Isn't the next one supposed to be running parallel to the previous one? Or is the new one going to be about Dany?
Both, Dany wasn't in the last book (and half of the interesting characters are in her party).
I didn't feel there was any lack of direction until the last book and that was probably because it was only half the characters, which was a shit decision but then again if he'd only done half of that book and had all the characters it would've been worse as nothing would've happened.
The next book is also going to be about twice as long as the last, and it has better characters in it IMO.
Probably my favourite books ever :x