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A review by isabellarobinson7
A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
5.0
Second read: 09/12/20 - 13/12/20
Rating: (still) 5 stars
200TH BOOK OF 2020! OH YEAH!!
I was going to write a giant wrap up kind of review for my second Wheel of Time read through this year (I am unashamedly obsessed) but I have little brain power left to do anything cohesive. And this review is hidden because of spoilers in my first review and so I can't be bothered making it presentable (lazy me). So you're getting some bullet pointed lists. Enjoy. Or don't, I don't care. You're the one choosing to read my rambly thoughts. 🙃
My (amended) series order with placement changings:
1. The Shadow Rising -
2. The Great Hunt ⋀ 2
3. A Memory of Light ⋁ 1
4. A Crown of Swords ⋀ 8 (I think...? Need to reread to make sure)
5. Towers of Midnight ⋁ 2 (tied)
5. Lord of Chaos - (tied)
7. The Fires of Heaven ⋀ 1
8. Knife of Dreams ⋁ 1
9. The Dragon Reborn -
10. The Gathering Storm ⋁ 4
11. The Eye of the World ⋁ 1
12. Winter's Heart ⋁ 1
13. New Spring ⋀ 1
14. The Path of Daggers ⋁ 1
15. Crossroads of Twilight -
Things I realised in my reread:
- The Great Hunt and A Crown of Swords are actually two of my favourites in the series
- Dumai's Wells and Tower of Ghenjei were even more epic than I remember
- Elayne really does love Rand like Aviendha and Min, she just accepts her feelings after first experiencing them, unlike the other two
- I don't really like the first few chapters of A Memory of Light
- Nyneave is really awesome, not just kind of awesome
- Man, Gawyn is annoying
- I am even more bugged as to how Rand lit that pipe
- Min actually found out the secret to winning the Last Battle, through her research into Callandor (read the epilogue, it says it right there)
- Logain and Galad are much cooler on reread
- Padan Fain's end is unsatisfying (I didn't think so the first time, but do now)
And that's it. I have December brain (basically everything is wearing me out no matter how small) and so this is as much as I can manage. The end (of this review).
First read: 19/06/20 - 21/06/20
Rating: 5 stars
I... I finished. I finished A Memory of Light. I finished The Wheel of Time. BLOOD AND ASHES I FINISHED THE WHEEL OF TIME! It took me 4 months and 21 days, but I finished!
Specifically, it took me 3 days to read this last book. I even forgot to eat lunch the second and third day because A Memory of Light absorbed me like few books have done before. I read 189 pages on day one, 351 on day two, and 500 today - day three. When I couldn't read physically I had the audiobook. Practically no one saw me this weekend. I did as minimal human-ing as possible so as to read as many pages as I could during waking hours. But it was so worth it. Because I was so engrossed, I didn't take notes, (well, actually I have a single note from chapter one that says "YAY Perrin and Rand are besties") so this review is just gobbledygook. I'm sure future me will regret it when I read this back. Sorry future me.
(Ok, we're going to try and form some kind of critical review before I just start gushing:) I was told that the Last Battle would be good. I expected Sanderson to end RJ's series well. But I didn't think it would be this good! Everyone's arcs just came to a wonderful conclusion that was so satisfying in a way that few book series have done before.
I need to talk in pretty much complete spoilers for A Memory of Light, because I still am shook after all that happened. First we need to talk about Rand. Light, Rand!I was so lost as to the direction of his character at the beginning of this book. He kept fighting for personal control over the armies at the Last Battle, I was confused how he was going to end up fighting the Dark One as well as being a general. That didn't end up happening however because Elayne (but, let's be honest, it was mostly Mat) took charge instead.
While Rand was absolutely awesome actually during Tarmon Gai'don, I felt his character really shone the brightest before it. The Two Rivers reunions in A Memory of Light were almost the death of me. Perrin and Rand, Rand and Mat, Mat and Perrin... they were all so amazing.
Rand's ending was so bittersweet.I wish I could go and tell Book 11 Isabella who was concerned about Rand losing his hand that it would be ok, because eventually Rand would get a hand back. Also, (but this may just be me worrying over little superficial things) wouldn't it take some adjusting to looking like Moradin, one of the Forsaken? Would it be weird having to live out the greater majority of your life in a different sized body? But I guess Rand would be kind of used to it, as he is technically Lews Therin who has been spending time in Rand's body.
