So far the worse book of this series

I want to finish The Wheel of Time. But this book made me want to take a break before I move on to the 6th book. The story mostly focuses on Nanheve and Elayne and what it’s going through their head, which 95% of the time was what they were wearing or what they don’t want to wear. The book dragged on and on about nothing that moved the story forward the majority of the time. If this is how all the books from here on are going to be, I don’t think I can finish these series. I respect those Robert Jordan fans who love the story. But this book was an awful lot of nothing to do with the main plot line. Terrible.

28 people found this helpful

slowly getting better

slowly getting better. but the author still has fits of going on and on about every little detail in the background. and of course the over bearing women and weak men. This is the first author I've wanted abridged versions from.

20 people found this helpful

Same stuff different book

So.. First book was fun because it was new..
Kids going on journeys with a nanny sorceress

With character names so similar it's so hard to keep track.. With main characters and others..
Melayne Moraine
Elaine, Egwaine.. it's a major Paine

General plot formula is same thing over and over (and over and over) :

Group of teens learning they have special abilities..

Adventure after adventure kids learn new abilities and find new magical items to fight new monsters.. As they meet new peoples in new lands

Teens repeatedly making rash decisions like teens do for their maturity level.. leading to a few teen relationship micro-dramas

But holy crap batman. Every book since the first is the same thing.. Following the teens over a course of years

This book introduces new magic monsters and abilities etc. in the same repetitive way with ONE new element

Teen crushes and dramas as their teen gonads rev up

If you're an adult the teen foibles might not add any enjoyment.. For teens I suppose it would be more relevant.

I quit.

18 people found this helpful

Amazing world and lore, ridiculous characters

The narration is fantastic. Both actors amazed me. Great world crafting by author. Unfortunately the characters are so stupid I just can't listen to more. Openly humiliating each other for not knowing things which they couldn't. Being offended at another character's offer of protection, then demanding it on threat of physical violence two days later. Screaming at others to mind their own business even as they secretly use their own powers to invade people's dreams. And these are the characters who are friends. It's just all to stupid to endure.

15 people found this helpful

The fires of Heaven

Possibly the best so far if your following the series. The "Great Hunt" a close second. No matter how they review you cannot pick up this book in the middle. If you've finished 1 thru 4 you should read "New Spring" before you do this one. Much insight and a real good story. In this one people are gone you would never have expected to be gone. Rand is slowly becoming someone you'd never recoginize from the first book. I just wish audible would not offer 9 out of 10 books in a series and leave out #5 for so long. The average member is not looking that far ahead when he/she starts out.
I've been waiting for this book a long time.

34 people found this helpful

Skip Nianeeeve's chapters and it's quite good

I'm thankful to have begun this series with The Gathering Storm - Brandon Sanderson's brilliant first writing, which is also the final trilogy in an otherwise barely mediocre series. Every chapter pertaining to the women, particularly Nianeeeeve, is absolutely cringeworthy - I highly recommend skipping through those chapters - you won't miss anything important to the overall plot line, and you'll probably enjoy this book.
Despite the nonsense Kate R is assigned to read her narration is quite good. And Mike K's narration is simply brilliant.

8 people found this helpful

The Fires From Heaven

Just seemed to drag on and on and on. Almost fell asleep several time until part 5, then everything happened at once.

16 people found this helpful

Come on with the gender wars already!!

Would you try another book from Robert Jordan and/or Kate Reading and Michael Kramer ?

Oh I'm sure that I will finish the series.

What does Kate Reading and Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Experience and emotion.

Any additional comments?

Please don't take this review the wrong way because I do think that the story is great. I just have a few issues with it.
I am about halfway through this book so far and I have to tell you that I am getting pretty tired of the gender wars. Each gender thinks that the other is COMPLETELY stupid. It was funny in the first book or two, but I'm pretty fed up with it now. The book would be half as long if they just kept to the story and stopped babbling about how they don't understand each other...ever try talking!!?? Just a little miffed about it, sorry for the rant.
The other thing that is starting to get on my nerves is the characters’ inner monologues. I try and think about things in real time. There is no way that somebody can have an inner though that would be 1000 words long when the sentence they are actually saying is 6 words. I just picture in my head a person talking and then, mid-sentence, starring at you with a blank face while they are thinking in their head. Just another pet peeve of mine. Too much inner monologue, just get on with the story. Besides, we know what the characters are thinking because they have had the same inner monologue the whole story; it’s not until the end of each book that it changes so I could do without the author repeating it every few pages.
As I am listening to the book rather than reading it (there is no way I could sit there long enough to read this series) the names are bit hard to remember. There are A LOT of names in the story that sound very similar and it can be hard to keep track of whom the story is referring to. That and the fact that the story jumps from character to character.
The books could have been half as long and still great. I’m not a huge fan of unnecessary writing.

36 people found this helpful

Enough already. I am skipping ahead

I literally almost stopped mid-book. I can't take this "women!" and "men!" thing anymore. It is insane that Jordan thinks these people are at all believable in how they think of and treat the opposite sex. Please remove all sentences with the words women and men from all your books immediately for a significant improvement. The over detail and slow story telling are tedious as well but tolerable if I had characters that I am not starting to loath due to the writing. I am going to try skipping to book 11 and continue from there. Based on reviews things get worse before they get better in up coming books. Wish me luck.

Hunter

6 people found this helpful

Men vs. Women

I have liked all of Jordan's book including this 5th book. The only complaint I have is constant reference that Men think Women are stupid and Women think Men are stupid. I think it is safe to say the there are times when we all share the this viewpoint but he uses it ALL the time in this 5th book. I also had some trouble following all the various path the many characters take. On the whole I have enjoyed Jordan's books and I will buy all the rest if they show up. It so involved a story you can't stop at Book 5. He makes the characters so real you can't help but want to know what happens.

27 people found this helpful