Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time, #10)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time #10)

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 31,421 ratings · 668 reviews

In the tenth book of The Wheel of Time from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.

Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her...more

Hardcover, 700 pages

Published January 7th 2003 by Tor Fantasy (first published January 1st 2003)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best Wheel of Time Book

11th out of 15 books — 39 voters

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Five Star Fantasy Books

222nd out of 833 books — 1,164 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 31, 2009 Kat Hooper rated it 1 of 5 stars

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Crossroads of Twilight was maddening. I read it years ago and ended up giving up on The Wheel of Time after this book. I tried again in my preparation for reading Memory of Light, and I just couldn't manage to do it again. So, as with Winter's Heart, I cheated by reading many of the chapter summaries at Encyclopaedia WOT. I skimmed the chapters involving Perrin's hunt for Faile because I remembered how slow, grueling, and painful they were when I read them...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Crossroads of Twilight was maddening. I read it years ago and ended up giving up on The Wheel of Time after this book. I tried again in my preparation for reading Memory of Light, and I just couldn't manage to do it again. So, as with Winter's Heart, I cheated by reading many of the chapter summaries at Encyclopaedia WOT. I skimmed the chapters involving Perrin's hunt for Faile because I remembered how slow, grueling, and painful they were when I read them the first time. And even though about 25% of the novel was about this storyline, it did not advance at all. I also skimmed a lot of Elayne's campaigning and dealing with the constantly whining Sea Folk because not much happened here, either. There were only two chapters (out of 30) from Rand's point of view. Mat was entertaining, but he didn't get anywhere either.

In Crossroads of Twilight, expect more politicking, planning, negotiating, committee discussions, bathing, dressing, shopping, and description of tapestries and seating arrangements than action. THE PLOT DOES NOT MOVE. There were very few significant occurrences -- mostly the characters just talked to themselves and others. Only one major event happened, and that occurred in the last 3 minutes (on audio).

Here is a sample of some of the pulse-pounding action you'll encounter in Crossroads of Twilight:

"'I see,' Egwene said slowly. She realized she was massaging the side of her head. The throb behind her eyes beat on. It would grow stronger. It always did. By nightfall, she was going to regret having sent Halima away. Bringing her hand down firmly, she moved the leather folder in front of her a half inch to the left, then slid it back."

Riveting... But at least we didn't have to hear about Nynaeve's braid...

There are 1880 characters in The Wheel of Time and it's impossible for anyone who's not writing a dissertation on the series to keep them all straight. It doesn't help that so many of the names are similar, either. At this point, many of them are all just a big jumble and you have to use a resource like Encyclopaedia WOT (who have all 1880 characters listed, described, and tracked) to even begin to understand all of the politicking. It also doesn't help that Jordan made occasional mistakes along the way (nicely pointed out by Encyclopaedia WOT).

If it weren't for Brandon Sanderson's finale, I would absolutely give up at this point (I did once). By the way, let me say here and now (March 2009), for the record, that I don't believe Mr. Sanderson will be able to clean up this mess with only one volume.
Read more Robert Jordan book reviews at Fantasy literature. (less)

21 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

IIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

A huge amount of this huge book take place simultaneously with Winter's Heart. The key words in this volume are "trying" and "continuing" as everyone continues "trying" something or is "continuing" with something that never seems to get tied up. We do get a slight move in one plot point...but it only tangles it more, doesn't move toward tying it up.

At this point I could have cried. This could have been one of the great Epic High Fantasy Series in the English Language. Instead...more

11 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2010 Ryan rated it 2 of 5 stars

I consider myself a patient reader when it comes to "The Wheel of Time," but even I have trouble excusing Crossroads of Twilight, Book 10.

To be honest, although I recently read Crossroads of Twilight, I can't remember what happens. I actually found a summary on Wikipedia. The current plot summary is worth reading if only because each entry reads: Character / "continues" / To Do / Ongoing Plotline.

In short, not only is nothing resolved, but nothing happens.

The best that can be said in defense of...more

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Eric Allen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Crossroads of Twilight
Book 10 of the Wheel of Time
By Robert Jordan

A Wheel of Time Retrospective by Eric Allen

I love the Wheel of Time series. It is, by far, and despite its flaws, my absolute favorite series of books. Oh, there's plenty of people out there who can point out why this series is awful and has been dragged on far too long. But you know what, I don't care. To me, this series is great. I thought it could do no wrong.