I got sad that we didn't get to see enough ofLan and Moiraine's reunion, or even Lan and Nynaeve's reunion. Lan was really awesome in this book, and his fight with Demandred was incredible, and it's just the little things I am whining over, so really I shouldn't be complaining.
Ok, a specific event now (told you it would be a mess).Egwene's death! I knew one of our main five was going to die, and as much as I would have loved it if they had all survived, (ugh this feels like blasphemy:) Egwene's end seemed... fitting? I'm not sure that's the word, but her purpose as a character was essentially achieved in book 12, when she unified the White Tower. Creating another arc for her beyond this could have certainly worked, (unifying the Black and White Towers perhaps? Or the Wise Ones and Aes Sedai?) but her death at the Last Battle felt like the natural conclusion to her character.
Also, why hadn't we got Aviendha like this before?! She was awesome!Her fight against Graendal was so masterfully crafted and written. It felt almost as high stakes as the whole of Tarmon Gai'don itself.
Siuan...Siuan's death was sad. Especially because of Garath Bryne. Siuan thought she would be fine because of Min's vision which Siuan thought had already come to fruition, but it hadn't but she had to save Mat so she went anyway knowing it could well mean that she was running to her death... sad. That's all I can say: sad.
Perrin had his own thing going onwith the wolves once again, but it was slightly more connected this time. He also had another Faile Quest at the end there (but only a mini one, so it was like "Faile Quest Part Two: The Disappointing and Largely Uneventful Sequel". Nah, I'm just kidding, it wasn't like that) but fortunately he didn't drop everything for her this time. He actually did some decent fighting and contributed a considerable amount to the Last Battle.
Mat was funny.He somehow managed to gain control over the Seanchan armies and brought them to fight against the Shadow. Still not quite sure how he managed to accomplish that. I suppose you could attribute that to Tuon's affection for him, but I couldn't really see that (though it may just be my complete lack of understanding when it comes to that sort of stuff.)
Some overall series stuff:
Characters - I still cannot rank the characters in this series from best to worst. Not even a top five or ten. I can just tell you my top ones, some twos and threes maybe, and then some grrrrrs. My top ones are Rand, Min, Nynaeve, Moiraine, Mat and Siuan; my top twos are Aviendha (she's more like a 1.5), Egwene and Perrin; then there are some hesitant threes that are kind of like all the other cool characters, like Loial, Lan, Logain and Alviarin (she's not a good guy but still). Lastly, there are my grrrrr characters, the characters that bug me. This is Elayne, Gawyn, Tuon and basically all the flaming Seanchan.
Books - Fortunately, the slog wasn't all that bad for me. I gave all but two of the 15 books (including New Spring) 5 stars, so my overall average rating for the series is 4.9 stars. Unlike with characters, I have been able to rank each book in a list from best to worst:
1. The Shadow Rising
2. A Memory of Light
3. Towers of Midnight
4. The Great Hunt
5. Lord of Chaos
6. The Gathering Storm
7. Knife of Dreams
8. The Fires of Heaven
9. The Dragon Reborn
10. The Eye of the World
11. Winter's Heart
12. A Crown of Swords
13. The Path of Daggers
14. New Spring
15. Crossroads of Twilight
In regards to other series-wide ratings (like favourite scenes or whatever) I don't think I will have a good grasp on them until I do a reread.
Wow, now that was a messy review. But my first read through of The Wheel of Time is done. And it was some of the best reading months of my, well, life. Now for the next big challenge - holding off picking up The Eye of the World and immediately starting a reread. I wonder how long that will last. I give myself a week, at best.
Rating: (still) 5 stars
200TH BOOK OF 2020! OH YEAH!!
