I love Robert Jordan. I read and re-read his books on a regular basis. I got book eight. I cleared a weekend for uninterrupted reading. I opened the book, I thought "Why did he do THIS?" I was disappointed that the book did not cover its usual panoramic view of the world where the epic story is taking place. Several of the major storylines were not addressed. (How can you leave us hanging, Mr. Jordan?) The book was short. (I know it is the around the same number of pages, but if you increase the font size and increase the margin width it hardly counts, does it?) I have heard some odd rationalizations for this book. I was told that Robert Jordan was paid almost nothing for the first eight books, but that contract is over and now he is in it for the money. I am not sure what to think. I will buy book nine the day it comes out (I have to know what is happening). But I hope that it is a better book than this one was. It would be an unfortunate end to a truly stellar series.