RATING: FIVE STARS
Rumours still circulate that Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, has died, killed in his madness in the palace of Cairhien. Yet the man destined to stand against the Dark One in Tai'mon Gardon is no coward and his plans are in motion. Rand is beginning to realise that the Last Battle is coming and he doesn't have the time to unite the banners of the land behind him as one, yet he understands that he doesn't need to. The Seanchan are rolling through those lands he still needs, conquoring and bringing their lonesome lords to heel. If Rand can find the Daughter of the Nine Moons, he can forge an army of the likes the world hasn't seen since the legendary Artur Hawkwing.
Meanwhile, Matt is still on the run, desperate to get his prophised bride to safetly through lands that are crawling with the Seanchan, Egewene al'Vere remains captured by Elaida and the White Tower and Perrin . . . Perrin's plans to finally free Faile and rescue his wife are set. He means to free her from the Aiel or die trying . . .
The Good
The good news is that something actually happens in this book! As many of you know, I've been a little disappointed with the last few books in The Wheel of Time. Despite the fact that they're fairly heavy tomes, they did very little to carry the story forward and largely consisted of people walking around talking. Knife of Dreams finally remedies this and the various story arcs of its PoV characters are finally start to see some action and are developed in a meaningful way. This made the novel far more interesting than the others and I found some of the old WoT excitement that I felt at the start of the series rekindling! It's definitely an exciting book and hopefully, is setting a good premise for the series ending in the exciting, dramatic and epic fashion I once expected from Robert Jordan's writing!
The Bad
There are only a few minor things about this book that I didn't like, but none of them were major problems. The story was still a little slow in places, but that's usually something to be expected from a book of such length. Once again, Rand only has a few, fleeting appearances that left me a little disappointed, although the other characters in the series did get a lot more of a mention which was good.
Final Thoughts
Knife of Dreams is an excellent instalment of The Wheel of Time and does a lot to make up for the slow pace of the previous books by really advancing the plot. It reminded me of how the books used to be and provides promise for Jordan to follow this precedent for the conclusion of his epic saga!
Showing posts with label Robert Jordan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Jordan. Show all posts
Friday, 16 December 2016
Friday, 22 July 2016
Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan
RATING: THREE STARS
Elaine Trakand has yet to secure the Lion Throne and her rivals are moving about her, gathering allies and swaying major houses to support their claim. She is desperate to attain the throne that was her mother's, the throne that his hers by right. She is determined to win the Kingdom of Andor for herself and is still angry at Rand al'Thor for offering the throne to her. Elaine means to have it without his help, both from a sting of pride and from a desire not to be known as a queen who's in the pocket of the Lord of the Morning, the Dragon Reborn. The fact that she carries Rand's child is still a closely guarded secret and any that knew would find ways to use it against her. All of them, including her competitors, the agents of the Black Ajar she has sworn to hunt down and the Darkfriends that move in the deepest shades of secrets about her.
Meanwhile, Egwene al'Vere has problems of her own. She is still one of two who have declared for the Amrylin Seat and remains labelled as a rebel to the Aes Sedai. The White Tower is still broken, but Eqwene's war for her seat is coming to a head. With the help of her general, Lord Gareth Bryne, she has amassed a sizeable army. With the use of Travelling, a Skill still forgotten by Elaida's loyalists, Eqwene's army has laid siege to Tar Valon. Yet Egwene is loath to spill Aes Sedai blood and still hasn't moved. Her reluctance is beginning to be seen as weakness and, even within her own camp, there are those who are beginning to see her as a stooge-Amrylin once again . . . Time is short and Egwene knows she will lose all if she doesn't move soon.