And then Crossroads of Twilight came out.

This is the series that real...more

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Scarlet rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fa-challenge, epic-fantacy

Basically the first four hundred pages of this book happens while Rand was doing something cool -from winter's heart- and the rest of the book is about what happened after..never mind if it's important or not!
I do not want to say nothing happened in the book, but Crossroads of Twilight didn't give me the feeling of a 'book' but rather a very long Prologue to book 11, or maybe not even that, but none of the plot lines progressed much, there was no considerable climax or serious cliff hangers (vie ...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 24, 2008 Skip rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 29, 2013 Teji rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: series

This volume seems to fall back into some of the old problems of Jordan's earlier books in the series. It is as if the editor stepped out for a spot of lunch. At least I hope that is what happened rather than that the editor quit due to exhaustion.

This book again has a lot of repetition and lots of wandering plot points that seem pointless. Furthermore, there are a couple of actual blunders where the narrative simply doesn’t make sense. For example, this passage: “Noel was out shadowing Juilin an...more

1 like · like · see review

May 07, 2007 Brahm rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Not even Hitler should be subjected to reading this

Shelves: fantasy

I will keep this short. In this book, absolutely nothing happens. There is no character development. There is no plot. Instead, the reader, who has so generously given Robert Jordan so much of his/her money over the course of the series, is treated to descriptions of dresses of characters whom we don't care about and who have no actual bearing on the plot. My advice to those slogging through this series: Read the last ten pages of this book, and then continue on to Knife of Dreams, a flawed book...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Jon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, epic-fantasy, fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

Listened to the audiobook edition. Apparently unabridged doesn't include the glossary. Good thing I own the hardcover for reference and for the maps.

Probably the slowest and least moving plot wise in the Wheel of Time series thus far.

Using male and female readers helped especially with the switching viewpoints.

2 likes · like · see review

May 11, 2011 Coligne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fanucci, fantasy, la, ruota, del, tempo

Al contrario di quanto asserito da alcuni, che sostengono che questo libro sia assolutamente inutile, non lo ritengo un libro da buttare. Come dicevo per l'ottavo, un libro mediocre scritto da Robert Jordan è un bel libro, se fosse scritto da quasi chiunque altro, però è innegabile che questo sia decisamente inferiore alle aspettative, visto il modo in cui si era concluso il 9°.
Effettivamente lo si potrebbe considerare come un enorme appendice al precedente volume, che svolge un duplice ruolo: m...more

like · see review

May 01, 2013 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Last week, I finished REreading the Wheel of Time. Now, I work towards the end, beginning with Crossroads of Twilight, the 10th book in the epic series.

Winter’s Heart involved a huge turning point, one that I had hoped would spell a new direction for the series that had begun to slow to a crawl. Well, as I said last week, slowing wasn’t quite the right word. Books 6-8 lacked focus, something I found and appreciated in book 9.

Crossroads of Twilight had no focus, and moreover, it really really did...more Last week, I finished REreading the Wheel of Time. Now, I work towards the end, beginning with Crossroads of Twilight, the 10th book in the epic series.

Winter’s Heart involved a huge turning point, one that I had hoped would spell a new direction for the series that had begun to slow to a crawl. Well, as I said last week, slowing wasn’t quite the right word. Books 6-8 lacked focus, something I found and appreciated in book 9.

Crossroads of Twilight had no focus, and moreover, it really really did slow down. The book was a holding pattern, much of it taking place in the shadow of the big event from book 9. And I could understand some of that — SOME of it — but ultimately every character, every subplot, every nuance is exactly where it was at the end of the last book. Well, Mat made a bit of progress with his daughter of the nine moons, but just a bit. I think the part that really frustrated me came in Elayne’s viewpoint, when at the end is said something like “another day in her life.” UGH! If it’s just another day, why did I have to read about it in excruciating detail? How about skipping a bit to the part where something does happen.

Parrin’s wife is still captive. Egweyne and her army are still in a holding pattern outside Travalon. Elayne is still trying to solidify her claim to the lion throne. Rand makes one decision that I’m sure will turn out to be important in the next book, but for now it’s just one decision.

