Rating: 
Summary: Jordan and the Art of Fantasy
Review: I have been waiting for the 8th book for over a year now, and I'm to scared to pick up the series again in order to brush up on the story. Jordan is by far the best Fantasy writer ever, and yes he is better than even Tolkein. ACoS is indeed a long book that covers only a short time in the story, two weeks if I remember? However, Jordan has no choice but to make the story long and lacking in the way of plot development. The story is out of control. This is of course a good thing and what keeps people reading, it may get slow in the middle of a book, only comparitively of course, but the end of every book always leaves enough suspense to make you eagerly await the next addition to the series. Sure, the female characters in the story seem to be bossy and ill-tempered, but this is because the only females we see are those with power or at least the potential for it. After all, if Egwene and Nyvaene had been the fluttering maids from classical fantasy that many seem to want, they would never have stood up to Moraine in the first place and demanded to be included in the Quest. As far as the character development in ACoS and the series in general it is unparalleled in Fantasy. Modesitt's Recluce Saga and Goodkind's series come close, but still fail to reach the heights to which Jordan has soared. Rand, the true hero of the book is almost universally hated and feared by the various peoples of the world, and is this not true to life. Jordan, with Rand and to a lesser extent with all the characters is showing the evolution of leadership, and in Rand's case maybe even godhood. For, although Rand fights for the side of good, his actions are sonmetimes ambiguous, and by this Jordan is showing how Myths and Legends come about. He shows us the people as they really are, but lets us see how easy it will be for the people in the world's future to see their actions as those of gods or mythic figures. If you have not read this series yet READ IT, for Jordan is not just writing good Fantasy, he is turning the concept of fantasy into Art.
Rating: 
Summary: A perfect example of Bathos
Review: When I first started reading this series, I couldn't help but notice the Christian simalarities. The dragon dies only to be reborn again and save humanity and hopefully Ogierity from the Dark One's evil clutches. At rate it's going it looks like Jordan is trying to rewrite the bible in Rand Land style, complete with matching number of books. Although seeing as this dealing with the Dragon Reborn, i guess he's just doing the new testament Jordan style. My qualm is when will the man give up?! He has taken an absolutely brilliant story and is seeing how many books it will take him to level it to mediocricy. A crown of Swords ( note the religous context there, as opposed to the crown of thorns ) is painfully trite. The females in the story have become so superficial, pulling braids, lifting chins, and trying to bully everyone. If they carry on like they are, everyone else will turn to the Dark One just so they can do the world a favour and kill them without putting their karma under jeopordy. Hopefull Jordan will realise that detail isn't everything. I could write 10 pages describing a door, but that doesn't make my story any better. Ah well, maybe book 8 will be a return to form for the man. Please God!!
Rating:
Summary: When will Jordan's characters grow up?
Review: As I can tell by the other reviews I've seen, I'm not the only one getting fed up with the lack of progress in this series. Without repeating the sentiments of others, I believe that the last two books were just stalling tactics, because the author has no real idea how to bring this story to a climax, while also tying up all the loose ends. Beyond that problem, Jordan's characters, who we all know quite well from the first 6 books, just REFUSE TO GROW UP. Mat has received collective memories from military minds through the ages. So when does he stop complaining and get on with using this talent? Egwene is now the most powerful Aes Sedai ever. So do something with it! Perrin is revered by his people, but can't understand why? They all have problems with the way the world works outside of Emond's Field, even though they now are probably the most well-traveled soles in all the land. I guess there is a difference between being well-traveled and experienced. In any case, my suggestion to Mr. Jordan is that the story will move along when all the main characters stop bitching about what they have become, what they've learned, how people treat them, and how different the world is than they thought, and FINALLY GET ON WITH SAVING THE WORLD. The characters are getting harder and harder to like, and I get bored with a story if there is no one to root for. -- Bob Breyer
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best of R. Jordan's books, but still good.
Review: This is the latest in a very long series of god books. In any series where the first two books are really good, the following books get harder and harder to write, all the more so for this series where the first four boks were fantastic. I say only the first four because after that no one can agree on how good the rest are, but the first four were great. For those who have been following the series, I don't have to tell you that stopping now would be a poor decision. For those of you who have never read the series, go check out book 1 "The Eye of the World", a fantastic book, and you'll be hooked on this series. when you get to this book, however, be prepaired for a small let down. The Crown of Swords seems, to most of the die hard fans, to be half a book. The only explanation i have is that Robert Jordan got tired. It is still worth reading, its just not as good as the others.
