As with my last review, I won't waste time going into too much depth in describing this book - suffice to say, I feel the hundreds of positive reviews should adequately cover the overall quality of the book. My own experience is much the same - expect increasingly nuanced and interesting characterization of characters you thought you knew, enough action to keep fans of it happy, and a good amount of progression in the plot, which continues to largely revolve around the politics of Westeros.

HIGHLY recommended

Mr. George R.R. Martin just repeated himself on this second offer in the series of "A Song of Ice and Fire".

Now there are a handful of Kings, all of them ready to kill the next. We also follow the Stark children, all separate from each other and always at risk.

Sansa still captive in King's Land, Robb now is the King of the North and it's facing the Lannisters in battle, Jon is beyond the Wall with the Black Knights and facing incredible horrors, Arya is traveling on the road, hiding her true identity as a boy and later working as a maid in a castle where she finds an strange new ally. Bran and his little brother just escaped Winterfell the great fortress of the Starks now taken and burned to the ground.

Indeed a great read, once you get familiar with the main characters you are ready for long hours of great adventures and clever plot after clever plot, lot's of cliff hangers too.

I'm ready for the next two books "A Storm of Swords" and "A Feast of Crows".

Cheers!!!

I gave `A Game of Thrones' five stars and `A Clash of Kings' exceeds the first one in every way so what do I give this book?

I absolutely positively love this series. By far its greatest strength is in characterization. After well over 1500 total pages I've grown quite attached to Arya, Bran, Ricken and the rest of the Stark family. I truly want to see Joffrey and Cercei get their heads on a spike and I can't wait to see what Tyrion does next. The midget Tyrion is one of the most inventive and intriguing figures I have ever read. This is a fantastic character and I have to confess that when I see a Tyrion chapter coming up I'll skip forward to take a peek. Actually I found myself peeking forward quite a bit because the book is just so good. At over 960 pages this is probably the longest book I have ever read and amazingly I never wanted it to end and this is coming from a person with a very short attention span.

Martin writes his `Song of Fire and Ice' series like a fantasy soap opera. The chapters jump back and forth between about a dozen or so different storylines so the reader never spends a whole lot of time with any individual character. Robb Stark, from the first book, doesn't appear at all but has become sort of an enigmatic figure winning battle after battle in distant lands. The climax of the book is the huge assault on King's Landing by King Stannis's fleet and it is spectacular. At the conclusion of each book the author treats the reader to several major cliffhangers to keep us eager for the next installment. Lucky for me I'm years behind in the series so I can just grab the next book as I finish the previous.

This is the one to get. This is the best fiction book I have ever read. I loved it so much that I couldn't wait for the next one to arrive so I searched the libraries in my area for `A Storm of Swords' to tide me over until I get my own copy. I'm such a fan that I'm saddened at the thought that some day I'll be finished with the series. Unlike other fantasy writers that seem to be able to crank out a book every six months it takes Martin about 3 years to complete a book and it shows in the quality. These are not books to be plowed through and then tossed into a box. These are literary works. My highest recommendation.

When it comes down to it, the winning move in the Clash of Kings is whoever gets Margery Tyrell's privy purse and the largest army in the seven kingdoms which goes along with it. House Tyrell is strong enough to singlehandedly throw the balance of power in the hands of whomever they make alliance, but they aren't quite strong enough to rule the seven kingdoms on their own.
This is the best book that RR Martin has written and what sets it apart from the rest are the memorable chapters.
My favorite overall POV is Arya's. She shines in this book whereas her POV rambles quite a bit in the next book. Her story is a wicked twist on conventional fantasy. Arya is trained by a swordfighter from the free city of Braavos in the first book. Arya's story is, in a somewhat predictable fashion, the story of how she eventually gets to Braavos to be taught by those who taught her swordfighting instructor. The twist is that her instructor was actually a Faceless Man, who she meets again in this book with a different name and a different face, and that her story is about loss of identity and transformation into a little murder machine.
Dany Targaryen the dragon girl's POV is on the whole a bit weak in this book, but the chapter where she goes to the House of the Undying is a classic of fantasy writing and more than compensates for the weak chapters.
The fist book left us in suspense for Stannis Baratheon's introduction into the story (protagonists Jon Arryn and Ned Stark were killed because they intended to support his claim to the Iron Throne) and his introduction in the prologue via throwaway character Maester Cressen is another brilliant and creepy chapter.
One of the themes of Martin's books is that Stannis is grumpy and unloved, but would actually make a good king. Renly Baratheon, who is much loved and starts from the position of greatest strength (at the beginning of the book he is in posession of Margery Tyrell's privy purse) is also a pretentions fop who accomplishes nothing before being seamingly assisinated in mysterious and muddled circumstances. While Renly marches north to King's Landing at a leisureley place having lots of feasts and tournaments, Rob Stark manages to fight Tywin Lannister to a standstill with an army a little more than 1/10 the size of the one Renly has mustered.
The description of the battle of King's Landing which spans several chapters is gripping. The other battles in A Song of Ice and Fire before and after this one are given a very terse description.

This is excellent fantasy. The sweeping epic begun in A GAME OF THRONES continues in A CLASH OF KINGS. Once again George RR Martin takes us deeper into his magical and beautiful world that stretchs from the icy wastes beyond the Wall to the burning deserts across the ocean.

The old King is dead; the succession disputed. The brothers of King Robert, Stannis and Renly contend for the crown while his queen upholds the claims of her son Joffrey. Other lords strive; some bend the knee to this or that claimant; others raise the standard of dormant kingdoms.

