Rating: Summary: Get over it, this is fantasy! Review: I have read all of the Wheel of Time books, and I really like them. Sure, Robert Jordan is milking the plot a little to get more books out of this series, but the books are still entertaining. I thought that "Path Of Daggers" was great in spite of the unresolved threads and jumpy plot twists. The story is still interesting, and it keeps me coming back for more. Just trying to stay on top of who all the characters are, and what their roles will be is enough to keep the most attentive reader on his/her toes. Just remember, if you are sick of this series no one is forcing you to read the next book.
Rating: Summary: Great Series. "The Wheel Weaves as the Weel Wills" Review: THIS SERIES IS GREAT. now that i have that out of the way, to you people that say it has no plot and is going nowhere, the wheel weaves as the weel wills. there is no ending to time. when will you be satisfied that the series is over? there could be 20 books and i would read them (as long as Jordan keeps up the good work) I don't mean to be critical, but the boredom happens in the best of series. I think there is a requirement or something to explain everything as if you are reading the book for the first time. I find this good, as in many series i have to wait a while for the next book to come out. I am currently in about 5 series like that juggling books as they come out. This series is great and i reccomend it. If you don't like where the story is going, then don't read them. thank you.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing and too short Review: The length of _The Path of Daggers_ was, I think, the major source of its problems. Or, really, that in its length, nothing really happened. Rand leads a few battles against the Seanchan in the South, and has some difficulty with a strangeness in saidin. Cadsuane is as lovingly tyrannical as ever. But nothing *happens*. The remaining Forsaken seem to be lying pretty low, except for the one in hiding in Egwene's camp, and even Halima doesn't seem to be causing much trouble. Nynaeve and Elayne have a few adventures fleeing Altara, but Mat doesn't come into this book at all, aside from a few mournful cries from Nynaeve that she's abandoning him. And no action is taken against the overambitious Taim and his little band of villains. Basically, _The Path of Daggers_ doesn't get much byond the scope of a prologue, with much of the space wasted to the cogitations of various Seanchan. Various unimportant Seanchan, at that. Compared to the earlier books, even _A Crown of Swords_, _The Path of Daggers_ is a real disappoinment with an ending that's just a cop-out in place of the Tower Wars.
Rating: Summary: The W.O.T. series - still one of the best, and worth reading Review: I can see why many of the people out there that have said that the pace of Jordan's WOT plot has slowed down. It is true in some ways, however, the reading and entertainment value of the later books in the series (including Book 8) is still of high quality, and is worth reading.There seems to be agreement that the first 3 books in the series were quite faced paced, and extremely addictive. In the 4th book, I felt there was a bit of a lull with so much time spent travelling to certain destinations. However, if you can get past that, the last third of the book that concentrates on Perrin and Emond's Field is excellent. Some people say that the plot line slowed down immediately after book 4, but I don't believe this to be true. There were some very significant events and action in books 5 & 6: the capturing of and battles with Forsaken, darkfriends, black ajah, land wars, and the original Emond's Field gang and their friends, all moving into very prominent, unexpected position's in Jordan's intricately created society. It is my impression however, that originally Jordan planned on making this an 8 book series. But with the success it was having, was asked by his publishers to extend the series to 10 books. So yes, in books 7 & 8 there is some filler, some additional detail to the plot, and increased suspense and delay of things coming to be. This is not to say that there is no action, intrigue or plot development. Besides, if you love the series so much, why would you want it to be over?!! Enjoy it while it lasts, even if he makes you wait a little longer to find out how it all ends. If the rumor I mentioned above is true, then by the end of book 8, there would be no more WOT to read? Is that better than putting up with a little filler here and there in order to extend your pleasure and involvement with the series?! My only real criticism of Mr. Jordan is his delay in getting the more recent books out. Blood and bloody ashes Robert! This series has given you your very own fanatical, adoring fan base. Don't you feel a sense of responsibility to get each book out in a timely fashion! (i.e. 2 years = too long!). All in all, this series is amazing, enjoy every bit of it while you still can.
Rating: Summary: The Path of Daggers Review: Laurel Sanders Book Review The Path of Daggers By: Robert Jordan The path of daggers is the eighth book in a series of nine. This book is the continuation of The Wheel of Time. Jordan gives readers books full of fantasy, adventure, love, and heroism. The whole two rivers crowd has been split into the most important groups. Egwene Al'vere has become Amyrlin seat of the runaway Aes Sedai. She is struggling to gain control of her followers and at the same time usurp Elaida, the Amyrlin of the Aes Seadai who hold the tower. Rand Al'Thor has become King of Illian, and he needs help from the Asha'man at the same time some of them start to go mad. This is a huge set back for Rand. Nynaeve and her new husband Lan have been following Elayne and Aviendha. They are in a group of kinswomen form Ebou Dar and Wind Finders of the Sea Folk. The weather has gotten better because of this group. They used the bowl of winds they found in Ebou Dar. This has had effects all over the world. Perrin and Faile have unknowingly falling into traveling with Andor's former queen Morgase, Elayne's mother. Out of all the Jordan's books I have read this one is the most confusing. He hasn't kept the time line at an even pace. I hope that book number nine will get better.
