they can enjoy fresh oranges way up north, at The Wall. Based on the distances involved, the author should have (instead) featured pickled lemons, instead of fresh citrus. Also, there's not enough regional variations in the cuisine depicted. We don't see much dothraki cuisine except for mares milk and horse meat, and over in the seven kingdoms, and cuisine in the north seems to differ from the south only in that the south is more wealthy, and that fruit is a bit more prevalent. The only time the author mentions spices is in spiced wine, and the only seasoning in his food is salt and pepper. For the amount of word count that the author devotes to food, he could do better, with regards to regional diversity of cuisine.

Bottom line: I'm still very much enjoying this series, but there's room for improvement.

I'll admit I picked up Game of Thrones basically because it had a quote from Robert Jordan on the cover, and I was desperate for a book to read. Good luck, I'd say. Martin's successfully created a fantasy world that at once seems as real as our own history and at the same time embraces the utterly fantastic. What he started with Game of Thrones has only improved with Clash of Kings. For an erstwhile fantasy novel, there's very little in the way of sorcery and fairies...which is not to say those aspects are not there. Clash of Kings features a significant increase in the role of the fantastic from Game of Thrones, but continues to let his enthralling characters and amazing ability to tell a story of politics within the scope of what almost feels like historical fiction. To me, most fantasy novels have an almost dreary lack of originality. Even such modern masterpieces as Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry, Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time are positively drenched in Tolkein and Arthurian archetypes. Martin has written a brilliant novel of conflict, human flaws, and strength, using the traditions of the fantasy genre, not to supply him with the basis for all his characters and his plot, but as a supporting aspect of a far grander theme. Bravo.

I discovered George R.R. Martin when I was delayed at an airport and went to browse through the books to see if there was anything interesting there. "A Game of Thrones" looked interesting, so I coughed up the money and settled down to read and wait for my plane. I almost missed the boarding call! I think that this series (at least, so far) is the best epic fantasy that I have ever read (possible exception being Tad Williams' "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" - if you liked that you'll *definitely* like this).

"A Clash of Kings" returns us to the world of Westeros, a land that is now torn apart by the struggles of 5 different self-proclaimed monarchs, as well as a queen across the sea who is plotting to return and claim what she believes to be her rightful throne. At the center of the struggle are the two families Stark and Lannister. It is an extremely complex plot, and is sometimes difficult to keep track of the huge cast of characters, but the way that the various subplots interweave to form a coherent story is absolutely fantastic.

Not only is the world interesting, not only is the plot complex, dark, and unpredictable, but the characters are distinct, fascinating individuals, every one. Although the series started off with a pretty clear distinction between the protagonists and the antagonists (Stark - good; Lannister - bad), by the time "A Clash of Kings" ends, there are no "good guys" and no "bad guys". I found myself sympathizing with Tyrion Lannister, rooting for Daenerys Targaryen, and getting irritated with Sansa Stark. Sure, you still have the sneaky, scheming characters like Cersei and Joffrey Lannister, and the pure of heart heroes like Robb and Catelyn Stark, but there are so many "in-between" characters. The ones you can't trust, like Varys the eunuch and Petyr Baelish. Those who simply are loyal to whomever they are sworn to serve, like Sandor Clegane, Ser Rodrik Cassel, and Ser Davos the Onion Knight. The knights, soldiers, and sellswords who change sides at the drop of a hat with an offer of gold or a better chance at victory. The innocent children who don't know any better and end up as pawns in a giant game that they have no control over, like Marcella and Tommen Lannister and Bran and Rickon Stark. And far to the north, the brothers of the Night's Watch who don't concern themselves with the struggles of the kingdom, but instead devote their lives to protecting the land from the wild beyond the Wall.

If you like epic fantasy, you *must* read this series. Don't try to jump in with "A Clash of Kings", it's way too complicated to skip the first book; go read "A Game of Thrones", then come back to this one. You won't regret it.

Are you tired of superheroic fantasy types who can walk through the most dangerous situation, yet always escape unscathed. Try GRRM for a dose of realism. He plays with his characters like an angry and unpredictable nature god, removing heads and other parts from key characters to let us know this series is for keeps. The good guys don't seem to be winning, but the action is always there. Characters are shades of grey rather than black and white, and the bad guys don't seem to necessarily get their due.

All in all, the best books and series in fantasy I have ever read. Of course, I don't like the stylism of Tolkien, but GRRM's tight writing style is fabulous and taut with action. A depth of world comparable to Jordan without the often ponderous review necessitated by a dozen book series.

For those who fear George R. R. Martin may tread the same path as Robert Jordan, oh, perish the thought!

Anyway, I strongly believe this won't happen. Here's why:
1) As Song of Ice and Fire is brilliant from the get-go. Two chapters (or less) into A Game of Thrones and you know you're in for some real meat-and-potatoes storytelling. WoT's Eye of the World merely shows flashes of brilliance and glints of (mostly-unrealized) potential and takes forever to get where it's going (wherever and whenever that may be), and this is just the FIRST book.

2) Besides basic talent and knowing exactly what story he's telling, Martin has simply, yet ingeniously solved the problem of preventing things (i.e. plot threads and number of characters) from becoming unmanageable by relating each chapter from a single character's POV. I.E. there aren't that many plot threads. That is, chapters aren't split between a slew of plot developments and different character POVs; one can follow the story quite easily. As I said, there aren't that many plot threads to speak of. There are a lot of characters, to be sure, but certainly not a galaxy of them, as in WoT, and I don't have as hard a time keeping track. I think WoT works better as a name generator for fantasy role-playing games than an actual series of novels.

3) Martin keeps away from the cheesy superpowers that the characters of WoT seem to exude from their very pores. Not to say there's no supernatural aspect to SoI&F because there most certainly is. But Martin wisely accords it the mystery and fear that keeps it appropriately ominous and non-mundane. After all, you can't be amazed by it if it's in your face every damned day. All the characters are basically human; that is, they have the same frailties and capablities as anybody in our dreary reality. Oh, a few may have some slight precognitive powers and such but there's nothing like "wind-weaving" or "earth-shifting" or any fantastical nonsense like that. And I appreciate it because it's that much easier to like (or hate, as the situation warrants) these characters, knowing they're really no different from us. We almost literally feel their injuries and triumphs. In WoT, every other character either seems to be able to either "Channel" or have some other useful supernormal ability or other. I think I remember such powers being used even for everyday, menial tasks. Reducing such fantastic happening to everyday ho-hummery strikes reduces it to hardly more than a super-hero comic. Not to say that there's anything wrong with super-hero comics, but I don't know, I feel the genre of FANTASY genre works better relating the stories of, say, your Frodo Bagginses and your Arya Starks (to take an example more pertinent to this review) to pass through insurmountable odds and terrible tragedy to accomplish their goals or at the very least survive.

