Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time #9)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: January 7th 2002
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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Rand, with Min, is on the run, and Cadsuane, in Carhien, is trying to figure out where he is headed.

Mazrim Taim, the leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. Faile, with her companions, is a prisoner of Sevanna's Sept.

With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet, and an "army" of disparate forces, Perrin is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan.

In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives. In Tar Valon, the schemers and counter-schemers in Elaida's White Tower are shaken to the core when the rebels appear suddenly outside the walls.

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This book was very eventful. Several major events that I knew were coming finally happened in this book. And I was so happy to see Mat again. He was not in the last book at all, and it took half of this book before he showed up. But once he did, a lot happened. The story in Ebou Dar ended up being my favourite, from anyone's POV.

I was happy to finally meet Tuon and she was not what I expected. She is a strong woman, like all the others in this series, but she is so young. I am curious how that will effect things. Will it make her easier to handle or harder? The other women in this series are all difficult. We last saw her, Mat had just realized that she was the Daughter of the Nine Moons, so I don't really know what to expect. His initial reaction was strange.

And I still love Rand. As uncomfortable as I am with his relationship with Min, Elayne, and Aviendha, I try to just ignore it. He spends most of his time with Min anyway, who is my favourite of the three, so I try to not let it bother me, because I love Rand so much, as a character and a hero. He has been trough so much, and it all effects him so strongly. He does what he must even as each action makes another mark on his soul, and each death turns him a little more to stone. But the incredible thing is that he knows what it will do to him, and he does it anyway. He is sacrificing himself a little bit at a time, for the sake of the world. And so far it is working. He has done such incredible things, and I admire him so much. Mat is my book boyfriend of this series, but Rand is my hero.

After 9 books, this is still the most epic story I have ever read. I don't know when this series is suppose to start dragging, but I can't believe it will. I heard one reader say they stopped after book 10, so I suppose I will just have to wait and see. But I will not stop with only 4 books left. That would be incredibly lazy. I don't expect to ever stop loving this series, world, and characters, but I will finish this series either way.

“A man who trusts everyone is a fool and a man who trusts no one is a fool. We are all fools if we live long enough.”

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time #5)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: October 15th 1993
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense

My Rating: 5 out of 5

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The bonds and wards that hold the Great Lord of the Dark are slowly failing, but still his fragile prison holds. The Forsaken, immortal servants of the shadow, weave their snares and tighten their grip upon the realms of men, sure in the knowledge that their master will soon break free...

Rand al' Thor, the Dragon Reborn, knows that he must strike at the Enemy, but his forces are divided by treachery and by ambition. Even the Aes Sedai, ancient guardians of the Light, are riven by civil war. Betrayed by his allies, pursued by his enemies and beset by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power, Rand rides out to meet the foe.

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I enjoyed this book more than the last one. I suppose I may have simply gotten used to the Aiel, but I think that it is because they weren't focused on as much, even though they are always there. The Wise-Ones are by far the worst thing about this whole series, and trying to tolerate them is a chore. Also Aviendha and Egwene, although I am beginning to hate Egwene even more than Aviendha.

 

The women in this series are all ridiculous. They seem so hateful. Its not quite hate, but they just don't seem to like anyone. I can't stand any of them except Min, Moiraine, and Nyneave. Min is kind and brave. Moiraine is refined and strong. Nyneave is unrepentant and a force to be reckoned with.

But the men! Goodness the men! Perrin is a true hero and his wolves are bad ass. Mat is a reluctant hero but he is so charming he makes me tingle. :P And Rand is magnificent. There really isn't a better word for it. He is magnificent! Although unlike Mat, my feelings for him are completely platonic. I love him like I love the adult Ender and Colin Morgan's Merlin. Which is to say, a lot!

I love all the intertwining stories and seeing how they are all coming together, and how characters cross over and join a different side story. You never really know who is going to pop up next and where. Although I missed Perrin in this book. [And I am going to miss Asmodean. Why is it that I liked one of the Forsaken so much? I don't know. But I am so sad that he died. More sad than I am about Moiraine because I know that she will be back.]

I love how each book in this series ends with a climactic battle. It keeps it exciting but also keeps the story moving forward. There is constant progression as Rand defeats one obstacle after another and sweeps across the land. I am so glad that there was only one book that dropped to 4-stars before going back up to 5 and I really can't read this series fast enough!

“We'll toss the dice however they fall, 

And snuggle the girls be they short or tall, 

Then follow young Mat whenever he calls, 

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows.”

The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time #4)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: September 15th 1992
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out. The Shadow is rising to cover humankind.

In Tar Valon, Min sees portents of hideous doom. Will the White Tower itself be broken?

In the Two Rivers, the Whitecloaks ride in pursuit of a man with golden eyes, and in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn.

In Cantorin, among the Sea Folk, High Lady Suroth plans the return of the Seanchan armies to the mainland.

In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve.

Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn.

