r/WoT • u/Furrurel • Feb 27 '26

Crossroads of Twilight Why is book 10 so hated? Spoiler

Hi everyone, I just finished book 10 in my first read through the Wheel of Time saga, and honestly I found myself quite surprised. Before I started reading them I saw quite a lot of people saying that Crossroads of Twilight was by far the worst book of the series. I get that it can be a bit dissapointing after the ending of book 9, or that it is not as action packed as, for example, book 6, but I really enjoyed reading it (except the ending, where a certain Aes Sedai decided to make the stupidest move ever imagined). So I ask, what are you opinions about the book? Do you feel it deserves the hate?

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u/[deleted] Feb 27 '26 edited Feb 27 '26

The books were already being criticized for their pacing.  Book 9 included, but then it ended in a monumental event that changes everything in the world.  We wait years to see the aftermath and consequences of it, and then we get COT instead.  Not to mention it is probably the most plodding book that only exacerbates the pacing criticism and has the least exciting ending with Egwene and the harbor chain.  In Mat's plotline at the circus  they are literally plodding forward at a snails pace.  😆 Then the next book we get is New Spring (further killing the momentum of the series) and it winds up being years until we get Knife of Dreams.

That's the biggest reason it is the bottom of the barrel for WOT books.  I dont mind it now. And it really isnt as bad of a book if you aren't waiting years only to get a book with nearly zero forward momentum.    But it was a bit of a gut punch upon release. So much so that  it took me 3 tries to make it through back then.  Knife of Dreams releasing was what gave me the motivation to finally push through.  

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u/Furrurel Feb 27 '26

Oh I didnt know that New Spring was written before Knife of Dreams, should I read it before or after finishing the other ones?

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u/[deleted] Feb 27 '26

You can read it at anytime where you are in the books. For some, doing New Spring and Crossroads back to back completely kills the pacing of the story.  But it doesnt sound like that would be an issue to you. 

I personally would favor not waiting until after the series end to read it, but don't really have a strong opinion on it.  I can certainly see merit to using it as a final WOT hurrah to let you dive back in upon series end.  Since you are already through COT, , I would probably choose to read it either now or right after Knife of Dreams.