Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11)

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About the Author
Robert Jordan lives in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a graduate of the Citadel.

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Amazon.com's Significant Seven
Robert Jordan kindly agreed to take the life quiz we like to give to all our authors: the Amazon.com Significant Seven.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?
A: The King James version of the Bible. That seems a cliche, but I can't think of any other book that has had as large an impact in shaping who I am.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?
A: The one book would be whatever book I was currently writing. I mean, I hate falling behind in the work. The one CD would contain the best encyclopedia I could find on desert island survival. The DVD would contain as much of Beethoven, Mozart, and Duke Ellington as I could cram onto it.

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?
A: It's hard to think of one since I am genetically incapable of lying to women and that takes out 52% of the population right there.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.
A: Any place that has my computer, a CD player for music, a comfortable chair that won't leave me with a backache at the end of a long day, and very little interruption.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
A: He kept trying to get better at it.

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
A: My wife before anybody else on earth living or dead. That's a no-brainer.

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
A: That depends. If I'm feeling altruistic, it would be the ability to heal anything with a touch, if that can be called a superpower. If I'm not feeling very altruistic, it would be the ability to read other people's minds, to finally be able to get to the bottom of what they really mean and what their motivations are.

See all books in the Wheel of Time series.

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy.The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers. There are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him dead--and the Black Ajah is at his side.... Unbeknownst to Rand, Perrin has made his own truce with the Seanchan. It is a deal made with the Dark One, in his eyes, but he will do whatever is needed to rescue his wife, Faile, and destroy the Shaido who captured her. Among the Shaido, Faile works to free herself while hiding a secret that might give her her freedom or cause her destruction. And at a town called Malden, the Two Rivers longbow will be matched against Shaido spears. Fleeing Ebou Dar through Seanchan-controlled Altara with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, Mat attempts to court the woman to whom he is half-married, knowing that she will complete that ceremony eventually. But Tuon coolly leads him on a merry chase as he learns that even a gift can have deep significance among the Seanchan Blood and what he thinks he knows of women is not enough to save him. For reasons of her own, which she will not reveal until a time of her choosing, she has pledged not to escape, but Mat still sweats whenever there are Seanchan soldiers near. Then he learns that Tuon herself is in deadly danger from those very soldiers. To get her to safety, he must do what he hates worse than work.... In Caemlyn, Elayne fights to gain the Lion Throne while trying to avert what seems a certain civil war should she win the crown.... In the White Tower, Egwene struggles to undermine the sisters loyal to Elaida from within.... The winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believes are fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Even the White Tower itself is no longer a place of safety. Now Rand, Perrin and Mat, Egwene and Elayne, Nynaeve and Lan, and even Loial, must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph.

Customer Reviews:

What happens now?.......2007-10-06

Spent the summer deeply immersed in this series. Ran out to buy the next before I finished the last. Really hooked. Now what happens? No more Robert Jordan. This last one may not have been the best, but I'm really disappointed that we may never find out what happens to all those really great characters.....

Captivating!.......2007-10-03

This book as well as all the others in this series are captivating and great beyond an explanation.

More enjoyable that past few.......2007-10-01

It was great to read this book and realize that there is still a lot of life in Robert Jordan's writing. This book reignited the passion with this series that was kind of lost in the last two or three volumes. Clearly, there is a direction in which all the various plot lines are going and you can start seeing the convergence occuring as the world is preparing for "the last battle".

The world of The Wheel of Time was large and complex from the beginning. In this volume there are still many, many events that are going on and many of the various players are present and active. Several sub stories are reaching their climaxes or resolutions. For instance, Perrin succeeds in his attempt to rescue Faile and incidently we learn of the fall of the Shaido and at least one of the Black Ajah. This is accomplished with the help of the Seanchan who are turning in front of our eyes from this nameless, faceless, militaristic society into another group of people and fighters who will ultimately join Rand.

Mat and Tuon continue their bickering engagement and this lines comes to a close with the escape of the party from Seanchan lands and the revelation of Mat's skills as a general. Tuon learns to appreciate more of his qualities while resolving her own position and taking control of her part of the world - in WOT terms, taking off her veil.

Elaine's story is also resolved. She has her own set of complications to deal with and there is a fair amount of humor in how her pregnancy is being depicted. Egwene is given a brief stint in the book and her story continues to evolve, but at least this time she finds outwho her betrayer was and is making solid progress inside the White Tower. And so it goes.

It is clear that threads of the story are being wrapped up. It is also becoming clear how some of the storyline will evolve towards the end and several of the prophecies that get repeated on occasion as they are spoken in a riddle will get resolved.

Even though this is a large book of over 850 pages, there is not enough room for everyone so we see very little of Aviendha, Min, and several others. Hopefully, the twelfth volume will do more of the same and resolve more of the plots.

There were several area that are poorly done, in my opinion. We know that the Last Battle is coming and omens are appearing, but does it really need to be something as hackneyed as someone coughing up beetles as his insides are devoured? Much more original was the scene of the village of dead people, or the changes in the castles... Another poor choice was Rand's lose of his hand. Maybe because Robert Jordan saw Return of the Empire again?

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down until it was completed. I certainly hope the next and final volume will be just as compelling. Unfortunately, there are rumors that Mr. Jordan has recently died so I am not sure who will finish the story and how long it will take to complete. Nonetheless, I will read it when/if it comes out.

Stop before you Start.......2007-09-26

Robert Jordan has passed away, so those of you who have read the 11 books in the series will never see it completed by Mr. Jordan. He was at work on the 12th and not final book of the series when he died. I guess it is possible that another author might take up the mantle to finish up the series. Mr. Jordan seemed unlikely to ever to do it himself. I did not care for this long rambling series, but I did like Jordan's writing and his imagination. This seems to be a rough patch for fantasy writers the past few years, David Gemmell, Angus Wells and Robert Jordan to name a few well known to have passed on.