The family of Ned Stark is scattered across the kingdom: daughter Sansa a prisoner in the capital, daughter Arya adrift in the wilderness, sons Bran and Rickon at the family seat in Winterfell. The eldest son, Robb Stark, namesake of King Robert has raised his own banner as King in the North and fights battle after battle while his mother Lady Catelyn rides as envoy to this lord or that. Meanwhile, Jon Snow, Ned's bastard son, finds evidence beyond the Wall that a greater doom is about to fall upon this divided land.

And I haven't even mentioned the Queen Across the Water and her brood of growing dragons!

Martin's handing of his huge cast of characters and complex plot is nothing short of masterly. Every chapter ends with a potent hook and events, which go from bad to worse for the characters, will sweep the reader along. Martin has placed sympathetic characters on all sides of this contested realm. They can't all win or come through safe, but the reader can't help but hope for all of them.

This really feels like a juggling act done by a man dancing on a tightrope strung over a volcano. I've got a feeling this series can't be ended or resolved successfully, but that will be part of the suspense of reading the other books in the series.

Clash of Kings continues with the president GRRM set in Game of Thrones and expands on certain plot aspects while leaving others in the proverbial dust.

To begin this review, let's assume that you've read Game of Thrones and understand the unique method whereby GRRM weaves his tale. Again in Clash of Kings (COK), the reader is carried along on a grandiose prose through the various characters involved (some more directly than others) by each being given their own chapter.

We are introduced to the former Stark ward Theon Greyjoy in this edition who, despite some initial potential, turns out to be quite a traitor. We continue with the Starks through Catelyn, Sansa & Arya, Bran and Rickon although Robb is sourly lacking in this installment (his exploits are gathered through hearsay and conversations). Jon Snow (Eddard Stark's bastard) continues his exploits with the Brothers in the Night watch, this time from beyond the wall. Of course Martin balances out the Starks with the Lannisters through the exploits of the dwarf Tyrion, his sister Cersei, and their marauding father (who, like Robb is basically missing save for a few mentions). Worst of the lot by far is the nasty child-king Joffery who, quite frankly, better meet his demise soon.

The late Robert Baratheon's siblings come to blows over which has the rightful claim to the throne in the form of brothers Stannis and Renly.

Daenerys Targaryen's tale moves slowly forward and takes a twist toward the sorceress-side although I must confess that much of my initial intrigue with the character died with her Dothraki prince (in the first book).

Additionally there are some new developments in the form of the Onion Knight and the wickedly frightening red priestess. There's a bit more magic in this edition when compared to the first book and the pacing is quite consistent with Game of Thrones despite the additional bulk of this book.

Sadly, those looking for immediate resolve to long-standing plot elements will likely be disappointed to note that the prose simply ends fairly abruptly. Purchasing the 3rd book (A Storm of Swords) is simply a requisite to the further the threads GRRM so gracefully intertwines here.

Some critics fault the story for resembling more of a soap opera set in a medieval environment than a true epic fantasy (and there is slight truth to such claims) but the overall plot is crafted so flawlessly that I found it quite impossible to bail out along the way. The backbone of the prose isn't overly remarkable (after all it is a succession of family betrayals and plotting for political power) but GRRM delivers the package through such character-driven passion that it simply doesn't get bogged down. Very highly recommended reading for anyone who appreciates a slow-building, character-based drama with just the right amount of supernatural elements to keep things interesting.

best start to a fantasy series i've read. But definitely wait till they last 3 installments come out before diving it. It's no fun to wait a few years between books.

Great book, great author great, series. This is one of the best high fantasy author's I have read in quite some time. I can only compare to Tolkien the work is exceptionally complete, all the sub stories wrap together with pure beauty. The kind of books you can't put down till there none left I have already ordered the pre-release on the next book.

The internal was good, I have no complaints about the author.

However,it would be nice if Amazon made were more distinction for an 8x11 TRADE paperback from a regular (What are they calling it now, "Mass Market"?) Paperback.
Just know you're getting a hardback-sized purchase with this particular link. I clicked too soon, and I regret it.

By far, the most beloved fantasy family ever created; 'House Stark', is torn asunder. At the end of 'Game of Thrones' the most noble man in the kingdom, so noble he borders on naivety, is cruelly murdered.
His family is cast adrift; one son left at the brink of death, another frustrated by the new demands of leading his people. The courtly and innocent daughter held captive by the enemy while her more street wise sister is lost among the rabble of a quickly disintegrating kingdom.
The Monarchy is thrown into chaos and Lords from around the realm declare their supposed legitimacy as rightful heir to the thrown.
Armies form, allegiances shatter, spies infiltrate and no one can be trusted.
All while a young banished princess with amazing resourcefulness slowly comes to power in a far off land.
A Clash of Kings brings the story to a fever pitch and the reader, at least this reader, cannot guess what's coming next.
Brilliant and thrilling storytelling!

A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin is book two in A Song of Ice and Fire books. Back again in Westeros, GRRM did not disappoint. The saga continues as the kings fight their battles to rule. A few different story plots in this book has your jaw dropping as you get to the end. I do not want to reveal too much and ruin the book for anyone, plus I don't like really long reviews. Again, this book kept you guessing and interested until the very last page. I can not even imagine what is in store for book three, but I hope it is as good as the first two books.

