New Spring by Robert Jordan is a prequel to the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
New Spring by Robert Jordan is the prequel to The Wheel of Time series. The novel shows the prophecy of the birth of the Dragon Reborn which drove Moiraine to seek the Dragon Reborn. It also shows how Moraine and Lan meet and join forces. And it sets up the events before the first book of the series, The Eye of the World. Will Moiraine find the Dragon Reborn before the Minions of the Dark One find him and save him to defeat the Dark One in the Final Battle?
Summary – Prologue
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Summary–Groups of characters
Inset summary here
Summary–Best Plot Points
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Recommendation
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Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of New Spring by Robert Jordan.
This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?
This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?
This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?
This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?
Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan, Book Eight of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan is the eighth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows four main plot arcs. Elayne, with the help of the Kin and the Sea Folk, seeks to use the Bowl of the Winds to stop the hot weather created by the Forsaken. Perrin and Faile seek to bring the Prophet back to Rand in Cairhein. Egwene seeks to bring her army to Tar Valon. Rand fights the Seanchan near Ebou Dar and talks with Min in Cairhein. When Rand fights the Seanchan, will they defeat him, or will he win across the Path of Daggers?
Summary – Prologue
The prologue has three point-of-view characters, and each point of view sets up a plot arc.
Queen Ethenielle of Kandor is the first viewpoint character in the prologue. She attends a meeting of the four leaders of the Borderland kingdoms. The other leaders are Queen Tenobia of Saldea, King Paitar of Arafel, and King Easar of Shienar. They want to meet the Dragon Reborn and decide if they want to follow him.
Verin Mathwin is the second viewpoint character. She finishes up the plot of the aftermath of what happened at the end of the last book at Dumai Wells.
Moridin of the Forsaken (Chosen by their reckoning) plots against Rand, the Dragon Reborn.
Summary–Groups of characters
Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan has four main plots.
Elayne, Aviendha, and Brigitte are in Ebou Dar. They plan to use the Bowl of the Winds to cancel the heat wave that the Forsaken has unleashed on the land. They have the Kin and the Sea Folk help them. The Seanchan invade Ebou Dar and compromise their escape.
Perrin brings the army Rand has given to him to Ghealdan looking for Masema, the Prophet of the Dragon. The army is made up of the Winged Guards of Mayene, Aiel, and the people of the Two Rivers. Rand wants Perrin to bring Masema back to him in Cairhein. Perrin tries to convince Masema to come with him and Faile has other ideas.
Egwene seeks to bring her army to siege and capture Tar Valon. Her army is in Murandy. She must negotiate with the nobles of Murandy, build up her army’s strength, and find a way through Andor to achieve her objective.
Rand prepares his army in Ilian to stop a potential Seanchan invasion from Ebou Dar. He fights the Seanchan and must live with the aftermath of the battle.
Summary–Best Plot Points
Three Plot Points stand out in Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.
Chapter 6, Threads is the chapter where the Bowl of the Winds plotline resolves.
Chapter 23, Fog of War, Storm of Battle, and Chapter 24, A Time for Iron detail the battle between Rand’s army and the Seanchan. The multiple viewpoints in these chapters show the complications caused by the fog of war.
Chapter 26, The Extra Bit covers two initiatives of Elaida of the White Tower. First is the effort of a group of Aes Sedai to uncover the Black Ajah at the White Tower. Second is the group sent to defeat The Black Tower, the home of the Asha’man, men who can channel.
Recommendation
Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan has some brilliant scenes but misses conclusions to the plot arcs explored.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.
This is the link to my review of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?
This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?
Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan, Book Seven of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan is the seventh book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows nine main points of view and many short alternate points of view. The prologue deals with the aftermath of the situation at Dumai Wells from the ending of the previous novel, The Lord of Chaos. Perrin observes Rand at Dumai Wells and accompanies him back to Cairhein and they meet up with Min. Egwene takes her rebel Aes Sedai forces toward Caemlyn on their way to besiege Tar Valon. Nynaeve, Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat search for the Bowl of the Winds in Ebor Dar. Morgase learns more about the situation with the Children of Light. When Rand forces the hand of one of the Forsaken, will the Forsaken defeat him or will he earn a Crown of Swords?
Summary – Prologue
The prologue of the novel covers six different points of view.
Elaida is in Tar Valon. She gets reports about Rand’s situation and the situation in Ebou Dar. She sends Alviarin to enact her plan to deal with the Black Tower. Eladia thinks about how she will break Egwene’s army.
