The first two books were great, with this book I could put it down ...
920880
The first two books were great ,  with this book I could put it down and walk away from it was I could not do that with the other two it was dragging in the middle and the ending left me cold .
1167818
First 3 books were great. But 4 and 5? Not so much. Still had to read it though. I'm too invested now
4264681
I bought this because I liked the first two books, so it was disappointing to realize that it was a release of those books.
504166
I loved the first book of the series, and liked the second. The third is explained by the author as being different in that the third tells the backstory of the Atlanteans and focuses on the future possibilities of mankind. I liked the idea, but can agree that this was a swing for the fences and came up, for me, as a fly out. Maybe I just had issues following the plot. Maybe I viewed the backstory as too much exposition. Either way, the trilogy ends with my least favorite book. On a more positive note, it does not outweigh the pleasure I had of reading the first two books, and I'm glad to have learned the fate of characters like David, Kate, and even Dorian.
263692
The first 2 books were great, the third left me disappointed.  I would say the age limit should be set at least 17 and older.
1552313
I really enjoyed the first two books, but now in book three, things are starting to drag a bit. I'm tired of reading over and over how much Rosalind wants to bang Caine, but continues to resist. It's getting old. Other than that, it's not bad, but not as good as the first two. I'll keep hoping it will pick up again soon.
558491
At first, I thought the third book could not get any better than the first two.  Wrong! Now I can't wait to see what will happen next.  I was really sad because I thought this was the end.
3726923
I loved book 1 and book 2 was pretty good as well. But book 3 didn't seem to have the depth and passion at the conclusion as the first two books. I'm hoping that means a 4th is coming
1695347
Loved the first two books in this series. This one was good as well. I think my reason for holding back on the stars is due to the plot of this book in comparison to the others. It just didn't read as compelling of a story as the first two. I found myself skimming at times, just to move things along. Again, it isn't that this book wasn't well written. It's just that I found the other two to be truly excellent and this one lacked that same riveting pace.
2383875
I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series but this third one seemed to drag on.
1108748
I loved the first two books but this one was okay, I mean it was a cool read but not as exciting as the first two books..
1593958
The first two books were wonderful and this book as well, that is until the ending. I don't always have to have a happy ending, but seriously....
2294159
I really enjoyed the first two books and felt like they were well written. I didn't like the change in narration in the third book and felt like the ending was just kind of thrown together.
1469244
I thought this was going to be a great book because the first 3/4 of it WAS...I won't spoil the ending by saying anymore...I just couldn't wait till it was OVER.  I had to keep reading to find out how it would FINALLY end.  Perhaps other readers would not feel that way.  If not, then I am sure it would be exciting all the way through.
4580152
I enjoyed the previous 3 books, but was already frustrated and bored with the push-pull of the recalcitrant Lincoln, dragging his heels behind his stoic, brooding aloofness towards any romantic relationship, the ever-present arrogant ex-mistress, and the disdainful Committee - all of whom seemed both ready and eager to make use of Charlie's talents at the drop of a hat and shove her into a back room when not needed for fear someone else might use her as they would.  Whereas I have enjoyed the various little mysteries in each book, I am far more interested in the relationships of the characters that make up Lincoln's 'family'.  So, for me, the slow space of their evolution, coupled with a formulaic mystery plus one or more obligatory abductions was wearing thin.  I was thrilled, then, to note that the trip to France seemed to highlight a new, gentler, more well-rounded Lincoln whose evolution had moved himself and his relationship with Charlie beyond the ice age.

