Review: A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

'And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.' - Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.

In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al'Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One's prison - which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.

In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.

In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.

Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.

All humanity is in peril - and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world . . .

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
I still can't quite believe that the epic Wheel of Time series is actually over! 15 books (don't forget the prologue!), 12,097 pages and over a year of reading (I read one book a month with a group of friends) and it's done. I actually put off reading A Memory of Light because I didn't want to reach the end but I'm so glad it went out on a high note. This series is absolutely huge and I was nervous about making the commitment to it last year but I have really enjoyed the journey that Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson have taken us on, and I can see why this is considered a classic.

I'm running out of words to use in praise of this series, just go back and read any of my other 14 reviews and it'll quickly become clear how much I've loved this world though. The characters have alternated between infuriating and amazing but the world is just so huge and detailed that it was very easy to get lost in. There have been a lot of highs and lows along the way but that is only to be expected in something so huge and the last four books have probably been my favourites in the whole series.

I'm not really going to say too much about the final instalment other than to confirm that it was a worthy addition to the series. There is just so much going on in this book, so many different plot threads that all needed to be tied together, so many characters who needed to get their final moments of glory, enemies to be destroyed and friendships to be celebrated. There were moments that I celebrated and others that broke my heart but overall I couldn't have been more happy with the ending. Is it perfect? Probably not but it came pretty close and overall this is a series I think every fantasy fan should read. I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters and if I'm honest I'm a little disappointed we didn't get an epilogue to show how our favourites are doing a few years down the line but I think we were given just enough that we can use our imagination for the rest.

I'm sad that Robert Jordan didn't get the chance to finish his epic masterpiece but I'm thankful that Brandon Sanderson was able to do such a brilliant job of the final few books and I'm glad fans weren't left with a million unanswered questions.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Towers of Midnight - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

The end draws near....

The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.

The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age.

Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever

Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost.

This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near.

Dovie’andi se tovya sagain. It’s time to toss the dice.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
So I reached book 13 in the mammoth Wheel of Time series, the last book (and last battle) is in sight and I have to ask myself am I glad I started reading it? The answer is without a doubt yes. There was a sticky patch in the middle there where I almost gave up but at that point I was probably already about 6000 pages in and so invested that I needed to keep going. It felt like Robert Jordan had lost control a bit and the story had started to wander in so many different directions that it took away from the main story line but that has improved so much since Brandon Sanderson took over and I think his books have probably been my favourite books of the series (certainly of the later ones anyway).

The pace is so much better now, he's tightened up the plot and is focused on the main characters we've been following since the beginning. The unnecessary side characters have all but been eliminated and that has made such a huge difference, there are still a lot of plots to follow but they're all interesting ones that are going to have an impact when it come to the final battle.

Rand has grown into his role as the Dragon Reborn and it feels like he might have a chance against the Dark One, Nynaeve is finally showing why she was named Wisdom of her village at such a young age (in fact she outshines Egwene in this book!), Mat attempts a daring rescue, Thom has an unexpected romantic encounter, Egwene has brought the White Tower back together with clever manoeuvring but she still drives me insane because of the way she treats Rand (they grew up together - surely she can give him a tiny bit of trust!?), Perrin makes some interesting discoveries in the Wolf Dream. The only character I still don't really care about is Elayne, she's not quite as bad as she used to be but it's still only Birgitte that make her chapters bearable.

While I'm excited to read A Memory of Light I'm also a little nervous, I think what I'm most worried about is how the Seanchan will be handled, their attitude to women who can channel is horrific and I'm finding it really hard to see a future where they'll willingly abolish slavery. I hope that whatever happens with them is a believable progression but I really need them to turn it around because I want to root for a happily ever after for Mat and Tuon! I guess I'm just sad that the series is nearly over, I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to these characters yet and that's quite an achievement by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson considering how considering the huge amount of time I've spent in this world already.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

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.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
Like a lot of fans of this series I was a little nervous going into The Gathering Storm because I wasn't sure if Brandon Sanderson would be able to capture the feel of the Wheel of Time series in quite the way Robert Jordan has created it. I'd never actually read a book by Brandon Sanderson before (although I'll certainly be buying some of them when I've finished this series!) so it wasn't a reflection on him as an author, just fears about a well loved series having a change in author. Of course I'm glad that Robert Jordan allowed someone else access to his notes so that the series wasn't left open ended but the nerves were definitely real when I picked up this book.