Worse, there was very little action here. A lot of politicking, almost no physical danger, and no climax to speak of, not so much as a heightening of tension. There was a cliffhanger at the end — something significant that happens on the last page — but all in all, I don’t know what the point of this book was. I might have thought there was more point if they had really dealt with the cleansing of the male half of the true source — even so much as to fight over whether it really happened or not — but they didn’t. It was more like, “Hey, what’s going on over there?” while everybody went about their day.

I will finish this series, but I did not care for this book at all.(less)

like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 7sabo_vicky rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was rather disappointed by this book,there was only a very minimall amount of action or even very much character or plot development. I feel that Robert Jordan was over detailed and simultaneously mundane, the same few seemingly unimportant details, such as colaping chairs being unstable that would if used less often might lead to a sense of sincerity and realism in such a fantastic world instead is only repetitive and cumbersome as every time these details are mentioned they are introduced as...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Jeffrey Grant rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is much like the last in terms of format, but very little occurs that moves the plot along. Perrin and company keep looking for Faile (there is one chapter following her), Elayne is busy being pregnant and trying to win the throne, Egwene is beseiging Tar Valon (there is an important development hidden in here; I missed it my first time reading the series), Mat is running from the Seanchan, and Rand is tired. There are also three interludes; one with Darkfriends in Camelyn, a horrendou...more This book is much like the last in terms of format, but very little occurs that moves the plot along. Perrin and company keep looking for Faile (there is one chapter following her), Elayne is busy being pregnant and trying to win the throne, Egwene is beseiging Tar Valon (there is an important development hidden in here; I missed it my first time reading the series), Mat is running from the Seanchan, and Rand is tired. There are also three interludes; one with Darkfriends in Camelyn, a horrendously pointless one following the beseigers of Camelyn, and one with the sisters in the Tower. Only the tower one has any significant developments.
Rand gets barely any space in the book, while everyone else gets about equal treatment, not that Rand does very much anymore. I can sort of undestand this from a writing point of view; Rand has become a deus ex machina after fixing the source. Wherever he shows up, any problems get solved either because he's the Dragon Reborn or because he can weild so much of the power and has guards now, so if Jordan wanted to keep any conflict going for more than a chapter he had to sideline Rand.
Unfortunately nobody else does anything either except move around a bit and meet with people. After it was published and he got major backlash that nobody was doing anything and there was too much time spent on minor characters, even the author admitted that this volume in particular hadn't worked how he wanted.
For all that, I still like the way Jordan has the characters interacting at this stage, so it wasn't a tortuous read for most of it, but it felt like having to watch the middle of Shawshank for three hours; sure the characters are good, the story's good, and you aren't bored, but eventually Andy needs to get off his ass and escape or you're going to get bored in spite of that.
As a service to people who want to keep on but are afraid that trying to pull through this book will kill their interest, the major developments are summarized here:
(view spoiler)(less)

like · see review

Feb 03, 2013 Richard Bray rated it 2 of 5 stars

CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT seems to primarily serve two functions in the WHEEL OF TIME series.

First, and most importantly, it’s about slight changes in the characters of Perrin and Matt. Perrin’s wife Faile was abducted two books ago, and this is the first time we get an extended peek at how Perrin is handling that. As her period of capture continues, we see Perrin becoming harder. Perrin has long been portrayed as something of the proverbial gentle giant. With broad blacksmith shoulders and his axe...more CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT seems to primarily serve two functions in the WHEEL OF TIME series.

First, and most importantly, it’s about slight changes in the characters of Perrin and Matt. Perrin’s wife Faile was abducted two books ago, and this is the first time we get an extended peek at how Perrin is handling that. As her period of capture continues, we see Perrin becoming harder. Perrin has long been portrayed as something of the proverbial gentle giant. With broad blacksmith shoulders and his axe at his hip, Perrin is often portrayed as the primary character who is saddest that the world is going to hell. He’s saddened by the suffering and the pain, and all he wants is to protect his wife and his homeland.