Book 11.......2007-09-19

The story is still too slow in developing. Maybe the last book will finally clear up all the unanswered questions.

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Read it to continue the story, but don't expect much
Not Free SF Reader
A Modern Classic!!!
Mary Sue characters at their worst.
Wheel of time Audio

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)
Robert Jordan , George R. R. Martin , and Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Audio Renaissance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1593976062
Release Date: 2005-03-10

Book Description

The fifth audio volume of the Wheel of Time series is now available in unabridged format on CDIn this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Shadow Rising, Robert Jordan again plunges us into his extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world:....Into the forbidden city of Rhuidean, where Rand al'Thor, now the Dragon Reborn, must conceal his present endeavor from all about him, even Egwene and Moiraine.....Into the Amyrlin's study in the White Tower, where Amyrlin, Flaida do Avriny a 'Roihan, is weaving new plans.....Into the luxurious hidden chamber where the Forsaken Rahvin is meeting with three of his fellows to ensure their ultimate victory over the Dragon.....Into the Queen's court in Caemlyn, where Morgase is curiously in thrall to the handsome Lord Gaebril.For once the Dragon walks the land, the fires of Heaven fall where they will, until all men's lives are ablaze. And in Shayol Ghul, the Dark One stirs....

Customer Reviews:

Read it to continue the story, but don't expect much.......2007-09-08

It took me a long time to read this book because the story was not very interesting for large spans of the book, and I really dislike the character Nynaeve.

Spoiler Alert Below:
However, the one thing that I really, really resent about the book was Jordan's very poor choices in presenting the story. There were basically three climatic events in the story: Rand chasing down Couladin and the Shaido clan, Nynaeve and Elayne finding the Aes Sedai hideout, and Rand destroying some Forsaken. We spend hundred of pages following Rand's trek out of the wasteland in pursuit of the Shaido. I am looking forward to a big battle with Couladin. HOWEVER, once we finally reach the confrontation with Couladin, it is presented from a Mat's reflection on the events. OMG! All of that time spent building it up, and it is basically blown off in a few sentences and barely described in those - like it did not really even matter. The same thing happened at the other two climatic events: they were built up and basically blown off.
This book is nothing more than a filler in the series. I will continue with book 6, but I am not beginning it with enthusiasm like I did book 5.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

This fifth Wheel of Time book goes a bit more widescreen.

Mat, now being the general to beat all generals with his Bene Gesserit-general-specific type memory knowledge, is an obvious choice when you have a fairly heavy duty war to be fought.

The only problem is, there is likely to be more than one, and in different places.

Those sneaky Forsaken are still hanging around, too.

A Modern Classic!!!.......2007-07-17

This novel takes everything a step further - another worthy addition to an epic tale.

Mary Sue characters at their worst........2007-06-26

Okay, I like elements of Jordan's books, but this novel jumped the shark for me. Must every one of the main character's have a 'secret power'? No more normal humans, no, Min can predict the future, Egwene can dreamwalk, Nynaive is super powerful (but only when angry), Mat can channel dead Generals, Rands has hordes of nubile women lusting after him, Perrin... I won't even go there about Perrin's super-keen-but-oh-so-silly wolf abilities, which seemed to drop out of the sky. Where are the NORMAL people? I'm all for the super powers *in moderation* but what makes fantasy interesting is the struggles between normal joes and the super powered ones. When Jordan makes every one of his characters super-human the believability goes down the toilet.

Also, Jordan's fantasy race the Aiel seem to be a race of Mary Sues. They can out-fight, out-hunt and out-run normal humans. Their customs are deemed superior they look down their noses at everyone else. The Aiel annoy me to the very core, as Jordan seemed to have created this unbelievable race to serve Jordan's messiah-ish character Rand.

There are some other ick moments in this book for me. Jordan clearly seems to be setting up Rand to become some sort of fantasy Polygamist ala Heinlein. Ick. Also there is a strange element of humiliating powerful women which Heinlein seems to enjoy. Women are often spanked or 'thrashed' and male characters aren't. Also, he creates situations where characters are forced to do humiliating things such as.... The trio of former aes sidai forced to laundry, fetch, and clean for the general as 'punishment.' It seems a bit petty giving the characters lives are in danger.

This was an entertaining novel, but the mary-suism really needs to be dialed down. 3 stars.

Wheel of time Audio.......2007-04-05

I actually was already a big fan of the book series, but these audio versions are extremly well done also, with very good narration and quality. Much better than most audiobooks I have tried in the past. Most importantly they are unabridged, which is very important with a story this complex. I was extremely happy with this product.

Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, Book 10)

Average customer rating:

If you must read it, get it at the library.
Surrounded by Enemies
I want my money back.
Very dissapointed
This book is not all that bad. In fact it's actually quite good.

Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, Book 10)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812571339
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Book Description

In the tenth book of he Wheel of Time from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.At Tar Valon, Egwene al'Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha'man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha'man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One's taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

Customer Reviews:

If you must read it, get it at the library........2007-09-27

Many, many reviewers have already lamented CoT's lack of plot development and bad writing, so I won't beat that horse. I started this series when I was a young teenager, and I loved the first few books. They were engaging, things happened, and it was a satisfying reading experience.

I'm past thirty now. My tastes have changed, but I still hold dear the fantasy genre even though I'm now well past the target demographic of pimply, slightly overweight gamers pulling all-nighters hopped up on soda and cheap pizza. My advice to those young elven rangers and giant-killing dwarves out there is to save your money on this series. Get the Wheel of Time series at your local library and buy different books from amazon, books that are worth the money. If we stop buying Jordan's schlock, maybe he (or his editors) will grab a clue, buckle down, and end this increasingly irrelevant tale.