4) The way political intrigue is handled is many heads and many shoulders above than what you'll find in WoT. Furthermore, there isn't any of "these three characters are in love with this character" or "this other character wants to boink the queen" sort of nonsense thrown into the mix to make things even more complicated to the point where you're left to wonder what is important and what is not. You'll find plenty of this sort of crap in WoT and if the abundance of super-powers makes WoT more like a superhero comic, then this aspect (for example, the love-quadrangle) makes WoT a soap opera about superheroes and supervillains. Meanwhile, everything in the SoI&F books is expertly streamlined and extremely easy to follow. Any relevant or relationships or emotional attachments, romantic or otherwise, are dealt with in relation to whichever character's POV is telling the story. Yes, there is sex, a lot of it, in SoI&F, but any situation dealing with sex is deftly woven into the plot and works to further character development. It doesn't just sit there, taking up space and beating up brain cells.

5) There's detail, but only enough to make the world real and give it a sense of depth. Martin's foremost goal is always to further the plot. No detailing every wooden table down to the last ornate whorl. In WoT, you will get this kind of overbaked and distracting description, as well as how much taller this second-string character is than this third-string character. Or how this nobody inn-keeper is fat and bald and has a flush in his cheeks and likes stories about butterflies.

6) George R.R. Martin is not afraid to treat his much beloved characters very, very, badly. There are things that happen in SoI&F that are very, very shocking and heartbreaking. But this only makes me appreciate the series more. You can't expect to live in such a wicked world, especially one set in a medieval-type setting, and expect to get off without a scratch. Yet that is exactly what WoT's main protagonists seem to do, despite living in the same general type of world. Through ten books, not one main character in WoT has seemed to suffer any major setback or life-altering injury. Not one (well, okay, Moiraine and even there, no one's seen the body). When WoT's characters are inconvenienced, their ordeals don't seem to last all that long and in the end, all seems to be made good. If anything, characters seem to acrue more power and good fortune. Maybe this has to do with all the nifty powers they have.

In short, everything about SoI&F is just flat out better than Wot. It's more skillfully written and expertly paced. I don't think the two series should even be compared any longer I can't imagine this series every "jumping the shark," as it were, as WoT has seemed to do since Book 5; it's just too damned good. Of course, I don't think WoT was ever really that great in the first place.

All of the regular praise aside, I think the reason why I love this series -and we're talking only 2 books in a projected 5 book plus series- above all other fantasy epics is the gritty, realism of warfare and the naturalistic take on the fantasy world. Don't get me wrong, the Wheel of Time, Riftwar, Belgariad, Lord of the Rings, I all love. The strength of these two books is not only the characters but the overall feeling of a world that lives and breathes like our own world but still manages to be fantasy. Issues of rape, incest, and so on are found in the book when most fantasy authors are loathe to enter into those topics. Mr. Martin has his characters doing acts not typical of most in the genre. It delves into the ideas of what defines a hero. All the characters have deep flaws to balance their good points, and that is what makes it interesting. Throughout all the dark points, there seems to be a sense of promise throughout the book. Despite all the turmoil going on, you feel that the author has to have something happy occur soon, you just know it. It's the whole "light at the end of the tunnel" thing. Anyway, that is one aspect of why it is my favorite fantasy epic.

If I hear "Jordanitus" one more time I am going to puke! People, quit condeming others for Jordan's sins as a bad writer. If the writing continues as it is - I would love nothing more than this series to go on and on. Every chapter is filled with intrigue that progresses the story as well as defines characters - Martin is a master of storytelling, plot development, story movement, and character greyness. Whereas Martin delivers a lavish meal that you feel guilty for having so much goodness, Jordan offers crumbs until you become so warped that crumbs begin to look like feasts and you thank Jordan for them. Do not compare these authors...Martin spoils the reader while Jordan spoils the series - that is the only comparison.

So what if Martin describes in detail the food they are eating - that is the talent of a true author - to set you into the story and make you feel apart of it...food is very important to a reader, and your comment on Martin liking food himself is also shameful.

This is the best Fantasy Series I have ever read - sitting next to The Lord of the Rings, and just above Leiber's Fafhrd and Mouser series...this series will change your life.

George R.R. Martin is easily my favorite author. "A Clash of Kings" blows almost every book that I've read out of the water because Martin is such an awesome author. This is the second book in the series titled "A Song of Ice and Fire" and picks up right after the first book in the series. This novel starts off with a very riveting prologue and then takes us back to our favorite characters and the events that are taking place.

If you haven't read the first book in this series then you may not understand the plot. If this is the case, go to the page for "A Game of Thrones" and you will be familiar with this series. This book picks up after book one and continues the story that started in the first book. Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, and Robb Stark are naming themselves the king of Westeros and war has started. This book has a lot of fighting, political intrigue, wonderful characterisation, suspense, and an awesome storyline. Martin really starts to kill off certain characters in this book and the people being killed will be the people that you would think the least of. By the end of this book many things will have changed from the beginning and you will be shocked by the events that took place.

With this book comes more magical things than what was in the first book. Many magical doings take place and are major to the plot. There are no quests and most of this book is based on sword fighting, politics, and a captivating storyline. These things make for a refreshing break from the usual fantasy that you see today.

What makes "A Clash of Kings" interesting, and the other two novels in this series for that matter, is the way that the story is told. The story is broken up into chapters told from the point of view of the main characters and because of this you are not stuck with the point of view of one character throughout the whole entire story. In adiition to the characters that survived in "A Game of Thrones" there are two new characters whose points of views are told. Read this book to see who the new two people are.

For those of you who think that no other book can beat "A Game of Thrones," you're wrong. "A Clash of Kings" is only better than the first book because the plot develops more and thickens, you'll become much closer the the characters, and George R.R. Martin writes brilliantly. This book should only be read if you have read the first novel in this series. If I were you, I would order both books 2 and 3 of "A Song of Ice and Fire" (asuuming that you've read book 1) because when you are done with this book you are going to want to dive right into book 3. This book is a new type of fantasy novel and should not be missed by any fan of the genre. This book will do everything BUT disappoint.

Happy Reading!

