Title: Crossroads of Twilight
Author: Robert Jordan
Series: The Wheel of Time #10
Narrator: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 26 hours 4 minutes
Published: 2017, MacMillan Audio (originally published 2003)
My Grade: 3 out of 5
Review Summary: Crossroads of Twilight is a slower-paced, but still extremely detailed instalment in The Wheel of Time series, focusing heavily on political maneuvering and the aftermath of earlier events.

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

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 nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.

Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al’Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha’man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha’man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.

In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.

Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One’s taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

MY REVIEW

Number ten in the series, and yet again, a slow-paced instalment which focuses on setting the scene and building political intricacies. It is not bad, it is very much real and you as a reader are definitely there, but there are few scenes of action.

Thinking back of the last nine books, I do believe that this is the first where it doesn’t happen a ton of stuff in the last 5-10% of the book. It was just wrapping up the story, making us ready for the next one.

A lot of focus lies with Perrin and Elayne, a little with Egwene and even less with Rand. Which I guess makes sense. Crossroads of Twilight pretty much only deals with the aftermath of Rand’s extreme endeavors in Winter’s Heart.

Honestly, it’s yet another travel piece, 26h and only two weeks passing story-wise. The world building is incredible and I do feel like the ending will be truly epic. Like with the last books, I keep my hopes high and will continue on, but I am starting to get a little bit tired of all the political intrigue. It is not really my cup of tea and it is way more detailed and complex than George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, even though it was such a long time ago I read those books. Still enjoyable. I have gotten fond of the characters, but I still get confused whenever new ones are introduced, but generally, I really like the world and the story! 3 out of 5, enjoyable, for sure.