A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin is book two in A Song of Ice and Fire books. Again GRRM did not disappoint. I do not want to reveal too much and ruin the book for anyone. Again, this book kept you guessing and interested until the very last page. I can not even imagine what is in store for book three, but I hope it is as good as the first two books.

Whilst the first book of the series was certainly a great set, I have to admit I enjoyed the way this second addition took off. What an intense world of characters! Hell, what an intense world! Martin is a genius in creating an entire civilization and it is impossible to guess where he is taking his plot. If that does not make for delicious writing, I don't know what does. I especially love how he has me making such strong opinions over characters; some I hate, some I love, some are somewhere inbetween, and all said opinions are in a constant state of flux. Martin is a man who knows how to write his fantasy. A word of warning is that he does not sugar-coat his stories. There is sex, violence, lies, and all that such things entail. But even though I am the prude of prudes, I forgave these for the sake of the amazing story they help tell.

Awesome follow up to "A Game of Thrones". I read 250 pages in the first day, (was sick with a flu) and it was a great read. I can't wait to start the next book in the series.

Martin really has world and character building down. I hope I don't lose my wife and job -- I haven't had this hard of a time putting down a book since this one's predecessor and Ken Follet's "The Pillars of the Earth" (highly recommended). A bit slower in the middle than Game of Thrones, the finale in this one fully makes up for it. Cliffhangers, betrayals, mysteries, and adventures abound. I was beginning to think that all the battles would be seen from viewpoints that weren't from characters in the middle of it, but this book does not disappoint.

While reading this, I was thinking these books were too long for a movie, and would make a great HBO series. As if the seven gods were hearing my prayers, I listened to a FREE eyeToonz interview with Martin where he mentioned that an HBO series is actually in the works. Hang in there, true believers! I sure hope it happens...these stories are too awesome not to be filmed, and too gruesome for cable.

I am no expert on fantasy literature, but for my dollar, no one is better that George R.R. Martin. This is the first volume in his project seven volume series a Song of Ice and Fire. If you're going to read these, you're going to want to start with the first volume, A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

A Clash of Kings continues the development of the main characters from the first volume, but brings some of the characters who we thought would be bit players to the fore, and takes others out of the action entirely. I'd tell you more, but that would be spoiling the fun. Unlike a lot of fantasy, these books are quite dark. Heros die, and villians become sympathetic. Sorcery and sword fights take place, but the real drama here is in telling of the story, and the development of the characters as they fight, form alliances, and fight again.

All the reviews on here are raving about Martin's ability to build characters and plot. I agree with that, Martin has built a complex world full of very human characters with flaws and desires just like the rest of us. These are not books that rely on battles or sorcery to keep our interest; they are character driven novels where you care very much what happens to everyone.

But, in addition to his grasp of excellent character development and plot construction, what puts Martin at the top of the pile is his attention to detail, both in the structure of the books, and in the descriptions of the world. No detail is unimportant, and clues to future events are peppered through this, and every one of his books. Also, Martin's descriptions of setting, clothing, and especially food, make Martin comparable to Dickens in his ability to create and shape a world.

All that is to say, that if you're interested in a good story, whether you are usually a fan of fantasy or not, then Martin is a great writer to get interested in.

After an amazing first novel, A Clash of Kings follows up in stellar fashion! I love Martin's willingness to do anything to tell his story, including killing off characters that he's spent chapters developing. In a gray world filled with political intrigue and the machinations of war, good things and bad happen to characters, whether we've been led to respect or like them, on one hand, or despise them, on the other. As such, it's a story that is utterly realistic and completely irresistible and one in which I, personally, have no idea what the conclusion will eventually be. But I'll tell you what...I sure cannot wait to find out. Great book! Great series!

this book is quite an epic! It's the second book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and picks up where A Game of Thrones left off. I read A Game of Thrones last year and believe it or not, I actually got through this one faster. That's by no means attributed to it being a dull read, it's not a dull read in the least bit...but it's mighty involved.

This series is certainly considered high fantasy, but as I said in my review of A Game of Thrones, it broke the barriers of what I thought high fantasy to be. I've always seen high fantasy as focusing mainly on the quest or the war and not so much on the characters. Martin balances these aspects of the stories perfectly and creates an amazing cast of characters that are all intricately carved. He's created some of my favorite characters in modern fantasy, Daenerys, mother of dragons, Bran, a young heir to a king who is disabled and unable to walk, Jon Snow, a bastard child of a king removed from his siblings and serving with others who have been stripped from their families, and Arya, the daughter of a king who defies gender boundaries and seeks to make a name for herself. For those who have read this, can you tell I like the Starks?

A Clash of Kings picks up as a war between four kings is beginning. The war will decide who is the one true ruler of the Seven kingdoms. There are tensions between the many families involved and even tighter tensions within some of the families involved. There is treachery, betrayal, sorcery, jealousy. It really is a thrilling ride. Each family is willing to stop at nothing to claim what they think is their right to the throne and no family is willing to form a truce or share a throne. Whatever chance there was a peace is slowing being destroyed by the atrocities committed out of spite and anger for past crimes.

Each chapter begins with a characters name and the chapter focuses on that characters story line, though other characters' storylines' interweave within the chapters. I love this way of telling the story and it works perfectly for this series. His characters are created so well that there really wasn't a single character whose chapters I didn't look forward to. Though there were some that I would be more excited about than others.

I also loved the scenery, the battle scenes, the cultures, the history, the castles, the food, the palaces...all of this stuff that he created. He put so much detail, description and effort into this series. Really an excellent job.

