I've been reading through the Wheel of Time series for what seems like ages, and I admit I was not looking forward to this book. Many reviewers said that Robert Jordan lost his voice, or the complete opposite and exercised it to readily. Wordiness and random tangents, they said, plagued this book to make the it the low point in the series.
I disagree. I found it refreshing that Jordan change the pace so drastically in this book. Rather continuing in nonstop action and magic and high adventure, he took us on a journey inside the characters themselves. Forcing the reader to rely on previous knowledge of events and current happenings to discover the motives and feelings behind the story. The action still came, and it was still fast paced, if not a little eluded to at times, but the walk within was enjoyable.
I will say that the mystery of Rand's plans being kept secret even from the reader was risky, but it paid off for the most part in the end.
My only real complaint comes from the ending, which while a good one in the grand scale, seemed to happen to cleanly and/or quickly for the build up it required. But now I'm on to the next one.