A Crown of Swords: Book Seven of The Wheel of Time

Amazing series that was not only well written but talented folks read it. On to the next book. Both read and listened to this book.

The Wheel of Time and I have an interesting relationship. Almost all of the characters totally infuriate me but I love the writing, cultures, world building and overall plots so even when in this book everything moves at a snail’s pace and almost nothing really happens plot wise I’m still thoroughly entertained and enjoy most of the story.But here is what I’ve learned during my time with the Wheel.❶ - The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills.What does this mean exactly? Well it pretty much means that at any time anything can happen. Especially with Ta’veren about to increase the chances that the pattern will adjust to their needs at anytime.***“Untamed men are often the most interesting. To talk to.”A finger outlined his lips. “An untamed rogue who travels with Aes Sedai, a ta’veren who, I think, makes them a little afraid. Uneasy, at the least. It takes a man with a strong liver to make Aes Sedai uneasy. How will you bend the Pattern in Ebou Dar, just Mat Cauthon?”***❷ - There will be a prophecy or five and it will probably not go exactly how you think.***“The White Tower will be whole again, except for remnants cast out and scorned,whole and stronger than ever. Rand al’Thor will face the Amyrlin Seat and know her anger. The Black Tower will be rent in blood and fire, and sisters will walk its grounds. This I Foretell.”***Although most of this one could go like I think, the part about the Black Tower is still very up in the air.❸ - If you are from the Two Rivers then you are more likely to distrust the people you grew up with and completely trust someone who is most likely a darkfriend. Seriously this is that part that frustrates me the most. Rand, Mat and Perrin were best of friends growing up. Thick as thieves all of their lives. Now each is Ta’vern and has a specific part to play in the final battles to come and they are more likely to distrust each other than to try to help each other out. Actually often times when they do help each other it is by complete accident. And the women they grew up with Egwene and Nynaeve it is the same issue. You would almost think they were enemies the way they all treat one another instead of people who were close in a small village and grew up together.But throw a darkfriend or Forsaken in the midst of them and that is almost always the person they decide to trust with a ridiculous amount of information and power.❹ - If you can channel the one power then you lose some form of common sense. I seriously think that there is only a small section of Aes Sedai that I like. For the most part they seem far too arrogant and self-serving to actually get anything done. Even the ones I do/did like tend to go to extremes and I really want to smack them.***Mixing with Aes Sedai was too much like wading the streams in the Waterwood near to the Mire. However peaceful the surface, currents beneath could snatch you off your feet.***❺ - The details for the cultures and places is going to be fantastic and rich. You will definitely see not only the great differences but also the nuances between the Aiel, Domani, the Sea Folk and Seanchan. There are rich histories and reasons that each culture evolved as it did. This is really Jordan’s strong suit. He completely struggles a little with interpersonal relationships but the world building is impeccable.Even though this book barely moved any portion of the plot forward I still enjoyed most of it. There were a lot of great parts and fantastic characters. I did have a huge problem with one section thought and I’m totally going to go off on it for a second.As I said before, Jordan struggles with interpersonal relationships. Often for our main characters the jump from just meeting to being in love is really short and has very little page time dedicated to the buildup of an actual relationship. But in this book he really missed his mark with the character development he was trying to give Mat.What I believe Jordan was trying to do. Mat is a bit of a skirt chaser but we always get the sense that the skirts want to be chased and everyone is having a good time. But when Jordan tried to turn the tables on Mat and have a woman in power go after his attentions it is supposed to come off as a little funny and haha Mat how does it feel to have the tables turned. This is needed to set him up to be more receptive to the Daughter of the Nine Moons who he was prophesized to marry eventually. It was supposed to be cute and maybe a little funny What actually happened or at least how I saw it was totally and completely rape. Look I get that isn’t what he really wanted to come across but that is totally how I saw it. The Queen Tylin takes a liking to Mat and decides he is going to be her lover. She tries to get him alone, she limits what the kitchens will give him as food, she ambushes him in his rooms and when he tries to turn he down and move her away setting his hands on her she pulls her knife and there is a fade to black scene. The next day Mat is ashamed, wants to cry and doesn’t want anyone else to know. There is no mention that he loved it and wants to be with her. He acts like he was a victim and tries to avoid her at all costs.It was very poorly portrayed and if it was the man on the other end it would definitely totally be rape without question.If I didn’t think that it was totally not his intention to portray it in a comical sense I might have given up right there. Especially after how Elayne and Nynaeve treat the situation. But I’ll give Jordan a pass since all of the romantic entanglements have been handled almost as equally poorly.Best New Friendship Award - Goes to Mat and Birgetta. I love those two on page together. I’m glad Mat has one woman in his life that he likes to hang out with and isn’t interested in kissing.Non-Evil Character I want to push off a Cliff - This still goes to Elayne. The haughty daughter heir still drives me a bit crazy. She is a bit better with Avienda around to teach her Toh but I still don’t like her.OverallI’m still in it to win it and I was warned there would be a few slower books so I am prepared for them. Even though my review is a bit critical I really do like most of the characters when they are not being stupid to one another and like the intensity of the bad guys and the overall march to kill the dark one eventually. The Cultures, Magic and Mayhem make this series.

