I'm a little torn on this series. On one hand, it's epic and awesome, and I've really enjoyed it, so far. It has strong characters, with compelling stories. On the other hand, although it has some of the best female characters I've seen in high fantasy--a huge point in its favor--it also contains a staggering amount of rape. While it is not especially graphic--sometimes the reader is merely told that it happened, without any details, while, other times, it is described in maybe a sentence or two--and does, clearly, fit within the setting, it still seems over-emphasized. There's a lot of violence, in general, and it makes sense that some of it would be against women. It's a story of a dark time: things should be bad. But I guess what I'm saying is, rape is a heinous enough act that mentioning it once or twice should really be sufficient, I'd think.

But if you can get past that--and, by and large, I manage to--it is definitely a great series, so far. ( )

Mantiene e incluso supera el nivel de la entrega anterior. ( )

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2) continues George R.R. Martin’s epic series. It practically starts off where the first book left off — I can’t imagine anyone reading the second book without reading the first. I was hoping that some of the conflicts would be resolved in this book, but they weren’t. It’s like watching an episode of Lost: you think you’re getting answers, but you’re just getting more and more questions. But that’s not a bad thing at all.

A few new characters are introduced in A Clash of Kings, but I was really just interested in the fate of the Starks. I changed favorites as I went through the book because a few characters finally had their motives revealed. I got a little bored of all the lords and knights and the minor politics in the middle, but kept reading nonetheless.

Reading these books reminds me of watching a long-running television series because so much is going on. Almost every chapter has some sort of “aha!” moment or at least a cliffhanger. And the end of the A Clash of Kings? Unsatisfying, which compelled me to immediately start the next book in the series. ( )

Another excellent installment in this series; quite a page-turner. The characters are interesting and have real depth. A medium fantasy where sorcery exists but is rare and dangerous.

My only reason for holding back on a star is that --with the interesting exception of the erratic weather cycle -- I still find the world of Westeros and co. to be a bit of a fantasy blandscape, like a role-playing game world. No worse or better than many fantasy novels in this regard. ( )

Book 2 of the Song of Ice and Fire is just as sweeping and compelling as book one.

Winter is coming but men don't seem to notice. Instead of preparing for not only the brutal winter that will last years and for the mysterious threats from beyond the Wall that winter will bring, the Southrons fight amongst themselves. Four kings vie for the Iron Throne at the Red Keep. Or are there more yet? Everyone seems to think they can dislodge the hated Lannisters.

No one, except the dwindling numbers of the Night Watch, seems to realize the threat is from without. And they don't even know about the Dragons who've risen and are on their way back to Westeros.

Highly recommended! ( )

Sequel to the sublime Game of Thrones. The epic fantasy continues and underlines my suspicion that this series could be the finest addition to the genre of the decade. The original book threw so many twists, shocks and surprises at the reader that Martin has given himself a hard act to follow. Clash of Kings still compares very well. Its huge cast of brutally realistic characters soon draw the reader back into the war and intrigue that characterizes the series. Publishers and reviewers could even dust off that oft used fantasy cliché of a 'new Tolkien', only this time it just might be true. ( )

Martin does it again. The war for the Iron Throne starts in earnest. Interesting new characters are introduced and add greatly to the already blood soaked tapestry of Westeros. ( )

I shouldn't have read this book without having reread A Game of Thrones. :-/ I like the series, but it's so dense, and I forgot so many of the characters. When the last one (finally) comes out, I'll just read them all straight through from the beginning. ( )

Second verse, same as the first. Engaging, top-drawer epic fantasy. ( )