The Good and the Bad
Once again Robert Jordan tells a story of epic proportions, one that is filled with magic and darkness. He was woven the threads of his story arcs together masterfully and simultaneously tells the tales of a number of his main protagonists. These stories are interesting, but once again their slow pace fails to carry the story forward much (which is why I have combined my customary 'good' and 'bad' headings into one for better discussion). Despite Crossroads of Twilight being another mammoth tome, very little actually happens in the book aside from talking and I was a bit disappointed when all of the characters and their storylines were in pretty much the same place at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. I can't help but think back to the epic climaxes I fell in love with in the earlier books in the series and I think that Jordan slowing the series pace down is largely responsible for my disappointment. For, despite my criticism, the book wasn't actually boring and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I just think it's time for him to pick up the pace a bit and get the story moving again.
The book barely mentioned Rand, who is arguably the centrepiece of the saga, who got one or two insignificant chapters at most towards the end. Matt and Perrin probably accomplished the most in the novel, yet their positions have still barely changed from when it begun. Likewise, little has happened to carry Elaine's and Egwene's struggle to secure their power and the Forsaken have dropped into the background, doing little at the moment that's worth mentioning . . .
I hope that the pace of the series picks up in the next instalment, which it logically should since the end is drawing ever closer! Because don't get me wrong, I'm still adamant that The Wheel of Time is a masterpiece of fantasy and Jordan has created something that's truly special. His characterisation remains as fantastic as ever, his world is still deeply populated with danger and mythology and he has created an iconic version of magic that works well for his story. It's just a shame that his pacing is letting him down and it's something he can very easily remedy . . .
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Crossroads of Twilight is a great read and, although I've only given it three stars, it should be born in mind that I'm comparing the novel to the previous books in The Wheel Time saga and it's still much better read than many other works of fantasy, especially with the wealth of world building Jordan has already sunk into the ten books I've read so far. The only thing that has let it down it the fact that pretty much nothing of consequence happens in almost a thousand pages, but his writing, character development and ability to describe impending doom are still as brilliant as ever.
Elaine Trakand has yet to secure the Lion Throne and her rivals are moving about her, gathering allies and swaying major houses to support their claim. She is desperate to attain the throne that was her mother's, the throne that his hers by right. She is determined to win the Kingdom of Andor for herself and is still angry at Rand al'Thor for offering the throne to her. Elaine means to have it without his help, both from a sting of pride and from a desire not to be known as a queen who's in the pocket of the Lord of the Morning, the Dragon Reborn. The fact that she carries Rand's child is still a closely guarded secret and any that knew would find ways to use it against her. All of them, including her competitors, the agents of the Black Ajar she has sworn to hunt down and the Darkfriends that move in the deepest shades of secrets about her.
Meanwhile, Egwene al'Vere has problems of her own. She is still one of two who have declared for the Amrylin Seat and remains labelled as a rebel to the Aes Sedai. The White Tower is still broken, but Eqwene's war for her seat is coming to a head. With the help of her general, Lord Gareth Bryne, she has amassed a sizeable army. With the use of Travelling, a Skill still forgotten by Elaida's loyalists, Eqwene's army has laid siege to Tar Valon. Yet Egwene is loath to spill Aes Sedai blood and still hasn't moved. Her reluctance is beginning to be seen as weakness and, even within her own camp, there are those who are beginning to see her as a stooge-Amrylin once again . . . Time is short and Egwene knows she will lose all if she doesn't move soon.
The Good and the Bad
Once again Robert Jordan tells a story of epic proportions, one that is filled with magic and darkness. He was woven the threads of his story arcs together masterfully and simultaneously tells the tales of a number of his main protagonists. These stories are interesting, but once again their slow pace fails to carry the story forward much (which is why I have combined my customary 'good' and 'bad' headings into one for better discussion). Despite Crossroads of Twilight being another mammoth tome, very little actually happens in the book aside from talking and I was a bit disappointed when all of the characters and their storylines were in pretty much the same place at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. I can't help but think back to the epic climaxes I fell in love with in the earlier books in the series and I think that Jordan slowing the series pace down is largely responsible for my disappointment. For, despite my criticism, the book wasn't actually boring and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I just think it's time for him to pick up the pace a bit and get the story moving again.
