This book was a lesson in what good writers do wrong.  Before this tome there hadn't been anything I'd read by George R R Martin that I hadn't liked.  This book, however, I didn't like.  It took several aerial rides across the room - a reader frustration outlet I like to use.

Three very long books leading to this one had me hooked into the lives of the main characters, good and evil.  He wove a tale that had me believing that good characters did bad things and the most corrupted could find redemption in good actions.  Then he threw that all out the window and marched along on a new pace - one of inaction, tensionless drolling, and monotonous diaries.  All this while ignoring the characters we most wanted to hear about.

I wanted to know about Bran Stark, the crippled boy on a mission.  I wanted to learn of Jon Snow, the bastard son forging a position of leadership and diplomacy in the North.  I wanted to learn of Tyrion Lannister, the imp, the dwarf who killed his father and terrifies everyone who knows him ally or enemy.  These are characters not even touched in this story.

Martin needs an editor who'll bravely tell him to cut and cut and cut and cut . . . one that will strengthen the story instead of lengthening it.
This book was a lesson in what good writers do wrong. Before this tome there hadn't been anything I'd read by George R R Martin that I hadn't liked. This book, however, I didn't like. It took several aerial rides across the room - a reader frustration outlet I like to use. Three very long books leading to this one had me hooked into the lives of the main characters, good and evil. He wove a tale that had me believing that good characters did bad things and the most corrupted could find redemption in good actions. Then he threw that all out the window and marched along on a new pace - one of inaction, tensionless drolling, and monotonous diaries. All this while ignoring the characters we most wanted to hear about. I wanted to know about Bran Stark, the crippled boy on a mission. I wanted to learn of Jon Snow, the bastard son forging a position of leadership and diplomacy in the North. I wanted to learn of Tyrion Lannister, the imp, the dwarf who killed his father and terrifies everyone who knows him ally or enemy. These are characters not even touched in this story. Martin needs an editor who'll bravely tell him to cut and cut and cut and cut. . . one that will strengthen the story instead of lengthening it.