But now it’s been about a month since his wife was taken, and he’s a bit harder around the edges, a fact that is emphasized after his people capture some of the Shaido. In the aftermath of his actions, which display just how badass Perrin can be, Perrin is profoundly disappointed in himself, and frightened by what he could become. Whereas Rand has embraced doing what must be done, Perrin is disgusted by his own actions.

In Mat’s plotline, we see how he and Tuon interact and establish a baseline for their relationship. Like Perrin’s plot, we don’t seem to move much closer toward any resolution, but we get to understand these characters a little better.

The rest of the book’s pages are all about setting things up for the future. Whereas previous books have finished with a big battle, usually involving Rand, the Dragon Reborn barely appears in this book, and there’s no climax to provide a satisfying conclusion.

CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT is not really its own book, but it’s really the middle 800 pages of a far larger story. It’s unfulfilling to look back after reading the book and realize the plot hasn’t moved forward very much. My first draft of this review reflected that frustration.

But in thinking about it some more, I do recognize the subtle developments in some of our key characters, and I think I see Jordan setting things up so the Seanchan become a crucial part of the series conclusion. I just wish it didn’t take 822 pages for Jordan to achieve these things, especially 10 books into the series.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Geoffrey Cubbage rated it 2 of 5 stars

Picked this up thinking it was where I needed to resume the series after years of ignoring it, and then realized about halfway through that I'd actually read it before. NOT a good sign in a book.

For added hilarity, now that I've read it, I'm realizing that I probably read the next one, too. At least I think I did. But either way, pretty forgettable work.

I went ahead and slogged through Crossroads of Twilight again, with vague ideas of reading the rest of the series now that it's all out. Not muc...more

like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Tania Johansson rated it 3 of 5 stars

There is no question that Robert Jordan was a master at the craft. I thoroughly enjoyed book ten of the WoT series.

I think my one criticism would be that at times there is an overload of unnecessary information. If it wasn't for this, I would certainly have given it a higher star rating. On occasion, I found my thoughts wandering a bit when he goes into the detail of the clothes of every person in the room and their facial expressions, etc. Some significant portions could have been omitted with...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 26, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. While I love the characters and the world that Robert Jordan has created, this is ultimately a frustrating read. By this stage in the series he has introduced us to so many characters that it seems a waste of time for him to focus on so few, for so many pages, with no resolution, especially when this book covers such a short period of time. I'm constantly interested in what is going on, but by the end of this instalment I was frustrated at the lack of time dedicated to Rand, Nynaeve, Lan and Cad...more

like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Kyle rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Wheel of Time series represents, for me, the perfect example of a guilty pleasure in the world of fantasy.

This series is not actually written very well. Robert Jordan was not a very good wordsmith, and he really only knew how to say and describe things one way. His characters are generally unbelievable, and have ridiculous dialogue. The plot is tremendously predictable, and is heavily influenced (close to the point of being unoriginal) by the fantasy works that came before. The whole story i...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Ward Bond added it

From Publishers Weekly

...more From Publishers Weekly

The eagerly awaited 10th installment (after 2000's Winter's Heart) in Jordan's monumental Wheel of Time has all the breadth and depth that have made this fantasy author one of the acknowledged greats of the genre. Like Tolkien's Ring trilogy, Wheel of Time is a single, extended novel rather than a series, and in Crossroads, new characters join the cast and old favorites grow ever more complex. Yet if the scope of Jordan's richly nuanced creation has won him millions of readers, it also forms the saga's biggest obstacle. Here Mat Cauthon is still fleeing the Seanchan; Perrin Goldeneyes still hunts the Shaido to free his beautiful wife, Faile; the cities Caemlyn and Tar Valon are still besieged and the battles have not been joined. Those impatient with the glacial movement of the last four books will find more of the same. As the title suggests, this entry represents a turning point, a time of momentous decisions as the rebel Aes Sedai consider an alliance with the Asha'man and Rand ponders a truce with the Seanchan. Lending perhaps the most recognizable humanity is Mat's love interest, Tuon, the spoiled, adorable Daughter of the Nine Moons, whose kidnapping is concealed by Valan Luca's Grand Traveling Show and Magnificent Display of Marvels and Wonders. She twists Mat around her finger, deliberately annoying him by calling him "Toy." The epilogue suggests Tuon will play a major role in volume 11. Jordan fans who miss the breakneck pace of the earlier books can always hope the action will pick up again.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From

