What an absolutely fantastic love letter to one of my favorite authors and series.
I admit, despite being a pretty avid fan of the Wheel of Time (I'veWhat an absolutely fantastic love letter to one of my favorite authors and series.
I admit, despite being a pretty avid fan of the Wheel of Time (I've read the full series twice in the last decade), I wasn't super excited about this book. I just didn't know what it could offer me that I did not already know (or thought I knew). It turns out, I was wrong.
First, this book offers a compelling, detailed, and poignant biography of Robert Jordan - from his childhood of poverty, to his love for his father, to his (frankly BADASS) experience in Vietnam, his first meeting with the love of his life (and Editor!) Harriet, finally writing the Wheel of Time, and ultimately confronting his illness and death. It gave me a new appreciation for the man, and genuinely brought forth some tears at times.
Next, Livingston examines the mythological inspirations for the series. This was also very interesting and almost felt like taking a college course on Tolkien, Fantasy, Mythology, and the Wheel of Time. I can't speak for anyone else, but this is a class I would gladly take again and again!
Finally, we get a TON of new insight into many secrets and new information on the final version of the series - much of which I was totally unaware of.
I'll be honest - I don't know if this book will appeal to non-Wheel of Time fans. It's certainly interesting and well-written, but without the context of having experienced the series first hand, it will likely ring a bit hollow.
If you -are- a Wheel of Time fan, however? This is a must-own. It has truly helped remind me why I adore the Wheel of Time so much in the first place.
The biggest compliment I can give it is that it made me immediately want to read the entire series again. ...more
I listened to this book on audiobook and really enjoyed it. My favorite aspect of the Wheel of Time is it’s world and history, and this book is essentI listened to this book on audiobook and really enjoyed it. My favorite aspect of the Wheel of Time is it’s world and history, and this book is essentially just a history of that world leading up to series. Robert Jordan’s imagination truly was unparalleled in modern Fantasy. His creation is rivaled only by Tolkien, IMO.
That said, I totally understand that others may not enjoy this book. It takes a unique person - namely a Wheel of Time fanboy/girl that enjoys learning about the history of a completely fictional world.
“He came like the wind, like the wind touched everything, and like the wind was gone."
Five years of my life.
15 books.
12,500 pages.
462 audiobook hou“He came like the wind, like the wind touched everything, and like the wind was gone."
Five years of my life.
15 books.
12,500 pages.
462 audiobook hours.
Thousands of characters and moments.
My journey with The Wheel of Time has finally come to an end, and what a journey it was.
When I bought a paperback copy of The Eye of the World in 2012, I could not possibly have guessed what this series would come to mean to me. Yet the Wheel has left an indelible mark, and I expect to feel its impact for the rest of my life.
If you are reading this review having never opened a Wheel of Time book, you should know that this series is WONDERFUL - but also FLAWED. At times, it's even downright annoying. There were moments over the last five years when I closed one of the books in frustration and swore I'd never be back.
And yet, I inevitably returned.
If I had to guess why, I would say it was because of the immensely detailed world created by Robert Jordan. Something about it just feels so REAL. The different cultures, traditions, languages, attitudes, clothing, prophecies, etc, offered an escape that I just could not pass up. I have truly LIVED in this world for fifteen books!
I also became invested in the plights of these wonderful characters. Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Nynaeve, and others feel like friends or family members. Even when they annoyed me, I wanted to spend time with them. To make sure they figured it out. That's what friends do, after all.
And, like so many friendships, we now have to say goodbye. It's sad, but I know I'll be back to visit them often. I know how this tale ends now, and it's a great ending; the type a story like this deserves.
Brandon Sanderson accomplished something incredible with the way he finished this series. The final book is not perfect, but I think it's the best of the three books written by him. It answers nearly all of the questions, and it ties up the loose ends.
It somehow gives every character their 'moment' - be it one of glory, triumph, or in some cases even failure. There is more epicness in this book than I could describe. So many fist-pumping, yelling-out-loud moments of sheer awesome.
