Rating: 
Summary: Repetitive Repetition
Review: Like other reviewers of this book, I have been a big fan of the WOT series and was bitterly dissapointed by this book. I think Mr. Jordan lost his place in the plot line and had to write a new novel to remind himself what happened in book 9. I am hopeing that book 11 will be better because it can't get much worse. I rated this book a three only because after two years I was simply happy to see Jordan hadn't died or forgotten he was writing an unending series. The book babbles with interior monologues and lacks the humor, sensuality, or plot of the previous novels. Also, several key figures are entirely absent e.g. Paiden Fain, Gawyn Trakland, etc. I was 100 pages from theend when I realized that Rand had not even been seen yet. Also, the characters have become stagnant. Perrin is obsessed, Matt is STILL whinning (since the first book), Egwene is growing cold, and Elayne moody (although the women have at least changed, if not for the better). Overall, if you love the series read the book only so the next one can proove how bad this one was. Hopefully Jordan will redeem himself before destroying an amazeing legacy of books.
Rating: 
Summary: Let down, extraordinaire...
Review: I've been reading this series since the first book came out over a decade ago, and I must say this one hits rock bottom. For an author to work that long and hard and come up with a book that has no recognizable pacing, beginning, middle, or end is very disturbing. There's an editor somewhere that is seriously letting down the publisher that employs them. I gave this book 2 stars, based on my loyalty to what's come before and what might come again. By itself, it barely deserves one.This book, in my mind, is a throw-away in the series. Nothing *actually* occurs in this book that is noteworthy. No plot advances, no action, and once again, no character development. The story has become so large, he can't seem to control it. Yet he continues to *add* plot nuances, while failing to resolve any previously introduced. At least previously there was a sense of accomplishment with Rand's "cleansing" of Saidin. This one provides absolutely nothing. Egwene Travels her army to the shores of Tar Valon, then spends 100+ pages falling off stools and getting unexplained headaches, then inexplicably throws herself into a dangerous situation at the end for our cliffhanger! Voila! I think we could've arrived there about half a pound of book earlier and still kept the pertinent info in the story. And I'm still amazed how all these "ageless" Aes Sedai, skilled in so many ways, continually respond like teenage girls when under any pressure. I'm tired of hearing about 90 year old women, with years of experience in negotiations and/or dealings with stressful situations, will squeek in surprise or fidget under a glare like kids in school. The women in this series are rapidly losing what little dignity they started with. Ditto for Perrin and Mat. Mat is arguably the most interesting of the three men, yet his plotline moves maybe 50 miles on the map and nowhere in value. Perrin goes the whole book searching for Faile, finds the camp, then decides to peel off to some town haunted by ghosties? Totally uneccessary. Jordan needs a taskmaster editor to keep him on target and stop including all this fluff. I don't have a problem reading a large book, provided it has some substance contained between the covers. I made it to page 500, still waiting for something to happen. If this and the previous few volumes are setup for the finale, then there's no way the finale could take place in a single volume. Look for it to take 3 or 4 books at this rate. When book 11 comes out, I will have to think long and hard before I part with my hard earned coin for a copy. I may just wait for the series to be completed and pick 'em up in a used bookstore for a fraction of the cost.
Rating: 
Summary: The never ending story - g'mme a break
Review: I've followed this series with the original eye of the world that was released in paperback. That book mentioned that it was the first book of a trilogy. Nine books later... apparently Robert Jordan has decided to milk this story for the rest of his life. Although the first three books were outstanding, nothing of substance happened in the last7 books!?! I for one have gotten to the point that I don't really care what happens anymore. I would have bought this book if the story came to conclusion, but from reading all of the other reviews it's just waste of more time. Robert, if your reading this, GET ON WITH IT. I'd be a lot harsher in my review, but you know what they say about being an author vs. a critic <sigh>
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Gathering of Thoughts
Review: I did love the book. I am an eight-year veteran of the series and I wait for each book to come out, eagerly and with some small amount of patience.
