(Spoilers Published) Why I don't like Fire & Blood, TPATQ, SOTD, and TRP

The main problem with all of these side stories is that the reader is told what happens. They do not get to experience the events unfolding in the text firsthand. It's just all an info dump by characters who may be telling fiction themselves. There are already plenty of texts like this for the actual medieval history. What makes them interesting to read is the fact we know so little of those eras. A fictional world has the advantage where we could know everything. You could speculate what hilarious version of things the winners may pen, once the story ends.

Second, the format these things are written in strips away one of the core strengths of the series, the characters. The characters are one of the big things that set this series apart from other stories. Ned Stark would come off as a complete bore if we only read summarized events about his times and trials. Fan favorite Stannis Baratheon would sound downright evil and wicked. With just a summarized version of events, Robb Stark would probably come off as the most interesting character. As we know, he's not the most interesting when we're actually put directly into the scene. Furthermore, imagine reading about Tyrion without all of his wit and sarcasm. Westeros history probably will not be kind to him no matter what happens in the story. Arya wouldn't even be written about, other than as a lost girl who tried to murder a crown prince.