>>>SPOILER<<<

Yet, when the plot winds into its obligatory abduction, all character/relationship development dissolves away until we are slammed in the face with an ending that completely negates everything.  Not only does Lincoln morph into a committee mouthpiece and eunuch who cuts Charlie with words and actions worse than her own adoptive father used, but Charlie herself passively boards the conveyance ordered for her and spinelessly appears to contemplate waiting for him in the frozen north to come to his senses.  WTH.  The very nature of Lincoln's promises  and behavior towards Charlie in France, along with the rage and insight he discussed with her about his own father's arrogant, aristocratic condescension and hideous judgement of his mother (and himself), the similarity between their fathers, and his awareness of the scars Charlie bears due to both her adoptive and real fathers - utterly condemn his behavior at the end of the book and make it completely unbelievable and unacceptable.  Whereas Charlie might cry and beg Lincoln to reconsider, we have never witnessed any facet of her personality that would meekly climb into that carriage. She might have thrown his ring into his face and left with nothing. She might have ordered the driver to stop when it reached the next corner and disappeared into the night with nothing. She might even have switched places with some tavern wench on the way.  But, just passively climb in and head out to some hellish school of manners where she will be constantly on display and reminded of her 'place' by her betters. Hell to the no, she would not.

With this non-sequitur ending that made me curse the Committee, Lincoln, and the author, and wonder if someone drugged Charlie's breakfast --  the ONLY reason I am reading book 5 is that I fervently hope that Charlie straps on the balls that Lincoln lost after their return from France, and uses them to pick her spine and her pride off the floor, and find a positive way to move on that IS in keeping with her personality.  Lincoln can either grow a set, make things right, or get left behind.
359228
I absolutely loved the first two books, but this one fell short.  Had I have not read the first two, I would have returned this one after the first chapter.  It seemed to pick up after that, and then I had a hard time finishing it.  I liked the storyline, but it was way to long.  It repeated itself a lot, maybe to make the book longer?  It talked about the past two loves throughout the entire book, and to be honest Jacinda was just to perfect.  She helped everyone, solved their problems, always understanding...just unbelievable. Not sure if I will continue with this series.
2618553
I loved the first three books in this series and now feel like I have to finish them all.  But I don't know why I bother since I end up skimming most of the time now anyway.

With the first couple books I often found myself going back over passages that confused me, or looked back through the pages to refresh my memory on what Lord lived where or to whom he owed his allegiance.  Now I just don't care anymore.  This book dealves into the lives of the characters I care about the least.  And the few that I do care about, he only devotes two or three chapters to.  Instead of taking his brilliant story to a higher crescendo (or dare I say a resolution?) he creates new and ever more detailed side-stories using peripheral characters that nobody cares about.  It was tough getting through the first few chapters and to be honest it hasn't gotten much easier after that.

Martin's books are fiction - I don't need to know the nitty gritty history of every Lord and Lordling in his made up world.  I'm not in training to become dungeon master in the land of Westeros.  I want to hear how the story ends...I don't want a history lesson.  New characters crop up in every chapter and I just can't keep them all straight anymore.  It was giving me a heacache trying to remember them all but now that I've stopped caring it doesn't seem to make much of a difference anyway.

To be honest I'm not as invested in the characters as I was back in books one and two.  Most of the characters that Martin did such an excellent job making me love or hate are already dead, save for a handful.

SPOILER ALERT:  Joffrey's death at the end of the last book was underwhelming to say the least - and for it all to have been plotted by Little Finger for no other purpose than to keep everyone on their toes makes no sense.  Joff should have died at the hands of Sansa or Arya or someone better than Little Finger.  Now that Joff is dead who are we supposed to hate now?  Jaime's become a conflicted character much like the hound and so we almost root for him now.  Cersei is a bitch but her son just died and all the plotting she does doesn't feel mean spirited enough for me to truly despise her.  And the people that you wanted to win have died - well many of them.  All the characters I do care about: Bran, Arya, Sansa, Daenerys, John, are barely mentioned.  The Onion Knight wasn't an especially memorable character but he at least had integrity and honor and you wanted him to do well, and yet his death in this book is barely a footnote.

Martin must know what his fans want to see happen, but it's as if he'd rather be unpredictable and dark than give them what they want.  I mean this isn't a drama for God's sakes, it's a fantasy book. Fine - kill off a character here and there to add a touch of loss and pain for flavor, but don't kill them all off, or make them blind...or a zombie.  And if you're going to kill off the characters we love to hate the most, then there has to be some replacements.

I'm willing to accept this book as a "transition" book if things start getting interesting again in A Dance With Dragons but judging from the poor reviews I think I'm going to be disappointed.  A story, no matter how good the beginning, is (for me at least) judged by its ending.  And so far it's not looking too good.