This is, without a doubt, the best book in the series.

Yes, this book is long. But at this point, you're clearly committed to reading a 14 book series- the length isn't relevant. You either like Jordan's style by now, or you don't. This is, to me, the point of no return- either you're committing to the rest by reading this, or you're not.

The story in this is incredibly good. It's got a slower, more measured pace than the other books. In the other books, the action was driven by the characters going places and doing things there. In this book, the action is driven by political scheming and interactions between characters. It's a big shift, but Jordan really pulls it off- it was a necessary shift to happen- book 5 wrapped up most of the major plotlines from the first 5 books, and now was the time to step back, reflect, and set up the plotlines for the next several books. And that's what you're expecting going in- book 5s ending is so explosive that you need room to breathe. And he gives you that. And keeps giving you that, until you realize that he actually wasn't giving you ANY room to breathe, and that you actually just thought he was because you weren't paying attention. He has lulled you, just like the characters, into a false sense of security- and it pays off enormously.

This book adds more to the world than book 5 did. It really expands on the differences between the courts in Cairhien and Caemlyn, and distinguishes them pretty well.

This is easily my favorite book of the entire series; I actively look forward to reading it every single time I read the books.