Those aren't the best parts, though. The best parts are the quiet ones.
Egwene's farewell to the Wise Ones.
Androl and Pevarra's budding relationship and teamwork.
Rand sparring with Tam one last time.
Mat's protection of Olver.
Thom and Moiraine.
These are the moments that will stick with me forever, and the ones that made this huge investment worth it.
Because let’s be clear - the Wheel of Time is an investment. Reading it takes patience, but if you're willing, I can tell you, it is worth it. This is one of the masterpieces of the Fantasy genre and of Literature in general. It is Highly Recommended.
Thank you, Robert Jordan, for creating this world and these characters, and for pouring your soul into 12 of the books. Rest in Peace, Creator.
And thank you, Brandon Sanderson, for taking a leap of faith and finishing the journey better than anyone thought possible.
"There are no endings, and never will be endings, to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was an ending."
Although I gave this book 5 stars, I didn’t enjoy it QUITE as much as The Gathering Storm. I would say there are two main reasons for this - One, ToweAlthough I gave this book 5 stars, I didn’t enjoy it QUITE as much as The Gathering Storm. I would say there are two main reasons for this - One, Towers of Midnight takes a lot longer to 'get going' than TGS. It's a bit of a slow burn for 200-300 pages. Second, it's focus is mainly on Mat, Perrin, and Elayne (While TGS focused mainly on Rand and Egwene). While I enjoy Perrin and Mat, I LOATHE Elayne's storyline. So yeah, still very good, but a bit of step down.
It is very clear that The Gathering Storm and Towers of Midnight are two parts of a whole. They are the cornerstones on which Tarmon Gaidan will stand, and Sanderson does a remarkable job with them. Every piece is in place, and the moment is finally here. The Last Battle has begun.
Once we got past the slow-ish beginning, a ton of incredible things happen in this book:
- Morgase is revealed for who she is, and helps bring her three children into an alliance with Perrin and Rand.
- Perrin finally defeats Slayer.
- Mat kills the Gholam, and helps Thom rescue Moiraine!
- Aviendha witnesses the potential future of the Aiel, and it is bleak.
As slow as the beginning was, the second half of this book was simply amazing, and has me incredibly excited for the final chapter of a series I have been reading off and on for more than 5 years. A Memory of Light is here!
It's time to roll the dice.
**Re-read September 2020**
My experience this time around was very similar to the first time, meaning that it took me quite awhile to read the first half of this book, and about a week to read the second half.
So is the first half bad? Not at all! But for some reason, it just didn’t hold my interest as much. Either way, this is a very good book, and once again I find myself so VERY ready for the final book! Let’s go! ...more
So, I was totally dreading this book because EVERYONE talks about how bad it is, but honestly? I thought it was fine. It's true that the Elayne succesSo, I was totally dreading this book because EVERYONE talks about how bad it is, but honestly? I thought it was fine. It's true that the Elayne succession/pregnancy storyline is just unbelievably awful and boring (and should totally have been, at most, 3 chapters instead of 3 books), but everything else was 4 star material in my opinion. Not the best Wheel of Time has to offer, but not bad by any stretch.
Mat is still in the midst of escaping Ebou Dar, and semi-successfully hiding Tuon and her lackeys while also trying to get to know her (since, you know, they're destined to be married and stuff). If this was my first ever WoT book, I would have been annoyed by Mat and Tuon's interactions, but they are actually pretty tame compared to other relationships (particularly Mat and Tylin). So yeah, it can get old, but it can also be genuinely funny and endearing. I also found Mat's stress at hiding Tuon from other Seanchan to be pretty riveting.
Egwene is still plotting to overthrow Elaida and the White Tower while laying siege to it, which was mainly boring, but provided some incredible dialogue and drama when she decided to align with the Asha'man. Excited to see where this goes.
Perrin's storyline is where I imagine I will end up having a lot of people disagree with me. I liked it a lot. I have always liked Perrin, and while I also like Faile, together they can be annoying. This storyline involving her capture/rescue from the Shaido, however, has provided some really solid character growth for both of them. I've loved it.
