Winter's Heart

Rating:
Summary: Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but...
Review: Jordan continues to expand, expand, expand. I think that these books could use a little shortening.

I mean, come on, the only thing Rand does is chase after some renegade Asha'man except in the final 20 pages. These people showed up for what purpose? The important thing is compressed into 20 pages and the rest of the book is endless detail.

I still enjoy the books though. They create an entire world. And I mean entire. It is nice to experience every place on the map, but could we do it without the Shaido? And how many books has it been since Salidar? Can't we just topple Elaida already? We don't need drivel about ten million Aes Sedai stealing the oath rod, getting captured, standing around for a month, etc. And have you noticed that there is an Aes Sedai in almost every scene?

Plus, the whole series can do without THE ... ATHA'AN MIERE. They are completely pointless. Why do they always seem to walk right over every main and subcharacter? These people are supposed to be the ones having everyone bow to them, yet some ugly, pierced, smelly fishermen boss them ALL around no matter what.

Now, Forsaken. I was very caught up with the way Jordan intruduced these servants of the Dark One. It seemed like about one died every novel. That's a good idea, don't you think? It helps tie all the novels together. But noooooooo, we have to have 4 or so get reincarnated. And how many times can Moghedien get away? Cyndane is obviously Lanfear, as illustrated by the final scene of Winter's Heart. At least one of them got killed in that scene (by a Darkfriend, no less! lol), but I think more should have died, what with all those angreal, ter'angreal, and linked Aes Sedai & Asha'man running around. Now we have eight, is it? when it could be four, argh! What was with that black dome, was that the shield that Cadsuane wove or the taint or soemthing else?

Mat. He has accomplished almost nothing. He got that dagger, slowing everything down. Then, he almost got hanged in the waste. He is supposed to fight and capture Illian. But, of course, Mat sits around for a book or two, then Rand hops in and does it himself. Mat gets thrown of on a tangent and ends up in Ebou Dar for several books, or so it seems. The scenes with Tylin were simply INSANE. Finally, he's leaving, but with yet another side character to slow down the books.

Perrin. I used to think he would be the best. I mean, anyonew who can talk to wolves has gotta be cool and do stuff, right? Wrong. The only major accomplishment of his was saving the Two Rivers from a bunch of Trollocs. Now, all of the scenes with Perrin are all about Faile, or something to do with her. I'm getting tired of Perrin saying something to her and having "her smell be angry and irritated" because he doesn't yell at her.

The borderland army only spells more deviation from the plot. More importantly, Rand has a grand total of 2, count em, 2 nations directly under his control. The 4 borderlands may be added to that, possibly by book 12 (a.k.a. two months their time). Carhien and Andor are hopefully going to be under Elayne's rule eventually, so that may be a few more. Unfourtunately, he has yet to try at Murandy, Altara, Armadacia, Ghealdon, Tarabon, or Arad Doman. He won a battle in some nothing country, but never followed it up.

And speaking of Tear and Illian. What's with all the rebellions? Luckily, we haven't spent to much time of those. Also, what happened to his grand army that he assembled to take Illian? Somewhat thankfully, that plotline was cut short, sprouting a
few more though.

Enough with the snow! We realize there is a lot of it, everyone doesn't have to mention that they're cold every ten words. And what happened to the Dark One? There aren't any Trollocs, the heat wave is gone, and the taint too! Jordan seems to have forgotten to include him in this lasst book. How many times do we have to hear "the blight is quieter than ever"?

Sorry folks, but I'm all out of time. Thanks for reading, and be sure to at least borrow the Wheel of Time series from the library. It really is a great read, despite what I've said. Hopefully, the concluding books will wrap up everything magnificently. You can only make so many filler books. Perhaps we'll get "Book #13: The Last Battle" or, more realistically, "Book #23: The Last Battle, part 1. Trolloc fashion".

Rating:
Summary: BOOOORING!
Review: 600+ pages of ABSOLUTELY NOTHNG. It seems Rob Jordan's only concern is dragging this series out to make as much money as possible. Some of the main characters are not even mentioned in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Nail shut on who's coffin?
Review: The last sentance in this book is in the 'About the Author' section. It states: "He has been writing since 1977 and intends to continue until the nail shut his coffin."

I am wondering if they will nail my coffin shut before he finishes this series! To anyone who has read the series to this point, here's a tip; skip the first half, it will all be repeated either in the second half, or surely his next book!

Personally, I'm done with WoT until the final book is published. Then I'll read them all over again, assumming I that I won't be so old that I can't read!

