Rating: 
Summary: A Non-Fantasy Fan (at least I used to be)
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Robert who?
Review: Even though it seems hardly necessary at this point, I feel the need to extoll George R. R. Martin's work thus far. To be sure, these books are long, longer even than many of the Wheel of Time books. The first book is about 850 pages and this second installment 100 pages longer still. But unlike Robert Jordan's books, things actually move along. There are no dangling plotlines and very little filler. Yes, there is a lot of extraneous detail, such as what's for dinner and what kind of sex certain characters are having, but not nearly as much as in the Wheel of Time. And the details in Martin's books are merely sprinkled on, the icing on the cake. The Wheel of Time is mostly icing and very little cake.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awesome.
Review: G.R.Martin does it again and takes us on another trip into his game of kings and savages, heroes and scoundrels, lovers and sinister machinators. He lets us suffer with our favorite characters, he makes us hate the vicious guys (and girls), and he keeps on surprising us with every new chapter, which is one of the most striking features of Martin's work: whenever you think you know where he's taking us (and the story line of some of his multitude plots), be sure things wont turn out as you'd expect them to.
His artwork is brilliant, and the way how he's managing and connecting all the main characters' plots is simply awestriking. I enjoyed every minute of this breathtaking fantasy novel, and the rush of events towards the end of this book, esp. the battle of King's Landing and the developments beyond the wall in the north, dont let you put aside this fantastic book for a single minute.
It's been quite some time since I've read a fantasy series like this, which makes me dream we could just enter the world described and participate in the staggering events that unfold before us.
So, dont wait, get a hand on Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series - and join us in the lands of Westeros.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a good read!
Review: This book kept me captivated for hours. The incredibly developed plot and charters that Martin started in his first book carry through this book, making you wonder what will happen next. I have read this several times and each time I enjoyed it very much. The only thing is all of the books in the series are very long, which is ok for fast readers, but may drag for other readers. If you enjoy in depth fantasy books, you WILL enjoy this book, despite its length. Overall it is a very well balanced story, which leaves the reader wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: Another masterpiece from Martin.
Review: Not much to say. I loved this book. This is every bit as fantastic as the first book in the series. If you liked it, you'll like this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but still pulp
Review: I might have given 4 stars if I were comparing it to other fantasy (Forgotten Realms or novels based on video games being 1 star, Tolkien being 5). Martin's characters are interesting, for the most part. He is not tied to convention. His plot is good, and he's not scared to kill off a main character or two or three or four. . . Here are my gripes. The series is fun reading, but it's not litereature. It teaches us nothing. That's ok; I read the book, I enjoyed it, but I did not learn from it. Martin's originality derives itself painfully from everyone else who writes fantasy. I see copy cat themes from Robert Jordan, from Tad Williams, from Stephen King, and even from Anne McCaffrey. That's ok too; he mixes them well, and there's enough originality that it still feels unique. Martin's pacing is better than Jordan's, but his world is not as detailed nor as textured. Jordan's cultures and prophecies and legends and nations are a tapestry unrivalled in epic fantasy. Martin doesn't match him. No one will match Jordan's world for a long time. Where Martin excels, however, is getting us into the heads of his characters. Not many authors do this so well. His characters are complex, and one is never sure which side one would like to see win. One final complaint. I have never read [more cuss words] in a fantasy novel. I don't need to read vulgar and detailed descriptions of sex to get the idea. It does nothing to advance the story, and it's far from being shocking anymore. Leave it out. Trying to shock us is getting old. To conclude, it was a very entertaining read, and I will finish the series, but it's still pulp, and I want more from the fantasy genre.
Rating:
Summary: Happily Ever After? Well, no.
Review: The bloodthirsty carnage continues. Most sequels have some kind of let down. Don't believe it here. George R R Martin's second volume of "A Song of Ice and Fire" is just as loaded with strangeness as the first one was, and that means bad things are going to happen to lots of people. Not only will you not put it down, when you're done, you'll go buy the third book. This makes my top ten for the past ten years, and books one and three of the series (A Game of Thrones, and A Storm of Swords) are right there with it. Buy them, read them, and be chomping at the bit for the next book to arrive.
Rating:
Summary: The best I've ever read
Review: Vastly entertaining and engrossing. The multifaceted characters stay with you long after you finish the book. They have depth and complexity that makes them come alive. I couldn't put the book down; amazing considering the length of the story. This is a series you'd actually call in sick to stay home and read all day.
Rating:
Summary: The best fantasy I've ever read
Review: ...maybe even one of the best books I've ever read. I could go on for pages raving about this, but I'll keep it short and sweet. Everything about this series is good. The story, characters, setting, pace, perspective, mood, etc... All fit together very well. Characters do die. Unlike so many other fantasy authors that seem almost afraid to let a character die (Mr Jordan, are you listening), Martin lets everything from accident, assassination, war, or murder act on everyone involved. He doesn't pump up a select few hero characters that you know will survive no matter what the odds. This uncertainty is what makes it so fun to read. You really do have to keep reading to know what will happen next.
Rating:
Summary: Transitional book, but great as the first
Review: "A Game Of Thrones" is probably one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. It starts the entire Song of Ice and Fire saga, not with a bang, but with a regular nuke. From the savage Dothraki, to the treacherous and cruel Lannisters, to the honorable Starks and their tribulations, the entire novel was a trip to a fantasy world of barbaric adventure. I laughed, cried, felt anguish, terror, excitement, sometimes happiness... it was amazing how a novel could elicit such intense emotional reactions. The characters felt like real people, far away from the tedious archetypes that abound in fantastic literature; Tyrion, Eddard, Daenerys, Arya, all of them became my friends, and their fate was very important for me.
So does the sequel "A Clash Of Kings" sustain the excitement? I think yes. The plot doesn't feel as 'tight' and fast paced as with "AGOT" but that's because lots of new characters and situations are introduced. There's still the feeling of menace permeating the story. People you like can die; there are no certainties in this fantasy world, no invincible heroes, only human beings in a very hostile environment, trying to survive, sometimes failing catastrophically.
I disagree with reviewers who talk about the supposed moral vagueness of the book, arguing that you can't really discern who's good and who's evil. Not true. Villains are clearly villains. The Lannisters, except for Tyrion, are all brutal sadists, Theon Greyjoy is as sympathetic as Pol Pot, and King Joffrey, the Boltons, Littlefinger, Gregor Clegane and lots more are utter fiends. It's true that some characters are ambiguous, like Stannis Baratheon and the Hound, but I think it's easy to make moral distinctions among the rest...
Let's hope the third part "A Storm Of Swords" reaches some kind of climax. This book, although great, feels a little transitional.
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