The few chapters involving either Rand or side characters were also pretty consistently good, and helped flesh out the overall story.
Overall, I give this book is 3.5 stars, though I feel much more glass-half-full about it than I did with Winter's Heart (which was a worse overall book, but had a killer ending). I think the series is starting to head in a great direction. Excited for the finish!
**Re-Read June 2019**
Okay, now I get it. I get why people hate this book. It’s officially my least favorite (though honestly that’s like saying it’s my least favorite ice cream flavor), and I’m not sure I’ll ever be willing to read it from start to finish again. I gained virtually nothing new on this reread.
It’s not that any of it is -bad-, per se, it just feels unnecessary. Jordan could have made Winter’s Heart and Knife of Dreams each 50-100 pages longer and covered everything in this book. I wish he had....more
This was a 3 star book (at best), but it had a 5 star ending. Robert Jordan announced in the Prologue what to expect by the end of the book, but even This was a 3 star book (at best), but it had a 5 star ending. Robert Jordan announced in the Prologue what to expect by the end of the book, but even still I wasn't ready for how epic the last chapter would be.
Overall though, this was definitely the worst Wheel of Time book yet. The main reason for this is Elayne's succession storyline. It is just unbelievably boring and awful. Leave it to Jordan to take a one chapter side-plot and extend it over 3-4 books.
Everything else is pretty good though. Mat's attempted escape from Tylin in Ebou Dar was frustrating at times (because Tylin is incredibly abusive, and Jordan writes the relationship as comic relief), but it was still entertaining mainly because Mat is such a great character, and I'm invested in where his story is going (certainly more than Elayne).
And Rand's storyline (although slow) led to the incredible ending I mentioned. I am also a huge fan of Cadsuane now.
Overall, this book is pretty annoying at times, but that ending made everything worth it. It's up there with Moiraine's last stand in Book 5 and Dumai's Wells in Book 6. Highly recommended!
** Re-Read April 2019**
As you can read above, my original take on Winter's Heart essentially boiled down to: The beginning is good, and the ending is GREAT, but everything in the middle is blah.
While I still agree that the beginning and the end are awesome (more on that in a second), I have to say that I enjoyed the middle much more this time around. I think the biggest reason for that is because I have such a better understanding of the secondary characters.
Winter's Heart spends a lot of time with smaller characters - especially Seanchan and Sea Folk ones. The first time I read the book, I didn't know or care about these characters. Now I do. The same goes for Cadsuane. It's still not a perfect book - the highlight of Elayne's POV is literally her getting poisoned - but I enjoyed it much more.
And that ending? OMG. It doesn't match Dumai's Wells, perhaps, but it's a Top 3 ending in the series for me. An absolute jaw-dropping stunner. ...more
Most people would say that this is where the plot really starts to stall in Wheel of Time, but that was not my experience at all! Perhaps it 4.5 Stars
Most people would say that this is where the plot really starts to stall in Wheel of Time, but that was not my experience at all! Perhaps it was because it is the shortest book in the series, but I flew through this one and enjoyed (almost) every second.
The first 1/3 of the book is dominated by Elayne, Nynaeve, and Aviendha's escape from Ebou Dar and use of the Bowl of the Winds to fix the weather. While the Bowl of the Winds scene was cool, the eacape from the Seanchan was straight up awe-inspiring.
Rand learns of the Seanchan invasion and immediately looks to marshal his troops and Asha'man to repel them while also consolidating his new throne in Ilian. Some of the politics are bland, but the battles (and betrayals) are pretty exciting.
Egwene is marching the rebel Aes Sedai slowly but surely towards Elaida and the White Tower. This storyline was pretty straight forward. Many of the rebels considered Egwene a pawn, but she turns the tables on them and it's hilarious. She is now in position to lay siege to the White Tower.
