It is definitely worthwhile to note before this summary begins that Crossroads of Twilight is almost universally regarded as the most disappointing—and most expendable—book in the Wheel of Time fantasy series. In addition, there is massively wide agreement on the reason for this disappointment: of all the books that make up the series, this is the one in which the primary complaint almost always boils down to “nothing really happens.” Of course, that is not technically true at all. What they really mean is nothing much of significance happens that is essential to the overall narrative trek of the Wheel of Time books as a collective series. Also of note: many of the things that actually do happen occur along the same timeline as the previous entry in the series such that much of the action in the two books are occurring roughly simultaneously.
The story opens with the wind rising in Rhiannon Hills and blowing across the harbor of Ebou Dar just as Mat is taking exit from the Tarasin Palace. He arrives at the city game with a host of Aes Sedai in tow. At the same time, his long and problematic “relationship” with Tuon aka the Daughter of the Nine Moons, commences and takes shape only after he learns that what he assumed was simple discourse is, among the Seanchan people, nothing less than a flat-out proposal of marriage. And thus begins a very long and very strange courtship.
Meanwhile, the very long but not so strange relationship of Perrin and his wife Faile continues unabated in its stuck gear of Faile having been kidnapped by the Shaido operatives and her husband desperately trying to locate and rescue her. Keep in mind this subplot will be covered in detail across more than just this book. Complications arise when Faile fails in her strategy to carry off her best-laid plans for escaping. While still on hot on the trail of his missing wife—or tepidly on the trail at any rate—Perrin does make an interesting stop to purchase much needed grain in a city that is pretty much a ghost town. Literally: it is filled with spirits. And to make matters worse, the grain is filled with weevils!
Elayne, meanwhile, has her focus set like a laser on strengthening her position of power on Andor’s Lion Throne even after discovering that not only is she pregnant, but she’s carrying twins. While protecting the identity of the father—yes, it is Rand, the hero of the series—she goes on intelligence gathering missions in the city by a secret gateway entry point. These visitations afford ample opportunities to gather vital information about the enemies camped within. Enter the Wavemistress, Zaida, to negotiate a deal with Elayne that will guarantee supplies continue to Caemlyn as the very reasonable price of a very small parcel of property with a river view.
As for the heroic figure at the center of the entire Wheel of Time narrative, Rand is in Tear where he is finally tracked down by Davram Bashere, Logain, and Loial only to be immediately (or as close as it is possible for something to happen immediately in this quite leisurely paced entry) be sent by him on a mission to negotiate a peace agreement with the Seanchan.
And what of Egwene, the other big-time female protagonist at this point in the series? She has a laser-focus on a singular mission as well: the siege of Tar Valon. Nothing is going particularly well on that front, but things take an even darker turn following the successful blockage of the river port when she, too, becomes the victim of abduction. In this case, by operatives in the service of the White Tower. But, as the saying goes, at least she ain’t carrying twins!
And this “Seinfeld” of the Wheel of Time series—the book about nothing (according to its harshest critics, that is)—comes to an end with a climax worthy of its reputation: Rand learns the Daughter of the Nine of the Moons—Mat’s complicated bride-to-be, Tuon, has submitted to our hero’s eager desire to meet with her and then, sitting quietly, he smiles for the first time since he can remember.