Sevanna of the Shaido clan of the Aiel is at Dumai Wells during the events from the end of the previous novel. This is an alternate viewpoint and flashback scene.
Alviaran leaves Elaida in Tar Valon and confers with Mesaana, the Forsaken. They talk about the Black Tower plan’s likelihood of success.
Pedran Niall of the Whitecloaks is in Amador with Morgase Trakand. She is trying to get his backing for Andor. Omerna arrives and Morgase leaves.
Eamon Vlada of the Whitecloaks is also in Amador. He puts plans in motion.
Gawyn Trakand is also at Dumai Wells and gives an alternate viewpoint to the White Tower Loyalists. He leads his group of Younglings in the retreat back to Tar Valon.
Summary–Groups of characters
Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan follows five plot arcs.
Perrin comes back from Dumai Wells and goes to Cairhein to meet with Rand and Min. Perrin makes sure that Faile is alright. Rand has a special mission for Perrin.
Egwene brings her army that she wants to use to capture Tar Valon to the border between Altara and Murandy. She must find a way to gain strength and get through Murandy to get to Tar Valon.
Mat was sent to Enou Dar by Rand to get Elayne to go to Andor to take the throne of Andor. He is not very successful in that quest. He agrees to help Elayne and Nynaeve find a cache of powerful artifacts that may help the forces of Light in their battle with the darkness. Meanwhile, Mat must deal with the sexual advances of Queen Tylin of Altara.
Elayne and Nynaeve enlist the aid of the Kin and Matt to find the artifacts hidden in Ebou Dar.
Rand must deal with the situation in Cairhein. He comes up with a way to strike back at the Forsaken.
Summary–Best Plot Points
Three Plot Points stand out in Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan.
In Chapter 31, Mashiara, Lan, and Nynaeve have a long-delayed and important meeting.
Mat showcases his awesomeness in Chapter 38, Six Stories. An important artifact is found and a powerful enemy is encountered.
In the novel’s last chapter, Chapter 41, a Crown of Swords, Rand’s plans come to fruition. It’s worth the effort to get to this point and an iconic image is delivered at the end of the chapter.
Recommendation
Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan ends with a series of climaxes that match the other novels of the series. Three plot points stand out for me. Lan’s meeting with Nynaeve, what Mat finds in addition to the Bowl of the Winds, and Rand’s encounter with a Forsaken. There are two plot points I’m having trouble with. The Morgase subplot is short but takes up valuable space from the other plots. The relationship between Mat and Tylin seems icky at best. Otherwise, this novel fits well with the rest of the series for me.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan.
This is the link to my review of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time. Chaos reigns in the Westlands. They push Rand to the edge of insanity. Will he survive the box?
Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan is the fifth book of The Wheel of Time series. Four groups appear in the novel. Rand brings the Aiel clans out of the waste, looking for the false chief of chiefs, and Matt struggles to step out of Rand’s shadow. Nynaeve and Elayne try to avoid attracting the Black Ajah and the Forsaken. Min and Siuan search for the rebel Aes Sedai. Gareth Bryne tracks Min and Siuan down. When the Forsaken drive Rand to desperation, will he be able to control the Fires of Heaven at his disposal or destroy the world?
Summary
Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan follows four groups of characters, featuring Rand, Nynaeve, Min, and Gareth Bryne.
The first chapter of the book serves as a prologue, covering three different points of view of the antagonists of this novel.
Rand must track down the false chief of chiefs to establishing himself as the ruler of the Aiel. He brings the Aiel loyal to him out of the waste through the Jangai Pass leading to warfare in Cairhein. Moraine and Egwene face a dilemma involving the Forsaken. Matt tries to leave, but his Ta’veren power leads him to establish his destiny beyond Rand. Rand battles the Forsaken at Cairhein and is hard-pressed to bring down the Fires of Heaven on them when he travels to the realm of dreams, Tel’aran’rhiod.
Nynaeve and Elayne escape Tanchico and plan to report back to the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon, but are thwarted in their attempts. They travel through Amadicia on their way to Ghealdan. They join a circus, meet a prophet, and learn more about Tel’aran’rhiod. Their journey leads to the rebel Aes Sedai and a confrontation with a Forsaken.
Siuan Sanche and Min leave Tar Valon and search for the rebel Aes Sedai. On the way to Andor, they meet Gareth Bryan.