Martin's writing just amazes me. As I read this book I just remained amazed by the enormous task of putting something of this scale together. He's a genius writer and this is really becoming one of my favorite series out there. And there's dragons in it now :) If you're a fan of fantasy books and haven't read these books, I highly recommend that you pick these up. I'd consider them a must read even if you don't think you like high fantasy...I certainly didn't think I would. I'll be reading book 3, A Storm of Swords soon, though not right away. I need a break from these massive books.

The plot is intriguing. The characters are varied and interesting. I love that even the "villains" are sympathetic and, as Mister SJEMP says, that even heroes can die. There's a lot of violence, but unlike in so much other fantasy, it doesn't feel gratuitous.

If you like epic fantasy and prefer your characters shaded rather than black or white, you should love this book.

Another great story in the Song of Ice and Fire. It feels great to see the characters from the first book continue to grow. I love the style and the way the chapters are broken down. This is by far the best character driven fantasy I've read. While reading it I have to wonder when Hollywood will come around and ruin it.

A Clash of Kings continues Martin's epic. A great read and epic segue into book three, A Storm of Swords.

The story is told quite differently from any other fantasy author i have read, each chapter is from the P.O.V. of a particular character, which makes the story unique. Which is a plus. The realism of the story with the mixture of medieval style history makes this novel stand out.

As a fan of Medieval History this was what drew me to the book, I wish he would incorporate more battles into the book, but when that lacks he offers a great political intrigue.

As an author he rank up there with Tolkien, I would hazzardly say that these two are the greatest writers of the genre. Tolkien mastered the narrative style, Martin mastered the point of view style. Everyone else is inbetween.

This is a story that is not meant for the easy reader, this is a book that takes time and concentration to get through, also not to mention he is very frank with subject matters and is very detailed (similar to Tolkien). Martin can only really be compared to Tolkien, in the sense of detail of the characters, the houses they come from, the history of the land and the story itself. GRRM is Tolkien come again.

This is the second book in George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. You definately should read the first book, A Game of Thrones, before picking up this one. It picks up right where that book left off.

In my opinion, this is one of the best series out there today. It is set in a medieval like setting, and it is not the usual 'chosen one saves the world' type story. There is lots of deception, intrigue, twists and turns, and true shockers. It sucked me in right away and now I'm hooked.

They have mature adult content. There is gore and vivid sex scenes in the storytelling, so it is for adults only. Give it a try, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

ACoK is a tad longer than its predecessor, and filled with even more deception, betrayal, and intrigue. I really enjoy the point-of-view changes for each chapter, as they make the book feel like a soap opera, with some scenes playing out in chronological order and some happening simultaneously with other chapters.

=part two of the A Song of Ice and Fire series=

A Clash of Kings has the same tone, plot structure and generally focuses on the same characters as the A Game of Thrones (the first book in the series). The vibe is the same so if you liked the first book you will likely enjoy this one as well. The character development is the best aspect of this series. Some characters you love, some you hate, some intrigue you, some repulse you but across the board you will feel strongly about all the characters one way or another and that is a testiment to Martin's skill.

After reading a Game of Thrones I noted in my review that the amount and detail of the sexual violence and humiliation directed towards women was deeply disturbing. I suspected that the author had dark issues related to women and seemed to enjoy writing about rape. After reading A Clash of Kings I am now 100% certain that the author gets off on writing about the sexual humiliation of women. (If you thought the rape of the lamb women by Dothraki pillagers was bad in A Game of Thrones just wait and see what Martin has in store for you in this book including the public gang rape of an underage retarded girl by 50 F-I-F-T-Y men. Be prepared to read about women being stripped naked and bent over into stocks 24 hours a day to be raped by countless numbers of men at their leisure). I mean seriously, what type of perverted and damaged mind could come up with this stuff let alone take such obvious delight in writing about it? I took off 2 stars due to the sexual violence in the first book but this time I am only taking off one star because the rape is so ridiculously prevelant and constant and over the top that I am effectively becoming desensitized to it. Seriously if you did a shot everytime a woman was raped, sexually assualted and humiliated in this book you would be drunk constantly and you would not sober up for two weeks after you had finished the book.

I will continue to read this series even I am convinced the author is a misogynistic pervert who is indulging his disgusting fetishes through his books. I feel guilty about it and I feel like I am actively killing a part of my soul by continuing to read these books but it can't be helped. I am invested in these characters now and I can't deny that the series is insanely entertaining.

Minimum Maturity Level - Adult
Strong violence. Strong language. Sexual situations.
Not for kids.

Previous Reading Required - Major
Must read "A Game of Thrones" before you read this one. Otherwise, you will be lost in what is going on.

Reading Level - Average
Easy to read. Never a confusing paragraph.

Rate of Development - Extremely Fast
Everything picks up from where "A Game of Thrones" left off.

The Story - Five kings clash for the throne of Westeros. Major battles are fought. Intrigue and conspiracies are afoot.

My Suggestion - Highly Recommended
Not much of the story can be revealed as it would be a spoiler. This book is by far more exciting and a joy to read than is predecessor. There are times you will cheer and there will be times you'll scream "Why did you just write that George R.R. Martin, GRRRRAAAAHHHHH!". This is one of those books that will shock you and also make you feel glad to be alive (to read). And if you think this book is good, wait till you read the next one.

