PhoenixDark
Banned
Poor editing decision IMO. I understand why the Winterfell battle was removed (slow moving plot due to winter, and it's not clear what POV will witness it since Theon will presumably be locked up or dead) but the Mereen battle should have been in ADWD. Space could have been made for the five or so chapters that deal with the beginning of the battle: Tyrion, Victarion, two Barriston chapters, and one more for a cliff hanger. The cliff hanger should have been the dragon horn being blown, and someone (perhaps Tyrion) seeing fire engulf the sky; then the epilogue.It's possible there will be eight books but I don't think the characters are that spread out and most are currently converging on a few key points. Winterfell (most of the north), King's Landing (Aegon, Dorne), and Mereen (Dany, Tyrion, Victarion). After the battle of Winterfell and its aftermath the wall and Winterfell threads will converge. After the battle of Mereen and Dany's return King's Landing and Mereen should converge (this could take a while). The the north and south converge to finish dealing with the Others.
The only thing that worries me is the battle of Winterfell and Mereen being pushed back to book 6.
I'm assuming such a large battle won't be completed in a single day, so it'll last through the beginning of TWOW. Dany has to return to Mereen after all, and who knows how long that will take; especially if she goes back to the crones and unifies the Dothraki. By the time she gets back to Mereen the battle could be over, or her dragon and the Dothraki could lift the siege.
Either way, the first half of TWOW will be packed with action.