Rating: 
Summary: So it continues...
Review: There's really not that much different in this book than any of the others in the series. Thankfully a few characters who were dropped from the last one have returned. The author has branched out on so many subplots certain characters are in every other book.
There is one issue I would like to address regarding to the reviews. There is a large amount of people who love the books and put down five stars, and yet spend the entire review insulting the intelligence of readers who do not think its great. Contrary to their opinion, we aren't idiots. In fact, it takes very little intelligence to follow these books. No more than you would use in watching a soap opera. I read an average of a book every 1 to 2 days, and have read a lot in my life. Frankly, I've seen most of this before. Fantasy tends to repeat itself. I just happen to see problems with the series. There was an excellent review a couple books ago that pointed out numerous grammatical and writing errors. The characters are fairly stereotypical, and are interchangeable. The author uses the typical cliches over and over again. We are constantly bombarded with Jordan's favorite sayings and phrases. "In stories heroes never..." and who could forget the tongue twister "the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills." Actually try saying that out loud. It reminds me of the constant may the force be with you in star wars. How many of people out there are tired of skirts being smoothed? Before I started #9 I seriously considered counting how many times Nynaeve pulls that braid. When I reread the series (if) then I will put tally marks on my bookmark and see just how many times that braid gets tugged. Girls are always pretty, plump, or not quite pretty but handsome. Every girl is about the exact same. They are rude, stuck up, spoiled girls who have temper problems and act like pre-teens. There is not one shy, respectful, reserved female in the series. The author has lost control of all his subplots. If certain characters, especially main characters, can only get fit in every 1 to 2 books and yet the plot still isn't finished it shows something. We've got plots hanging over from ages ago. They recently reintroducted Elyas, but this Slayer thing was from book 5 and that hasn't been resolved, Gawyn is still hanging out there somewhere mooning over Egwene, Morgase still hasn't done ANYTHING productive, Faile, Bain and Chiad are still captured, etc... It goes on. The clothing descriptions are unbearable. It's been a lot better since he stopped using the World of Dreams as often. He does automatically assume you know everything about his world when he throws you in the first book. Using the glossary is the best advice to give a newbie.
The Forsaken is another matter. There used to be the little required Forsaken per book to kill. What on earth is he trying to do by bringing them back? He brought 3 or 4 back already, which means how many more books? Unless they start dropping like flies it's going to take another 8 or 9 books to finish the series up.
I finished the book and yet, what happened? I can think of a few things. 1) Mat seems to have finally gotten out of the city. 2) Rand has been bonded. 3) Saidin was cleansed. Sheesh, I couldn't see that coming. cough. 4) wait... let me think... is there a number four? I don't think so. Nothing really happened with Elayne or Egwene. Thank the light the search for enchanted tupperware is over. No, nothing else really happened. How many pages did that take?
Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed the series thus far despite its many many problems. It is far from being great literature. I hope Jordan finishes now before the series goes down too much farther.
Rating: 
Summary: Exactly as Tolkien had feared...
Review: Tolkien spent 10 years writing a single book, which was split into three books for printing purposes. That book was The Lord of the Rings, and it captured the imagination of millions.
Since 1990 Robert Jordan has breathed life into an entirely new world, and he has written 12 books in 15 years. An amazing feat for any writer, but even more astounding considering the depth and life of this world.
So, the very reviewers who claim his first 5-6 books were his best work have forgotten that they were all written in LESS than 10 years. The first 6 books are NOT flimsy Harry Potter titles, but instead are complete novels filled with a breathtaking world! A world in which the characters lived and breathed day by day just as we do now.
Too many critics of this series have forgotten how little Gandalf actually used his incredible power, or Frodo the One Ring, or Aragorn his sword. The story lives beyond constant magic-use and sword-swinging. It seems too many fans of action films are suddenly bored of the cinema. Bored enough to actually learn to read! Alas, it is time for them to return to the cinema, and leave the reading to people who actually love literature, not drivel.
This series continues to be one of the best stories ever written. I have only given it 4-stars, because I feel 5-star ratings are reserved for literary perfection such as found in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
NOTE: This book is not for beginners to the series. They should begin at the beginning with Eye of the World.
