Rating: 
Summary: good but not great
Review: While I think most of the negative reviews have been a trifle unfair, I must admit that the lack of any satisfying plot resolution was disappointing. I, unlike other readers, would have been perfectly happy with Mat's complete absence if RJ would have narrowed the focus of this book to bring one or two of the other main characters along in the plot to a significant degree. Naturally, I would have expected the lion's share of the next book to be occupied by Mat's adventures. But alas, the WOT seems to be in danger of becoming like a Sunday newspaper comic strip: The story is advanced a few frames for each edition and by the time some sort of conclusion is reached, you've forgotten what the whole thing is about in the first place (If only a new book came out every week). Still WOT is one of best fantasy series out there, and It's easy to criticize. The main reason for all the low rankings is the fact that the series was so good before expectations were very high. I'm hooked on the characters like no other series I've ever read. RJ has done a great job in letting the reader feel for his characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Robert Jordan at his best!?!?
Review: This is the book that everyone has waited for. For two years Jordans fans have been wondering what is going on? I believe this is one of the definitive series in the science fiction realm. I wish that he had not gone back and forth so much, but that is to be evpected when you are a narrative god. I just wish to tell everyone that this book is definitely worth the wait though. And the ending is just, well, um, I will leave that for you to decide
Rating:
Summary: Certainly not bad, but RJ seems to excel at circumlocution.
Review: I do believe it was better than A Crown of Swords. Thankfully, a few things happened, however not as many as I think the readers deserved. Perhaps telling the story from Mat's, or Nynaeve's, perspective might have helped; I know several people who were very disappointed by the lack of attention paid to their favorite characters. Jordan's emphasis on the continual misunderstandings between men and women is getting predictable at this point. While it is amusing, it wouldn't hurt to deviate from stereotypes once in a while and perhaps make the characters a bit more complex. However, PoD is still an enjoyable read. So-called "filler" books can still be interesting. Jordan could be setting us up for an incredible ninth book, though not necessarily. After all, sieges can be terribly boring, and Dyelin may want to stall for a bit to gain support for herself. But if it's done even half-well, the next book should be spectacular.
Rating: 
Summary: TOR, booksellers, and profiting from outright lies
Review: I have a few points to make, some of which have been mentioned before. These are simply the few things that most irritate me about this latest offering and some of the willfully blind reviews that rate PoD a 5 star piece of work. 1. Much of the material promised on the book jacket does not in fact happen. For instance, what happened to Perin's soul? Nothing, though we are promised that it is endangered. Other items alluded to, likewise, do not materialize. Now, RJ probably did write something about all this stuff but, after the jacket was printed, cut it for some reason or other. It will probably all be in book 9. Nonetheless, this is false advertising! And whatever the reason, it is not an excuse to make the resolution of pathetic #8 the major contribution of book 9 when it arrives on the shelves. 3. RJ should be embarassed about his treatment of his women characters. I would not care that they take up the lions-share of the book if they offered something. But they have become completely immature and sophomoric. It suggests unfortunate things about RJ's own view of women and appropriate gender roles. 4. Undoubtedly, there is enough language in this latest writing to stoke up the fires of the true-believers who spend their internet time debating way-out theories on how the warderbond works, whether Alanna will go mad and save Rand the trouble, who added the new traps to Callendar mentioned by Narishma, what is the nature of the true power vs. the one power, how can you kill a gholam, whether balefire would kill the DO since he isn't a thread in the pattern, etc. This is not an excuse for ranking PoD as a 5 star contribution to the genre. Let's be honest here. Yes, I know all about how interlaced romance must work and the need for gradual development of manifold plots, but that does not excuse this book. Each individual "book" in the series must have its own rise, climax, and conclusion. PoD had none of these--its plot line is more like an unhealthy EKG: flat, with occassional spikes at irregular intervals.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh...it was ok
