The Shadow Rising: Book Four of The Wheel of Time

Great development of Perrin and a decent amount of Mat, this novel stands out as the most emotional and most ecstatic novel in the series. This turn in the series is the most engaging and enjoyable. I have listened to it 4 times now and each time experience a tightening in my throat when...well better not spoil it. You will not regret this one!

Now totally addicted to the pattern that Jordan has woven, I have to admit this last installment was by far my favorite. YES, critics of Jordan are right in that he can describe every detail in the most mundane scenes...and YES, his characters are a bit one dimensional in their personas...BUT with a story this complex I have to admit I appreciate characters that I know won't change on me from chapter to chapter or book to book. What I think most critics miss is that this book is about the storyline and the pattern, not just about the characters that play within it.

This past week I learned that Jordon has died and that he didn't finish his last book in the series (and rumor has it the last installment is a mammoth!). I am committed to finishing this out and seeing Rand through as the Dragon reborn, finding out what Lord Perin Golden Eyes does, and discover what's up with Matt and his flair for luck and history. 4 books down, 8 more to go!

I have been lukewarm at best about most of the series so far, as Jordan's penchant for exhaustive repetition is nothing short of maddening, but in this book he manages to drop it (along with the omnipresent adolescent angst that manages to overshadow every significant event by burying it under a mountain of triviality) long enough to achieve a few moments with some genuine emotional resonance. To avoid posting any spoilers, I will refrain from specifics, but the most poignant are the moments of history that Rand views, and they succeed where so many other efforts by Jordan fail because he--probably unintentionally--drops his usual writing devices and gets out of the way to simply narrate the events for us. The contrast between this part and most of the rest of the series is really amazing, and shows just how strongly we can feel the emotions of the moment without having to have it spelled out repeatedly for us both before and afterward. It's unfortunate that Jordan seems to trust the intelligence of his readers so little.

So kudos to the author for some really great moments in this book (there are one or two more, but I cannot describe them without giving things away). I wish there were more like them throughout the rest of the series.

Through out the Wheel of Time different threads of each part continue to get more and more intriguing. The changes/challenges each character undergoe never fail to leave you wanting more.

Great series + Great narration = must read

This series has been fantastic, and this book is the best so far. Can't wait to get the next one...

I believe this is one of the best in the series. I can't wait for the Fires of Heaven to come out. I really pray it is the unabridged version!

You are reading the best epic fantasy series there is. period. It may take a while to get into it but you will. There are 2600 plus characters but don't get scared teenagers read this every day. You will know these peoples as "friends" and "enemies" and like your own family. Read by the dynamic duo of recitation kate reading and michael kramer... they pull it all together .. I switch genres just to listen to them... It [the series] is really one huge wonderful story broken into 14 too short books that nobody wants to see ended..I can not express how good these books are. I have started 16 different friends reading TWoT and they are all addicted. You think that maybe the books are enchanted some how???
If fantasy is your genre you have arrived....... paul t.

This is Great

I did not realize when I purchased this audiobook that it had a female and a male narrator. This was new to me. Although it seemed a little strange to be switching back and forth it actually goes with the theme of Jordan's books. I did like both narrators and thought they did a good job. I am only disappointed not all 10 books are in audible's collection.