u/cnfusion

YO, THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE COOLEST CHAPTERS IN THE ENTIRE BOOK, THIS WAS SO SICK

Finished the previous chapter with Mat, went over, saw the COOLEST CHAPTER MARKER IN THE SERIES SINCE, saw SAMMAEL and lost my mind. Had to take a walk cause no way we're getting more Forsaken POV, especially after Demandred and Mesaana. Little playing of mind games between Graendal and Sammael, some hints at lore from the Age of Legends (I have some thoughts to work out about what little info we got here), then Sammael left.

GRAENDAL POV? THEN SEMIRHAGE?

Yeah, this was one of my favorite chapters in the entire book after that AMAZING prologue. I really wanna know what this Nae'blis thing is. I find it funny that the Dark One essentially promised Demandred and Graendal Nae'blis but not Mesaana. I wonder why. If I had to give any immediate thoughts on what Nae'blis could be, I think of two things:

1. The Shadow's Champion, which either Graendal or Sammael (forgot which POV) indicated has occurred before with previous Dragons.
2. The Dark One's bodily host. Now, I would like to think that maybe Shaidar Haran was created for this purpose considering the Dark One has indicated that obeying or disobeying Haran is equivalent to doing him the same. However, Semirhage said that if Rand did become Nae'blis she would bow and wait for her time to strike. In the prologue, Demandred seemed hesitant to be Nae'blis before accepting. Additionally, it seems that becoming Nae'blis has additional perks, although I'm not quite sure if the Forsaken already have immortality or can gain it. I'm keeping it in consideration until more happens. I'm hoping we get more Forsaken chapters/limited POVs.

Also hoping we can go back to Shayol Ghul. That little scene with Demandred in the beginning was SO COOL. I would really like to see the Pit of Doom more or maybe Thakan'dar. I imagined it as being fully gray and black, everything devoid of color down to the rocks. I think it'll be a cool visual contrasted against the Rand's blood. I have seen Michael Whelan's art of Rand entering Shayol Ghul and it's some of my favorite pieces of art for the series. I'm...both excited and frightened whenever I get to that moment. It'll be a fully climactic time, the Dragon entering the lair of his ancient enemy.

At first I thought that it would be referring to one particular thing, that being balefire and its effect on the Pattern (which to me, I think balefire BURNS existing portions of the Pattern and it could possibly be a creation of the Dark One whose intentions for the power extended well beyond his initial expectations). However, the newbie thread for book 5 insinuates that something was happening in the background that relates to the title.

I think it might be something as simple as the growing heat. In book 5 as they were closing in on Cairhein, Rand stops and thinks to himself that the heat seems strange, it's nothing that feels right for the season. In LoC it's pretty much confirmed that the heat is UNNATURAL. We know that four of the Dark One's seals have been shattered and that he is an external force outside the Wheel of Time. We know the Dark One is probably the most powerful being on Earth, topped only by the Creator. I think that Fires of Heaven refers to the growing heat, which might be an allusion to the biblical passages literally and figuratively referring to the burning of the world or a simply growing allusion to the Dark One's version of Hell on Earth.

There is the argument to be made for Balefire and the Pattern still, but I think I like the idea of the Dark One's escape causing Earth to turn into Hell itself. Feels like something he would do despite how little we actually know him by this book.

Hi

I haven't been reading much these past few days since beginning LoC but I have finished the prologue, and I have some thoughts on the Osan'gar and Aran'gar characters (I would like to talk about this Nae'blis title for Demandred but I have nothing to work with).

It seems to me that Osan'gar implies Aran'gar is Lanfear post-death. I don't think that Moiraine is dead. However, now we have confirmation that the Dark One CAN REVIVE PEOPLE. Something Aes Sedai and (seemingly) the Dragon can't do.

I think by the way Osan'gar was admiring his appearance, he's probably Balthamel or Aginor.

