My review

[JenniferL]

Are there any new chapter icons?

 

Yes, but I can't describe them because my copy just said "Snake Wheel Icon Here". But there are new chapter icons.

[JenniferL]

Well, Beloved Leader, I see you decided against my offer of me ghost-writing it for you. OK, non-spoiler questions... Can I still borrow your copy? Will you be wanting your husband back? Is there any braid-tugging? Skirt smoothing? I would hate to think they were going through the whole book with unsmoothed skirts.

 

“Stop being such a tool, [NameofCharacter]!”

Does this characters name begin with a G? And end with an awyn?

 

My opinion on who the biggest tool in the series is well known. That's as much as I'll say. =)

[JenniferL]

Which BOOKSTore??? Send me a PM plz!

You believed that? Dutch bookstores don't have many books in English and they rarely have more than 4 WoT books. Do you seriously think he was serious when he said he bought it?

 

There are some stores that aren't aware of the release date and may be selling copies early. If you look, you can probably find a copy. It happens every time a book is released. If you do find a copy early, please keep spoilers to the spoiler only board. Thanks.

[ajfurst]

A question on what's resolved, without telling us what's resolved.  ;D

I've seen non-spoiler comments from someone over at Westeros.org that is less then flattering of the book. That seems to have a completely different take then the other reviews so far, regarding pacing and what happens.

 

The one that really caught my eye though was complaining that although things got done, large parts of the book were dealing with secondary plotlines and it didn't feel much closer to Tarmon Gai'don at the end then the beginning. Now of course everyone has their own opinion on what's secondary - he may consider everything outside of Rand preparing to head to Shayol Ghul secondary. Would you consider what's resolved secondary? Are any of the major outstanding issues (as I see them) like uniting the tower, a truce with the seanchan, at least two of Mat, Perrin and Rand at least making contact, the black tower split, the BA dealt with, etc. resolved? I DON'T want to know which if any, just if any are. If a yes/no is too spoilerish for a response, I'll be happy with it as a message to me.

[JenniferL]

A question on what's resolved, without telling us what's resolved.  ;D

I've seen non-spoiler comments from someone over at Westeros.org that is less then flattering of the book. That seems to have a completely different take then the other reviews so far, regarding pacing and what happens.

 

The one that really caught my eye though was complaining that although things got done, large parts of the book were dealing with secondary plotlines and it didn't feel much closer to Tarmon Gai'don at the end then the beginning. Now of course everyone has their own opinion on what's secondary - he may consider everything outside of Rand preparing to head to Shayol Ghul secondary. Would you consider what's resolved secondary? Are any of the major outstanding issues (as I see them) like uniting the tower, a truce with the seanchan, at least two of Mat, Perrin and Rand at least making contact, the black tower split, the BA dealt with, etc. resolved? I DON'T want to know which if any, just if any are. If a yes/no is too spoilerish for a response, I'll be happy with it as a message to me.

 

I can't answer specifically without spoilers. But I will say that what's considered a major or minor plotline can be fairly subjective. In my opinion, there's one major plotline resolved and several smaller ones as well. And a major plot arc is advanced, but perhaps not as much as you'd wish. I'm perfectly content to wait for that resolution though.

[Vaerraent]

Well, personally I'd consider the climaxes of KoD and WH - off the top of my head - to be truly 'major' plotline movements, and whenever Randland and/or one of the main characters are changed significantly in some way. Is there a significant change like this in the books?

[JenniferL]

Yes, characters experience major changes.

[ajfurst]

A question on what's resolved, without telling us what's resolved.  ;D

I've seen non-spoiler comments from someone over at Westeros.org that is less then flattering of the book. That seems to have a completely different take then the other reviews so far, regarding pacing and what happens.

 

The one that really caught my eye though was complaining that although things got done, large parts of the book were dealing with secondary plotlines and it didn't feel much closer to Tarmon Gai'don at the end then the beginning. Now of course everyone has their own opinion on what's secondary - he may consider everything outside of Rand preparing to head to Shayol Ghul secondary. Would you consider what's resolved secondary? Are any of the major outstanding issues (as I see them) like uniting the tower, a truce with the seanchan, at least two of Mat, Perrin and Rand at least making contact, the black tower split, the BA dealt with, etc. resolved? I DON'T want to know which if any, just if any are. If a yes/no is too spoilerish for a response, I'll be happy with it as a message to me.

 

I can't answer specifically without spoilers. But I will say that what's considered a major or minor plotline can be fairly subjective. In my opinion, there's one major plotline resolved and several smaller ones as well. And a major plot arc is advanced, but perhaps not as much as you'd wish. I'm perfectly content to wait for that resolution though.

Excellent, thanks for the answer. With his other main gripe that it doesn't feel closer to Tarmon Gai'don at the end then the beginning of the book, without revealing how, did you personally feel like the Last Battle is closer? Not that obviously there are less books to it, but that the Shadow is not giving the appearance of quiet (even if they are doing a great job with the weather, food etc.) they have in some respects since LOC?

[JenniferL]

Interesting question. I think there's a sense of the Shadow marshaling its forces in this book. Things get pretty bad for the world in general, and the title really fits the book in many ways. I mean, the Light's greatest champion is a suicidally depressed lunatic with phenomenal cosmic powers. That's not awesome, dudes. But I think there is some progress, if not very obviously.

[trench]

Oh to be Kathana, would be glorious.

 

Thanks for the review, it will help me in this last week of waiting. I totally get not being objective about WoT, my brother always tells me i've got blinders on when it comes to this subject (I tell him he's nuts).