Gareth Bryan becomes enamored with Siuan and searches for her.
Rand’s group reaches their climax at Cairhien and the rest search for the rebel Aes Sedai.
Recommendation
Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan is a great novel, but something is missing compared to the previous novel, Shadow Rising. The best storyline from Shadow Rising was Perrin’s triumph in the Two Rivers. Perrin does not appear in this novel, and he is missed. The Rand and Matt storylines progressed well and their endings were satisfying. It seems like the rest of the storylines were slow going and setting up a big climax in the next novel. I wish something more had happened in this novel. The ending for Nynaeve was good, but a continuation of her interrupted ending for Shadow Rising. The stuff in between at the circus and Samara was interesting but could have been skipped.
The two best parts of the novel were Rand’s battle in Tel’aran’rhiod with a Forsaken and the crazy ending that readers are still debating about even after the end of the series. You will know what I’m talking about after reading one page of the last chapter, Chapter 56, Glowing Embers.
The first season of the Amazon Prime Video will adapt the first novel of the series in 2021. I will be interested to see how the showrunners adapt this novel in a few years.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan.
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan is the fourth book of The Wheel of Time series. Our heroes leave the city of Tear and split into groups. Min learns about the volatile situation at the White Tower of the Aes Sedai at Tar Valon. Perrin, Faile, and Loial travel to liberate Emond’s Field. Nyneave and Elayne follow the Black Ajah to Tanchico. Rand, Mat, and Egwene head to the Aiel Waste to confront their destinies. Can Rand learn enough about his powers in time to defeat the Shadow Rising?
Summary
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan begins soon after the Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan ended. Tear has been taken and Rand wields the sword that is not a sword, Callendor. The first chapter of the book serves as a prologue, covering four different points of view.
Chapter One starts with Min arriving at the White Tower of Tar Valon. During the Dragon Reborn novel, Moiraine sent Min to explain the events that occurred in Falme to Siuan Sache, the Amyrlin Seat, the leader of the Aes Sedai. This introduces the reader to one of the four main plots of this novel, the volatile political situation of the Aes Sedai.
Chapter One continues with short scenes introducing three of the opposition characters in this book. Elaida is from the Red Ajah of the Aes Sedai. She is located at the White Tower in Tar Valon. Dain Bornhald is a Whitecloak. He is at Taren Ferry in the Two Rivers near Emond’s Field. High Lady Suroth is a leader of the Seanchan. She regrouped the Seanchan at Cantorin Harbor after their defeat at Falme.
Three groups leave Tear at different times. Perrin, Faile, and Loial follow the Ways to liberate Emond’s Field from Shadowspawn and Whitecloaks We meet the citizens of Emond’s Field for the first time since book one. Nyneave and Elayne take a Sea Folk ship to get to Tanchico to search for the Black Ajah. They meet a Seanchan ship’s captain named Egeanin, who is different than she seems. Rand, Mat, and Egwene head to the Aiel Waste to confront their destinies.
The four stories each conclude, setting up the events for the next novel in the series, The Fires of Heaven.
Recommendation
Shadow Rising by Robert Jordon is a great novel, but it is different than the first three novels in the series. The first three novels all ended with most of the main characters achieving success together in a specific location. Eye of the World ended at the Eye of the World, The Great Hunt ended at Falme, and Dragon Reborn ended at Tear. This novel is like the breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. There are four groups followed in this novel and each group comes to a climax at the end of the novel, but they will remain apart to pursue their individual goals in the coming novels. That is disappointing but necessary to tell the greater story. This world is big and now the readers will see more of it by following multiple storylines.
There are two parts of this novel I thought were brilliant. The whole series of chapters about Perrin’s journey and struggle against the Shadowspawn and the Whitecloaks at Edmond’s Field come to a satisfying conclusion. Chapters 25 and 26 cover the Aiel Ancestor History Sequence. The stories were complicated and resonated.
The first season of the Amazon Prime Video will adapt the first two novels of the series in 2020 or 2021. I will be interested to see how they adapt this novel in a few years.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan.
Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book two of the Wheel of Time series.
Introduction
Great Hunt by Robert
Jordan is the second book of The Wheel of Time series. It follows Eye of the
World, the first book in the series. Someone stole the Horn of Valere. The
prophecy says they need the horn to summon the great heroes of the ages at the
last battle. Can Rand and his group retrieve it before the great enemy, Ba’alzamon,
disposes of it and their chance to defeat him in the last battle?