I was going to write a giant wrap up kind of review for my second Wheel of Time read through this year (I am unashamedly obsessed) but I have little brain power left to do anything cohesive. And this review is hidden because of spoilers in my first review and so I can't be bothered making it presentable (lazy me). So you're getting some bullet pointed lists. Enjoy. Or don't, I don't care. You're the one choosing to read my rambly thoughts. 🙃
My (amended) series order with placement changings:
1. The Shadow Rising -
2. The Great Hunt ⋀ 2
3. A Memory of Light ⋁ 1
4. A Crown of Swords ⋀ 8 (I think...? Need to reread to make sure)
5. Towers of Midnight ⋁ 2 (tied)
5. Lord of Chaos - (tied)
7. The Fires of Heaven ⋀ 1
8. Knife of Dreams ⋁ 1
9. The Dragon Reborn -
10. The Gathering Storm ⋁ 4
11. The Eye of the World ⋁ 1
12. Winter's Heart ⋁ 1
13. New Spring ⋀ 1
14. The Path of Daggers ⋁ 1
15. Crossroads of Twilight -
Things I realised in my reread:
- The Great Hunt and A Crown of Swords are actually two of my favourites in the series
- Dumai's Wells and Tower of Ghenjei were even more epic than I remember
- Elayne really does love Rand like Aviendha and Min, she just accepts her feelings after first experiencing them, unlike the other two
- I don't really like the first few chapters of A Memory of Light
- Nyneave is really awesome, not just kind of awesome
- Man, Gawyn is annoying
- I am even more bugged as to how Rand lit that pipe
- Min actually found out the secret to winning the Last Battle, through her research into Callandor (read the epilogue, it says it right there)
- Logain and Galad are much cooler on reread
- Padan Fain's end is unsatisfying (I didn't think so the first time, but do now)
And that's it. I have December brain (basically everything is wearing me out no matter how small) and so this is as much as I can manage. The end (of this review).
First read: 19/06/20 - 21/06/20
Rating: 5 stars
I... I finished. I finished A Memory of Light. I finished The Wheel of Time. BLOOD AND ASHES I FINISHED THE WHEEL OF TIME! It took me 4 months and 21 days, but I finished!
Specifically, it took me 3 days to read this last book. I even forgot to eat lunch the second and third day because A Memory of Light absorbed me like few books have done before. I read 189 pages on day one, 351 on day two, and 500 today - day three. When I couldn't read physically I had the audiobook. Practically no one saw me this weekend. I did as minimal human-ing as possible so as to read as many pages as I could during waking hours. But it was so worth it. Because I was so engrossed, I didn't take notes, (well, actually I have a single note from chapter one that says "YAY Perrin and Rand are besties") so this review is just gobbledygook. I'm sure future me will regret it when I read this back. Sorry future me.
(Ok, we're going to try and form some kind of critical review before I just start gushing:) I was told that the Last Battle would be good. I expected Sanderson to end RJ's series well. But I didn't think it would be this good! Everyone's arcs just came to a wonderful conclusion that was so satisfying in a way that few book series have done before.
I need to talk in pretty much complete spoilers for A Memory of Light, because I still am shook after all that happened. First we need to talk about Rand. Light, Rand!
While Rand was absolutely awesome actually during Tarmon Gai'don, I felt his character really shone the brightest before it. The Two Rivers reunions in A Memory of Light were almost the death of me. Perrin and Rand, Rand and Mat, Mat and Perrin... they were all so amazing.
Rand's ending was so bittersweet.
I got sad that we didn't get to see enough of
Ok, a specific event now (told you it would be a mess).
Also, why hadn't we got Aviendha like this before?! She was awesome!
Siuan...
Perrin had his own thing going on
Mat was funny.
Some overall series stuff:
Characters - I still cannot rank the characters in this series from best to worst. Not even a top five or ten. I can just tell you my top ones, some twos and threes maybe, and then some grrrrrs. My top ones are Rand, Min, Nynaeve, Moiraine, Mat and Siuan; my top twos are Aviendha (she's more like a 1.5), Egwene and Perrin; then there are some hesitant threes that are kind of like all the other cool characters, like Loial, Lan, Logain and Alviarin (she's not a good guy but still). Lastly, there are my grrrrr characters, the characters that bug me. This is Elayne, Gawyn, Tuon and basically all the flaming Seanchan.
Books - Fortunately, the slog wasn't all that bad for me. I gave all but two of the 15 books (including New Spring) 5 stars, so my overall average rating for the series is 4.9 stars. Unlike with characters, I have been able to rank each book in a list from best to worst:
1. The Shadow Rising
2. A Memory of Light
3. Towers of Midnight
4. The Great Hunt
5. Lord of Chaos
6. The Gathering Storm
7. Knife of Dreams
8. The Fires of Heaven
9. The Dragon Reborn
10. The Eye of the World
11. Winter's Heart
12. A Crown of Swords
13. The Path of Daggers
14. New Spring
15. Crossroads of Twilight
In regards to other series-wide ratings (like favourite scenes or whatever) I don't think I will have a good grasp on them until I do a reread.
Wow, now that was a messy review. But my first read through of The Wheel of Time is done. And it was some of the best reading months of my, well, life. Now for the next big challenge - holding off picking up The Eye of the World and immediately starting a reread. I wonder how long that will last. I give myself a week, at best.