For one thing, STUFF ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THIS BOOK. My husband thought I was nuts right off the bat, because I cheered out loud when Faile killed that asshole Prophet during the prologue.

I was worried when I saw how thick it was, because I figured there would be tons of dress descriptions and inner turmoil monologues amongst the characters in this one, as we all know Jordan was prone to in previous installations. But as I said before, STUFF HAPPENS!!!!! I'm so completely happy with the pace of the book and how things have begun clicking together, and how some things are moving toward resolution, that I could nearly weep. I can easily overlook the difference in storytelling between Jordan and Sanderson, in favor of getting all this wrapped up, for crying out loud. "The slightly off characters, The moronic internal ramblings. The meandering dialogue. The basic step by step descriptions of every thing that happens." Excuse me, but Jordan was just as bad, or worse, about most of those things in previous books than at any place in tGS.

Let me be clear: in no way do I disparage Jordan. He was a master storyteller. But the part of me that has been reading this series over half my life is ready for the ending. I feel a bit like Rand: let's get to Tarmon Gai'don and get this done! If that means making sacrifices as a reader - with the full knowledge that the original author has PASSED AWAY! - then I am completely willing to do so. No point in crying in your beer about it.