Okay I warn you now, this will have spoilers, not on purpose but as I don't feel like being clever. You have been warned.
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Overall I enjoyed this book. Not having any of Tyrion in it, or Danerys or only a brief glimpse at John Snow, really sort of made me unhappy...
Also telling us the Onion Knight had been beheaded but not following it up and knowing his story will be told in Dance of Dargons, I hope this was a bait an swtich.
Cersei got what she deserved, but not enough. Tommen seems nice though, much the improvement over Joffrey.
Overall it felt disjointed, like some kind of place holder. Nothing really got resolved, nothing major really occurred... no major deaths or turns of fortune (aside from Cersei, but that is telegraphed well in advance).
The Arya chapters were my favorites as well as the Brienne ones, right up until her ending which was not satisfying to say the least.
I got the impression overall that this was rushed to market and needed to really be given one more look at before publication, or perhaps the missing chapters would have provided what was needed.
In the end I enjoyed the read, but not so much as Storm of Swords or Clash of Kings... those were rollercoaster rides, with drop offs, sharp turns and surpises all the way along.
3 out of 5 stars... A good, but unfullfilling read, leaving me wanting more, but from a feeling of unsaited hunger rather than a desire for more.
Note - I got a bit tired of this expression showing up way too much in the book from various unconnected characters "Words are wind"...
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