A complicated story effortlessly written by a masterful George R.R. Martin, who seems very much in control of the story as he weaves the numerous plotlines as skillfully as a master-weaver creates fine cloth. In A Clash of Kings, Martin seems to put head down and crash head on into battle himself as he approaches this book with more of a military epic take on it, climaxed by one of the most intense battle scenes ever written. Here, Martin continues to be as “realistic” as possible, not shying away from showing the realities of a life lead at a time and place similar to our own Middle Ages, where brutality, treachery and cruelty abound. An in a way, his style serves to increase the impact of the actions of the story hitting the readers like a hammer as never felt anywhere before in a fantasy story. (more) ( )

Great book. I was ready for a noticeable drop off in quality that always happens with sequel's but this was almost as good as the first. If you like the first their is no reason you won't like "A Clash of Kings" Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon and Theon Greyjoy all have larger parts then in the first with many battles being won and lost between the waring kings. Above the wall with Jon Snow and with Daenerys continuing to search for her army you see more of the magic and wizardly parts of the story unfold. Martin again paints the characters in shades of gray, instead of making the hero's pure good and the villain's pure evil which I think is more real world. He is also still not afraid to kill off characters big or small. ( )

An amazing fantasy book with well developed characters and a realistic view on a medieval world. Part of an amazing series begining with the book A Game of Thrones. In this book the Seven Kingdoms is slowly falling into a war with five different lords vying for the throne. Troy J. ( )

This is the second book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, and it has over 1000 pages. Egad. You see a page count like that and think of how it must be a dull paperweight; the magic in Martin's writing is that each of the characters are compelling in their own way, and each chapter ends on a suspenseful note. The reader is then forced to wait five, ten, maybe fifteen chapters until it returns to that character again. Gah! That takes incredible skill. Martin isn't afraid to kill or mutilate anyone, but fortunately my favorites have managed to stay alive so far. ( )

In the second volume of this series, four men have declared themselves King of all or part of the Seven Kingdoms and they are all going to war to defend their claims. Meanwhile in the lands to the east, Daenerys Targaryen seeks to use her newly-born dragons as leverage to build up enough power to take back the throne for her dynasty. Another threat comes from the north, where an army is gathering beyond the walls to attack the Kingdoms as the long winter approaches.

The book is better than the A Game of Thrones. The characters and situations have already been established and this book is just able to tell a great story. It does a good job of showing a multi-sided conflict where no side is really evil or totally in the right.The major characters have to face a lot of trials, and a lot of them do not survive. So far, the fantasy elements of the series are minimal, but there seem to be more coming, so future volumes should have something new to them. The main problem is the book is the same as with any series like this. It is not complete in itself and leaves lots hanging, although the storylines are moved along enough to have satisfying progress in this book. ( )

The saga continues with kings being declared left and right - family against family, family member against family member. War takes its toll, with deaths mounting in large numbers, but it is the individual plotting and treachery that keeps the story moving forward. This, the second installment in the series, was an excellent read. ( )

'A Clash of Kings' is the sequel to 'A Game of Thrones', and lives up to the standard set by the first book. The characters, setting and plot are all excellent. Martin seems to excel at creating a compelling setting, along with the noble families to go with it. Unlike many fantasy novels, these books are not easy on the protagonists, like the first book, several do not survive this novel. ( )

Better than the first book. At times it seems this is the best book I've ever read, at other times it just seems average, but the overall effect is stunning. Can't help but think that the same story could have been told better in fewer pages, though. ( )

If you're considering this book, then you've obviously read the first book in the series, A Game of Thrones. If not, don't even try beginning with this book. Martin constructs an elaborately detailed civilization with richly developed characters. Attempting to begin with Book 2, would only lead to confusion and disappointment.

If anything, I believe this book was even more enjoyable than Book 1. Any time an author creates a new world with numerous characters, it takes 200-300 pages just to become familiar with it and them. At least when starting Clash of Kings, the reader is well familiar with the landscape, and what a landscape!

What I enjoy most about Martin is the realism in his work. People die, and it's not always the bad guys. There is brutality, murder and rape, just as there certainly was in the medieval style culture on which this series is modeled. There is also honor, loyalty and heroism, and conversely, not always displayed just by the good guys. It's not as simple as good vs. evil, there is some of each in most of the characters.

