Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan, Book Ten of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan is the tenth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows four main plot arcs. Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Elayne. All four characters face hard choices and must grow so they can complete the challenges put before them in future novels. Will the forces of Light be stopped at the Crossroads of Twilight?
Summary – Prologue
The prologue has seven point-of-view characters, and each point of view sets up a plot arc.
Ritel Ituralde is a general of Amon Domain who knows the Seanchan will attack him soon and makes plans to defeat them.
Eamon Valda is a leader of the White Cloaks who face battles with the Seanchan and the Aes Sedai.
Gabrelle is warder-bonded to Logain at the Black Tower. She tries to figure out what move the Ahsa’man will take next.
Yukiki searches for the Black Ajah at the White Tower.
Gawyn oversees the Younglings and wonders what to do next.
Davram Bashere commands a unit in Elayne’s army that is sieging Caemalyn, trying to win her the crown of Andor.
Samitsu is overseeing Cairhien by Cadsuane’s request. She must find out who and why someone attempted to assassinate Dobraine.
Summary–Groups of characters
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan has four main plots.
Rand wants to make a truce with the Seanchan so they can both focus on defeating the forces of the Dark One rather than each other.
Mat leaves Ebou Dar with the cover of the traveling circus to escape to Murandy. He courts Tuon but is clueless about the ways of the Seanchan.
Perrin discovers the Shaido confines Faile in their winter quarters in Malden. The Shaido are too strong to attack. Perrin looks for supplies and faces a difficult decision.
Egwene brought her rebels forces to siege Tar Valon. She faces a set back at the end of the novel which might jeopardize her ability to take Tar Valon.
Summary–Best Plot Points
Three Chapters stand out in Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan.
Traps is Chapter 9 where Faile is punished by the Shaido but is comforted by Rolan.
A Mark is Chapter 21 where Alvarin is worried that she will be found out at the White Tower as part of the Black Ajah.
What must be done is Chapter 31 where Perrin must make a hard choice. Perrin’s conflict in the series has been between the hammer and the axe. For him the hammer means the blacksmith profession and resolving issues by words. The axe means war and battle. Perrin faces a situation where he must choose between the axe and the hammer.
Recommendation
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan has some brilliant scenes, but the plot arcs begun in Winter’s Heart are still not competed in this novel. This novel functions to set up the events resolved in the next novel in the series, Knife of Dreams. This novel didn’t have a big ending like the ones that occurred in most of the other novels of the series. I see Winter’s Heart, Crossroads of Twilight, and Knife of Dreams as a sort of a trilogy set inside the series.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113435.Crossroads_of_Twilight
Winters Heart by Robert Jordan has some brilliant scenes but misses conclusions to the plot arcs explored
Review of Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan. When Rand fights the Seanchan, will they defeat him, or will he win across the Path of Daggers?
This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?
This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?
This is the link to my review of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time.
This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.
This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book Three of the Wheel of Time.
This is the link to my review of Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book Two of the Wheel of Time.
This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book one of the Wheel of Time.
