Rating: Summary: No more Elayne/Nynave/Birgitte Review: At first these women were unique. Now listening to their fighting is like watching a bad Jerry Springer show.I bought this book for the same reason I bought the first 8: Rand, Mat, Lan, Egwene, LTT. But for some reason Jordan seems to occupy us with these off-the-subject plots. It's been so long since I read the last one I can hardly remember who's who. This is still a good book b/c of those I mentioned before but not as good as it could've been. My favorite part of this series was "Eye of the World" simply b/c of Mat and Rand on the run playing for their supper. This was the best the series ever got. Now that's adventure.
Rating: Summary: What ever happened to Robert Jordan? Review: I like RJ as much as the next fan but this book was pure disappointment. Slow plot lines and too much detail is how I would describe it. As a fan of the series you keep reading through the chapters, not because the story grabs you, but because you're waiting for something to happen. Nothing really does. RJ should have added the "major event" in this book to his last and saved us all the trouble of book nine. With the last few books, it's beginning to feel as if he's milking($) his fans instead of making sure his storyline continues to be exiting and imaginary and move towards it's natural conclusion. Just my opinion.......
Rating: Summary: Need I say more... Review: I'm sitting here reading reviews of this book, trying to determine whether I should go ahead and purchase books 6 through 9. You see, I haven't read them yet. I made it part way through 6 and then lost interest. My wife bought me number 7 for Christmas a while back, and I haven't even opened it. What startles me is that I've read about 50 reviews so far, many of which contained "spoilers." None of the spoilers surprised me, and I was familiar with all the plot lines referred to by the reviews. Scary, huh?
Rating: Summary: Getting Better! Review: With the release of Winter's Heart, it seems that the Wheel of Time series might be getting a boost. Sure, it starts out slow, but the last 1/4 of the book packs a nice wallop. As a series, very little can compare. The first few books are pure fantasy, full of deep characters and original plots. The later books slow down, becoming more political and less exciting. Winter's Heart begins like the latter; slow and far too political for my taste. But as the end draws closer, the elements that drew us into the series in the first place return. No, this isn't the last book of the series, but who cares? I, for one, don't WANT to see it end. How often is it that you can lose yourself in a sprawling epic that gives you a world that is so very well conceived and "real?" Robert Jordan has a plan, and it is NOT to sell books (though I'm sure it's a nice fringe benefit.) His talented writing is proof of that. No one can fake the passion with which he wields his pen. He is a true author, and he wants to tell a story. If it takes him 12 books to do it properly, then so be it! I would feel cheated if he'd squished everything he's got planned into this book. My only real complaint is that there are so many minor characters that I get lost. I could do without the observations of all the little country bumpkins who pop up here and there. They all have names, and you never know if you should try and remember that name or not. This book does eventually see Rand getting a little sense back, and Mat seems to finally stop running from fate. I wish we had seen more of Egwene and her struggle to take the White Tower, but I guess this just wasn't her story. In short, if you were disappointed with the last couple of books, you'll likely be disappointed with the first 3/4 of this one. Wait and get the paperback. The good news is that things are looking up for the series. Let's just hope that nothing happens to R.J. before he finishes this!
Rating: Summary: Milk without oil Review: Gentlemen, log on. Thanks to modern technology, the internet now hosts countless webpages with character lists and reminders of the 100-odd plots still weaving in this latest installment of the Wheel of Time Series. You're gonna need it. Fans are still coming down hard on the author for the incredibly slow pace and exponentially increasing character list -- falling all over themselves to point out exactly the difference between the early novels and this one. No, it's not an instant classic like Eye of the World. No, it doesn't have a plot like The Great Hunt. And no, it doesn't even answer ANY of the lingering plot lines. Rand cleanses saidin, that's about it. If anything needs to go, it's the traveling ability. Instead of adventures and hero journeys, everyone goes wherever they wish to accomplish nothing. The interweaving plotlines format is do-able, but they have to be tied up at the conclusion of each book. Cliffhangers aren't necessary...if we bought this one after the insulting Path of Daggers we'll probably buy the next one too.
Rating: Summary: whatever the series had lost, it's back now. Review: there's only one thing more that I expected from this book and it was the battle between the Aes Sedai. I've been looking forward to that for a while, and that just means more books to wait through. but what this book had was great. It brought back so many plot threads that he's left hanging for a long time. some of the most interesting parts in the series in my opinion was brought back since book 4 (Slayer, Aelfinn, Eeilfinn)and Mat is back and he finally gets to meet the DotNM. one of my complaints about the last few books of the series is the lack of Trollocs and Fades, the two enemies we became so familiar with in the beginning, but I guess the Forsake have learned that they just don't do crap to the main characters anymore, that's probably why they no longer use them. but anyways, I think this was a good book. Perrin could have done more and it could have had more action, but I enjoyed it too much to give it any less then 5
Rating: Summary: If you want a trilogy...read a trilogy! Review: For all those readers of the wheel of time who continue to criticize jordan's evolution of his world YOU need to just stop reading the series until he's done. You obviously don't have the patience to wait out the craftsmenship of the author. I would agree whole heartedly that books seven and eight were painful to read and slow to inspire. However those who compare book nine to the last two are entirely mistaken. "Winter's Heart" develops the story as much, if not more, as any of the other books in the series. Plots and subplots that Jordan has spent books developing are illuminated and/or resolved. Are there sections of the book that could be improved? Yes. Are there certain character stories that I personally enjoy more than others? Yes. Do I believe that Jordan could possibly create as real a world as he has, one with a rich history, with complex social and political cultures, in a shorter series? NO. In short--for those who have problems with the velocity of the series, STOP READING! Wait until he's done, and figure out if it's all worth it in the end. I, for one, will read each new book within weeks of release. I'm still amazed with Jordan.
