If you’ve been reading this whole series of book reflections, you must be rather bored. I mean, bravo, noble surfer of the web. Bravo. In any case, if you’ve even just read the previous reflection on Crossroads of the Twilight, then you’d know that KoD is coming in after my least favorite book in the series.

This is coupled with the fact that Robert Jordan has stated that he intends to write only one more book after KoD to finish off the series.

One more.

The man must be a bit crazy, and I greatly fear for the culmination of this beloved series. However, if he picks up the pace like he did in KoD, I see it as doable. Not happily doable, mind you, but doable.

KoD returns to the roots of the series by bringing in far more action and resolution than the latter half of the series. Indeed, the pacing is more akin to books 3-4 than anything else since then. And that’s a good thing. Mostly.

What is unfortunate is that Jordan has apparently decided to push through at all costs, and he ties up subplots shotgun style in frustrating swiftness. Plot points that took chapters, even hundreds of pages, are quickly summed up, leaving the reader feeling disappointed and wondering why all the brouhaha about something that ended up being most trivial.

On the other hand, having (mostly) abandoned the long-winded stylistic narrative of the latter half, Jordan feels freer to explore his developed characters. Some of the points brought a good chuckle, and one particularly poignant moment almost brought a tear.

So, is the wait worth it? Well, as Jordan often says, we’ll have to RAFO (read and find out) – cause this isn’t the end. Still if the next book must be the final book, then I hope that it is in the KoD style allowing for swift and conclusive ends.

Spoilers below here.

First off, I’ll say that all of this buildup to the final battle seems somewhat swift. Oh, wait. What buildup? People seeing dead people? Shifting corridors? Elayne’s mood swings? Yeah, I will say that it seems more like Jordan got tired of writing and decided to quickly end the series than it being planned. Something like the final battle should have more a lead to it – massive battles, Trolloc invasions, Forsaken gathering for a final weapon, etc. Yeah, we can point to all the crap that’s been happening, but it still seems a bit sudden.

Perrin finally has a decent role in a book, making a deal with the Seanchan and ultimately rescuing his Faile. We also find out that he’s in the Prophecies, carrying a hammer. His subplot with Aram is brought to a quick and unsatisfactory end. Admittedly, I didn’t much like Aram or his character’s purpose, but it had too much buildup to be done away with so quickly. At the very least, the great Faile chase is at last finished, and they can go off to do more interesting things.

Mat finally figures out he bellfounder mystery and the result is that he begins planning how to use the weapons that Aludra has designed. He also kicks some serious Seanchan tail, showing that he’s still one sweet character. His very odd relationship with Tuon comes to the expected result with an unexpected twist. Oh, and he and Thom are gonna go rescue a certain character who should have been rescued this book.

Rand shows himself as a much more tragic figure. Jordan has noted that he is modeled after the one-handed god, and Rand emulates that on a physical level. He also becomes a good bit more deadly, and I’m interested to see what he and Logain will end up doing. He also captures Semirhage which should prove interesting.

Elayne still has mood swings, but she finally secures the Lion Throne. Her bits were probably my least favorite, especially since Aviendha gets whisked away by the Wise Ones. Several other minor subplots are wrapped up there as well, so it’s good that she can start the next book with little impedance. Maybe she’ll actually go looking for Gawyn?

Egwene seriously kicks some tail. No, really. By far my favorite portion of the book is how she wages a guerilla war from within the Tower. She finally gets out from under Halima (who’s found out), and she realizes all the potential that’s been built up over the past volumes. Book 12 is poised for a final showdown between her and Elaida, and it should be good.

KoD, though with some faults, restores faith in the WoT series.

1. The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time
2. New Spring: The Novel by Robert Jordan
3. Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
4. The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
5. The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan
6. The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
7. The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
8. Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan
9. A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan
10. Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan
11. Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan
12. Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
13. Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan