CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT (The Wheel of Time #10) by Robert Jordan ⭐⭐⭐

Here’s the situation with this book, and this entire set of books.

When you go looking to start the Wheel of Time, you will find a spectrum of hot takes and reviews about the endeavor and the series itself. For those that don’t like it, they usually stop after 1, or 4, or 6. Supposedly, those are the base camps to hit on your way up the summit and gauge if you’re still breathing. If you’re fighting for air, those are the times to bail.

For those that do like it, they often say it’s a challenge with inevitable lulls, but it’s all more than worth it in the end.

The Long Lull starts after #6, and hits rock bottom in this book. Everywhere I’ve searched has almost unanimously called #10 the worst, or at least the hardest to struggle through. But they always preface with the upside: this is the calm before the storm. An arranging of pieces before the final stretch takes off.

As far as I can tell, the assessments are accurate. There’s no major climax, no raging final pages for pay off after the long journey. A couple small cliffhangers are all we get to satiate our needs while Robert Jordan puts things where he needs them. I could never quit this series, but knowing that this is just a massive bump in the road before the getting-gets-good absolutely helped me slog through. For anyone dealing with the same issue, here’s me paying it forward.

I obviously don’t have the authority yet to say if this is really the last struggle before the end. But I can say I’m enamored with this series, no matter the dips. And if this is where we are after ten books and only the best yet to come, then there are worse places to be in the literary world.

Three stars, because this is the low compared to the high so far. But I don’t hold as much ill-will toward this entry as other readers. In fact, I imagine savoring this moment later, envious of myself beginning the end for the first time.

And after a quick detour to the actual beginning, I’ll have that something to be envious about.

Update 12/31/21:

I WOULD say this is the last real struggle before the gettin’s good, even though 11 is more of a climb up than the real reward the last three are. But man, to be back at this point before all that. Sweet summer child.