Two reasons: both had similar presentations in terms of appearance, although with Aginor his appearance in Book 1 was due to being freshly escaped from the Bore. Bathamel, in that book, was said to have been so old he covered his whole body. They're also two Forsaken I don't think we know much about, the other one being Be'lal since he was just there in book 3 (I could be forgetting details as well so please forgive me if I have).

I am leaning more toward Balthamel but I am keeping open to Aginor as well.

EDIT: Would also like to say that Balthamel's design is my favorite. The mask? SO COOL

Hi.

This might be an unusual post, but I wanted to come on and say thank you to everyone who wished me fun reading Lord of Chaos for the first time. I haven't read since the first scene of the prologue; some...rough things have happened, and I'm not very much okay mentally and emotionally.

But I wanted to take that depression and do something nice with it. I wanted to say thank you to everyone in the sub who has interacted with me on my first series read, who have made me theorize, have taught me things about the story, who has made these books more fun than I ever thought. Thank you for making my love of reading that much better. You all have made my days brighter.

I will be making more posts as time goes on. I hope you'll stick around with me through it. But for now, thank you all. You're all wonderfully kind and your love for this story brings me lots of joy. I think I'll go read some more Lord of Chaos this morning. My head is full of wool (HA) and I think maybe getting away from everything will help.

Thank you all, and may you forever find water and shade <3

WOAH, what a book.

Coming out of the battle against Rahvin - AND RAND AND NYNAEVE DECIMATING THIS MAN, LIGHT ALONE KNOWS - I feel rather exhausted. This book was HEAVY with worldbuilding, character conflict and anticipation for the coming struggles ahead. But a few wonderful notes:

1. Rand is one of the best MCs I've ever read. By far, my favorite character in the series, and his struggles dealing with Lews Therin speaking in his mind has been...depressing yet amazing to read.
2. Nynaeve is such a great character. Beside her constant nagging on men, she is determined, strong willed, wonderfully kind and downright impressive in her capabilities. I am thoroughly impressed by how much she's grown in this book, and I'm so looking forward to seeing more of her in the series.
3. LANFEAR AND MOIRAINE ARE NOT DEAD. No. You can't convince me. Noooooo, I refuse to believe it.
4. Aviendha is so fun. She's a really good character and it's lovely to see her relationship with Rand develop in this book.
5. Mat...I get it. I get why he doesn't want to be a part of this. I get why he just wants to go away from all this. Sometimes I dislike him for how much he scorns at Rand - the dude never asked to be Dragon Reborn - but I get it as well. I have a weird relationship with Mat right now, but I am also wondering about this dream Egwene had concerning one of his eyes. I don't know what that means but I expect that he'll somehow end up on Seanchan, considering the Nine Moons is there.
6. What does Balefire have to do with Rand not hearing Lews Therin anymore? I'm not exactly sure about that but I wonder if it has to do with Lews himself and reincarnation.
7. I feel ashamed about taking this long to realize it, but Padan Fain is this series' Gollum. I don't know why my brain didn't make the connection, but he's Gollum and I think that's SICK.

There are some other things but I can't recall them right now. Now, as many thoughts/theories/questions as I could remember:

1. Is Mazrim Taim one of the Forsaken? He's been built up for a while but nothing much has ever come of it. I do wonder if he is Demandred considering Sammael is in Illian. Rand said that he wants to gather men who can channel so that makes me think Jordan is implying Mazrim really is a false Dragon. We'll see soon, hopefully.
2. Is there one more Forsaken I haven't met? All of the Forsaken so far are:
   1. Aginor
   2. Bel'al
   3. Lanfear
   4. Sammael
   5. Graendal
   6. Rahvin
   7. Asmodean (OH YEAH HE DIED AT THE END OF THIS BOOK, WTF WAS THAT????)
   8. Ishamael
   9. Modghedien
   10. Semirhage
   11. Demandred
   12. Balthamel (sickest design btw)

There's one more. I don't recall if they were named in any of the previous books, but there's one I don't know the name of. If that is the case and one hasn't been named, I wonder if they killed Asmodean. Speaking of which, ASMODEAN WAS REVIVED? IMMORTALITY? I mean it would make sense considering they lived for 3000 years, but then again I don't know how the seals work in the Pit of Doom (*rip and tear intensifies*). Is Mazrim the last Forsaken? Are YOU 🫵 the last Forsaken????

