I've learnt already that I'm rather alone in liking A Clash of Kings more than the first one. I suppose it is due in a great part to the appearance of fantastic elements in what felt so much like a historical novel series to start with.
I'm still unconvinced of how great this whole series is, maybe because I heard so much praise that I just expected A Song of Ice and Fire to be more than it could ever be. A new Lord of the Rings. Which it frankly isn't.
Also I first came to know Mr Martin as the Lord of the Hints: I don't believe myself to be an extremely meticulous reader when I read "just for entertainment", or just for myself. But to call these things mere foreshadowing which proceed every surprising turn would be understatement.
This all said, I still gave this book four stars - so you should be able to figure out it wasn't all that bad and unbearable. ;-)