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carolinevogt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
In this fourth book, evil is rising all around our characters, and the shadow really is on the rise with danger around every corner. The characters are as always incredibly complex and well-rounded. Each suffers and must overcome their own journeys - my heart especially goes out to Perrin. Following his journey was so touching and heartbreaking. Through it all, my favourite characters were absolutely him and Faile. Although, if you like me listen to this series as audiobooks, you'll definitely have a moment of 'how the f... do I spell "fah-eel"? Fail?!' 💀
Also, Rand exploring the Three-fold Land was giving MASSIVE Dune vibes.
I do wish the book had ended with Nynaeve's epic battle, instead of Rand's battle which felt a lot less 'wow'. I get why Jordan wanted the book to end with a battle between Rand and one of his enemies, as this is very clearly the pattern the previous three books followed too - I just personally thought Nynaeve's was way better, she's such a badass.
Also, Rand exploring the Three-fold Land was giving MASSIVE Dune vibes.
I do wish the book had ended with Nynaeve's epic battle, instead of Rand's battle which felt a lot less 'wow'. I get why Jordan wanted the book to end with a battle between Rand and one of his enemies, as this is very clearly the pattern the previous three books followed too - I just personally thought Nynaeve's was way better, she's such a badass.
loganvw's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
[audiobook] honestly the hardest of the series so far. Feels like there’s been a serious increase in complexity.
kaitlyn_fales's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kcrouth's review
5.0
loved it even more the 3rd time through. Can't wait to continue w/ The Fires of Heaven
klparmley's review
3.0
I have really mixed feelings about this series.
I love parts of it. I love that the symbol for the broken world is the black Dragon's Tooth and white Flame of Tar Valon and that if you put them together they are an yin/yang. I keep wondering if they will get the dots at the end of the series. Because the dots are significant in this world. I love most of the characters, even the evil ones are interesting. Almost everyone seems to be evolving some, including Nynaeve who has taken forever about it.
But, sometimes, I get tired of the overwrought language. And there are too many (imo) authorly reminders of what some things are or how they got where they are. And example is Lan's ring that Nynaeve wears on a thong around her neck. It's a significant thing. It doesn't need a big reveal every time it's mentioned. We know the man's ring she has is his and that it is important. I find that tedious.
Another thing that annoys me is some characters' obsessions. Aviendha, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear, obsessing about Rand's love life drives me nuts. I keep telling the book to shut up. Dain Bornhald's obsession with Perrin drives me bats, too.
I still like the story better than I dislike the petty stuff, so I continue reading.
I love parts of it. I love that the symbol for the broken world is the black Dragon's Tooth and white Flame of Tar Valon and that if you put them together they are an yin/yang. I keep wondering if they will get the dots at the end of the series. Because the dots are significant in this world. I love most of the characters, even the evil ones are interesting. Almost everyone seems to be evolving some, including Nynaeve who has taken forever about it.
But, sometimes, I get tired of the overwrought language. And there are too many (imo) authorly reminders of what some things are or how they got where they are. And example is Lan's ring that Nynaeve wears on a thong around her neck. It's a significant thing. It doesn't need a big reveal every time it's mentioned. We know the man's ring she has is his and that it is important. I find that tedious.
Another thing that annoys me is some characters' obsessions. Aviendha, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear, obsessing about Rand's love life drives me nuts. I keep telling the book to shut up. Dain Bornhald's obsession with Perrin drives me bats, too.
I still like the story better than I dislike the petty stuff, so I continue reading.
linzthebookworm's review
5.0
This book is the number one reason why I have not been coherent for my morning meetings for the past month. I had a hard time putting it down! I've just recently got into epic fantasies, and find them a bit daunting but I love Wheel of Time. I found the detail and intricacies given to the Aiel culture fascinating, and I felt like the magic capabilities were really explored more in The Shadow Rising. I think that we're finally getting to see a small glimpse of where Rand, Perrin, and Mat's paths are leading. I can't wait to read more.
