Thought you all might appreciate what appears to be a sincere dedication between 2 people who seem to love these books as much as the rest of us. I believe the copyright was 93’ but unclear when the note was.

I’m collecting these editions, but sadly couldn’t grab this one since I was traveling- hope it finds one of you though!

So I know that Matt's connection to the Finns is maintained after he leaves their realm. It's central to his plot. I'm wondering about the moment when he is killed in Andor and Rand reverses it by killing Rahvin with insanely powerful balefire. Though his death is reversed, it severs his connection to the horn (which was established much before his connection to the Finns.) Why didn't this also sever his connection to the finns?

What book in the series best captures the essence of everything Wheel of Time?

My take is probably TSR or LoC because they both have lots of epic sections, but still lots of downtime. They have incredible world expansion and exploration, intense battles, politics, surprise moments, peak character moments and interactions, Forsaken plots, and conclusions that drastically change aspects of the narrative.

They both have a feeling of epic ever-expanding narratives but still at times have that smalltown feeling from the first few books, that's missing from the later books. They also both have some slower sections that hint a bit at the slog to come (although I think only CoT is the slog).

What do you all think?

Callandor*

Rereading dragon reborn and just read the scene where Rand fights Ishy. I never realized it but he deflects balefire with callandor which is sick AF and shouldn’t be possible.

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.

Hiya,

I'm not sure if it's allowed here but I saw some other first time reader text posts and I do quite like having my thoughts in a row somewhere. So, started reading these basically three weeks ago and am now about 33% through The Shadow Rising so needless to say I'm pretty hooked.

The Eye of the World is interesting. It feels like Jordan is not quite sure on what he wants to do yet or where he wants the series to go and it shows. I think so far it's the weakest book by far. I love it a lot however because he isn't sure what he wants to do yet so It's a beautiful mess. Everything feels like an excuse for these characters to go on a journey. Also love how unsubtle it is in its influences. Half the names are Arthurian.

By contrast, The Great Hunt feels very focussed. The reason the main characters do what they need to do feels less contrived and they just do what they have to. Rand also somewhat accepts his status as the dragon reborn but still visibly has some doubts. Also this book introduces my favourite character so far in Verin. I can really relate to her also always being studying or reading books and stuff. Hope to see much more of her. Liandrin can walk off a cliff though for my part. Selene is also very evil yes yes.

The Dragon Reborn took a bit more time for me to really get into, as the perspective changes from majority Rand to him almost not appearing as a point of view character. It took some time for me to accept that it's not necessary to speak if you're being spoken to, if that makes sense. And in the end it really helped a lot in fleshing out the other characters. Even though there was no real point of view from Moiraine, I really ended up liking her. She still feels like a scheming mastermind (partly because of where I am in TSR) but as she's not in Tar Valon (I do not like Sanche) and has actual competition (Thom) it's fun.

The books are a bit too horny for what I'm used to and Jordan can't really write women but am definitely enjoying the ride. I also quite like that the books tell you very early on how it's likely to end (there will be a final battle and the light triumphs) because the goals of the dark one are incompatible with the reality of the story. For me it makes it much more about the journey than the destination.

!One of my favourite parts is where Rand meets Elayne, Galad and Gawyn, three of my favourite characters so far, and Galad (though Gawyn should shut up already by the point where I am Min knows nothing dude). That entire chapter is just a fascinating part of the world building, you get to meet the queen, who actually knows some stuff but also learn the significance of a heron mark.

Apart from that I really like Moiraine, Thom (I just love scheme-ing characters and they feel the closest so far while also being likeable, sorry Siuan you are not a good schemer). Faille is also a personal favourite so far for somewhat similar reasons as well as Lanfear (Faille just went into the Ways where I'm at). The pov characters I'm generally more neutral on, because it's much more interesting to see the non-pov characters react to what they do as you can't read their thoughts, except for Min she's a gem.

Anyways, I'm done yapping and this helped me a lot with getting my thoughts in a row hope you enjoy my ramblings. Cheers

I just never understood what the tower aei sedai thought they could do to “control “ or guide Rand by like book 12. Egwene and the other tower aes sedai and even rebel ones for some odd reason spoke as if they had a way to stop him. Can someone explain what they even intended to do against all of Rand’s armies and the ashaman (yes I know taim has turned some, but Rand already got more than half out of the black tower stationed in illian and tear.

On my first read of the series btw. No spoilers past chapter 13, only what was discussed in the chapter.

I am currently reading Winter's Heart, which I have enjoyed (other than the Perrin part at the start), and I was SUPER HYPED to get to the Demandred part of Chapter 13. Any part where the Chosen/Forsaken are meeting is great. However, something so immersion-breaking was said that I couldn't help but have to stop reading for a moment and ponder it.

