The Luckers Official tGS Review (Full of Spoilers and Hubris)

[ed2funy]

Wow...

 

I seriously don't see why everybody hates her.

I think there is supposed to be some dislike for her...

But, wow.

 

If you think about it, she embodies what a modern Aes Sedai is.

Arrogant.

Pretty much sums it up in one word. It only makes it worse that she is the oldest Aes Sedai alive (and for a long time, thought to be the oldest woman alive). Also, the fact that she has "legend" status.

 

She fits into the series like another piece of the puzzle.

I really didn't see much wrong (change) with her in tGS.

[water_seeker]

Writing Style

 

I suppose it is inevitable that people will compare RJ and Brandon's writing styles, but I didn't have a problem with the difference. I know Brandon said that he wasn't going to emmulate RJ's style, and I agreed with that point--but to a certain degree I think he did try to match RJ--in description of clothing, for instance. This was good, and I can see why he wouldn't want to speak of it--it would just increase the likelihood of comparisons being made--but to my mind he did an admirable job of walking the fine line between matching the style of the previous books so as not to make for a jarring change, and in retaining his own style, thereby maintaining the integrity (and quality) of the writing.

 

My only problem with the writing is that Brandon too often had characters think on their reasons for doing something--and more than just think on it, link that reasoning to their past actions or experiences. This, by the way, is something of a good point disguised as a negative point. What it shows is that Brandon has put considerable effort into the study of the characters and their history to see how that history informs their current actions and decisions. And that is a very, very good thing.

 

But in having them relay it so often I feel he's showing insecurity--that he is worried we will judge him on characters decisions, blame him for 'changing the character'. It's understandable under the circumstances--and WoT fans certainly are a rabid and scary bunch--but I do think he needs to tone it down. For one thing it breaks the cardinal rule of 'show, don't tell'. By having the characters rationalize their actions with specific references to past experience he gives the impression that he is appealing to the older books for legitimization.

 

He can't do that. Oh it's reasonable, even decent, that he is concerned about this--and it is a good thing that he is making the effort to ensure his characters ARE on line with the characters in the older books, but he can't show us. It's too much of a magician revealing his tricks. At this stage he needs to commit fully to the book. Not in the sense of putting in his full effort--it's clear he already is, and succeeding--no, in the sense that he needs to have to confidence to say (to himself) 'this is a Wheel of Time book. I wrote it, but it is not fan fiction. It is book twelve.'

 

These small moments, though they come from a good place, and reveal that Brandon is putting in all the care and effort that we could possibly hope for, are jarring, and break the reader out of the story.

 

The Characters

 

For me, the only real problem between the two authors was vocabulary.  Sanderson used a few words that didn't feel right to me and a couple that made me go back and reread what I'd just read to make sure I read it right.  It was distracting.  And then there was the over-use of the words "for" and "shall".  But that's just me being nit-picky I guess.

 

Rand

 

Rand's portrayal was solid. And that must have been difficult--Getting into Rand's head and staying there as he at first grows harder, then begins to soften, then turns to cuendillar, then finally breaks... it cannot have been easy. Yet Brandon pulled it off perfectly. The subtle consistancy of Rand's wavering was perfect, and I absolutely loved 'cuendillar Rand'. Indeed, I'd been getting worried in KoD with the question of how possibly Rand could escalate further without becoming such a raving loon (or a caricature) that no one could even pretend to follow him, Dragon Reborn or no. But Brandon got it. I cannot wait to see Rand's post-laugh personality. I've been waiting for years to see 'cool Rand' and thanks to tGS I have every confidence that it will be as awesome as I imagine. Time for Rand to be a hero again, Wooo!

 

But poor Hurin. I hope Agelmar thought to give him a hug when he got back to the borderlanders!

 

I agree.  To be honest though, I feel like Sanderson had to work into the character a bit (but it didn't take him long to do it).

 

Egwene

 

I know alot of people have a problem with Egwene as a character. She is very sure of herself, and can be exacting in her judgements of people, but she is also fair. Take for instance her judgement of Rand for allowing Taim to bond Asha'men. I know alot of posters had issues with that. She judges him for something he had no role in, and attempted to repair when he did learn of it--because it was done by his servants.