Surrounded by Enemies.......2007-09-12

Robert Jordan's epic continues in this book with ever new plot twists and diabolical evil at every turn. Just when the protagonists seem to be settling in to their final positions for the "last battle" new developments turn everything around 180 degrees. I've been hooked on this series for only the past year - thankfully - no waiting a year for the next novel! As with all the others, this is a densely written adventure. It creates a world and characters with such detail that you are completely drawn in - the ultimate in escapism! After finishing a WOT book, I feel bereft for a few days, wondering how all the characters are getting along - they are real to me! The book would not stand on its own - but as a cog in the wheel (no pun intended) it serves its purpose admirably.

I want my money back........2007-08-29

I was a latecomer to the Wheel of Time. I obviously liked it, because I read ten books. This book felt like an episode of daytime television. Nothing meaningful happened, and I wondered if Jordan really means to keep writing the series until they nail his coffin shut. I actually took the book back to the store and demanded a refund. I have NEVER done that with a book before. I felt like I was being exploited by the author for his own pecuniary gain. Very disappointing. You see, I like Egwene and Rand and especially Perrin and the rest of the Scooby gang. And I want to see the story resolved, but I'm not going to read ten more books that don't do anything to get it. I compare this to say, Robin Hobb, who wrote nine books in the same world and somehow never bored me at all.

Very dissapointed.......2007-07-05

I really had a difficult time finishing this book and think it could have fit into one or two chapters in his next or last book. Leaves you with very little progress in the story and way too much discription of clothing instead of substance. His first few books were very good. Don't waste your money on this one. Hope the next one is better but I am reluctant to even buy it.

SV in TN

This book is not all that bad. In fact it's actually quite good........2007-04-24

I understand what many other reviewers have written, and that is that this book's pace is too slow. While I agree that its pace is slower than most of the other books, I don't see that as a problem. Life is like that, some days are slower than others. At the end of reading this book, I found that I had enjoyed the time spent once again in Mr. Jordan's world. To all of the negative reviewers out there I say, "Let's see you write something better." Probably less than 1% of them have ever had a book published if that many. The reading world can always use more great (and good) books out there, what it doesn't need is a bunch of whinners.

Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time, Book 6)

Average customer rating:

RIP Jordan
Not Free SF Reader
I've had all I can stand...
Spinning the Wheel of Time
3.5 stars and downhill from here: be forewarned

Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time, Book 6)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812513754

Book Description

In this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Fires of Heaven, we plunge again into Robert Jordan's extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world:On the slopes of Shayol Ghul, the Myrddraal swords are forged, and the sky is not the sky of this world;In Salidar the White Tower in exile prepares an embassy to Caemlyn, where Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, holds the throne--and where an unexpected visitor may change the world....In Emond's Field, Perrin Goldeneyes, Lord of the Two Rivers, feels the pull of ta'veren to ta'veren and prepares to march....Morgase of Caemlyn finds a most unexpected, and quite unwelcome, ally....And south lies Illian, where Sammael holds sway....

Customer Reviews:

RIP Jordan.......2007-09-17

RIP Robert Jordan aka James Oliver Rigney, Jr. Too bad you couldn't finish the series.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The Dark Lord guy stirs the pot a bit.

Rand also gets fed up with the sexist sorceresses and says, hey, you blokes can do magic too if you can, and establishes his own band of magic wielders with Mazrim Taim to lead them.

The females get upset at this threat to their power, and come after Rand.

Yet another power base, that of the army of religious fanatics also comes more into play.

I've had all I can stand..........2007-07-21

The rampant mary-suism, the perfect (and morally superior) aiel, the spanking the lectures from Rand and the wise ones, and the sister-wives have at last done me in. I liked this series at first because the characters were small town kids setting off on adventures. Suddenly they are all uber-powerful super-teens who boss around people twice their age. They are all beautiful, wise, and eternally youthful of face. Everyone who is anyone is about 20 years old. The 20 year olds can wield weapons like veterans twice their age. The female characters are almost universally 'the most powerful the tower/wise ones' have ever seen. Rand laments the deaths of female chararacters and yet persists in having a female honor guard and three girlfriends. Totally inconsistant with his upbringing. The sister wife thing... Yeek...Total guy fantasy. No self-respecting woman let alone a queen would agree to 'share' her man with two other women... Women don't share very easily I don't care how close they are. There is jealousy and hurt, and lack of equality.

Towards the end of this one I began to loathe Rand's character. He is supercillious and annoying.

1 star.

Spinning the Wheel of Time.......2007-05-25

I continue to enjoy the Wheel of Time series and they do not seem to get boring like other series. I have listened to them all and everyone has an exciting plot with stunning twists. Now if I could make it through them all that would be a challange.

3.5 stars and downhill from here: be forewarned.......2007-04-25

This is book 6 of the 12-book Wheel of Time series (book 12 will be released in 2008 or 2009, depending upon the author's health and ability to write -- he has a serious blood disease). Each of the previous volumes weighed in at 750-900+ pages paperback as do the ones that follow, and this one is also no afternoon read. Worse yet, it changes the pace and focus of the story.

After learning his identity and embracing his destiny, Rand al'Thor the messiah figure and primary character in the story slows down. Instead of seeking to conquer the rest of the continent after his successful campaigns to date, he tries to hold what he has while the nations he has not conquered are thrown into chaos. He does, however, establish the Black Tower -- the yin to the yang of White Tower.