Rating:
Summary: get on with it
Review: too long
too obscure

I wonder if Jordan is still writing these books?

The style has changed, he repeats himself endlessly to fill pages, and nothing ever happens.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it but...
Review: You know I still love this series but can any one remind me of who's who? I don't think I remember half the characters from the first book anymore. Also I wonder if Jordan realizes that he doesn't need to bring every single kingdom of the world into the book. Yes I know he's building toward the final battle but honestly let's just have it out already!

Rating:
Summary: Long In Every Sense of The Word
Review: The only reason I gave this book even two stars was because I've had such love for this series. That said this was a laborious exercise in excess. I want to read these Wheel of Time books for Rand, Elayne, Matt, Perrin, Egwene & Nyaneve. I'm so tired of pages devoted to characters like Galina, Ethenielle, & Riselle (What's with the names ending in elle?) I found myself skimming in haze of confusion and by the time I had pushed through to the end I couldn't tell you who those incidental characters were, nor did I care. I'm beginning to wonder if Jordan really has an end in sight. It seems his motto is bigger is better. But frankly, I'd rather have a book half the size that involves the core story than an additional two hundred and fifty pages of people and places that require an extensive glossary to keep up with. The 10th book is out now, but I need a break. My suggestion is read this fairly soon after the 8th book so you at lest know who some of the smaller characters are. And read it as fast as you can. The nearly two weeks to finish this made me question if I was just really busy, or really bored with the book.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece Misunderstood?
Review: For all of those readers out there who have put this book and any of the previous titles in this series down, it would seem that the point of a story is only to finnish or be finnished and not the actual telling of it. I, too, as a fan of the series hunger to see the outcome of this masterful tale... yet my enjoyment stems more from the actual development of the characters and subplots therein. To be quite honest, I would wish that this story could go on indefinitely and I know many other fans that share this feeling. However, as any and all stories must have an end, all we have is but the journey to this long awaited finale. If you are a patient reader and can enjoy a massive tale unparalleled by any other series in existence, do yourself a favor and pick up all the books that are currently available for The Wheel of Time. Do so, and pray your appreciation is not dwarfed by the sheer scope of this masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Again?
Review: Good lord, man, finish it already.

I am getting more and more demoralized by Mr. Jordan. I began book 1 when book 2 came out and have patiently bought each volume since. I don't know that I can handle another.

The stories were fantastic but have since declined into repetitive and monotonous filler. I hate to see such an amazing and grand franchise fall so low.

The books themselves are fantastic. The epic story is tremendous and offers the reader access to a dramatic world with realistic approaches to myth and magic. The main characters introduced in the first two volumes have become overburdened with plot twists and literary short cuts, but still reverberate strongly. Mat Cauthon is as real to me as some of my friends (and all of my co-workers).

Do I recommend the series? Yes. . .but I have to say that the series has gone on too long and the reader should be prepared to be bored from book 6-9. Hopefully book 10 will revitalize me.

Rating:
Summary: Puh-lease...
Review: Really, I don't see how anyone can read any of the last four or five books in the series and find them acceptable seeing as how they take an average of 2.5 years to produce. I mean, does it REALLY take Jordan that long to write this stuff?

The explanation is simple. Jordan's job description isn't that of an author anymore, but more specifically it's author of the Wheel of Time.

to touch on WH specifically... it's a case of been there done that. Pages of empty dialouge, braid tugging, fists on hips and the ever present sniffing with no movement in the plot. Yes, a rather important event takes place in the final pages of the book. And this scene is rushed. It seems to me that something this momentous should have been given a little more space and importance. Instead, Jordan just kind of throws it in our lap. Of course, Jordan will gleefully put in page after page after page of Egwene or Nynaeve thinking about how "woolheaded" men are.

And don't hold out much hope for Crossroads of Twilight. Advanced word is that it's just more of the same... even worse than Winter's Heart.

Rating:
Summary: For those who would have it end....
Review: For all of you who want a conclusion and finality, tread not near this series (and please quit with the whiney reviews). Stay away and enjoy the empty feeling you get every time you finish a good novel, knowing that you'll never be able to reenter the pristine adventure you enjoyed so much. Go and enjoy the authors who stoop to gross perversions and bloodied gore (can you say Martin?), or try to trail along after their story with some half-empty sequel (or prequel).

If you do start this series then realize you are entering an unfinished work. There are no guarantees that you'll enjoy it. No promise that it will turn out in any way you imagine...in fact there is not even a glimmer of a conclusion (up to Book Nine), which is why I enjoy it so much. The tale is still alive and could go anywhere...what could be more epic then that?