The Wheel of Time continues to turn slowly and purposely in the tenth novel in Jordan's popular, epic series. Jordan follows his well-established pattern of tracking the activities of his widely spread characters as he moves them inexorably toward the looming Final Battle between the Dark One and those who oppose it. In this story, Mat flees with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, pursued by the army of the Seanchan Empire as well as by the Dark One. Perrin is trying to rescue his wife, Faile, from the Shaido. Egwene, now Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, and her forces lay siege to the White Tower, where Elaida wears the Amyrlin shawl. The Aes Sadai must be reunited to defend against the Dark One. And Rand al' Thor, the Dragon Reborn, faces his own demons, even though he has managed to cleanse the Dark One's taint from the males who can channel. As usual, Jordan's canvas is vast and his plotting intricate. Each of the many characters is as distinctively recognizable as any of those in the series' other volumes, while on all fronts, intrigues and dangers intensify. Must-reading for Jordan's huge and faithful following. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

(less)

like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 Lennie Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

i was bored through out a lot of the book to say the very least. i love robert jordan's writing. i know he's longwinded. but it has a good ring to it, if you can understand that. it flows together really weel. i find it sopisticated. i love all the wheel of time books each in thier own way. wither its the story of the indiviual book, the character's actions and choices, the new culture, or simplly that the book focuses on my favorite charcter. i think this was a filler book. like it was only the...more

like · see review

Jan 12, 2012 Joseph Mazzola rated it 3 of 5 stars

Instead of doing my Thursday review, as is my habit, on my Livejournal, I will do so here for the book but put up a separate one there.

I like the Wheel of Time, and this is only my first time reading through the series now that it is almost complete. While there are a few, consistent problems with the whole series, it is never anything crippling. That said, Crossroads of Twilight, the second-to-last Wheel of Time book before the death or Robert Jordan is probably the weakest entry in it, while...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 05, 2011 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm. Well, the good news is it's not as bad as everyone says it is. The bad news is it's not all that great either.

In quickly scanning the last 10 or so reviews of this book, the complaints pretty much boil down to "it moves slowly" and "nothing happens."

I rather disagree with the latter.* The former, unfortunately, is pretty spot on. The actual problem with this book, as I see it, is not that nothing happens (see A Path of Daggers, which was great) or that it moves slowly (See The Fires of H...more Hmmm. Well, the good news is it's not as bad as everyone says it is. The bad news is it's not all that great either.

In quickly scanning the last 10 or so reviews of this book, the complaints pretty much boil down to "it moves slowly" and "nothing happens."

I rather disagree with the latter.* The former, unfortunately, is pretty spot on. The actual problem with this book, as I see it, is not that nothing happens (see A Path of Daggers, which was great) or that it moves slowly (See The Fires of Heaven, which was really great), it's that a couple of small problems dominate the attention of the reader and obfuscate the actual value of the story.

Here's what I mean. Throughout the Wheel Of Time there are a couple of things that happen fairly consistently in each of the books: 1) The prologue visits a few minor or semi-major characters and gives updates on their stories, and usually there's at least one major event that takes place here, which gives momentum to the rest of the book. 2) The book is composed of vignettes that further the viewpoints of a few co-located characters, and these vignettes have a beginning, and middle, and an end (usually a cliffhanger, of course.) 3) There is a major, dramatic, world-changing ending (that usually takes about 80-100 pages).

Here's what happens in this book. 1) The prologue covers 7 characters, and a whole bunch of the characters covered are either showing up for the first time, or have been very rarely featured. After the absolutely breathless conclusion to Winter's Heart, I don't want to know what @#$%ing Rodel Ituralde is doing in $%^&ing Tarabon, I want to know whether Saidin is actually cleansed! So this deals an immediate blow to the momentum of the book.