 

People get up in arms about how unfair that it--but the fact is what she is judging is not him letting Aes Sedai be bonded, but the failure of his leadership that allowed it to happen. And she applies that same stricture to herself when Siuan 'rescued' her, and as harshly. Egwene is not unreasonable--she thinks and rethinks her positions constantly--she's just unwilling to bend in the judgements that result from that. And that is what a leader must be. People complain that she doesn't give Rand the respect he's due, but its not so much that she is dismissing him, just holding him up to the same standards she holds herself. And yes, she is prejudiced towards what should and should not be done to Aes Sedai--but hey, she's Amyrlin. If she weren't then she doesn't deserve the job. And that doesn't go back to that old sense of Aes Sedai manifest destiny, it's just simple--she should believe in what she is doing.

 

That, I think, is the true core of Egwene's arc in this book. She is stepping into the position where no one restrains her power--where before it was the Hall trying to use her as a puppet, or Elaida trying to squash her down. Where the Wise Ones were teaching her, or Nynaeve was trying to mother her--in this book she is stepping past the last of those restrictions. And learning to place restrictions on herself. She doesn't always get it right, but she is getting there.

 

All together I thought her protrayal was perhaps even more nuanced than Rand's and very well pulled off.

 

I didn't like Egwene once she became Amyrlin simply because she seemed...arrogant (though I'm not sure that's precisely what I was feeling).  I came to realise (with an "s") that she really needed to act how she did so she could command respect from her elders once the time was right.

 

In almost every chapter where she did something significant I really wanted to scream because I didn't like how she did it...and then by the time she was done, I found myself thinking, "that was actually quite diplomatic" (i.e.  At first I didn't like that she allowed the Tower Hall to raise her independantly of the rebel Hall.  After her explanation though, it made sense...there were more.  This was just the first I thought of.).

 

Fortuona

 

In general I loved her. The way she dealt with Beslan was great, and her strength, the strength she displays in facing Rand, is one of the things I love about her character. Also it neatly set up the irony of her refusing to name herself Empress in order to meet Rand as an equal. I wonder if she will ever realise that naming herself the Nine Moons was what opened her to being bound to serve Rand.

 

I will say, though, that there was something of a... reversion... about her character. In KoD she makes clear realisations about Mat's true character, but in the meeting with Rand she seems surprised to come to those realisations again. It seemed to me a convenient way to show that Tuon was confused by her growing love for Mat. I mean it'd make sense, realising his good qualities and all that--except she did it last book. Brandon needed to continue from that basis, not reset it.

 

First, I'd like to say that when she "fought" Rand's ta'veren pull I thought something along the lines of "yeah right".  People who were aware that they were working with ta'veren (I speak of Aes'Sedai here) gave in to the pull and we are supposed to believe that she could resist it?  Either there is more to our little Empress than we know, or this was just written poory (IMHO--and yes I know she wasn't yet the Nine Moons and therefore couldn't give in, but c'mon).

 

As far as her character is concerned, I thought Sanderson did a good job portraying the Tuon we've grown to accept.

 

Mat

 

What can I say. Didn't love him. Don't get me wrong, I know what Brandon said about him being offbalance due to his marriage, his worry for Tuon, and the fact that she left--but I still don't buy it. The humour was not the humour of an 'off-step Mat'. It was banter. Word play. One poster remarked that Mat was a rogue, not a jester, and thats true even of an off-beat rogue. And that elaborate plan for finding the woman in Trustair...

 

So what's the plus side in all this? It's that Mat was still there--the inner core, that solidity that defines Mat's nature, can be seen in the Gathering Storm. Brandon knows Mat. He's got him there. He just needs to dust him off a bit better.

 

Way to be diplomatic.  Mat was one of two (maybe three) characters I saw as off.  I was really surprised because there really isn't as much depth to Mat's character as there are in the others (which, btw, is why I think he is one of the favored characters in the story.).