3. OH YEAH, Rand CAN enter Tel'aran'rhiod. This happened way back during book 3 in his fight against Ishamael. I had speculated that people can enter without sleeping and this pretty much confirms it. WILD

Edit: 4. The newbie thread pointed out that the titles from here will not be direct but very subtle, and whatever is connected to this book's title was done very subtly in the background. I'm not CERTAIN, but my theory is that Rand's use of Balefire is causing irreversible damage or calamity to the Wheel of Time. 'Fires' referring to Balefire' and 'Heaven' being the Wheel, Age Lace and the Pattern.

Anyways, I'm off to the newbie thread for this book. I already have the next three books, so I'll be starting Lord of Chaos soon!

This post is more my thoughts on Rand's mental state and his perception of himself as the Dragon, alongside my own feelings as a reader moving with the Wheel.

In short, I don't think Rand has fully accepted that he is the Dragon Reborn. I think a part of him still rejects it and instead conceptualizes the responsibility of the Dragon as being some form of duty; knowing Mr. Jordan was a soldier, you could make allusions to a soldier struggling with that duty, but I want to be careful and respectful when speaking about that so for now I just want to talk about Rand (if anyone wishes to provide their own insights, absolutely feel free).

• What one must do

One of the big phrases Rand has used is essentially doing what he has to do. I won't say that he's entirely rejecting being the Dragon Reborn, but throughout all of this, as a first time reader, I get the feeling that he believes himself trapped by the Wheel/fate, that his life has turned around so quickly that he hasn't really gotten time to process. One day, you're a shepherd trying to make sure your daily chores are done, then you're finding out that the devil himself wants you dead, you're claiming a sa'angreal that confirms you are indeed the Champion of the Light and then you're learning the truth about your people in the Age past. All of that added onto the fact that Prophecy says you HAVE to sacrifice yourself, and that sucks because even if you're ta'veren, the Dark One is trying to escape and that means every person alive, if that happens, will turn to you.

There's no choice, is there?

As a reader, it's depressing. Right now, Rand is questioning his own actions using his own friends, questioning the thoughts in his head, desperately trying to clutch to sanity as the taint eats away at him. And that hurts to see.

• His acceptance

The way this story is going, the way that Jordan has gone off in a way that feel very natural and based in character, there could always be the case that Rand never truly comes to accept it in some way. I could see it happening that he continues his duties, but he never truly comes to an emotional space in his mind.

Yet, my instincts say differently. I was told that Rand will be on Dragonmount at some point. From that I guess he has some experience with Lews Therin and maybe that entirely confirms it for him; sets it fully in stone. Coming up to the Last Battle, my prediction for his character arc is that he will begin to question if he can BELIEVE in himself to save the world. He will need to question if he can believe it's worth sacrificing himself for the world. Because before the Last Battle, I think that Rand needs to be in a place where he strongly, firmly wants to walk into Shayol Ghul and face the Dark One of his own volition. If he does that, then it means he's believed that sacrificing himself is what is best.

I think that will come back to wanting to save the people he loves. I do think we know the three women he loves for sure (Min, Elayne, Aviendha) and we know that he considers everyone from the Two Rivers most precious. I think that if he chooses to sacrifice himself, protecting them would be his reasons.

Doesn't really have much to do with Fires (which has been really fun btw, I've been drowning in my read of it) but I have been wondering about Ishamael since the other Forsaken have been showing up more often.

Was Ishamael just himself or did the Dark One really speak through him? In that regard, who even is the Dark One? Following Ishamael's death, I've been wondering about the Dark One and who he really is. What's his history across the Ages, what is his power capability and does he even have a physical form? I have seen that one comic panel with his hand, but that's it.

