The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
fobi_wan_kenobi's review against another edition
5.0
A message to Robert Jordan
Since this review does contain some slight spoilers for books 1-10 I want to put this here, just so more people can read it.
After more than a year reading the wheel of time I've become intimately familiar with Robert Jordan's writing style, characters, passion for culture and storytelling and his overly descriptive yet oddly compelling clothing descriptions (seriously, wouldn't be surprised if someone wanted to become a fashion designer after reading them). And that's why, putting the knife of dreams back onto the shelve I was left quite sad.
For those who don't know, Robert Jordan sadly passed away on the 16th of September 2007 due to cardiac amyloidosis. At that time he was working on what was to be the final book in the wheel of time. Hindsight 2021, we didn't have anything to worry about because the then up-and-coming author Brandon Sanderson would finish off his series in a trilogy of critically acclaimed books, but it isn't hard to imagine how distraught fans must have been to hear this news.
With just 11 books Robert Jordan cemented himself as one of the genres most prolific writers, it isn't hard to imagine how many amazing books he still had in his pen. 14 years after his passing I read what was the final wheel of time book to be 100% Jordan, and it is with sadness in my heart that I have to thank him for giving me these amazing characters, cultures, villains, battles and of course Loial.
Even 14 years later you have touched one man's fantasy and I sure won't be the last.
Thank you.
4.5*
Knife of dreams - Robert Jordan
Book 11 of the wheel of time
After three divisive entries with a slower and less eventful pace, Robert Jordan came back for one last hurrah. This book pretty much finished off all of the bigger side plots the previous books spend pages upon pages telling and left me completely and utterly satisfied. A steady stream of twists and character moments are building up to a big finally that is now finally somewhere in sight.
This book really did a great job fleshing out all of the big conflicts going on in Randland. The inner workings of the white tower are visibly reaching fever pitch, the seanchan invasion is becoming a bigger threat and not only on the opposing sides, the war for succession in Andor has split the country to pieces and Tarmon Gai'don looms over everything. The final battle has never been more threatening then in this book.
All of our main cast get time to shine and not a single character is underserved. Rand makes big moves in a bit to finally create a united offensive against the armies of the dark and has to learn to trust those within his inner circle. Perrin puts all on the line for the one he loves and makes unlikely allies on the way. Matt faces destiny and becomes the leader the world will need at the final battle. Egwene faces the enemy from within and tries to save the white tower from destruction and Elayne learns what it means to be a queen. And that's only the big outlines, the way all the side character intertwined with each characters storyline was never not entertaining and had me hooked throughout.
While the ending wasn't one of the big bombastic set pieces the first books had, this one properly sets up the final three books in the series.
Since this review does contain some slight spoilers for books 1-10 I want to put this here, just so more people can read it.
After more than a year reading the wheel of time I've become intimately familiar with Robert Jordan's writing style, characters, passion for culture and storytelling and his overly descriptive yet oddly compelling clothing descriptions (seriously, wouldn't be surprised if someone wanted to become a fashion designer after reading them). And that's why, putting the knife of dreams back onto the shelve I was left quite sad.
For those who don't know, Robert Jordan sadly passed away on the 16th of September 2007 due to cardiac amyloidosis. At that time he was working on what was to be the final book in the wheel of time. Hindsight 2021, we didn't have anything to worry about because the then up-and-coming author Brandon Sanderson would finish off his series in a trilogy of critically acclaimed books, but it isn't hard to imagine how distraught fans must have been to hear this news.
With just 11 books Robert Jordan cemented himself as one of the genres most prolific writers, it isn't hard to imagine how many amazing books he still had in his pen. 14 years after his passing I read what was the final wheel of time book to be 100% Jordan, and it is with sadness in my heart that I have to thank him for giving me these amazing characters, cultures, villains, battles and of course Loial.
Even 14 years later you have touched one man's fantasy and I sure won't be the last.
Thank you.
4.5*
Knife of dreams - Robert Jordan
Book 11 of the wheel of time
After three divisive entries with a slower and less eventful pace, Robert Jordan came back for one last hurrah. This book pretty much finished off all of the bigger side plots the previous books spend pages upon pages telling and left me completely and utterly satisfied. A steady stream of twists and character moments are building up to a big finally that is now finally somewhere in sight.
This book really did a great job fleshing out all of the big conflicts going on in Randland. The inner workings of the white tower are visibly reaching fever pitch, the seanchan invasion is becoming a bigger threat and not only on the opposing sides, the war for succession in Andor has split the country to pieces and Tarmon Gai'don looms over everything. The final battle has never been more threatening then in this book.
All of our main cast get time to shine and not a single character is underserved. Rand makes big moves in a bit to finally create a united offensive against the armies of the dark and has to learn to trust those within his inner circle. Perrin puts all on the line for the one he loves and makes unlikely allies on the way. Matt faces destiny and becomes the leader the world will need at the final battle. Egwene faces the enemy from within and tries to save the white tower from destruction and Elayne learns what it means to be a queen. And that's only the big outlines, the way all the side character intertwined with each characters storyline was never not entertaining and had me hooked throughout.
While the ending wasn't one of the big bombastic set pieces the first books had, this one properly sets up the final three books in the series.
kodameansfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mdunnbass's review against another edition
4.0
I may have called this an 1100 page monster in my last post, and that may be an exaggeration, considering it weighs in at only about 730-some pages. But, it was still big, and heavy, and long, and chocked full o' goodness! More resolution of side-plots and forward motion towards mopping up the middling middle of the story than in any previous book since the whole thing got so convoluted and large. It really makes me believe that Brandon Sanderson really can finish off the whole series in the 3 more volumes promised. Yes, Sanderson. This was the last volume Jordan - really name Oliver Rigney, Jr. - completed before falling victim to cancer. That said, he left copious notes, plot outlines, and background information both in written form, and in the form of long discussions with his editor/wife - Harriet. Looking forward to finishing the series. Very much looking forward to it, especially considering the overall positive press the first Sanderson-co-penned volume "The Gathering Storm" has been receiving for the last 6 months.
reyncloud's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lithicin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Absolutely tremendous. After 10 books, the dominos start to fall. I never get tired of reading this book.Â
I just wish Jordan had lived to finish the series himself with the tear he was on in KoD, but Sanderson does a serviceable job filling in the gaps with what is to come in the final 3 books. What a fantastic final solo book.Â
I just wish Jordan had lived to finish the series himself with the tear he was on in KoD, but Sanderson does a serviceable job filling in the gaps with what is to come in the final 3 books. What a fantastic final solo book.Â
flexmentallo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eliminate Perrin and Elayne’s sections, which are boring and repetitive, and you have an all-time great fantasy novel.Â
backy33's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
maxsebastian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.0
Knife of Dreams, in addition to having a truly fantastic title, does feel like a return to form for Robert Jordan. With conclusions to many of the overarching arcs in the infamous slog, Perrin and Faile reuniting, Elayne getting control of Andor, the cleansing of siadin, Tuon acknowledging Mat as her husband, the White Tower (making strides towards) being reunited(?) , Jordan drew me back into caring about the arcs of most (emphasis on the most) of his main characters.Â
While there are still some pitfalls that this story falls into around pacing and questions I have about POV balance, Jordan left me surprised and creeped out with the end of this story. I'm sad I won't get another book written completely by him in this universe.
While there are still some pitfalls that this story falls into around pacing and questions I have about POV balance, Jordan left me surprised and creeped out with the end of this story. I'm sad I won't get another book written completely by him in this universe.