I would give this 5 stars, but you can't judge a book my only its second half. When reading the first half of this book, I felt as though it was a bit of a means to an end, like everyone was just travelling along, building up slowly to the awesome second half of the book, that was filled with all the death, destruction and revelations we had been waiting for since the final chapter in a Game of Thrones. 
 Spoilers-> 
 I was quite concerned when I read that Arya had been hit over the head with an Axe, strait after her mother and brother had been killed in the red wedding, as she was my favourite character, but I was happy that she stayed alive, and that her journey continued without the Hound. I was pleased that she regained Needle, as I thought (and hoped) she might, however I also hoped she would reunite with Nymeria in this volume as well. 
 I find it interesting the amount of 'almost' friendships that occured within the novel, noteably those between Arya and the Hound, as well as Brienne and Jamie. The relationship between Jamie and Brienne was unique, and although it seems as though they would make a good couple, Brienne is better as a friend than a lover. The insights into Jamie were very revealing, and quite welcome, and I think I would like him as much as Arya or Daenerys if it wern't for his incestuous ways. Though I understand his love, and realise that in that type of period it was acceptable (at least between the Targaryens), it still irks me a little. I was actually surprised he wasn't more arrogant, though I thinking losing a limb may have humbled him a bit. 
 I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am eager for the next. I am quite happy actually that I only recently started reading this series as the next book will come out in July, so I don't have to wait as long as some others. (And yes I do know that the book after this is a Feast for Crows).