Yes you heard me...this is what reading A song of Ice and Fire is like...reading a medieval epic poem. This is beyond high fantasy, this series( or saga) is told like a quasi-historical drama that reads like an epic poem ala the norse and germanic tales of Egil's Saga, Beowulf, Niebelunglied , Volsungs et all.
With that said...this is what sets this story apart from so many fantasy series...its not driven by the same old cliche of an all encompassing prophecy, with a central 'big baddie', nor is it soaked to the gils in magic..this story, like epic poetry, like history, is a HUMAN story...fate/providence/prophecy does not decide what happens so much as the characters themselve, their decisions, desires, wisdom and blunders.I mean there are moments in history or in an epic poem where you think to yourself'if only they would have done this instead...' thats what reading Matin does to the reader....make you truly hope the characters make the right decision..b/c in this series, blunders have fatal consequences, for the minor and major character alike. Also, like epic poetry..the characterization is more fleshed out in this series than in any other I have read. Now granted, I have not read many authors( only Goodkind and Jordan) but still, I have seen Martin avoid simple two dimensional characters- the ultra pious and honorable good guy and the unredeemably bad, bad guy. Martin's characters, like many in epic poems, and certainly thru medieval history, are more flavored than that..some are honorable, yet can be ruthless...some are ruthless and cruel, yet have a scrap of honor on some points. Again...this is a HUMAN story(saga) and no human is one sided.

On the other side, lets not forget that Martin bases his story on our medieval world..a time that was NOT pc by any means. So, in the story we have graphic violence, sex, mention of whoring, foul language, and adult themes...many reviewers have complained about this, all I can say is....have any of you read your history?? or your medieval lit? Need I remind you that the most vaulted medieval/renaisance writer in history(Shakespeare) had more scenes of butchery and bawdiness in his whole cannon than in this book? I mean..come on people..this is not sanitized disneyized fantasy here...its realistic. and if you examine the period this is 'set' in or the literature of that period...u will see that sex and violence was very much a part of that time period( as it is now) . If you just dont like that sort of thing in your fantasy, fine, but dont complain of excessiveness..If you think this is excessive, read Titus, or Song of Roland, of the Niebelunglied( a queen slew her own child to try and kill her brothers) and tell me which is more gory.

Now, to the book itself, lol..Martin, simply put ,is a genius at narrative. The reason why he eclipses epic poetry in my book is b/c he gives every chapter thru a pov of a character, which, simply put, manipulates the reader. Never have I ever had my loyalties to characters questioned as much as with this book...he simply does not let the reader polarize anyone in the book, or at least, not very many. Also, like Jordan, Martin is THE master of political machinations..and if you think the schemeing is excessive, read some medieval british history...that stuff is better than any cheasy soap, more so b/c it truly happened. The plots are so masterfully interwoven, its like watching a tapestry be spun right in front of you. Also on that note, b/c the narration is episodic( like epic poetry and history) rather than linear, Martin avoids the traps that befall other authors( Jordan); that being repetative narrative prose. An economy of well phrased words keeps the story moving and the pace very brisk. I moved thru Martin's 900 pagees in what seemed like no time at all..I cant say the same for 600 pages of Jordan.

So basically it comes down to this..If you like and I mean like the medieval time period- read this book.

If you like political fantasy-read this book

If you like realism, and dont mind adult themes- read this book

If you are tired of the same cliches..i.e'boy is plucked from obscurity, discovers latent magic, gets magic sword, falls in love with queen/princess..fights the evil dark lord and saves the day'- read this

IF you like minimal magic with maximum impact, by all means read this book

otherwise...im afraid you wont have much to look forward to.-A.N.

As a cynical, long-time fan of fantasy and sci-fi, I can honestly say that this book was a surprisingly pleasurable read. I've learned not to expect much of this genre lately, but this one is really worth your time. Even better, is the fact that it's far superior to Robert Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' series. The characters are more developed, and the story is not as predictable. I just hope that Martin brings his series to a timely completion - something that Jordan seems incapable of doing.

I think I liked the first one slightly more, since there were fewer characters to move from and the wait between finding out what happened to each one was not quite so long, yet, regardless, this was still a superb work of fiction. I find myself completely wrapped up in the lives of these people. I find myself cheering for the most unlikely characters and feeling sorry for some of the more wicked ones. These are definitely multi-dementional characters and the skill in which Martin shows them to the reader is amazing. I can't wait to get my hands on the the third and fourth of this series.

This second volume in the Song of Ice and Fire is every bit as good as the first, A Game of Thrones. Picking up where the first book left off, this one continues the heart-rending and intense journey of some of my favorite characters in all of fantasy literature. Martin is undeniably one of the most skillful writers when it comes to character development, and the directions some of his characters take in this book will surprise you. With much of the world-building having been accomplished in the first book, this one provides even more action, with some of the most intense scenes I've ever read. Even though it is a long book, I didn't want it to end, and can hardly wait to read the next.

One of my favorite things about this series is the incredibly detailed world that it takes place in. It is so easy to get pulled into this setting, with its rich history and well-developed geography and climate. The detailed (and maybe overwhelming) noble houses and lineages going back generations help bring the world to life and set the readers perspective as to the past and present. Many times while reading this book, I found myself flipping back to the detailed map (and wishing there was one of the Eastern continent) as I just wanted to know as much as I could about exactly where each event was taking place and where it was in relations to other places. Martin's land of Westeros is huge, and the map is detailed, but it isn't wasted space, as events in this book take place all over the entire land.

While most of the POV characters in this one are the same as in the first book (with the exception of Davos Seaworth and a couple of others), they continue to develop here. You'll find yourself changing your mind about characters as you learn more about their motivations and capabilities. At least for me, some of my favorite characters in the first book turned into my least favorite here, and some I despised in the first book became some of my favorites. I thought Theon Greyjoy would be an excellent character, but here he develops into something terrible. Meanwhile, Tyrion Lannister has quickly become one of my favorite characters I've read about in any book.

Martin's use of POV for different characters really works well in this series. Learning about the land and getting unique view of events through the eyes of disparate characters allows for a lot of freedom and opportunities that Martin takes full advantage of. Some reviewers have complained about the nonlinear feel of the story, jumping around between characters and leaving the reader with awful cliffhangers and a mad desire to keep reading from the current point of view. While it is frustrating at times, it is a good sort of frustrating, and meant as a tease to keep you frantically turning pages to get back to that characters next section and see what happens. But, as you start reading about the next character, you realize that you'd just as soon stick with that one than go back to the last one. And, with a tale this big (and I mean HUGE), you absolutely have to jump between storylines frequently, and in my opinion Martin does it almost flawlessly.