Luckily that worry turned out to be unneeded though because this ended up being one of my favourite books in the series. Yes there are differences in the writing style between the two authors but overall I think the changes Brandon Sanderson made to some of the characters (and certainly the increased pacing of the story!) were for the better. The things that have irritated me more and more in the most recent books were markedly absent here and I enjoyed the book so much more because of that. It takes us back to the good old days when there was always something interesting happening, no more boring filler chapters and three thousand side characters being added in every instalment that had pretty much no relevant role in the overall storyline.

The two characters who are really the main focus of The Gathering Storm are Rand and Egwene. Rand is on a difficult path and his storyline has been getting darker and darker as he tries to mold himself into someone who is capable of putting the greater good above the lives of individuals. It's completely against Rand's nature to allow people he considers under his protection, especially women, to get hurt in battle but he has come to the realisation that they won't be able to win at Tarmon Gai'don without casualties. It's quite sad to see Rand fighting against his instincts and also struggling with his madness in this book but his storyline is definitely interesting and I think he made a key realisation towards the end of the book that is going to make things a little easier for him going forwards.

Egwene really shines in this book, she really started to show her strength in the previous instalment and that just continues here. She has grown so much since she was raised as the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai and her wisdom and cunning shine through in this book. There is no doubt in my mind that she is going to make a fantastic Amyrlin and I can't wait to watch her bring all the ajas back together again under the white tower where they all belong. It's going to be an exciting time for the Aes Sedai and I'm particularly interested to see how they deal with the Seanchan after the betrayal in this book.

It's obvious that various plot threads are being woven closer together now that the end of the series is approaching. I can't actually believe there are only two books left but I am more excited about this series than ever and I can't wait to see how each of the character's stories end.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan

As the very fabric of reality wears thin, all portents indicate that Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, is imminent - and Rand al'Thor must ready himself to confront the Dark One. But Rand must first negotiate a truce with the Seanchan armies, as their forces increasingly sap his strength.

All is in flux as established powers falter . . . In Caemlyn, Elayne fights to gain the Lion Throne while trying to avert civil war and Egwene finds that even the White Tower is no longer a place of safety.

The winds of time have whirled into a storm, and Rand and his companions ride in the vortex. This small company must prevail against the trials of fate and fortune - or the Dark One will triumph and the world will be lost.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
Finally a book comes along that has restored my faith in the Wheel of Time series! The first four books were absolutely brilliant but I think anyone will agree that the series went a bit haywire after that, Robert Jordan kept introducing more and more points of view and random plot threads that just never seemed to go anywhere. The stories went from being 1000 pages of pretty much non stop awesomeness to being 600 pages of boring description with about 200 pages of actual plot development and I'd considered quitting the series many times. It's only the fact that I've been buddy reading the series that pulled me through, that and the fact that I've now read over 9000 pages in this world (which is a LOT of reading hours!) and I'm rather invested in the characters by this point!

Anyway, all is almost forgiven because Knife of Dreams reminded me how much I loved the earlier books (and it also proved that the most recent offerings just couldn't compete). I'm sad that this is the last book Robert Jordan was able to finish before he died and I'm a little nervous about Brandon Sanderson taking over the series for the remaining three books. I'm going to hope that he was able to create a fitting end to the series though and the fact that he had Robert Jordan's blessing and used his notes to help him makes me think we'll at least get to see the ending Robert Jordan was aiming for.

So what was so great about Knife of Dreams? Well we finally start to get some resolution to things that have been plodding along at a snail's pace for ages now. Perrin finally has a chance to rescue Faile, Rand takes on another of the forsaken, Mat and Tuon's courtship gets even more confusing for him, Nynaeve outwits Lan in a moment of utter brilliance, Egwene shows the world her backbone and totally earned my respect, we finally find out what Moiriane's letter to Thom was all about (and it's going to lead to something fantastic!) and Loial's family finally catch up with him.

I think the only chapters I didn't enjoy were the ones about Elayne, she's annoyed me for a long time now but I got so fed up of hearing about her pregnancy mood swings. I also hated the way she constantly puts herself into dangerous situations using Min's visions of the babies being born healthy as proof that nothing bad can possibly happen to her. I'd actually quite like to see her made to suffer for that but luckily for her Birgitte is always on hand to save the day. Aviendha has been stuck on the sidelines for several books now so I'm actually glad to see her being removed from Elayne for a bit and hope that means she'll be given a chance to shine again. I still think the weird love square would be much better off as two separate couples. Min and Rand fit together perfectly while Elayne and Aviendha are far more upset about leaving each other than they ever have been about parting from Rand.

Anyway, Knife of Dream left me excited about the Wheel of Time series for the first time in ages and I'm looking forward to seeing how Brandon Sanderson does at pulling all the different threads together ready for the big finale.