The book barely mentioned Rand, who is arguably the centrepiece of the saga, who got one or two insignificant chapters at most towards the end. Matt and Perrin probably accomplished the most in the novel, yet their positions have still barely changed from when it begun. Likewise, little has happened to carry Elaine's and Egwene's struggle to secure their power and the Forsaken have dropped into the background, doing little at the moment that's worth mentioning . . .
I hope that the pace of the series picks up in the next instalment, which it logically should since the end is drawing ever closer! Because don't get me wrong, I'm still adamant that The Wheel of Time is a masterpiece of fantasy and Jordan has created something that's truly special. His characterisation remains as fantastic as ever, his world is still deeply populated with danger and mythology and he has created an iconic version of magic that works well for his story. It's just a shame that his pacing is letting him down and it's something he can very easily remedy . . .
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Crossroads of Twilight is a great read and, although I've only given it three stars, it should be born in mind that I'm comparing the novel to the previous books in The Wheel Time saga and it's still much better read than many other works of fantasy, especially with the wealth of world building Jordan has already sunk into the ten books I've read so far. The only thing that has let it down it the fact that pretty much nothing of consequence happens in almost a thousand pages, but his writing, character development and ability to describe impending doom are still as brilliant as ever.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Winter's Heart - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Still reeling from the failed assassination attempt on his life, Rand al'Thor is forced to flee his cities. He has broken off all contact with the lords, armies and peoples that serve him, but he is the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, and does not run blindly. Rand is determined to destroy those that thought to destroy him in Cairhien and lures them into a city where one cannot channel. Many have forgotten that al'Thor carries the mark of heron on his sword--the sign of a blademaster--but Rand still remembers the weight of steel in his hand. What's more, he still remembers what it's like to use saidin without feeling the Dark One's taint through the eidolon of Lews Therin Telamon. Rand intends to purify the One Power once he has dealt with the would-be assassins, although he knows he will not be able to accomplish such a feat without finally learning to trust the Aes Sedai that follow him . . .
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga with the superb prose and incredible detail I have come to expect from his books. Winter's Heart introduces several new cities to the story and uses their unique characteristics to deepen the mythology of his world. I particularly liked his concept of a city that was warded against the One Power, meaning that magic could not be wielded there in the conventional manner. The growth in the abilities of the main protagonists has been immense over the series thus far and many of them are now far more powerful that the prominent villains. This has taken some of the 'danger' from the books and enemies that were once feared have been struck down with relative ease in the recent instalments. By negating magic for much of Rand's storyline, Jordan has managed to recreate the sense of danger in the story and Rand becomes as vulnerable as he was in the early books!
The pace of this book is also much faster than the last few in the series, which is a refreshing change to the slower (although still addictively immersing) plotlines. I really get the feeling the a lot is going to happen over the next few books from the way Winter's Heart ended and I doubt I'll be disappointed!
The Bad
There was nothing I didn't like about Winter's Heart and Jordan seems to have finally got back on top of the pacing of his stories!
My Thoughts
Overall, Winter's Heart is an excellent book and reinforced, as have the previous eight novels in the series, why The Wheel of Time is such a well-known and acclaimed saga. It contains everything a fantasy addict needs to fall in love with it and is a shining example of the epic fantasy genre as its very best. The book is well worth a read if it's just sat on your bookshelf and if you haven't begun reading The Wheel of Time yet, it's high time you get The Eye of the World and begin one of the most epic adventure's you'll ever read!
Still reeling from the failed assassination attempt on his life, Rand al'Thor is forced to flee his cities. He has broken off all contact with the lords, armies and peoples that serve him, but he is the Dragon Reborn, the Lord of the Morning, and does not run blindly. Rand is determined to destroy those that thought to destroy him in Cairhien and lures them into a city where one cannot channel. Many have forgotten that al'Thor carries the mark of heron on his sword--the sign of a blademaster--but Rand still remembers the weight of steel in his hand. What's more, he still remembers what it's like to use saidin without feeling the Dark One's taint through the eidolon of Lews Therin Telamon. Rand intends to purify the One Power once he has dealt with the would-be assassins, although he knows he will not be able to accomplish such a feat without finally learning to trust the Aes Sedai that follow him . . .