The action is this second book is certainly more intense than the previous. The battle for King's Landing in particular is out of this world, with alchemist fire, dwarf-men leading charges, and devastation and destruction run rampant. Overall though, it is still the intensity of emotion that drives this story. Characters that you love are put through some of the most unimaginable ordeals and you can't help being scared for them, as Martin has already shown us his willingness to kill off nearly anyone. You'll find yourself laughing with the characters when things go wrong, but dreading to turn the page when you fell upcoming doom.

Get dragged into this story and you won't be sorry. That is unless you finish the most recent book and the series isn't done yet.. This is my second time through, and I now realize I'll end up with the same frustrating feeling of not being able to finish the story because Martin takes so awfully long to publish these books. They are worth the torment though. Most highly recommended!

I have never been involved in delirious medieval battle, sword in hand, cutting down my nearest foes. My hands and arms have never felt warm blood spurting from inflicted wounds. I have never felt the impediment heavy armor brings to the natural movement of my body. I have not heard the cries of agony of those wounded and dying, yet within a few pages, George RR Martin envelops all my senses with the reality of ghastly battles of epic proportions.

"The battle fever. He had never thought to experience it himself, though Jaime had told him of it often enough. How time seemed to blur and slow and even stop, how the past and the future vanished until there was nothing but the instant, how fear fled, and thought fled, and even your body. "You don't feel your wounds then, or the ache in your back from the weight of the armor, or the sweat running down into your eyes. You stop feeling, you stop thinking, you stop being you, there is only the fight, the foe, this man and then the next and the next and the next, and you know they are afraid and tired but you're not, you're alive, and death is all around you but their swords move so slowly, you can dance through them laughing." Battle fever. I am half a man and drunk with slaughter, let them kill me if they can!"

Thus reads an excerpt from A CLASH OF KINGS, the mind-blowing sequel to A GAME OF THRONES. George RR Martin's seducing darkness of the bleak and torn Seven Kingdoms continues as we are presented with old and new characters in this startling but sinister tale of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. Queen Cersei's son Joffrey ascends to the Iron Throne and continues with his sadistic reign of the King's Landing in the south following the death of King Robert. The grim Stannis and Renly Baratheon (brothers to Robert) believe themselves to be the legitimate heirs to the throne. This is the prequel and culminates to the final epic battle against Joffrey and the Lannisters. Stannis relies on the powers of his new faith in the God of Light and Lady Melissandre, yet not everything is what it seems, and darker powers seem to be at work in Stannis. Renly, in turn, relies solely on his charisma to draw and lead a vast army.

Rob Stark still battles to avenge his father's execution. Daenerys, the exiled heir of the former ruling family, continues the nurture of her three dragons. Jon, now part of the Nightwatch, travels further north to destroy the Wildlings and its leader, and hopes to destroy the evil threatens the Kingdom, now that the dead seem to walk.

My favourite character is Tyrion Lannister, an evil but likeable character, who tries to tame his nephew, King Joffrey, and protect himself from the evil schemes of his sister, Queen Cersei.

Martin captures the horror of medieval battles, where survival was not only based on skill, but also on luck. There is nothing sweet, nothing heroic, but Martin leaves you tasting the blood and witnessing the gore of the battle between steel and flesh. The reader is not untouched by this, but is seduced by the pain and terror of these characters. The story is definitely graphic and aimed at the adult reader. Martin is a superb storyteller (the best I have come across) and he infuses his characters with life, purpose and a sense of chaotic morality. The characters move between shades of grey, and are not strictly saints or sinners, but each is fallible in his or her beliefs. This is what makes the story so gripping and interesting. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride gone out of control. You never know what happens next, and it is hard to guess where Martin is going with this tale.

In A CLASH OF KINGS evil outwits good, if goodness can be found. Martin succeeds in disguising darkness as light, as it slays those who are deceived by it. The introduction of magic in this book is very subtle, but utterly believable.

The only complaint I have about this book, is that Martin is slow to reveal the grandness of the story, and I guess we will have to wait for A DANCE WITH DRAGONS.

I always enjoyed the idea of an epic fantasy, where the author could create a world and characters that are much more in depth than in a normal novel, yet I never could really get into any enough to put the time in. I read the first Wheel of Time book and the first Dune book (Sci-Fi is close enough to fantasy), and enjoyed them both, but not enough to put my time into reading the rest of the series.

But when I read A Game of Thrones, I was absolutely hooked. The day I finished it, I went out and got A Clash of Kings and read it more quickly than I've ever read a 1,000 page book. Both of these books are absolutely amazing. I'll let you get the reasons from other reviews (that's basically how I came upon the series), but I just wanted to say from the point of someone who is NOT a big fan of this genre, these are still some of the best books I have ever read. I can't wait for the next one to come out in paperback next month, so I can go get it! If you want to only read one series, THIS IS THE ONE!!!

I haven't read as much as many people that will read this, but of the 40 or so books that I have read, this is the only one that I felt compelled to write a review on. Again, I don't want to reiterate all the good points of these books (and there are many), but I just wanted to say that I'm glad I finally found a fantasy series that is truly worth the time investment that they all take.

Reading some of the reviews people have said that this book is a great continuation of the series or that it is a good sequel but not as good as the first or that it's a prelude of what's to come (where the first book was an introduction) but to be honest... Clash of Kings isn't any of those things.

It's just a really, really good novel.

Sure, it's a continuation of the series. Sure it's a sequel. But that's like saying Empire Strikes Back was just a continuation of the Star Wars saga and that Godfather II was just a good sequel. This book, like those movies, transcends such identification.

Clash of Kings is a great novel, hands down. It brings you a cast of characters (sometimes very long - do not be afraid to use the appendix in the back) that are utterly real and sets them in motion. Unlike a lot of fantasy, the characters are not moved by plot but plot is by characters. And what amazing characters they are! From Tyrion the Imp to Bran the cripple to the heartache of Sansa and the plight of her mother and the arrogance of Theon Greyjoy - man, you can't say that these are cookie cutter characters! These are flesh and blood men and women. And their horrors, joys, and adventures are as real to us as any great novel should be!

George R. R. Martin is an amazing novelist. He gives us fantasy in its most brutal and unbelievable form. This verisimilitude makes the most fantastic elements of the books (Stannis' shadow, the dragons, Bran's "link") seem just as real.

