Rating: 
Summary: Suffers from "second-act syndrome"
Review: Well written (as are all of GRRM's works), but falls victim to the pitfalls of second books -- too much time is spent setting up the third book. (yes, I know the series will have 6 books, but GRRM has said the structure will be 2 trilogies)Still, quite worth reading -- the scenes set on the Wall are chilling (no pun intended!), and the characters behave realistically, given their personalities.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasy literature at its best. The paragon of the genre
Review: George Martin did a fantastic job with this one. Fluent, connects wonderfuly with the first book in the series, immensely interesting. A beautiful continuation, well written and intriguing. "For when rulers clash, all of the land feels the tremors"...
Rating:
Summary: This Book Was Great!!
Review: I loved this book. George R. R. Martin is a wonderful writerand I have enjoyed both his books. This one was even better than thelast book. It was interesting and kept me reading until the end.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: Martin puts together a new masterpiece for the genre. Martin does a fantastic job of creating mood through his hardcore, take no punches style of writing this series. I have actually read some reviews stating this second book is depressing and boring. Well all I can say, in case you haven't noticed, you're watching an author throw around political intrigue, as well as typical fantasy, quite a rare treat I should think. Finally to people who plead to Martin to make things more cheerful and uplifting, get a life. Guess what, life isn't always a wonderful stroll in the park! Keep up the great work Martin.
Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: What can I say that hasn't already been said? Well, I'll try anyway. This book is unbelievably great. Grim yes, but great. It's distinguished by its lack of a Great Dark Evil which sets it apart from the rest of modern fantasy. The evil is much more believable and chilling simply because it is human evil. It is not over the top, world shattering atrocites, but common nastiness. Apathy, ignorance, fear, greed, and anger are the evils, and they are evils which we can understand. The book contains some of the most innovative characters I have ever encountered in fantasy, specifically Tyrion and Queen Cersei. I was also amused by the fantasy genetics: Identical twins producing perfectly normal, mentally capable children. Although the cast of characters is gigantic beyond all bounds, if you commonly read epic fantasy, you won't have much trouble following who's who. I don't know about this book being fantasy novel of the year, but it is certainly up there with the best of them.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Excellent series so far. Let's hope Martin doesn't drag this out like Jordan's facial expression epic: WOT.
Rating:
Summary: Second Best Fantasy Series Ever
Review: Besides Tolkien, this is as good as it gets
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Fantasy Fanatics
Review: Both books are absolutely wonderful pieces of work. Great blend of plot and action, without a whole lot of phoney baloney magic. The lack of easily identifiable villains and heros makes this series even more enjoyable to read than Jordan and Goodkind. It is my greatest hope that Martin takes some cues from Feist and wraps this series up within the next 1 or 2 volumes. No fan of fantasy needs to pick up another unfinished 10 volume saga. Keep up the good work Mr. Martin!
Rating:
Summary: Great fantasy book for fantasy fans
Review: It has been a while since I have read a fantasy book with as much depth and character as this one. A Game of Thrones was superb and so was this, albeit a tad grim. However, not since a Wheel of Time have I felt so engrossed in a book. This is definitely a breath of fresh air. I read a lot of fantasy books and this is definitely in the top 10. Great book...
Rating:
Summary: Artistry of the highest level
Review: Like the previous reader who referred to the reviewer from Shelton, CT, I cannot add much more to his bang-on, insightful review. Clash of Kings moves along at a swifter pace than its predecessor with each scene pushing the narrative to a more stunning climax. A tighter, finely plotted story, Clash of Kings, touches on medieval history, shattering the myths of chivalry and the knights' codes. This is not for readers who crave gentle, antiseptic medieval worlds that 'uplift' and 'enlighten'. This is not Piers Anthony or Guy Gavriel Kay. The violence and heartache and evil are not glossed over and Martin pulls no punches in portraying Winterfell as a harsh, violent and brutal land populated by hard, ambitious schemers willing and able to destroy anyone who stands in their way. If you've had your fill of watered down fantasy and crave something darker, meaningful, realistic and ultimately dramatic then this series is for you. All in all a terribly refreshing, exciting, and masterful novel from the characters to the prose, right down to the magificently realized tension and battle scenes. Meticulously plotted.
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