A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin

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This is the second volume in the Song of Ice and Fire Saga and Martin manages to keep both the pace and complexity going despite the episodic manner of the narrative with each chapter named for a character and describes their part of the action.   That such a format avoids reducing the reader to vexation is a tribute to Martin's skill in building his characters and matching their actions to recognisable human limitations.   There are no super-heroes here!   Further, Martin's fantasy world is relatable to the real as, for example, the echoes of Lancaster/York of the Wars of the Roses in Lannister/Stark.   Likewise the names that he gives his characters vere only slightly to the fantastical, an aspect that has put me off other similar works.

At the end of Game of Thrones King Robert was dead and his throne claimed by his eldest son Joffrey backed by his mother and her ambitious and ruthless Lannister clan.   Joffrey orders the execution of Lord Eddard Stark which results in his son Robb rebelling and declaring himself King of the North.   King Robert's two brothers, Stannis and Renly, both claim the throne and all the rest of the noble Houses sign up to one or other of the various claimants though their loyalty is flexible to say the least.   On another continent Danaerys, last of the Royal House of Tregaryan is still trying to raise support for an invasion of the Seven Kingdoms and now she has three young dragons to back her claim.   North of the Wall Jon Snow, bastard son of Eddard Stark, is on patrol trying to locate the forces of outlaw King Mace Ryder when he is captured and, under orders of his captain, pretends to change sides.

We are not half way through the saga yet let us hope that George Martin's imagination can keep up the pace.