 

Perrin

 

Perrin was the big change for me in the re-read. My first read I was so hell-bent on what happened next that Perrin's chapters seemed distractions. Nothing important happened, so why weren't they left for the next book? The second re-read reveals some important things about what's going on in Perrin's head. Of his struggle to figure himself out post-Malden but before Tarmon Gai'don. Given the hints we have about what comes next for Perrin he needs this time, and we need to see him taking this time.

 

So, following my re-read I believe these chapters were not only necessary, but perfect. There were some weird jarring though with revelations about what Perrin was up to from Rand and Tam. Brandon may have been better served to simply leave out references to Morgase and Galad--but that's just personal opinion.

 

I thought Perrin's part was a very real representation of what someone in his shoes might go through after the weeks he spent so focused on one goal.  I also thought his plotline in the book was appropriately handled so that in ToM we can see his story as it unfolds to the universal storyline rather than just post-rescue.

 

Aviendha and the Aiel

 

Not much to say except that given he stated he struggled with the Aiel, I thought Brandon got their voices nicely. Especially Aviendha, which I know some of you disagree with. I just thought her struggle, and the individuation of her voice, were very strong given she's been something of a side-line character (for one of the harem). *shrug*

 

Sorilea too I thought was well done--especially consider...

 

I thought Aviendha sounded like Aviendha.  I do think Sanderson took her stubborness a little too far.  I know she struggled more than Amys did in becoming a Wise One, but after the second "punishment" I wanted to scream at her to just tell them off.

 

Cadsuane

 

Did not love her either. I won't speak much on her, but in my opinion she lost a great deal of the subtlety and integrity--not to meantion craftiness--that informed everything she does. Before when she bullied, she was a subtle and skillful bully. That's why so many hate her, because she was good at what she did. The Cadsuane of tGS was just blunt. It was dissapointing.

 

And just to be clear, this is not me upset that she failed, or was called out by Tam, this was me upset that she had to get dumbed down in order for either to happen. A scene that should have been epic--Tam's greatest moment--instead was just average.

 

Unlike Mat there's no silver lining to this one. Brandon's been clear about his feelings towards Cadsuane, and I doubt that will change. I'll just have to suck it up, I guess.  :)

 

I didn't like her before, but I could respect her.  Somehow I disliked her less, but couldn't respect her as much.

 

Verin

 

Well Caddy was my unpleasent and ungrateful whinge at a man whose done so much for the WoT community, so I left the lovely lady Verin to follow.

 

It was so frickan epic! I loved her. That moment at the end when she was trying to assure Egwene that her soul was Brown--that is possibly the only truly honest thing she does in the series, but it so underpins everything that is great about her character. It was in fact a bit heartbreaking.

 

Egwene was right, her soul truly was of the most pure white, and I hope she gets added to the heroes for her sacrifice.

 

Rest in peace Verin. You will be missed!

 

LOVED IT.  Verin Sedai of the Black Ajah?  Ok, well I always said she was Black with her own agenda...I just never took it to this level...I never IMAGINED the contradiction that was Verin.

 

Gawyn

 

He was enjoyably thick headed without being made into a caricature (which, by the way, kudos to Brandon. His whiny self-absorbed personality practically screams that he should be a cardboard cut out, but Brandon managed to avoid that completely). His wavering was some of the best writing in the book--for all that he's an annoying character.

 

It felt like he did some much needed growing...or maybe rethinking is the right way to put it.  I feel like he needed to leave the employ of the Tower so he could eventually open up to the idea of not blaming Rand for everything bad that's happened (maybe that only makes sense to me...but that's how I saw it).

 

Elaida

 

I loved her. Particularily how she managed to pull herself back at times and show some of her old cunning. Beyond that... Suffa will be a good damane. ;D

 

Although I would have liked to see her leashed. That might have been a restriction in RJ's notes though. Still maybe we'll see it in a flashback, like when Moghedian got free from Egwene.

 

Nah, I might take that back. I really think Elaida needs to be out of the story. I wouldn't mind seeing Suffa kneeling in the background at some stage, but as a destinct and active character I think Elaida needs to go. *shrug*

 

The only regret is seeing at least one person we know can Travel get taken by the Seanchan.  Other than that I'll look forward to seeing any of her possible damane scenes...or not.

