This is the fourth book in Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series, which is nine volumes in length, to date. I've read the first three, and this one is by far the most complex; I'm sure I missed most of its references to prior events, and it took me considerably longer to finish than the past releases. I often wonder how much of the series he had planned out before he started writing book one. In terms of character depth and cultural diversity, I would argue that Jordan rivals Tolkien, who, imho, was more preoccupied with linguistics and mythography. Mind you, Jordan's world has emerged out of 9000+ pages, whereas Tolkien was able to create a universe in far fewer.
Despite its complexity, Jordan never fails to entertain, and this book lived up to that standard. I'm addicted enough to look forward to delving into the next, albeit after I take a break with some more literary fare.