I do not feel as though I could ever give any less stars than three for such a brilliant author as Martin.  However, I do agree with most of the reviews that this book just did not make the cut.  I really loved the first three books, and had a hard time putting them down.  This fourth book took me awhile to read, as I had a hard time getting into it.  I am very hopeful, as are most Martin fans, that book five will probably knock our socks off.  Maybe this book was just a bad dream. This book tended to go on and on and really lose sight of the point.  Martin probably could have shortened this book to 500 pages, and gotten his point accross just as well.  Well, lets hope book five is out sooner than later.  I am sure that Martin will redeem himself with that book.
I do not feel as though I could ever give any less stars than three for such a brilliant author as Martin. However, I do agree with most of the reviews that this book just did not make the cut. I really loved the first three books, and had a hard time putting them down. This fourth book took me awhile to read, as I had a hard time getting into it. I am very hopeful, as are most Martin fans, that book five will probably knock our socks off. Maybe this book was just a bad dream. This book tended to go on and on and really lose sight of the point. Martin probably could have shortened this book to 500 pages, and gotten his point accross just as well. Well, lets hope book five is out sooner than later. I am sure that Martin will redeem himself with that book.