Source: Purchased

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Review: New Spring - Robert Jordan

The city of Canluum lies close to the scarred and desolate wastes of the Blight, a walled haven from the dangers away to the north, and a refuge from the ill works of those who serve the Dark One. Or so it is said. The city that greets Al'Lan Mandragoran, exiled king of Malkier and the finest swordsman of his generation, is instead one that is rife with rumour and the whisperings of Shadowspawn. Proof, should he have required it, that the Dark One grows powerful once more and that his minions are at work throughout the lands.

And yet it is within Canluum's walls that Lan will meet a woman who will shape his destiny. Moiraine is a young and powerful Aes Sedai who has journeyed to the city in search of a bondsman. She requires aid in a desperate quest to prove the truth of a vague and largely discredited prophecy - one that speaks of a means to turn back the shadow, and of a child who may be the dragon reborn.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
New Spring is technically a prequel to the Wheel of Time series (it's about events that occurred approximately 20 years before The Eye of the World) but I was advised to read it after book 10, Crossroads of Twilight, to avoid accidental spoilers. I'm not sure there were any major spoilers hidden in here but it definitely gives you an idea about which of the Aes Sedai can and can't be trusted so I can see why I was told to hold off on reading it until this point in the series.

I'm really torn about how to rate this book, yes it was interesting to see how Moiraine and Siuan got involved in the search for the Dragon Reborn and I liked seeing a younger version of Lan but I'm not sure this actually gave us any new information that we haven't already discovered throughout the rest of the series. There weren't any major new revelations and it's hard to build tension in a story when you already know the outcome of events that follow on from it.

It's also hard to be happy when you see how horrible one of your favourite characters used to be when they were a new Aes Sedai. I've always loved Moiraine, she is manipulative and she keeps far too many secrets but she's an interesting character and I always felt that she's trying to do the best for the people around her. Young Moiraine isn't a nice girl though, she's just as manipulative but she also has a vicious streak and the way she treated Lan was absolutely appalling. He's not the only person she made to suffer but because I'm so attached to his character I felt really bad for him. I just lost respect for Moiraine because she's so petty and willing to act as judge, jury and executioner for people she's barely met.

It didn't help that we also got to meet Lan's carneira Lady Edeyn and once again a woman in the Wheel of Time series is a nasty piece of work. She took Lan's virginity when he was 15 (and she was in her 30s) and according to custom that gives her some kind of control over his life so she is now able to manipulate him back into her bed - somewhere he quite clearly didn't want to be! It's like the Tylin and Mat scenes all over again except Edeyn is plotting to marry Lan off to her daugher even while she's forcing him into her own bed. How did Robert Jordan consistently manage to create such horrible women and messed up relationships? I can't think of a single female character that I've liked throughout the entire series because he keeps turning them into whiny harpies or sex offenders and I'm so sick of that now. All the men are pushed around by nasty manipulative women and the Aes Sedai get away with murder because everyone else is terrified of them. At this point I'm half hoping Rand will go crazy and destroy the world!

In spite of the issues mentioned and the fact that the plot moved at a snail like pace for at least the first two thirds of the book I still found myself enjoying it though. I don't know quite what that says about me but there you have it - I've obviously lost all sense of perspective when it comes to this series. I'll just say that I'm glad we're closing in on the end now, I almost wish I'd never started reading it but I'm really hoping that the last few books will be amazing enough to make me forget about the drudgery from the middle of the series.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan

Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan empire are now in deadly pursuit.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al'Vere lays siege to the White Tower. 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.

Meanwhile, Rand al'Thor must gamble again, with himself at stake - not knowing which of his allies are really enemies.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
Crossroads of Twilight is notoriously the lowest rated book in the Wheel of Time series but I have to say I still like it a million times more than A Crown of Swords so it was actually much better than I expected it to be. I can understand why it's not the most popular book because there really isn't much progress made on the plot and there are no exciting battles or events like usual.

This book is over 800 pages long and yet it feels like pretty much nothing happened so I see why people are starting to feel frustrated, especially if they're like me and actually having problem keeping track of who half the side characters are now that there are so many of them. In particular I find all the different groups of Aes Sedai (with unhelpfully similar names) have started blending into one in my mind and I'm kind of sick of the way they're constantly plotting behind each other's backs and never willing to let anyone else in on their plans.