A Clash of Kings is the second in the ongoing "Song of Ice and Fire" series, sequel to A Game of Thrones, and the series continues to be entertaining and interesting, one of my favorite ongoing fantasy series. What makes it different from other fantasy series is that Martin, instead of using chapter numbers and having everything be specifically chronological, has about five to ten characters whose heads you are in. So you can be immediately whisked away to another battle, another land, another family feud by the turn of the page. Plus Martin isn't afraid of killing of characters, which can be horrible if one gets really attached to certain characters, but I find it admirable that he has the bravely to do this. I think it isn't done enough in fiction, specifically fantasy. Sure the good guys need to win, but not all the time!

Near the end of A Clash of Kings there was a huge battle between two big armies: one attacking the other on a river, so starting as a naval battle, and then once the men landed on the ground moving on to trying to break into the fortress. Your regular historical or fantasy novel would have you in the head of your main character who would likely be one of the leaders of the armies. The P.O.V. might switch during the battle to the other leader's viewpoint on the other side and then come back to your main character. With Martin's literary device, the reader sees the battle unfolding from three interesting viewpoints: from the leader of the army in the fortress (who is an ugly dwarf); from one of the captains of the ships on the other side attacking the fortress, as he leads in the ship and engages the enemy (he ends up getting killed); and from a young girl who is a hostage in the fortress, under the watchful eye of the queen, in a room full of the important women who are just waiting around to find out if they are on the winning side, or if they are on the losing side and the enemy is about to break down the door and the knight will be ordered to kill them all so they won't end up as hostages. So instead of seeing the entire battle from one of possibly two P.O.V.s, the reader gets three totally different viewpoints, and it just helps to heighten the tension and suspense.

Next in the series is A Storm of Swords, with A Feast For Crows due out November 8th. As Martin was writing A Feast For Crows, passing the thousand-page mark a couple of months before the book was done, he was told by his publisher that they can't have one book be this long. He'd previously promised that his next book would not be as long as A Storm of Swords, which was 1216 pages in the mass market edition. Since he's going to long pass this, he negotiated with Random House to split the book in two. What he's decided to do, and as I get further into the series I can't understand how he's going to do this, is have half of the characters in one book, and the other half in the next book. Some of the characters can be on their own tangents, meeting different people, and not actually have anything to do with the other main character's whose heads the reader is in, but there are other main characters who interact with each other quite often, and I just don't know how Martin is going to reconcile this.

It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. And the good thing Martin said is that the new book comes out soon, and the next one is already half done.

For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com

This book was in excellent shape and a joy to read...i appreciate the quickness with which it was shipped

This is a good follow up to A Game of Thrones. Like many other readers, the period setting and charcterization are the strengths of this book. The point of view narration is a stand out.



I don't mind getting lost in a good book. If you're looking for loose threads to be tied up and tight plot adherence, you will be disappointed. This is not a G, PG, or PG13 fantasy epic it is R or even X rated in places. Sometimes, I found the sex and violence gratuitous. Just a caveat emptor.



I liked the characterizations. They were believable. For instance the good guys (all right, the characters I liked best) were not saint like and brilliant 100% of the time. Small side characters that seemed all right in Game show themselves be less than savory in Clash. There are some new POVs in this novel as well. The most interesting being Davos, a knight serving Stannis Baratheon. The bad guys,show that they are not static caricatures.



Plot developments were believable in that again it didn't turn on magic but mundane events.

This is a good follow up to A Game of Thrones. Like many other readers, the period setting and charcterization are the strengths of this book. The point of view narration is a stand out.

I don't mind getting lost in a good book. If you're looking for loose threads to be tied up and tight plot adherence, you will be disappointed. This is not a G, PG, or PG13 fantasy epic it is R or even X rated in places. Sometimes, I found the sex and violence gratuitous. Just a caveat emptor.

I liked the characterizations. They were believable. For instance the good guys (all right, the characters I liked best) were not saint like and brilliant 100% of the time. Small side characters that seemed all right in Game show themselves be less than savory in Clash. There are some new POVs in this novel as well. The most interesting being Davos, a knight serving Stannis Baratheon. The bad guys,show that they are not static caricatures.

Plot developments were believable in that again it didn't turn on magic but mundane events.

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.

As I write this, I am 3 books through the 4 book series and will definitely read the 4th book (though I will borrow it from the library rather than buy it). I gave this book/series 3 stars ... does that seem credible as I devour the 3500+ pages of the series? I don't know, as I guess I am enjoying it ...

These comments are really general ones about the series, as the books do not really individually stand out. The best thing about book 2 was that I got a larger paperback version than normal, which was easier for me to read and handle.

Writing: On the plus side George R.R. Martin has created a detailed, fully imagined world, with at least 12 separate plot lines that he keeps going and intertwines as appropriate. Many of the characters have complex, conflicted motivations which he skillfully conveys.

On the negative side: perhaps I have been reading "young adult" pablum fiction with my son for too long, but the unremitting level of violence in the series becomes fatiguing after a while (early on it is merely shocking). I have never read a work of fiction with this level of violence. In fact Martin uses a plot device where, every time there is a chance of resolution of some major plot issue, he kills off the main character who would be essential to the resolution. Since this happens 2 to 5 times in each book, I found this predictable and manipulative. Plus no plot line has reached any sort of resolution by the end of book 3. Good way to sell book 4, I guess.

Another aspect that may be negative for some is the focus on complex relationships between the different "houses" in the novels. Each volume has 45+ pages of family tree information in an appendix in case you start to lose track of whose great grandson married whose cousin to forge an alliance between which houses. By the end of the first book I had stopped worrying about my inability to follow all these interactions. For me, the level of detail detracted from the plot.

