The fifth book of A Song of Ice and Fire, is possibly the best yet. I started off having a love hate relationship with the series. I loved it for the concept. which was unique, but the style was herky jerky and the pace was inconsistent. I liked the realistic portrayals of the characters but dreaded the pragmatic arc of the story. 
 In the fifth book it all comes together The pace is just right and the 'Point of view' style doesn't result in painful troughs in interest levels as Martin shifts from one character to another. The book runs parallel to Book 4 for a while before continuing the story line into unexplored territory. There is the usual gamut of bad decisions, irrational behavior, fake deaths and shocking real ones. 
 I still can't quite figure out Martin's game. His message. Is he trying t say that absolutepower corrupts absolutely? Or is his message more Machiavellan in nature, that to grab power and hold it you must do what is necessary and be shrewd about it. Or is it even humanist, is he trying to ultimately say that power derives from the people and it is the people who should hold real power in society? 
 Power, as you no doubt have figured out, i think is on of his central themes here. I am looking forward to a poetic ending to the series (when it'll come, i have no idea) but i'm wondering of GRRM can deliver on that. What i can say for sure is that my eyes are wide open and waiting for the next installment of ASOIAF, after the rather disappointing book four. But seeing as GRRM took over five years to deliver on DOD, that might be a long wait. I hope i don't get bored.