I understand that Crossroads of Twilight wasn't perfect and some people just want these huge action sequences, but I don't understand the backlash of anger in many the reviews. The series has always been a long run series. Along those lines, I anticipate that the novellas will be received with some anger because fans will want the next book to come out sooner and not want to read the prequels. Personally, I really do want to read the prequels and am excited Robert Jordan decided to write them; I am willing to wait for the end because I have been waiting for eight and two years or six won't make that much of a difference. The writing is strong and in the same style Robert Jordan has written the whole series. He persists in describing every piece of clothing and facial expression, which is necessary when there is little action. The political machinations continue, but we do have some real emotional development with Mat and Perrin's actions are a little shocking. What some readers found most exciting in the first few novels was the systematic/tedious removal/killing of the Forsaken. That style story has changed into a more mature grander scale story with our favorite major characters effecting political change throughout the continent. The next story is sure to be action packed and probably more emotionally satisfying for some fans. You can read hints of what is going to happen and you know the end is coming. The ending of Crossroads is more a cliffhanger of a mystery novel than a conclusion of a fantasy novel, which is alternately frustrating and exhilarating. Honestly except the Perrin's point of views, I found this novel a breeze to get through. Anyone who has read previous novels in a day or two, or the whole series in a week like me, should be excited to get through another exciting installment of the Wheel of Time. As For Crossroads of Twilight Specific good parts:
I thought the prologue was very interesting, it brought up many views of how the world was reacting to current political trends, that is all life is anyway. Many minor characters brought good views and, as usual, the prologue seemed disconnected from the rest of the novel with a few notable exceptions.
The Black Ajah hunt is still ongoing and about to make a break through, except later in the novel Alviarin looks like she is going to hunt the hunters. Also interesting treatment of the "Chosen" is quite revealing about the Dark One's actual grip on the world. The Domani armies meeting in the prologue is a reaction to Graendal's string pulling there. Gawyn being so close to Egwene for the first time since Fires of Heaven & neither of them knowing it is heartbreaking. Egwene's plot was a surprise for me, I had thought that their would be a battle happening, but it is talk talk talk. Her gradually growing control of the Hall of the Tower and her plotting against the White Tower leading to an ingenious plan to force an end the conflict between the two Aes Sedai groups (you do have to work it out, but the hints aren't too subtle to figure it out). Her plot thread was extremely exciting and satisfying/frustrating (the good kind of frustrating) in the end; it signaled THE END is coming and it will be good. Aes Sedai's joint realization, from both towers and even independents, that the Asha'man are a force to be reckoned with is seemingly the first good idea that has appeared simultaneously among the women of power. Men's real equality will start after the Last Battle, but its precursor is starting. Unfortunately, nobody is really aware of the change of the source except the Asha'man and the Dark One. The Asha'amn's idea on how it happened is quite annoying, but as with anything in Robert Jordan's books, I love to be annoyed by White Cloak prejudice, character non-communication, and closed mindedness of almost everybody about SOMETHING. It feels like a real world where almost everything is broken, people can't get over their own preconceived notions, and change is slow. I did dislike Perrin's point of view, it is getting old and I definitely would like something more to happen. I would have made his part smaller in this book. The absolute best part with him was when he threatens the capture Aiel, bold and strong and NOT pining for Faile was great. Faile's point of view was actually quite interesting, especially considering that she isn't a favorite character of mine, and I much preferred it to Perrin's, whom I like much more than Faile. She has some interesting dilemmas to sort out and lets hope this capture thing doesn't go on much longer. Mat's point of view has been hinted at all along so if you been waiting for him falling in love with Tuon, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, you will be rewarded handsomely, though it isn't all done in this book (when has Jordan ever let something so predestined happen so fast as to only take place in one novel?). The implication in the novel is: Mat is going to get caught. Whether you disagree is for you to decide, but I have many prophecies to back me up. I was not even expecting an appearance by Rand after the cleansing of Saidin, so his small appearance satisfied me.
Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as it could have been...
Review: I must disagree with those who say that nothing happens in this book. In fact, many important things happen that are making me long for the story to continue. However, I think that everything that happens could easily have been pushed into abou 300 pages. I know that Robert Jordan will never read this, but if he were, I would offer one piece of advice: get a new editor. Your wife loves you too much to cut out what needs to be cut out. Either that, or Moridin is controlling her. I can't count how many times somebody would ask a question, and a page and a half later the response would come. In the meantime, we'd get a long description of the history of that character, followed by a long description of the wall coverings, followed by the details of each character's clothing. WE DON'T NEED ALL OF THAT!!!!! A few amusing things I've noticed. In previous books, all female characters seemed to be beautiful, and all male characters were either expressionless, or sour-faced. It seems in this book, Jordan tried to overcome that, but did so in a rather predictable way. If you read it, count how many people had a scar running across their face that had taken out an eye. Also, unlike previous volumes, there is very little mention of women spanking each other. I'm glad for that; I was starting to wonder if Jordan had a fetish for that... Overall, the book does a great job of setting the stage for the next book, and catches us up on what's been going on while Rand and Nynaeve are carving circular chunks out of the earth. But it reads like the first half of a Tom Clancy novel (all buildup, with no release), and there is no plot arc at all. So I was surprised when I finished. I couldn't believe the book was over - not because I was that enthralled, but because it was that anticlimactic. Well, there are those who will disagree. But that's my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Crossroads of Twilight--disappointment from start to finish
Review: At first I hoped that I was only imagining that the 95-page prologue was meandering and meaningless. Unfortunately, the following 600+ pages were just as meandering and meaningless. Mr. Jordan exercises an incredible ability to build sub-plots that go into more (unnecessary) detail and depth than the main plot(s) and apparently serve no real purpose. I've waited eagerly for the last few books in the series. Now it's like Star Wars...I'll buy it and I'll read it, but only to get some sense of closure. I no longer "eagerly await" the next pieces of story; just PLEASE get it over with. If you're a die-hard fan, buy this book. If you're sort of a fan, wait for the paperback. If you've never read the series don't waste your money on this one.
Rating:
Summary: Jordan has just lost my readership
Review: I am truly saddened that this book has been published. What an absolute waste of time - and I haven't even finished reading it yet. I feel like a servant to every Wise One, Aes Sedai, Seanchan High Lady and Atha'an Miere Wavemistress in this world. Does every woman in this series hate men???? I am so sick of reading about women glaring at everyone, smoothing their skirts, pulling their braids, what they are wearing (who cares? let the readers use a bit of imagination!) and just [complaining] in general. Whatever happened to Rand, Mat and Perrin? You know - the main characters the series started out with?? The ones who will fight the Dark One in the Last Battle? ROBERT JORDAN, STOP DROPPING HINTS WITHOUT FOLLOWING UP ON THEM!! You keep mentioning Shara, but is anyone ever going to go there? The Dark One threatens the whole world - shouldn't they be involved? And let's go to Seanchan, too! Sounds like a more interesting place that the squarish piece of land that takes up very little of the actual world (if you've seen the map of the entire world in the Guide, then you know what I'm talking about). Jordan needs to go back to High School English Composition and relearn what a plot and a resolution is. Would you please resolve one of the numerous storylines that have been dragging on since book 7? And if you're going to add twenty new characters each novel, stop shortening the glossary! Robert Jordan is so much better than this (as he proved with the first four books in the series), yet now we have witnessed what had the possibility to be the greatest fantasy of all time - even surpass Tolkien, in my opinion - turn into a "could have been." Who has been writing the last four books? Certainly not Mr. Jordan. The fact that TOR actually published this disgusts me. This is the most blatant attempt at milking the cash cow that I have ever seen in popular fiction. So much for artistic integrity. Half of this book could have been cut, and the other half put in the end of book 9. Jordan needs to learn that sometimes less is more. But the saddest thing is that this book, and the 20 after it, will be NY Times bestsellers, because we're all suckers for how this is going to end, and Jordan and TOR know it. If I ever finish book 10, though, I am refusing to buy another WoT book until the series is finished and can be found in a used bookstore. Well, maybe not. By the time Jordan does finish it, physical books won't exist anymore. We'll all be reading novels on handheld computers in e-book form. I feel sorry for the amount of trees that were killed to publish this book more than anything else. Mr. Jordan, you have just lost my readership. I will go read George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" instead. At least something happens in those books, enough to justify a long wait.