 

One question, have you reread it yet?

[JenniferL]

Yeah, I've read it at least twice completely, and bits and pieces here and there, just to savor moments I enjoyed or because I was looking for a specific reference and got side tracked. I find it very re-readable, similar to KoD.

[sheikh chilli]

this book better less of useless sniffing and braid yanking and heavy on action and plot movement. We suffered enough after book 6 and it would take more than KOD to wash the bitterness of recent books

[Luckers]

Yeah, I've read it at least twice completely, and bits and pieces here and there, just to savor moments I enjoyed or because I was looking for a specific reference and got side tracked. I find it very re-readable, similar to KoD.

 

That excited me, because it's what I love most about the books.

[Vaerraent]

this book better less of useless sniffing and braid yanking and heavy on action and plot movement. We suffered enough after book 6 and it would take more than KOD to wash the bitterness of recent books

I have a feeling that Brandon wouldn't do as much of that, that was defo a more RJ thing.

[Theodor89]

What did you think of the cover, now that you have read the book? Does reading the book give it more significance?

[budz17]

just finished reading the book, pretty awesome if you ask me.

 

My girlfriend found the book.  I was pretty stunned when she texted me that she had a copy already because I thought the release was still several days away, but heck, I'm not complaining.

[Bob T Dwarf]

Yeah, I've read it at least twice completely, and bits and pieces here and there, just to savor moments I enjoyed or because I was looking for a specific reference and got side tracked. I find it very re-readable, similar to KoD.

 

Seems to me that that is the best test.  I only hope that we all find it to be re-readable.

[JenniferL]

What did you think of the cover, now that you have read the book? Does reading the book give it more significance?

 

Well, it's still not DKS's best work, but yeah, it's a scene from the book.

[Muad Cheade]

Thanks for the review and answering our questions.

 

I have a question, Kathana. Were any characters showed to be Darkfriends and if they were, were they shocking revelations?

 

And since I'm a guy, I have to ask: were there a lot of fight scenes and battles?

[jemron]

Kathana,

 

I too, have a question/concern.  I read on a blog somewhere that the guy thought TGS was most comporable to WH or CoT.  He said it didn't even compare to KoD.  Now, I first thought, "this guy isn't a real fan, like a lot of us on Dragonmount, so things I think will be AWESOME, he thought were just... meh."

 

Then, I started worrying.  I started thinking, "uh-oh, this is just another 'filler' book, to get us nowhere."

 

So my question, would you put it in line with WH and CoT, or would you compare it more to KoD, or even better, TSR or tFoH?  Or even better, EotW or TGH?

 

I know Jason compared it to books 4-6.

 

Was the pacing closer to those, or was the plot advancement/resolution closer to those?

 

Kind of an all-over-the-place comment, but what are your thoughts?  Without spoilers of course...

[JenniferL]

Thanks for the review and answering our questions.

 

I have a question, Kathana. Were any characters showed to be Darkfriends and if they were, were they shocking revelations?

 

RAFO

 

And since I'm a guy, I have to ask: were there a lot of fight scenes and battles?

 

RAFO

[JenniferL]

Kathana,

 

I too, have a question/concern.  I read on a blog somewhere that the guy thought TGS was most comporable to WH or CoT.  He said it didn't even compare to KoD.  Now, I first thought, "this guy isn't a real fan, like a lot of us on Dragonmount, so things I think will be AWESOME, he thought were just... meh."

 

Then, I started worrying.  I started thinking, "uh-oh, this is just another 'filler' book, to get us nowhere."

 

So my question, would you put it in line with WH and CoT, or would you compare it more to KoD, or even better, TSR or tFoH?  Or even better, EotW or TGH?

 

I know Jason compared it to books 4-6.

 

Was the pacing closer to those, or was the plot advancement/resolution closer to those?

 

Kind of an all-over-the-place comment, but what are your thoughts?  Without spoilers of course...

 

I read Pat's comments as well, and while I understand where he's coming from, I disagree with his overall assessment of the book.  I thought there was quite a bit that happened in this book, with some major plots resolved and some very shocking revelations.  As far as ranking it goes, I've never been able to satisfactorily rank the books in the series. I always feel like I'm leaving out some great, amazing moment, or just a particularly evocative piece of descriptive writing when I try. I enjoyed reading this book as much as I've enjoyed reading any other WoT book. It has at least one scene, likely two that I think are in my top ten favorite moments in the series. 

[Muad Cheade]

Thanks for the review and answering our questions.

 

I have a question, Kathana. Were any characters showed to be Darkfriends and if they were, were they shocking revelations?

 

RAFO

 

And since I'm a guy, I have to ask: were there a lot of fight scenes and battles?

 

RAFO

 

Aww, man...I was hoping I wouldn't get Robert Jordan-ed. Alight. I'll RAFO.

 

Longest 4 days ever.

[ghenjei]

What did you think of the cover, now that you have read the book? Does reading the book give it more significance?

 

Well, it's still not DKS's best work, but yeah, it's a scene from the book.

 

It seems to be the outright worst of his questionable covers.  Why are we saddled with this man? When will the Creator send us aid? When will the Lord of the Morning draw accurate, well-executed and, dare I say, appropo covers for our favorite series?

[JenniferL]

Once the series is complete, Tor will re-release all the books with new covers. There will be one artist for the paperbacks, one for the new hardcovers, one for trade paperbacks, etc. Also, when they start releasing the eBooks this year, each of them will have a new "cover" done by a different artist. But Team Jordan really wants to finish the series using the artist picked by the original author.