Winter's Heart

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: My husband and I are avid fantasy readers, and our favorite authors have to be George Martin, and Robert Jordan. I just finished Winter's Heart, and it was awesome. Where as the last two books dragged on (because they were setting up what was to come), this was his action book. It seems to me that Jordan's style seems to be changing. He was not as long winded as he usually is. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Rating:
Summary: When will this ever end?
Review: Does anyone else remember when the writing for this series was fresh, the plots tight, and the action enthralling? Sure, I'd like to quit buying the books but, after 10 years, I am bound and determined to get to the end....If there is one.

On to the Review: Stale, boring, and Hemmingwayesque in detail. When I finished the book I sat back and realized that only one plot item was truly advanced with this book. My advice for those looking to keep up with the series but not willing to pony up the dollars is to read the book jacket and then read the last chapter... Nothing else of note happens in the book...At least nothing that won't be covered in excruciating detail in the next books 200 page prologue.

Rating:
Summary: not exactly what I was hoping for, but still good
Review: It is unfortunate, but true; Jordan has slowed down in the last half of his WoT series. While perhaps it is understandable, as in each 600+ page book he is dealing with the same characters, but I am sure there is some way that the pace could be picked up, and the reader could end a book feeling that he got somwehere. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen here. I had hopes that in the last few books of the series, a chain of events would occur that Jordan had set up in the previous books, but I have yet to see it. While Winter's Heart is still a well written book in my opinion, with plenty of descriptors, it was missing some pieces I would have liked to see. Hardly ANY mention was made of Egwene, and her war against the White Tower is one of the most interesting parts in my opinion! Mat was brought back into the thick of things, but I had forgotten what had caused him to be stuck in Ebou Dar, so had to go researching for that in a previous book, as well as to re-familiarize myself with what occured at Dumai's Wells, since that also is metioned several times. While Perrin does make an appearance, it is not a substantial one. I realize that Rand is the main character, but there is only so much one can take of a madman ranting in the head of another madman. However, WoT still remains my favorite fantasy epic, and Jordan still remains an excellent writer, able to pull his readers directly into the fantasy world he has created. I will eagerly await the 10th book, again hoping for a little more than what I recieved in Winter's Heart.

Rating:
Summary: So, um, why are you guys STILL reading....?
Review: Oh you whiners out there! I have read so many reviews that talk about how "the series started getting slow at book 5". Well WHY ARE YOU STILL READING?! Yeesh! As for me, I'm still a die hard fan. I loved the book. And the subplots? I think they're great. If you can't handle a more complicated story like "Winter's Heart" that requires more than just minimal attention, then go read something else. Jordan's truly creating a world here. He goes on to describe things in such in depth detail because WoT is set in a thousand places that are completely different from where we live. Personally, I rather like it. It lets you feel like you're truly submerged into the story and really get to know about certain cultures and certain types of people. When he says a woman's a domani, you know exactly what he's talking about. It's much more interesting than just having him describe each individual the same old boring way. Not everything has to be just fast paced action all the time...

Rating:
Summary: STILL epic fantasy
Review: I think that Winter's Heart is much better than Path of Daggers, but still it clearly lacks the quality of i.e. Eye of the World. All of you criticising the overwhelming mass of details are right. But come on, who was not completely enthralled by the escape of Mat and his companions and the rocking finale in Shadar Logoth, with Rand cleansing the Source? We shouldn't bother criticising the minor flaws of RJ's work and instead enjoy the epic fantasy he STILL provides.

Rating:
Summary: Addicted--which is not a good thing.
Review: Yes, I am addicted to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I need to know how the story ends, but unfortunately, Jordan's Wheel of Time books (aside from the first few) do not have conclusive endings. Winter's Heart is no more than a segment in a soap opera. This entire saga has rambled on too long. There are too many characters and subplots to keep track of. This is made worse when many characters and plots are not even visited from one book to the next. While Winter's Heart does provide some answers to the mysteries posed in previous books, the story in Winter's Heart could have been told in almost half the pages that were used. Do not buy this book if you have not read the previous eight books in the series. This one is only for the serious addicts, like myself.

