[Timber Loftis]

Not only do I dislike this book in particular, but I have come to see through Martin's style and identify him as a hack. A clever hack, upon first read, to be sure, but a hack nonetheless.

Let's look at his formula.

Step 1 to a GRR Martin book: Diagram out 15-17 plot points. Simple plot points. At least 6 of these plot points should involve "Surprise buttsecks!", "Surprise Amputation!", "Surprise Beheading!", or "Surprise getting shat or pissed on!"
Step 2: Pick a character from each of those plot points who can witness the plot point. 7-8 characters total should cover all the bases.
Step 3: Expand each plot point into a chapter, told from the assigned character's point of view.
Step 4: Make sure to kill off at least 2-3 of the 7-8 POV characters. Readers just loooove this.
Step 5: Come up with a shitty short story about someone dying to attach as a prologue.
Step 6: Steal a draft chapter from your next book, and call it an epilogue.
Step 7: PROFIT!!!