Ishamael seemed to be one of the more powerful Forsaken, but I can't remember if it was confirmed that the Dark One spoke through him or not. With all the story happening (I'm on chapter 42 right now) I feel like the Dark One's presence is overarching yet not present at the same time. Maybe waiting for the right moment or something? We know the seals are weakening tremendously right now.

If RAFO, I'll take that for sure

HE REMEMBERS ILYENA

HE MENTIONED CAN BREAT AND ASMODEAN SHOOK HIS HEAD

BROTHER WHAT IS HAPPENING??? The Taint is taking effect? Or is it the Taint? I mean maybe it doesn't necessarily HAVE TO BE, and what other reason does he have for leaving Callandor behind??? A trap or something? Does it have to do with the snakey people Mat oh so loves and adores? Find out next week on Rand al'Thor goes bazonkas???

AND THE CUENDILLAR SEALS

Which one of you is messing with the seals? Come on, spill it out, I know it was you🫵

Firstly, thank you all for joining me on another journey through the Wheel of Time. This has been such an incredible book to read, and I'm giving it a perfect 5/5 because it somehow keeps me entertained entirely.

For general thoughts, idk what Robert Jordan was doing when he wrote this book but he really hit the nail on the head and blew my mind away. I want to talk about that, but with the end I have lots of thoughts and theories, so please bear with me.

• Firstly, I FORGOT LANFEAR'S NAME WAS DROPPED DURING THE AIEL FLASHBACKS, OMG. I can't remember if I made the connection during the reading, but I did forget her name was dropped.
• RAND CAN BEND SPACE-TIME? AND LEWS THERIN DID SO TOO. I will say that I do know about the Taint making Rand hear Lews' voice in his head. I don't really know what it is exactly, but now - and with Lanfear asking how much of him is the shepherd - I wonder how much Rand 'remembers' from his previous life, or if that even works the same way. Does it work like Mat's remembrance of Manetheren, and what's up with that Jordan, gimme some Manetheren lore mannnn.
• Bouncing off the previous life as Lews, I wonder if Rand's inability to harm women comes from Lews' pain, regret and trauma killing Ilyena during his madness episode. Unless I am forgetting something, I do wonder if Lews is bleeding over into Rand and causing a blur of what's Rand's personality and what's his own.
• Faile and Perrin are THE DAMN CUTEST AND I WILL FIGHT SOME TROLLOCS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TOGETHER DAMMIT. ALL MY HOMIES HATE THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT. Speaking of them, what will they do if the Dark One takes over the world? Will be like oh...ohhhhh, THAT'S the bad guy...
• Asmodean is cut off from the Dark One and seemingly he will be teaching Rand? I don't know how that will work with Moiraine, Egwene and the Wise Ones there but we'll see in Fires of Heaven. More on the Dark One after this list.
• Nynaeve is as powerful or stronger than a Forsaken. WTF, but she lacks emotional stability and conscious control. With the Tower in shambles, and her refusal to work with Moiraine, I sense an arc of self-reflection coming soon. I don't think that she will entirely work with Moiraine, but I think she will undo her braids and let herself become free of who she was as the Wisdom.

A theory about the Dark One

One thing I wondered about when reading Rand trying to catch up to Asmodean, Rand seeing the Age of Legends and Lanfear's name was the Dark One himself. He did not appear in this book, as it seems Ishmael is truly dead (but I'm skeptical). During the flashbacks, it was shown the moment when the One Power - or saidin - was tainted.

My working theory is that the Dark One is something like the Creator, in that they do not have physical forms. I have seen art by Michael Whelan of Rand descending into Shayol Ghul to face the Dark One, but I don't think he has a real physical form. I think the Dark One - like the Creator - is pure power, which is why the Taint and Untainted Power exist against one another. If that is the case, I don't know how Rand can fight him. It would make some sense that Lews ended up sealing the Dark One, but I don't know how Rand can fight him. Callandor would make sense then, if it works something like how Shardblades from Stormlight works.

