Juego de Tronos (Book 2)

The story weaves complex politics with rich character arcs. I'm curious whether this balance was planned from the start or evolved during writing.

With so many alliances and betrayals, it was hard to keep track sometimes. Did others find this complexity enriching or confusing?

The world-building around the mystical elements added a deep layer to the story. I wonder if the author drew from existing mythologies or created something entirely new.