Finally, we have the release this month of a book that has been looming large on readers' horizons for several years, George R.R. Martin's A Feast for Crows. This is the fourth entry in Martin's huge, career-making series, A Song of Ice and Fire. From the first book, A Game of Thrones, this series caught readers' imaginations. Previously, Martin was a critical fave (he won multiple Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards, as well as many lesser-known accolades, such as the Skylark, Geffen, Ignotus, Seiun and Balrog awards) yet he had never broken onto the bestseller lists. For a time, he even gave up on novels and turned to writing and producing for film and television. Fortunately for fantasy readers, Martin eventually returned to fiction. In A Feast for Crows, the Seven Kingdoms have almost reached peace after the long years of the War of the Five Kings. But there are rumors of newly hatched dragons, of ancient powers reborn, and, as one of the less savory characters, Leo Tyrell, says, "An age of wonder and terror will soon be upon us, an age for gods and heroes." Unlike the previous books in the series, Crows follows only half of the characters. As he found the book growing longer and longer, Martin decided to save the other half for a second volume, A Dance with Dragons, which is promised for publication next year.

Gavin J. Grant runs Small Beer Press in Northampton, Massachusetts. Copyright 2005 BookPage Reviews.

As the dead king's widow, Cersei Lannister rules as Queen Regent in King's Landing, but her regency is far from secure. Though a few legitimate claimants to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms still exist, many have died and new threats arise. With the death of Balon, King of the Isles, his remaining brother, the leader of a fanatical religious cult of the Drowned God, seeks Balon's throne and, after that, the Iron Throne. Rebellions, bandit raids, and unexpected enemies beset the land as only destruction looms in the future. The fourth novel in Martin's popular mega-fantasy (A Game of Thrones; A Clash of Kings; A Storm of Swords ) introduces new plot twists and characters that continue to flesh out one of the genre's most detailed and intriguing worlds. A must-purchase for libraries owning the series, this panoramic fantasy adventure is highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/05.]

Long-awaited doesn't begin to describe this fourth installment in bestseller Martin's staggeringly epic Song of Ice and Fire. Speculation has run rampant since the previous entry, A Storm of Swords , appeared in 2000, and Feast teases at the important questions but offers few solid answers. As the book begins, Brienne of Tarth is looking for Lady Catelyn's daughters, Queen Cersei is losing her mind and Arya Stark is training with the Faceless Men of Braavos; all three wind up in cliffhangers that would do justice to any soap opera. Meanwhile, other familiar faces--notably Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys Targaryen--are glaringly absent though promised to return in book five. Martin's Web site explains that Feast and the forthcoming A Dance of Dragons were written as one book and split after they grew too big for one volume, and it shows. This is not Act I Scene 4 but Act II Scene 1, laying groundwork more than advancing the plot, and it sorely misses its other half. The slim pickings here are tasty, but in no way satisfying. (Nov.)