The other villagers who left Rand's hometown with him are the primary foci of this tale as Nynaeve makes tremendous discoveries and Egwene's life changes momentously, setting up the White Tower/Rebel Aes Sedai thread that pervades books 7-11.

Ultimately, however, both changes (focus, pacing) are negative: the story slows from the breakneck adventure of books 1-5 as Robert Jordan sets the stage for the remaining volumes. But those volumes are even slower, longer and less interesting: book 7 introduces yet more plotlines that bog down the story, in book 8 Jordan adds a new capture-and-rescue issue that takes until book 11 to get sorted out with no significant advancement of the overall plotline despite about 500 pages devoted to it. Worse yet, book 10 consists of 800+ pages of day-in-the-life updates on the characters with nearly no plot movement.

The end of Lord of Chaos is explosive and thrilling, fully worthy of the previous entries. But it engenders a false hope that the next volumes would build upon the momentum. They don't. Instead, the series wallows as Jordan concentrates too much on peripheral plotlines, devotes far too little attention to Rand, and increases the cast of characters beyond belief. Book 11 starts setting up the end-game, but it's a lot to ask for a clean and complete ending to this series in book 12.

The Shadow Rising: Book Four of 'The Wheel of Time' (Wheel of Time)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
One of the Best of the Series
Love the series
a good read
Love the books, love the reader on cds.

The Shadow Rising: Book Four of 'The Wheel of Time' (Wheel of Time)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Audio Renaissance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 159397535X
Release Date: 2004-10-21

Book Description

The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out in The Shadow Rising, book four of the Wheel of Time, as The Shadow is rising to cover humankind. In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve. Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn....

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Rand is now super scary guy. Generally, a woman named Selene is going to be super scary girl. In this case, yep. She is one of the Forsaken. Whines quite a bit less than the rest of the women they have to put up with in this story, too.

Perrin and Faile go back home to beastie's town, and the Aes Sedai politics get violent.

One of the Best of the Series.......2007-07-22

This book is one of Robert Jordan's crowning achievements. This is the best book of the series and one of the most important. My favorite character is Perrin and in this book he gives a lot of coverage for Perrin. It is one of the most important because this book has where Perrin becomes a lord and Rand becomes He Who Comes With the Dawn. This has to be the most funny of any of the books (if they can be called funny) because of the Faile-Perrin interactions. (Dry humor maybe). I have read this book ten+ times and every time I get something new out of it. If you are willing to read a longer book this may become one of your favorites. Though I do admit that the parts when the women are in Tanchico are some of the most boring parts in the entire series and I am guilty of skipping over them. If you like Perrin, Rand, Faile, Avienda, Egwene, or Mat, then this is a great book for you.

Love the series.......2007-07-19

This is my cup of tea! I listened to the audio version and am delighted to finally have the book. My imagination is smiling!

a good read.......2007-06-13

I am working to read the entire series. These are well written books that are a joy to read. It does help to read them in order. I have read several of the series and they are all great. The writing is really good and the style remains the same through out the series.

Love the books, love the reader on cds. .......2007-05-27

Have read every book of Robert Jordan's and one by one am collecting the audio cds. So far all the books are read by the same person and it is an easy voice to listen to.

A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, Book 7)

Average customer rating:

Better then reading the book
Not Free SF Reader
The best WoT book since the first one
Great Series
Will this ever end....?

A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, Book 7)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812550285

Amazon.com

Robert Jordan has created a rich and intricate tapestry of characters in his Wheel of Time series. In this seventh volume, Rand al'Thor--the Dragon Reborn--draws ever closer to the Last Battle as a stifling heat grips the world.

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

Customer Reviews:

Better then reading the book.......2007-09-10

I really enjoy RJ's work, but I, like many others wonder why he needs to repeat himself over and over. Or give us every single detail about even things that are not all that important. Myself, I really hope that there is only one book left and that RJ finishes it soon. And I pray that Kate Reading and Michael Kramer are still doing the unabridged audio CDs then too.

Both Kate Reading and Michael Ramer, the narrators in this book on CD do a wonderful job. Both do a brilliant job of instilling life into the words written by Jordan that you don't actually mind too much when things repeated needlessly by the author. Each narrator's voice add rich dimension to each character so that you can keep track with ease who is saying what while retaining the intended point of view in the written text.

The plot, as many other's have already reviewed doesn't move very fast in some sections and in the head, you are left wondering, why wasn't book 6 and 7 just made into one book and some of the needless stuff left out. We have enough character and plots/sub plots to last for the rest of the books. RJ doesn't need to add in more, but he does (Not only in this book but in the coming books).

Some things I liked:
Matt being chased by a queen of things as a play-toy
Nynaeve getting over her block
Lan's return to Nynaeve
Nynaeve and Lan's marriage - through really I would have liked to have more details about what happened during the actual `wedding' aboard the seafolk ship and what vows made/etc.

Some things I didn't like:
Faile's temper and how Perrin reacts with this slow wittedness that borders on stupid at times. Yes, yes, big strong guy, doesn't like to hurt people, likes to think things out. Joy to you, but when is he going to learn that his wife wants him to have a bit of a temper around her. Show her, who's boss, etc. Get a little rough with her, she won't break.

Elayne and Nynaeve's childish behaviors. Infact all the women seem to have this, almost foolish notation that they are always right even when it's proven they are not. Nynaeve was head of the women's circle back home. Elayne is supposed to be the daughter hair. These women are not children. Both should have learned, if not before the books started, then by now that everyone makes mistakes and that when you do the best thing to do is make amends and get on with life.

Anything with Shaido(spelling) these people are annoying and really don't seem to be doing anything with the over all plot. If RJ plans to make these the group that survice the last battle, I'm going to be really annoyed. Many of the Aes Sedai are the same way, why the heck are we bothering with all these subplots that don't seem to do anything at all.

