Robert Jordan - the post with no spoilers

So I just finished re-reading the whole of the Wheel of Time. This post is to be a review sans-spoilers. There will be a following post containing a great many spoilers for discussion by people who like that sort of thing. PLEASE NO SPOILERS IN COMMENTS HERE (comment on the next one). (Btw, I know I suck at Spoilers; but I think I've got them carefully excised from here and put in the other post).

( cut for length )

Once more with Spoilers (Robert Jordan)

Spoiler post. Post you spoiler comments on this one, even if they are
about the other one.

People seeking more informative spoilers try the encyclopedia wot,
leighdb's readthrough and the wot faq (not quite up to date)

Spoilers UP TO and INCLUDING book 11, the Guide and NS. Spoilers for
book 12 will make me VERY UNHAPPY.

( OMG SPOILERS )