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hawkwood_'s review
4.0
And thus my journey with Robert Jordan ends for now. It was not THE ending, but it was AN ending, as the saying goes. This will be a review of not only Knife of Dreams; but a push to read the series as a whole for anyone unsure about the commitment.
I started reading these books when I was around 12, and they were one of the first things that got me into fantasy. During the pandemic I resolved to read them all through, and it’s taken several years of on-and-off reading to go through them. Jordan’s world was dense and enticing, it felt real and fleshed out, coming from someone who was worldly and well traveled. He handles conflict and warfare with the view of someone who was seen and experienced loss of life on that scale. His views on gender, while outdated and entrenched in the binary of the 20th century, comes from a place of respect and desire for equality, something very little fantasy written from that time does. Jordan’s death was a loss for the genre and fiction as a whole. Knowing he could not finish his series is tragic, but I have full confidence as I prepare to read Brandon Sanderson’s writings in the world of the wheel as he concludes the story.
This book, in many ways, represents all the microcosms of Jordan’s writing. Characters spend a lot of time thinking and talking their way through situations as the plot threads begin to coalesce towards a grand conclusion after multiple books of slower pacing. Tragedy strikes, great battles are fought, and the pieces feel all in place at the end for something epic. But the path to get here was long and winding. If you’re reading Knife of Dreams, you’re likely committed for the ride. But if you’re wondering if Wheel of Time is worth it, I think of it not as “the best fantasy ever written”, but rather a masterclass in long form storytelling. Something that’s 14-books long and a prequel is an insane ask for the average reader, but if you find yourself fascinated by the concepts and the characters, let me just tell you it’s worth it.
I feel saddened knowing this is the last of Jordan’s writing, but I feel as if I’ve made a big step in reading 12 of his books at various times in my life. He made a big impression on me and fantasy at large. He had much more to give the world, but his series lives on through others.
Tai’shar, Rigney. Thank you for the Wheel.
I started reading these books when I was around 12, and they were one of the first things that got me into fantasy. During the pandemic I resolved to read them all through, and it’s taken several years of on-and-off reading to go through them. Jordan’s world was dense and enticing, it felt real and fleshed out, coming from someone who was worldly and well traveled. He handles conflict and warfare with the view of someone who was seen and experienced loss of life on that scale. His views on gender, while outdated and entrenched in the binary of the 20th century, comes from a place of respect and desire for equality, something very little fantasy written from that time does. Jordan’s death was a loss for the genre and fiction as a whole. Knowing he could not finish his series is tragic, but I have full confidence as I prepare to read Brandon Sanderson’s writings in the world of the wheel as he concludes the story.
This book, in many ways, represents all the microcosms of Jordan’s writing. Characters spend a lot of time thinking and talking their way through situations as the plot threads begin to coalesce towards a grand conclusion after multiple books of slower pacing. Tragedy strikes, great battles are fought, and the pieces feel all in place at the end for something epic. But the path to get here was long and winding. If you’re reading Knife of Dreams, you’re likely committed for the ride. But if you’re wondering if Wheel of Time is worth it, I think of it not as “the best fantasy ever written”, but rather a masterclass in long form storytelling. Something that’s 14-books long and a prequel is an insane ask for the average reader, but if you find yourself fascinated by the concepts and the characters, let me just tell you it’s worth it.
I feel saddened knowing this is the last of Jordan’s writing, but I feel as if I’ve made a big step in reading 12 of his books at various times in my life. He made a big impression on me and fantasy at large. He had much more to give the world, but his series lives on through others.
Tai’shar, Rigney. Thank you for the Wheel.
chloerickards's review
adventurous
tense
slow-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
4.0
We are so back
medusasrockgarden's review
4.0
So much better. This book gives us one of the best storylines - Egwene in the Tower, being all noble and brave and serene. The way Aes Sedai should be - but rarely actually are in this whole series. And Nynaeve is getting much better too. Rand's storyline is still the best of the lot I think, and I am really enjoying Logain. I don't recall liking him previously, but I do in this read through.
Of course Elayne is still a bit annoying. Tuon is aggravating. And Faile and Perrin are awful, but that storyline is finally over, thank all the gods.
So it's not a perfect book, but after going through the slog, this one is beautiful. It's also better than most of the pre-slog books too.
Onwards, we are nearing the end.
Of course Elayne is still a bit annoying. Tuon is aggravating. And Faile and Perrin are awful, but that storyline is finally over, thank all the gods.
So it's not a perfect book, but after going through the slog, this one is beautiful. It's also better than most of the pre-slog books too.
Onwards, we are nearing the end.
xherdanjackiri's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
undergroundalto's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ssrosvald's review
4.0
Started out very well, then a rough patch in the middle, until it heightened by the end.
cbtravelista's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed this book much more than Book 10, which was just plain bad, but still not as good an installment as I’d hoped. Strong stars for Mat’s storyline, and the developing relationship with Tuon - it was interesting to see her perception of him change as he was reunited back with the Band of the Red Hand. Negative points for that utterly boring and never-ending storyline regarding Perrin and Faile......yawn, is she saved/escaped yet? Don’t really care. Moving on - still barely any chapters on Rand, except just enough of one - because he’s not been tortured enough in this series, way to come up with that Jordan. Also just enough time in those few chapters for Cadsuane, who I seriously can’t stand, to talk to Rand like a small child and humiliate him repeatedly in front of others. Way to craft the image of that all powerful “Dragon Reborn” character as an author. Maybe I’ll get lucky and in the next book when Sanderson takes over he’ll kill off Cadsuane and I won’t have to be so annoyed by her presence anymore. While he’s at it, maybe Sanderson can also completely eliminate from the next three remaining books any reference to spanking women as punishment, which Jordan seems to be obsessed with, and I find absolutely demeaning.
Spoiler
for some enemy to burn his hand completely offs_yodes's review
5.0
At least the five middle books could have been condensed. Finally some action to advance the plot.
nickgoe's review
3.0
I gave it a three only because it wrapped up the boring storyline with Perrin's wife being captured.
kim_reads87's review
3.0
This was definitely better than the last few in this series. But still really long winded and a lot that could be cut out without missing any of the plot. I really enjoyed Mat in this one. I can’t wait to see where Brandon Sanderson takes the series.