This is certainly a well made book, the characters and the action are great. It all moves together quickly, never having the characters rest in one castle for too long. Thankfully it has expelled some of the brain damage caused by the Wheel of Time series (Jordan is a money grubbing banjo-hitter.) The problems; sometimes you want the Lannisters(generally more bad than good) to win, or you want the Starks (more good than bad) to win. ... Winter is coming.