See the full list of books in Robert Jordan's
Wheel of Time
series.
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Product Description
From Amazon
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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
The ninth installment in Jordan's sprawling Wheel of Time saga is as bountifully pregnant with plot threads as its predecessorsDand as bewilderingly esoteric for readers who have yet to commit its previous episodes to memory. Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, seems no nearer to fulfilling his destinyDto unite the embattled races of his domain against the Dark OneDthan he was in The Path of Daggers. The warmongering Seanchan are pouring into Ebou Dar, setting refugees in flight and complex schemes in fidgety motion. Perrin Aybara is distracted from his mission to shepherd the prophet Masema to Rand when he pursues the rebel Aiel who have kidnaped his wife, Faile. The mystical sisterhood of the Aes Sedai remain divided between Elaida, pretender to the title of the White Tower, and Egwene al'Vere, ally to Elayne, Queen of Andor. Elayne, Rand's lover, barely escapes poisoning, and Rand himself, still smarting from the unhealed wound of an assassination attempt, shapeshifts through a variety of disguises to pass unnoticed in hostile territories. Jordan can always be counted to ground his dizzying intrigues in solid chunks of cultural detail, and he here rises to the occasion, with chapters as dense as Spenserian stanzas with symbols and rituals. Not all of his subplots tie together, and fewer than usual of his vast cast of characters make a memorable impact. Nevertheless, he manipulates the disorder of his narrative to credibly convey a sense of an embattled world on the verge of self-destruction, and he entertainingly juxtaposes the courtly civility of his villains with the precarious chaos they cause. Devotees accustomed to this ongoing epic's increasing lack of focus will no doubt find it on target. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Modern day Tolkien,
By "aviendha11" (Apopka, FL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Winter's Heart: Book Nine of 'The Wheel of Time' (Mass Market Paperback)
Many have complained that Jordan has drawn out his series too long. Yet to fulfil the emotions, thoughts and actions of 8+ characters in a way that makes people crave more, does take awhile. Vivid landscapes draw you in and let you experience the characters for yourself. Rand's fight to stay sane is something everyone feels at least once in thier lives. Each character possesses a small part of what we feel in everyday life and hopefully, the only rare tragedy. Become one or more of the characters, grow from innocent, backwater farm boy/girl to a confident, knowledgeable leader. This book is not for the faint of heart. Grow in the Light!
1.0 out of 5 stars
Please, just get on with it!!!!,
This review is from: Winter's Heart: Book Nine of 'The Wheel of Time' (Mass Market Paperback)
I have to agree with most of the previous reviews on this book. Whilst the first 4 or 5 in the series were very good, ever since then the books have just been more padding and less story. The characters have become continuingly 1 dimensional, the female characters especially. (While they appear to be strong willed, all they ever seem to do is complain about the men, and compare how low cut their dresses are.) As you progress through to the end of this book you realize that while the book is close to 1000 pages long, the whole books' story line could have been compressed down to about 30. We are continuingly waiting for something to happen.Based on the reading of the 7th and 8th books I was unsure whether to buy this book, but I did more to continue on with a series I initially enjoyed. I am now telling my friends not to bother buying it, just go to a bookstore, pick it off the shelf and read the last 50 pages. They are the only ones with anything actually in them.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't wait for book 10!,
By "josegmz" (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Winter's Heart: Book Nine of 'The Wheel of Time' (Mass Market Paperback)
This was by far one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. Robert Jordan makes this very realistic. When I was reading it I was wondering if something like this really could have happened in another time or another place. The books have a very large cast of important characters. There's a lot of bickering, bantering, politics. You will hate some of the characters and love some of the others. Winter's Heart is a large book but that shouldn't be an excuse of not buying/reading. It goes by quick and you will be relunctant to put it down. It is that good. I read this book in three days!
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