Wheel of Time, The by Robert Jordan

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Submitted by KristyKreme 
(May 20, 2006)

Well, I looked up this review site to see if it was just me, or were others having a hard time getting on with the series. I read Book 1 & found it awesome. I loved all the characters, major and minor and the details in landscaping. The only thing that slightly bothered me was the fact that each of these boys were absolutely horrified to discover they had powers that most people didnt have. Frankly, I dont know any boy or man who wouldn't be delighted to be able to talk to wolves, or always win at games of chance. I can understand Rand's feelings, since the only alternatives he saw were death, stilling, or madness, however, once he had the power, he should have just relaxed and enjoyed it! Books 2, 3 & 4 were just as delightful to me, though the immaturity of the characters did become annoying. I am now half way through book 4 (The Fires of Heaven) and I am forcing myself to read. The book is so boring & confusing. There are hundreds of minor characters that the author names, and somehow feels we need to know what they are wearing & how they feel about their outfit, their mood swings, and their haircuts. Blah Blah Blah.

I am going to finish book 4, because Ive never not finished a book, but I dont think I'll continue with the series. Especially after reading the reviews here....it looks like the future in the Wheel of Time is all downhill!

I'm a bookoholic but I'm very picky about my books. Robert Jordan's books just blew my away! I am just so sad that there is only one more book left in the series. I just bought the whole series online(even though I already have them all.) But I wanted signed copies so I got signed copies. These books are a feast for any fantasy lover. Every time you think he couldn't possibly add anymore twists or plots he surprises you by adding more that make you clutch the book closer and hunt for the answers. I couldn't possibly reciemend starting anywere but at the first book (The Eye of the World.) Jordan's writing is clear and his vision is fascinating, as are the philosophies which run his characters. These books were made in the 1990s so you know they are going to be original and very unique. The eleventh book (The Knife of Dreams) has just been released and readers everywhere are hungry for the sure-to-be-exciting conclusion.

A couple of weeks ago I finished Crossroads of Twilight, about 7 months after I started to read Eye of the World. What happened? I wonder. What happened to the big fantasy adventure that started out so good? To tell you the truth: the epic adventure has now turned into some semi-romantic, extremely boring, repetetive soap-opera. There is so much drivel. So much repetetive descriptions (ageless Aes Sedai faces, embrodiered coats, ice-cold looks, spiced wine, smoothing of skirts, bla...bla...bla...). The other problem with WoT is the billion minor characters. I canīt even remember half of them. Usually they are boring officers or boring Aes Sedais. Instead of moving forward with the main story (bringing Rand and his allies to the Last Battle), Jordan keeps adding new characters all the time. I mean, even die-hard Jordan fans must be getting tired by now. I really wanted to like WoT, but now after 10 books and no end in sight, I donīt care anymore. Iīm not paying for another WoT book.

If there was ever a series that resembled a mountain, metaphorically and physically, it is definitely this one. Jordan starts off with the fantastic "Eye of the World" and quickly rises high, reaching a peak in the series with "The Shadow Rising." The next two books, "Rise of Shadows" and "Lord of Chaos" are still worth reading, but the peak slowly starts to decline. Then by "Lord of Chaos" the decline begins. "Winter's Heart" made me question why I wanted to read this series in the first place. At least "Crossroads of Twilight" was no worse than "Winter's Heart," but still I am no longer enthused about the next novel.

It's really unfortunate that a series with such a promising beginning has fallen to such depths. If only Jordan would stop dithering and actually finish the story he wanted to write, people would be a lot happier. When he finally gets around to actually finishing the story, I honestly believe that some decent editing and a lot of cut pages will result in a story worthy of the beginning books. But until then, we're stuck with pages and pages of pointless dialogue. I can only hope his next novel will improve on the series, but I no longer recommend him as an author to anyone.

I have never read a series that is so compelling, I am now on book 5 "The Fires Of Heaven ".Because the story is so long it is as if you really know the characters and feel for them. When Siuan Sanche the Aamyrlin Seat was stilled my heart went out to her,and I was so sad. I know it is only a story but it is so well written that you begin to live with them. One can almost feel the heat in the Aiel Waste,you smell the Trollocs when they are killed. The powers that Rand al'Thor,Mat Cauthon & Perrin ay Bara posses almost makes one feel envious .You feel the love that Perrin
has for Faile,Zarine Bashere.When the Seanchan caught Egwene al'Vere it was another terrifying because you thought some thing really bad might have happened.
How Robert Jordan has written such a long story and kept it so interesting is short of miraculous. The story flows from book to book and it is always continuous and spontaneous, you do not have to reread books to pick up the story. The glossary at the back of the book is very helpful for when a name crops up after being absent for some time. The book is so well written that the small description of the person or event soon fills the missing gaps. The same goes for the map at the beginning it is so helpful to plot the course that they are taking, one feels that if you were to find your self in that land you would certainly know where to go. When I have finished reading all of the books I will certainly not dispose of them because I will reread them again but at a slower and more leisurely pace. I find now that I read so fast because I want to know what is happening quickly.