Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This 14th and final book in Jordan's celebrated Wheel of Time fantasy series was completed after Jordan's death by Sanderson, working from the author's notes and outline. Narrators Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, who narrated previous installments of the series, return for this conclusion, and their deep understanding of these characters and this fictional world shines through in every word. Kramer has a deep voice that pulls the reader in, while Reading's tones are more thoughtful and reflective. Both give memorable, nuanced performances that keep readers on the edge of their seats during exciting action scenes and put them in the characters' minds as thoughts are revealed. The rich history of this fictional world and its enormous cast of characters is likely too complicated for newcomers, who really need to start with the first book. But fans of the series will be well rewarded for their patience in awaiting this final installment. A Tor hardcover. (Jan) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Sanderson, working from Jordan's notes, brings the late author's epic fantasy saga "The Wheel of Time" to its completion in book 14. Although the vast majority of this title concerns war and military conflicts, many loose ends from the earlier books are brought together, including the long-awaited confrontation between the Dragon Reborn, Rand al'Thor, and the Dark One. The clear, well-paced, and intense performances by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, who narrated the entire series, provides an excellent delivery of a complex and gargantuan tale that can seem too long owing to a surfeit of characters and events. VERDICT Of interest to fans of fantasy and the series. ["Anyone who has read the first 'Wheel' books will want to read this one as well. In fact, anyone who likes epic fantasy will enjoy it," read the starred review of the Tor hc, LJ Xpress Reviews, 1/25/13.-Ed.]-Denise A. Garofalo, Mount Saint Mary Coll., Newburgh, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"There are no endings, and never will be endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time." Even so, with this volume, the late Jordan's hyperinflated Wheel of Time series grinds to a halt. Jordan (Eye of the World, 1990, etc.), here revived by way of the extensive notebooks, drafts and outlines he left behind by amanuensis Sanderson (Creative Writing/Brigham Young Univ.), was an ascended master of second-tier Tolkien-ism; the world he creates is as densely detailed as Middle-earth, and if the geography sounds similar, pocked with place names such as Far Madding and the Blasted Lands, that's no accident. Tolkien-esque, too, is the scenario for this saga-closer, namely a "last battle" in which the forces of good are arrayed against those of darkness. The careless reader might take this to be a battle of hairdressers in a West Indian neighborhood: "The Dreadlords came for him eventually, sending an explosion to finish the job. Deepe spent the last moments throwing weaves at them. He died well." That's not the case, of course; instead, saga heroes Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybara range the lands beyond the Dark One's prison to do all manner of good and adventuresome things. It's a strange world, that: Perrin finds the pit to end all pits, "[a]n eternal expanse, like the blackness of the Ways, only this one seemed to be pulling him into it." But then, what kind of epic would it be if it weren't a strange place? Will wolves and orcsor whatever they aretake over the world, or will the good guys prevail? Jordan's fans, who are legion, will most decidedly want to learn the answer to that question.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