Rating: 
Summary: The Begining of the End of My Enjoyment
Review: Unfortunately for me, I received the majority of these books as a holiday gift. The end result is that I've had the opportunity to read through much of the series (I'm an avid speed reader, and I enjoy going back and re-reading books in case I missed something.) in the span of a month.
For the two books prior to `Winter's Heart', I started to get the sense that Mr. Jordan was either bored with the characters in this series or was lost in all of his inane subplots. I had thought that those books were a slump, and a friend had advised me that important things happened in this book.
I did not enjoy this book. One critique I have of Mr. Jordan, is that his writing has holes that indicate that he never fully developed the background materials. Unlike Mr. Tolkien, whom spent decades crafting his fantasy world and how it works, the `Wheel of Time' introduces major concepts that are notably missing from the earlier entries into the series. This flaw is less of a problem in a series like `Dune', which takes place over the course of centuries, in which it is possible such changes can occur.
The `Wheel of Time', however, introduces ideas and characters that the writer never worked into the larger whole nor fully understands. For example, the duality between male/female is handled far better by Frank Herbert or James Clavell, especially in terms of how members of each gender uses/maintains political power. In Mr. Jordan's hands (perhaps this is because of his past experience with the `Conan' series), the issue of men and women become nothing more than one gender completely dismissing the other gender or personal quirks (it would be nice if the viewpoint of the determined whether we have to know details of the clothing...I doubt if Perrin would notice some details that Elayne would see).
Other issues abound, especially concerning channeling (this series' system of magic), that makes me feel as if the writer has dropped the ball. In Mr. Jordan's hands, what started as a new way of viewing spell casting has deteriorated into an overdrawn system of whom is stronger than whom. Gender plays a role here, but rather than taking a more interesting view of channeling as a whole, Mr. Jordan simply reinforces the existing status quo in the real world. For example, I think it would be more interesting if women were stronger in the Power on average then men. Imagine how Rand would deal with being the Dragon Reborn in a world where he is not exceedingly powerful, yet was the most important individual to the Wheel of Time. Certainly not necessary, but it occurred more than once in my mind.
I would say that the title is more descriptive than some readers (most likely the ones awarding this book more than three stars) would point out. The majority of the plot hibernates until the last two chapters. Unfortunately, the last chapter does not make up for the rest of the book.
Counting four plot developments in total, this book shows the continuation of a pattern Mr. Jordan has fallen into, where the plot seems to stagnate in favor of including scenes and descriptions to the detriment of overall pacing, this book falls flat.
I give it 1 out of 5 stars; some plot developments are certainly welcome, but my interest in the characters and setting has definitely waned as the storyline seems to have lost its steam. An editor is needed to tighten the wording and ensure that extraneous subplots don't start overtaking the larger story.
Rating:
Summary: Mind numbingly boring...
Review: Wait until Jordan decides to finish this series. I am not wasting any more money on the WOT until it's finalized.Stick a fork in it already.
Rating:
Summary: Winter's Heart
Review: Winter's Heart
By Robert Jordan
In the ninth book of the Wheel of Time series Rand al'Thor and his companions again find themselves upon the brink of failure. The constant threat of the Forsaken and Shadowspawn lurks around ever corner and even within the ranks of Rand's followers. The forces of good continue to battle to unite the world before the Last Battle between good and evil comes.
It is simply amazing how Robert Jordan's creative mind can not only continue his works but can surpass his past work. For fans of the series this book is one that they will definately want to read, but for those not familiar with Jordan's past work, they will be thrown into the plot with almost no comprehension of the storyline or vocabulary. Jordan does include a glossary of terms, people, and places in the rear of the book but the glossary only includes the most central characters plus information that has only been presented in this book. I strongly suggest that if you have not yet read the Wheel of Time series in its entirety up to Winter's Heart, don't read the book. Instead, pick up The Eye of the World; the first book in the series. Winter's Heart is full of plot twists and unexpected happenings and is sure to delight readers. Only Jordan could continue to add detail to this seemingly real world. With thousands and thousands of pages already complete, Jordan is continuing his writing in what is one of the most fantastic fantasy series ever created.
Rating:
Summary: Very Poor
Review: WoT has become Waste of Time and Robert Jordan seems to be stringing these along for no other reason other than more books equals more $$. I struggled through even finishing this one. I'd suggest trying another author like Feist, Eddings, or George RR Martin.
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