 

Side Characters

 

At times several of the side characters turn into caricatures and sounding boards for the main characters, which I think Brandon needs to watch. Joline with Mat, for instance--her sudden stupidity about horse travel when she's lived her entire life in a world that uses horses to travel, and thus should have a fair understanding of the logistics--seemed only to exist to provide fodder for Mat to reply to.

 

Flinn does this for Rand too, with his 'but my Lord Dragon, your completely free!' and several Aes Sedai do it for Egwene at various stages throughout the book (Adelorna's comment after Egwene saves her pops most strongly to mind). It's not a huge deal--in fact a lot of them I only noticed when doing my detailed re-read--but it did distract.

 

Also, that being said, several side characters becomes so much stronger in this book. Beslan for instance. Tylee. And let's forget Tam. Damn! (see what I did there?)

 

I'll have to do a reread and pay more attention to the side characters.

 

All in all, your review was well thought out and well written.  I agree for the most part with all I read.

[Luckers]

I forgot to put in my post that I enjoyed the review and that Luckers is one that I wait for to see how he responds to other's posts. If it passes muster with him it is a serious possibility. Also agree on the high points through the series. BTW, according to the tiemline todays is tha anniversary of one. Happy Dumai Wells day!

 

Aww shucks. ;D

 

I have major major issues with Egwene in this book. And this isn't Brandon-specific, but she is this young girl who comes to rule such a division of people but seems to be very mild in her intellect. This is hard to explain, but with all the other characters (Rand, Mat, etc) sometimes that say or do things that I think 'wow, would never have thought of that'.

 

But with Egwene I always think 'man that other person is an idiot'.

 

e.g. Her showdown with Elaida. "So you were going to lock him in the tower where he couldnt fufill the prophecies? " We are to serious believe that Elaida and her advisers had NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS? And even if so, Elaida couldnt say "well if a prophecy needed fufilling we would have seen it happen, with AesS guidance".  I mean come on...

 

It's funny, there are definate stages where I can see characters being propped up so Egwene could knock them down--but I don't reguard Elaida as one. It is relatively clear from throughout the series that Elaida thought of the Last Battle as her leading the light in defeat of the Shadow, then sending the Dragon in at the very end to die his prophesized death and free mankind. She's quite consitant about that. She truly did intend to keep Rand shielded and locked in a cell until she could send him out to die.

 

She's not the only one to have this delusion--the 'Dragon will be the knife in my hand as I win the Last Battle delusion'. Pedron Niall had it, and Fortuona holds it.

 

It was irrational of her, but it was an idiocy well sustained in the text. And furthermore one that makes sense--Aes Sedai are rational, intelligent, well educated women except in relation to channeling. That's where all of their indoctrinated blindness focuses itself. Red + Normal Aes Sedai indoctrination.

 

Yeah, it makes sense.

 

e.g. Her duel with the Senchan. No one else thought to do what she did? Okay, so they might have been Sa'angreal'less but I just cannot believe all the other AeiS acted like a bunch of school girls.

 

Same deal. The Tower waits on young impressionable girls already overwhelmed enough with the image of Aes Sedai so as to risk the dangers of a world (in that social state), then sequesters them for up to twenty years indoctrinating them again and again with the importance of being Aes Sedai, and what's left is a very strong willed intelligent fool. These women, with a few exceptions, are blinded by the aura of the Tower. Of course attacks on that aura through them--their very sense of self is locked into the immaculate supremacy of the image of the Aes Sedai.

 

And it's not like anyone's challanged them. Even the Whitecloaks in denouncing them as the single greatest evil on earth only serve to admit that they are a great and mighty power. They have stood inviolate to the petty squablings of man for millenia. The hatreds of man they deign to ignore.

 

That someone might attack them? Yes, their reaction makes sense. Egwene was clear-headed precisely because she had avoided that indoctrinatory period in her training. There are other Aes Sedai who have similarily been forced to step outside the mental box--noticeably these Aes Sedai are usually pretty impressive people. Moiraine, for one. Verin. Cadsuane.