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga with the superb prose and incredible detail I have come to expect from his books. Winter's Heart introduces several new cities to the story and uses their unique characteristics to deepen the mythology of his world. I particularly liked his concept of a city that was warded against the One Power, meaning that magic could not be wielded there in the conventional manner. The growth in the abilities of the main protagonists has been immense over the series thus far and many of them are now far more powerful that the prominent villains. This has taken some of the 'danger' from the books and enemies that were once feared have been struck down with relative ease in the recent instalments. By negating magic for much of Rand's storyline, Jordan has managed to recreate the sense of danger in the story and Rand becomes as vulnerable as he was in the early books!
The pace of this book is also much faster than the last few in the series, which is a refreshing change to the slower (although still addictively immersing) plotlines. I really get the feeling the a lot is going to happen over the next few books from the way Winter's Heart ended and I doubt I'll be disappointed!
The Bad
There was nothing I didn't like about Winter's Heart and Jordan seems to have finally got back on top of the pacing of his stories!
My Thoughts
Overall, Winter's Heart is an excellent book and reinforced, as have the previous eight novels in the series, why The Wheel of Time is such a well-known and acclaimed saga. It contains everything a fantasy addict needs to fall in love with it and is a shining example of the epic fantasy genre as its very best. The book is well worth a read if it's just sat on your bookshelf and if you haven't begun reading The Wheel of Time yet, it's high time you get The Eye of the World and begin one of the most epic adventure's you'll ever read!
Sunday, 9 August 2015
The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, The Lord of the Morning, the storm prophesied to bring doom to the Dark One, to reseal him in the accursed prison Shayol Ghul. But he has grown arrogant and cold in his power. Gone is the carefree and modest boy he was when his life was that of a simple farmer, before Ishmael touched the world for the first time since the Age of Legends. He sheds no tears now and thinks nothing of dealing judgement and death. He is a ruler, wearing stolen crowns upon his brow. He is a general, leading vast armies that fight and die in his name. He is the Dragon Reborn; the world will both weep and rejoice at his passing.
Sitting upon the throne of Ilian, Rand seethes at the Seanchan invasion of Arad Doman. He has a war to prepare and can't continue to fight it on so many fronts. The Shaido Aiel are everywhere and are as insidious as ever. Many of the Forsaken still make their plans against him and the White Tower, even divided, is determined to use him. Too many fronts and too little time. So Rand decides to strike out at the Seanchan and drive them into the sea in a repeat of his victory at Falme. Legions of damane, shackled women who are powerful in the One Power, walk with them and Rand seeks another trump card should his Asha'man fail. He looks to use an artefact of legend to his advantage, not understanding its power or the strange illness that's afflicting all those who can touch the Source. He makes his first mistake, one that may shatter the Black Tower and breed him more enemies than allies. Worse still, the Bowl of Winds has been used. The unnatural long summer that has afflicted the lands has broken into storms and blizzards that leaves whole armies shivering in their wake. Winter is coming and the Dragon Reborn is more alone than ever . . .
The Good
Once again, Robert Jordan has created a seamless masterpiece of high fantasy. His world and characters are rich and detailed to the point where I'm beginning to understand his major protagonists as people. It's interesting how each character and faction have their own relatively selfish goals and dilemmas in their various storylines, which all work to defeat the Dark One, yet have very different mechanisms and outcomes. They work with Rand because it suits their end rather than blindly following him, which is redolent of real life where people work to benefit themselves as much as others and adds a real edge of realism to The Path of Daggers and Wheel of Time as a whole. With the notable exception of George R. R. Martin, this is something many authors overlook and fantasy protagonists are often simply just amazingly altruistic.