And before I go, I have to mention how fantastic some of the scenes in the book are. There are certain segments that are written so well, so vivid, that you can just imagine them as if they were up on the movie screen. I know this will be a book that will stick with me for many years to come and I know that I will be happily leaping into the third book just as soon as I get home and find it on my shelf!

Long live the King, George R. R. Martin!

I purchased the first book after reading a review of "Crows" (Book 4) a recent copy of Time Magazine. I liked that book, and decided to purchase the second in the series.

Martin does continue in the same tone as before. The story does bog down slightly in the middle, but does continue onward (if only slightly ploddingly). Martin likes to do a bit of a "Rashomon" treatment of some of his characters, viewing them from many different angles as he cycles through the different "protagonists". (While this sort of writing can endanger a story's plotline, Martin works this system of writing quite well).

That this is a "fantasy" book is without a doubt. However, if your definition of "fantasy" is one that relies on dragons, wizards, magic swords, elves, dwarves, orcs, and a war of good against evil (akin to a different author with the "R.R." initials), then this is not your sort of fantasy. This story sets place in a "low-fantasy" world, where dragons USED to fly, giants USED to terrorize the world, and the gods USED to talk with men. That being said, Martin gives you glimpses of the supernatural that still holds on at the fringes of the "civilized" world. What is different from the first book is the greater influence of magic as it seems to seep (potentially to later POUR) back into the world.

As with the first volume, a more comprehensive "world map", seeing that roughly 1/5 - 1/6 of the story takes place on a different continent.

Think "Lord of the Rings" meets "I Claudius". Even darker than the first novel "A Game Of Thrones", Mr. Martin pulls out all the stops in "A Clash Of Kings". There's murder, rape, incest, and that's only the first couple of chapters. With so much going on it's difficult to keep track of all the characters, even with a scorecard. Still, Mr. Martin has kept me at the egde of my seat with this series (and at almost one thousand pages a book that's a pretty good trick). I generally don't like "door stopper" novels, but I'm making an exception here.

If you like your epic fantasies dark and gritty and above all realistic, this book is for you. Be warned, there's lots of savergery, violence and sex, but that's part of the realism. Don't look for any knights in shining armor here. There are no simply good and evil characters, each one is very human. You'll find yourself rooting for each of the main characters even as they plot against each other.

700+ pages seem like a lot, but there is a lot of content there, and it makes a satisfying read. The plot is complex without getting too convoluted. My only complaint was it was difficult to keep track of the myriad of minor characters, especially since many of them are related and share the same names. An appendix at the end helps somewhat.

I have been a fantasy fan since diaper age, when my Dad read me The Hobbit on his knee. Throughout my youth I gobbled up everything fantasy, from Lloyd Alexander to Dungeons and Dragons to The Chronicles of Narnia.

But somewhere along the way I realized that I was reading the same story over and over and over again, and it seemed to me that I learned everything any fantasy author had to say by the end of the LOTR. There seemed nothing new under the sun, everything just a regurgitation of Tolkien.

I did find Robert Howard eventually, and Fritz Leiber, but there just wasn't enough of it to keep my addiction to fantasy satisfied.
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant seemed very promising for the first three books, but the silly names and repeated, unresolved problems got old after the first three books.
I tried Terry Brooks and was disgusted with the thinly disqguised Tolkien plagiarism, and wondered why it was considered better lit than the equally dorky and sophomoric Dragonlance series.
Terry Goodkind was good, but just not good enough to keep my interest past one doorstopper. Besides, I'd already read The Fountainhead.
Robert Jordan was good for a book or two, but a little too superhero-like and, though cleverly admitted to within the pages, also much too dependent on Tolkien.

I just couldn't see why these authors were making triple trilogies when the writing and ideas weren't even as good as Tolkien, and three were good enough for him. Why drag out mediocrity for so long unless it's to milk a cash cow?
What was wrong with the old short story, and the single novel?
I realized that this was mostly the Publishing houses fault, after researching it a bit, but still found it disturbing.

Oh yeah- I tried Eragon too, and found it decently written. Though formulaic and Star Wars/Tolkien derived, it was no more so than some of the others I've already mentioned, despite the bad rep Paolini gets. Still, my interest did not continue to the second novel.

Finally, I found GRRM. I resisted it for a while because the books were of ridiculous length and at 5 books he still hadn't finished them. But I decided that since I'd read the first books of Jordan, Brooks, and Goodkind I could at least dip my nose in for a single episode to see what it was all about....just so I could at least say "I tried."

I was completely surprised.
I have not enjoyed a fantasy author so much since Tolkien, and furthermore I have finally found a series that does not copy him, Howard, or Leiber in the least. These books are amazing in that they may have saved the entire fantasy genre from the (mostly deserved) reputation of being the same story told over and over a thousand times.

The books are not only fantasy, but also mystery and alternative history, with not a fantasy cliche' in sight. This is uncomparably refreshing in the stale genre.

I set out to read the first book in order to disregard it like the others, with the full expectation that my interest would not last into the second novel. How wrong I was.

I am nearly finished with the third book only a few weeks after starting the series, and though I hate to admit it, I have actually been late for work from staying up too late reading Mr. Martin.

I would warn others that though some of the heroes are children, this IS NOT a teen book and often is extremely graphic. I would also warn the fairy lovers that this is not a "high magic" society and that most of the action takes place between realistic people who have no "special powers."

Styill, this is the best series in the genre to have been written in at least two decades, and without it you have no grasp on the current state of fantasy, and where it will be going next......

For the most part, George RR Martin's Clash of Kings continues what he started in A Game of Thrones. The key phrase being, "for the most part." While the book is good - I never found myself avoiding it - it isn't written at the same level as the first. The solid qualities we witness in the first book are manifest in this, but not as prominently. All in all, a good sequel to book 1, but it doesn't live up to the standard he sets there.

My single complaint from the first book - going out of his way to keep Tyrion alive no matter what the circumstances - is again present in the sequel, but in triplicate. In the final battle scene, Tyrion is a dead man - the narrative dictates as much. Through 2 books, we see no shortage of evidence suggesting the dwarf is not the most athletically graceful person in the story. Yet, during one battle, he manages to slice an attacker's spear 3 times before then landing a fatal blow. All of this while his horse trots around his opponent. Are we expected to believe this about face in skill is reasonable within the limits of the story? For me, it's not.