Summary
The Great Hunt begins with the
characters reflecting on the events of Eye of the World at the city of Fal
Dara. Rand trains with the sword with Lan. The Amyrlin Seat, the leader of the
Aes Sedai arrives in Fal Dara to access the situation. After someone steals the
horn, Agelmar, the Lord of Fal Dara, forms a group to retrieve it. The group is
lead by Ingtar and includes Rand, Mat, Perrin, Loial, and Ingtar’s soldiers.
Padan Fain, the thief and the leader of the Trollocs the group chases, is not
who he seems. They split the group up during their journey. Rand, Loial, and
one of Ingtar’s soldiers named Hurin overcome challenges. Rand must face his
destiny and Ba’alzamon’s lies.
Meanwhile, Moiraine, the Aes
Sedai the characters followed in Eye of the World, takes Egwene and Nynaeve to
the Aes Sedai city of Tar Volan to start their training to become Aes Sedai. Egwene
and Nynaeve learn at the White Tower in Tar Volan and become friends with Elayne
and Min.
The horn arrives in Falme, a
city on the western coast. The characters meet in Falme for the confrontation which
includes the Seanchan, a strange and violent people from across the sea, The
Children of the Light, a military order attempting to exterminate Darkfriends, and
Ba’alzamon. Rand proves his worth.
Recommendation
The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan is a great second novel to the Wheel of Time series. Jordan delivers the promise of the first book in the second. The novel could have suffered from becoming an episodic placeholder setting up the series conclusion but it does not. The two main storylines are strong. Their search for the horn and Rand’s journey of acceptance of his destiny flows well together. Egwene and Nynaeve’s training showcase the wider world and the use of the One Power. The two most important scenes in this novel are when Rand becomes the Dragon Reborn and the Seanchan capture Egwene. The Great Hunt sets up The Dragon Reborn, book 3 of the Wheel of Time. I am looking forward to watching the first season of the Amazon Prime Video adaption of the first two novels of the series in 2020.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan.
This is a link to the post from March 7, 2019, on an update on the current situation with the Wheel of Time Amazon Prime Video adaption from the Wertzone website.
Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, The Wheel of Time Book #1
Introduction
Rand and his father Tam are sheepherders near the village of Emond’s field. The Trollocs invade and threaten their world. Trollocs are minions of the Dark One. The Dark One longs to break out of his centuries-long imprisonment. The Dark One is threatened by three young men from Emond’s field, Rand and his two friends Matt and Perrin. Will they be killed by the Dark One’s minions or will they escape to the mythical city of Tar Valon?
Summary
Rand and his friends are helped by five people early in their journey to Tar Valon. Nynaeve, the Wisdom of Emond’s field, and her apprentice Egwene. A wisdom is a female healer and weather forecaster found in villages. The Aes Sedai, Moiraine and her Warder named Lan. The Aes Sedai are female magic users from Tar Valon who use the One Power to do their magic. The last helper is the gleeman, Thom Merrilin. Gleemen are traveling entertainers who are found infrequently in the villages. They try to avoid the Trollocs, their commanders called Myrddraal and other followers of the Dark One called Darkfriends. The group faces the dangers of Shadar Logoth and the Children of the Light. They are helped by Min, the Tinkers, the forest dweller and friend of wolves named Elyas Machera, and the Ogier Loial. The young men are named ta’veren, a person who the Wheel of Time revolves. The Wheel of Time is the pattern where the ages repeat again and again. They must find the Eye of the World to defeat the Dark One.
Recommendation
This novel is an epic that begins an epic series of fifteen books (fourteen novels and a short prequel novel). While inspired by the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, there is much more in this novel. Ran, Mat, and Perrin have different personalities and wants. The narrative pushes them to face the Dark One through dreams and increasing danger from his minions. The Dark One has an objective and a way to achieve it. This novel ends with a bigger world beckoning and a reluctant hero beginning to understand his place on the Wheel of Time. I have waited a long time to start this long journey of reading this series, but I am glad that I have chosen to start it now. This first book is great and I look forward to reading the last three novels which were completed by Brandon Sanderson, one of my current favorite authors. On to book number two, The Great Hunt.
Review of The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan. Rand searches for the Horn of Valere since he needs it for the Last Battle. Rand becomes the Dragon Reborn and Nynaeve learns how to use the One Power. Amazon Prime Video will adapt the first two novels of the series in 2020.
