Long time no see everyone!! Sooo sorry but I've been very busy. I finished ToM a few weeks ago actually but I haven't been able to scrape together time to come here and talk about it! Almost forgot about this thread! Happy to see I've still got some loyal followers. Okay here we go....
Wow I loved this book! Brandon has done such a great job of continuing this story faithfully while at the same time incorporating his own style into the book! I've been to some of the forums at Dragonmount and some of the RJ die hards dislike Brandon's style as they feel he's made the characters too "agreeable" with eachother. I kind of like this though, because the constant bickering and infighting got really old. These people are out to save the world and they argue over some of the stupidest things. I think it's very important for the progression of the story that the characters start to compromise with eachother more (Rand and Cadsuane, Mat and the Aes Sedai etc.)
I enjoy Brandon's pacing a lot more than RJ's also. Don't get me wrong, I've truly enjoyed all these book up until now, it's just that RJ's tendency to go on and on about peoples clothing in paragraphs that were way too long gave me a headache sometimes. On the flip side there are a few things from RJ's style that I miss. For example, the Aes Sedai don't seem as big of an authority as they once were. Seems like their brick wall of pride has been taken down a notch, specifically Cadsuane. Before BS took over she was absolutely unshakeable. Everything she said was 100% right and she never displayed too many human emotions like surprise or uncertainty. That gave her an air of invincibility and wisdom that it was comforting when she was around. That's not there as much anymore, but I still like her.
Onto the book!
-First off, I did not pick up the hint that Graendal killed Asmodean. Not until reading the forums afterwards did I see that. At least that's solved!! FINALLY lol. Although it is a bit anti climactic, I'd still be interested to know why exactly she did it. Yes he betrayed them, kind of, but Graendal doesn't seem like the type to go personally assassinate someone. And nobody felt a female channeling when she did this?? Anyway, it was good to see her alive as I was hoping her ambiguous "death" in TGS wasn't the last we've heard of her. But ooooh, she's in a wee bit of trouble now!!
-Pardon my French, but I thought it was pretty badass of Rand to walk right into the White Tower without a drop of fear and announce he was going to break the seals. I honestly don't know why he'd do that though. Wouldn't the Dark One be immediately released once they're all broken?? Shouldn't he wait until EVERYONE was right in front of Shayol Ghul to do that?? Anyways, I like the new Rand. After his big change at the end of TGS I've been looking forward to having Rand who wasn't crazy and hearing voices but was instead of sound mind, in touch with his emotions but in control of them, and ready to strike the final blow. I wished there was more of him in this book, he kind of took a back seat to everyone else. Would also have liked to have seen him in action more. But I'm sure there will be plenty of that in the next book. The scene in Maradon was VERY cool. Everything leading up to it also.
-The whole storyline with Perrin and his army ALMOST battling Galad and the Whitecloaks at first went on too long. I really thought it was going to happen and that it would be such a waste of valuable fighters from either side. I was glad they came to a conlusion, and the whole trial thing didn't go on too long at all. I was finally glad to see Morgase's secret revealed and her reunited with her son. (I've been waiting for that to happen! lol) Thankfully they have reluctantly joined forces and will fight side by side at the Last Battle.
-The whole section of the book dealing with Egwene and the Aes Sedai, Wise Ones, Windfinders vs. Mesaana and Black Ajah/ Perrin vs. Slayer/ Gawyn vs. Blood Knives left me breathless!! Hooooly crap that was awesome. Kudos to BS for putting that together so well!! Where do I start?!? lol
1) I'd been waiting to see Mesaana in action. This was all very well done. The battle with the Black Ajah was great as Egwene showed her superiority in Telarinriohd ( bad spelling I know) Although it looks like Perrin could teach her a thing or two about dream world powers. I laughed when he said "They're just weaves, Egwene." And brushed them off. But I digress. I've been waiting for Katerine to get hers btw. The whole switcheroo fake out with her and Mesaana surprised me. But Egwene really owned this scene when she broke Mesaana's mind like that! Awesome. Come to find out she was Danelle in the White Tower all along. Never guessed it, but over at the WOT FAQ I guess Danelle had been a popular choice. How am I suppose to guess?! There's so many characters in these books! lol Those people go over these books with a fine tooth comb for God's sake!
2) Perrin's battle with Slayer was everything I wanted it to be. R.I.P. Hopper.... very sad. The whole game with the dreamspike and hopping as far as the dome would allow made for some really good action. Perrin has really developed his powers in the dream world, but I still feel he was overmatched by Slayer. I'm not sure exactly who Slayer is and what his deal is. I know his name is Isam and it's revealed he works specifically for Graendal (although who will he work for now???) How did he get to be so powerful in the dream world and why does he spend so much time there?? Well, he is still alive and I eagerly await the next time him and Perrin do battle.
