ASOIAF's Prologues and Epilogues: On Merret and Literary Merit

[Tijgy]

I particularly loved Varamyr because it gives you a lot information about skin changing and the religion of the old goods. I believe it explains in a little way how skin changing works, who the old gods are, ... (the prologue is analyzed in the Bran reread).

Edit: And about the criticism it is not part of the story unlike the other prologues/epilogues, I think it is actually part of the story. It shows you directly in a way the consequences of the failed attack of the wall towards the wildlings, like I said it gives you insight into the (magic of) the old gods, which is important to Bran and possibly Jon or Arya story line, ...)