And I'm starting to get annoyed without knowing certain things that would be good to know while being subjected to meaningless details about what people are wearing when we won't be seeing them again or if we do they are wearing something else that we get to hear about again.

With the books on CD, all those little details that can be really annoying while reading are far more tolerable. Names and places are easier to keep track of, at least for me. Pop in the CD, listen while you drive, workout, or doing yard work without all that worry about.. "is this the same person from earlier, darn I can't remember how her/his name was spelled"

I have all but book 8 and 9 on CD and prefer this media for enjoying RJ's work above any other. When I can find 8 and 9 I'll buy those as well. I strongly recommend listening to all the UNABRIDGED books on CD vs reading them

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Rand has to fight a Forsaken he has fought before, who, in good supervillain fashion, just won't stay down.

A quest is also required to do something about the nasty weather that the evil Dark Lord has chosen to inflict upon them.

Aes Sedai politics continues to be a pain in the arse for a lot of people.

The best WoT book since the first one.......2007-03-13

The Wheel of Time series is doubtless epic in its proportions. In this volume (Book 7), our main characters are split into three basic storylines: 1. Mat, Nynaeve, and Elayne search for the magical artifact that can control the weather; 2. Rand, with the help of Perrin, reasserts himself as leader in Caemlyn and Carhein while plotting the death of the Forsaken Sammael; 3. Egwene, newly raised as leader of the rebel Aes Sedai, navigates the politics of her position. A dedicated reader of the series would cynically point out that this plot summary is, in fact, identical to that of Book 6. Fortunately for readers of Book 7, the problem lies with Book 6 - the slowest moving book of the series and one of the most painful to read. By comparison, Book 7 is a svelte 850 pages, and has more action and resolutions than Books 5 and 6 combined.

To be blunt, Book 7 is the story that Book 6 should have been. In fact, it starts with a retelling of the climactic battle of Book 6, told from the point of view of one group of Baddies, the Shaido. Rand then has to repair the damage done by this battle and by his kidnapping - damage to his reputation and to his authority (a new queen has herself crowned in his absence). Jordan then deftly interweaves multiple storylines, and we finally get some resolutions that we've been waiting for since the beginning of Book 6. Naturally, new complications are added, and some new characters, including a wise old Aes Sedai long thought to be dead (who tries to take Rand under her wing). The Seanchan make an apocalyptic return, and the strange behaviour of the Sea Folk is dealt with. We get to see into the minds of some of the Bad Guys as well, including chapters dedicated to Galina (the Aes Sedai leading the kidnapping of Rand), Moghedien (after her escape), and Alviarin and Elaida in Tar Valon.

Naturally there are some complaints, as there would have to be with a book this long and a plot this complex. Even I, who have read all the previous books recently (in the past year), find that I'm losing track of people and events. The standard complaint of pacing comes up in several Amazon reviews, but I find this book moves along at a good clip with lots of action. There is still the problem of some characters acting in ways that are obviously against their self-interest (Elayne and Nynaeve are particularly annoying). But all-in-all, this is the best book since the very first one. Sure, these plotlines should all have been ersolved in Book 6 instead, but that's a criticism for the previous book.

Great Series.......2007-02-07

I can't wait for the next book to come out. I wish this series would move faster though.

Will this ever end....?.......2006-12-22

I admit that I'm addicted - despite the s.l.o.w. progress, constant female bickering, and frequent fashion details. I want to see how this dang series ends...will it?

This particular installment of the Dragon et. al. left me feeling underwhelmed. The ending was a disappointment, but I'll press on and order book 8.

Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Get on with it man.
winter's heart warms up
Fluff
Robert Jordan Great yet again

Winter's Heart (The Wheel of Time, Book 9)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 081257558X

Amazon.com

Is Robert Jordan still doing the Light's work? Even loyal fans have to wonder. (And if you're not a fan yet, you'll have to read the previous 6,789 pages in this bestselling series to understand what all the fuss is about.)

Everyone's in agreement on the Wheel of Time's first four or five volumes: They're topnotch, where-have-you-been-all-my-life epic fantasy, the best in anybody's memory at the time since The Lord of the Rings. But a funny thing happened on the way to Tarmon Gai'don, and many of those raves have become rants or (worse) yawns. Jordan long ago proved himself a master at world-building, with fascinating characters, a positively delicious backstory, and enough plot and politics to choke a Trolloc, but that same strength has become a liability. How do you criticize what he's doing now? You want more momentum and direction in the central plot line, but it's the secondary stories that have made the world so rich. And as in the last couple of books, (A Crown of Swords and The Path of Daggers), Jordan doesn't really succeed at pursuing either adequately, leaving a lot of heavily invested readers frustrated.

Winter's Heart at least shows some improvement, but it's still not The Eye of the World. Elayne's still waiting to take the crown of Andor; the noticeably absent Egwene is still waiting to go after the White Tower; Perrin gets ready to pursue the Shaido but then disappears for the rest of the book. About the only excitement comes with the long-awaited return of Mat Cauthon and a thankfully rock 'em, sock 'em finale in which Rand finally, finally changes the balance of power in his fight against the Dark One. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Don't care any more after two dull books in a row. Perrin has to find his kidnapped wife, Mat actually does a bit of potential wife kidnapping.

Rand gets vengeful on traitorous elements among his magic dudes.

The Aes Sedai continue to bicker, like, well, violent sorceresses.

Sound familiar? Sounds long and drawn out and badly in need of editing, basically.

