Rating: 
Summary: The descent begins . . .
Review: This series has gone completely in the tank and A Crown of Swords is where the tanking begins. By itself, ACoS has decent action and some plot developments. But its resolution is ambiguous, unlike each of the previous six books, and it adds more questions to a plotline already polluted with innumerable mysteries, intrigues, factions, and characters from the six previous books (and 3500+ pages) that preceded it.After the end of Book 6 (Lord of Chaos), it seemed that the series had regained its direction. But in ACoS, Jordan introduces numerous "new" characters (most notably Moridin), new concepts, and new intrigues. The pacing slows to a near crawl for nearly 600 pages before erupting to the uncertain ending. Worst of all is the dithering by Rand, the messiah figure who is paralyzed by inaction for most of this book and Book 8. The first five books of this series are great. But book 6 is an interlude from the non-stop action and this book begins the series descent into unabashed authorial self-indulgence. To wit: The Wheel of Time Series is now at 10 books plus a prequel and a guidebook but less has happened to the characters and the plotline in books 7-10 than did in any two books of the first five. The 10 books are probably seven times the length of Lord of the Rings and at least two or three more sequels are likely. If you're prepared to stick it out to a (hopefully) colossal ending, then get this book, the execrable Path of Daggers and the others. If not, get out now and save yourself the grief so many other disappointed fans have endured.
Rating: 
Summary: Long, but excellent ending
Review: While I was reading this book, I was also reading Dickins' A Tale of Two Cities. It's crazy! Robert Jodan writes in the exact same style as Dickins(the long-winded detail, innumerable characters,and innumerable clauses). It's so obvious, that I wonder if Jordan use Dickins as a refernce. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: I want more- and more and more and more and more and .....
Review: You must read this! It is full of twists and new threads, and old threads being untangled. The prologue annoyed me a bit (as much as one of these books can, anyway)because 48 pages were used in giving the viewpoints of Elaida, Gaywn, Sevanna etc on the Battle at Dumai's Wells, which, as you remember, finished "Lord of Chaos". Normally I wouldn't have minded, but when I first read this book, it was the last of the series. Mr Jordan does a lot of that in this book, giving the pespectives of the Forsaken, the Aiel, the Aes Sedai, Morgase, Min (who I don't like- she flirts too much with Rand, while pretending she doesn't, and never has the guts to say something to him-but her viewings are interesting.) Elayne is ...Elayne. Looking for the Bowl, in love with Rand, but worried about Aviendha and Min loving him too. I've never liked Nynaeve, and I like here less here. She is a whining, conceited, can't-see-what's-in-front-of-her-because-her-head-is-too-big, prim and self-pitying fool. For all her talk about sense, she has the least of all the characters. Mat is still himself- carefree and gambling and chasing girls while running from trouble as he sees it. Trouble has formed a habit of following him, though. Perrin is being a dutiful husband to the overbearing and jealous Faile- I acan't wait till the hawk arrives. Egwene is Amyrlin in Exile, slowly and carefully gaining more power and say and respect, even though it means discarding custom. Rand is fighting against the Forsaken, the Aes sedai, Lews Therin... He's worried about what Sammael and the rest of them are up to, about the Asha'man staying sane, about staying sane himself, about what to do with the Aes Sedai, and Andor and Cairhien without rulers and a thousand more things. I think he might go mad from the stress, not the taint on saidin. Read this book if you have to spend food-money to buy it, or if you have to fail maths... Mr Jordan, keep up the good work!
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