I started reading it in January and just finished it today. That's 14 books in about 3 months, which is about a book a week.
And I must say, after the marathon that it has been, the last book was epicly epic to the epic squared. One chapter in particular was over 300 pages long, and buffeted you with all sorts of events and happenings so fast it's hard to digest it all.
Usually series, like Wheel of Time, start off really awesome then start to fade *cough*Song of ice and fire*cough*. Wheel of Time was doing that but if you can trudge through books 7-10, the pay off is magnificent.
As far as the ending goes, it was clear that it was thought out well in advance, and it was completely the bittersweet type ending that leaves enough ambiguity for some speculation....not a happily ever after sort that answers every question ever.