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mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Writing: 2⭐️/5
**SPOILERS**
This is a shorter book than several of the previous and yet it felt like one of the most tedious so far. Several times throughout the novel, Jordan would have paragraph-long descriptions that read like Wikipedia entries. Beyond the tedious sections, Jordan also left out most – if not all – of the most action-packed sequences in favour of revisiting them via flashback. Several times we join characters after something exciting happens, and are told about it in the character’s head, instead of just being allowed to experience the story altogether. This drew out the reading significantly. I will also never forgive RJ for not letting me see Nynaeve and Lan’s wedding.
I also, personally, felt the reluctance to say the word, “Rape” in rape scenes was a pointed choice that I don’t agree with. Also, knowing that RJ intended the Mat rape scene to be a “humourous role-reversal” really takes any unintentional realism he may have woven into that scene feel gross, unnecessary, and lacking compassion.
Characters: 2.25⭐️/5
Every RJ novel I read, I complain about how the characters never remain consistent. And, here we are again. At multiple instances, Elayne and Nynaeve’s names could have switched and it wouldn’t have mattered. In fact, the only characters who really retain their own personalities are Rand, Mat, and Perrin – though even they fluctuate to some extent.
The characters have such fantastic potential and yet they cannot seem to remain consistent long enough to meet that potential. And, though there are 2700 named characters throughout this series, several of the more minor characters feel so unimportant the only purpose they seem to serve is to make the plot more confusing and convoluted.
Plot: 3.0⭐️/5
The plot could have been more interesting, but there was no reason for anything to take as long as it did. This book – to achieve the necessary plot – could have lost a solid 100-200 pages and been a stronger, more interesting read. Some parts were definitely interesting, so elements were definitely engaging, but overall it fell kind of flat, and I spent most of the time wishing I got to see the fight between Perrin and Rand instead of two paragraphs on what a longboat is.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Those who read book one to five of The Wheel of Time and are able to overlook some misogyny
Content Warnings?
- Toxic relationships, blood, gore, abuse, domestic abuse, war, sexual assault, rape, toxic friendships, gaslighting, misogyny, sexism, death, murder, injury, injury detail, sexual harassment, emotional abuse, slavery,
Post-Reading Rating: 3.0⭐️/5
This one really didn’t have that amazing moment at the end. It was just okay.
Final Rating: 2.5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jlkenneth's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5/5 stars. I definitely have some mixed feelings about this one, but in spite of that, I think this might be the most I’ve enjoyed a WoT book since some of the early ones. I think Lord of Chaos was probably a better book, but I ended up finding this one easier to get through for a few reasons, in spite of the plot slowing down slightly. The shorter page count was incredibly refreshing after the last 3 books all being 800-900 pages, and I also think this is Jordan’s most balanced approach to varied POVs. Typically in one of these books, I hit a point where I am just tired of hearing about the same character - and usually when that happens, there’s another character I’m dying to learn about, who only gets 3 or 4 chapters in the whole book. A Crown of Swords was really the first time in this series where I felt satisfied with the amount of time I spent with each character; I stayed excited to know what everyone gets up to in book 8, and wasn’t ready to scream after being stuck inside one person’s head for 400 pages. (Spending less time with Rand in this one probably helped because despite him being the main character, I still just find him helplessly frustrating to listen to for so long.)
I also think my increased enjoyment of this book comes down to splitting my reading between audiobook and a physical read, which helped me get through the slower sections. That said, I have always enjoyed the sections that focus more on pivotal events in the lives of these characters than the more “epic” sequences, as those are usually where I have gripes with Jordan’s execution and/or lack of explanation. All that meant this was a bit of a perfect, slower WoT book in my opinion.
All in all, this is the most excited I’ve been to dive into the next volume, and I think the shorter page count, wonderful character development, and political intrigue/set-up here really made the difference. Also, this was finally the point where we really get to see Mat shine and GOSH it was worth the wait. I can definitely see why he’s a fan favorite.
This also puts me halfway through the series, which feels like a huge accomplishment!