Rating: Summary: Lord of Chaos Part II Review: OK, it wasn't quite as good as Lord of Chaos, but it comes pretty close. After last two books where numerous plot lines were opened and none closed, we have a book where more have been closed than opened. After glancing at the other reviews, there seem to be some common criticisms to the book. Did the book have sections that seemed to drag on and on? Sure. But then again so has EVERY OTHER book in the series so far. Does the sniping with Elayne and Nynaeve get old? Yep. Once again, go back to every other book starting with book 3. Many of the critics hold up the first 5 books as exceptional while the 6th starts a downward trend. While I agree that books 7 and 8 could've easily been combined into one hard-hitting book, book 6 was definitely the best and book 3 ranks only above book 8 in terms of excitement. Are there a plethora of plot lines and characters still out there? Sure. But if you want everything tied up at once, read George R. R. Martin's series and watch as any character you care about (and there aren't many) get tortured, murdered, etc. leaving only characters with no redeeming qualities. Bottom line: Jordan is back on track with where he left off after Lord of Chaos. It's not worth a two year wait, but I'll take it. I can't wait for book 10.
Rating: Summary: Don¿t start reading this series until it is finished¿ Review: I am the first to admit that I will buy the next Jordan book as soon as it is published, but I also am suckered into this series and will never learn. Jordan has spread his plot out so much the Wheel of Time can't turn very much in each book, and that is very frustrating. I waited two years for this book to come out, but after reading it I feel like I spent 625 pages of reading material that I could have gotten off the inside cover of any other book. Yes it is an improvement over POD, but not much. One of the most interesting things for me was just trying to remember what was going on without rereading POD. That is what kept me going through the usual "skirt adjusting" that Jordan has his characters do way too much. If you are thinking of starting this series, DON'T. You will only be left frustrated waiting for the next book to come out. For your own sanity, wait for the whole series to come out (if it ever gets finished) and then read it. Don't get me wrong, it is a great world and wonderful set of main characters, but the last 3 or 4 books have really dragged on. If I knew I could just read until the end of the series I would not as frustrated, but I can't, so I am. I just hope that it is less than two years till the next book!
Rating: Summary: Don't Wast Your Time Review: After I read the last book in this series I told myself, this is it! I was really disappointed. But, it has been so long and I enjoyed the other books so much, I wanted to give Mr. Jordan one morc chance. I missed Rand, I missed Matt, I missed Elayne. But reading this book is a bore. Again, nothing much happens here. The ending is what I expected and it takes much too long to get there. Along the way, nothing much new happens and the old and annoying descriptions keep popping up. For example, how many time now have women thrown up, after something happens which they don't like. This series has more vomiting, pound per pound, then any books outside the Exocist. Perhaps if these people had more Pepto Bismo they would be able to fight more effectively. I am also tired, tired, tired, of all the hen fights. All these characters who all think their way is better then everyone elses. Or, how often each character, usually the "evil ones" who refer to everyone else a "children" or a "child". "How do these children do that?" Well, they aren't children, Mr. Choosen, or Mr. Forsaken, they are using the power differently then you, not more weakly. Or, for that matter, how many times can Mr. Jordan describes a new Aes Sedai as the "most powerful in a generation" or "more powerful then anyone since..." How many "most powerful" can there be. If you notice, he does the same thing when he describes the swordplay. First Lan, then Rand, maybe Matt with his sticks, Galad, Gwan, everyone is the best ever. How is that possible? At this point I would normally tell you a little bit about the story, but there was none. Oh.. wait, Rand, with help, tries to remove the "taint" from the one power. The suspension, "the suspension" lasts until almost the last page. What do you think, will he succeed? Hmmm. I knew what would happen after twenty pages. Maybe if you are especially stupid, you will be surprised or shocked by the ending. But, for anyone smarter then a lab rat, the ending was clear from the beginning. The only thing unclear is how much longer the author will try and drag out this series. I am betting on 15 books, but I am optimistic, after all, the writer said he will continue to write until he is dead. At first read, I was optimistic that he would be writing new and exciting stories for some time to come. Now I think he was referring to how long this series will go on. He got me, to my shame, one more time, but I will never buy a book in this series again.
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