George R. R. Martin's superb fantasy epic continues in consummatestyle as bloodshed and alchemy lay waste the Seven Kingdoms in thesecond volume of A Song of Ice and Fire. The Iron Throne once unitedthe Sunset Lands, but King Robert is dead, his widow is a traitor tohis memory, and his surviving brothers are set on a path of waramongst themselves. At King's Landing, the head of Lord Eddard Starkrots on a spike for all to see. His daughter Sansa is betrothed stillto his killer's son Joffrey -- Queen Cersei's son, though not the sonof her late husband Robert. Even so, Joffrey is now a boy-king, Cersei is his regent, and war is inevitable. In Dragonstone, Robert'sbrother Stannis has declared himself king, while his other brotherRenly proclaims himself king at Storm's End -- and Eddard Stark'sfifteen year old son Robb wears the crown of the north at Winterfell.A comet in the night sky, red and malevolent, the colour of blood andflame, can only be an omen of murder and war. Stannis's child Princess Shireen dreams of dragons waking from stone. And a white raven hasbrought word from the Citadel itself, foretelling summer's end. It has been the longest summer in living memory, lasting ten years, and thesmallfolk say it means an even longer winter to come...The first ruleof war is never give the enemy his wish. But winter will be thebiggest enemy. From beyond the Wall the undead and Others clamour forfreedom, and from beyond the sea the long-dead Dragon King's daughterhatches her revenge. Robb Stark will be exceedingly lucky to reachadulthood