Finally, Perrin and Faile are sent to Ghealdon to seek out the Prophet of the Dragon, Mesema. This plot-line was pretty blah, though I do like Perrin.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than Crown of Swords. Perhaps it seemed so much quicker paced simply because it was short, or maybe because I like where the story is going. Either way, the character didn't seem nearly as stupid, and awesome things happened. I loved it!
Wheel of Time is highly recommended.
**Re-Read March 2019**
Once again, I just don't understand why readers seem to not enjoy this book. I thought perhaps I wouldn't like it quite as much on a re-read, but if anything I enjoyed it even more. Yes, there is a definite lack of Mat, which would be an issue for any book, and enough for me to drop this to a 4.5. But otherwise, this is an excellent entry in this series.
The pacing is perfect (after all, it's the shortest book in the series), and everyone's storylines move forward in a meaningful way. The girls escape Ebou Dar, forge an alliance with the Sea Folk, fix the weather, and get Elayne to Caemlyn to seek the Lion Throne. That's a lot, and it was awesome.
Rand engages the Seanchan in multiple epic battles (which include the reader getting Seanchan POVs for the first time, allowing us to actually get to know their culture a bit), and he loses. In the process, he also learns the weaknesses of Callandor. Plus, in an amazing final scene, Rand is also betrayed by Dashiva and (Spoiler Alert) Taim. All of which is awesome.
Egwene manipulates the snooty rebel Sitters into actually giving her power/authority as Amyrlin and leads the rebel Aes Sedai to the very gates of Tar Valon to strike at Elaida. It's awesome.
Finally, Perrin and Faile seek out the Prophet, Masema, who is utterly crazy, to bring him to Rand. Before this can be accomplished, however, Faile (and Morgase!) are captured by the Shaido. And you guessed it, it's awesome.
Look, this isn't a Top 5 book in the series - but it's nowhere near a 'slog', either. We may not get a big battle with the Forsaken, and obviously, we all miss Mat, but this is a really good book. In fact, I might even call it....awesome....more
This book is an improvement over the last few for one simple reason - it brings an end to multiple plot lines that had been somewhat dragging on sinceThis book is an improvement over the last few for one simple reason - it brings an end to multiple plot lines that had been somewhat dragging on since about Book 8 (Path of Daggers):
Mat and Tuon - In any other series, this would be the weirdest couple ever, but in Wheel of Time they totally work and are actually kind of awesome. This relationship has created an interesting tie-in to the Seanchan plot-line and actually made the Seanchan somewhat likable. I'm definitely ready to see Mat and Thom go after Moiraine now though.
Elayne - Still the worst storyline ever. I can sum it up in one sentence: Elayne ultimately succeeds her mother to the Lion Throne of Andor, despite being stupid and generally unlikeable. <-- That one sentence story took 4 BOOKS for Robert Jordan to tell. It's also single-handedly enough to drop Wheel of Time from my all-time favorite series.
Perrin and Faile - Okay, I actually enjoyed this plot-line. Did Perrin spend too much time rescuing Faile? Probably. But I think Perrin and Faile are both interesting characters, especially when they are apart. This storyline was 4 books of them being apart, so it worked for me.
Rand - Rand had big revelations in this book, but I don't want to spoil them. Also, he lost a hand. Ouch.
Loial - Got married!
Nynaeve - Was a terrible wife, then was an AWESOME wife, then had probably the best line in the series so far as she rallied the Malkieri to Lan's side.
So yeah, overall this book was about the same quality as the last few (see: Good, not Great), but it had some amazing moments. Moments that were absent from book 10, and ultimately made me enjoy this one more.
On to the Sanderson books!
**Re-Read November 2019**
This is definitely a strong end to the Jordan books. The threads of many of the side plots are closed nicely, and some really big events happen (as mentioned in my initial review). It's not the best Wheel of Time has to offer, but it's still very good! ...more
The first thing you should know about me is that I'm one of the weird people who discovered the Wheel of Time because I was already a fan of Brandon SThe first thing you should know about me is that I'm one of the weird people who discovered the Wheel of Time because I was already a fan of Brandon Sanderson, and not the reverse (unlike the majority of readers). Mistborn was one the first Fantasy series I ever read, and it's one of the reasons I'm such a fan of the genre to this day. It's also why I cracked open the Eye of the World on summer vacation way back in 2012.
