The shortest WoT book and the beginning of what fans call "the slog." But beneath the slower pacing, Jordan is positioning every piece for the endgame. Rand uses the Choedan Kal. The Seanchan return. The weather finally breaks. Essential setup disguised as a transition.
Skip if you dislike:
Moods: Dark Political Tense Pivotal
Tropes: Bowl of the Winds Seanchan Cleansing Attempt Faile Captured
The beginning — slower, but important pieces move.
Yes — 672 pages, which for WoT is practically a novella.
Yes — the payoff in books 11-14 justifies everything.