In addition, there are too many instances where rarely spoken of (or unheard of) entities come crashing in at the last second to cause an unexpected outcome. This is generally allowable in any book (especially fantasy), if used sparingly. But Martin goes down this avenue too often, and because of this, the last 200 pages are difficult to get through. At the end, I wanted the book to be over; not because I was eager to see what happened, but because I was getting annoyed at the absurd turns in the narrative.

All of this would be a brief complaint, if it hadn't spanned nearly 200 pages of the story. As it stands, the abrupt turns take too much of the story's focus, which is a detriment to the narrative. I don't think this opinion is unreasonable. The series is, after all, fantasy. But it needs to exist within the realm of "Acceptable Believability" that the author establishes, and these instances do not fit, for me. Some may disagree. YMMV.

In the end, I did question whether or not I would bother with book 3. Now that I've had some time to digest it, I will likely pick it up. But only after some time to detox from much of what was lacking in the story. George RR Martin can put together words, and has a good imagination while managing to keep it mostly in the realm of plausibility. For that, it's surely worth picking up book 3 and seeing where he takes it from there. Granted, it's not perfect. But there's plenty here to carry your interest into a 3rd book.

A step back from book 1, but still worth the read.

What is it about the second story in a series? Why is it so difficult to keep anything but the prominent aspects of a series alive through the second feature into the third? Beautiful story elements and characters and relationships get lost in the fray of an author's attempt to get the story to some distant destination. Martin's second book is far from filler or fluff, but it leaves a lot to be desired compared to his first effort in this series.

Martin continues to do a nice job with some of his many characters, but not all. Some that are vital get dropped in favor of more gratuitous, more gratifying scenes. Some that are minor (so far (?)) get meaty story lines and some fine writing, but to what end? Still other characters are dropped completely and become exposition - that is disappointing in a series that revolves around character development.

All in all, it takes the separate plot lines too long to come to fruition, and the characters that you are given reason to care about too long to return. Martin has lost some of his control and power in this book. There are definitive highlights, and you'll need those as you get through. Bran's character gets fleshed out quite a bit, as does Arya's. Catelyn and Sansa become more real, and Tyrion (Oh Tyrion, oh Tyrion) continues to be a joy. There are some fantastic minor characters that play an important role, with hints for the future.

Martin is good at hiding the truth behind a shade and a mirror, so who knows what to make of many of his hints and nudges. He builds on several feudal sub-plots to good advantage as the scope of his books continues to grow. There are new villains and some surprises as the kingdom plunges further into chaos. You'll enjoy the book, but let's hope this is the ebb and not the flow.

And the second book, A Clash of Kings, is a great, fast read. Like other readers, I appreciate the complexity Martin lends his characters, and I think Tyrion, the Imp, is the most interesting character in the book-- simply because he is the conduit through which we learn of much of the action in the book, which centers around the intrigues at King's Landing (where he seems to be the only figure with any moral tendencies at all). I also enjoy that some of the foreshadowed developments are finally beginning to take place, i.e., the rediscovery of elements of magic in the world, what with Daenerys with her dragons and the delving into what mysteries lie behind the Wall in the north (after a disappointingly long time without any information about the mysterious "Others", who, alas, aren't really that elaborated on in this installment either)

However, I want to point out to all those interested in comparing this series to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, or to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, that the comparisons of "realistic" or "fast-paced" versus "prosaic" or "stilted" do not necessarily sum things up. I am not, by the way, agreeing, as I adore Tolkien, and have enjoyed the Wheel of Time series. I would simply point out that the main point of difference here is that we are reading in the Song of Fire and Ice series what seems to be a story about essentially human conflict, which takes shape in a very convoluted, complex, unfailingly grey-shaded world. Tolkien and Jordan write, on the other hand, about very black and white, metaphysically important conflicts. In Wheel of Time or The Lord of the Rings, what is at stake is the universe itself and "life as we know it". Reality is under attack. In Martin's world, what is at stake? Well, the stewardship of the land. Yes, the conflict does mean life or death to many of its characters, but not to the whole of humanity or existence (at least yet, it's not been finished yet).

So, there is a point to keep in mind. It is not in any way a failing of this series, it is rather a strength, as you can see from the many reviewers who would rather read about a gripping, human struggle than some striving that takes them away from the human plane and toys with metaphysical ideas of reality. I myself prefer the more idealized versions, but I will definitely give A Clash of Kings a solid 4-star rating as a very enjoyable read, and I look forward to picking up the next book in this series.

Now THIS is a good series! I was getting so tired of, "oh look, its ANOTHER dragon!" fantasies. This book could ALMOST be real history. The characters (all 11,000 of them) are VERY well developed and I found myself laughing out loud or losing my breath in astonishment. This book hits you like a proverbial ton of bricks. Be warned though, this book is "difficult". The plot twists are intense and the characters are plentiful. Sometimes its hard to keep up. I strongly suggest this whole series to anyone wanting to read a very believable, in-depth story. It might be boring to those fans of "classic" fantasy where a dragon, swordfight, goblin, troll etc pops up on every single page...

So mature readers only please.

Congratulations, Martin, on one hell of a series...you've become my favorite fantasy writer.

Other than the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, I hadn't really had any exposure to the Fantasy genre, nor did I care to. I'm more into more popular fiction. A couple of years ago a friend recommended A Game of Thrones to me, which I quickly bought, but I never really got around to reading it until about a month ago.
First off, Martin is just plain good at writing. He is able to have 8 or 9 different characters have different storylines at the same time, but it doesn't get (too) confusing. The action, though occasionally bloody at times (though it didn't really bother me), was taut and exciting, with both intimate close combat and vast overall battles portrayed clearly.
Secondly, Martin has a bunch of characters you can actually care about, yet he doesn't favor any particular side. Main characters are as likely to die as any of the supporting cast, and even the "good guys" have some negative qualities.
As I said before, I haven't read much fantasy, but even basing my comparison on other fiction, this really is a great series. Those with patience and a love of great writing should pick this up. Can't wait for the third book to come out in paperback!

Upon reading the first book in this series (A Game of Thrones), I ran around for weeks, telling everyone that would listen that it was the best book I have ever read. So it was with a weird mix of anticipation and dread that I started A Clash of Kings. What if it wasn't as good?

Well, it was as good. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because by the end of the book, I was starting to have a little trouble keeping all of the various characters, their machinations, the wars, betrayals, alliances, etc., straight. This is a REALLY dense, busy book; you have to pay attention when you read it.