So where does that leave me, as a net out for the series? I think the books are a monumental achievement, but in kind of the same way I think Wikipedia is a monumental achievement. My conclusion, by the end of A Clash of Kings, which was then confirmed in book 3, was that there were actually 3 series contained in the one series. If Martin had produced a 12 book series, with each book more focused and with a more cohesive plot line, I think he would be viewed as a peer and equal of Tolkien or Asimov (albeit with far more "adult" content) as an author of an ageless series.

Way too long, boring, too many characters. No action. And just generally bad.

First off..this is the second book in the series, so, if you've read the first, you should just buy this one and not bother reading further... If you're new to the series, buy the first book, but the things I mention below will be relavant for the first book as well.

This book is great if you're looking for realistic "fantasy" (more real-world than fantasy with hardly any magic) and if you want flawed, realistic, and complex characters that are well-rounded and develope as the series progresses.

You may not like this book if you aren't into details and extremely complicated plots (everyone is connected to everything). You might also want to look elsewhere if you only want one plotline going at a time...this book is definately written in "soap opera" style moving from character to character.

Three final things to consider... First, this book is LONG. No quick read here. But, if like me, you don't want a good book to end, then this book and series is for you. Secondly, if you want to like every character in a book, or know right off who's good and who's bad, this book won't work for you... Honestly, when reading this book I did sometimes feel that I hated most of the characters for one reason or another. But, they are like real people, in that you won't like every character you meet and they aren't always predictable. Lastly, this is a very realistic, middle-ages style work, so you get plenty of gore, violence, death, and other issues of human nature that some readers might object to. But, I must stress, that the book is truely about the story...not the above issues, (the gore, etc.) they are appropriate to the tale and are not added for their own sake.

Great book, great series, give GRRM a try... I did, and now I'm having trouble finding another author and series that is up to his standards (I might be a BIT of a book snob).

George R.R. Martin has written a superb sequel to "A Game of Thrones" with his "A Clash of Kings." Each day I read "A Clash of Kings" I stepped into a world full of wondrous characters, immense conflict, unreal plot twists, and even a touch of heart.

Tyrion the Imp (a Lannister) has the unenvious task of restoring order to Casterly Rock as the King's Hand. Everyone around him, and even those of his own blood, plot against him. Only his cunning and intelligence save him from an early death.

By force Arya (a Stark) is being taken to the wall. She is asked to present herself as a boy and struggles with the idea of running away. Without any external help she can only survive on her instincts.

Sansa (a Stark) continues to be forcefully held at Casterly Rock as the future wife of King Joffrey. She still has ideas of knights and valor, but slowly they begin to crumble under the cruelty of her overseers.

Crippled, Bran (a Stark) lashes out as the Lord of Winterfell. He still has hopes of being a knight, but without the use of his legs and terrorized by direwolf dreams, it is unlikely. He wants to do right by his brother Robb who has proclaimed himself as the King of the North. It isn't until two friends visit Winterfell that Bran truly begins to see.

In the bitter cold of north, above the wall, Jon Snow (a Stark) and his fellow Black Cloaks search for any sign of life, any sign of his Uncle. But the search party slowly comes to the conclusion that they are not going to find his Uncle. They do start to realize that the stories of old are starting to come to life, the stories of wargs and shape-changers. It is then that Jon is tested more than he ever thought possible.

Racked with pain and sorrow, Catelyn (a Stark) tries to help her son Robb and his quest to claim the throne of the north. She offers him advice and strength in a time that she is emotionally crumbling. It is so hard for her to carry on, but she helps Robb as a messenger of peace and alliance to Lord Renly (one of the 5 vying kings). It is then that she witnesses an evil that changes the course of the war.

Davos Seaworth (a Stannis Baratheon man) has recently been awarded the title of Lord, but that doesn't stop the other lords from looking down their noses at him. He has an unbelievable amount of loyalty to the self-proclaimed king Stannis Baratheon and helps his lord see the light even when darkness surrounds him in the form of a lady in red.

Theon Greyjoy (Prince of the Iron Islands) returns home after years of being a ward in the House of Winterfell. He has dreams of being a king, of ruling a mighty castle, but his missteps and blunders along the way will prove too much to overcome, especially when his sibling proves to have more guile and cunning.

Daenerys (exiled Queen) flees from the other khals, but without any direction or enough supplies. She is losing her followers and hope is slowly fading. How is she ever going to win back her kingdom with baby dragons, no army, and no ships?

While the conflicts enflame, a red comet is blazing across the sky. What it means, no one knows.

The reading flowed off of the pages and brought the book to life right before my eyes. Looking back I only wish I could have read faster. George R.R. Martin received much praise for "A Clash of Kings" and it was rightfully deserved. Everyone enjoy!

With this second novel in his Song of Ice and Fire series, George R R Martin has done with few writers have pulled off--written a book that's as good (if not better) as the one before. And that is especially important when the book boasts nearly 1000 pages.

The storyline is more complex this time, introducing two more characters that offer their point of view. There already is a cast of several dozens and I'll admit that it can get frustrating trying to remember who's who, but for that GRRM has an updated House Tree at the back, listing in orderly fashion who belongs to what House.

Unlike the later Wheel of Time books, GRRM takes us to strange and foreign places without inundating us with every little custom and describing every bolt of cloth. He just puts out enough to make you feel like you're there and then gets back on track with the plot. It's fair to say that more events actually happen in this one book than in the past few Wheel of Time books. Just about every chapter ends with a bang.

