Starting with book two there are more magical elements. It has been speculated that a certain important event at the end of AGOT increases the magic present in the world. Or Perhaps we just see more practioners and artifices of magical origins.
Either way magic comes more to the forefront. But GRRM definitely plays with expectations. The magic in the series is different than any fantasy series I have read. But the magic never overshadows the core of the series - the interpersonal drama.