Bookstore Guy,
Clarify for me, if you don't mind; Do you feel like the Verin scene was a late addition, or that it seemed cheap despite being foreshadowed for 10 books because of the timing? I seem to recall your dislike with this series having to do with how little the characters have developed recently. Are you now upset that you got your wish? Personnally, I feel that choosing to kill yourself in order to help the Light because the Last Battle is very near would "adjust" the way a character behaves somewhat (she had an almost Moiraine at the docks sort of calmness to her). As for Mat, by the time that first rant was done I knew he was being written as someone who's life had gone so far away from what he planned that he's been knocked completely off his game. You know you've fallen far when a character like Talmanes can bust your chops with such ease.
On the Hinderstrap debate, Brandon has confirmed that this storyline, along with every other one in this book, was conceived by RJ, and Brandon fleshed it out (I didn't get a vampire or zombie feel from this scene, although I can see why others would). He didn't add in any storylines himself.
So you are saying it was foreshadowed for 10 full novels that Verin was going to show up in the nick of time as a Black Ajah double agent? In my opinion, that wasn't the case. She just had her own agenda like Cadsuane and every other Aes Sedai. That's not foreshadowing to me, just a portrayal of all Aes Sedai. Having her show up when she did was convenient, and cheap in my opinion. "Guess what! Im a bad guy! But not really! Here's a book to solve a huge majority of your problems." That's what it felt like for me.
I don't doubt that people loved the Verin section--to each his own. I just thought it was cheap, regardless of who wrote it. It felt like the culmination of a major plot thread that didn't have time to develop properly (which is no excuse in this series), and the culmination of a plot thread we really should have seen. It would have been much more powerful if we'd seen Verin struggle with it, or at least be in danger.
Now you say that I'm upset because characters are progressing and I don't like it? Did you read my second paragraph where I mentioned how pleased I was that Egwene went from horrible (in my opinion) to a solid character? Did you go to my book review blog and read the review of TGS where it is mentioned that the book was enjoyable despite what I consider some character issues? So no, I'm not "upset that I got my wish," because in some cases i didn't. And I AM pleased in Rand and Egwene (especially Rand getting over the "wont kill a girl" foolishness), who have been some of the biggest problem areas (again, in my opinion).
happyman--yeah, i got that about the Mat section, but I didn't enjoy it. i also understand how mat feels his world has been up-ended. for me, it was his attitude that was off. like him ignoring the dice because he thought nothing ever came of them. i just don't think the mat sections added anything that wasn't shown somewhere else. it felt like a deleted scene at the end of a DVD.