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hoppoj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
mjheilman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jrhelmsdeep's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
illmethod's review against another edition
5.0
I started back with this series thinking I needed to finish it quickly like tearing off a bandaid. I burned out after book 6. It was probably the right choice from books 7 through 11. This series definitely had its problems. And they only magnified in books 8-10. But blood and bloody ashes what a turn around!
I'm sitting here, just finishing the final book of the series, feeling nothing but fondness for the whole experience. I cant really describe why exactly except that, despite the problems, there were so many things to love and hold on to. Perhaps it's compulsion. But I don't think so. I absolutely devoured this last entry.
Brandon. You write like a club to the face but you can really keep threads together and keep the pace blasting forward. (Note: if Sanderson is a club to the face, read:blunt functional writing style, Jordan is a stack of encyclopedias to the face, read:lots of detail but can be bloody boring) (that was a poor comparison... where was I? Right... Brandon and the WoT finale)
He really started playing with the possibility of the magic system established by Jordan (almost too little, too late but still). I found the slow learning curve of the ashamen believable though, so the late bloom of absolutely awesome shit was satisfying and exhilarating. It's definitely not the best magic system I've read but it has charm. The pattern was more interesting most of the time than the actual powers until the last few books (with a few notable exceptions throughout).
I also love what he did breathing life into minor characters and giving them real meat. Some of the most loveable characters in the final 3 books are either brand new or essentially revived from the sea of forgettable dead ones Jordan established. All of the characters had brilliant moments with, finally, some real weight behind decisions and threat of death being a real possibility. I actually had laugh-out-loud moments sporadically through the last 3 books and this one had some incredible scenes that just dripped with personality.
But now it's over. And I'm happy for the journey and happy it ended well. But now that I know how well it could have been assembled, I am sad for two reasons. 1) that all of my strong recommendations for this series will be delivered with some pretty substantial caveats warning about the middle slump and 2) that I will never experience the thrill of reading this again for the first time.
Books 12-14, which are really one book, are a solid 4.5 stars together imo. As frustrated as I was at times through the whole series, I am still in shock at how well Sanderson stuck the landing and essentially saved it.
Good start Robert. Excellent finish Brandon.
I'm sitting here, just finishing the final book of the series, feeling nothing but fondness for the whole experience. I cant really describe why exactly except that, despite the problems, there were so many things to love and hold on to. Perhaps it's compulsion. But I don't think so. I absolutely devoured this last entry.
Brandon. You write like a club to the face but you can really keep threads together and keep the pace blasting forward. (Note: if Sanderson is a club to the face, read:blunt functional writing style, Jordan is a stack of encyclopedias to the face, read:lots of detail but can be bloody boring) (that was a poor comparison... where was I? Right... Brandon and the WoT finale)
He really started playing with the possibility of the magic system established by Jordan (almost too little, too late but still). I found the slow learning curve of the ashamen believable though, so the late bloom of absolutely awesome shit was satisfying and exhilarating. It's definitely not the best magic system I've read but it has charm. The pattern was more interesting most of the time than the actual powers until the last few books (with a few notable exceptions throughout).
I also love what he did breathing life into minor characters and giving them real meat. Some of the most loveable characters in the final 3 books are either brand new or essentially revived from the sea of forgettable dead ones Jordan established. All of the characters had brilliant moments with, finally, some real weight behind decisions and threat of death being a real possibility. I actually had laugh-out-loud moments sporadically through the last 3 books and this one had some incredible scenes that just dripped with personality.
But now it's over. And I'm happy for the journey and happy it ended well. But now that I know how well it could have been assembled, I am sad for two reasons. 1) that all of my strong recommendations for this series will be delivered with some pretty substantial caveats warning about the middle slump and 2) that I will never experience the thrill of reading this again for the first time.
Books 12-14, which are really one book, are a solid 4.5 stars together imo. As frustrated as I was at times through the whole series, I am still in shock at how well Sanderson stuck the landing and essentially saved it.
Good start Robert. Excellent finish Brandon.
neeuqdrazil's review against another edition
4.0
That was exhausting.
4 million plus words, almost 3 decades, about 7 books in the middle where NOTHING happens.
And then the last book is non-stop action from first page to last.
It's a good wrap-up to the series.
4 million plus words, almost 3 decades, about 7 books in the middle where NOTHING happens.
And then the last book is non-stop action from first page to last.
It's a good wrap-up to the series.
p_j_sanderson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
It was all worth it. A great end. The wheel of time may have had its slumps but to get to this. Just wow.
itsising's review against another edition
5.0
Well, heck. After a 200+ page chapter, you sort of have to just finish the thing. It was... a lot. Pray for me as I try to sleep now.
epearl8's review against another edition
5.0
It is impossible to say everything I feel about the end of this series, it's just too much to cover. I will only say that it is a masterful ending to the best fantasy series I have ever read. Even with its peaks and valleys and uneven middle it is genius concepts brilliantly written. Even though Lord of the Rings will always be closest to my heart for many reasons, Wheel of Time is simply better.
holmesdog's review against another edition
5.0
A satisfying finish to The Wheel of Time, some surprises, some not.