So, in a sense, the last few years have been leading to me reading this first Sanderson-penned Wheel of Time book. A lot has changed - I've read many other authors (some of which I actually like better than Sanderson), but I was still very excited to start this book.
First, though, I have to give credit where it is due - to the Creator, Robert Jordan. In my opinion, he is the best world-builder in modern Fantasy, and maybe even in all of modern Fiction. I adore the world of the Wheel of Time. The cultures, the prophecies, the magic system, the history, the map (it's an important detail, okay?) - are just the absolute best. Tolkien-level, even.
Jordan's writing sometimes frustrated me though - especially the way his characters interacted. Jordan also sometimes let his love of detail get in the way of plot development. While these were not unforgivable flaws, they could at times make the books hard to fully enjoy.
Sanderson has effectively solved these problems. I don't know how he does it, because the book still reads like Jordan wrote it, but it is markedly better than anything the series has produced since at least books 4 and 5. I literally could not put The Gathering Storm down, which is not something I could say about the last few books in the series.
It is as if a new Director has taken over a film or TV series that I love. The world, story, and characters remain the same, but the dialogue is delivered in a different way, and the camera angles are subtly changed to make the film flow better. Sanderson has tinkered with the details, but kept the overall story the same Wheel of Time we all love and the series is so much more enjoyable because of it.
As far as the actual plot goes, this book essentially belongs to Egwene and Rand. We get to see both of them at their lowest before eventually coming out of the other side. This is probably the darkest this series has ever been - Rand is genuinely frightening and out of control. But the ending offers hope that, perhaps, the world can come together and defeat the Dark One after all. The Last Battle is finally here.
Highly, highly recommended.
** Re-read March 2020 **
This book was both better and worse on a reread. On the one hand, I could tell the difference between Jordan and Sanderson's writing much more clearly. And like I said in my original review, most of the changes that Sanderson makes are really good!
The plot certainly is moving much faster now, and Last Battle is tangibly close. Both Egwene and Rand's separate stories of redemption are amazing, and oh man the Seanchan battle for the White Tower was awe-inspiring.
But I just can't quite forgive Sanderson for what he does to Mat's character. I don't want to languish on the point, because I know Sanderson is aware of it (and he makes a valiant effort to improve Mat in the next two books), but it is what it is - and for me personally some of the enjoyment of the book was ruined because Mat wasn't....Mat.
Overall, though, this is still a great Fantasy read, and highly recommended! ...more
A really good origin for Moiraine and Lan, as well as insight into the Aiel Wars and the prophecy regarding the Dragon Reborn. It's very interesting tA really good origin for Moiraine and Lan, as well as insight into the Aiel Wars and the prophecy regarding the Dragon Reborn. It's very interesting to see Moiraine and Siuan as Accepted. Siuan, in particular, is vastly different from how we first meet her as the Amyrlin Seat.
This book was published after Crossroads of Twilight (Book #10), but I read it after The Shadow Rising (Book #4), and there were no spoilers.
This is a good addition to a great series.
**Re-Read August 2019**
I really didn't enjoy this much on the second time around. It felt like Jordan wrote 400 pages just to really show three pivotal scenes: Gitara's foretelling of the birth of The Dragon Reborn, Moiraine and Siuan becoming Aes Sedai, and Lan's bonding to Moiraine.
Those three scenes are as good as anything Jordan ever wrote in the entire series. The rest of the book was honestly pretty boring, though. ...more
And so my path through the Wheel of Time continues. As usual, at times I adored this book, others I despised it. I've read that many people consider tAnd so my path through the Wheel of Time continues. As usual, at times I adored this book, others I despised it. I've read that many people consider this book to have much less plot than the previous few, but it didn't seem that way to me. It may have taken place over the shortest amount of time (11 days, I think) of any of the books, but a lot happens.