Rating: Summary: I am really about to give up... Review: What has happened to this man? I have read the reviews that say Robert Jordan has just developed a style that is to hard to get out of now. I don't think this is true, but even if it was, what a horrible style he has developed. I and many others believe that he should go back to when he didn't "have a style" if this is what his style has become. Give me the first four books when there was mystery, adventure, unknown, evil always knocking at the door, desperation, IMPORTANT issues unfolding, unexplained events leaving me yearning for more. Now, instead, we have women bickering over what dresses they are wearing, men and women bantering with each other for pages and pages on end, people worrying about everything, and absolutely NOTHING happening! It is fine to use this style of writing to add realism to your book, but Jordan does this for hundreds and hundreds of pages! One reader said to just skip to the last chapter of the book and read that. I could not agree more. That is the only chapter that something happens in (and not much at that)! I have tried and tried to remember what happened in those 900 pages I read, and I can't do it. All in all, I will not read anymore books in this series, even after the thousands of pages I have invested in it. Only if the next few books take a huge turn around will I even consider it. Jordan, in my opinion is milking this thing, and doesn't know where to go with his story. With great authors out there like George Martin, I refuse to waste my time with this series anymore.
Rating: Summary: What book have you people read? This book is great! Review: This book has gotten way more flack than it deserves. Yeh it's not as good as eye of the world but it's right up to par with the others. Some people said i had no action! What book were they reading?!!! This book is filled with suspense and big very well depicted battles. If you liked the other book than read this one!
Rating: Summary: I'm still interested... Review: The continuing saga of the "Wheel of Time" series is still holding my interest, and I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the audio version, of book nine . The narrative description of characters, events, and surroundings draws a vivid picture in the minds eye. I have "listened" to the audio version, of eight of the books, as I navigate a long commute to and from work. I find myself looking forward to getting in the car, turning on the tape player and continuing the story. I find the "Path of Daggers" as interesting as the previous books. My only problem with this audio version is the reader, Mark Rolston. Now maybe I am spoiled from listening to the excellent, articulate, eloquent, and fluent narrative of previous books, read by K. Reading and M. Kramer, but Mr. Rolston's reading came across as flat with little inflection and uninteresting. Had Mr. Rolston listened to any of the previous books read by K. Reading and M. Kramer he would have had the ability to articulate many of the words he was stumbling over. As I started listing to this book I was puzzled as to who the characters, and places were, this reader was talking about. He pronounced many names and places "very differently" than K. Reading and M. Kramer, such as; Seanchan, Ebou Dar, Tar Valon, Elaida, Aes Sedai, Caemlyn, Elayne, Brigitte, Cairhienin, Cairhein, Atha'an Miere, etc. It was rather disheartening to have to mentally translate so many names and places into sounds I was familiar with while listing to the entire eight tapes. I sincerely hope that book nine, and any subsequent audio books in the "Wheel of Time" series will be read by K. Reading and M. Kramer.
Rating: Summary: Jordan is too easly to slam Review: Back in 1998 I read about 200 pages of this book and set it down, frustrated with the pacing. I wasn't remotely interested in anything that was happening, and was stunned at the amount of space Jordan was taking up with repetitious and unnecessary descriptions of people, trees, clothes, etc. I picked it up again, recently, because I realized something: while I have lost faith in what Jordan is currently writing, I haven't lost faith that he knows where he's going. He has said, in numerous interviews, that this series started at the end -- that he first saw in his mind the final scene. Initially he saw the series lasting 3 or 4 books. I would imagine those plans flew out the window after he was midway through The Eye of the World. Anyone who has tried their hand at writing knows that a story grows with the telling. Characters and events have a way of invading the story, of demanding entrace. That said, when I picked this book up for a second time, I did so at a further disadvantage. I had just finished reading three of Sharon Kay Penman's novels (Here Be Dragons -- extraordinary!; Falls the Shadow; and The Queen's Man) AND A Storm of Swords. I was spoiled. While Penman and Martin are both "wordy" writers, they are still economical. The say what needs to be said, tell what needs to be told, and move on. Going from Penman/Martin to Jordan was quite a jolt, as I again found myself frustrated with his pacing. I wanted to insert mySELF into the story and set a penance on Elayne and Nynaeve "on principle". I have never read one of his books as quickly as I did this, skimming over whole paragraphs --something I would have considered a sin in one of the early books in the series, where skimming a paragraph meant I might miss something important. Here, I neither believed I would miss anything important, nor cared if I did, and I didn't get the sense that he truly cared about what he was writing until the story turned to Rand. Perhaps I'm wrong about that, and I probably am, but I don't care about the characters the way I used to. When Nynaeve broke through her block, when Egwene was raised to Amyrlin, I cheered. Now I'm hoping that Moghedien chances upon Nynaeve in her sleep and cuts off her air, that Elaida -- Elaida! -- herself cuts down Egwene. It must be difficult for a writer to bring the same level of passion to the page in "year 10+" as it was in the beginning, so I find it hard to criticize Jordan for losing his passion. It's understandable. And he hasn't lost me as a reader. I'll buy every book (the jacket is off Winter's Heart and it's waiting to be read), and read every book. But not because I like what he's doing -- no, because I believe that he will find the passion again and make what promises to be a remarkable finish. Tarmon Gai'don should be a conclusion to pale others that have been offered before; Covenant and Foul, for all the respect I have for Donaldson, will likely be reduced to playground scuffles. I just hope Jordan gets there, and fast.
Rating: Summary: Frustration is the least I can say Review: After reading the first seven books, I thought that the conclusionn was at hand. After the first book I began skipping over the almost boring same descriptons of rooms and cities.Was Jordan trying to fill the pages with so many details? I find the series started out great but then each book was dragged out with too much small detail. There are so many characters now that it is hard to keep track of them. How many times must we be told of the Aeis Sedaes's ageless looks, what the Amrylin's study looks like, Nyneves's inability to channel without anger and all the same unimportant details in EVERY BOOK? All I want to know from someone is, Does this story have an ending?? Unfortunately I started the series and I have to find out how it ends. BUT had I known how dragged out and boring it was going to get I would have never started reading The Wheel Of Time. I would not recommend these books to those who like fast moving stories. Jordan will never be another Tolliken as far as I am concerned.
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