Then, as indicated in 2) we continue with the mini-novels advancing the story lines or Perrin & Faile, Mat, Elayne, Egwene, and Rand. And most of these aren't bad. Perrin's story moves briskly along, he figures out where the Shaido are and he galvanizes as a leader. Moreover, the fantastic So Harbor sequence shows that Robert Jordan still has some surprises up his sleeve. Mat's story line is equally compelling,** mostly because of his blossoming relationship with Tuon (which is handled much more interestingly and delicately than Nynaeve and Lan's: "oh, by the way, we're in love, too bad we're doomed" from book, uh, 1? 2?) Rand's section is great as always, no worries there. And even Elayne's political wrangling, although short on actual outcomes does a reasonably effective job of discussing pregnancy, leadership, politics, and how the three interact.

The real problem here is Egwene and her storyline. For starters, it's a bad sign when the first thing that happens in your storyline is that someone (in this case Gareth Bryne) says "If you act now, which you have the capability to do all your problems will be solved." and you (in this case Egwene) responds "No, that wouldn't be in character. Let's dither for 200 pages." Now, to be fair, I respect Robert Jordan for this. It certainly is true to Egwene's chracter, and I've even complained (what was I thinking!) about some of the rapid fire decisions made by the characters (well, Rand) leading up to the finales. (Books 5 *AND* 7 both end with what amounts to "suddenly, Rand decided to challenge one of the forsaken...".) But the way it's presented, right at the beginning of the Egwene's storyline, really kills the momentum of the book***, so much so that I left off on page 500 for something like 4 weeks.

And finally, remember how I mentioned 3)? The great endings that change the world and leave the reader breathless and wanting more? Well, that's here all right. And it even comes from Egwene's storyline. The problem is, the part of it that's worthy to be called a finale is two paragraphs long. On page 818 of the paperback (out of 822) I still had no idea what was going on, or why I should care. Seriously unsatisfying, especially compared to....any of the other books.

I repeat, there is still a lot of good in here. And there are some remarkable things about this book. For example, both Elayne and Egwene's story lines feature almost no male characters whatsoever. Robert Jordan has blown the Bechdel test out of the water. Moreover, by slowing down the pace of the story, the challenges facing the characters seem more difficult, and thus their struggles feel more epic. I like all this very much. I genuinely think that if the prologue had featured a little more action, if Egwene's storylines had been structured in the novel a little differently, and if the finale were better constructed, that this would have been much more comparable to any of the last, each of which I enjoyed more than this.

* I stand by this statement, however, having started book 11, I was forced to comment: "More happens in the first 39 pages of Knife of Dreams than happens in the entirety of Crossroads of Twilight."

** Except for one minor detail. Remember how in Fires of Heaven, Elayne and Nynaeve join the circus and it's freaking maddening becauwe Nynaeve can't stop thinking about her scandalous low cut dress and Elayne's too tight trousers? Well, guess what, Mat joins a circus too. THE SAME @#$%ing CIRCUS. I would hold this more against Robert Jordan if I wasn't convinced that this was an intentional self parody...

*** Which is too bad, because there's again a lot of good in Egwene's storyline. There are murder mysteries and Age of Legends-esque discoveries! There is intrigue and subterfuge! And the relationship between Egwene and Halima is the creepiest thing in the entire series so far. (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2011 Peter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This was probably the most tedious out of all the books I have read so far. That aside, I feel that I've reached some sort of milestone in the reading of this series. As I begin the 5th month of reading, I have finally read 10 of the books...and I find myself with three more, plus one that has yet to come out.

Overall, it was a very difficult book for me to read; this book probably took the time it would have taken me to read at least two of the others. Basically, nothing happens. It's all small...more

like · see review

Dec 23, 2010 Chariti King Canny rated it 4 of 5 stars

This series is brilliant. There is just the right balance of fantastical detail and speed of reading. The way the author writes, as I get more and more involved in the story, the more plausible everything seems... the perfect fantasy novel. There are rare moments where he gets a little too tied up in detailing the scene environment, but overall, this is an excellent story.
He does follow the story formula, which probably is what adds to the simplicity and readability of the storyline. However, t...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2010 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review stands for the entire Wheel of Time series.

The Wheel of Time appears to be in good hands with Brandon Sanderson penning the last Book (in three parts) of Robert Jordan's epic.

