A Song of Ice & Fire: A Clash of Kings

So much happens in this second book of A Song of Ice & Fire series that I don't want to spoil but this second installment of the series has left the realm splintered & fractured.  By the end of this book another self proclaimed king has died, alliances have been forged, betrayed & reforged.  This book introduces a slew of new characters; characters like Brienne of Tarth, Melisandre, Asha Greyjoy & Davos Seaworth are just of few of these new characters that stand out in this title.  Characters that were only mentioned in the first book receive even more attention in this one.  One of the greatest chapters in this book is a Daenerys chapter in which she visits the House of the Undying: within this house she is given visions this is a chapter that will require multiple reads to understand & could possibly be a key to understanding the story as a whole. The first time I picked up this series I only got two thirds of the way through this book before I had to abandon the series for awhile.  In coming back to the series & in reading this book a second time that chapter alone provides so much foreshadowing that it should not be ignored.  By the end of this book the Kingslanding has been attacked, the north lands are covered in blood, the river lands burn day & night several hated characters still live.  But there is still this glimmer of hope because it always gets darker before the dawn & winter is coming.