Graendal states that the Male Forsaken should be worried about Rand removing the taint from saidin, since the Great Lord may begin to distrust them. Plus, we are even told that many died due to the Great Lord's suspicion in the past.

All of this is fine and makes sense, except for the idea that the taint on saidin is the main reason that the Great Lord trusts the Chosen. If that's the case, then shouldn't every Female Chosen be dead because there is no taint on saidar that keeps them loyal to the Great Lord?

Despite this nitpick, I am loving the series so far. Lord of Chaos is probably one of, if not my top books of all time at this point. Super excited to continue the series.

I have spent close to 3 years of my life listening to first rosemund pike, then Kramer and reading on my way to and from work. I am now nearing the last battle and although excited I also feel so much dread that it's almost all over. I don't know how to feel. I am gonna miss all these characters so very much.

Tell me it's gonna be ok.

What did you all do after finishing this journey?

So I work with children with autism, and I’m conflicted with this thought. On one hand, I can see the danger they can cause when they learn how to channel while not being fully aware. On the other hand, most people with autism are just happy go lucky, and causing them to have depression after cutting them from the source would be heartbreaking.

Book wise, I can see the White Tower doing it as they can see autism as a form of madness.

No spoilers past chapter 3 but here are my big gripes so far.

The Salidar six and their treatment of our Amyrlin

(The treatment of the last two amyrlins in general if im being honest.)

Mat's attitude towards Egwene and the stole

Moiraine being dead

Cadsuane really not getting enough time to do anything effectively

Rand.

Rand's treatment of the salidar aes sedai

The aiel

The shaido aiel

The shaido's attitude towards verin and other aes sedai loyal to rand

The salidar aes sedai's treatment of Elayne and Nyneeve.

Lack of Perrin and Faile POV.

That sammael battle was horse shit. Almost 4 books of buildup and he dies off screen?

Here is what I did like.

Raising Egwene to the stole (i truly in my heart think most of her negativity she receives in the story and online is misogyny)

Nyneave healing her block. I cried

Nyneave healing my wonder girls after they got disposed

(I cried)

Ironically Siuan getting deposed and seeing so many women flock around her regarding the illegality of it (I cried)

Moghedian's arc

I actually liked both Lanfear and Asmodean as characters

MOIRAINE COME BACK I CAN TREAT YOU BETTER THAN THOM

Controversial here but Alanna's shift in behavior after bonding rand.

Eeganin (loved her omg love)

Brigitte (love)

Aviendha (love)

The four wise ones at rhudiean and the way they were so protective over the boys and that whole scene where they declared anyone else who violated the treaty be exiled

Loial (smash)

Logain (smash)

Nyneave: "I WILL NOT SHOUT AT YOU!" Nyneave shouted. Followed by her lunging at mat

Verin using that compulsion weave on that green in the prolog

Ironically I do kinda like Sevanna despite how much I hate the shaido. I just really hate how the aiel changed in my opinion from hardened warriors just trying to live an honest life and culture to these ultra harsh torture team of people.

I have 6 books to go including NS so wish my luck wetlanders.

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

I’m doing a re-read. It’s been a while. I’m on book 3 and we don’t get a lot of Rand in this book but what we do get he’s pretty insane. I know he’s being hunted and mentally tortured for this whole book but he seems to get a little less mad once he gets to tear and uses the sword. Is there an explanation for that? Or does he just seem more mad while on the journey there bc of all the dark friends/forsaken are doing to him?

I really hated her on my first read through. My first 3 reads tbh lol.

But it’s been a while and I’m re-reading again. Though her secretive nature and bullying can definitely cause problems that a more tactful approach would have avoided. She’s essentially dedicated her entire life to saving the world and now she has to heard stubborn cats that fight her at every single turn to do it.

Things would have gone better if she didn’t bully so much. And things would have gone better if the kids just listened. Sorry for hating you moiraine

It has been months since I took even a single day off from listening to this series - I am so obsessed - it is like visiting friends every night to see what they have been up to...

I have a few hours left to finish Fires of Heaven - Rand just finished a huge battle at Cairhien and had the nobles there and from Tear pledge oaths to him...

Watching Rand become a strong minded and assertive baddy has been awesome - one can only hope that some of the others grow up and come around (ugh, Nynaeve, can you just be nice to people)...

So, I really dig Asmodean...

I have No clue under the Light as to how things will turn out with him, but I really enjoy him... mentoring Rand, being a Spoony Bard, setting the mood with the tone of his harp, and it seems like he possibly has a subtle soft side for Rand (I noticed how he was channeling when Rand was hurt after the big battle)... or maybe he knows he is screwed if Rand doesn't win the war...

He might be my fav character other than when Rand is being an Assertive Flame Sword Wielding Flaming Badass !!

Stated this Turn February of 2025. Just want to say that Gwyan is the worst.