I go to Hbo's game of thrones site real regular as I was SOOOO happy w.the series, I have been impatiently waiting for season 2 supposed to start in April.
I listen to the geeky shows on the radio about the books/series. They did interviews with various people and said that not A dance w/dragons but a feast for Crows, grew SOOO cumbersome he had to split it. Dance was supposed to be in the same time as Feast but in the other side.
Critics say he has become like Jordan became and wanted to pump out more money and get viewers for the tv series. I don't think that's true.
If you want to be ticked off try reading Robert Jordans Eye of the world.In the begining its great, but by say book 7/8 he gets so ridiculous with the "filler' using up a lot of space with clothes, food etc, NOT moving the story along at all!! So I worry that Martin will blunder there. But Martin is much better at layering the angles/sides of the story.