I'm finding Elayne's story boring, Egwene doesn't seem to be achieving much, Rand is pretty absent in this book and Aviendha, Min and Nynaeve don't really add anything important to the story either. I'm interested in what's happening with Perrin and Faile but at the same time I'm also seriously unhappy about the rumours Berelain is deliberately trying to spread and I'm worried that it's going to cause unnecessary relationship drama when Perrin and Faile are finally reunited, especially since Faile has found her own new admirer. It was also great to see Loial make a reappearance but his scenes were too short so I'm hoping for more of him in the next book. Mat's scenes were the ones that stole the show though, I'm still fairly undecided on the Daughter of the Nine Moons but it sure is interesting to see Mat's reaction to her. I'd just like to see her treat him a bit less like an irritating servant.

Overall this is very much a book that is moving everyone around the board like chess pieces, there aren't any major events but you can tell that Robert Jordan is starting to get his characters lined up where he needs them so they'll be ready come the final battle. New alliances are forming while old ones crumble away and hopefully a lot of things will make more sense when we're looking back with hindsight after reading another book or two. I'm still very much invested in the series and looking forward to seeing how it all ties together in the end.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Winter's Heart - Robert Jordan

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, is slowly succumbing to the taint that the Dark One has placed upon the saidin - the male half of the True Source. His Asha'man followers are also showing signs of the insanity that once devastated the world and brought the Age of Legends to an end.

And as Rand falters, the Shadow falls across a stricken land. In the city of Ebou Dar the Seanchan, blind to the folly of their cause, marshal their forces and continue their relentless assault. In Shayol Ghul the Forsaken join together to destroy the Dragon.

Rand's only chance is to hazard the impossible and remove the taint from the saidin. But to do so he must master a power from the Age of Legends that none have ever dared to risk - a power that can annihilate Creation and bring an end to Time itself.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
I'm really starting to run out of things to say about the Wheel of Time series. To be honest there are so many things about these books that irritate me that it's a miracle I'm still reading them but here I am nine books in and not only still reading but also thoroughly enjoying myself in spite of the issues I have. I think I've just invested so much time and effort into reading this massive series that I'm determined to stick it out to the bitter end and I just have to know how things turn out for all of the characters.

A big highlight of this book for me was Mat's reappearance, especially since Tylin wasn't around much (if you've read my previous reviews you'll already know exactly how much I HATE her!). I'm very curious to see where his storyline is going, especially now he's found his Daughter of the Nine Moons and she definitely wasn't who I was expecting! I love Perrin but I'm a little fed up with his complete inability to see what is going on around him, I know he was just a lowly blacksmith but surely he can't be stupid enough to not see through Berelain's actions? She's almost as high up on my characters I hate list as Tylin at this point and I'm sick to death of reading about manipulative women in this series. I'm not even going to get started on the Aes Sedai and now the Sea Folk, it seems to me that women who access the power all turn into crazed megalomaniacs who would swear the sky is green and the grass is blue just to get one up on each other. The power makes men insane but the women aren't much better really, they just think they are. At least we're starting to see glimpses of the old Nynaeve though, I've really missed her so it's about time she found her brain again.

I'm also glad Rand and his little harem have finally started to sort things out, mainly because I'm hoping that means the characters will stop moping around now and we can actually move on with the storyline. I have to admit that their weird four person relationship is one of the most awkward things I've ever had to read about, it makes absolutely no sense to me that all the women are the instigators and I just find the interactions between them all really uncomfortable to read about so I'm glad they're now off in different directions again and hope they stay parted for many more books to come.

There isn't a lot of action in this book, it's like the beginning of a game of chess where a lot of time is being spent getting all of the characters into the right positions so that they can hopefully all go into battle at the same time later on. I'm at the point where I'm struggling to keep all the side characters straight in my head and half the time I'm having to backtrack to try and figure out which side this current group of Aes Sedai are on and whether I'm supposed to trust them or not. There are just too many characters with similar names that only have minor roles and just crop up for a few pages here and there for me to remember them all but for some reason it just doesn't matter. Picking up one of these books is like meeting up with old friends and they always leave me wanting more so I'm off to dive into the next one.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has conquered the city of Illian, struck down Sammael the Forsaken and shattered the armies of the invading Seanchan. Nynaeve, Aviendha and Elayne have broken the Dark One's hold on the world's weather and are poised to retake the throne of Andor. And Egwene al'Vere, leader of the exiled Aes Sedai, marches her army towards the White Tower.

But Rand and the Asha'man that follow him are slowly being corrupted by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power. If they cannot remove the Dark One's taint from the True Source then none will survive to fight the Last Battle against the Shadow.

And as Rand struggles to maintain his sanity the Seanchan launch their counter-strike.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
I delayed starting The Path of Daggers for 2 months because I was so angry about Tylin's actions in A Crown of Swords. I actually came pretty close to quitting this series for good but I've already read 7 books (close to 6,000 pages!) so I'm not about to let one character ruin it for me, especially when friends told me that character is completely absent from this book. So I finally dove back into this world and I'm really glad I did. I actually think the short break did me good because all the other little things that had started to really irritate me before didn't bother me at half as much in The Path of Daggers. I was just so pleased to be back in this world that I enjoyed every minute of it.