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The fourth book in the Wheel of Time series was probably my least favourite so far, but I am still addicted to this series. This one was just really long and focused too much on the Aeil. I am loving Mat and Perrin more and more with each book, but I cant wait until Mat goes off on his own and develops his own story as Perrin is doing right now.

I enjoy watching all of Rand's machinations and his attempts to keep Moiraine and Egwene out of his business. But I really don't like the Aeil and their preoccupation with honour. They remind me way too much of the Elves in Eragon. And I really can't stand Aviendha. She reminds me way too much of Ygritte, and I always hated Ygritte.

What is with this series and the woman treating the men they claim to love so badly? In the beginning of the series, Egwene would always call Rand wool headed, so I can say good riddance to her. Although falling out of love with him has not stopped her from calling him wool headed. And now Aviendha says, "You really know nothing," which isway to close to "You know nothing, Jon Snow." Give him a little respect! He is not a moron! Faile does the same to Perrin, but I still like her for the most part.

My favourite young woman in this series is by far Min. Actually I rather like Nynaeve too. Either Nynaeve or Faile would be my second favourite young woman in the series. Elayne is hardly worth mentioning. She is so dull. Maybe I am biased but the men are so much more interesting. I am very grateful for Min's story. I am enjoying her and Siuan and Leane and am excited for where their story will go. They are older and wiser women, and along with Min, don't annoy me at all.

The ending was a bit anticlimactic to me. I was expecting more the happen at Al'cair Dal. Rand just announced himself and then ran off to fight Asmodean. He didn't do that great of a job of disproving Couladin. And when he returned he didn't tell them anything or make any explanations. He just rode off.

I am excited to see more of Min, and more of the personal stories of the three ta'veren. Rand's plan to take all the Aeil with him does not bode well for me, but he now as Asmodean as well which could be interesting. And Moiraine and Egwene are leaving him, which is good because they are so annoying. So there are a lot more things that are annoying me now than before, although they are just my personal quirks. I am still anxious to find out what happens next.

“You have made a place in my heart where I thought there was no room for anything else. You have made flowers grow where I cultivated dust and stones. Remember this, on this journey you insist on making. If you die, I will not survive you long.”

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time #3)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: September 15th 1991
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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The Dragon Reborn—the leader long prophesied who will save the world, but in the saving destroy it; the savior who will run mad and kill all those dearest to him—is on the run from his destiny.

Able to touch the One Power, but unable to control it, and with no one to teach him how—for no man has done it in three thousand years—Rand al'Thor knows only that he must face the Dark One. But how?

Winter has stopped the war—almost—yet men are dying, calling out for the Dragon. But where is he?

Perrin Aybara is in pursuit with Moiraine Sedai, her Warder Lan, and Loial the Ogier. Bedeviled by dreams, Perrin is grappling with another deadly problem—how is he to escape the loss of his own humanity?

Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve are approaching Tar Valon, where Mat will be healed—if he lives until they arrive. But who will tell the Amyrlin their news—that the Black Ajah, long thought only a hideous rumor, is all too real? They cannot know that in Tar Valon far worse awaits...

Ahead, for all of them, in the Heart of the Stone, lies the next great test of the Dragon reborn.

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I don’t know if this series can keep up its steam. I have heard from some that it doesn’t, and that it begins to lag in the middle. But I hope that I don’t notice it because this series keeps blowing my mind one book at a time!

Although this book only had, at most, 5 segments in Rand’s POV, I hardly even noticed. I did miss him at times, but I really enjoyed seeing this story from Mat and Perrin’s POV. And unlike The Great Hunt, I enjoyed the men more than the women in this one. And I have come to love Mat more than I thought was possible. It’s not just because his POVs have let me come to know him more. He has honestly changed so much that I can love him now when I didn’t before. In the beginning he was one of my least favourite characters. I just cannot imagine how much more he will change before it is over. I honestly don’t know if I will be able to survive the anticipation. I can’t imagine having read this series as it was published. Although it seems Robert Jordan wrote much faster than George R.R. Martin.

 

I also really enjoyed the new characters. This series has so many characters; including people you only meet in passing and think don’t matter at all, but end up returning. So many people are “pulled into the pattern”. I really enjoyed the Aiel. That are a complicated people, so different from any of the lands they have visited. They are so different that I imagine it will take some time for people to understand each other. But they are the People of the Dragon and I can guess that I have no idea what part they will play. I liked Faile too. She was pesky but she grew on me slowly, as she slowly grew on Perrin. And I especially like her because of one fan art I saw where she looks like a young Claudia Black. It’s hard to disapprove of anyone who looks like a young Claudia Black.

I realized after finishing book 3, that there were several things about this series that reminded me of Harry Potter. I have read a very small percentage of the story as a whole so far, so it is hard for me to say whether or not the pattern continues throughout the series, but so far, there are similarities.

The basic construction is similar, in that each book features a different and very specific mission, often referred to in the title. Rand and the Eye of the World. Rand and the Great Hunt. Rand and the Sword of Callandor. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Each smaller mission leads to clashes against the Dark One/Dark Lord. But the last battle looms ahead. When the hero knows he must one day face his adversary, because he is the only one who can defeat him.