Read on for my thoughts on the more controversial aspects of this book 😉
I do have some mixed feelings (as always) when it comes to the depiction of gender in this series. I think a real discussion of whether this series is sexist or flipping patriarchy on its head (seriously, it’s hard to tell sometimes and that’s evidenced in the mixed reviews each book receives) requires a lot more nuance and time that a GR review allows - but it seems like this point in the series might be a polarizing when it comes to your take on that question. Initially, it’s difficult to tell when Robert Jordan himself viewed men and women as inherently opposed, and that viewpoint came through in his work, or whether this is intended as a commentary on how the world is broken and flawed in his series as a result of the Breaking of the World and the Dark One’s corruption of saidin. I’ve read some good arguments on both sides, and both seem to fall short in some ways. For me, A Crown of Swords was one of the points where the characters’ treatment of the opposite sex was most infuriating, AND it was also the point where I started to think it was definitely being done intentionally rather than just as an RJ’s unconscious bias.
*light, non-specific spoilers below*
This book takes the prevailing views of gender in this world and introduces the issues of rape and sexual assault. Specifically, one of the male characters is repeatedly forced into nonconsensual sex against his will. The women in the story seem to take it as a big joke (he couldn’t possibly have been FORCED!? By a woman?!?), and it is constantly addressed as if the situation is humorous, but it seems pretty clear to me that the reader is meant to interpret this situation as rape. Yes, even when the characters refuse to see it that way. The victim in this sexual assault situation is constantly feeling embarrassed, out of his body, and like he’s on the verge of tears or panic attacks, which should clue us in to the fact that this is a legitimate SA scenario and he doesn’t view it humorously.
In my opinion, a lot of folks have difficulty separating the characters in these books with the author himself. Because the entire series is written in the first-person limited point-of-view, there is never an external narrator who tells us what to think - which I see as precisely the point of this series. In the 80s and 90s, fantasy had a tendency to be moralistic and simple, and the portrayal of gender roles was almost always extremely stereotypical (the works of David Eddings come to mind). Jordan flips things on their head with women in power and used to authority, while also keeping a lot of the stereotypes his audience would have been familiar with (i.e. women are incomprehensible, men think with their muscles, etc.). This book is the first time where I’m starting to see the commentary for which he intended this decision. If the genders were flipped in this sexual assault case, what we’d be left with is a fairly realistic representation of how women are frequently treated in the wake of sexual abuse or rape. The victim explains what happens to one of the women near him, and he is told he shouldn’t have smiled at his abuser the way he did, and insinuates that he wanted it to happen the way it did.
This sort of victim blaming is exactly what tends to happen to female victims of SA, and I think RJ was trying to challenge the views of his readers and build empathy for survivors. I don’t think it’s Jordan who trivializes the issue, I think it’s several of his female characters who do. This was his way of challenging a common scenario by inverting it, while still not making it the centerpiece of his work (because it is a side plot). I don’t think it’s fair to write Robert Jordan off as a sexist because of this, though I do think the point is often belabored and he could have done this without so much repetition (it really does get tiring listening to these characters’ asides about the opposite sex). This section also read differently on this side of the me too movement, but it’s easy to forget how often sexual assault was trivialized and victims were blamed at the time these books were written (even though that still happens).
Okay, mini-essay done 😅
I also think my increased enjoyment of this book comes down to splitting my reading between audiobook and a physical read, which helped me get through the slower sections. That said, I have always enjoyed the sections that focus more on pivotal events in the lives of these characters than the more “epic” sequences, as those are usually where I have gripes with Jordan’s execution and/or lack of explanation. All that meant this was a bit of a perfect, slower WoT book in my opinion.
All in all, this is the most excited I’ve been to dive into the next volume, and I think the shorter page count, wonderful character development, and political intrigue/set-up here really made the difference. Also, this was finally the point where we really get to see Mat shine and GOSH it was worth the wait. I can definitely see why he’s a fan favorite.
This also puts me halfway through the series, which feels like a huge accomplishment!