AWWWWWW MY FRICKEN HEART I LOVE THEM AHHHHHHHHH

Faile even used the name she doesn't like, and her little blushing and blabbing and asking him to repeat his proposal, and him declaring his love and thinking that he can only give her what little he has BUT HE WILL ANYWAYS AND AHHHH PERRIN YOU SLICK BOI YOU

Mat's gonna feel his jaw drop to the ground when he hears about this XD

Light! This book is amazing, ya'll. I'm so close to the end and beginning book 5, yet I don't want this book to end somehow.

A wedding in the light of all this darkness and calamity. Just WOW

WHO WAS THAT? WAS THAT A FRICKEN FORSAKEN? Dude, she just waltzed into the Blossom Room all willy nilly like she owned the placed, One Power on like a fricken coat and coaxed the Nynaeve and Elayne into giving information.

THEN SHE DROPPED FORSAKEN NAMES??? Is she Moghedien? She has to be. Moghedien was name dropped in the book, I'd think Jordan would let her make an appearance.

DUDE WHAT IS HAPPENING????? THE POWER SCALING. THE MIND WARPING???? I refuse to believe Suroth can do that (tbf I don't remember much of her scene from chapter 1 and I'm too invested to go back and read. The WOT encyclopedia site is also down right now).

The Tanchico plotline has been really slow in chapter count since it's begun BUT OMG THE TENSION ALREADY

The next chapter is a Min chapter maybe. It's to do with Viewings, which has been Min's thing. But I have so many questions ×d

Up until this point, Mat has been one of the characters I often feel a lot for. He's different from Rand and Perrin, who both take directly take lots on their shoulders and he also has been present from a distance even when he's standing right there. To me, he feels like the 'normal' one of the Emond's Fielders, or at least the one who tries the hardest to retain some sense of normalcy.

In my heart, I feel like Mat is the person who - other than Nynaeve - really tries to hold onto his roots despite repeatedly saying he wouldn't return to the Two Rivers and live there. He's the embodiment of someone who wants to live and travel quietly, or generally just live in peace without too much complication. No matter how much he tries, he always tries to find himself in a place that is comfortable and feels safe, or rather somewhere that feels like he has a semblance of control over. Like a dice table, where it might be luck driving his wins, but he knows that he has luck on his side, so it's easier to not be stressed around it.

Seeing how much he thinks Rand is going crazy hurts now. At one point these boys were close friends but now Rand is the Dragon Reborn and that means Mat is now close to someone who makes his simple world more complicated than it needs to be. I have a feeling that deep down he feels more, but his anger and his frustrations right now are overwhelming those other feelings. I wonder if Rand will realize how much he's made the others around him feel the way they do. I wonder if Mat will ever outright admit that Rand has to fight the Dark One whether he likes it or not. I wonder if he'll get to go back home and realize truly that - like Frodo after the War of the Ring - he can't find peace for his own reasons.

Perhaps my interpretation is off in some regards, but if it is please do correct me. I'd love to hear anyone else's thoughts and feelings, because I'm somewhat surprised - but not surprised - at how strongly I feel about these boys. I do hope that before the Last Battle comes, they and the girls as well can all find some joy in their lives. I really do.

PS: This doesn't cover the revelation of memories from Manetheren, but I'm waiting for more info before speaking about it.

If I can give Robert Jordan credit for anything, he really excels at character development and keeps you engaged even when the plot slows down.

Perrin's latest slew of chapters has been such a fantastic read. His arguments with Faile have been both adorable and hilarious to read, though tinged with romance despite the fact, and his return to the Two Rivers was heartbreaking, frightening and heroic. Perrin has always had a confidence within him, but he just needs the right people and reasons to allow himself that strength.

Additionally, his development into a leader gives me the impression that at some point down the line he and Rand will be strong leaders together. I feel like that has been set up in book 2 when he carried the Dragon Banner and the Heroes of the Horn to battle.

I am wondering now where Berelain is, and Verin has insinuated that Alanna has alterior motives than what she implies. I believe, in some fashion, Pedron Niall is a Darkfriend and so is

*ahem*

THE MAN WHO CALLED HIMSELF BORS, though we already knew that. I don't recall what happened to him last but I do know who he is.

