Crossroads of Twilight was published by Tor Books in 2003. The novel takes place largely concurrent with the events of Winter’s Heart, showing how various characters around the world react to the massive use of the One Power at Shadar Logoth. Perrin continues his pursuit of the Shaido who captured his wife Faile; Mat and Tuon’s relationship develops as they travel with Luca’s circus; and Egwene maneuvers politically among the rebel Aes Sedai.
The novel is the most criticized in the series: its deliberate pacing, concurrent timeline, and relative lack of dramatic climax frustrated readers who had waited three years since the previous volume. Jordan himself acknowledged that the book moved slowly, and the subsequent five-year gap before Knife of Dreams tested reader patience severely.
The Defence of Crossroads
Defenders of the novel note that its political content — Egwene’s manoeuvring among the rebel Aes Sedai, Perrin’s moral compromises to rescue Faile, Mat’s deepening relationship with Tuon — represents Jordan at his most psychologically nuanced. The novel reads better in a binge than it did in serial publication, when readers had waited years for plot resolution.
Jordan’s Health
The gap between this novel and the next (2003 to 2005) was partly due to Jordan’s declining health. He was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis in 2006 and died on September 16, 2007, having left extensive notes for the series’ conclusion. The shadow of his illness hangs over the final books.
Collecting Crossroads of Twilight
First edition (Tor Books, New York, 2003): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket (first printing): $20–$50
- Signed first edition: $50–$150
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest. The least-collected volume, but signed copies gain value as Jordan completism increases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I skip this book? Purists say no; pragmatists say you can read a detailed summary and proceed to Knife of Dreams without significant loss. The political developments matter, but the plot advancement is minimal.
Is this really that bad? It is not badly written — Jordan’s prose remains accomplished. The problem is structural: a concurrent timeline that repeats events already experienced from other viewpoints, without enough new information to justify the repetition.