Tag: the wheel of time

Book Review: The Gathering Storm (The Wheel of Time #12) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 824 pages
Author: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2009
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, and now Stormlight Archive, among others, was chosen by Jordan’s editor–his wife, Harriet McDougal–to complete the final volume, later expanded to three books.

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward–wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders–his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower–and possibly the world itself.

BLESS YOU SANDERSON.

It took me almost a year to start this series up again because I was being beat down by Jordan’s writing. Those middle books were entirely too drawn out and I almost didn’t get to this point. Mood reading finally kicked in and I am grateful that this felt like an upswing for the series.

I liked the continuation of many of the character’s storylines. I loved seeing Rand’s evolution and how you can start to see things come full circle. I adore many of these characters and am very concerned for who will make it out of the final battle.

Now that I have the energy to finish up this series I look forward to seeing it all come together!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time #11) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 860 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: December 1st, 2006
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, when Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity’s only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One’s prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers.

The winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believes are fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Even the White Tower itself is no longer a place of safety. Now Rand, Perrin and Mat, Egwene and Elayne, Nynaeve and Lan, and even Loial, must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph.

I MADE IT.

I seriously have only been reading this series purely to cross off all of Sanderson’s book and HALLELUJAH I have made it. I just don’t think Robert Jordan’s writing style and fantasy composition is for me (and that’s okay).

While the story progressed and it was better than the previous installments I still wasn’t enamored. A lot of the time I spend wondering how much of this information is actually pertinent? And when I go an read a summarized version after to make sure I’ve caught everything I need to, I remember that stuff! So the rest…is a lot of unnecessary hoopla.

And there’s not a lot I can say that won’t be spoilery so, moving on. I’ve read it. It was fine and I can’t wait to finish this series now.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: Crossroads of Twilight (The Wheel of Time #10) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 704 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the tenth book of The Wheel of Time from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.

Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.

Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al’Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha’man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha’man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.

In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.

Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One’s taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Imma keep this short because it’s a waste of energy to spend it on a book that already made me waste my time listening to it. I was told to skip this book and honestly I could have. I even looked up a YouTube recap to make sure I really didn’t miss anything and YUP. This is a “build” book that will slowly cause you to lose your mind.

Alright, that’s it.

I’m only reading this series to get to the Sanderson books and what a labor of author love this has been lol.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: moderate-high

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Book Review: Winter’s Heart (The Wheel of Time #9) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 705 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2000
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

Rand is on the run with Min, and in Cairhein, Cadsuane is trying to figure out where he is headed. Rand’s destination is, in fact, one she has never considered.

Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. But what is he up to?

Faile, with the Aiel Maidens, Bain and Chiad, and her companions, Queen Alliandre and Morgase, is prisoner of Savanna’s sept.

Perrin is desperately searching for Faile. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet and a very mixed “army” of disparate forces, he is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan. The Forsaken are ever more present, and united, and the man called Slayer stalks Tel’aran’rhiod and the wolfdream.

In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives–and Mat, who had been recuperating in the Tarasin Palace, is introduced to her. Will the marriage that has been foretold come about?

A BIT CHAOTIC.

I will admit that this one was easier to get through than book eight. But the same glaring issues continually popping up just holds me back from really connecting with the story (and I have put myself in for the long haul of finishing this series to read all of Sanderson’s books).

The romantic sub plot is a dumpster fire I can’t look away from. Rand is not all that and these women need to find someone more consistent in their lives. I don’t even know what to do with it all other than just jump on the train to see what wild thing happens next.

I wish there was a better balance between the POV’s. Staying in one story line for so long gets me in the groove and then changing to someone else’s kind of throws me off. Wash and repeat the entire book. I’m still trying to figure out why these books were so popular.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: hallucinations, battle themes, loss of life, weapons and magical altercations

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