Now, 34 returns to Rand (my favorite character)...

AND HE HAS THE DRAGON TATTOOS

I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN SO SOON BUT HE DOES AHHHHH

Now, I do know that on the cover of A Crown of Swords, the tattoos only mark his wrist but then on book twelve he has full forearm tats. I'm not sure what's going on here, but the book says that the Dragon covers his arm. I assume that it's Rand on the ACoS cover. Can someone clarify?

Overall, I LOVE THE DRAGON TATTOOS. THEY'RE SO COOL. Like if I ever got tattoos I'm getting those on my forearms. They're so cool dude.

We learned about Rand's parents and he had a very expected reaction to them. I appreciate how Jordan handled his learning about Shaiel and Janduin.

Anyways, that's it for now. TSR has been AMAZING and I'm looking forward to the Tanchico arc with Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and the Sea Folk. Also wondering if we'll see Rand with Callandor again or if he'll stay in the Aiel Waste.

I...I feel like I've had some weird experience of confusion, rereading, realization, amazement and narrative coalescence that's taken up so much mental power that seeing Chapter 27 just deflates me.

I have never - since my reading of The Silmarillion and The Fall of Gondolin - read something so brilliantly composed in a book that it made my emotions go haywire. Chapter 26 especially, witnessing THE SECOND AGE ITSELF and THE HISTORY OF THE JENN AIEL...I...I'm actually at a loss for words.

NYM? Like fricken Ents??? They sound SO COOL. And did they have FLYING VEHICLES IN THAT AGE? I know this world is post-apocalyptic BUT WHAT TECHNOLOGY DID THEY HAVE? A soldier even mentioned communications like they have wireless receivers or something XD

WHAT IS HAPPENING??? We saw tens of thousands of Aiel standing together, singing in defiance, in a scene and revelation that brought me to my most vulnerable tears. We saw Ogiers searching for home. We learn of the very day that Lews Therin attacked Shayol Ghul. We learned of the struggles that Jenn Aiel faced BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE WASTES. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT, but the crazy thing is that it somehow made sense to me. It was history being told backwards, and that was absolutely mind-blowing to me.

This book has earned a perfect rating to me. I'm not even done but I can't give it anything but a perfect rating. Robert Jordan has earned all the respect I can give to an author.

What an imaginative man. What a writer. WHAT. A. STORYTELLER.

I am unbelievably impressed. So unbelievably impressed. Light help me XD

I KNEW IT

I CALLED RAND WAS GOING TO THE WASTE IN THIS BOOK

YESSSSS

But giving up Callandor, even temporarily, uggghhhh. Cool sword stuck in stone with potential traps? Ugghhhh. No Arthur, keep your cool sword dude

Rand has also initiated the High Lords to move on Cairhein in an attempt, both, to get the High Lords away from him and to somehow end the civil war ongoing there. I don't know how the Amyrlin and Min will react to that being the case, but I imagine she's not going to like another army advancing on the fighting.

Additionally, Rand's mindset feels like he's just given up any of his own hopes to go by the Prophecies and what they state. Like some guideline as to what he's expected to do (fitting, as the entire book, he's repeated that he will do what he believes he HAS to do). It's both frustrating and depressing seeing himself struggle for agency.

Do I think he'll get the Dragon tattoos this book? High chance not. I don't think Jordan will rush ahead so quickly, especially when there are so many other plotlines yet to develop, including Egwene's in the Waste.

I also don't think any of the Forsaken would so easily fall for the trap so easily. Yet the Prophecy Rand states in this chapter implies someone who pulls it out will follow Rand. Could it Mazrim Taim? He's escaped from wherever he was (I don't remember, sorry) and by the Black Ajah who were captured, Liandrin wants to proclaim HIM the Dragon Reborn.

So many things happening right now, and it's all so exciting.

Wtf lmfao

Okay, just finished reading and I feel like I went on some weird drug trip but this chapter was lots of set up for the future of this book.