3) I really liked the Blood Knives (have they been in any other book??) I honestly thought Gawyn was toast there for a moment but he really showed warrior spirit and cunning by making the room dark and basically fighting sounds. He took their advantage away, although their advantage turned out to be terengal rings they were wearing. He has three now, and I wonder where that plotline will go. Happy to see him and Egwene finally together!!
-Now Mat (still my favorite character all along) sure had a hell of a lot to do in this book! Hell he made the cover!! lol First off, I'll say his decision to face the gholam was one that made me jump out of my seat. I always knew he'd have to do it but I never knew how he'd actually defeat the gholam. The fight scene was brilliant, surrounding the two with lamps and Mat's true anger at the creature. Very exciting, and arguably one of the most terrible deaths imaginable. (Being an immortal creature.... falling in a void forever?? that sucks dude) I've been enjoying additions to Mat's character that are clearly BS hallmarks (tipping his hat in certain scenes... a few lines of dialogue I know came from Brandon)
Tower of Ghenjei sequence was the 2nd biggest highlight of the book (the first is listed above) How great it was to see Moiraine again. I honestly missed her. She was such a driving force in the early books. She was their Gandalf. God it seems so long ago she disappeared... Fires of Heaven was it?? I very much look forward to seeing the other characters reactions to her return. Specifically Rand and Lan. My guess is that she is one of the ones who has to wield Callandor with Rand. From what I've read on the internet that's a popular assessment.
Poor Mat. He got his eyeball ripped out!! Half the light of the world. I never put it together. I typically avoided WOT forums in the past other than this one, but from what I've read recently that was something many people were expecting! Yikes those Aalfinn and Ealfinns are creepy. That was a hell of an action scene. Noal as Jain Farstrider...again something that the WOT fanatics picked up on earlier that I never did until it was revealed in the book! But I suppose that's the best way!! Now I'm curious, Lanfear came through with Moiraine also. I imagine they both continued their battle until the snakes and foxes imprisoned them or captured them somehow. It was said that Lanfear was killed because they fed off of her too much. But in the book it says someone came and got her.... or her body. I imagine this to be Moridin. But how did he get there?? Why didn't the snakes and foxes capture him?? Does the Dark One have power over them?? Or some kind of truce?? This left me a little confused!
-Props to Elayne in her scene with the Black Ajah. Everything from disguising herself as Mesaana to the fight with all of them was very exciting. This is a prime example of taking a character you never expected to be in the action.....but then you put her there. She's pregnant with twins and is now queen so I just expected all her scenes to be political mumbo jumbo and filler. This was interesting to me and kind of gave me a sense that all the balls are in the air and nobody is safe.
-Where/who is Demadred?? I don't even recall him being in any of the books. I thought he was Taim, but from what I've read online RJ said that's not true. I'm only left to believe he is someone in the Seanchan hierarchy.
-Where is Loial?? I miss that guy. I don't even remember where he went!
-Padan Fain..... oooh I can't wait for you to get yours pal. I don't know yet who's going to give it to you! lol
-Moghedian and Cyndane/Lanfear.... are they relegated to just standing besides Moridin whenever he appears anywhere?? Hopefully they have a more expanded role in the next book. The next book will be the last book so I'd say it's time to let them loose!! I'm sure Graendal will wind up mindtrapped too.
Whew!! My hands hurt again!! I know I haven't covered all the bases as there was a lot that happened in this book and even the things I addressed were very much shortened versions of what happened. Overall I will say that I was very happy with this book! My real only complaint is that I have to wait another year for the next and final volume! They wrapped up a lot of plot lines in this book but I am anxious for a few more to be wrapped up. I want to see Moiraine reunited with all the old characters and to see what her part is to play in the Last Battle. Mostly I just want to see the last battle!! lol I've been through 13 books to get here so it better not be just a chapter or two!!!
Thank you guys for keeping this thread alive. I eagerly await responses from my regulars, especially douglas and mtbikemom. I know there's plenty more to discuss and I would love to hear your angles on things....... or just the entire book in general. Being long time fans, what is your impression of Brandon's continuation of the story. I mean there are clear differences between his and RJ's style, but what are the positives/negatives to this in your opinion?? I would be very interested to know.
Thank you again for keeping this thread alive. Hope you guys had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Years!! Talk to you soon! Yes I'm back! I'll try to make more time to visit and interact with the posters here!!!