I also like how Jordan's been developing Rand's character throughout the series and just how much he has changed has become evident in this book. The events Rand has survived through, along with the burden of saving the world and fulfilling the Karaethon Cycle, have taken their toll. Add that to the insanity that stems from using saidin and nobody could remain the same, which creates one of the most fascinating and deepest layers of the story.
The Bad
Sadly, the last few books in The Wheel of Time have been following a trend where nothing much really happens for large parts of it. The Path of Daggers has fallen into the same pitfall and is predominately telling a story of people walking around and talking. Once again, it seems to be laying the ground work for future events rather than carrying the story forward itself. However, it's worth noting that the story picks up towards its end and I have the feeling that Jordan is going to break this mandate soon, allowing The Wheel of Time to grow as exciting and addictive as it was in its early books.
My Thoughts
The Path of Daggers is a fantastic read and don't let my criticism of it being slow put you off it or The Wheel of Time as a whole. Set against a stunning backdrop that even rivals New Zealand as Middle Earth, the book is full of epic struggle, betrayals, failure and success. It's got swords and battles and users of magic, being a masterful work of fantasy. I can't wait to continue the series with Winter's Heart, its ninth instalment, and can't stress enough how anyone who likes fantasy needs to begin their adventure into The Wheel of Time.
Monday, 30 March 2015
A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan
RATING: FIVE STARS
Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, is not a man to be trifled with as he grapples with madness and bears the weight of the world upon his shoulders. He has taken Tear, Cairhien and Andor, uniting their peoples and armies beneath his banners. Now he turns his attention to Illian and Sammael, the Forsaken who has taken up residence there. Rand has made his plans and it is time to for them to be put into motion. His armies of Aiel, knights, footsoldiers and Asha'man bear down on the city, either to their ruin of that of the forces of darkness , , ,
Even as Rand declares his latest war, Elayne of House Trakand continues her search for the Bowl of the Winds. The climate is only getting hotter and lands which should be seeing the first of winter's snows are arid and barren. Crops and forests are dying and, soon, the cities and free folk of the world will begin to starve. Along with Mat, Aviendha and Nynaeve, she continues her search for the relic in Arad Doman, a dangerous city that is ruled by knives and those skilled enough to wield them. But the city is on the coast and that itself brings other dangers. Eyes of ambition and conquest are turning there; the Seanchan are not defeated lightly.
The Good
Robert Jordan has continued to develop the tension from the previous book and he finally allows it to come to a head in A Crown of Swords. We get to read about Rand's plan to destroy Sammael and the break the hold he has over Illian in action! I think this has been a long time coming because Rand has spent the last few books holed up in the cities he had already taken. This did subtract from the excitement of The Wheel of Time a bit and it was nice to see the story pick up again!
Jordan has also begun to develop some of things that have only been mentioned so far, such as stasis boxes and the infamous gholam that even the Forsaken fear! He has introduced new characters of terrifying power that I think will help to heighten the danger of later books, mainly because the story's protagonists have become so powerful now that the Forsaken and Trollocks pose very little threat to them.
The Bad
Once again, I feel that the book was a little too long and it was very padded out with mundane matters that Jordan could have quite easily compressed without taking too much from the story. There are a lot of scenes where Rand is just stalking about one of his various palaces and the problems between Perrin and Faile and beginning to baffle me a bit since I can't really see where they are stemming from anymore, which has got slightly annoying! The story would have been faster and a bit more exciting without some of these scenes, but that's the only problem I had with the book really.
My Thoughts
Despite it's flaws, which aren't really major issues, A Crown of Swords is a superb book and Jordan has outdone himself once again! I found the book very difficult to put down and it was a real Godsend for some of the more boring physics lectures I was stuck in at university! I thoroughly recommend The Wheel of Time to any fan of epic fantasy and can't wait to continue the story in The Path of Daggers!
Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, is not a man to be trifled with as he grapples with madness and bears the weight of the world upon his shoulders. He has taken Tear, Cairhien and Andor, uniting their peoples and armies beneath his banners. Now he turns his attention to Illian and Sammael, the Forsaken who has taken up residence there. Rand has made his plans and it is time to for them to be put into motion. His armies of Aiel, knights, footsoldiers and Asha'man bear down on the city, either to their ruin of that of the forces of darkness , , ,
Even as Rand declares his latest war, Elayne of House Trakand continues her search for the Bowl of the Winds. The climate is only getting hotter and lands which should be seeing the first of winter's snows are arid and barren. Crops and forests are dying and, soon, the cities and free folk of the world will begin to starve. Along with Mat, Aviendha and Nynaeve, she continues her search for the relic in Arad Doman, a dangerous city that is ruled by knives and those skilled enough to wield them. But the city is on the coast and that itself brings other dangers. Eyes of ambition and conquest are turning there; the Seanchan are not defeated lightly.
The Good
Robert Jordan has continued to develop the tension from the previous book and he finally allows it to come to a head in A Crown of Swords. We get to read about Rand's plan to destroy Sammael and the break the hold he has over Illian in action! I think this has been a long time coming because Rand has spent the last few books holed up in the cities he had already taken. This did subtract from the excitement of The Wheel of Time a bit and it was nice to see the story pick up again!
Jordan has also begun to develop some of things that have only been mentioned so far, such as stasis boxes and the infamous gholam that even the Forsaken fear! He has introduced new characters of terrifying power that I think will help to heighten the danger of later books, mainly because the story's protagonists have become so powerful now that the Forsaken and Trollocks pose very little threat to them.
The Bad
Once again, I feel that the book was a little too long and it was very padded out with mundane matters that Jordan could have quite easily compressed without taking too much from the story. There are a lot of scenes where Rand is just stalking about one of his various palaces and the problems between Perrin and Faile and beginning to baffle me a bit since I can't really see where they are stemming from anymore, which has got slightly annoying! The story would have been faster and a bit more exciting without some of these scenes, but that's the only problem I had with the book really.
My Thoughts
Despite it's flaws, which aren't really major issues, A Crown of Swords is a superb book and Jordan has outdone himself once again! I found the book very difficult to put down and it was a real Godsend for some of the more boring physics lectures I was stuck in at university! I thoroughly recommend The Wheel of Time to any fan of epic fantasy and can't wait to continue the story in The Path of Daggers!
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
The White Tower of Tar Valon is broken and the Aes Sedai are divided. Two sets of eyes burning with saidar have turned to Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, who sits upon the Sun and Lion Thrones. Along with those of Tear, he has brought the lords and lady's of these great nations to heel and is determined to use their united force to destroy Sammael in the lair he has made of Illian. Thousands of Rand's Aiel are ready to die for him; a possibility they are going to have to confront as both factions of Aes Sedai try to win his favour and bind him to their Amyrlin . . .
Tension is growing as Rand's amnesty for men who can Channel begins to attract soldiers to his cause and the unseasonably hot weather has created a draught that threatens to starve the world. The weather should be turning into the cool breezes of autumn, but is instead hotter than the hottest summer day. The land drips in sweat and the Dark One's forces are everywhere. Elayne is determined to rectify this and restore nature back to its proper balance, believing that she may have found a powerful relic from the Age of Legends that may allow her to do just this. But finding the relic will be far from easy and she will need the help of her friends as she ventures into the cut-throat city of Ebou Dar.
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga in his usual epic fashion and all of the tension that has been developing in the previous books is beginning to broil. The politics surrounding the Dragon Reborn and the Aes Sedai are beginning to develop, becoming more important and developing into things that I imagine will be important for later books in the series. Although this is not as exciting as some of the previous story-lines, it's still fairly interesting to read about and leads to a shift in Rand al'Thor's character, seeing him become colder like the champion he is destined to be.
The Bad
The main problem with Lord of Chaos is its plot, wasn't actually that good. I mentioned this in the paragraph above, but politics dominated the book to a much greater extent than in other books and the story was a little bland in places, with very little actually happening through most of it. I got the feeling that Jordan was using Lord of Chaos to establish a foundation for events later in the series, since he's invested a great deal of time in hinting at plans and developing events etc. I think this is a shame in a book of this length because he had ample opportunity to do this, while ensuring the book was exciting all of the way through and not just at its end.