First we see Rand recovering from Dumai's Wells, continuing to marshal his strength and ultimately battling Sammael. The battle was awesome, the very end was a bit anti-climactic though.
Mat, Elayne, and Nynaeve are in Ebou Dar searching for the Bowl of the Winds. This storyline dominates most of the book, and is I think a perfect example of the strengths and weaknesses of the series. It is at times absolutely hilarious, other times heart-racing, and others completely annoying. I did enjoy the ending of this plot line though. The Seanchan invasion was epic.
There are of course other things happening, but I won't get into them. This book is not the best WoT book I have read, but overall I enjoyed it.
Wheel of Time is a pillar of fantasy literature, and I recommend it. Some aspects are annoying and dated, but the world-building is second to none. You will LIVE in this world, and think about whenever you aren't reading. Looking forward to continuing!
**Re-Read March 2019**
Wow, this was fun. Crown of Swords, in my opinion, is a great example of a book that just can't be enjoyed to the fullest extent on a first read. I think this is because, even more than the first 6 books, this one is super character focused.
Having a significantly better understanding of Mat, Rand, Nynaeve, Elayne, Lan, Elaida, and others this time around really helped me see all of the nuances that Jordan throws into this book. Jordan is so often lauded for his world-building (as he should be), but the man clearly also has a solid understanding of the human psyche, and in Crown of Swords he digs deeply into three characters in particular - Rand, Mat, and Nynaeve.
My love for all three of these characters grew immensely during this read, but none more than Mat. This is a man (or kid, I suppose), that just can't help being a hero. He'll tell you he wants nothing more than to gamble and womanize - and that reputation lands him in trouble more than once - but in reality, he cares deeply for his friends, and would do literally anything for them. I especially love his relationship with Olver. He is just a complex, incredible character. I'm sad that he's not in Path of Daggers, but I'm still very excited to continue this re-read journey through the Wheel of Time....more
It's pretty simple at this point- when the Wheel of Time is good, it's the best fantasy series I've read, and probably my favorite. Seriously. The worIt's pretty simple at this point- when the Wheel of Time is good, it's the best fantasy series I've read, and probably my favorite. Seriously. The world is incredible. Cultures, races, kingdoms, traditions, history, prophecy, magic, etc. Only Lord of the Rings can match the scope here. And the story is riveting too.
However, at it's worst, it can be almost unreadable. There are characters here that make me so mad I was literally glaring at the book. I seriously think when he was young Robert Jordan had some sort of an overbearing woman in his life that led him to write every single woman character (regardless of culture or race) to be overbearing, manipulative, and generally treat men like complete morons.
Of course the men aren't much better. While they may be relatively bright when it comes to planning battles, they are clueless as to any sort of plan a woman might be making. Seriously, Rand, Min loves you and you can't trust The White Tower. It's not rocket science.
For all of it's faults, however, the majority of Lord of Chaos was a really good book. Definitely the best WoT book yet. We see the creation of the Asha'man (amazing), the growth of the Hall of rebel Aes Sedai, and Rand marshaling his armies to take down Sammael. And of course, the battle at Dumai's Wells. The entire thing was furiously paced and epic, but it was the final scene that will stay with me.
"Kneel before the Lord Dragon, or you will be knelt."
Rand truly has become the Lord of Chaos. And I'm not quite so sure about the weapons he has created with the Asha'man.
You get the feeling that nothing in this world will ever be the same. Unfortunately, when it comes to braid tugging, blushing, and skirt smoothing, some things probably will. Highly recommended.
**Re-Read January 2019**
It felt like it took me forever to get through this book, but in reality, it just took me forever to get through the first half of it. I literally read (or I should say, listened) to the last 600 pages in less than a week. So yeah, you could say I liked it. It's the longest book in the entire series in terms of sheer number of WORDS on the page, and there are times that you can really feel that. But overall, I love this book, especially the end.