I can see why a lot of people say this is their least favourite book in the series though, the Aes Sedai in particular are up to their old tricks in this book and there are now so many different groups of them that I'm having trouble keeping track of who everyone is. Not only do you have the group in Tar Valon and the "rebels" that are now led by Egwene but each of those groups is split into multiple factions and they're all doing their own thing while trying to achieve different goals. There are emissaries for each group trying to get Rand to do their bidding and I've honestly lost track over who they all represent. All I do know is that I don't trust any Aes Sedai (with the possible exception of Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne) as far as I could throw them. Considering they are some of the most powerful and well respected characters in the series and as a group they're supposed to be the ones that even Kings and Queens turn to for advice they're a surprisingly stupid bunch. Not one of them will listen to reason and they spend 99% of the time arguing amongst themselves trying decide who should be in charge. Honestly I think someone needs to bash all their heads together and I'm really hoping that now Nynaeve has started to come to her senses she might show us all why she was named village Wisdom at such a young age.

So the Aes Sedai as a whole irritate me but I'm happy that Nynaeve and Egwene finally seem to be able to have a civil conversation without it almost coming to blows. In the last few books they have been really getting on my nerves, particularly Nynaeve because I loved her so much in the beginning, but they're starting to mature a little now and it's about time too. I'm also glad that Nynaeve and Lan are back together at last because hopefully now she's less heartsick she'll actually be able to put her brain to other tasks again. Elayne has her moments but I don't love her as much as the other two, I think I'm just a bit sick of her moping around daydreaming about Rand. To be honest I'm just bored of the weird love square Rand has going on with Elayne, Aviendha and Min, all three of the girls act like idiots every time they think about him and at this point I really don't care who he ends up with or how they resolve things. Aviendha is probably my favourite of the three but she didn't have much of a role in this book and was just hanging around in the background.

I'm glad we got to see more of Perrin and the way his story ended definitely left me desperate for more but Rand was the star of the show in this book. He's got a lot on his plate right now and the reappearance of the Seanchan was the cherry on top of the cake. I really hate that group and can't wait to see them wiped off the face of the planet! I think what I was most disappointed with was the complete absence of Mat in this story, especially after the way things ended for him in the previous book. I guess the bonus of not seeing Mat was that I didn't have to put up with Tylin but I really do want to know what is going on with him.

This wasn't a perfect book but it was a million times better than the last one and it's reignited my love for this series which is something I'm definitely thankful for. I'm now excited to get started on Winter's Heart and looking forward to seeing where Rand's adventure takes us next.

Source: Purchased

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Review: A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has escaped the snares of the White Tower and the first of the rebel Aes Sedai have sworn to follow him. Attacked by the servants of the Dark, threatened by the invading Seanchan, Rand rallies his forces and brings battle to bear upon Illian, stronghold of Sammael the Forsaken . . .

In the city of Ebou Dar, Elayne, Aviendha and Mat struggle to secure the ter'angreal that can break the Dark One's hold on the world's weather - and an ancient bane moves to oppose them. In the town of Salidar, Egwene al'Vere gathers an army to reclaim Tar Valon and reunite the Aes Sedai . . .

And in Shadar Logoth, city of darkness, a terrible power awakens . . .

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
I've fallen so far behind our group buddy read of this series thanks to this book. I read it back in
July and I've spent the last couple of months trying to pretend it never existed. I was so in love with this series, yes there were problems with it but I was still completely hooked on the story and eager to find out what would happen next, but then I read A Crown of Swords and it nearly ruined everything.

I've ignored the fact that nearly every single female character spends half their time acting like an idiot and the rest screeching like a fishwife; I've put to one side the fact that Robert Jordan is pretty hopeless at creating believable romantic relationships (seriously do any of the couples actually speak to each other or do they all just stare longingly across the distance before suddenly declaring themselves head over heels in love?); and I've not even minded the way the story is taking so long to actually get anywhere but I can't ignore Tylin's actions in this book. I've tried so hard to forget about it but every time I think about this book I want to start screaming. There is just nothing on this planet that can justify the direction the story took and even though I'm sure there were lots of other brilliant plot developments in this instalment I can't remember a single one of them because they've all been eclipsed by Tylin the rapist queen.