Review: FOr all of the people bitching because of no action, Jordan has done a masterful job of creating some very detailed and wonderful characters. From the developments of Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve, Mat, etc. he has done a marvelous job of developing characters, farm people to begin with, into great powerful individuals (Dragon Reborn and Amyrlin Seat to name two). So that is not a problem with me in this book. I like to read about the characters interacting. The Aes Sedai have gotten silly, but are still fun to read about. Having said that, I did not like this book anywhere near as well as the others. I like character interaction with a point. There was little point here. Jordan could have written a much better book had he bothered to give the reader some kind of resolution to the plots he has developed. Instead we just wait for new books to come out. Path of Daggers did little but set up book 9, which from all appearences should be stellar. Book 8 however did little on it's own. Elaida and Alviarin still don't like each other (yawn), we still don't know who Messanna is, Rand has gotten more unlikeable as a character, and Perrin did not do much of anything (I have always liked Perrin a lot). I feel like Book 9 will be a great book, with Egwene taking back the tower, Perrin concluding with the prophet (we hope), Rand cleansing Saiden (with Nynaeve's help), blah blah blah....unless Book 9 continues to drag on like 8....then we can spend 10 chapters as Egwene and the rebel sedai as cross a field (and learn what each one is wearing)...and maybe Rand can argue with more nobles (that could take 20 chapters or so)....Jordan needs to cover more ground, and he needs to advance his story. Book 8 was ok, but don't try to fool us with big type like that, page numbers don't mean much if you can only fit 3 words on a page!!! If you are going to use that much paper, justify it with enough words and ink!!
Rating:
Summary: What was that for?
Review: I would like to ask why Robert jordan thought to bring out an entire book that seemed like the middle section of one of the other books in the series. POD had no real plot of its own like the other books in the series eg. self discovery for Rand (book 1 &3), Finding the horn of Valere (book 2) and getting the support of the Aiel (book 5). Also, it seemed rather boring in parts. The book is still better than most books, but compared to the others by RJ, it bites.WOT fans: Get it, but be prepared for it.
Rating:
Summary: Rote Formula and meandering banter, Very Disappointing!
Review: I have been a fan since book one. The last couple of books have left me wanting a return to the style, energy and action of the earlier books. Even so, after waiting so long for a sequel which would answer questions, and deal with previous cliff hangers, revitalize characters, and return to an invigorating style and format, this book left unanswered significant questions. The main characters have turned into a parody. Those aspects which drew one to them in the initial installments, have fallen by the wayside. They appear to have gained nothing from their experiences and charge about in child like manner and confusion. Rand is always angry; always injured and vulnerable in time of crisis; always doing something only half thought out. Same situation in every book thus far. Jordan needs to look at what he's done to the characters and their institutions. There's too much formula here, too much is rote and too much is predictable. Jordan obviously has spent the majority of his time doing other things, and appears to have just reinserted discarded edits to fulfill the publishing contract. This is turning into the series from hell. Much too long; too much bantering; too little substance, too much stasis. The story goes nowhere. Very disappointing over all for someone who has the ability to do better.
Rating:
Summary: Hang on . . . . .
Review: A reader wrote on the 18th Novermber that Jordan's series has been like a roller coaster. And he's right. This is it, people. The slow chug to the top seemed pain-stakingly slow. Get ready for the biggest roller-coaster ride of your life!
Rating:
Summary: GET ON WITH IT!!!!!!!
Review: Just a brief agreement with everone else. This book reminds me of the movie 'Back to the Future II', where all it did was set up the final movie. I hope all the characters are moving together, so each does not get 100 pages devoted to them and nothing more. This book went nowhere. I hope the next one does.
Rating:
Summary: The series is fading
Review: When I read the first book, I fell in love with the style. I thought it was like Tolkien or Herbert. But the plot has been becoming incomprehensible. Mat was barely metioned, and Nynaeve, once my favorite character, is now no more than a spoiled child. Perrin sits looking at his hands. What was comical five books ago is tiring now. I advise RJ to reread his own books before writing another like this one.
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