Get on with it man........2007-04-13

Robert, dude, you loosing steam in this series. I could live with the first five volumes and then its just starting to drag out endlessly. I will still have to read through to Book 11, but it's starting to kill me.

winter's heart warms up.......2007-03-20

this is a good book that I read awhile ago...I just purchased for my son...the book was in perfect condition...

Fluff.......2007-03-01

This book is garbage. Filler to make money. A travesty. All the others were awesome to OK. But, let's face it - Get on with it! I'm not really interested in +++pages of Matt traveling with the circus, or Elayne's torment becoming Queen, or Egwene's mishaps with other Aes Sedai. I want some ACTION. What's going on in the AshAman (sp?)'s heads- I mean, how cool would that be since the Taint is gone? I'm sick of this. But I'll still read the rest, who knows how much time I've already spent. SURELY IT MUST BE OVER SOON. Not even Tolkien could go on this long. Wrap it up!

Robert Jordan Great yet again.......2007-02-22

Another sequel to the wheel of time that is a success.
I loved it

The Path of Daggers (The Wheel of Time, Book 8)

Average customer rating:

Sexy stuff
Not Free SF Reader
The Path of Daggers: Book 8 of the Wheel of Time
Another well-written book that goes nowhere
Tired of...

The Path of Daggers (The Wheel of Time, Book 8)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812550293

Amazon.com

Robert Jordan's bestselling Wheel of Time epic is one of the most popular fantasy series of all time for a reason. Jordan's world is rich and complex, and he's assembled an endearing, involving core of characters while mapping out an ambitious and engaging story arc.

But with the previous book, Crown of Swords, and now with Path of Daggers, the series is in a bit of a holding pattern. Path continues the halting gait of the current plot line: Rand is still on the brink of losing it, all the while juggling the political machinations around him and again taking to the field against the Seanchan. The rest of the Two Rivers kids and company don't seem to be moving much faster. Egwene continues to slowly consolidate her hold as the "true" Amyrlin (finally getting closer to Tar Valon and the inevitable confrontation with Elaida), and Nynaeve and Elayne keep on wandering toward the Lion Throne, again on the run from the Seanchan. Mat Cauthon is barely mentioned, and fellow ta'veren Perrin keeps busy with politics in Ghealdan. The ending does provide promise, though, that book nine might match the pace and passion of the previous books.

If you're already hooked, you could sooner overcome a weave of Compulsion than avoid picking up a copy of Path of Daggers. But if you're new to the series, start at the beginning with the engrossing, much-better-paced Eye of the World. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

Customer Reviews:

Sexy stuff.......2007-10-09

This book was on par with the other books. Look, in a story as long and complex as this one, it would get pretty predictable if every book ended with a huge battle with Rand gaining another victory. This book shows progression in undercurrents, the very important undercurrents, and it's ENTERTAINING. Yes, this book is NOT boring, things ARE happening.

I guess if I had been waiting for 2 years for the next great thing, then it would have been disappointing, but this book is necessary and it's definitely worth reading. The absence of Mat's storyline is obviously because he had so much other stuff to deal with, and obviously chose to do tackle that in the next book.

Well, I haven't read the next book yet but I'm sure it'll parallel this book a bit. Jordan is simply too detailed to progress everything in one volume. That's my theory and I'm stick'n to it... for now.

You know, there should be a separate rating for stories that take more one book, a cumulative rating. Or maybe show an average rating taken from the individual book ratings. Because there isn't, I give this 5 stars because I think as far as this book within the context of the story, the story is still worth 5 stars. If this book had to be taken as a complete book, I'd be like omfg this is the worst book ever, so you really should consider that it is a part of a whole... and so far the whole is still rock'n. And yes, it will be whole, have faith that the final book will be published and that RJ's dying work will have been worth the wait! Ok, on to book 9...

Oh yeah, sexy stuff... umm, as usual there is some sex insinuated, but if you want some good sex scenes in this type of work, you'll need to read "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin... yowza. Also, a lot fewer, if any, "had had" can be found with GRRM. I was just filling in time for GRRM's next book when I started WoT. Anyway, WoT is good, ASOIAF is very good, so far. But you never know, ASOIAF may take a nose dive, but I doubt it, seems pretty well thought out, massive but organized, and detailed but not superfluously so. Ya know? If not, go find out, it rocks!

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The chicks are doing the more interesting thing here, using the ter'angreal to do their own version of a weather control machine, or at least a weather fixing machine.

Rand is involved in yet another large armed conflict, and gets a bit crazy, which ain't good if you were a soldier there, on either side.

Easily the worst of these books so far, and a lot of pointlessness.

The Path of Daggers: Book 8 of the Wheel of Time.......2007-06-11

I've loved every book in this series by Robert Jordan! Interesting characters, interesting land, interesting action.

Another well-written book that goes nowhere.......2007-06-08

I can understand the frustration and the cynicism underlying many of the reviews of this book. I share most of them myself. Robert Jordan has created an immense (!) world and so many characters it's impossible to keep track of them all. Thank goodness for the chapter-by-chapter summaries supplied by the writers of the Wikipedia entries, or I'd be hopelessly lost most of the time. However, there is a lot of good writing in this book - the characters are far less irritating than in previous outings, and their interactions are far more interesting. Unfortunately, in terms of plot, this book goes absolutely nowhere.