Firstly, those people inside the ter'angreal seem to me like those who might be working dark arts on the Pattern. I really don't know if it's right to know what the Wheel of Time has in store for the future, but I get the feeling that what they do isn't entirely right. Or maybe it is and this just adds another layer of complex morality to the mechanics of the Wheel.

Secondly, Mat marrying the Daughter of the Nine Moons and the mention of his living, dying then living again. The first I have no idea what to do with, but the second makes me think of Manetheren and his connections with it. Then there's him taking half the light of the world to save it, and I feel like maaaybe that has something to do with Rand being the Dragon Reborn? I don't think it's coincidence that Rand was also in the ter'angreal at the same time.

Now, I want to speak about Rand being in there but I also have to say that Rand - as himself, where he is mentally and how he's expressing himself - scares me. I can't tell if the Taint has begun taking a latching hold or not. I know that there's something to do with Lews Therin but I know nothing else. I don't know what Rand has planned but I feel very scared, especially after seeing him kill all those Fades and Trollocs. Moiraine might know what's going on with him, but I feel too scared or anxious to think too much about it.

That's the post for now. I'm excited to see what else this book offers me.

Last read: Chapter 10

Holy frick. I feel like not much has happened yet until this chapter but the book has captivated me and made my expectations feel...non-existent? In terms of where characters were going to be, I expected we'd be moving to the Wastes via the end of Book 3, but Rand has remained in the Stone and has become involved in politics. That was really surprising. So, really and truly, this book has been exploring the nuances of the characters, putting them less in conflicts related to the Last Battle and more in human related conflicts. Rand feels like a whole different person now and I'm both enjoying it and wary of him.

Elayne + Rand was really cute, I loved their scene and I'm very proud of our girl making her moves. Rand's reaction, both from her POV and in his head, feels very natural and I appreciate how Jordan approaches their relationship, especially showing how young and inexperienced they are. Same thing with Perrin, although his feelings for Faile are different.

Now, my favorite thing so far: FORSAKEN LORE. We've gotten some more names and holy crap that was cool. Lanfear's appearance and subsequent hints toward her loyalties were fun. We've heard about Sammael and Mogehdien (WHAT A DAMN NAME JEEZ) and the idea that they can hold Callandor. I'm very interested to see whether Jordan will make that happen because I would LOVE to see how it unfolds.

This book has been INCREDIBLE. I am so impressed with Mr. Jordan and how he writes. It makes me feel inspired to write myself. It feels like he's really getting into the meat of the story with this book and I'm excited to read more

EDIT: I do wonder when Rand gets the tattoos. That was something he contemplated. Not the tattoos themselves but what a dragon is and how it involves him being marked again. I think it was Rhuarc that had the tattoos at the end of Book 3 but I'll need to check again

Months later, and I've begun my journey once more by the whims of the Wheel.

It's been so long. I don't remember exactly when I finished book 3, but I had to suppress how excited I was because I'd become so irritated. But being able to order the books through an indie bookstore was a joy unlike anything, and now I can read THIS MASSIVE TOME that is TSR.

For this update, I've just finished Chapter 4 where >!Mat has returned to the Stone and expressed his frustrations to Thom. We learned that for the past month he's been trying to leave Tear, but it's pretty obvious his position as Ta'veren is keeping him there!<

Chapter 1 having so much set up was a surprise, but one I found enjoyable. Jordan seems to have slowed down his pacing of the plot. He's letting you catch up with the characters, get a feel for how things have changed and is also introducing many new players in the overall story. I get the feeling that this book is really where he'll begin telling the larger, more complex story of the entire world itself.

Now, at the end of Book 3, it was either directly stated or insinuated that >!Rand will be going to Rhuidean. I know that he has the Dragon Tattoos on his forearms in the future, and Rhuarc has them iirc, so maybe in this book one goal is to get him to the Wastes. However, Rhuarc also states that Rand may not be the person who THEIR prophecies talk about!< I'm interested to see how all those interweaving storylines and details play out.

But I feel inspired to write my own story, so I'll be reading a bit later. I'm excited to continue my journey with you all!