After reading the first nine books in Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series, it was hard to imagine the author slowing the story even more. But that is what he does in "Crossroads of Twilight" - book 10 in the series.

Despite hundreds of named characters, only a few can be categorized as main characters. These main characters do and experience very little in the 800+ pages of this volume.

Perrin Aybara searches for his kidnapped wife Faile Bashere but does not find her.

Faile contemplates escape but does not succeed or even attempt it.

Mat Cauthon courts Tuon because he believes they are destined to marry, but he makes no progress.

Elayne Trakand consolidates her power as queen of Andor, but not much happens; Rand al'Thor does some talking.

Rand al'Thor does not appear until the second half of the book and does a lot of talking when he finally shows up.

Egwene al'Vere prepares to attack the White Tower but does not.

Min Farshaw fades into the background.

If Nynaeve al'Meara was in the book, I missed it.

Jordan takes his plodding storytelling to a new low pace. Hundreds of pages pass with no advancement of the plot and little development of the characters.

I now begrudgingly turn to volume 11.