I'm going to give the author the benefit of doubt and assume he meant for the scenes between Mat and Tylin to be amusing but he couldn't have missed the mark more badly if he'd tried. If Mat (or any other male character) had forced Tylin to sleep with him at KNIFE POINT there would have (rightfully!) been uproar. Just because Tylin is female she seems to get away with it but rape is rape and it is NEVER acceptable. It's not something that should be used as an "amusing" plot device either because it is NOT a laughing matter. The way she stalked Mat was downright creepy and it got to the point where every time her name appeared on the page I started feeling nauseous but when we reached that scene with the knife I nearly broke my kindle by throwing it across the room. Just what was the author thinking putting that scene in there? Where were the editors? Why did nobody think to question it before it was sent out into the hands of the unsuspecting public?

I'm sure there were good parts to this book because I wouldn't have made it to the end if there hadn't been but I literally can't remember a single thing that happened apart from the scenes with Mat & Tylin. I know that sounds crazy considering Tylin wasn't even on the page for at least three quarters of the book but she's such a sore point that it's all that stuck in my mind. I have such mixed feelings about A Crown of Swords that I'm not even sure that I want to carry on reading this series anymore but I've invested so much time in it that I feel obliged to see it through to the end. Fellow buddy readers have assured me that Tylin isn't even mentioned in The Path of Daggers and at the moment that's the only thing enticing me to give it a try. I really, really hope that Robert Jordan can rekindle my love for the series with that book but he's got his work cut out and at the moment I'm not holding my breath.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, strives to bind the nations of the world to his will, to forge the alliances that will fight the advance of the Shadow and to ready the forces of Light for the Last Battle.

But there are other powers that seek to command the war against the Dark One. In the White Tower the Amyrlin Elaida sets a snare to trap the Dragon, whilst the rebel Aes Sedai scheme to bring her down.

And as the realms of men fall into chaos the immortal Forsaken and the servants of the Dark plan their assault on the Dragon Reborn . . .

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
After being a bit disappointed with The Fires of Heaven I have to admit I was nervous about picking up Lord of Chaos, especially when I realised it was the largest book in the series so far (a whopping 1040 pages!). I actually put it off for a long time (& fell way behind all my buddy readers) because I was so nervous but apart from a kind of slow start (which, let's face it, most of these books have suffered from) this was much better than the last book. The last third was completely gripping and I actually had trouble turning the pages fast enough.

The Aes Sedai are up to all their old tricks again, and that's both groups of them. They're plotting, conniving and generally meddling in affairs that they should be leaving well alone. Whether you're looking at the traitors in the White Tower or the supposedly good group living in Salidar you have to be very wary of anything they say or do. I honestly don't understand how these women are so well respected, yes they can wield the One Power but they have no clue how to negotiate and I swear if you put a single Aes Sedai alone in a room she'd find a way to have an argument with herself. I just want to start bashing heads together because they're all so stubborn and pigheaded. The way they refuse to listen to anyone, even people who obviously have more knowledge about certain things, just drives me up the wall. Oh and don't even get me started on Alanna, if I was Rand I'd have rung her bloody neck!

Perrin is back which was fantastic, Faile was acting like a brat which wasn't. Berelain is an embarrassment to women the world over and acts like a dirty old pervert. Loial is living in fear since he found out his mother is out of the Steading and on her way to find him (bringing his future wife with her!). Nynaeve has finally stopped getting on my nerves to such a degree (although if she tugs that braid one more time I might have to find a way to climb inside the book and cut it off!) and I actually ended up feeling a tiny bit sorry for her. I'm totally over the weird love square that Rand has got going on, I don't feel the chemistry between him and any of the girls and couldn't care less how they end up working things out. Egwene finds love (considering how huge these books are I'll never understand how Robert Jordan manages to create such ridiculous cases of insta love!) and gets a surprising job offer. Elayne finally stopped flirting with Thom and now sees him more as the father figure he always should have been and Mat is becoming even more awesome. Rand is juggling a lot of different balls and unfortunately on this occasion something major gets past him which lands him in hot water and I'm also extremely worried about the army he is letting Taim build, I just can't see that ending well!

There is just so much going on in this story now, we have a huge number of characters to keep track of but I'm so completely invested in all of them that I have to keep reading to find out what happens next. Six books (and 5,137 pages!) into the series we've spent a lot of time getting to know everyone so love them or hate them and no matter how irritating they can be at times you just have to root for them (well, most of them anyway). So on that note I guess it's time for me to dive into A Crown of Swords.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan

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.

And the Fires of Heaven scour the world.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
I've found it really difficult to write a review of The Fires of Heaven, mainly because as much as I'm loving the Wheel of Time series as a whole I was actually a little disappointed with this instalment. It was much slower than the last couple of books, particularly in the first half, and it took me much longer to read than it should have.

