Update guys!
I finished The Dragon Reborn this morning. Awesome! Simply awesome! I liked it just as much as I liked the Great Hunt. Even though I didn't feel the story evolved a WHOLE lot, it had a great ending. I find myself really starting to care for these characters, especially Perrin. I know you all say this one is Mat's time to shine...and yes that's true.....I already liked Mat to begin with. Perrin was almost the whole first half of the book. Finding out more and more about being a wolfbrother is REALLY cool. I certainly was taking his side in his arguments with Moiraine and Lan. By the way, Moiraine was a real witch with a capital B in this book if you know what I mean. I understand she has serious responsibilities and Aes Sedai reputation to uphold.....but jeez lady lighten up. I like her most of the time....but why be so flippant and coy with Perrin and the others? It might have been because Perrin walked in on her naked....lol maybe.
Nyneave, Elayne, and Egwene's stories are becoming more interesting every time it switches to their viewpoint. I'm really starting to enjoy the back and forth between the three. It was GREAT to have Thom back in with the gang, and I thought he and Mat made a great team. Yes, Mat really did come into his own in this book. The scene where he whoops Gawyn and Galad with his quarterstaff had me smiling ear to ear!! Zarine was a welcome addition to the book (though I didn't feel that way at first) I REALLY like learning more about the Aeil. Most of all I liked was the ending. I was glad to see the characters all in the same place and it was a great battle with Rand finally getting Callandor. When he was chasing Ba'alzamon through dimensions was probably THE highlight of the book. Great resolution. Dying to know what happens next.
My complaints are few. The main one is.......Rand. He was not in this book very much, and when he was he was acting wierd the whole time. You mostly heard of him from Moiraine examining how he affected the lives of people from the towns he went through. All second and third hand information. I was happy to see him come through at the end but it was a long time coming. I suppose it was so other characters stories could be fleshed out.
Plus, like I said before, it is really frustrating to read Moiraine being so mean to Perrin. I like her but she was not forthcoming at all in this book. She doesn't seem sympathetic to what he's going through, or any of them for that matter. She almost seems annoyed that she has to deal with them. I think that's unfair. Oh well, Nyneave hates her and I have a feeling that those two will come to a head sometime soon. THAT I'd like to see. The two most b*tchy characters in the books hate eachother. Aes Seidai cat fight.......something I'd like to see.....from about a mile away.
Well, I am off to get my copy of Shadow Rising. I'm excited because so many of you have said it is your favorite book of the series. Thanks again for reading guys!! I appreciate it. I'll keep you updated. I'm very happy to be one of the WOT fans now, after looking in from the outside for so long! lol Later!
-Joe