Rating:
Summary: Jordan may have stumbled, but he hasn't fallen
Review: I want to begin by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed CoS despite its faults (of which there were a few). I did not find it as entertaining as some of his previous titles, but still worth the time it took to read it.
Admittedly, Jordan's 7th book slows down some. Jordan doesn't develope the plot nearly as much as I would have liked. I think the reason for this is simple, he has so many subplots that he has to spend a quarter of the book just reminding his readers what is going on. He needs to finish off some of these subplots so he can develope the main plot (Rand's preperations for the final battle) more fully. I also concur with those that believe that Jordan's characters seem to have become more two dimensional. Note I sain more, I still think that his characters are fairly well developed (if sometimes undistinguishable from eachother), yet they lack the same believability that they posessed in earlier books.
CoS also has its redeeming qualities too. Jordan's ability to bring his world to life is uncanny. While I think that Jordan needs to finish some of his plots, I like reading about the many different factions and the intrigue and power plays they use in order to gain some semblance of control over their situation. While these don't advance the plot very fast, they are a part of Jordan's style of writing, and I feel that many of those who would want Jordan to finish his series within the next book or two do not appreciate this. (Here's a hint for those of you who are complaining about this, DON'T BUY HIS BOOKS. I keep reading people who say that this book is horrible as were many of the rest of the series because they were much to slow. If you don't like his writing, then don't buy it!! While this book did move slower than many of the others, it was not so slow as to cause me to lose my intrest.)
In closing, I would like to state that while I don't think this book deserved a 10, it was much better than the 2s and 3s that some people gave it
Rating:
Summary: Oh my god!This book is the height of mediocrity!
Review: I love this seris very much but the past 2 books have been increasingly disapointing.Book 6 was unnesicarily long with little real action or plot developement,aside from a few nice scenes and glimpses of the Forsaken.Book seven could have been easily tacked on to the end of book 6,as it has even fewer plot deveolpement,less action,and it resolves completely nothing.None of the things I was looking foward to in book 7 happened.Why? At the beginning of this seris I though 7 would be the limit of the seris but I guess I was wrong.
Rating:
Summary: great book, need more action
Review: I've read all the WoT books, and I just love this series. Nevertheless, I only gave this book 9 because of the previous ones. Though it has few good developments (such as Lan's return!), it's generally filled with over-streched descriptions. The only reason I can think of is that we're going to have a great surprise in the 8th book. I still think Jordan's the best fantasy writer in the world. I hope he doesn't take too long with the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Still GOOOOOOING...
Review: I think this is a fair rating...given that this is by no means his best work and an obvious attempt, for who knows why, to delay and carry the story even farther. Still, Jordan is a great writer with a superb mind. If it were not for that he'd probably get a 3 as a rating, b/c as was said by another, one could probably skip "A Crown of Swords," and not even miss it in the saga. Personally, Jordan is one of my 2 favorite writers...the other being Raymond Feist and his Rift War Saga and it's present continuations...if you have not read these do yourself a favor and do it, b/c they will indeed make the time go by as we wait for that cold front to move through hell and Jordan to release book 8.
Rating:
Summary: The Best so far!
Review: I don't understand why so many readers complain about there being no plot in the CoS! A "plot" does not necessarily mean that everybody has to keep trooping across the landscape and constantly finding amazing new helpful items! In fact, I believe it is much more difficult and fascinating to develop a plot in a more stationary environment. All the main characters in this book evelop along their possibilities and undergo interesting changes. For me, that is the most important of all! Nynaeve and Elayne have finally started to act grown up, as has Egwene in a different setting/context. Lan is finally back - and when Moiraine shows up again, the bond will not renew itself. Lanfear must already be back in one of the new bodies - and Matt's cchanged behaviour towards the girls was simply necessary. So all in all I thik in this book happened a lot more stuff than some of you out there are willing to appriciate. Well, one thing at least everybody seems to feel: we can't wait for the next book! My guess for the final cataclysm is among others, that Rand and Lews Therin will of course have to become one...
Rating:
Summary: Stuff plot developement!!
Review: I'm presently rereading the rest of the series (3rd, 4th time?), and reading the revies of CoS has shocked me. I have got so caught up in the world that I never noticed the lack of plot development. In retrospect I can see it, but does it matter? You read epic fantasy for the details of the world, and this is one of the best-detailed worlds I have ever found. As for stereotyped characters, yes, it is a little repetitive and a little annoying, but I'm prepared to put up with that. And how can anyone argue Jordan doesn't know where he is going? The complexities of the series are so marvellous he has to have a plan set out. But please, hurry up with #8.
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