Rhuarc getting turned. I was hoping Graendal would have gotten balefired to undo the compulsion and his death but it didn't happen. Others included Egwene and Elayne's babies. I was really sad that Verin did not come back as a hero of the horn. It was kind of a longshot but the sheer brilliance of what she did and giving Egwene a fighting chance against Mesaana made me hope. The damane issue not getting worked out made me sad as well. I know everything couldn't be neat and tidy but I was hoping on that point.

Lots of action here. I'm just wondering how Demandred and co. will be taken care of. Wouldn't it be funny if Demandred never saw Rand and he gets killed by some random channeler? And where is Fain?

Yes, but the two minutes it took you to explain it more than makes up for being beaten.

Too many to list but what springs to mind is Mat whipping the G-men with a stick and after Perrin stating, "They have caged Shadowkiller", their eventual yet simple reply, "We come." Still gives me goosebumps.

The question here is "Is this ability something that comes from being the Dragon, being ta'veren, or a Talent" and the answer is, "It's not a Talent, but I won't say...." Now, replace that question with, "Are the bruises on your girlfriend's face something that came from running into a wall, your continuing to beat her, or some medical condition like hemophilia?" and the answer is, "It's not from running into a wall, but I won't say whether it's because I continue to beat her or because she has hemophilia or anything like it." Does the answer to this question establish whether your girlfriend has hemophilia or something like it? Of course not, and in the same way, it doesn't establish whether Lews Therin was ta'veren or not. At best, it's suggestive, and at worst, it's irrelevant. The question is phased in a way that says that indicates that LTT is indisputably the Dragon, is ta'veren and had the talent to detect living souls. BS DID denounce the talent part but would not say if it was because he was the Dragon or because he was ta'veren. In your example, it's like the girlfriend saying, "No, I'm not clumsy but I'm not going to say if these particular bruises comes from my abusive boyfriend or my medical condition."

I still don't see how my quote here doesn't conclusively settle the LTT ta'veren debate. BS did not refute the ta'veren claim as the questioner posed the question with LTT being ta'veren and whether that had any influence on what he could do with the OP

Rand has excuses. That's the same thing as saying he was entitled to do so. Mat had a good reason yes, and I agree fully with what he did, but it was still a form of bullying. Also, Cadsuane had excuses for bullying as well, and IMO her weakest excuses are better than most of what Rand has. Also, there is nothing that says what makes ta'veren material. According to RJ, even a darkfriend can be ta'veren if the pattern needs it. I am not saying he was entitled. I never said it was right. He just has an excuse. He thinks Aes Sedai will box him in again and he lashes out against them. I don't think what Mat did was bullying. Personal opinion as many people have different takes on the morality of spanking. Many of the Aes Sedai had become grown ups with a spoiled childs mentality. The ladies in Mat's caravan had been at each others throats the WHOLE time. Once they became civil, he had a (comparatively) more pleasant time.

Rand has excuses for bullying Aes Sedai. Doesn't make it right or affect his ta'verenness (sp?). Mat spanked Joline after he walking in and Joline was slapping Bethamin. Who did Mat kidnap? Tuon? Nah, Tuon allowed Mat to take her. Selucia may be one of the only people who can match Mat and I'm sure Tuon could hold her own if need be. I'm sure she received training. Thrasymachus - taken from here Matt: (I riffed off a second related question from WotLuckers which was: Did he have the same extra abilities?) Instead I asked: Considering what you mentioned regarding LTT's ability to sense the lack of inhabitants within miles of the spot he was at in the Prologue [of TEotW], is this ability something that comes from being the Dragon, being ta'veren, or a Talent? Brandon: (paraphrased) It's not a Talent, but I won't say whether it is a factor of being the Dragon or something about being ta'veren.

I never read or saw it stated where she was ta'veren. I am assuming that she isn't as it never has been stated. No, bullying rulers isn't ta'veren material. Influencing them is. Bullying was a byproduct of Dark Rand. Perrin never bullied Alliandre. Ta'veren is influence rather than bullying. Mat bully someone? Hah. All he wanted to do before getting hitched is dice and play with tavern maids. No that wasn't sarcasm with Cads. She speaks the truth but twists it to fit her own needs, not ta'veren or pattern needs. Thradsymachus, check out Terez's interview database. LTT was ta'veren.

Heroes of the horn weren't necessarily ta'veren. Birgitte was never ta'veren.

I think their would have been special mention if Cads was or had ever been ta'veren. Ta'veren is a corrective measure on the wheel and their hasn't been a need since the last one until now. Guaire Amalasan, a false dragon, had acquired so many followers that a ta'veren was needed to check him, hence Hawkwing becoming ta'veren. The common people know about the different people who were ta'veren in the past. Only Aes Sedai and maybe some of the older monarchs would know about Cads. Known Ta'veren Lew Therin - Sealed the dark one Artur Hawkwing - Stopped the false dragon and united Randland Mabriam En Shereed - Compact of the Ten Nations, which lasted 800 years. And then their is Cads - Bullied Monarchs and other Aes Sedai. Hardly ta'veren material.

It's a sound theory that cannot be readily rebuked (a la Taimandred). The only way for people to try to disprove it is with other theories. I don't know if I agree with it 100% as I can't see Egwene putting TTR stubborn streak aside for anyone, including Rand.

Elaida - She tried to do what she thought was truly the right thing to do. That doesn't mean that you can have emotional attachments to the characters. The story can be a wonderful and highly enjoyable story without the attachment to any characters, negative or positive. Mistborn series comes to mind in this respect. None of the characters drew a strong emotional response from me but I loved the concepts and the story.

Nyneave. I wanted to go through the books and pull her braid out of her hair. Ever since she married, I love her POV's.

Pat Rothfuss had a good comment the other day on his blog... I read that the other day as well when Bast was still in. I respect Mr Rothfuss and highly value his words and what he wrote there can't be closer to the truth. I guess we'll find out which fanatically devoted fanbase has more members vote.