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A review by ageorgiadis
The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
4.0
More Mat. More Sex. More Surprises. More Death.
Rereading the epic WoT series in anticipation of its [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1201547425p2/38550.jpg] coauthored conclusion next spring, I am endlessly surprised at the hot and heavy hormones. More than I remember on the first read maybe a decade ago. Even beyond that which is the traditional, tired criticism of the series. The early chapters are laden with heavy looks, loads of Nynaeving, interminable Aes Sedai indignation while plotting re:Rand, and other varied fallopian good times.
Tel'aran'rhiod and the world of dreams encompasses a significant portion of the story arc and doesn't serve to advance the larger plot except to brandish outfit after outfit and bodice after bodice as Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, Birgitte, Moghedien and the Wise Ones flit around covertly and worry about the wardrobe of their subconscious. This is incredibly distracting from Rand, ever the heart of the novels, as he has critical moments with Natael, Mat, and a excellent moment of well-written sexuality (in the hot scene in the snowdrift with Aviendha). Note to WoT newbies: there is a scarcity of hot-and-heaviness in The Third Age. Let me cast my ballot for Aviendha as the sexiest, most worthy of "the Three". Except for Min. Shoot.
Still, FoH does a lot of things well. It manages to coalesce some of the scattered parties, even if reunification subjects us poor readers to further Aes Sedai pontification, if such a thing were possible. There are well placed foreshadowings of later development with the One Power, both with saidin and saidar, and of course the only memorable death of the series takes place at the novel's finale.
"The Wheel of Time" shines when it moves, when it is unpredictable. The ladies joining a circus troupe for more discussion of hemlines and necklines does not qualify, but we have such chapters in spades. But consider the strengths. Mat's imperious mind is bursting with echoes of Age of Legends warfare and history, and his impromptu command is just the type of adrenaline rush for which we've all been reading. Rand's reckless abandonment of best-laid-plans jolts us awake. Aviendha's naked body -- washing in the Car'acarn's room, that's reasonable-- is a welcome sliver of adult fiction.
If time travel is realized one day, this is my entreaty to RJ circa FoH: More Mat. More sex. More surprises. More death.
Rereading the epic WoT series in anticipation of its [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1201547425p2/38550.jpg] coauthored conclusion next spring, I am endlessly surprised at the hot and heavy hormones. More than I remember on the first read maybe a decade ago. Even beyond that which is the traditional, tired criticism of the series. The early chapters are laden with heavy looks, loads of Nynaeving, interminable Aes Sedai indignation while plotting re:Rand, and other varied fallopian good times.
Tel'aran'rhiod and the world of dreams encompasses a significant portion of the story arc and doesn't serve to advance the larger plot except to brandish outfit after outfit and bodice after bodice as Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, Birgitte, Moghedien and the Wise Ones flit around covertly and worry about the wardrobe of their subconscious. This is incredibly distracting from Rand, ever the heart of the novels, as he has critical moments with Natael, Mat, and a excellent moment of well-written sexuality (in the hot scene in the snowdrift with Aviendha). Note to WoT newbies: there is a scarcity of hot-and-heaviness in The Third Age. Let me cast my ballot for Aviendha as the sexiest, most worthy of "the Three". Except for Min. Shoot.
Still, FoH does a lot of things well. It manages to coalesce some of the scattered parties, even if reunification subjects us poor readers to further Aes Sedai pontification, if such a thing were possible. There are well placed foreshadowings of later development with the One Power, both with saidin and saidar, and of course the only memorable death of the series takes place at the novel's finale.
Spoiler
Veterans note, Moiraine can't die, Lanfear can't die, Ishamael can't die, lest we even mention any expatriate of the Two Rivers, whose existences are so sacrosanct that their persistence to the last page of [b:A Memory of Light|1166599|The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time, #12; A Memory of Light, #1)|Robert Jordan|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312064325s/1166599.jpg|1920889] is all but assured. I assume that Asmodean is indeed gone, although Sanderson still has time to unearth a crumpled Jordan note wherein this is undone, as well."The Wheel of Time" shines when it moves, when it is unpredictable. The ladies joining a circus troupe for more discussion of hemlines and necklines does not qualify, but we have such chapters in spades. But consider the strengths. Mat's imperious mind is bursting with echoes of Age of Legends warfare and history, and his impromptu command
Spoiler
of the Band of the Red HandSpoiler
to smash RahvinSpoiler
and the resulting sensuality in the snowIf time travel is realized one day, this is my entreaty to RJ circa FoH: More Mat. More sex. More surprises. More death.