It reminds me of Book 6 (Lord of Chaos), previously my least favourite book in the series. I get the feeling from reading this book that Jordan is using the book to set up the next one - there are tons of things that are moving forward, and everyone always seems to be "on the verge" of doing something, but then he jumps to another storyline. Thus: Rand has defeated the forsaken Sammael and has conquered Illian. He now turns his sights on the Seanchan, who have invaded several southwestern nations. Egwene solidifies her position as leader of the rebel Aes Sedai and heads to attack Tar Valon. Elaine finally (!) arrives in Andor to stake her claim to the throne of that country. Perrin goes after The Prophet for Rand. Unfortuantely, not a single one of these stories is brought to a conclusion. However, the most annoying part of it all is the continued splintering of groups to such a huge degree that it's impossible to keep track of them all! For example, there are now the following groups of Aes Sedai: Those left in Tar Valon loyal to Elaida, those in Tar Valon working for the rebels, the rebels with Egwene, the rebels with Nynaeve and Elaine, the expelled Aes Sedai "knitting circle" (also with Nynaeve), the kidnappers Rand captured, the rebel emmisaries with Rand, the independent Aes Sedai with Rand, those with Perrin, those that belong to the Black Ajah, etc. That's not even counting the various groups of Windfinders and Wise Ones who can also channel. No wonder nothing happens - if Jordan were to spend just 5 pages on each of the groups he's created, the book would probably be 1000 pages long.

The frustration is perfectly exemplified by the Prologue in this book, in which he introduces YET ANOTHER army/group, marching toward Rand's territories. He spends 10 pages on them in the prologue and then they are never heard from again in the rest of the book! ARGH!

All these complaints notwithstanding, the book actually reads quite well, and is not as confusing as some would lead you to believe. It's just unfortunate that Jordan appears dedicated to milking this series for all it's worth, knowing we poor suckers will keep buying the books. After all - if you're reading this review, you've probably already decided to read the book, right? As Homer Simpson says, "How can you go this far and not go farther?"

Tired of..........2006-10-28

This series (up to book 4/5) was one of my favorites. There were little things that bugged me, but I considered it to be a masterpiece.

A coupld of things have caused me to completely give up on this series after this book.

* Detail is great and all, but please make something happen. There are very few books that I haven't finished, but I was close with this one due to the lack of real events furthuring the story.

* ENOUGH with the 'Men are stupid, tug on my braids' mentality! RJ likes to infuse his charecters with the inability to understand the opposite gender. When will they learn what most mature adults learn? If I didn't know better I'd say that RJ is a feminist man-hater.

I could overlook these annoyances when the rest of the story was fantastic, but that just isn't the case with this book.

New Spring: Limited Edition - Leather Bound (Wheel of Time)

Average customer rating:

Enough Already!
Amazing as Always
new spring
Left Hanging
The New Spring

New Spring: Limited Edition - Leather Bound (Wheel of Time)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

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ASIN: 0765309262

Book Description

rom America's premier fantasy writer-the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Crossroads of Twilight-comes New Spring: The Novel. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time has captured the imagination of millions of readers who eagerly await each new volume of the saga. Now, Jordan gives us a glimpse of the events leading up to the first book of the Wheel of Time. New Spring: The Novel is a perfect introduction to the Wheel of Time. For three days, battle has raged in the snow around the great city of Tar Valon. In the city, a Foretelling of the future is uttered. On the slopes of Dragonmount, the immense mountain that looms over the city, is born an infant prophesied to change the world. That child must be found before the forces of the Shadow have an opportunity to kill him. Moiraine Damodred, a young Accepted soon to be raised to Aes Sedai, and Lan Mandragoran, a young soldier fighting in the battle, are set on paths that will bind their lives together. But those paths are filled with complications and dangers, for Moiraine, of the Royal House of Cairhien, whose King has just died, and Lan, considered the uncrowned king of a nation long dead, find their lives threatened by the plots of those seeking power. 'New Spring,' the novella first published in Legends, related some of these events, in compressed form. New Spring: The Novel tells the whole story. Robert Jordan is a graduate of The Citadel. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Customer Reviews:

Enough Already!.......2007-09-02

I started reading the first book in this endless series while sitting in the back of an idling Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle waiting for a hole to be blown in the wire and minefield in front of us so we could advance into Iraq to take on Saddams Republican Guard. I was engrossed by this excellent tale and its characters and hoped that I would survive the coming battles to be able to follow the story to what I believed would be an equally enjoyable and riveting end.
Needless to say I survived the battles just fine but I am not so sure I will live to see the end of this story nor want to! I read the next five or so novels out of the desire to recapture that sense of wonder of such an excellent story and to bring a close to my promise to follow this story to its end. The rest of the mediocre stories with their endless detail of grumpy women and their sense of fashion were a painful tribute to my younger selfs desire to see this to the end. I must say I will most likely wait to read each of the remaining novels in this sad end to a great beginning by speed reading them after I check it out of the local library.
I do not have much hope that Jordan can resuce this story but he owes it to those of us loyal or foolish enough to have continued to read them.

End it!

Amazing as Always.......2007-08-23

Another fantastic entry in the Wheel of Time Series. Probably not the best starting point for anyone looking to begin the series, it is difficult to understand much of the goings-on without at least some background. However, the Wheel of Time is the best fantasy series ever written in my humble opinion, and I could not possibly tell anyone not to buy this book.

new spring.......2007-08-10

I suggest TOR changes the title of the series from "Wheel of Time" into "Waste of Time". I accept that in verry long series such as this, the people do not change much in their behaviour (My father still plucks his beard and I have a photograph from when I was 15 years old where I sit and chew my finger just as I do now at age 48) but that doesn't mean RJ has to descibe it all in boring detail.
A consise version of the series including this book would be bulky enough but verry usefull.
New Spring does add something; but not for me. It only adds to the revenues.
I stopped buying the books after book 8. If I jump from there to the last book (when will that be???) I doubt I missed much except a lot of straightening dresses etc etc.

No, I suspect RJ had this lying around and hoped to placate the reader and turn the library-reader into a buyer.
I am not placated and will not buy.

