I'll be quick about this.  Is it a fun read?  In some ways, yes.  On a page-by-page basis, Martin is as good an author as you're likely to ever find in this genre.

HOWEVER.  Books, and this may be even more true for long serial stories, need a cohesive structure that allows the storyline to develop, to grow, and then to eventually reach climax and resolution.  It's very similar to music composition.  Readers can only absorb so many plot threads and deepening complexities and left turns into new sub-plots before the work becomes a tiresome mess.  Martin has crossed that line.

He may be able to salvage this series, but it will mean getting back on track and starting to bring the critical plot threads together into some semblance of a cohesive story arc that builds momentum towards a finish.  And it doesn't matter to me how many books that takes.  But this reader will not be purchasing another in this series without some assurance that Martin is willing and capable of delivering the goods.
I'll be quick about this. Is it a fun read? In some ways, yes. On a page-by-page basis, Martin is as good an author as you're likely to ever find in this genre. HOWEVER. Books, and this may be even more true for long serial stories, need a cohesive structure that allows the storyline to develop, to grow, and then to eventually reach climax and resolution. It's very similar to music composition. Readers can only absorb so many plot threads and deepening complexities and left turns into new sub-plots before the work becomes a tiresome mess. Martin has crossed that line. He may be able to salvage this series, but it will mean getting back on track and starting to bring the critical plot threads together into some semblance of a cohesive story arc that builds momentum towards a finish. And it doesn't matter to me how many books that takes. But this reader will not be purchasing another in this series without some assurance that Martin is willing and capable of delivering the goods.