Rating:
Summary: This would be funny if it weren't so sad
Review: Note to RJ: You already killed the cow, you can stop trying to milk her now.
Note to prospective readers: Buy something by George R R Martin instead.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonder to Behold
Review: If anyone needed any further proof that the WoT has descended into the realms of self-parody and bottom line publishing "excellence", they need look no further than "Crossroads of Twilight". Robert Jordan has written a book so bad that it almost deserves it's own college course, to be studied and dissected as how NOT to write a novel. 672 pages in which nothing happens, it's almost an achievement in its own right. The book follows the "progress" of the WoT cast, including all of those loveable side characters no one could care less about. We learn how to clean silk, we get to hear what everyone is wearing in excruciating detail, and we also get a whole lot of sittin'. Nothing is accomplished. No, really, I'm not exaggerating. Nothing happens. This is the stuff of unedited freshman english classes my friends. To dispel the beliefs of what few CoT defenders are left, this is not literary, okay? I read 19th century literature for fun, and trust me it's a roller coaster of action compared to CoT. Dissappointed CoT readers are hardly the "great unwashed". Everyone "gets it" just fine. There's just nothing to get. Jordan is in a permanent holding pattern that will last as long as these novels are bestsellers. To any WoT fans still reading, I'd stop while you're ahead. There are literally dozens of better fantasy authors writing today you can spend your free time with. To those who have yet to start the WoT, consider yourself lucky that you haven't invested the hundreds of hours into the series only to be betrayed by an author who is lost in his own mythos and minutiae.
Rating:
Summary: Stop buying Jordan's books 'til he writes a real one!
Review: Early in the series, we all became hooked on The Wheel of Time for good reasons, the normal reasons we develop loyalty to a writer: he delivered a good reading bang for our buck. That is no longer the case, and hasn't been for several books. I WILL NEVER AGAIN PAY RETAIL for any forthcoming Wheel of Time hardbacks, and I won't even shell out good money for the paperback. When they trickle down to the garage sale price of 25¢ or 50¢, I will consider the price a fair and equitable one for his future books. Tolkien begat the genre of serial fanatsy and Frank Herbert perfected it. Jordan started out at a good clip...compelling story, great characters, surprising twists...his boat left shore in the first book and was clearly headed someplace worth traveling to with him. But as the books have come and gone, Jordan has beached his craft on some shoal of ego or greed he apparently can not or will not get off. I vote for "will not." As the cries have gone up in the last 3 or 4 books, about the sloth of his pacing, they have gotten even slower. Crossroads of Twilight has so little breath and pulse left, I'm amazed the series is still considered among the living. Instead of punishing his critics (AND READERS) with fatuous and testy examples of just how slow his books can get, Jordan should get back to the real craft of storytelling, instead of throwing a 700-page "so there!" tantrum. Well, I'm through spending good $$ to indulge his manipulative horse manure. Mr. Jordan, you are free to waste any amount of my time in your future books trying to follow this story. But you will no long have my checkbook at your disposal while you do so. If you can waste 700 pages of my time for [$$], I can waste 3 or 4 years waiting for that 25¢ garage sale copy of all your future books. And I will.
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