Read on for my thoughts on the more controversial aspects of this book 😉
I do have some mixed feelings (as always) when it comes to the depiction of gender in this series. I think a real discussion of whether this series is sexist or flipping patriarchy on its head (seriously, it’s hard to tell sometimes and that’s evidenced in the mixed reviews each book receives) requires a lot more nuance and time that a GR review allows - but it seems like this point in the series might be a polarizing when it comes to your take on that question. Initially, it’s difficult to tell when Robert Jordan himself viewed men and women as inherently opposed, and that viewpoint came through in his work, or whether this is intended as a commentary on how the world is broken and flawed in his series as a result of the Breaking of the World and the Dark One’s corruption of saidin. I’ve read some good arguments on both sides, and both seem to fall short in some ways. For me, A Crown of Swords was one of the points where the characters’ treatment of the opposite sex was most infuriating, AND it was also the point where I started to think it was definitely being done intentionally rather than just as an RJ’s unconscious bias.
*light, non-specific spoilers below*
This book takes the prevailing views of gender in this world and introduces the issues of rape and sexual assault. Specifically, one of the male characters is repeatedly forced into nonconsensual sex against his will. The women in the story seem to take it as a big joke (he couldn’t possibly have been FORCED!? By a woman?!?), and it is constantly addressed as if the situation is humorous, but it seems pretty clear to me that the reader is meant to interpret this situation as rape. Yes, even when the characters refuse to see it that way. The victim in this sexual assault situation is constantly feeling embarrassed, out of his body, and like he’s on the verge of tears or panic attacks, which should clue us in to the fact that this is a legitimate SA scenario and he doesn’t view it humorously.
In my opinion, a lot of folks have difficulty separating the characters in these books with the author himself. Because the entire series is written in the first-person limited point-of-view, there is never an external narrator who tells us what to think - which I see as precisely the point of this series. In the 80s and 90s, fantasy had a tendency to be moralistic and simple, and the portrayal of gender roles was almost always extremely stereotypical (the works of David Eddings come to mind). Jordan flips things on their head with women in power and used to authority, while also keeping a lot of the stereotypes his audience would have been familiar with (i.e. women are incomprehensible, men think with their muscles, etc.). This book is the first time where I’m starting to see the commentary for which he intended this decision. If the genders were flipped in this sexual assault case, what we’d be left with is a fairly realistic representation of how women are frequently treated in the wake of sexual abuse or rape. The victim explains what happens to one of the women near him, and he is told he shouldn’t have smiled at his abuser the way he did, and insinuates that he wanted it to happen the way it did.
This sort of victim blaming is exactly what tends to happen to female victims of SA, and I think RJ was trying to challenge the views of his readers and build empathy for survivors. I don’t think it’s Jordan who trivializes the issue, I think it’s several of his female characters who do. This was his way of challenging a common scenario by inverting it, while still not making it the centerpiece of his work (because it is a side plot). I don’t think it’s fair to write Robert Jordan off as a sexist because of this, though I do think the point is often belabored and he could have done this without so much repetition (it really does get tiring listening to these characters’ asides about the opposite sex). This section also read differently on this side of the me too movement, but it’s easy to forget how often sexual assault was trivialized and victims were blamed at the time these books were written (even though that still happens).
Okay, mini-essay done 😅
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and War
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
missgarceau's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This felt like a chore and I am really upset about the TW’s in it. Definitely check warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
katisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The absolute ROLLER COASTER this book put me on…when I say there are major peaks and valleys in this installment of Wheel of Time, I mean it on multiple levels. Jordan once again postpones most of the action to right at the beginning and right at the end of the book. What else happens in the middle? Lots of discussion about clothes and cultures and architecture and squabbling. Nynaeve continues to annoy me, but we got soooo much Mat in this one, and I still love him to bits. There were some really sad and uncomfortable points in this book and I’m disappointed to hear that the fandom is split on how it’s portrayed in the books. BUT, the action, the twists, and the progression of all of the other storylines really made this an enjoyable book for me. All that to say…if a certain someone doesn’t come back after being squished by a wall, imma be mad. They deserve better than that! Also, Rand and his latest special someone made me squeal, love them together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Slavery, and Violence
jenna36's review
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Once again Jordan's worldbuilding and character development are fantastic. I heard this was the start of "the slog" but I actually thought the pacing and the pieces of the puzzle that came together in this book really kept me invested. Pretty much the last 200 or 300 pages of the book were absolutely phenomenal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Vomit, and War
There is a very uncomfortable relationship dynamic between an older woman and younger man, and it is not handled very well.fionac326's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
ailaghast's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, and Grief