Except for the ending, this was better than The Great Hunt. I just didn't like Rand's "miraculous" tendency to accidentally use the One Power correctly just when he needs it, when it's clear that he doesn't have much control over his abilities.

This book is better than The Eye of the World, I think. We get to see the kids from the previous book start to really grow up and discover whole new things about themselves and the world (except maybe Mat), facing worse dangers than they did before. Though Rand is still, in Egwene's words, a "wool-headed lummox", at least he's getting a bit more of the training and experience he'll need once he finally affirms his identity.

The villains were also more intriguing. We get to see just how widespread the Darkfriends really are, and we see some more of the Forsaken. More importantly, we also discover that Whitecloaks aren't the only non-Dark enemies running around. The Seanchan were portrayed perfectly as foreign invaders whose culture and world view was as alien to the Westlanders as to be at once bewildering and terrifying. I've read spoilers, and I can't wait to see more of the Seanchan in action, as well as all the other races from beyond the Westlands.