For my full review check out: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-shadow-rising-by-robert.html
For my full review check out: http://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-shadow-rising-by-robert.html
ahanky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
midici's review
4.0
~spoilers for book and show!~
I wish every book in this series were as entertaining as The Shadow Shadow. There is SO much going on, and it's fast-paced and exciting. The book jumps between characters a lot as per usual so I will just separate based on what happens to each.
Perrin and Faile's journey in this book is my favourite. The return back to Two Rivers to save his family from White Cloaks becomes the beginning of something much greater. There are White Cloaks in Two Rivers, his family is already dead, and the town is in desperate need of help as Trollocs and Fades, moving through the Ways, are overtaking everything. There's a lot to love in
these sections. Faile and Perrin's growing love and trust and reliance on each other; Loial and Perrin's easy friendship; the Aiel rivalry; and Gaul and Chiad's ongoing back and forth relationship, all of it amazing. Perrin has a very strong sense of duty and his decisions are always led by what he believes he needs to do to save his people. The fact that everyone is treating him as some sort of Lord, which he dislikes immensely, is a bonus. His interactions in the Dream World are also interesting because unlike all the women he has no one to teach him, just hints from the wolves. Unlike the women, he seems to have an instinctual understanding of what he can and can't do in this world. I still don't fully understand who "Slayer" is in the mythos of the world but their hunt made for really compelling sections. It really drives home though how much the women in this world learn from each other and teach each other and how much the men, Perrin, Mat and Rand, struggle, unsure and with no one to really teach them what they need to know.
One section that confuses me slightly concerns the Tinkers. They're a great foil for Perrin's continual battle between his peaceful/useful nature as a blacksmith and the duty/violence represented by the axe. We learn a lot about Tinkers in this book, but one thing I noticed from the first book and the tv show is that they seemed to suggest that everyone could follow the Way of the Leaf, and that their fires are open to everyone. However, they also seem to shun/exile those who grew up as Tinkers who choose violence, such as Aram. I can't tell if he is exiled for good or if he would be allowed back in. The show (which I am enjoying a lot!) had ex-soldiers and such in their group, implying that they would take in those who commit violence, unlike in the books where the division seems much stricter and very permanent.
The Tinkers of course, brings us to the Aiel. Last book we had only glimpses of Rand acting like a complete lunatic. In this book we get the sense that he has reconciled himself to the truth of his existence as "The Dragon Reborn". Now he has to decide what to do next without falling into any traps. Unfortunately, to build suspense, instead of getting an idea of what he plans to do, the whole book you get his musings on how he can't trust anyone, and how guilty he feels for what he is going to be forced to do to the Aiel. However, the part where Rand sees through his ancestors' eyes is GREAT. We go back to the very beginning: we see a technologically and magically advanced society, and the original Dai Shan who served the Aes Sedai. What the Aes Sedai needed
with an army of pacifists is not explained. We see Lanfear break the Dark One free. We have war, and the news that Lews Therin is going to try and bind the Dark One away again. We see how all the men are going mad, and the Dai Shan are told to keep to their current pacifist ways, and to hold onto a bunch of artifacts for the Aes Sedai. This is where they fracture into 3 separate groups. We have the very, very small group, who have since died out, that have kept true to their vows and who set up everything they haven't lost in the middle of the Waste. We have the Tinkers, who keep their nonviolence and their songs, but break their oath to guard things for Aes Sedai, and we have the Aiel who totally lost the plot and took up the spear, along with not guarding things for the Aes Sedai. The worldbuilding in this series is so in depth, and I love learning the history behind this world. The fight with Asmodean is cool mainly because it means Rand now has a teacher! It also gives us a glimpse of how his past lives are semi-guiding his hand when it comes to channeling.
