Crossroads of Twilight

"We rode on the winds of the rising storm, We ran to the sounds of the thunder. We danced among the lightning bolts, and tore the world asunder."

Crossroads of twilight

Original cover art by Darrell K. Sweet
eBook artwork by Greg Ruth (Tor.com feature)

Overview

Crossroads of Twilight is the tenth book of The Wheel of Time series written by Robert Jordan. It was first published by Tor Books and released on January 7, 2003.

The tenth novel in Robert Jordan's epic tale is a haunting entry that foreshadows a dark and unexpected ending to the series.

Synopsis

Mat has fled Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, leaving fire and destruction in his wake. The Atha’an Miere Windfinders he freed beat a path out to sea for their people, using all the destructive knowledge the Seanchan had trained them in. The Great Escape, it is being called, yet Mat sits and frets over the many blackened bodies pulled out of the harbor, dead for his actions.

Perrin’s hunt for Faile continues, but as it does he struggles with the dark obsession growing within his heart. All other matters chafe at him with their unimportance, and even the fact that the dead have begun to walk is merely an irritant to him. Yet when proof of Masema’s double-dealing is brought to him, he begins to perceive a plan for freeing his wife.

Elayne continues to work toward gaining the Lion Throne, but Arymilla’s siege puts all in doubt. Where Arymilla has gathered all her men at arms, House Trakand’s is spread across miles of land. The old adage that she who holds Caemlyn holds Andor may not be true for Elayne, but should Arymilla take Caemlyn from Elayne, it would likely cement her rule.

Egwene lays siege upon the Tower, yet the Aes Sedai have grown skittish. The insane beacon of the One Power felt a week prior puts fears in the hearts of every sister. If such power was turned against them, then not even their strongest circles could survive it. Desperate plans are suggested, contingencies that they pray will make them strong enough to survive are laid down. And around it all a murderer wielding saidin walks the camp, slaying Aes Sedai with impunity.

Whilst Egwene prepares for her final gambit against the Tower, Rand recuperates from the events at Shadar Logoth, and begins to lay his next plans. There must be peace with the Seanchan if there is to be any hope of winning Tarmon Gai’don. But when the Seanchan agree to a meeting, could it be too good to be true?

Full Book Summary | Chapter Recaps

Fun Facts

Like Winter's Heart, the eBook prologue "Glimmers of the Pattern" was released before the publication of the novel itself. Its bonus content contained a written interview with Robert Jordan. The questions from that interview were submitted by visitors from Dragonmount.com and the now-defunct wotmania.com.