I thought it was very weird that Perrin, Loial and Faile were completely absent for the entire book. They played such huge parts in the last one that perhaps it was time to let some of the other characters shine but I would have liked just a glimpse at what is going on with them, especially considering the way things were left with them at the end of The Shadow Rising.

I was also incredibly irritated by nearly all of the women in this book. Nynaeve has been a favourite character of mine since the beginning but it's like she's had a personality transplant and she's acting like such a brainless idiot that I wanted to smack some sense into her. It really says something when you have Egwene call you out for your behaviour and it was shocking to find that Egwene was actually the most sensible of the two for this book - she's definitely learning something from the Wise Ones but I think Nynaeve must have had a brain injury! I honestly don't know how Elayne has coped with the pair of them though, I would have murdered them both if I was in her position. Although she doesn't have much of a leg to stand on considering the way she behaved around Thom for most of the book, it was actually embarrassing to watch.

Min and Siuan's story was probably the most interesting part of this book for me but even that went downhill once they met up with more of the Aes Sedai and were relegated to the side lines. I'm also kind of fed up with Elayne, Min and Aviendha mooning around over Rand (and his constant thoughts about the three of them!), I hate to say it but Robert Jordan isn't very good at creating believable relationships and I don't really feel much of a connection between any of them yet. Let's hope that improves as the series continues. Moiraine spends much of this book distancing herself from everyone else and being just as secretive as ever which is still irritating and I think the only woman who didn't get on my nerves for at least part of the story was Birgitte.

On the positive side it was great to see Rand step up and take action as the Dragon Reborn, he's finally accepted his destiny and started making plans for the future. I love spending time with the Aiel too, especially the Maidens of the Spear, and they get a big chunk of page time in this book. Mat has continued to improve as a character too so I'm looking forward to seeing what he decides to do next.

The Fires of Heaven wasn't a bad book but it just didn't live up to my high expectations for this series. I'm still hugely invested in the world and want to spend more time with the characters (even the ones who irritate me!) so of course I'll be diving into the next book very soon.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan

The Stone of Tear, invulnerable fortress of legend, has fallen. The Children of the Dragon have risen to the call of prophecy and march to the aid of the Light. Callandor, the Sword That Is Not a Sword, is held by Rand al'Thor, the man proclaimed as the Dragon Reborn.

But still the shadows lengthen and still the Forsaken grow in strength. If he is to fight them, Rand must master the male half of the True Source, a power corrupted by the Dark One, a power that drives men to madness, a power that may save or damn the world.

Wheel of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
How am I even supposed to write a review for this book? I honestly have no idea where to start because there was just so much going on and all of it was fantastic! This is the longest instalment in the Wheel of Time series so far (coming in at just over 1000 pages) but I never once felt bored and that's a testament to how brilliant Robert Jordan's writing is. I am so totally pulled into this world and so invested in all of the characters (even the ones I don't always like that much!) that I never want to leave and I'm so happy that I still have 10 more books to look forward to.

I can't possibly talk about everything that happened in The Shadow Rising unless I want my review to be a small book in its own right so I'm just going to discuss some of my favourite characters or particular events that really stood out for me. Even narrowing it down that far is difficult though so you'll have to forgive me for any fangirling that occurs in the next couple of paragraphs. Perrin has always been my favourite of the Two Rivers boys and he shines brightly in this book. After finding out that his home has been invaded by the White Cloaks who are looking for himself and the others Perrin knows he has to go back and try to put things right. It's a dangerous journey but he has the ever loyal ogier Loial to protect his back, a few fierce Aeil willing to fight alongside him and the incredibly stubborn Faile acting as a thorn in his side. I absolutely loved everything about Perrin's storyline, it was fun seeing how differently the Two Rivers folk see him when he returns (he left a boy but he's definitely returned as a man!), I enjoyed the banter and romance between him and Faile, the friendship he has with Loial, the way he takes charge, brings the villagers together and teaches them to fight, everything. It was all perfect and I can't wait to see his confidence continue to grow.

Rand and Mat haven't abandoned Two Rivers without good reason and they have their own journey to face into the heart of the wastelands to try and win the support of the rest of the Aeil people. Their story was an interesting one and there were certain stand out moments but I'm not going to spoil it by going into details so you'll have to read it for yourself. I did love finding out more about the Aeil though, their culture is fascinating and we get to see more of it through Egwene and Moiraine's eyes as they travel with the boys. I hate to say it but when Egwene and Nynaeve are in the same room together 90% of the time they are getting on my nerves so I was incredibly relieved when they finally split up and went in different directions. Egwene has started training with the Aeil Wise Ones and I have to say I loved how they punished her when she went against their orders, I'm hoping that the time she has spent with them will have made her grow up a little and perhaps she'll be less irritating in the future.

