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4.59 AVERAGE
4.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
It's finally over, and what a series. 14 books totaling 11,898 pages, over 13 months. The Last Battle chapter in this last book was longer on its own than Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. It was so satisfying to see the end of these character arcs that have lasted for 14 books. Brandon Sanderson (with Robert Jordan's notes) knows how to stick the landing.
It's funny because this was an amazing series, but it's hard to recommend because it's long and has a lot of slow sections. It has a ton of different POVs, but focuses on 7 or 8 main characters. Extremely deep world building, and lots of clues and subtle foreshadowing. If you read it, there's a few books in the middle you can probably skip and read a summary. Series as a whole probably has to be 4 stars due to the bad middle, but the last third of the series is 6 stars
It's funny because this was an amazing series, but it's hard to recommend because it's long and has a lot of slow sections. It has a ton of different POVs, but focuses on 7 or 8 main characters. Extremely deep world building, and lots of clues and subtle foreshadowing. If you read it, there's a few books in the middle you can probably skip and read a summary. Series as a whole probably has to be 4 stars due to the bad middle, but the last third of the series is 6 stars
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The final 400 pages fitting together like a clockwork symphony, everything from the last 13 books, every single thing, coming together as all these mini climaxes, these powerful moments of all of these characters accepting their fate and their role in all of it. Really stunning end to it all. Some of the most enjoying, satisfying reading I've ever had.
I'm very much looking forward to re-reading all of this in like 15 years.
I'm very much looking forward to re-reading all of this in like 15 years.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
The final turning of the Wheel has come. After such a long journey, we are treated to a long montage of battles that is "A Memory of Light."
*Almost* every circle is closed here. We get a definitive ending with just enough left in the open because there are no endings or beginning within the Wheel, this is only an ending. Still my biggest complaint is how a question I have been asking since "Fires of Heaven" is never answered. Yes, it is probably answered in a guidebook/wiki/glossary, but I wanted to find out in the actual story. Still, the ending itself I would say was worth the journey. There were a few moments amid the massive carnage that I felt some emotions seeping up. Characters finally die, while almost everyone barely makes it out. The stakes are at their highest here.
This was, essentially, just a long drawn out series of battles. Luckily, the scenes of carnage and destruction are broken up with plenty of character moments (a lot even happening during the fighting). While the majority is "the final battle", it was waged on multiple fronts and was played out as a military campaign as opposed to a single climactic action sequence. I loved seeing the variety of military tactics used, especially with the various culture's strengths and weaknesses being used. Also magic being a key feature to the strategy. By far the most gritty and realistic battle sequences I have read (so far). Yes, I used realistic while describing a fantasy battle. Despite the sky being torn asunder, the World of Dreams, firebolts, lighting, flying beasts, several duels, insanely accurate longbows (which were a thing), monsters who eat their fallen enemies, etc... It felt plausible and each immersive rule of worldbuilding was used to form a complex military campaign using each of these otherworldly anomalies, combining them with real-world tactics. You could seriously write a PhD thesis on the intricacies of the Final Battle. I'm sure someone has.
On the other note, I loved the spotlight the Black Tower finally got, with Androl quickly becoming a favorite character, despite his late entry into the series. Mat continues to be Mat, but actually uses his chosen one status (finally) and takes an active role in the story (finally). While I love him, I still don't see why he's THE fan favorite. I also liked how Galad and Gawyn got some spotlight, really showing their skills, personalities, and love amid this conflict. Likewise, Gaul was given some truly awesome moments. All these secondary characters being given arcs that stood with our MCs truly shows the passion Jordan and Sanderson had for their +1,000 characters. Yet, Loial and Fain manage to somehow be lost amid the large cast of characters. Yes, they both get big moments here, but considering how important they both were in the early books, I would have loved to see more of them. Especially since Fain seems to have a LOT more going on than we see.
Still, Perrin manages to steal the show (arguably save the day). His journeys amid the Wolf Dream and helping the armies behind the scenes were truly awesome. Each of his encounters with Slayer were great, somehow improving as the story progressed. While I know deep down the Amazon adaptation with botch these epic and intricate fights, I cannot help but look forward to seeing the majesty of these two pros battling on the Big Screen.
In short, this was a giant battle that closed many of the loops and brought our heroes full circle in an impressive and complex weave of military tactics. If you like battle sequences, emotional and intense character moments, this is for you. Also if you have read the series thus far, you owe it to yourself to finish it. Seriously. What are 1,000 pages compared to the ~12,000 you have already read?
*Almost* every circle is closed here. We get a definitive ending with just enough left in the open because there are no endings or beginning within the Wheel, this is only an ending. Still my biggest complaint is how a question I have been asking since "Fires of Heaven" is never answered. Yes, it is probably answered in a guidebook/wiki/glossary, but I wanted to find out in the actual story. Still, the ending itself I would say was worth the journey. There were a few moments amid the massive carnage that I felt some emotions seeping up. Characters finally die, while almost everyone barely makes it out. The stakes are at their highest here.
This was, essentially, just a long drawn out series of battles. Luckily, the scenes of carnage and destruction are broken up with plenty of character moments (a lot even happening during the fighting). While the majority is "the final battle", it was waged on multiple fronts and was played out as a military campaign as opposed to a single climactic action sequence. I loved seeing the variety of military tactics used, especially with the various culture's strengths and weaknesses being used. Also magic being a key feature to the strategy. By far the most gritty and realistic battle sequences I have read (so far). Yes, I used realistic while describing a fantasy battle. Despite the sky being torn asunder, the World of Dreams, firebolts, lighting, flying beasts, several duels, insanely accurate longbows (which were a thing), monsters who eat their fallen enemies, etc... It felt plausible and each immersive rule of worldbuilding was used to form a complex military campaign using each of these otherworldly anomalies, combining them with real-world tactics. You could seriously write a PhD thesis on the intricacies of the Final Battle. I'm sure someone has.
On the other note, I loved the spotlight the Black Tower finally got, with Androl quickly becoming a favorite character, despite his late entry into the series. Mat continues to be Mat, but actually uses his chosen one status (finally) and takes an active role in the story (finally). While I love him, I still don't see why he's THE fan favorite. I also liked how Galad and Gawyn got some spotlight, really showing their skills, personalities, and love amid this conflict. Likewise, Gaul was given some truly awesome moments. All these secondary characters being given arcs that stood with our MCs truly shows the passion Jordan and Sanderson had for their +1,000 characters. Yet, Loial and Fain manage to somehow be lost amid the large cast of characters. Yes, they both get big moments here, but considering how important they both were in the early books, I would have loved to see more of them. Especially since Fain seems to have a LOT more going on than we see.
Still, Perrin manages to steal the show (arguably save the day). His journeys amid the Wolf Dream and helping the armies behind the scenes were truly awesome. Each of his encounters with Slayer were great, somehow improving as the story progressed. While I know deep down the Amazon adaptation with botch these epic and intricate fights, I cannot help but look forward to seeing the majesty of these two pros battling on the Big Screen.
In short, this was a giant battle that closed many of the loops and brought our heroes full circle in an impressive and complex weave of military tactics. If you like battle sequences, emotional and intense character moments, this is for you. Also if you have read the series thus far, you owe it to yourself to finish it. Seriously. What are 1,000 pages compared to the ~12,000 you have already read?
Disappointing end but im glad it happened. Way too much generic ending blather at the very end. Like a videogame rpg postgame slideshow.