Sea battles, braving the cold northern regions, walking across deserts and finding deserted cities, politics, bold escapes, dark magics, secret passages, assassinations: If these are your cups of tea (or poison) then this book is for you and highly recommended.

This review only pertains to the audio book. While I think GRRM is the greatest writer of the genre (including Tolkien), the choice of Roy Dotrice to read the work is poor. First of all, he's too old and his vocal register ranges from scratchy to drooling. His voicing for the younger protagonists are completely unbelievable--Robb sounds like he's 40 and a connoisseur of scotch and cigarettes, and don't get me started on Bran, Arya, or Jon. Furthermore, Dotrice portrays everyone except Tyrion, Cersei, and the major characters in a Cockney accent that contradicts the emotional intricacies of Gendry, especially, but also Davos, Yoren, Old Nan, and both Cleganes. I'm sorry, but the Mountain and the Hound spoken like drunken gutter dwellers from Liverpool undercuts the dread that their characters are meant to convey. It takes the poignancy of the Onion Knight and reduces him to a level of parody that would be hard to believe Martin intended. I know he was supposed to be a smuggler and all, but please. Probably most disappointing in the recording is Dotrice's voicing of Varys. Rather than portraying the eunuch with the web-like langour yet intricacy of tone his character demands, Dotrice reads him in the manner of a deep-voiced, drunken stooge--the listener can almost see the drool dripping from his lips as he sloshes oh so slowly through Varys' dialogue, rendering the arguably most intelligent character in the saga (with the possible exception of Tyrion) as a self-righteous booze hound. These atrocities are probably why Martin's publisher bailed on Dotrice after Storm of Swords in favor of John Lee, whose vocal range, characterization, and tessitura is far more suited for the majesty of Martin's work. Here's hoping for a new production of Clash of Kings--one that treats the story with as much care as Martin took in the writing of it.

You may die of old age before GM ever finishes this series. If he ever does finish it.

In my opinion, every book in this series gets five stars, mainly for the following reasons:

Gritty without being gratuitous

Real while still very original

Gray characters that surprise the reader (you'll find your sympathies changing, along with whatever "side" you were last rooting for)

No character is safe (there's no thinking, "This character won't die in this sword fight because he's the hero" - anyone can die, and it keeps every encounter thrilling)

High emotion (horror, humor, suspense - Martin has it all)

Everything you want without clichés (there's no, "The simple farmboy didn't know he had magical powers until he discovered he was the Chosen One named in the prophesy and received a sword of great, mysterious powers")

I eagerly await his next book. :-)

I don't typically read fantasy, which is not to say that I'm not a fan, just not a particularly passionate one. But I enjoyed A Clash of Kings, and I'll be picking up the next installment pretty soon.

Book 1 surprised me and kept me hooked because no one seemed safe. Several characters who it appeared would be hanging around for some time to come were killed off, and that along with the frankness about sex, the realism of a quasi-medieval life and the interesting twists and turns of the plot was more than enough to keep me reading to the last page.

Much of that remains in Book 2, A Clash of Kings, but for me the sequel was even more of a success in the way that it builds to a confrontation during the last 200 pages that had me riveted...it was one of those 'can't put it down' nights for me that readers love so much. I just couldn't stand the wait until the next day to find out what happens.

So, my hat's off to the author for another rewarding reading experience. Thanks!

My guilty secret--I read fantasy. And science fiction too. I just don't admit it often. Occasionally, an epic rises above great genre fiction and takes on a genuine life of its own. The world of GRR Martin aligns with all our archetypes -- so easily we recognize the knights and plotting kings and queens and assassinations and even dragons -- yet transcends all of that and becomes a living, breathing world of characters that lifts it on to a literary pedestal. Perhaps Tolkien achieved it in Fantasy. Martin certainly has.

I tried not to like this epic. It's too long for my too-busy mind. There are no real wizards and monsters, except the kind who give you genuine chills--incestuous queens and murdering brothers and horrendous rapes. Oh, and the occasional "walking dead" and a few baby dragons. A Clash of Kings is aptly named. Five kings and a queen duke it out (pun intended) for a little piece of metal to wrap uncomfortably around their twisted little heads.

This is Dynasty (the soap opera) meets The Lord of the Rings. And it's not to be missed by anyone who has the ambition to read several hundred pages of wonderful prose.

In this second volume of Martin's massive fantasy series, the throne of the Seven Kingdoms in under siege. King Robert was slain by his adulterous wife, Cersei Lannister whose incestuous relationship with her twin brother Jaime spawned three children including the purported heir to the throne, Joffrey. Robert's older brother, Stannis, has laid claim to the throne as Robert's oldest surviving relative. But Stannis has turned to a dark sorceress whose own schemes will taint Stannis's honor and corrupt his fight. In the North, young Robb Stark, heir to Winterfell has been declared King of the North; he is struggling to assemble an army which can defeat the Lannister hoard. And across the sea, Daenyrs, the last survivor of the Taergaryen dynasty, is determined to reclaim the throne of the Seven Kingdoms from the usurper Robert's family. She is the mistress of the last three dragons in the world; hatched by her own blood, sweat and fire. Caught up in the sweep of intrigue are Arya Stark, the 10-year old sister of Robb who escaped capture by the Lannisters after her father was executed by mad King Joffrey. Masquerading as a boy, Arya is travelling back to Winterfell to rejoin her brother and mother. In the capital, Cersei's dwarf brother Tyrion, struggles to protect the realm from King Joffrey's violent impulses and Cersei's hunger for power. Accompanied by his [...] Shae, Tyrion has been dispatched by his father, Lord Tywin to control Joffrey while Lord Tywin defeats Stannis and Robb Stark in battle. But in the north, another threat to the kingdom is developing. Long confined by the Great Wall, a force of wildings, men and women who live outside of society, is forming. They are being forced south by attacks by supernatural beings called The Others who kill with a touch and raise the dead as unstoppable warriors. Holding them back is an undermanned force called the Night Watch which includes Robb Stark's [...] half brother, Jon Snow, a resourceful, young soldier. This magnificent book weaves an absorbing story that is filled with strong characters. Martin's greatest talent lies with the ambiguities of those characters. They are full-blooded men and women with conflicting desires and motives --- neither all hero nor all villain. As the story unfolds, the reader's sympathies change and grow.

