Rating: 
Summary: Uncle! Uncle! I give up!
Review: I was fortunate enough to have only started this series about a year and a half ago. I can't imagine the pain of waiting two years between books. Would it be too much to ask to wrap up some of the dozens of subplots in each book. For example, Faile was captured in the eighth book. Perrin starts to look for her in the ninth book. This can only cover two or three days at most. At this pace we should get to the last battle in about eight to ten books. I would love to know if there is anyone who can keep track of the various characters in this series (no fair re-reading before each new volume). I feel the most confusing part is when a great many names are very similiar and characters "disappear" for a book or two before coming back with no introduction. I also feel that the review by The Feisty Curmudgeon hit the nail on the head. Every woman is basically the same. Every society is basically matriachial. Every single woman has a really annoying habit of "planting their fists on their hips" when they have to make a point at which time the man (who is always the target) tucks his tail and runs. I'm all for equality, but this lack of character developement simply gets old. This is the last book by Robert Jordan that I am going to read. Since you basically know what is going to happen, why hold your breathe for the next eight to ten years before Jordan tells you. I agree that the first five books were very good, but he could have compressed all nine into four or five books. It would be a lot more entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: too much and not enough
Review: I have spent much time reading this series. I started late and read the first 8 books in succession. Now, waiting for the next book and wishing for something more, I am left wanting. This book is too much. Needless detail on needless people and things. I wish that the story would start anew, as in the first few books of this series, when I cared about what was going on and who the characters actually were. But, if you are like me and have invested so much time in reading this block of books, it is hard to walk away. My shoes are on.
Rating: 
Summary: Losing the thread of the story. . .
Review: I loved this series early on -- the detail was great, the characters seemed very fleshed out. As I grew up, I began to have a little trouble with the way women are portrayed: tempers and "snorting" are not always the way to handle the situation. My problem now is that with the 2 year gap between books, and all the complicated past events, I'm losing the thread. I can't remember why Mat can't remember his life and had to go back and find it in other books. For the last 3 books I've had to do this: go back and re-read sections from other books. The glossary keeps getting shorter and shorter and I can't remember what everything and everyone is these days! I still enjoy the series, but I'm thinking maybe I'll wait till the very last book is published, then buy them all and read from start to finish. If there really ever is an end . . .
Rating: 
Summary: It's a novel (not a comic book)
Review: People who continually criticize Jordan's books seem to have a few things in common. First, they think there is not enough action in the later volumes, second they think the characters aren't well developed enough(are all similar, especially the women) or they think that the books are just too long and need to be finished. For those looking for action, Jordan returns to his earlier novels with this new piece, filling it with fight scenes where the improbable becomes the likely. As always he also writes unbelievably engaging dialogue, whether between major characters, or in negotiations between nations. Alright, now for those who think that the characters are not solid and deep. Can you really complain in any way about the 3 main characters(rand, perrin, and mat) They are as different as can be, Rand plauged by the power that is slowly driving him insane even as he tries to harden himself for the last battle, and then Mat, who provides excellent comedy(could you really keep from laughing when Tuon attacked him?) and despite perrin's abscence in most of this volume, he symbolizes honor, devotion, and hard work. The major female characters are just as varied, and anyone who seems them as the same are just foolish. While the main characters are all strong women, it is necessity, can you imagine an effective character who cries and hides behind a man everytime anything happens? I have not noticed anyone complaining that all of the men are hard, tough men. In the roles they must fill they need to be competent and confident. Furthermore, if you look at Elayne, Nynaeve, Min, Sorilea, Cadsuane, and Aviendha just to name a few, they are all very unique. The interaction between these characters is unbelievable, at a level that could only be possible with the thousands of pages jordan has dedicated to it. Personally I think most of those who complain about these books should not bother reading them, and just read comic books or something instead if they are looking for quick and fast resolving conflict. For the rest of you who enjoy the books as I do, take a little extra time reading it and appreciate the writing. If you have the time i strongly recommend going through the entire series again, you will find an unbelievable amount of neat references to future events in the earlier books, and you will be amazed by how the characters grow and change. If you dont believe me, look at Min's character, or my personal favorite, Mat. Anyway, if you are new to the world of Robert Jordan, do not be at all surprised to find yourself enjoying his story immensely, and returning to read the books again.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best but I'm ready for the rest
Review: This book was better than the last two in the series but still open more doors than closed! As much as I enjoy reading a long series I am ready for some closure to at least some major plots! In the interview with RJ he mentioned at 2 or 3 more books the series conclusion. I doubt this statement but time will tell. All in all I think that at least this one picked up some pace and I enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: Complete waste of time
Review: This book could easily have fit into 200 pages of higher quality writing. I'm sick of the cardboard cut-out characters and repititious descriptions. 680 pages of absolutely nothing. I loved books 1 - 5 and I even liked 6. Books 7, 8 , 9??? Why bother...the story summaries given on the net provide better reading and won't waste 20 hours of your life. Jordan has the talent...he absolutely needs to cut [this stuff out].