 

Yes, I feel BS's comments he has missed the point of Caddy a bit. Having said  that, I could agree with everything that she did because she would have been at her wits end. I think he dropped the ball, but not as badly as you think. My instinct is that if he nails Caddy from now on, no one will look back and think otherwise in tGS. If he doesn't, people will look at tGS and not like her character.

 

I agree. And Brandon is an introspective writer--he does analyse and adapt.

 

For me, the only real problem between the two authors was vocabulary.  Sanderson used a few words that didn't feel right to me and a couple that made me go back and reread what I'd just read to make sure I read it right.  It was distracting.  And then there was the over-use of the words "for" and "shall".  But that's just me being nit-picky I guess.

 

Mmm. I did notice it too, but that's sort of what I was talking about with walking the line between emulating RJ's style so as to not make it jarring, and retaining his own style so as to maintain the integrity and quality of the work.

 

It was always going to be an issue, the difference in style. That's unavoidable unless you hire someone trained in linguistics, who can mirror writing styles. A ghostwriter in effect. I agree with Team Jordan's decision not to do that. Yes he could have matched the style, but there is a flair needed in a writer, an ability to get into the head of someone and sustain the voice of the character, that ghostwriters lack.

 

It was one or the other. I prefer divergent vocab choices to a limp story.

 

I didn't like Egwene once she became Amyrlin simply because she seemed...arrogant (though I'm not sure that's precisely what I was feeling).  I came to realise (with an "s") that she really needed to act how she did so she could command respect from her elders once the time was right.

 

In almost every chapter where she did something significant I really wanted to scream because I didn't like how she did it...and then by the time she was done, I found myself thinking, "that was actually quite diplomatic" (i.e.  At first I didn't like that she allowed the Tower Hall to raise her independantly of the rebel Hall.  After her explanation though, it made sense...there were more.  This was just the first I thought of.).

 

Mmm. The thing about Egwene is she doesn't do personal flair, she does public flair. She simply refuses to personally involve her pride, investing her pride instead in the office. It's consistant, she always wraps herself in whatever she is trying to do.

 

Subsequently she doesn't think like most of us would with the 'why should I placate them', rather she thinks 'how should I be Amyrlin to them'.

 

It's frustrating, because it's not as personally gratifying, but ultimately it is more gratifying because you're left respecting the decision.

 

First, I'd like to say that when she "fought" Rand's ta'veren pull I thought something along the lines of "yeah right".  People who were aware that they were working with ta'veren (I speak of Aes'Sedai here) gave in to the pull and we are supposed to believe that she could resist it?  Either there is more to our little Empress than we know, or this was just written poory (IMHO--and yes I know she wasn't yet the Nine Moons and therefore couldn't give in, but c'mon).

 

Ok, yes. At first I was a bit underawed by that--but it does occur to me that the dark twisting of his ta'verenism might have provided a--slap to the face. Recall that that chapter is called Halo of Darkness. And it was Tuon percieving that dark warping that pulled her out of his influence.

 

I didn't like her before, but I could respect her.  Somehow I disliked her less, but couldn't respect her as much.

 

That is a very insightful comment. It touches upon the core of what alot of those who disliked her have been saying. Well said.

 

All in all, your review was well thought out and well written.  I agree for the most part with all I read.

 

Thanks mate.

 

 

By the way I read everything in this thread, and appreciate all the comments, I'm just at work and don't have the time to respond to everything. Thanks for the discussion guys!

[TravelerOfTheWays]

It's funny, there are definate stages where I can see characters being propped up so Egwene could knock them down--but I don't reguard Elaida as one.

 

Luckers, much as I've come to adore Egwene - I think what you said about having missed the indoctrinating period in her training is very true - I've had distinct moments like that. I don't think it's necessarily out of characters for the knocked-down, but I started thinking that it was a little silly that she could play the White Tower like a violin. I attribute a lot of that to her unique background, unlike any other Sedai, and for the most part I enjoyed watching it. Still, it did take me out of the story a few times.