So let's talk about the end, because it's as good as any Fantasy book I've read. I have plenty of gripes with the Wheel of Time as a series, but IMO Dumai's Wells (and the lead up to it) deserves to be up there with all of the classic 'great' scenes in the genre's storied history. I can't wait to see it on screen in a few years, assuming the Amazon show does well enough to get that far.
It's not just good because it's exciting either (though it is); it's so effective because it has terrifying implications for Rand and his future. Just an absolute barn burner from Jordan. I can't imagine having to wait two years for the next book. In fact, I think I'll just start it now, thank you very much....more
In my opinion, this is the book that will make or break whether you finish Wheel of Time. Books 1-3 don't feel like part of a 15-book series. They areIn my opinion, this is the book that will make or break whether you finish Wheel of Time. Books 1-3 don't feel like part of a 15-book series. They are mostly self-contained, and the story seems to be heading towards a conclusion in the next couple of books.
The Shadow Rising changes that completely. This book takes the world and story that we THOUGHT we knew from the first three books and blows it wide open. The scale becomes immense - not just the physical world (though we do visit some amazing new places like Tanchico and the Aiel Waste), but also the history of the world. In one of the most amazing chapters in the series, Rand is given a vision of the entire history of the Aiel (and subsequently, the world). It is perhaps the most beautifully written sequence in the entire series.
Aside from Rand's tale, we also get to travel back to Emond's Field with Perrin, Faile, and Loial. It is wonderful to be back in the small village, and this sequence really shows how much Perrin has changed in the year since he, Rand, and Mat left. I'm a big Perrin fan, and I enjoyed seeing him rise to the moment and become a leader. His wedding with Faile was also a touching moment. She may be annoying at times, but they really are good together.
Now I want to quickly address the (minor) criticisms I hear about this book, and the series as a whole:
1) It's too long and slow, and
2) All of the characters are incredibly (unrealistically, even) arrogant, which leads to a ton of unnecessary conflict. I agree with both points, to varying degrees, and want to cover them here because they both show up in The Shadow Rising.
First, the pacing. One of my (only) critiques of the first two books Wheel of Time books was that they were a bit bloated. Eye of the World could have cut 75-100 pages and been a better book. The Great Hunt could have cut out about 50. But The Dragon Reborn was PERFECTLY PACED. I literally read it in like 3 days. It was like Robert Jordan had been listening to me this entire time, and I could not have been happier. Then we get to The Shadow Rising. It's over 1,000 pages, 300 pages longer than any previous book in the series. Sometimes, longer is better. This is not one of those times. RJ could have easily cut 200 pages from this book (mainly from the opening sequence in Tear), and it would have been SO MUCH BETTER. Oh well. Once you get through the first 300 pages, the book becomes fantastic.
Second, let's talk about the characters. Man, are they arrogant. All of them. Every last character in this book (and series): Man or Woman, Noble, Royalty, Aes Sedai, Peasant, etc. All of them are 100% positive that they know best in every. single. situation. Is it especially bad between Men and Women? Sure. But it happens in basically EVERY conversation between every character. While this was somewhat apparent in the first three books, it really starts to pick up in this one.
(Probably because Jordan added an extra 300 pages and needed to fill it with something.)
Unfortunately, this is just a part of reading the Wheel of Time. I still adore the series, so at this point, it's kind of just part of the charm. But if you are just beginning, be aware. It only gets worse.
Either way, I'm comfortable giving this book 5 Stars, if only for the sequence in Rhuidean. I highly recommend Wheel of Time if you love Epic Fantasy....more
The Dragon Reborn is EASILY the best of the opening three Wheel of Time books, in my opinion. Though I still loved the first two books, I did have somThe Dragon Reborn is EASILY the best of the opening three Wheel of Time books, in my opinion. Though I still loved the first two books, I did have some issues with the pacing of both.
In TDR, Robert Jordan solves this problem in two ways:
1) He wrote a shorter book. TDR is 75 pages shorter than The Eye of the World, and 50 pages shorter than The Great Hunt. This may not seem like much, but it made a huge difference. There was no lull in this book. I was riveted the entire time.