Nynaeve and Elayne separate from the others to go off hunting Black Ajah on the orders of the Amyrlin and that probably places them in the greatest danger (alongside Perrin) for the moment. They have a few familiar allies though and I really enjoyed seeing them working together. They are much nicer to be around when Egwene isn't in the picture and although they have their work cut out for them there were also some very humorous moments when Elayne seriously underestimates the amount of alcohol she has consumed. Oh and watch out for the very heartfelt moment between Nynaeve and Lan - I need more of those please, lots more! Another thing I really enjoyed was getting to see a lot more of Min's point of view in this book, she has returned to the White Tower with a message for the Amyrlin and while I can't say more for fear of spoilers let's just leave it that things are getting VERY interesting with the Aes Sedai and nothing is quite what it seems at Tar Valon.

This was definitely the most interesting instalment in the series so far, now we're all so familiar with the world and the characters we're really able to enjoy all the different plot threads and we're starting to see how various things tie together in unexpected ways. Most of the characters have come a long way since we first met them but I'd like to see a bit more growth from Egwene and Mat in particular in the next book. I just can't wait to see what our heroes are going to have to face in The Fires of Heaven!

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan

The Land is One with the Dragon - and the Dragon is One with the Land.

The Shadow lies across the Pattern of the Age, and the Dark One has turned all his power against the prison that binds him. If it fails he will escape and nothing will stand in the storm that blows then . . . save the man that was born to battle the darkness: Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn.

But to wage his war Rand must find Callandor, ancient Sword of the Dragon . . . and the Forsaken will shatter the world to thwart him.

World of Time Series:
New Spring (Prequel Story but it's recommended to read after Crossroads of Twilight)
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
The Shadow Rising
The Fires of Heaven
Lord of Chaos
A Crown of Swords
The Path of Daggers
Winter's Heart
Crossroads of Twilight
Knife of Dreams
The Gathering Storm
Towers of Midnight
A Memory of Light

Visit the Wheel of Time series website for more information

Review:
This series is just getting better and better and The Dragon Reborn was my favourite instalment so far. There are just so many different plot lines going on and all of the characters have their own paths to follow which is keeping me totally hooked.

We see less of Rand in this book than we did in the first two and a lot of what we learn about him comes second hand via rumours that the others hear. It's obvious that he's still struggling against his destiny and he also seems to be going slightly crazy but I'm hoping he'll be able to turn that around if he can just accept what the wheel has in store for him. Having the story focus less on Rand really gives some of the others more of a chance to shine and I have to admit that Perrin is still my favourite of the three boys. I love how attuned he has become to the wolves but I really hope he stops fighting that ability soon so we can really see what he's capable of. The interactions between him and a certain new character were brilliant and I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes too. Mat has been a difficult character to like in the previous books, thanks to the curse he had picked up he's not been pleasant company for anyone and if I'm honest I didn't think I'd ever end up liking him. I'm pleased to say that he totally turned things around by the end of this book though, now that he's been cured he is getting back to his old self, he's definitely a rogue but he's quite a loveable one. He's constantly trying to convince himself, and everyone around him, that he's no hero but if you look at his actions you'll realise he's just kidding himself on that front and I was pleased with how much he's grown.

Moiraine is still keeping secrets and I find it really frustrating that she keeps everything so close to her chest but I secretly enjoy watching her pulling everyone's strings and making sure that it all plays out the way she wants it to. Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne have an important task of their own in this book but there were times when Egwene REALLY started to irritate me, the constant bickering between her and Nynaeve made me want to bang their heads together and I could have cheered when Elayne finally did something about it! Let's hope that Egwene has an attitude adjustment in the next book or I'm going to end up dreading any scene with her in it which would be a shame as I've liked all the girls up until this point. I still want to get to know Elayne and Min a bit better than we do, I like what we've seen of them but they're still very much background characters and I'm hoping that's something that will also change as the series continues.

I found this story had a much better pace to it than the previous one, all of the characters seem to be headed in very different directions but the story pulled all the threads together into a brilliant climax and I loved seeing how everything tied together. We have learnt a lot more about the Forsaken and the Black Ajah are pretty terrifying. The sense of danger has definitely ramped up and it's making me feel very nervous about all the things that could potentially happen. I'm so excited to see where the series takes our favourite characters next though and can't wait to dive into the next book!

Source: Purchased

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