Half of them are probably praying for a good raping. This statement truly annoys me. In my view, a bit more careful consideration regarding rape would have been beneficial. No woman, not even Cersei, would seriously hold such a thought. It has been clearly established that this is a world filled with evil, and apparently all that is good must perish. The people show no regard for life, animals, or women. Obviously, they are also disrespectful. I understand this. However, I believe these 'hints' or means of depicting the cruelty of the world need to be used with caution and not be carelessly thrown around all the time. Tyrion doesn't always have to waddle. I am increasingly taking offense. Rape is not something to be lightly added. It should have significance or consequences. I quickly realized that the majority of characters do not share this perspective. But the author should not have such careless narrators, and even though it is a third-person narrator, that one is not very consistent either (I have noticed him slipping into the omniscient or switching POVs within one chapter).

Also, please stop comparing the author with Tolkien. Tolkien's work was about good triumphing over evil, and we all know what historical period it refers to. In Tolkien's books, people are tolerant and work together out of love and respect. This is Tolkien's message. To me, so far, the message of these books seems to be: go ahead and rape, maim, and slaughter; it doesn't matter, the world will mess you up anyway, and the bad and most scheming people will win no matter what you do.

Anyway, I'm continuing to read now. (Also, please do not introduce further random character's POVs. Because if I have never paid any attention to them or heard of them before, I do not want to read about them. I want to read about those whom I have come to know over the last thousand and more pages.)

EDIT: I'm finished, and boy, this one was a waste of time. In the author's note, he said that the readers would be better served by a book that told all the story for half the characters than half the story for all the characters. Well, I think you made the wrong choice.

Because:

a) I wasted 900 pages on a story mostly about side characters that could have been told in 100 pages. The story did not progress. I was forced to witness the long events happening to and destroying some of the characters I previously hadn't given a second thought to. (And yes, Arya and Sansa, who now seems to have a personality disorder, turned up briefly.) What do I care for the Princess of Dorne? Can you tell me that? I know it serves a purpose, but it could have been told more quickly. Length is not always a good thing.

b) I have to re-read it again in the next book, in a way. The timeline will repeat itself. Seriously, a bad decision.

During the whole read, I felt that the narrator (and thus the author, yes I know, not the same thing) has been telling me: "Hey, look, these are the protagonists, I call them the Starks, and we will focus on their lives. That over there is the evil enemy (remember the Others anyone?). And also, winter is coming." Only to then go: "Naaah, fooled you. Let's see what else we can talk about and who else, and oh, snow will wait..." I feel cheated. I really do. And I'm annoyed.