Also, Rand and Harry both have to fight a darkness inside them. Rand has to fight his madness, saidin, and the Dark Ones attempts the turn him to darkness. Harry has to fight the piece of Voldemort, the horcrux, which is inside him. Although whether or not Rand wins the battle for his soul, I don’t know. But Rand’s battle is greater, fiercer, darker, than Harry’s. Although a lot of adult read and love Harry Potter, it is child’s play in comparison to what Rand has to face. 

“Death comes to us all; we can only choose how to face it when it comes.”

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time #2)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: November 15th 1990
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense.
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. For centuries, gleemen have told of The Great Hunt of the Horn. Now the Horn itself is found: the Horn of Valere long thought only legend, the Horn which will raise the dead heroes of the ages.

And it is stolen.

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The story really picks up in book 2. It's not just travel and adventure anymore. As the group separates and goes in different directions they face new and individual threats. Nynaeve and Egwene travel to the White Tower to begin training and are betrayed. Rand and Loial are separated from their group and must find the Horn of Valere before Padan Fain. Everything accumulates on Toman Head while the Seanchan invade.

I especially enjoyed the girls' story, and I enjoyed getting to know Min and Elayne better. I think it may just be the female perspective, because even when they were simply training to light candles, I always looked forward to Nynaeve or Egwene's POV. It was a treat once we began to receive Min's POV as well. And their story together only became more and more intense as time passed. Although, I am a little put off by how they are all fighting over Rand. I love Rand as a protagonist, and I love stories of "achieving greatness", but if all these women are in his future I don't know if it is possible for me to not lose some respect for him.

Rand's personal journey is fascinating in itself. How much he has changed in this book alone. He is being molded. I don't know if Rand will be affected by saidin and turn into more of an anti-hero, or if he will be able to withstand it and remain such an incredible soul. But either way, I look forward to witnessing the transformation.

Mat and Perrin are also starting to grow on me. I don't know what role they will have in the story or the coming battle. Even though they are ta'veren, they haven't served any grand purpose so far, besides Mat blowing the horn. I am sure Perrin's wolves could be useful though. We got to know Perrin a bit better in the last book when he was separated along with Egwene, when he first learned about the wolves. And I grew to appreciate him more then. Mat was the one that needed the development in this book, and I wonder if being separated from the dagger will make him more useful still.

Big things are set into motion at the end of this book, now that the world knows Rand is the Dragon Reborn, and sides are being chosen, lines are being drawn. It is making me very nervous to see how many people and armies are against him, and the amount of people who think he is a Darkfriend makes me sad. I have already begun book 3, The Dragon Reborn. I cannot get through this series fast enough. But I will have to resign myself to the fact that I have a long ways to go. Better get to it!

“Some men choose to seek greatness, while others are forced to it. It is always better to choose than to be forced.A man who is forced is never completely his own master."

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time #1)

Genres: High Fantasy, Adventure
Publication Date: January 15th 1990
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense.
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

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This wasn't quite what I had expected but I still greatly enjoyed it. I read New Spring first so I expected this to be similar. New Spring was heavily political and focus mostly on magic, mythology, and intrigue. I was totally blown away by it, but I later discovered a lot of people weren't because they expected it to be like the rest of the series. I suppose its a good thing then that I read it first and was able to enjoy it. The Eye of the World had a good deal of magic but very little politics and intrigue. It was primarily an adventure.

I know this must be simply the introduction to a much grander story, and there were certainly signs of that. With curses and prophecies and chosen ones, this is far from over. I would have known that, even if 14 books hadn't already been publish. But all that was introduced to us so far would not have taken 800 pages. The bulk of it was running from one danger to the next. One city to the next. One monster to the next. I enjoyed it immensely. I knew there was always a threat around the corner. I may not have known who or why but I knew someone was after them and I wanted to run with them. Trying to stay one step ahead.

There is quite a large cast of characters. I believe most, if not all of them, stay in the story till the end. So I don't have to worry over much, but really I know absolutely nothing about the future of the story. I feel awkwardly vulnerable reading such an old series. I don't know what to expect, and so many other people do. I will say that I enjoyed Rand, Perrin, and Lan the most. I found Nynaeve and Egwene annoying at times although they had their positive qualities. I seem to prefer the sedate men, although Mat made me bark an occasional laugh, he was mostly a nuisance. I can only imagine what everyone's role will be in the bigger picture, or "the pattern". I honestly have no idea.

I really was not expecting any romance in this book. I was pleased, but caught completely off guard. When I read the scene when Nynaeve spoke to Lan my heart nearly leapt from my chest! But I was in public and I was freaking out and trying not to show it! But 13 books! Gosh, I can't imagine all that could happen between now and then. I have no expectations and am not letting myself get too attached to any particular characters, or particular relationships, or subplots. But I can still speculate. My mind is going in every possible direction while I read this! Some people may be intimidated by the length of this series, but I look at it as a lot of potential for expansion. I am sure my imagination has not even brushed its possibilities yet.

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.”