A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

The second volume in the A Song of Fire and Ice series does not disappoint. There are five people contending for power in Westeros: Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon, both of whom are brothers of Robert, Joffrey Baratheon, called Robert's son (but actually child of Jaime Lannister, the queen's brother), Daenerys Targaryen, only remaining heir of the older line of kings and Mother of Dragons, and Balon Greyjoy, of the Iron Islands. The plot lines are complex, but I found myself more and more drawn into the story. I particularly like Catelyn, Arya, and Bran Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen. As with the first volume, nobody's safe. And the plot twists around in sometimes disappointing (for the characters you grow to love), but never out-of-the-blue ways. Also, magic's coming back (with the dragons presumably).