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ayvie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
There are some great things in this book, but there are several instances of (CW) rape and it's not handled at all well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
diazona's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, War, and Sexual harassment
dreamreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
I had been fairly sure that I never made it to this book the first time I attempted this series years ago, but upon picking it up to read for what I thought was the first time, I realized that I remembered lots of it. I'm not entirely surprised that I apparently completely forgot making it this far in the series, and I'm also unsurprised that this is where I ultimately abandoned it (I think. I don't remember Path of Daggers at all, so I don't think I made it that far).
I did like this book a lot this time around. It has its problems, but every book in this series so far has its problems. This book doesn't have much forward plot progression, but there is a feeling of chess pieces being moved on a board, so I think in future books I will be able to look back on this one and really appreciate what happened here.
That being said, this book had my least favorite plot arc so far: Ebou Dar. Specifically, the whole Mat and Tylin mess, which plenty of othe reviewers have commented on. To balance that out, I did really enjoy both Rand and Egwene's chapters in this book, and thought in general there was a lot of great character work here. I'm still looking forward to more!
I did like this book a lot this time around. It has its problems, but every book in this series so far has its problems. This book doesn't have much forward plot progression, but there is a feeling of chess pieces being moved on a board, so I think in future books I will be able to look back on this one and really appreciate what happened here.
That being said, this book had my least favorite plot arc so far: Ebou Dar. Specifically, the whole Mat and Tylin mess, which plenty of othe reviewers have commented on. To balance that out, I did really enjoy both Rand and Egwene's chapters in this book, and thought in general there was a lot of great character work here. I'm still looking forward to more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
clarehiyama's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have to echo the many reviewers and say that Mat’s experiences during a large chunk of the book are absolutely sexual assault. It’s disturbing how much it’s discussed and how it is portrayed as a non-issue or just a little farce. And it’s especially a shame because, again, like many other reviewers, I felt that otherwise, Mat had a great book and developed a lot as a character.
Other than that, I enjoyed it for the most part but boy is this series long and winding! How does everyone keep track of all these names?? Between our main cast of characters, the Aiel, the various nobles of Cairhien, Tear, and Caemlyn, Whitecloaks, Ebou Darians, various Darkfriends/Forsaken, Aes Sedai, & Ashaman, I am having serious issues keeping up. I similarly have trouble keeping the MANY nations & peoples straight, not to mention the plot points. There’s so much distrust and intrigue between the various forces that I also struggle to remember who knows what. This is now just a litany of complaints but I stand by them. I enjoy the process of reading but between the beginning and end of this book, it doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten very far.
Other than that, I enjoyed it for the most part but boy is this series long and winding! How does everyone keep track of all these names?? Between our main cast of characters, the Aiel, the various nobles of Cairhien, Tear, and Caemlyn, Whitecloaks, Ebou Darians, various Darkfriends/Forsaken, Aes Sedai, & Ashaman, I am having serious issues keeping up. I similarly have trouble keeping the MANY nations & peoples straight, not to mention the plot points. There’s so much distrust and intrigue between the various forces that I also struggle to remember who knows what. This is now just a litany of complaints but I stand by them. I enjoy the process of reading but between the beginning and end of this book, it doesn’t feel like we’ve gotten very far.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
justgj's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Sexual assault
wishbea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Animal death, War, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Misogyny, and Murder
darthizzy's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
first 1 star of the year and it’s a doozy
BIG CW FOR R*PE
i was ready to give this book 3 stars, you know, not much happened but i was enjoying it… until chapter 29. r*pe is not a joke!!!! the way it was dismissed!!! GROSS!!!!!!!! i couldn’t pay attention to anything else
now i don’t know if i’ll ever finish the series
BIG CW FOR R*PE
i was ready to give this book 3 stars, you know, not much happened but i was enjoying it… until chapter 29. r*pe is not a joke!!!! the way it was dismissed!!! GROSS!!!!!!!! i couldn’t pay attention to anything else
now i don’t know if i’ll ever finish the series
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
cheezh8er's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
*adjusts skirts*
This was another slog of an installment from this series. I think three important things happen? The gender politics, while interesting world building in book one, has been pushed to it's most stereotypical and patronizing.
Mat gets straight up assaulted at knifepoint, but it's not played that way since it was done by a woman and he's a playboy, despite an obviously imbalanced power dynamic
This was another slog of an installment from this series. I think three important things happen? The gender politics, while interesting world building in book one, has been pushed to it's most stereotypical and patronizing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault
surdiablo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
I have finally entered the infamous slog phase and it wasn't as bad as I expected, although the plot does considerably slow down quite a bit, even more than previous books. While it still has some clever entertaining moments, there's definitely a lot more unnecessary meandering as well, which made it hard to push through sometimes. There's also the introduction of various new characters and while most of them are intriguing enough, it also became a bit harder in my experience to keep track of everyone and everything, especially if you are taking it slow. After the amazing ending of Lord of Chaos, this book felt like it's a step below its predecessors overall and the climax was rather anticlimactic. However Rand still remains my favorite character so far, as I look forward to read his chapters more than anyone else's. Mat is getting better each book, and others are also growing further, with the exception of Perrin who seems to be in stasis. There's also some questionable moments that might be uncomfortable to read, like what happens between Mat and Tylin .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Death