After the shocking murder that threw the Seven Kingdoms into turmoil in Book One, the various Kingdoms are at war; No less than 5 different men are claiming the mantle of King.......
Joffrey Baratheon- son of the late King Robert....or IS he?
Renly Baratheon- Robert's younger brother. A great talker, but can he lead an Army?
Stannis Baratheon- Robert's older brother. He's lived in Robert's shadow for over a decade (Hating him all that time), and now he's ready to claim what he feels should have been his all along....by any means necessary.
Robb Stark- A 16 year old who has had the mantle of leadership thrust upon him, he fights more for revenge upon the people who tore apart his family than for power.
Balon Greyjoy- Father of Theon Greyjoy, Ward of Eddard Stark. While the other 4 armies fight in the open, he will sneak in and try to get revenge on his dead enemy.
Meanwhile, Danaerys Targaryen, the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, struggles to raise an army, and reclaim her birthright. (Did I mention she's only 14 years old?)
And beyond the wall in the North, Mance Rayder is rallying an army of Wildlings, Wargs, Mammoths, Giants, and God-knows-what-else, in a bid to break through the wall, and take the Seven Kingdoms as his own.

And that's just the Cliffs Notes version.....There's intrigue, incest, sorcery, cannibalism, the walking dead, fratricide, rapes, murders, looting & pillaging...whew!

Martin, as in the last book, earns a ton of admiration for being able to juggle dozens of stories, told from 10 or 12 different perspectives, without confusing the reader (too much, at least!). After reading the first Two books back-to-back, I decided to read someting else before plunging into Book Three. Perhaps the truest compliment I can Give Mr. Martin is this: In the 4 days since I finished A Clash of Kings, I think of Arya, Sansa, Robb, Rickon, Bran, Jon, and the Wolves quite a bit. I can't wait to see what happens to them next, and fervently hope that they all make it through to the conclusion of the series alive.

Bravo, Mr. Martin!

Now on to A Storm of Swords!

For YEARS, the Fantasy Throne has been dominated by one lone author...known to many as 'R.R.' but now it seems as though we have found (finally!) the next-in-line to succeed Tolkien...and wouldn't you know it, HE has two R's in his name, TOO! George R.R. Martin has managed to pull off an amazing literary feat with his 'A Song of Ice & Fire' series...although he probably never set out to uproot the Fantasy world and ultimately overtake Tolkien's Territory, however with 'A Clash of Kings' he has managed to produce two of the absolute best novels of the genre ever produced.

It is rather humorous to me to see the nay-sayers and their reasons as to why they dislike these books. I cannot in any way identify with them, but I DO find it funny. Mr. Martin has developed a fully-realized world that is very nearly as realistic as our own. Characters who are FAR from perfect, and just when you get around to hating one in particular, Martin gives you a reason to think they are not without merit after all--likewise those who you love sometimes become the most wicked...making this easily one of the most UNPREDICTABLE series EVER. You NEVER know just what is going to happen next, even if you are absolutely CERTAIN of it.

Some have criticized Mr. Martin for writing a series that seems to have no direction...well I think that as long as we are along for the ride and enjoy the trip, WHO CARES? I for one would NOT like to make the mistake of trying to figure out just where Mr. Martin ultimately wishes the series to go because I am virtually 100% certain I would be incorrect...but let us allow him the CHANCE to DO it! Mr. Martin started out this series thinking it would be done within 3 novels, but shortly after starting 'A Game of Thrones' figured he would need at least 6 to pull it off...what a fantastic treat for us fantasy buffs! Many fear that he will come down with a terminal case of 'Jordanitis' which I find a very hilarious term--but also a very accurate one, too. Nobody wants to see a series stretched too thin where the entertainment factor begins to slide into the deep end. But I also contend that if each novel were as good as these first two, I wouldn't care if it went to 30 books! I just cannot wait to start 'A Storm of Swords'. High marks to Mr. Martin for truly the best of this genre I have ever read. Highly Recommended!

Martin scores another direct hit in the epic fantasy genre. _A Clash of Kings_ furthers the adventures of the Starks, Lannisters, and various others as everyone tries to lay a hand on the crown. Joffrey rules in King's Landing under the watchful eyes of his mother and Tyrion; Robb wages war in the North while the two remaining brothers of the deceased King Robert, Stannis and Renly, gather their forces in the South. But worse news is yet to come when more players enter the game and castles change hands quicker than Cersei changes lovers. The Starks are scattered across the seven kingdoms, though perhaps more connected than even they realize.

Alliance is the name of the game in _A Clash of Kings_. Who can one trust in a succession war, when the throne belongs to whichever claimant can hold it through force of will? Martin delivers another gripping installment in his Song of Ice and Fire saga while not falling prey to the main problem the second book in long series usually has: how to stretch things out without resolving anything in order to draw the reader to book three. He has more than enough to deal with here, with six armies in the field and the promise of another soon to come. Although cliche, it's true that I simply couldn't put it down, and finished the book in a two-day reading frenzy. The excerpt from book three, _A Storm of Swords_, included at the end, makes me wonder what new bids for power it will bring.

If you aren't reading this series, you should be; it's every bit as complex as Jordan's Wheel of Time, and the characters show more development and flair.

Have you ever been weary of seeing a sequel because you know it will not be nearly as good as the original? Or have you been hesitant to see a something a second time because you just know it will not be as good as it was the first time? I have. And that is how I felt as I tried to talk myself into reading A Clash of Kings. At a time when I was struggling to find any books that I was enthusiastic about, I read the first of this 4-(so far)-part series, A Game of Thrones. I enjoyed it so thoroughly I was hesitant to read the second installment. I was skeptical. The book could not be as good, I thought. The book will tarnish the near perfect reputation of its predecessor, I told myself. That is not fair, I reasoned. And I decided that it was time to read the second book.

To be fair, A Clash of Kings is not as good as A Game of Thrones. From a chronological standpoint I feel that it would essentially be impossible for the second book to be as good as or better than the first. The first was the introduction; everything was new. In the second book, though there is still more to introduce and many things are new, the story continues. And there is much more to come.

I apologize if this comparison carries a negative connotation, because it is not my intent. Book two of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, in my opinion bears a resemblance to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Two Towers (also the second book of its series). Both books have "set-up" roles. A lot happens without anything happening, if you follow what I am saying. The pieces are put into place in these books, and they are poised for action in the book(s) to come. That is not to say that there is any lack of action in A Clash of Kings. Far from it, rather. The story is ready to pounce. Book three, A Storm of Swords, should be a thrill ride.