We have 2 dead Forsaken, Lanfear, Asmodean, the one Nyneave almost single-handedly takes out like a boss. One in Illian, one who's using mind-control on Morgase, and the other woman we haven't run into yet - and Ishmael, of course.
Nyneave and Elayne's hunt for Black Ajah and crucial artifacts is mostly interesting for it's side plot with Egeanin. The Seanchan, (kind of like the Aeil) have very rigid structures and customs, and they are an insular culture. They come to conquer, of course, but it exposes them to new ideas and information, some of which totally upends their entire system of dealing with women with the ability to Channel. I suspect we'll have more character POV from them. The first two books set up the Tower and Aes Sedai as keepers of knowledge but the Sea folk and the Wise Women of the Aiel all contain their own traditions and lessons, without the same restrictions as the Aes Sedai. Egwene is currently the most irritating of the women: I don't mind that she's ambitious but she seems to think everyone should teach her everything she wants to know immediately, with no restraints.
Min's part in this book isn't very large, but it is critical. She's in the right place at the right time to see the coup of the Amyrlin Seat, the chaos that followed, and to release Siuan and Leane from prison. Their flight from Tar Valon, and the acquisition of Logan, are all going to become important in the future.
The interaction with Gwayne is also very interesting. I don't know if I forgot this plot point or did not realize what it might mean, but the fact that the 'Young' went along with Elaida's coup and fought their own teachers who were going to save Suian is possibly also important. What made them decide this way? The reader is inclined to dislike Elaida (though she has not been revealed as a Darkfriend) because of how much of an antagonist she is to Moiraine/the Two river folk. But to people in the tower, and the city even, this may have been a legitimate if hectic exchange of power.
There's a million more things going on but these are the largest pieces. Fadan Pain/Odeith continues to be awful, as do the Whitecloaks.
I do have one big complaint about relationships, which is that the author seems to think the only type of relationship men and women can have are manipulative ones. Open communication is not a thing in the Wheel of Time. If it was just some characters it would be fine but every women is constantly talking about how to trick/manipulate men and vice versa. I could seriously do without that worldview. Eager to get to the next one - the TV show has reignited my urge to finish reading this series!
I wish every book in this series were as entertaining as The Shadow Shadow. There is SO much going on, and it's fast-paced and exciting. The book jumps between characters a lot as per usual so I will just separate based on what happens to each.
Perrin and Faile's journey in this book is my favourite. The return back to Two Rivers to save his family from White Cloaks becomes the beginning of something much greater. There are White Cloaks in Two Rivers, his family is already dead, and the town is in desperate need of help as Trollocs and Fades, moving through the Ways, are overtaking everything. There's a lot to love in
these sections. Faile and Perrin's growing love and trust and reliance on each other; Loial and Perrin's easy friendship; the Aiel rivalry; and Gaul and Chiad's ongoing back and forth relationship, all of it amazing. Perrin has a very strong sense of duty and his decisions are always led by what he believes he needs to do to save his people. The fact that everyone is treating him as some sort of Lord, which he dislikes immensely, is a bonus. His interactions in the Dream World are also interesting because unlike all the women he has no one to teach him, just hints from the wolves. Unlike the women, he seems to have an instinctual understanding of what he can and can't do in this world. I still don't fully understand who "Slayer" is in the mythos of the world but their hunt made for really compelling sections. It really drives home though how much the women in this world learn from each other and teach each other and how much the men, Perrin, Mat and Rand, struggle, unsure and with no one to really teach them what they need to know.
One section that confuses me slightly concerns the Tinkers. They're a great foil for Perrin's continual battle between his peaceful/useful nature as a blacksmith and the duty/violence represented by the axe. We learn a lot about Tinkers in this book, but one thing I noticed from the first book and the tv show is that they seemed to suggest that everyone could follow the Way of the Leaf, and that their fires are open to everyone. However, they also seem to shun/exile those who grew up as Tinkers who choose violence, such as Aram. I can't tell if he is exiled for good or if he would be allowed back in. The show (which I am enjoying a lot!) had ex-soldiers and such in their group, implying that they would take in those who commit violence, unlike in the books where the division seems much stricter and very permanent.