While there is magic, it is not the kind of "over the top" magic that requires a reader to suspend belief. If the "good guy" has his back against the wall, he is more likely to die than be rescued by a magician's spell.

Again, this is a more than worthy successor to the original book in the series and a great springboard into Book 3. If you liked Book 1, you might as well fill out your dancecard for all the remaining installments. ( )

Martin's second book in his Song of Ice and Fire series is just as great as the first. Complex characters and in-depth story lines draw the reader into the tale. Although dense and packed with information, Martin's writing style never feels cumbersome. The characters evolve (and devolve) in a realistic matter and the fighting for the kingdom seems like it could've taken place during Europe's Middle Ages. A great read for anybody who loves fantasy! ( )

The book begins with an appearance of a red comet, taken by each faction as a sign of their imminent success. Only Catelyn Stark sees concern, as the red comet matches the colour of House Lannister, her enemies... http://icantstopreading.wordpress.com... ( )

A perfect follow-up to A Game of Thrones. It expands on the themes and characters introduced in the first novel of the series through the point of view of new and existing characters. I enjoyed the apt description of military strategy, as well as the political necessity of each characters actions. ( )

It’s tricky to review series books because you can’t say much once you get past the first book, if you’re trying not to ruin anything for those who haven’t read it. This is the second in Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire saga, a follow-up to A Game of Thrones. The battle for the Iron Throne and dominion of the Seven Kingdoms continues. Each chapter is a different POV of some of the main players – primarily those who plan on taking the throne for him/herself. Some of the characters are compelling: Arya, daughter of the old king’s Hand Eddard Stark, who for all her youth has survived the most brutal of existences while on the run and trying to get back home to Winterfell; Tyrion Lannister, the new Hand to the King and member of the powerful Lannister family; Queen Cersei, the prototypical evil queen who likes slipping between the sheets with her brother; Sansa, Eddard Stark’s other daughter, who is just trying to stay alive as she’s held a virtual prisoner (guised as a betrothed bride-to-be) by the new King; Bran, another Stark son, crippled except in his dreams when he becomes a wolf; and my personal favorite, Jon Snow, Stark’s illegitimate son and member of the Watch.

I go back and forth in my feelings on this book and on this series. On the one hand Martin’s talent at weaving this complex epic is a marvel. On the other hand, it’s very much a guy thing, full of battles, swords, raping and pillaging. It gets very tiring, for me. I’m really weary of men with no manners and all their ‘whores’, and women who are either too boring or annoying to waste time on. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve never been a fan of the fantasy genre and only wanted to read this series because I like to keep up with some of the more popular genre fiction. I’m committed to finishing it now that I’ve started it. There are two more books published in the series so far, and a 5th (hopefully final) is planned. After I’m done with all that I’m pretty sure my foray into fantasy will be adamantly and forever ended. That said, for the fantasy lover this is surely one of the richest and most satisfying tales ever spun, and Martin deserves much credit for his imagination and ability to bring this invented world to life so vividly. ( )

The 2nd book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin continues with more misery for house Stark. Kings and their attempts at conquest fill the pages of this novel, with no less that 4 contesting each other. I'm still greatly enjoying the way Martin jumps perspectives between the various characters of the book. Feeling the events from different points of view gives the story a little more life than if it was constrained to only one character.

I'm eager to get started with the next book in the series just to see what happens the the Stark children. That and the dwarf of Lannister is becoming a favorite too. Plenty of books left in the series, so who knows where it'll all end up. ( )

Quite a good book so far, I'm almost done it. I find Martin's books start off very slowly and then your interest ramps up considerably as you continue. I also enjoy the multitude of character perspectives he uses. While it doesn't hinder the flow it's an effective tool to build tension and varied description viewpoints. ( )

See A Game of Thrones. ( )