Rating: 
Summary: Buy it, try it, you won't regret it.
Review: If you are any kind of Wheel of Time fan, this is a definite buy. Seeing as how Jordan's last few books have been pretty dry, this book takes a turn for the better. Hopefully when these prequel books are finished, Jordan will be ready to get back into the great writing he has shown us in the first several WOT books.
This book has no Rand, Matt, Perrin, Egwene or any of the other great younger characters we all have come to love but there are a great many older characters that are mentioned (ie. Elyas Machera) that I think will give a great background to the regular series and will make it that much better to read yet again. It's also really great to see some of these characters when they are younger and not so emotionally reserved as you would always think. All in all great book, and I will be looking for the next.
Rating: 
Summary: a glimmer of hope?
Review: I read this book based on some of the other reviews, and frankly, I am glad I did. Like many fans of the Wheel of Time, I have been bored senseless by the last couple of books. I had no intention of buying the next Robert Jordan book until I had read it from the library. I took a chance on this one simply because it was going back in time. I believe it works as a standalone book, but it is also an enjoyable insight into the history of Robert Jordan's world. It isn't great. It isn't the 'ripping yarns' that the early WoT books are, but it is a fun and easy read. It's main use from my view, is that it gives me some hope that the rest of WoT might start to return to the enjoyment given by the early books.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting expansion on the short story "New Spring"
Review: Several years ago, Jordan contributed a short story "New Spring", to the "Legends" collection. Now he expands it into a short novel. The short story told the story of the meeting between Moiraine and Lan. The expanded novel includes the incident, related in the WoT books, of Gitana's Foretelling of the birth of Rand, overheard by Moiraine and Siuan, and what happened because of that. Perhaps the most interesting part of this book is that we finally get to see what happens when an Accepted tests for the shawl, and the ceremony as one is raised to Aes Sedai. Also valuable are the insights into the characters of Moiraine and Lan--who spend almost no time as point of view characters in the WoT books. You start to feel you know what makes them tick. Also important and interesting is the extensive amount of exposure we get to the young Siuan Sanche--Moiraine describes her as "born to lead", and so we know it will all transpire. I suppose you could read this as a stand alone book. But it really helps if you have read at least one of the Wheel of Time books. You don't have to have made it through them all yet in order to enjoy this one. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A new perspective
Review: Let me begin by saying that yes, I have read this book, unlike so many other "reviewers" here. And let me say that this book is a good buy for fans of Jordan's series. The book itself is good, if not great, because it lacks some of the characters that made the main stream books so great. No Rand, Mat, Perin or Foresaken. This is the story of two young women being raised to Aes Sedia, and the beggining of their search for the Dragon Reborn. The fact that these Aes Sedia will one day become the Amyrlin Seat and the one who finds the Dragon Reborn twenty years later is important. Here, you get to see the roots for the division of the Tower later, of a Red Aes Sedia's hatred for two Accepted becomes an earth shattering event. You see how the last of the Malkieri becomes bond to as Warder. You see the past of the series, and you get more of Jordan's typical writing, love it or hate it. Am I disapointed this book came out instead of book 11? Yes, of course. Am i disapointed I read this book? Not at all.
Rating: 
Summary: New Spring
Review: This prequel is nothing short of amazing, it is just as interesting, if not more so, than the series' main sequence. It takes a step back to the very beginning and shows you how two of the greatest Wheel of Time characters started. If you like the series this is a must have!
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointed
Review: While I like the Moraine character, as I read this book I kept wondering when something would actually happen. It was nice to get a glimpse of the character's before they assumed the roles that we know them for, but we barely get any actual conflict until the end of the book. This is such a stark contrast to Jordan's earlier books which were action packed and yet still maintained the intrigue that got us hooked. I hope that he can manage to regain the passion he had for this series, because it's been harder and harder to get through the last couple of books.
Rating: 
Summary: I feel bad.
Review: I feel bad for suggesting Robert Jordan to my friends. Luckily I've redeemed myself by getting them into George R.R. Martin. There's not much more to say that hasn't already been written here. This series was at one time my favorite. It has fallen so low that I don't even think about it much anymore. I'm guessing that Mr. Jordan never comes to sites like this to see what his fans are saying. That's too bad because I'm sure he has lost quite a few with how the more recent books have been. Add to that the prequels and now I'm about ready to give up on him.
Rating:
Summary: JUST FINISH IT!!!
Review: First off, I love WoT. I have since I opened the first book. Unfortunately Mr Jordan has decided that the endless bickering of a couple of snot nosed female characters is better reading than the actual storyline.
I dont know how many times I can read about Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve bickering about men and decision making before I just want to start throwing books out the window. And dont get me started on Perrin's "adventure." That character had such awesome potential, and now hes not doing anything but whining about his wife. Matt, well I still like Matt's storyline, but how many pages can 10 miles of travelling really take up? Why not start smacking people, this is MATT were talking about, Im sure he knows how to slap people.
But on to New Spring. I bought the thing just to get a breath af fresh air. No Elayne, no Egwene, no Nynaeve, no Faile, no White Tower time wasting... wait. Yes, in this book there is a WHOLE LOT of White Tower time wasting. But, still at least the story moves in this book. The only drawback to this book is that now we have to wait longer for the next 8 trillion pages of WoT to come out so we can skim through until we find something that actually forwards the plot.
But if youre a WoT fanatic and you actually want to read a book where *gasp* something HAPPENS, go buy this one. Its a little breath of fresh air in the right world with a little action... but not much.
Rating:
Summary: What a waste of paper pulp
Review: This book is a flimsy attempt at continuing RJ's one story career. Running out of delaying tactics, and facing the realization that the story must now be drawn to a close, Jordan stoops to writing a 'prequel'; delaying for yet another year the conclusion of what was once a great story. Its dull and adds very little to the story-that-will-never-die. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK - WAIT UNTIL IT HITS THE USED BOOK STORE. Its only worth the dollar you'll be charged for it there.
Rating:
Summary: Action-packed ! ... especially for longtime fans.
Review: Regardless of a few of the low reviews this book has received I feel it is a novel well worth the purchase from the raging battle around the city of Tar Valon to the Keeper foretelling the rebirth of the Dragon, the world's only hope of winning the fight against the Dark One, it's a captivating read especially for longtime fans. Although its not a fast pace novel it does move along at a good pace. All in all I thought it was an excellent book. When you're done reading this one here's another book I'd recommended Dragon Man The Adventures Of Luke Starr ... it's an excellent book from cover to cover ... and it will mesmerize you with its charm.
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