[DPT24]

Here's my thoughts.  The Prologue was clearly RJ.  The first page afterwords was a little jarring, but I was fine with it.  Brandon did a pretty good job of it, I really enjoyed it. I would really have enjoyed a little more of Mat and Perrin and Elayne. It was wierd how the last book had a ton o Elayne's becoming queen, at least one scene would have been nice, just to see how things are going.  I was disapointed the Tower of Genji didn't happen. 

 

Mat:  He was all wrong, and Telmanes was worse.  I don't read Star Wars books ever, but I had to wait a long time for TGS, so I read the Han Solo Trilogy.  Han sounds almost exactly like Mat does in the other books.  In this book, Mat seemed off.  I don't get the whole script thing.  He seemed slightly crazy to me.

 

 

Perrin:  He seemed perfect, although I expected him to be a little happier about rescuing Faile, and not second guessing himself so much.

 

Faile:  The killing of the Prophet was great, how she went from being a slave to killing the Prophet in, what, a day or two?  It seemed really like her, and from the Prophet Point of view, I was suprised how sorry you felt for him.  Her tribute to Roland seemed in character.

 

Causdane: She seemed fine to me, and about normal.

 

Egwene:  She seemed to be about like she always has been.  I disagree with her dedication to the Three Oaths. I would have thought she would have realized,k by seeing the Sea Folk, Aiel, Sheanchan, and Kin, that the Tree Oaths didn't make tchanallers better people, or even more trusted.  Plus, how are they goiing to defeat the Sheanchan if they cannot channel in battle without being threatened first.  They will always be at a major disadvantage.

 

 

Rand:  He was perfect, and Min seemed right too.  I would caution that I'm not sure if Rand is really better.  He seems to have lightened up slightly, but the Wheel of time has often had turning points seem to happen, but not end up the expected way.  I really thin k He NEEDS Morine, Perrin, Mat and Egwene to help him.  Egwene's comment seeing Gawayne, that  it was important to have him, even if it wasn't as important as defeating the Dark on,e but hta it was still important , Rand needs to hear that.

 

 

 

I was really pleased with the book, and it didn't seem, except for Mat, to be off what I expected.  I wish Elayne, Mat, Perrin ect. got more timebut that's happended before, when character X didn't get the amount of time, they get it made up latter.I can't wait until the next book. 

[bronnt]

Surprisingly, you failed to mention Nynaeve.

 

I really like Nynaeve's character, even though she's always been one of the most annoying characters because of her peculiar biases-especially when she's sequestered for any length of time with other women.  I've always thought she was admirably deep because she's buried in her own contradictions-an Aes Sedai who dislikes Aes Sedai; modest, but increasingly fascinated by clothes she considers immodest.  She'd actually become one of my favorites (thanks to rereads-I did not use to like her) because I can identify with her; her life circumstances changed unexpectedly and she struggles to retain some sense of identity, despite often lacking self-awareness.

 

I thought for sure if BS struggled, it would be with Nynaeve, but he did a very admirable job with her.  She did end up a lot less forceful in this one, but Rand has been having that effect on everyone, so I can't blame her.  A lot of her signature motifs remained, although she didn't randomly experience blind fury at Myrelle without prompting, as she is want to do.

 

Beyond that, I agree with what several others have said about Egwene running into propped up characters that get knocked down like bowling pins.  AS are built up throughout the series as the wisest and craftiest humans alive, and yet they come off as raging buffoons in her scenes.  I did like that Egwene got the chance to grandstand in front of Elaida and call out all her idiocy, but Elaida's always been so quick to anger that she would have Air-gagged her after 10 words.  While her lashing out with the OP is in character, it happened a full 4 pages after it should have.  And there's so many other scenes where AS fail to act with even marginal common sense that it makes it tough for me to respect Egwene for being among them.  Seriously, the first thing I thought of when the WT was attacked was "Hey, go grab some angreal," and Egwene is the only person to come up with that?  That rod should have been gone by the time she managed to form a Gateway.

