Keeps all of my favorite themes of my favorite fantasy series; food descriptions, realistic character development, genre-required exaggeration. The Ironborn with their lust for BATTLE especially feel like they just sailed out of some Elric story. I also like how Martin draws on historical examples to write a convincing depiction of how feudalism worked (works? how long until the stars of hollywood return to their hometowns and claim their rights?). Feast for Crows, following Jaime and Brienne's wanderings through war ravaged lands does this pretty well. The fate of Lady Catlyn and the Brotherhood W/o Banners is also a good depiction of what years of savage war, betrayal, and disappointment can do to even those with good intentions. In short, I guess I kinda get why people like Feast for Crows less than the other books -- slower-paced, no Dany, Jon, or Tyrion chapters -- I still think it holds up well with the other books in the series. I don't even mind Martin introducing a bunch of new characters, although I kind of wished we'd followed them more, rather than simply using their narratives to follow the big story.