Although I have been reading these books for as long as I have been reading Katherine Kerr's Deverry novels, and will be reading them at least until 2012 when the final book is due out, I have enjoyed them so much that I am willing to ignore the length of time it has taken. It must be almost 20 years from first...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2010 Ruth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And this is where the series grinds to a complete halt. This is one of the worst books I have read all the way through (usually if a book is bad, I just stop reading). My husband was urging me to get through it because he promised the next book was better and the one after that much better, so I skimmed parts and kept hoping that SOMETHING would happen.

It didn't. The low point was the chapter wherein Perrin and company think about maybe going into the nearby town to buy grain, seeing as how they...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 07, 2010 Leah rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is it--this is the book where I, a masochistically faithful WoT fan since childhood, could no longer grasp the frayed thread that Jordan was offering, and finally let go.

NOTHING. HAPPENS.

With this book, I admitted to myself that I was merely reading the series out of duty, not interest--a stubborn insistence on seeing just how it would end. Even beloved characters became insufferable and dull, and characters who I initially disliked, like Elayne, Perrin, and Faile, were truly loathsome. To...more

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2009 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads

With book 12 coming out in a few weeks, I decided to reread the last couple books in the series again. This is my third time through this one and it's quite a shame since it's probably the worst in the series. I love the series, but it certainly lost something in the latter half.

The most disappointing thing is that, though Jordan claimed time and time again that this was to be a twelve book series, nothing happened in this book. There is no possible way he could have finished this in two more n...more

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Ala rated it 1 of 5 stars

Stop number 10. Finally, I've reached the double digits on this Journey along the Wheel.

And I almost wish I hadn't.

Have you ever driven through the desert? With nothing to see as far as the horizon, except the lone road ahead? Miles and miles of empty wilderness, devoid of any semblance of life or civilization except the lonely road before you?

Never knowing when the desert will end, or if you'll survive to see it? Wondering if you'll just be stuck in this endless emptiness? This soul killing, mi...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 06, 2010 joby rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Every would be author of epic fantasy (or any long running series) should be required to (prior to being published) document the failings of The Wheel of Time with particular focus on this book.

It is really hard to comprehend how in a nearly 700 page book not only nothing happens, but nothing happens to a bunch of people you don't care about. Most of the book is the multitude of secondary threads reacting to the events at the conclusion of Winter's Heart. Instead of reading the book, I'd recomm...more

4 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Huge epic battle on the cover?	3	33	Apr 18, 2013 06:16am
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Finished SPOILERS	9	48	Apr 07, 2013 10:56am
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Chapters 8 through 15 SPOILERS	10	76	Mar 24, 2013 11:06am
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Glimmers of the Pattern through Chapter 7 SPOILERS	5	70	Mar 24, 2013 11:01am
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Planning to Read? First Impressions? NO SPOILERS	8	75	Mar 18, 2013 01:32pm
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Chapters 16 through 23 SPOILERS	4	28	Jan 25, 2013 07:02pm
Fantasy Book Club...: CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Chapters 24 through 30 SPOILERS	1	19	Jan 22, 2013 07:03pm

combine
Other Editions (32)

More editions...

Genres

Fantasy

2,721 users

Fantasy > Epic Fantasy

218 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

111 users

Epic

65 users

Fantasy > High Fantasy

54 users

Adventure

31 users

Fantasy > Magic

28 users

Adult

21 users

Science Fiction

21 users

Novels

11 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

The Lair of Bones
by David Farland
Confessor
by Terry Goodkind
Exile's Return
by Raymond E. Feist
The Hero of Ages
by Brandon Sanderson
Elegy for a Lost Star
by Elizabeth Haydon

About Robert Jordan

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reily.

Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to...more Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reily.

Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.

He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week.[7] He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.

Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."

On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.

He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.

Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
<(less)

More about Robert Jordan...

Books by Robert Jordan

The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time, #1)

The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, #12; A Memory of Light, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Crossroads of Twi...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Crossroads of Twilight

“Sometimes, pain is all that lets you know you're alive.” — 49 people liked it

“If your enemy offers you two targets, strike at a third.” — 37 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Crossroads of Twilight
avg rating	preview: Crossroads of Twilight Goodreads rating: 3.77 (31421 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113435.Crossroads_of_Twilight?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312020690l/113435.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113435.Crossroads_of_Twilight?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan[/url]

Crossroads of Twilight (Wheel of Time #10)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website