You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jacob_edwards985 's review for:
Lord of Chaos
by Robert Jordan
Boy oh man oh boy oh man
I’ve been reading this one for what felt like 16 years, but I’ve finished it now and I can now think about it.
I actually quite liked this one. I was worried that I was going to find it the beginning of the so-called slog I’ve heard exists, but it was thankfully not particularly slog-ish for me and I’m glad it was so as it’s the longest in the series so far.
Now, it wasn’t a slog per say, but it did absolutely suffer from pacing. This book was very structurally confusing to me as we reach what is most certainly the climax of one plot line (Egwene becoming Amyrlin) rather early in the final third, making that storyline taper off in a kind of pathetic way. I think it’s especially so on account of the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy having such an important role in the final act, but we as the reader feel like the emissary is lagging behind due to our knowledge of Egwene as Amyrlin. In all honesty, that could have happened in the finale/epilogue and simply dealt with the Ebou Dar introduction in the next book. As it stands I don’t quite understand why it was introduced if only to be left alone for the rest of the story.
Also strange was how many potential climaxes were set up and how different it ended up being to what the climax actually was. Typically in these books I’ve found that one climax (Horn of Valere being found, battle with usurper of Camelyn) are all heavily telegraphed from the beginning of the book. This one deviates and sets up a conflict with Sammael, but instead ends up having this weird fusion battle with the Shaido and Tar Valon emissary. I’m not super distraught about the Aes Sedai being involved as that was absolutely set up, but the Shaido are almost not mentioned at all until the final 100 pages.
A couple character choices also irked me. Mat got the absolute short end of the stick and has been getting it for a moment. He annoys me whenever he’s on the page as he just seems intentionally obtuse. Perrin finally comes back but is attached to the most absolutely annoying relationship that has ever been put to page. Faile and Perrin pissed me the fuck off the whole time. They give off furry couple in high school kissing in the stairwell energy. It’s so incredibly annoying. Romance in general is very hasty and don’t like it too much. Only Aviendha and Rand make sense to me as any other romance typically has to be set up apropos of a physical meeting between the participants, (Jordon hates having his characters in the same place) which leads to a strange kind of rapid infatuation when these seemingly disparate characters are all over each other at first sight (cough cough Min/Rand Egwene/Gawayn). Plus, it is so so so so obvious that Taim is Demandred. It’s frustrating how blind Rand is to it. He has a literal guy in his head tell him this in all but name and he chooses not to see it. He’s been on this arc of distrust in everyone and yet chooses to not think critically about the suspiciously strong man who can channel who he keeps getting subtle warnings about. Wonder why that is?
That being said, it is hard to explain the general feeling from these books. I have a great time reading them if for no reason but that they’ve come to feel like a kind of home. It’s easy to get lost in the world, however mildly nonsensical and annoying at times, and Jordon can definitely write an action scene. I would say the final battle to rescue Rand is second only to the battle at Falme in the second book, which still has yet to be topped for me, and overall this book was likely the most consistently engaging for me despite its length.
Insane to me that I’m not even halfway done the series yet though. Goddamn.
I’ve been reading this one for what felt like 16 years, but I’ve finished it now and I can now think about it.
I actually quite liked this one. I was worried that I was going to find it the beginning of the so-called slog I’ve heard exists, but it was thankfully not particularly slog-ish for me and I’m glad it was so as it’s the longest in the series so far.
Now, it wasn’t a slog per say, but it did absolutely suffer from pacing. This book was very structurally confusing to me as we reach what is most certainly the climax of one plot line (Egwene becoming Amyrlin) rather early in the final third, making that storyline taper off in a kind of pathetic way. I think it’s especially so on account of the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy having such an important role in the final act, but we as the reader feel like the emissary is lagging behind due to our knowledge of Egwene as Amyrlin. In all honesty, that could have happened in the finale/epilogue and simply dealt with the Ebou Dar introduction in the next book. As it stands I don’t quite understand why it was introduced if only to be left alone for the rest of the story.
Also strange was how many potential climaxes were set up and how different it ended up being to what the climax actually was. Typically in these books I’ve found that one climax (Horn of Valere being found, battle with usurper of Camelyn) are all heavily telegraphed from the beginning of the book. This one deviates and sets up a conflict with Sammael, but instead ends up having this weird fusion battle with the Shaido and Tar Valon emissary. I’m not super distraught about the Aes Sedai being involved as that was absolutely set up, but the Shaido are almost not mentioned at all until the final 100 pages.
A couple character choices also irked me. Mat got the absolute short end of the stick and has been getting it for a moment. He annoys me whenever he’s on the page as he just seems intentionally obtuse. Perrin finally comes back but is attached to the most absolutely annoying relationship that has ever been put to page. Faile and Perrin pissed me the fuck off the whole time. They give off furry couple in high school kissing in the stairwell energy. It’s so incredibly annoying. Romance in general is very hasty and don’t like it too much. Only Aviendha and Rand make sense to me as any other romance typically has to be set up apropos of a physical meeting between the participants, (Jordon hates having his characters in the same place) which leads to a strange kind of rapid infatuation when these seemingly disparate characters are all over each other at first sight (cough cough Min/Rand Egwene/Gawayn). Plus, it is so so so so obvious that Taim is Demandred. It’s frustrating how blind Rand is to it. He has a literal guy in his head tell him this in all but name and he chooses not to see it. He’s been on this arc of distrust in everyone and yet chooses to not think critically about the suspiciously strong man who can channel who he keeps getting subtle warnings about. Wonder why that is?
That being said, it is hard to explain the general feeling from these books. I have a great time reading them if for no reason but that they’ve come to feel like a kind of home. It’s easy to get lost in the world, however mildly nonsensical and annoying at times, and Jordon can definitely write an action scene. I would say the final battle to rescue Rand is second only to the battle at Falme in the second book, which still has yet to be topped for me, and overall this book was likely the most consistently engaging for me despite its length.
Insane to me that I’m not even halfway done the series yet though. Goddamn.