Left Hanging.......2007-07-26

I started reading this series years ago, waiting patiently for the next chapters to begin. But to have it basically stop, left hanging after reading all of those novels feels like a great waste of my time. I read a book expecting a beginning, middle and an ending. This series leaves you wondering what you spent all those years reading and waiting for. I don't want to read how things started, I want to see how the final battle ends, what happens to Rand and the rest of them. Its annoying to be left without a finish.

The New Spring.......2007-05-31

Well what can I say about his book but fantasy perfection. It's a great book for new readers and veterans like myself.The book has all the ingrediants, suspence, intrigue, horror, and plenty of twists and and character develpment. I read this book in one sitting and cannot wait for book2# and book3# were we really get to know the whys and wherefore's of there search for the DRAGON REBORN.
Trust me this is a fantastic read and books 1 to 11 of the wheel of time just get better the more you read them. Just total escapisum from the real world, where your imagination can really let go. Paul (Belfast/UK)

The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Really enjoyed
JmeascsKeinnon
Entertaining with some jarring moments
Good, bloated fantasy

The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0812517725

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. For centuries, gleemen have told of The Great Hunt of the Horn. Now the Horn itself is found: the Horn of Valere long thought only legend, the Horn which will raise the dead heroes of the ages.And it is stolen.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A couple of threads to this book. The party involved in going after the magical Horn of Valere, which the bad guys have nicked.

The females have to go and deal with the serpentine and savage politics of the sorceress types of the Aes Sedai, at their base, win the argument there, and stay alive.

Rand, by the end, is definitely not your rural village kid anymore.

Really enjoyed.......2007-07-29

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first type of fantasy books i have ever read and i really like it. This series was recommended to me by a friend and absolutely love it! Was very hard to put down.

JmeascsKeinnon.......2007-06-18

THis book is just great. The horn of Valere is stolen from fal Dara by Myrrdraal and something else...something even more powerful than a myrddraal, more deadly, more dangerous. Together, Rand, Lord Agelmar, Loial, and a handful of soldiers go to retrieve the horn. Rand meets Selene, a mysterious woman who appears to them in a world that could only be reached by one touching the One Power. however, she says she isn't Aes Sedai, and shows as much contempt for those so-called "Tar Valon witches" as for the Dark One himself. So who is she? I'll let you figure that out for yourselves. While Rand is busy meeting her, Egwene and Nynaeve set out for the White Tower, meeting Elayne and Min, minor characters in the Eye of the World. Their adventures lead them to a people more wicked then they had every dreamed possible; and also the discovery that the Black Ajah really exists.

However, the Wheel of Time also has its faults, like every book published.

Here are a few that i find particularly annoying.

. Characters can hardly think a sentence with out adding a, "Light!" or a, "Burn me/her!" or a, "Blood and ashes!",occasionaly a "Blood and Bloody ashes." At first i just found it amusing, but as the series progress these phrases start to appear at least once on every single page. Yes, annoying, repetetive, irritating...you get the point.

. Men, especially, Rand, are such fools. Are they always falling for woman merely because she looks good? It seems so. Rand moons after selene because, well, "Light, but she's beautiful." Sames for Egwene to Galad, "Light, he's so beautiful." Ugh! it's enough to drive one crazy, the way R. J makes such a point of this. Oh, well, the books already published, though.

Now, since i went through the negatives, i'd better do the credits, too. As follows...

. Cliff hanger on almost every chapter.

. New magical things, surprising and creative.

The Wheel of Time is a series worth its weight in gold. To read one book is like entering a whole new world, filled with prophesy, adventure, and plenty of magic; to read the next is like to live in that world, experience it for oneself. Robert Jordan is an exceptional and extraordinary writer; I highly recommend his books to anyone willing to get addicted to series.

Entertaining with some jarring moments.......2007-04-13

I found this version to be well done. The readers were dynamic, and seldom boring in tone. My one big issue with the presentation is the change on certain chapters to a different reader. Each of the two readers remain consistant in their seperate chapters with the pronuonciation of characters names and the names of places. However, the readers are not consistant with each other. This makes for some confusing moments as you try to figure out that a character is talking about the same thing/person/place that was being talked about just a chapter before. Someone who has read the series in paperback will have less of an issue, but I could see more problems for someone who is just being introduced to this book.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this audiobook. I have read all of Jordan's Wheel of Time series available, and this is an excellent presentation of his work in The Great Hunt. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good audiobook.

Good, bloated fantasy.......2007-03-30

The Great Hunt continues the saga of Rand al'Thor and his teen cronies as they search for the 'horn of valere' a mythic relic reputed to bring dead heroes back to life. Along the way, the group gets split up, several new characters are added, and revelations about Rand and his role in the upcoming battle unfolds.

I liked the Great Hunt more than the Wheel of time. The characters are slightly better written, more mature, and I liked the Seanchan. I also liked fewer dream sequences than the first and fewer appearances from the "I'm so eeeeeeevilll..." villain, Shai'tan.

Negatives: I admit I found Rand a bit tedious, though. Must every female character find him hot? Perhaps a bit of Mary-Suism there. The parts with the wookie-like Loial just held no interest for me. Also the Ais Sidai are quite stereotyped: all browns are nerdy introspective people, all reds are man-hating women, all greens idealistic.. A little too cliche for my tastes. Also, I fail to see the attraction as to why so many otherwise normal intelligent people would choose to be dark friends. The author fails to show what enticements/rewards the 'dark lord' offers for the service. Instead we see darkfriends hurt humiliated and abused. I ended up feeling sorry for most of them, which is not, I think what the author intended. Also, I think Paddon Faine has run his course, at least for this reader.

4 stars. Good. Could still use some editing and a few less characters.

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