Game of Thrones begins....

[The Larch]

Regarding Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, I'd guess that many secondary or tertiary characters will be scrapped or merged, so it's no wonder that they haven't gotten any screentime yet.

For instance, the Blackfish Brynden Tully hasn't been mentioned yet, even though he's supposed to be at the Vale.

[jimmy olsen]

Which is really my point isnt it.  They have added material for no particular reason (or rather reasons other than being try to the books) at the cost of not including great material that was in the books.  Rather than seeing shaving scene I would rather have seen the flaming sword in action during the tournament - as just one example of the really interesting stuff missed because of this alt version of the books.

Definitely. Its going to be weird for Thoros to totally pop out of nowhere. He and Beric already sort of do, I can't recall them appearing early in the books beside people talking about them a little and they've been doing this somewhat with Thoros in the series but still....seeing the melee would have ruled.

Jamie and Jory talked about Thoros during their conversation, so it won't be out of nowhere.

EDIT: GRRM said the Blackfish will be in the next season.

[The Brain]

Bläckfisk in Swedish means octopus/squid.

[The Larch]

http://grrm.livejournal.com/217066.html

VERY interesting entry on Martin's blog about the next book, with lots of tidbits about chapters, length, POVs, new characters and so on.

[Valmy]

Yes that was a very interesting not-a-blog post.

New POVs (IMO):

Melisandre
Quentyn Martell
Barristan The Bold
New character we have never seen before.

Not counting the Prologue and Epilogue guys who die of course.

[Berkut]

I heard Winds of Winter is going to be delayed though.

[Valmy]

Educated guesses on the returning ones:

Tyrion Lannister
Daenerys Targaryen
Jon Snow
Davos Seaworth
Bran Stark
Asha Greyjoy
Victarion Greyjoy
Another returning Greyjoy...but not Damphair...Theon?  Yeah it must be...odd.
Cersei Lannister
Jaime Lannister
Arya Stark
Areo Hotah

[Valmy]

I heard Winds of Winter is going to be delayed though.

I am not expecting it until 2017

[Berkut]

I am guessing we are going to see POV from Catelyn.

[The Larch]

Educated guesses on the returning ones:

Tyrion Lannister
Daenerys Targaryen
Jon Snow
Davos Seaworth
Bran Stark
Asha Greyjoy
Victarion Greyjoy
Another returning Greyjoy...but not Damphair...Theon?  Yeah it must be...odd.
Cersei Lannister
Jaime Lannister
Arya Stark
Areo Hotah

Wiki to the rescue! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dance_with_Dragons#Characters

Damn, there was lot of info about it already out.

Regarding your Greyjoy guess, from the link:

- Reek: Theon Greyjoy, presumed-dead son of recently deceased King Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, a captive of Ramsay Bolton and now tortured, starved and barely sane.

Also, check the part at the end:

POV chapters for Sansa Stark, Samwell Tarly, Aeron Damphair, Arianne Martell, and Brienne of Tarth were written for the book, but they will instead tentatively appear in the next book, The Winds of Winter.

So we know what she said when about to be hanged...

[Valmy]

I am guessing we are going to see POV from Catelyn.

That would be...interesting.

[Valmy]

Ah ok.  Yeah that sounds like Ramsay.

More Boltons is more fun.

[Valmy]

So we know what she said when about to be hanged...

Well I know GRRM likes to kill the good people but if she dies her whole story arc in AFFC would be just a really long red herring.

Well unless he makes Podrick a new POV or something.

[Maximus]

So Stoneheart's making a PoV appearance?

[Viking]

Bläckfisk in Swedish means octopus/squid.

Inkfish /= Blackfish