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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All the loose ends have been tied up ready for the last book. I’ve been reading this series since January 2021 and I hope the end is good lol
Wheel of Time book good.
For whatever reason, most of my issues with Sanderson’s writing in the last book have evaporated in this one. Sanderson feels locked in and every aspect of the writing has improved. I’ve also settled into the new style. Mat is still “off” but everyone else is pretty on point. It’s clear that Sanderson really understands these characters. I enjoyed this one a lot. The only other WOT book I’ve ranked 4 stars was Shadow Rising (not counting TGS because part of that ranking was due to my awe at the feat of picking up someone else’s series and getting the book out in 18 months).
The continuation of Rand’s development into shonen anime protagonist since where he ended last book was extremely rewarding to read (Rand has four rough stages as a character for me: 1) twelve year old boy self insert, 2) edgelord, 3) Machiavellian tyrant , 4) shonen anime protagonist. I’m somewhat joking.)
Despite Mat’s characterization being off, the way his arc ends in this one is absolutely perfect for him. Perrins development is also rewarding. Nynaeve is great as always. A certain other character who appears in the book is such a beloved character for me that for that character’s presence alone the book warrants 4 stars. It’s also clear that Sanderson stans the character as much as we do, which I appreciate.
And finally, I cannot believe how much I have grown to love Egwene. I said this in at least one other review but it just blows me away. Frankly, with her and Rand both, I am genuinely impressed how dramatically my opinion of them has shifted, from outright disliking them in earlier books to both of them being some of my favorite characters. I may love characters like Nynaeve and Moiraine more than Egwene, technically, but Egwene is absolutely the HBIC of the series and she deserves the respect of all former haters. It’s clear now that the story always needed her; she is arguably more of “the Aragorn” than Lan, even. Her destiny was projected from early on and she has fully grown into that crucial role. (While Lan has Aragorn’s backstory, I now think that Lan is less of the Aragorn and more of a Legolas or perhaps a Faramir. Egwene is the true Aragorn, Mat and Perrin are Merry and Pippin, obviously, Rand is Frodo, Moiraine is Gandalf, of course, and Nynaeve is Sam (FIGHT ME ON THAT!! You know her ass would carry him up the mountain if necessary!!)).
For whatever reason, most of my issues with Sanderson’s writing in the last book have evaporated in this one. Sanderson feels locked in and every aspect of the writing has improved. I’ve also settled into the new style. Mat is still “off” but everyone else is pretty on point. It’s clear that Sanderson really understands these characters. I enjoyed this one a lot. The only other WOT book I’ve ranked 4 stars was Shadow Rising (not counting TGS because part of that ranking was due to my awe at the feat of picking up someone else’s series and getting the book out in 18 months).
The continuation of Rand’s development into shonen anime protagonist since where he ended last book was extremely rewarding to read (Rand has four rough stages as a character for me: 1) twelve year old boy self insert, 2) edgelord, 3) Machiavellian tyrant , 4) shonen anime protagonist. I’m somewhat joking.)
Despite Mat’s characterization being off, the way his arc ends in this one is absolutely perfect for him. Perrins development is also rewarding. Nynaeve is great as always. A certain other character who appears in the book is such a beloved character for me that for that character’s presence alone the book warrants 4 stars. It’s also clear that Sanderson stans the character as much as we do, which I appreciate.
And finally, I cannot believe how much I have grown to love Egwene. I said this in at least one other review but it just blows me away. Frankly, with her and Rand both, I am genuinely impressed how dramatically my opinion of them has shifted, from outright disliking them in earlier books to both of them being some of my favorite characters. I may love characters like Nynaeve and Moiraine more than Egwene, technically, but Egwene is absolutely the HBIC of the series and she deserves the respect of all former haters. It’s clear now that the story always needed her; she is arguably more of “the Aragorn” than Lan, even. Her destiny was projected from early on and she has fully grown into that crucial role. (While Lan has Aragorn’s backstory, I now think that Lan is less of the Aragorn and more of a Legolas or perhaps a Faramir. Egwene is the true Aragorn, Mat and Perrin are Merry and Pippin, obviously, Rand is Frodo, Moiraine is Gandalf, of course, and Nynaeve is Sam (FIGHT ME ON THAT!! You know her ass would carry him up the mountain if necessary!!)).