I am still fascinated by the chapter style. Through the entire series George R. R. Martin chooses a handful of characters and each chapter is from the perspective of one of them. Readers are able to be essentially omniscient in the realm of the Seven Kingdoms by seeing the trials and tribulations of characters good and bad, here and there. The book is a series of cliffhangers and it makes the suspense pleasurable is a strange masochistic sort of way. The tension will build and build and then just as it nears its apex, the chapter ends. The action picks up from that point...or not...a few chapters later. It sounds more frustrating than fun, but when you read the books it is actually fun and not frustrating. It also makes the books easier to get through. You will fly through a few chapters to get to the next part about whatever character you are following.

I know that sci-fi/fantasy books are daunting. They seem to all be 700-1100 pages and most are but one piece of a multi-part series. It makes for a lot of reading because by taking the first you may be signing yourself up to read an entire series. I feel the same way and I just try to space the books out so it does not seem as bad. I have a decent memory and found that even though I read the first book almost eight months ago, I was able to pick up right where the story left off. I did not have to re-acclimate myself with the story. This was important because the author does not take time to recap what happened in the previous book. There is a lot of detail and it would make a long book even longer to go through it all.

I do not read many books in this genre, but I truly get excited about these books. I loved A Clash of Kings and I loved A Game of Thrones before it. I look forward to continuing this series.

In "A Game of Thrones," George R.R. Martin's first novel in his "Song of Ice and Fire" series, the tenuous peace of the Seven Kingdoms was shattered with the murder of King Robert and his right-Hand man, Ned Stark. A mad scramble for power ensued, both on the battlefield and in the royal courts, but despite carnage, betrayal, and death, nothing was resolved, and the novel ended with an already war-torn nation contemplating its riven future.

"A Clash of Kings" spins the complex yarn of the various pieces in this magnificent chess game . . . and one wonders how Martin himself can keep things straight. Like the first novel, "Clash" uses each chapter to tell the story from a different character's perspective. This daring scheme works, and works well. Martin gives each character a unique voice as well as perspective on events, and he is even able to "simplify" the story whenever a younger person is providing that perspective. The scheme also works because as Martin jumps from character to character, each chapter offers another opportunity for a tantalizing cliff-hanger. Sure, it can be difficult to say sayonara to a character for 80-odd pages, but the reunions between reader and character are fun.

The Seven Kingdoms are a martial land, to be sure, and most of the characters are rather grim -- not surprising, given the circumstances. Fortunately, Martin allows the dwarf, Tyrion Lannister, to tell much of this story, and Tyrion is a blessedly conflicted combination of Falstaff, MacBeth, and Dr. Evil, and the reader can delight in Tyrion's clever wickedness and his shreds of honor. The novel allows few opportunities for humor, but Tyrion insists on finding them even under the most dire of circumstances.

Martin proves himself to be a master of writing vivid battle scenes as well as dialogue, as the epic battle of Blackwater comes to horrifying life.

And through it all, while the Seven Kingdoms are torn apart by civil war, the feuding warlords ignore two separate-yet-lethal looming threats -- the rise of the Dragonqueen in the lands across the sea, and the growing drumbeat of war rising in the North, where the undead Others are emerging from legend.

Combining the mythic scope of Tolkein with the crisp writing style of Bernard Cornwell, Martin continues to build his masterpiece, "A Song of Ice and Fire." While it may stress your patience with its 700-odd pages, a reader should definitely read "A Game of Thrones" before diving into "A Clash of Kings" -- this is a story much too rich to cut corners. A must read!

In this book, Martin continues the saga he started in _A Clash of Kings_. Caution: If you have not read _A Game of Thrones_, start there. This series is contiguous, and you will spoil things for yourself if you don't read the books in order.

That said, if there are ever textbooks written for fantasy literature, George R.R. Martin's _Song of Fire and Ice_ series (or some part of it) will be included. The writing is brilliant. Each word counts. Phrases that are supposed to be witty actually ARE. Events that promise to surprise you DO. Characters who are supposed to be clever do genuinely clever things. In addition, Martin produces countless unique turns of phrase with the casual ease of a master.

As for plot, these books represent the very best of a budding genre. To call the series high fantasy and compare it to Tolkien is not quite fair. Tolkien based his work on myth. Martin bases his primarily on history, and his work should properly be called a fantihistorical. Although the series has elements of myth, the most astonishing facts are nearly always historical. The Targarian habit of marrying brother to sister to preserve the bloodlines, for instance, was practiced by the Egyptian pharaohs. You will actually learn real things about history if you pay attention in this series. Martin's meticulous details are dazzling-types of cloth and food, details of trade and political agreements, a proper proportion of elderly, mentally ill, and sickly people in society, and realistic process of infection from wounds. His medicines are also well-researched, many of them used in some society at some time.

_A Clash of Kings_ is every bit as good as the first book. The tension just builds and builds. Any hit of the contents would spoil something for you, but I think I can say without giving away any secrets that a few viewpoint characters are added, and at least one viewpoint character killed.

Now... Read, read, read!

Clearly, since I've given A CLASH OF KINGS a five-star rating, it's safe to conclude that I liked it. A lot, as a matter of fact. But that doesn't mean you will. Most of the other reviewers here appear to have liked it, but not all of them by any means. Many have also described the book and/or the leading characters, so I won't try to improve on that. Instead, I will simply pass along my thoughts, as follows:

You should not even consider reading A CLASH OF KINGS unless you have already read A GAME OF THRONES, its predecessor. If you've read A GAME OF THRONES and liked it, you will almost certainly like A CLASH OF KINGS. It's more of the same tale, with all of the strengths of the first book carried forward. By the same token, if you didn't like the first book (for whatever reasons), don't bother with this one.

Personally, after reading these two books, I feel that this series is one of the top fantasy series in print. I don't happen to feel that it's quite on a par with Tolkien, as some have asserted. Tolkien, a life-long English scholar, wrote with an elegance that few can match (not to take anything away from Martin, he's just not quite in that class). Tolkien's work also had a touch of sympathy and humor that isn't present here. These books are fascinating and well-written, but there is scarcely a hint of humor and little sympathy in them. Frodo has no loyal Samwise here. Nevertheless, the complexity, intricate plotting, depth of characterization, and ability and willingness of the author to surprise the reader are first-rate. Nobody is safe in these books and there's not always a clear division between "good guys" and "bad guys". There's no opportunity for the committed reader to become complacent.

Simply put, I think this is great stuff, and a lot of other people agree. If you're wavering over whether or not to give this series a try, then DO it. Hesitate no longer. But don't start here, start with A GAME OF THRONES.