I am half way through this, the 2nd book in the series of four, and I can't put it down. It reads almost like a historical fiction novel (a la Sharon Kay Penman) with a hint here and there of the fantasy elements yet to come; And just enough of a taste to keep you moving along, anticipating more.
I highly reccomend this to any reader of Tolkien, Penman, McKiernan, Brooks... You get the idea. If you don't, then pick it up and read it, then go get some of the others I mentioned.

In this second volume of Martin's massive fantasy series, the throne of the Seven Kingdoms in under siege. King Robert was slain by his adulterous wife, Cersei Lannister whose incestuous relationship with her twin brother Jaime spawned three children including the purported heir to the throne, Joffrey. Robert's older brother, Stannis, has laid claim to the throne as Robert's oldest surviving relative. But Stannis has turned to a dark sorceress whose own schemes will taint Stannis's honor and corrupt his fight. In the North, young Robb Stark, heir to Winterfell has been declared King of the North; he is struggling to assemble an army which can defeat the Lannister hoard. And across the sea, Daenyrs, the last survivor of the Taergaryen dynasty, is determined to reclaim the throne of the Seven Kingdoms from the usurper Robert's family. She is the mistress of the last three dragons in the world; hatched by her own blood, sweat and fire. Caught up in the sweep of intrigue are Arya Stark, the 10-year old sister of Robb who escaped capture by the Lannisters after her father was executed by mad King Joffrey. Masquerading as a boy, Arya is travelling back to Winterfell to rejoin her brother and mother. In the capital, Cersei's dwarf brother Tyrion, struggles to protect the realm from King Joffrey's violent impulses and Cersei's hunger for power. Accompanied by his [...] Shae, Tyrion has been dispatched by his father, Lord Tywin to control Joffrey while Lord Tywin defeats Stannis and Robb Stark in battle. But in the north, another threat to the kingdom is developing. Long confined by the Great Wall, a force of wildings, men and women who live outside of society, is forming. They are being forced south by attacks by supernatural beings called The Others who kill with a touch and raise the dead as unstoppable warriors. Holding them back is an undermanned force called the Night Watch which includes Robb Stark's [...] half brother, Jon Snow, a resourceful, young soldier. This magnificent book weaves an absorbing story that is filled with strong characters. Martin's greatest talent lies with the ambiguities of those characters. They are full-blooded men and women with conflicting desires and motives --- neither all hero nor all villain. As the story unfolds, the reader's sympathies change and grow.

I am half way through this, the 2nd book in the series of four, and I can't put it down. It reads almost like a historical fiction novel (a la Sharon Kay Penman) with a hint here and there of the fantasy elements yet to come; And just enough of a taste to keep you moving along, anticipating more.
I highly reccomend this to any reader of Tolkien, Penman, McKiernan, Brooks... You get the idea. If you don't, then pick it up and read it, then go get some of the others I mentioned.

Fantastic! This Series, "Song of Fire ad Ice," is by far the best modern fantasy written today, period! In a rich and vibrant fantasy world, George R. R. Martin, creates a complex and intricate story of war, intrigue, and betrayal that is similar to the historical War of the Roses, but only much grander, and vastly more compelling.
The story has something for everyone, mystery, romance, and action, but even more it creates a reality that is believable, with characters that seem real to live, some you like, some you loath, but all wonderfully interesting!

Story- A, Prose- A, Dialogue- A+, Romance- A-, Action- A, Plot- A.

The second part of A Song of Ice and Fire is a little better than the first book, but it follows in the same vein. Martin loves describing anything to great lengths, except battles. He can take half a paragraph describing the food on the table, and he goes at great lengths to describe a characters thoughts/feelings over a characters action. So, what we get is strong storytelling, everything isn't black or white, everybody for the most part has shades of grey, and Martin describes the turmoil within the characters. One thing of note Martin did a horrible job of describing battles in the first book, and he starts the same way in this book. Meaning he doesn't describe the battles, you hear about the battles, but the reader never takes part, so your imagination can come up with anything, because nothing is set in stone, because Martin never gave you the details. The most important battle of the book Martin does describe, and guess what? He does a great job, it's the most exciting part of the book. But as usual, he takes the reader out of mid-battle, and you hear the rest second hand. This is the one instance of a battle scene, where I agree with Martin, because he leaves the reader not quite believing the outcome. And the reader can assume anything because Martin did not describe the end of the battle, so one can assume anything can happen in the future books.

Martin is a strong believer that length equates into epic, which i