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.95
Would be five stars except I REFUSE TO BELIEVE in Thom x Moiraine
Would be five stars except I REFUSE TO BELIEVE in Thom x Moiraine
My blood boils in anticipation of the last book. I will remain seated for the next couple minutes. Can't wait to read it again.
Didn't like this one as much as book 12, but it still a lot of incredible scenes. It basically had the huge task of setting up everything for the final volume, so it's still a pretty good book.
This is the second to last book in the Wheel of Time series, so if you haven’t read any of the others I would highly recommend that you start with the first book, The Eye of the World. This review will contain spoilers that will not make sense unless you have read the rest of the series.
In this book things continue to point (and move toward) the Last Battle, with different armies moving toward the Borderlands and preparing to fight the Shadow. Perrin keeps on picking up more and more refugees for his army (though he doesn’t like to think of it as that) and eventually finds some Whitecloaks. This is obviously a problem since Byar still remembers that Perrin killed two Children of the Light during their first encounter and insists that he must face justice. Fortunately Galad is also there and believes that there should be a fair trial, and Perrin agrees to this so that he can finally get some closure. Galad questions Perrin’s authenticity when Perrin says he is not Shadowspawn or a Darkfriend, but of course Perrin’s blunt honesty and lack of deception eventually wins him over.
Meanwhile Mat is still trying to figure out how to deal with the gholam that keeps chasing him while trying to convince Elayne to let Aludra use the bellfounders of Caemlyn to build Dragons. Finally, once it seems like all other choices have been done, Mat is convinced to go back to the Tower of Ghenjei to rescue Moiraine.
As you may be able to tell, this book is full of exciting battles and other encounters. I give it an 8.5 out of 10 for enjoyment and a 4 out of 5 for readability because this book will keep you awake even if you are tired. Let me know what you thought about it!
Read more about this book and others on our blog, bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com
In this book things continue to point (and move toward) the Last Battle, with different armies moving toward the Borderlands and preparing to fight the Shadow. Perrin keeps on picking up more and more refugees for his army (though he doesn’t like to think of it as that) and eventually finds some Whitecloaks. This is obviously a problem since Byar still remembers that Perrin killed two Children of the Light during their first encounter and insists that he must face justice. Fortunately Galad is also there and believes that there should be a fair trial, and Perrin agrees to this so that he can finally get some closure. Galad questions Perrin’s authenticity when Perrin says he is not Shadowspawn or a Darkfriend, but of course Perrin’s blunt honesty and lack of deception eventually wins him over.
Meanwhile Mat is still trying to figure out how to deal with the gholam that keeps chasing him while trying to convince Elayne to let Aludra use the bellfounders of Caemlyn to build Dragons. Finally, once it seems like all other choices have been done, Mat is convinced to go back to the Tower of Ghenjei to rescue Moiraine.
As you may be able to tell, this book is full of exciting battles and other encounters. I give it an 8.5 out of 10 for enjoyment and a 4 out of 5 for readability because this book will keep you awake even if you are tired. Let me know what you thought about it!
Read more about this book and others on our blog, bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com
Easily the best book in the series thus far and one of the best books I've ever read. So many sub plots come to epic conclusions in preparation for the grand finale. This type of novel is only possible with a dozen books preceding it. Readers have followed some of the stories that end in this book since the series began, which is why the suspense can be so intense and the endings can be so thrilling.
My only question now is how one book is going to manage to tie up the remaining loose ends, a couple that actually began in this book, and deliver a worthy final chapter all at once.
My only question now is how one book is going to manage to tie up the remaining loose ends, a couple that actually began in this book, and deliver a worthy final chapter all at once.