A review by clarehiyama
A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

adventurous dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have to echo the many reviewers and say that Mat’s experiences during a large chunk of the book are absolutely sexual assault. It’s disturbing how much it’s discussed and how it is portrayed as a non-issue or just a little farce. And it’s especially a shame because, again, like many other reviewers, I felt that otherwise, Mat had a great book and developed a lot as a character.

Other than that, I enjoyed it for the most part but boy is this series long and winding! How does everyone keep track of all these names?? Between our main cast of characters, the Aiel, the various nobles of Cairhien, Tear, and Caemlyn, Whitecloaks, Ebou Darians, various Darkfriends/Forsaken, Aes Sedai, & Ashaman, I am having serious issues keeping up. I similarly have trouble keeping the MANY nations & peoples straight, not to mention the plot points. There’s so much distrust and intrigue between the various forces that I also struggle to remember who knows what. This is now just a litany of complaints but I stand by them. I enjoy the process of reading but between the beginning and end of this book, it doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten very far. 
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