Rating:
Summary: Read this review
Review: To start off, many people are making out this book to be a huge waste of time. Well Its not. It isnt the best, but its not the worst by far,and I really enjoyed reading it. To start off Im going to give my list of critisims of this book, and the last few.

1. There are three characters that everybody wants to read about. Rand.Perrin.Mat. These are the three best characters and the most interesting to read about. But instead of focusing on them,RJ puts more inportance on minor characters and sub plots, often cutting on of the three from the book completly (Perrin in LoC, Mat in PoD.)Perrin now suffers in this book, he is over way to quickly.

2. Subplots. These seem like mixed blessings. Its good that RJ is creating a realistic world, with many differant people and agendas, but when these subplots take over the book, kicking out major characters(PoD) they become extremlly annoying.

3. Female characters. Just read all the other reviews. I agreee,except for Fail. And I hate Min.

Now for the good aspects of the book.

1. Mat is back! The parts with him are the best sections in this book, he is always an amusing character to read and provides some light relief from some of the heavier chapters.

2. Things are happening(sort of).I felt that in PoD, nothing happend. Everybody just stopped! Now things are happening again, and the next book should be very interesting.

3. Great climax! PoD had none! This book makes up for it, but I also felt the last chapter with Mat was very thrilling.

Now even though there are more bad than good, the good outways the bad by far. I enjoyed this book a lot. Its the kind you look foward to reading and not to finishing. And the people who are giving it 1 star obviously dont understant it, and probally got lost after the first book. Thank You

Rating:
Summary: Now we are getting somewhere!
Review: Hello fellow fans, and all the critics as well...

Well, Mr. Jordan finally did something in his plot that really meant something again. I am so glad that some of the people are getting killed off, if just to relieve the pressure on my cerebral cortex from attempting to keep everyone straight.

One thing I, and this might say something about me but that's O.K., is that there is a bit more of the Forsaken activity in this one, meaning that more than one is actually involved in parts of what's going on. I wish for more of their character generation, so as to get a look into their persona, as they develop out. I would gather that they are going to be involved in the major action at the end of the series, which is only 13 or 14 books away now. Allright!

Seriously, I did enjoy this title much more than Path of Daggers, if only because things actually happened that were important to the plot. I mean important in the sense that I am able to discern what is going on, before reading the next three books, and looking back and saying, "OH! I see why that happened.... Rand needed to have the men who could channel because of the deal with...." Stuff like this make my toes curl when another in the WOT series comes out. I really enjoy them, but at times it seems so slow, but not slow in a boring sense, because it is enjoyable to read, regardless.

I must confess though, that I am sick and tired of how Nynaeave pulls her braid, which is the only descriptive thing that I have really pulled out of the. reading.

I like the passing characters, but some are so interesting that I would like to reinforce their role in the book, like Lan, but hey, it ain't my book. If it was, it wouldn't probably be as good. I notice that all kinds of people who have reviewed the book are cutting up the whole series. Why? If you don't like the series, then don't read it anymore. I happen to love it, I am just impatient to get some of my big questions answered. Another fellow said that's interesting that you guys all bought the NINTH book, just so you could ream on it. Again, why? Don't you have better things to do than read it if you don't like it?

If you like Graduate School reading level fantasy, of which there isn't much out there, you need to read this series. BUt be prepared, It's fun to read, but can quickly get confusing if you don't fix the characters in your head by name.

Rating:
Summary: make it end...please
Review: I have been a huge fan of the WOT until the last two books. The sub plots and lack of motion is getting on my nerves. Jordan spends the first 2/3 droning on about Elayne and her becoming the Queen of Andor. And stops! She doesn't even become queen in this book. I read early info on this book and expected Perrin and Mat to do some significant things, NOPE! The only significant chapter in the book is the last one. Got to the book store and read the last 20 or so pages and you'll be caught up on the WOT world.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: I was surprised when I saw soem of the other reviews and figured they needed a bit of a rebuttle. This book was an excellent work of literature. The plot did not appear "disjointed" at all, in fact it gave me a much mroe indepth view of the inner workings of his world. The final chapter literally had me on the edge of my very seat and kept me enthralled even after I had closed the cover. I recommend this book for anyoen interested in the Wheel of Time series and I'd recommend the series to anyone who enjoys reading in general.