Hear hear safwd.  I'd say he's doing a  pretty good job for a backwoods guy right out of adolescence.  I find his POV kinda painful to read given all the listing of dead women and Lews Therin being crazy left and right.  But to hate the character? For someone slowly going insane who knows he's destined to die as well as get a ton of others killed in the process to save the world from falling under the shadow...I give him props for not throwing himself off the nearest tower.

Crown of Swords is the book I crapped out on the first time I tried to read the series. After I was done with it I decided that I was done with the series and swore to never read them again.  A promise that I broke last september...when I starting rereading wot.  I made it past CoS the second time round though  :). 

I think part of the problem was the whole bowl of the winds subplot.  It reminded me too much of Elayne and Nyn when they were in Tanchico.  OMG it's another crazy adventure with Elayne and Nyn in a dangerous exotic city! The whole Mat being repeatedly raped thing kinda bugged me as well.  I despise Cadsuane and this hasn't changed throughout the books.  I keep waiting for Rand to slap her back. 

As for Morgase...her story is somewhat important, but could be dealt with with less wordage, and less Tallanvor nonsense.  I put Tallanvor and Morgase right under Suian and Gareth Bryne on my list of romantic intrigues I care nothing about.

I also thought that the end battle with Sammael seemed a bit rushed.  I was lookin' for less roamin' about Shadar Logoth and more one power battle action.  However I really liked the bit where Rand found Liah there.  It was a nice tie in.  Wish he could have brought her back safe though :(