 

A few other second characters could have been better.  Talmanes, for instance.  It was nice of BS to finally give him a personality, but he ended up stealing Nalesean's personality, since he no longer needs it, I guess. Flinn, Merise, Joline, Dobraine all end up being two dimensional-sounding boards, mostly.

 

But for the rest, i agree generally with the OP-and a very good job overall.  Rand's scenes were edgy-he actually creeped me out a little bit.  How often can you say that about a main character?

[Mo Yi Xin]

I have read this series several times and the first few times I loved Perrin, thought Mat was annoying, really really didn't like Nynaeve, loved Elayne, and was depressed by Rand. I read the series over again before reading TGS because I didn't want to be lost. Now my thoughts have changed almost completely.

 

I loved Nynaeve in TGS. Re-reading the series I can see why she's so on edge. She has to re-write her identity completely, along with Perrin, Mat, Rand, and Egwene. But she's been in charge for so long, known how things will and "should" go and such that it's a hard adjustment for her. TGS- I was really glad to see the Wisdom come out in her again. She realized she cares about him and now is the only one he trusts and will listen to. She did a lot of humbling too, especially in her references to Moiraine. (I'm excited to get her back!). I think she's a really strong character who cares! The problem with the other AS who tried (and failed) to "help" him didn't care about him, only their agenda and TG. She cares about her people and tried to help as much as she could. She was intimidated but so was everyone else, including Min (and me).

 

Min- I understand why she was afraid of Rand. NOT because he choked her, but because of that darkness that surrounded him afterwards and what she felt with him. I think the best she knew to do was run to Cadsuane was the best thing she knew to do. She did see her teaching Rand. I also think it's awesome that you get to see why she's hauling all the books around. I didn't really think of it, just that she really liked reading. But it's cool to see her as intellectual, not just "that girl that keeps Rand from killing us all". Which is very important but she is even more important now because of her intelligence.

 

Aviendha- I really like her POV, probably because we don't see it very often. I love the honor system of the Aiel. I just think it's neat that she wanted bring honor to him before marrying him.

 

Egwene- The first few times reading this I thought she was such a stubborn snot. I wasn't looking forward to reading about her. But that changed. I think she's awesome. She knows when to bend and when to be proud. I like that she has this ideal view of how the White Tower should be. If she didn't have that she never would have been able to do what she did there. Th AS had been ignoring the Seanchan and if they hadn't they would have been able to fight them off better. They were so worried about politics that they didn't have any plan and scattered like ants. I like that she made both sides accountable for their actions. She absorbs all the knowledge and information she can get like a sponge and that makes her very qualified for the job.

 

Mat- I think he was well done. I think Talmanes was good too, if I remember right he still never smiles but I'm pretty sure he always used to make teasing (can't think of a good word) comments but Mat never picked up on it. I think Mat is starting to wonder now if he was making fun of him all along. I wouldn't say it was off, I would say that he started changing. He wants to be "Old Mat" so bad that he's trying too hard. He was scared out of his mind by Hinderstep so instead of using brute force or chance confront the "gray haired lady" he tries a different way. He's very creative and I think we were seeing that creativity go beyond chasing women, dicing, and the battle field.

 

Rand- WOW I was terrified of Rand for most of this book! I burst out crying after he killed Semirhage because he turned himself into "cuendillar" (my husband was really worried about me) and that is something that all the characters don't want him to do. He just did so many scary things. *shivers* It was still so interesting, he wasn't pouting anymore, not raving mad, just nothing...I absolutely loved the ending. I think I started crying after that too.

 

Verin- cried after her too. She's just awesome

 

Cadsuane- maybe Verin should have poisoned her when she got the chance. But really, she just didn't get it right soon enough. A for effort?

 

Well I have to get to class but I've really enjoyed reading all these reviews. And I just want to compliment everyone for how civil you are to each other. I don't see that on many forums. Thanks!

 

 

[Shadow Rider]

In fact Egwene's scene fighting back is probably one of the most iconic scene in the series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree...although I would have had Egween walk out into the nite into thin air blasting the raiders in all directions and blazing like the sun for all Aes Sedai in the tower and the rebels to see