Rating: 
Summary: 5 Stars plus - There is a new leader in today's fiction!
Review: I've read the comments of readers that criticized the brutality in this volume and to those readers I say, "shame on you". Martin has created a brutal world in Clash of Kings - true, but it keeps you rivoted because of the realistic characters that fight to survive, and fight for justice in that world. Martin does not shy away from writing the death or misfortune of characters that he spends a great deal of time developing, regardless of whether that time was spent getting us to like or hate them. His "evil" characters show flashes of integrety, and his "good" characters show moments of self-serving, shameful behavior. He doesn't forget to include the neutral characters that are often swept along and sometimes buried by the dramatic events he weaves. Martin's grasp of human nature gives a real feel to the drama and politics of the world he has created and his sagacious use of magic is just the right touch to keep the mysterious and the improbable within reach. Excellent. I will store this series away until the next volume surfaces. When it does I will go through them again just to relive the experience.
Rating:
Summary: Unpredictable
Review: The best thing about this series, is the sheer unpredictability of the plot. It seems everytime i get a sense of where it's going, Martin throws another detour in the road, that leads us in an entirely different direction. This isnt some canned plot that mimics every other fantasy story ever written, that you or I can guess the ending hundreds of pages from the end. In this story, the good guys can die (and not just minor characters), they can have horrible things befall them, one can grow to like the bad guys, and hate the good guys. And thats what makes it so good. Sure there are problems, there are in every book, but it's the overall incredible rollercoatser of a ride one goes through when reading this series, that makes it so very worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: Excellence again. War and Peace for fantasy gluttons.
Review: If 5 stars is the best rating then this book must get four and a half. The half point lost is only because the first book, which I rate at 5, was such an astonishing piece. As you read you'll find yourself suprised, bewildered, angered, near tears, and wishing you didn't have to wait for the next volume.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Superb!
Review: This volume was well worth waiting for. Fast paced and descriptive...made you want to turn that page to see what was next. Surprising how many folks bite the dust and the story still goes on! Looking forward to the next installment!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Despite complaints that the second installment of A Song of Ice and Fire was too long and underdeveloped, I ordered a copy and finished it in a matter of days. Martin's writing is absorbing, and the constantly shifting perspective gives the book a wonderful depth not to be found in other attempts at fantasy writing (i.e. Terry Goodkind). Martin does not fall into the trap of tying everything up neatly at the end of each volume, preferring to let the story simmer slowly toward a resolution. His patience as a writer is admirable, as is the attention to detail and the planning that goes into such a massive undertaking. Personally, I don't mind the lack of resolution, since each of the separate threads of the story is so engrossing that I felt quite satisfied at the end of the book. I particularly liked the way he adapts his language to suit the perspective of each character, their age, sex, social station and personality. While the violent acts were appalling and graphically depicted, I don't agree that the author displays a fondness for writing about violence directed against women. As I recall, there was enough bloodshed to go around, instigated by and carried out upon both the male and female characters. In addition, Martin's description of magical occurrences is completely believable due to the fact that he has so far refused to explain them. Whereas other authors (Eddings, Feist, Goodkind and even Katharine Kerr to some extent) paint themselves into a corner by trying to develop complex, seamless systems of magic and usually bog down their plot lines in the attempt, Martin sidesteps the issue by dealing with the magic in his world as a simple, accepted fact. If the characters don't understand how it's done, why should the reader? I found, as stated by an earlier reviewer, that the element of the unknown creates a greater sense of wonder than any convoluted explanation could. In all, this book was a credit to Martin's skill as an author, and I'll wait with baited breath for the next installment. If I may stoop to join the betting pool, my guesses for Jon's parents are Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment...
Review: The first book was probably the most enjoyable fantasy/fiction story I have ever read. The sequel, however, is not of the same quality. While the characters were interesting previously, they now often act with little intelligence. As for the 'brutalization of women', the reader needs to remember that women in these environments WERE treated in this manner. The authors treatment is not excessive but realistic. Pretending it did not happen won't change the past, unfortunately.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Works In Recent Years
Review: Martin appears to be on his way, with "Game of Thrones" and "Clash of Kings," to writing what may become one of THE major works of fantasy fiction. Both works are among the best fantasy fiction written in the past 20 years, and certainly stand among the handful or so of serious fantasy fiction. The plot is complex, the world medieval with living detail, characterizations multidimensional and mature, with intrigue that is Machiavellian and a plot that never flags nor loses itself in its intricacy. A great amount of realism exists, not only in the midieval description of culture and customs, but in the ambiguity of action and character. Both male and female figures are prominent, perspective is varied, and sometimes good people die and malicious people prosper. And the main characters are not immune to tragedy. There is a well-developed mythology here, as well as history: Both are original and inventive. Magic and religion play a role, but neither are intrusive or overstated. And, for once, the presence of dragons is believeable. If you are a fan of fantasy at its best, don't miss these!
Rating:
Summary: A 2nd victory epic in an awesome series!
Review: I just read the second installment of this new series and it is just as great if not better than the first novel. The storyline and characters are written so vivid and real-like that I know them better than I know my neighbors. I just about gave up on fantsy writers in the last few years until this new series began, and as far as i'm concerned - it ranks better or just as good as the other top-notch fantasy epics! I hope that this series continues endlessly. Thank you MR. George R.R. Martin for bringing back awesome fantasy stories and keep up the good work!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great but not the Greatest
Review: I very much enjoyed Martin's first book, A Game of Thrones, and Clash of Kings is picking up right where it left off. I found myself caring very much about each character, and actually got angry when Eddard was beheaded and Joffrey took the throne. Clash of Kings flows with Game of Thrones perfectly. At the end of each chapter I wonder "What is going to happen to this character?" It is refreshing to actually read some first class writing. However, I must disagree with some other reviewers, this is not the greatest series ever written- that honor belongs to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
Rating:
Summary: Its a great book just.....
Review: Its hard to remember who anybody is though. Because the story jumps back and forth to much ....give a few more pages to the characters. Not just the normal 40 or 50 that you have been giving
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