2) After getting Rand's perspective almost exclusively for two books, Jordan eliminated it nearly entirely in TDR. We now get inside the heads of three characters (Mat, Perrin, and Egwene) that we had previously only seen from the outside. Combine this with the fact that all three of them are chasing Rand, and it makes for wonderful storytelling.
Mat, in particular, is an absolute revelation in this book. He began the series as an immature prankster, and then because of his connection to a cursed dagger became a nearly unbearable pain in the ass. But now, free from the dagger and beginning to grow up a bit, he becomes, in my opinion, the best character in the series. He's funny, charming, and courageous (even if he's trying to convince everyone he's not a hero). He was a joy to read.
Aside from these improvements, Jordan still follows the same formula from the first two books: send our heroes on separate adventures and then bring them together for a huge finale - and the end of this book does NOT disappoint!
The Wheel of Time is one of my all-time favorite series, and highly recommended....more
- Excellent new characters and cultures are introduced - especially the Seanchan! (Terrifying)
- The Better than Eye of the World in almost every way.
- Excellent new characters and cultures are introduced - especially the Seanchan! (Terrifying)
- The world is expanded in a very satisfying way - we get to see tons of new locales and cultures. I especially enjoyed seeing Tar Valon for the first time.
- Our main group of characters all go on really interesting separate adventures - not one POV was boring.
- The final 25% is mind-blowing. Just a spectacular battle, and a moment that you know will have big ramifications as the series goes on.
This was probably my favorite Wheel of Time book yet, for many reasons:
- Rand heads back from the Aiel Waste, ready to begin consolidating the variousThis was probably my favorite Wheel of Time book yet, for many reasons:
- Rand heads back from the Aiel Waste, ready to begin consolidating the various nations in preparation to engage the Forces of Shadow.
- Mat gained some very unique gifts in Rhuidean and REALLY starts to come alive as a character.
- Moiraine is a huge star of this book and has an incredible showdown with Lanfear at the end.
I feel like I'm finally getting a better grasp of the overall story of this series, and frankly, it's fantastic. Quite possibly the best Epic Fantasy I've ever read. Jordan knows what he's doing with every character and plot point, even if the pace sometimes seems slow.
I also absolutely love the world and cultures Jordan creates. Again, maybe the best I've read in fantasy.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to these books, and it's the bickering and overall negativity between genders. I get it, it's cultural. Honestly, it makes sense for this world. But after 5 books (6, if you count New Spring), I really am getting tired of EVERY woman looking down on and belittling EVERY man, and EVERY man assuming EVERY woman is crazy.
It's not so bad that it ruins the series, but it may be enough to keep it from being my all-time favorite. Either way, this was a great book. Highly Recommended!
**Re-Read September 2018**
One thing that was even more clear this time around was how much Fires of Heaven is a direct continuation/sequel to A Shadow Rising. It picks up immediately where that leaves off, and brings a conclusion to many of those storylines (Asmodean, Lanfear, Rahvin/Gaebril, Couladin, Mat's new skills, Moiraine's journey, etc). We also get a lot of growth from Rand and the girls.
Sure, there are some slow bits, and some annoying bits (I will never NOT laugh at Elayne and Nynaeve in the circus), but overall the book is great - ESPECIALLY the ending(s). I can't imagine what it must have been like to get that ending without having the next books to immediately start....more
A fun adventure for anyone who loves classic fantasy. The world-building is excellent and the characters are fun and engaging. The story can be repetiA fun adventure for anyone who loves classic fantasy. The world-building is excellent and the characters are fun and engaging. The story can be repetitive at times, but I found it to still be entertaining throughout.
There's also absolutely no hint at how massive the story would get. It feels like part 1 of a trilogy.
While not the very best that Wheel of Time has to offer, The Eye of the World is still an excellent fantasy book and the start of one of the best-known fantasy series ever.
Recommended! Especially for readers somewhat new to Fantasy.
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