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Series
Review: I think the main problem many people have when reading this series as they look at each book as independant entitites that should be telling their own story. Well they don't! They aren't independant but rather small portions of a HUGE story. Readers have become accustomed to Authors turning the world on its ear and saving it in three books of 500 pages each or less. Jordan doesn't. He has written 9 books now each at least 500 pages I think. He is telling a tale that involves at multiple nations and empires all being rattled to the core of thier foundation and belief systems. He is going deeper into the way the world is changed by the actions of our heros than any author before him. He can't possibly jam it all into one book. I've heard people complaining that he is overly-descriptive. Oh well. I personally do care that Rabbits are flitting around through the field. It makes the field more believable and gives me a good feel for what else isn't around since a rabbit wouldn't be flitting if wolves were nearby, and if you've read the series you know wolves a fairly important to it as well. I've heard complaints that all the female characters are carbon copies of one another. And while I don't fully agree with this statement the female characters are my one complaint with the series. In general it is hard to like the women of the books. Though I do like Min and Aviendha. Most of the women are extremely headstrong, rude, tempermental, perma-pms women. It is a shame. Moiraine was cool while she was around and Egwene was great at first. But Egwene has slowly fallen into the unfriendly Aes Sedai mold toward men. It would be nice to see some more women who actually liked anyone that wasn't a women. Most galling is the way Siuan is portrayed with almost a childlike imanner in her affections toward ?Bryne? i believe. If you read the series remembering that all the nations of the world, as well as a few empires (something that seems even bigger than a nation to me) are involved instead of just one kingdom the length makes much more sense. The only book I havn't fully enjoyed was book 8 but even it served its purpose of bringing us a few weeks closer to the final battle. It is unfair to rate the book independantly so my rating is for the series. However, this book when compared to the others in the series would garner a 3star rating. (book 8 would get a 1 star, books 1,3,6,7 would get a 4 star and book 2,4,5 would get five stars.)
Rating:
Summary: Sorry but I liked it
Review: There are so many negative reviews, but I enjoy what most people see as obtuse blathering. This book is agog with new subplots, distracting politics and straying storylines, but I still enjoy the writing style, the detail and the characters. It could have been better of course, but it was excellent in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: I Should Have Waited for the Paperback
Review: I got a late start on this series, picking up the first eight volumes at a local book store, within the last year. I read through them, one after the other and found the story gripping and addictive through the first five books. Then The Wheel got out of round and we have been clumping along for the last several books. While still interesting enough to keep me reading, the majority of this book went nowhere. We start with Perrin beginning to look for Faile and that's the last of that. Then we jump hither and yon until we get to the end, which is the redeeming part of the book. Mat spends a lot of time planning on getting out of Ebou Dar and we get the addition of several new subplots. I have to agree with several reviewers, this book could have been shorter and lost nothing. Better yet the last 4 books could have been made into 1 or two volumes with a better pace. I bought the hardcover as soon as it came out, in hope of getting some resolution to the multitude of plot-lines. Only one got resolved at all, and that was the best part of the book. Next time I will wait for the paperback, if I live that long.
Rating:
Summary: Simply put, AWESOME!
Review: I read through the other reviews and am amazed at indiviudals who go out of there way to put something down. Even to the point of complaining about the women characters in the book. Come on people, this book was wonderful anyway you look at it.
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