Switchback, glad to hear it! Though her style challenges the reader a bit, I have found the experience worth it, and it has spoiled me for the pulp fantasy that I used to read (no more D & D, Forgotten Realms, or David Eddings for me).
I have always read her books rather slowly, because they are so darned detailed. There is not one superfluous word in any of the books in
WoLaS, so pay very close attention. Small details will be cycled back into the narrative later in the novel, or even in the series. There was stuff raised in
Fugitive Prince (book 4) that came back to resolution in
Stormed Fortress (book 8). That's a span of 5 novels and ten years, and still the details, seemingly meaningless at the time, are spun forward into the story years ahead, and become significant.
This factor is also excellent for re-reads, as stuff you missed previously pops up, with you being sure it wasn't there before. I have only re-read Tolkien more than Wurts, though Martin is a close third, Kay fourth, and I expect Erikson to take over third spot from Martin in due course.
Once the grand story of
WoLaS sinks its hooks into you, you won't want to stop! The good thing is, you have seven more already published novels to read, and a ninth one well on in the making. My guess is a release date sometime in the first half of 2009 for
Initiate's Trial, but that is just
my guess (which is rather hopeful!
). More likely would be a Christmas shopping season release for 2009.
