Rating: 
Summary: RJ has broken public trust.
Review: This series is iredeemably broken. Who knows why; maybe he was always just a hack or maybe he destroyed the series trying to 'milk' it. I've read the story and the story is broke, I don't have to be an idiot and purchase this particular volume to know that you don't fix the story with a prequel. You do it by acknowledging your fan base and making a public apology for starters...then I don't know what, but it would be a start. This author is in serious denial and, I'm sad to see, so are many of his continuing fanatics.
Rating: 
Summary: Again?!?
Review: I enjoyed this book, and I enjoy the Wheel of Time. I do agree with many that the last few books have been pretty bad, and don't move along at all.This book, however, explains many things I wanted to know (the test for Aes Sedai) and fills in details about things only hinted at. It's nice to see firsthand the search for the Dragon from Moiraine's point of view, to see how it all began and came to pass. Maybe it's just another marketing scheme, but at least this book was worth buying.
Rating: 
Summary: I feel like I am on a treadmill
Review: First, I will say that R. Jordan is a talented writer. But it seems to me that he is using his talents to create a franchise that will give him an annuity, at the expense of his fans who desire to see the Wheel of Time story and world evolve. This book, as with the last 3-4 books he has written, seems to follow the same formulaic cookie cutter template. It almost seems that R. Jordan has put his writing on auto-pilot and is traveling the same country side. Regardless of his skills in word crafting, I feel that in this book and the last 4 books, I am basically treading water. Furthermore, I do not understand R. Jordan's fascination with his characters' womanly angst and the petty minutia of the so called relationships. Please...stop, no more. Every single female character seems to be going through some self realization via some male character. What at first was some enjoyable subplot regarding the foibles of the characters in their relationship has become very tiresome. Every female characer of any note can be summarized by this: 1) she is powerful/infuential and 2) Regardless of being powerful/influential they get all flustered and angst ridden because of some male character. Overall, I think this book adds some lore to the background of the WoT series...I mean the Jordan Annuity, but I was frustrated by a lack of plot movement and the sense that I had already read this book. Maybe for people new to Jordon's francise...I mean the Jordan Annuity, it is a good read, but for someone familar with his body of work, it isn't a worthwhile buy.
Rating: 
Summary: a new series
Review: I think the reason some ppl have given this book such bad reviews is because they see it as Jordan extorting even more money from readers who began the series in 1991. I have to admit that i wasnt going to buy the book or any more books in the series for the above mentioned reason. However, after reading the beginning of the book in a store, I realized that i had to buy it. The book is well written and fast paced. The characters are lovable, and the relationships between them complex and interesting. Overall this is a very enjoyable book, that explains a lot of the backstory of WOT, while having its own plot. go buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Enough is Enough Already
Review: Waiting 2 plus years for every new book is bad enough, but now instead of continuing the series he writes a prequel novel. Its bad enough trying to remember what happend 2 years prior when you read the last book. I can remember getting into the Wheel of Time series. It was book 4 of a expected 6 book series. Now there are 10 with no end in site. Jordan incredible skills for telling a story are now being wasted. The last couple of books have held alot of fluff and you find yourself on the edge of the seat saying "get on with already". If the prequel was released after he completed the main series I would have been piping a different toon. But for now I don't expect to spend my money or time on a prequel.
Rating: 
Summary: mediocre
Review: This book probably deserves a lower rating, I gave it a three only because I found it an enjoyable read. Yes, we do get to see the test to become Aes Sedai, we also get as much to read about the dresses Moraine bought after she became Aes Sedai. Unfortunatly the latter type of information is what predominates. There really is not much point to this book. Perhaps it is meant as a way to draw people into the series who may be intimidated by ten 700 to 1000 page books that they will have to read, in that case this book is a total failure. For someone who hasn't read at least through the great hunt, reading this would be like watching the star wars prequal first, you just simply won't care. I also probably would have given this a lower rating if I first read the Eye of the World when it came out. I picked up the series after Path of Daggers came out, those who began reading the series in 1991 and still stick to it with no end in sight have my pity.
Rating:
Summary: finally!
Review: i am not well read in the sci-fi/fantasy genre and i dont really know how to write reviews. i just know that, at one time, i greatly loved the 'wheel of time' series and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning with the 'just-one-more-chapter' mentality while reading first 6 books. my affinity for the books has lessened with each release since then. while i understand the need for the set-up in 'crossroads,' i would be lying if i said i wasnt dissappointed at the end (i found the amount of space given to the andoran houses and nobility history particularly depressing).
last night, however, i read 'new spring.' i felt as if i was back in college, negotiating with myself and my morning schedule so that i could justify staying up to finish 'just-one-more-chapter.' all the elements about the series that i had originally fell in love with were there for me (including those aes sedai conversations that i love to go back and read; just to pick out the exact wording and implied meaning) and i ended up finishing the book at 6am. i dont know if i am excited because of the story, or because my hope for the rest of the series has returned.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and totally worth reading despite Crossroads etc
Review: This book is truly just light fluff, but very entertaining, fast paced, and made me want to finish it in one sitting. Lan loses some of his mystique, but you respect where Siuan and Moiraine come from. I like them both as characters, so it was nice to see them in their own book. If you don't like these three, you won't enjoy the book. Totally unlike the last two books in the Wheel of Time series. After the debacle that was Crossroads, I was debating whether to ever bother to buy another of his books, but I don't regret this one. And I will probably be a sucker for the next in the WoT series too :-)
Rating:
Summary: Jordan's fantasy pulls you in!
Review: From the battle that raged in the snow around the great city of Tar Valon ... To the uttered Foretelling of the future in the city, Jordan's fantasy pulls you in. New Spring is one book you don't want to miss. I also highly recommend, Dragon Man The Adventures Of Luke Starr ... Fantasy at is very best!!! ...
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Feelings
Review: In this book, set about 20-odd years before the WoT series begins, we get a glimpse of important events that set much of the whole darn thing in motion, particularly the political mechanations of the White Tower and the schizms between the sisters. Set at the end of the Aiel War, it opens with Gitara's prophecy of the birth of the Dragon Reborn. Moiraine and Siuan, both Accepted at the time, are present and because of this become involved in the Tower's schemes for the infant. I have real mixed feelings about this book. I truly enjoy Jordan's writing; he has a way of making the world and characters come alive that is equalled by few other writers. The story is engaging and well-paced, with just enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Some things surprised me; for example, I had thought, in WoT, that both Moiraine and Siuan were much, much older and had been Aes Sedai much longer than is revealed here. I felt, however, that there wasn't enough attention paid to some things that really mattered. The whole first chapter dealt with something that was never explained to my satisfaction; I think it would have been better just to leave that out. The Malkieri customs were unclear. I think Lan makes a much better supporting character than protagonist; seeing inside his head just kind of made him seem sulky and childish. As usual, there are a great many words spent on the details of clothing; I'm beginning to count exactly how many times Jordan debates the merits of embroidered vs. unembroidered gowns. But most of all, I can't help but question the choice Mr. Jordan had made, to veer off into prequel territory when his magnum opus isn't finished yet, or even at a good stopping place. I know the creative process often takes a writer where it will, but, well, it makes me wonder if we'll EVER get to the Last Battle. _New Spring_ made for a couple afternoon's light, enjoyable reading. I'd recommend getting it from the library, though.
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