The Tinkers of course, brings us to the Aiel. Last book we had only glimpses of Rand acting like a complete lunatic. In this book we get the sense that he has reconciled himself to the truth of his existence as "The Dragon Reborn". Now he has to decide what to do next without falling into any traps. Unfortunately, to build suspense, instead of getting an idea of what he plans to do, the whole book you get his musings on how he can't trust anyone, and how guilty he feels for what he is going to be forced to do to the Aiel. However, the part where Rand sees through his ancestors' eyes is GREAT. We go back to the very beginning: we see a technologically and magically advanced society, and the original Dai Shan who served the Aes Sedai. What the Aes Sedai needed
with an army of pacifists is not explained. We see Lanfear break the Dark One free. We have war, and the news that Lews Therin is going to try and bind the Dark One away again. We see how all the men are going mad, and the Dai Shan are told to keep to their current pacifist ways, and to hold onto a bunch of artifacts for the Aes Sedai. This is where they fracture into 3 separate groups. We have the very, very small group, who have since died out, that have kept true to their vows and who set up everything they haven't lost in the middle of the Waste. We have the Tinkers, who keep their nonviolence and their songs, but break their oath to guard things for Aes Sedai, and we have the Aiel who totally lost the plot and took up the spear, along with not guarding things for the Aes Sedai. The worldbuilding in this series is so in depth, and I love learning the history behind this world. The fight with Asmodean is cool mainly because it means Rand now has a teacher! It also gives us a glimpse of how his past lives are semi-guiding his hand when it comes to channeling.
We have 2 dead Forsaken, Lanfear, Asmodean, the one Nyneave almost single-handedly takes out like a boss. One in Illian, one who's using mind-control on Morgase, and the other woman we haven't run into yet - and Ishmael, of course.
Nyneave and Elayne's hunt for Black Ajah and crucial artifacts is mostly interesting for it's side plot with Egeanin. The Seanchan, (kind of like the Aeil) have very rigid structures and customs, and they are an insular culture. They come to conquer, of course, but it exposes them to new ideas and information, some of which totally upends their entire system of dealing with women with the ability to Channel. I suspect we'll have more character POV from them. The first two books set up the Tower and Aes Sedai as keepers of knowledge but the Sea folk and the Wise Women of the Aiel all contain their own traditions and lessons, without the same restrictions as the Aes Sedai. Egwene is currently the most irritating of the women: I don't mind that she's ambitious but she seems to think everyone should teach her everything she wants to know immediately, with no restraints.
Min's part in this book isn't very large, but it is critical. She's in the right place at the right time to see the coup of the Amyrlin Seat, the chaos that followed, and to release Siuan and Leane from prison. Their flight from Tar Valon, and the acquisition of Logan, are all going to become important in the future.
The interaction with Gwayne is also very interesting. I don't know if I forgot this plot point or did not realize what it might mean, but the fact that the 'Young' went along with Elaida's coup and fought their own teachers who were going to save Suian is possibly also important. What made them decide this way? The reader is inclined to dislike Elaida (though she has not been revealed as a Darkfriend) because of how much of an antagonist she is to Moiraine/the Two river folk. But to people in the tower, and the city even, this may have been a legitimate if hectic exchange of power.
There's a million more things going on but these are the largest pieces. Fadan Pain/Odeith continues to be awful, as do the Whitecloaks.
I do have one big complaint about relationships, which is that the author seems to think the only type of relationship men and women can have are manipulative ones. Open communication is not a thing in the Wheel of Time. If it was just some characters it would be fine but every women is constantly talking about how to trick/manipulate men and vice versa. I could seriously do without that worldview. Eager to get to the next one - the TV show has reignited my urge to finish reading this series!
hanna7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25