I see lots of negative reviews on this book, and it usually about pacing, plot development, Jordan's super descriptiveness, and the constant reexplaining of things.To be honest, I felt this book was quick paced. Jordan changes character perspectives quite often, which gives the sense of a quick moving story. Sometimes the narrative stays with a character for a little longer, but then the pace picks back up. These multiple perspectives give us a sense of irony by contrasting the differences between viewpoints of a single event that only you as the reader can fully enjoy. I loved it, because it provided for some of the most funny moments in the Wheel of Time series so far.The plot development is slower in the sense that it is not very grand. While the focus is more micro, a lot of things happen that I consider to be very important to the overall story. I felt like that even though the large plot line did not move much, the smaller subplots (if you can call them that) are interesting and build some story and character depth.Jordan's super descriptiveness is not as bad as some reviewers put it. There was probably five or six moments where I felt the drag, but the good thing about being a reader is that you get to choose what you read. Yeah you could choose another book, but what I mean is that you are not required to read every word that is written. If you could care less about Rand's green coat, then skip the paragraph describing that green coat. Is it a cheat? Maybe? Is it an excuse to forget Jordan's dragging descriptive filler? No? However, it does help.The constant reexplaining of cities, people, and culture does get a bit frustrating. Typically, I just skip any description or explanation of things I already know. I understand that Jordan is trying to provided info for those readers who haven't read the last book in a few years, but it gets a little ridiculous when he reexplains things within the same book.OVERALL:While there are some negatives, I thought the story was great. The subplots, or mini-big-plots, were interesting and kept me entertained. The constant switching of character perspectives kept the flow of the book moving and gave interesting perspective and insight into the world. The story had funny moments, intense moments, light heart moments, and serious ones too. There were a few points where the story began to drag, but nothing near as bad as The Fires of Heaven and the whole circus subplot. Overall, this might be my favorite book in the series (that I have read).

Fantastic!!!! Great book to keep the series going and I absolutely love how much it turns and gives you the unexpected.

The story is great. But Jordan’s climactic story conclusions are getting better with each book. Really good stuff.But of course you probably know this of you’re interested in book seven.

As advertised. A bit worn but in solid condition

Gud book, recommend lotses, am writing to put five stars on the page as the book deserves and need more words

Let’s be honest wit you guys, at the beginning I wasn’t so convinced to read it because all the trash comment I find here, but after I stared reading I realize that I like it.Ok yeah this book could be the most boring of all the saga but that doesn’t mean that you will hate it, give it a try, if you enjoyed the first 6 you would find this enjoyable in many aspects

Back to being a good read. With so much happening the pace has finally picked up. After the last two books slow pace and not much happening it was good to get back to a better part of the story.On to the next book

Great read