Well here I am after a marathon 8 hours of reading. I do want to address some things first off before I go any further:
1. I'm a habitual reader, I've read every book literally 25+ times ( POD 4 times... sadface )
2. I love the books, I've been here 15 years, my dad 20.
3. My first review I've ever typed out.

I wanted to start off by addressing the pacing of the book. I've seen people come out of the woodwork defending or criticizing it, but come on, are you going to really tell me you enjoyed the pacing of parts of the middle of the series?

If you didn't enjoy this book, I am sorry because I think we're finally starting that sprint to the finish line. The events of the book seem to take place over the course of a month(correct me if I'm wrong), and at least I would think the pacing is appropriate for that.

I really loved how BS wrote Rand, Egwene, Perrin and most of the characters in the book. I do think, and I know others out there have voiced the opinion, that Mat just does not feel right to me. It's unfortunate as he was my favorite character, but I think he might be the closest to Mr. Jordan of the main characters, or he had a special kinship with Mat that wasn't easily interpreted or transcribed.

You might say that the changes in Rand, Perrin and Egwene in the previous 2 novels and this one, lent an easier pathway for BS to shape them into something he could write. Especially Egwene.

Rand's new order.. How Rand began to affect the world after his metamorphosis. As I'm sure everyone recalls he asks Cadsuane "Do you believe I could bend the pattern around me.. if I willed it ... and stop your heart?". Yet here we are, with the Light, Sanity, "Dragoness", whatever it may be termed, restored or granted to him. With it, he wields the power that gave him this dark aura in *THE* way that will win the battle for the Light. Darkfriends cannot even look at him anymore! Badass!

I was extremely disappointed with the Mesanna confrontation, but I hadn't thought it through. I think back to when Rand starts believing them (The Forsaken) mortals. Yes infinitely knowledgeable and powerful, but kill able and mistake prone nonetheless. Mesanna goes down with a whimper? Who is really surprised given all we've seen. I was sort of half surprised Perrin didn't happen upon her threatening Egwene and just banish her from existence with a little Wolf Power. I almost wrote Worf Power.

It was nice to be in the thoughts of Ituralde again, I wished we'd seen him more. Ditto for Tam al'thor. (in the series)

My favorite scene from the book is Perrin saving the whilecloaks\forging the hammer. The last time I got a chill like this was Pippen yelling "Look the Eagles" in Return of the King in the theater. I'm interested to know what exactly the hammer is now, a power wrought sword, or a very complicated ter'angreal of some kind that burns trollocs souls, shadowspawn? I don't think we saw enough of it in battle to really guess yet.

In conclusion this has potential to be my favorite book of the series, but that may be because of the sheer amount of "I've waited so long for that ... YES!" Jersey fist pump I do reading said scene.

I often go back to the Dragon Reborn for comparisons as it is easily my favorite book. So much happened, Rand is everywhere like the whispered title "Dragon Reborn" that isn't spoken when he first meets with Caemlyn nobles and introduces himself as "Rand al'Thor". Yet we see him all of 10 pages? 15? The race against time, to save Rand, for Mat to get healed, for Mat to save the girls, for Perrin to keep his sanity. What I think ToM captures so well is that same feel of all three main characters racing against time to become their ta'veren destiny and to gather for the Last Battle.

Thanks for reading.