I’m officially on my victory laps after completing my annual half-cannonball. Now it’s just about setting a new personal best. You can keep up with these and all my reviews of other things at my personal blog
The last time I tried to review a book from George RR Martin I was pilloried as a twit who didn’t/couldn’t understand his genius. I freely admitted I didn’t, that I could be wrong and that I apologized for any offense, but all the tumult made me felt excluded, as if only those who adore Martin can review him.
Still, my wife, devoted both to nerdery and (against all odds) to me, encouraged me to pick the books up again. And after the season finale this spring, I did. Rather than write long reviews I’m boiling my thoughts down to one sentence each…may god/Martin-Uber-fans have mercy on my soul.
For those who enjoy saying “What-the-what?!??!?”: Storm of Swords
A dry first half lays the ground work for as thrilling a set of three hundred pages as the series has ever had, with monumental swings in momentum that turns the heretofore expected plot on its ear.
For those who wonder about the role of religion in politics and war: Feast for Crows
A less dramatic but totally riveting look at the depth and complexity of a few key characters (particularly the ladies), including an incisive look at the faith & belief systems that have rationalized their desires. (These two books get three stars)
For those who are pot committed: A Dance With Dragons
By this point you need to know what happens next–even if several stories are numbingly repetitive, others are aborted mid-book and more seem utterly inconsequential–this book quenches that thirst. (This one gets the two)
Cannonball Read V 
Lol. He’s an astonishingly good writer for sucking so badly.
How does he keep us reading??