Ah, I had written a long reply in some other forum... And, yes, I registered so I can reply to this thread
I hope I don't come out as a spammer - I really do have a lot to say about the book
The book was really awesome. I am easily placing it on par with the first Wheel of Time books - the ones the entire WoT community agrees were the best ones. The setting is definitely darker, something I am starting to identify as Sanderson's style, but the original WoT feeling is still strong - the men are still
wool-headed, the women are still
flaming One thing I noticed - despite the fact that we have the standard viewpoint characters, only few of them actually have developing story lines. Rand changes a lot (I'll talk about him specifically below), but even though Mat and Perrin travel quite a bit themselves, there is no real change in their characters. There is a conflict brewing in Perrin, and there is something about Mat becoming... what was it, husbandry? But that was all from them... Much like Nynaeve, Suian, and even Tuon (Fortuona, anyone?). Yes, there was some action, but... not really.
Now, let's talk Rand. OMGWTFBBQ! I felt so... so... so
excited when he touched the True Power. Vengeance incarnate, ladies and gentlemen, vengeance incarnate. The reference how he had leveled up from steel to
cuendillar felt a little weird, but I get the point. Sanderson definitely did an awesome job making me hate on of the characters I previously loved so much - which was supposed to happen, of course, otherwise the ending wouldn't be as good as it is. But back to Rand's hardness - I was scared for the boy. The decisions he started making, the fear he instilled, the ruthlessness that started to show up, and the brutal coldness were all very interesting shifts in character. Yes, he was rough before, but after that encounter with Semirhage things just started to get plain scary.
One thing I loved about this change though - Lews Therin. Telamon has always been my number one favorite character in the series, despite the fact that he is... a little dead. Seeing more of his sane part, seeing him think of himself as "we" now, and seeing Rand use the occasional "us" instead of "me" were all indication that there is a merge in personalities between the two - thereby fulfilling Min's vision from a few books back. Lews Therin growing more sane, Rand going more insane; Lews Therin reacting to events from Rand's life (how he added
Elmindreda Farshaw and
Ilyena Therin Moerelle to Rand's list, how they discussed the Dark One's imprisonment...), and Rand starting to actually feel, instead of just remember events from Lews Therin's life (the palace, Ilyena, referring to Moridin as Elan, ...) - brilliant.
And going even further down the path - the moment when Rand destroyed Graendal. Intense. I expected him to do something like this, but seeing it happen, and how he shrugged it off - gives you the shivers.
And, of course, the ending. How he almost killed Tam, how he couldn't bring himself to destroy the Seanchan, and the contemplations on the top of the Dragonmount. I must admit, I was worried all the way until Lews Therin said "
Why? Could it be... so that we can have a second chance." That's when I knew almost with certainty that there will be redemption for Rand. I was half hoping the last chapter will be Rand Traveling to Tear or Caemlyn, rushing into the room where Min/Elayne was, and just hugging her tight, laughing genuinely all along. For the sheer surprise of him doing something that would've been so out-of-character a few chapters ago.
[Other users' replies]
Rand slaying Moridin makes too much sense, it is too logical to be the answer
The two women to complete Rand's circle... Yea, we have quite a few to choose from. Elayne, Avhienda, Egwene, Moiraine. I am not sure how Rand will feel about Aes Sedai in the next book - his distrust came from his paranoia that everybody wants to control him. I have a feeling he won't be the same ass after his revelations at the end. Maybe, just maybe, this aspect of him will change too...
Now, the note Verin left to Mat - and many others, I would guess - baffle me. I didn't pay attention to how much had passed after their meeting and Verin's death, but the Brown sounded like she planned to come back. It didn't look like she intended to waste much time in the place she was going to visit. Of course, the author could have deceived us easily, or Verin could have not known about how things would go in the White Tower, but something still bugs me about the whole story. As far as the action letter goes, I haven't a single idea. It's a set of instructions, telling Mat to do... what? Go somewhere? Meet with Rand ASAP? Find Perrin? Those are somewhat obvious, so I'll rule them out. It probably has to do with the Black Ajah/Forsaken, and maybe a plot against Mat. We'll see, and I think we'll be surprised.
Asmodean... as I mentioned in the previous thread, I think Brandon knows who killed him. And knowing Jordan, we'll probably learn too... very close to the end of Memory of Light.
[In response to a reply that mentioned ToM's status bar indicating 70%] Brandon can write fast. I've been keeping an eye on the progress bar, and he's moved 15-20% in the last month. I think we can expect Towers of Midnight sometime next Spring. Summer at latest.
Egwene's story line was intriguing to me as well. I think she handled the situations well, and grew quite a bit as a character. I only wish Elaida had performed better - her downfall from the last...2-3 books has been tremendous. Unreal even. I just can't imagine how Elaida from the first few books, that strong, emotionless and regal woman could turn into this... child, throwing tantrums, and not being able to neither think, nor reason. I hope we get to see more from her, even captured by the Seanchan. Maybe a heroic rescue?
[More users' replies]
It seems likely that Mat will be the instrument of peace-forging between Rand's empire and Seanchan. I hadn't thought of that, although it's fairly intuitive.
I don't think Perrin is with Rand. Verin had no reasons to drag him along too, and I don't think he would abandon his army. And there was indication than an entire army has arrived in the city, so it's safe to assume that he is still traveling normally.
Rand and the True Power... I am not sure how I feel about that. Or what I think. Rand wasn't quite sure what he was accessing - it looked like he knew, but completely ignored the consequences of it. But now that there is no longer distinction between him and Lews Therin, I think he'll be careful using it; after all Lews Therin was feeling stabs of panic every time Rand would even think about this Source.
As for the saa and who can touch this Power, it looked like Rand just seized the power. It might have been given to him by the Dark One in an attempt to tempt him and then break him (which nearly happened), but it looked like he just took it. If this is correct, then the Dark One, in a way, tells the Forsaken how to access the True Power, and is usually not mad at them if they use it. But Rand didn't need neither permission, nor guidance - he just grabbed it. So this event is either a very interesting plan of the Dark One, or a huge hindrance for him.
Also, about Moridin - he sounded tired in the dream. If Rand was more civil, the two would really like old friends chatting before the fireplace. I wonder what such unwillingness to destroy Lews Therin implies...
[And even more replies]
Here's a thought about Seanchan. Rand saw that the people in his empire are unhappy. He also saw the the lands ruled by the Seanchan prosper. We know that he has to kneel before the Crystal Throne. I am starting to think that he will give up control in his lands - fulfilling the prophecy - and focus on his own battles against the Forsaken and the Shadow. Hopefully go and save Lan's ass.
