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hilltroy99's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Some parts I really liked, some parts felt really slow. I think I need a break before I read the next in the series.
eesh25's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I'm at a point where I feel like I shouldn't continue the series. I mean, this is supposed to be one of the best books and I'm just not feeling it. The pacing, for one, just isn't working for me. The first couple hundred pages were really hard to get through. Things did pick up after that but not enough and not consistently.
The saving grace was the world building. I loved learning about the Aiel. It was easily the best part, helped by the fact that Rand is finally back in the series after he was barely in the last one. Nynaeve's story was meh. There were a couple of good moments, though, and one awesome scene. Perrin's arc I mostly liked. I'd have sped it up a bit, but the main issue was that it included Faile, who I don't like, but I'll get back to that. Let's go though some of the important characters.
Rand: Seems to be growing as a person (finally!) and is no longer annoying.
Nynaeve: Would like her so much more if she could stop being angry about everything, and maybe try to learn. Her characters, I feel, is progressing too slowly.
Egwene: I often forgot she was even in the book, and that was fine because I don't care about her.
Mat: Still annoying but shows potential?
Moiraine and Lan: Did not play a huge role.
Elayne: A character I can see myself liking, with some time and maturity.
Aviendha: The whole "you belong to Elayne" thing pissed me off. Hated her, then didn't. We'll see what future books show of her.
Perrin: He's fine.
Faile: I'd like her to drop dead. Not as much as I wanted it in the last book, but the wish has yet to go away.
Aes Sedai: I trust none of you, mainly because you keep trying to control people.
Lanfear: Ew
And finally, a special shoutout to the Children of the Light! May you all die horrible deaths.
With all that out of the way, the last few things that bothered me:
In the end, I have mixed feelings. I liked the ending though, and it made me want to read the next book, but really, the main thing keeping me going is my trust in Sanderson.
I'm at a point where I feel like I shouldn't continue the series. I mean, this is supposed to be one of the best books and I'm just not feeling it. The pacing, for one, just isn't working for me. The first couple hundred pages were really hard to get through. Things did pick up after that but not enough and not consistently.
The saving grace was the world building. I loved learning about the Aiel. It was easily the best part, helped by the fact that Rand is finally back in the series after he was barely in the last one. Nynaeve's story was meh. There were a couple of good moments, though, and one awesome scene. Perrin's arc I mostly liked. I'd have sped it up a bit, but the main issue was that it included Faile, who I don't like, but I'll get back to that. Let's go though some of the important characters.
Rand: Seems to be growing as a person (finally!) and is no longer annoying.
Nynaeve: Would like her so much more if she could stop being angry about everything, and maybe try to learn. Her characters, I feel, is progressing too slowly.
Egwene: I often forgot she was even in the book, and that was fine because I don't care about her.
Mat: Still annoying but shows potential?
Moiraine and Lan: Did not play a huge role.
Elayne: A character I can see myself liking, with some time and maturity.
Aviendha: The whole "you belong to Elayne" thing pissed me off. Hated her, then didn't. We'll see what future books show of her.
Perrin: He's fine.
Faile: I'd like her to drop dead. Not as much as I wanted it in the last book, but the wish has yet to go away.
Aes Sedai: I trust none of you, mainly because you keep trying to control people.
Lanfear: Ew
And finally, a special shoutout to the Children of the Light! May you all die horrible deaths.
With all that out of the way, the last few things that bothered me:
1. What's with the folding arms under breasts thing? It's weird and unnecessary.
2. How does Nynaeve have any hair left on her head with how much she pulls on it?
3. And why are all the female characters constantly angry. Especially at men. Being mad at men and calling them names seems to be half the personality of the women in this series, and it's really annoying. And the way they "handle" men, with anger or manipulation, sucks. Even more so because it's supposed to be the right way to handle men. Like, maybe try some rationality and sympathy instead or yelling about everything. The quick-to-anger thing is an issue with the male characters too, but way worse with the women.
In the end, I have mixed feelings. I liked the ending though, and it made me want to read the next book, but really, the main thing keeping me going is my trust in Sanderson.
marek_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
the_mad_bird_diaries's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
2.0
The issues that plagued the first 3 books only worsen: too many underdeveloped characters, lack of diversity in their personalities, too many references to different peoples and figures without giving the reader enough time to sit with and become familiar. The scope of this book is so wide, deviating too much from the central thread that few reasons exist to care or keep reading.
Many of the characters felt too similar, lacking interesting eccentricities. This book is all plot and world-building. Mad respect for Robert Jordan being able to create such a complex universe. I only wish he could attend to the psychology of the people which make the universe worth existing.
I'd welcome a stand-alone book or series dedicated to A FEW of the characters, but not this many. Too many sailors on the deck sunk this ship which had such a promising—albeit familiar—launch.
Many of the characters felt too similar, lacking interesting eccentricities. This book is all plot and world-building. Mad respect for Robert Jordan being able to create such a complex universe. I only wish he could attend to the psychology of the people which make the universe worth existing.
I'd welcome a stand-alone book or series dedicated to A FEW of the characters, but not this many. Too many sailors on the deck sunk this ship which had such a promising—albeit familiar—launch.
wharj's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
vicer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jrice92's review against another edition
5.0
“Never think I have abandoned you. When the sun shines on you, it is my smile. When you hear the breeze stir through the apple blossoms, it is my whisper that I love you. My love is yours forever.”
This series is so underrated it's criminal!
The character arc from book one to the end of book four is insane but it works so well! I won't go into the story to avoid any of the dreaded spoilers but I will say the action really came through for me in the Shadow Rising especially through Perrin. Diving into the history of the Aiel was fascinating and honestly made me love them even more.
Perrin became one of my favourite all-time fantasy characters and Rand grew in ways I never would have expected, Matt as always was brilliant and I can't wait to hear more of his building story.
Also, I love Faile.
“If you ask the lion to protect you from wolves, you have only chosen to end in one belly instead of another.”
This series is so underrated it's criminal!
The character arc from book one to the end of book four is insane but it works so well! I won't go into the story to avoid any of the dreaded spoilers but I will say the action really came through for me in the Shadow Rising especially through Perrin. Diving into the history of the Aiel was fascinating and honestly made me love them even more.
Perrin became one of my favourite all-time fantasy characters and Rand grew in ways I never would have expected, Matt as always was brilliant and I can't wait to hear more of his building story.
Also, I love Faile.
“If you ask the lion to protect you from wolves, you have only chosen to end in one belly instead of another.”
sydneyyylove's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is my favorite wheel of time book that I’ve read so far. At first I was annoyed with Perrins sub-plot. But now I am HERE FOR IT!! When him and Faile got married I was tearing up. So good. And Rand in the battle at the end!! AHHH! He basically like half stilled a man it was epic.