My Thoughts
Overall though, Lord of Chaos is a superb example of epic fantasy at its best and I really enjoyed reading it. Once again, I cannot stress the benefits of adding The Wheel of Time to your 'to read' list if you're a fan of the genre and haven't already done so. You won't be disappointed and will quickly fall in love with Jordan's world as I have done. If you only read one book this year, it should be the first book in the series (The Eye of the World)!
The White Tower of Tar Valon is broken and the Aes Sedai are divided. Two sets of eyes burning with saidar have turned to Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, who sits upon the Sun and Lion Thrones. Along with those of Tear, he has brought the lords and lady's of these great nations to heel and is determined to use their united force to destroy Sammael in the lair he has made of Illian. Thousands of Rand's Aiel are ready to die for him; a possibility they are going to have to confront as both factions of Aes Sedai try to win his favour and bind him to their Amyrlin . . .
Tension is growing as Rand's amnesty for men who can Channel begins to attract soldiers to his cause and the unseasonably hot weather has created a draught that threatens to starve the world. The weather should be turning into the cool breezes of autumn, but is instead hotter than the hottest summer day. The land drips in sweat and the Dark One's forces are everywhere. Elayne is determined to rectify this and restore nature back to its proper balance, believing that she may have found a powerful relic from the Age of Legends that may allow her to do just this. But finding the relic will be far from easy and she will need the help of her friends as she ventures into the cut-throat city of Ebou Dar.
The Good
Robert Jordan continues The Wheel of Time saga in his usual epic fashion and all of the tension that has been developing in the previous books is beginning to broil. The politics surrounding the Dragon Reborn and the Aes Sedai are beginning to develop, becoming more important and developing into things that I imagine will be important for later books in the series. Although this is not as exciting as some of the previous story-lines, it's still fairly interesting to read about and leads to a shift in Rand al'Thor's character, seeing him become colder like the champion he is destined to be.
The Bad
The main problem with Lord of Chaos is its plot, wasn't actually that good. I mentioned this in the paragraph above, but politics dominated the book to a much greater extent than in other books and the story was a little bland in places, with very little actually happening through most of it. I got the feeling that Jordan was using Lord of Chaos to establish a foundation for events later in the series, since he's invested a great deal of time in hinting at plans and developing events etc. I think this is a shame in a book of this length because he had ample opportunity to do this, while ensuring the book was exciting all of the way through and not just at its end.
My Thoughts
Overall though, Lord of Chaos is a superb example of epic fantasy at its best and I really enjoyed reading it. Once again, I cannot stress the benefits of adding The Wheel of Time to your 'to read' list if you're a fan of the genre and haven't already done so. You won't be disappointed and will quickly fall in love with Jordan's world as I have done. If you only read one book this year, it should be the first book in the series (The Eye of the World)!
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Unfettered - Shawn Speakman
RATING: THREE STARS
Unfettered is a delightful collection of short stories by some of the biggest names in fantasy, who have all donated their work to an anthology that is raising money for Shawn Speakman's cancer therapy. The authors included have really allowed their imaginations to run wild and the book is filled with magic and excitement. Many authors have based their stories on their best selling series and they provide further insight into their characters for fans and an opening into their worlds for new readers!
The contents of the collection is as follows:
The UK edition of Unfettered also includes a bonus story: The Twilight Dragon by Shawn Speakman.
The Good
Some of the stories in Unfettered are superb and I really enjoyed the ones that were linked to the primary works of other pieces. The ones by Terry Brooks were both very good and the anthology also included Mudboy by Peter V. Brett - a short story that introduces a new character that will appear in The Demon Cycle!
Of all the stories in the collection, however, my favourite has to be Unbowed by Eldon Thompson. Thompson has based his entry around a character from his Legend of Asahiel trilogy. The story was exciting and heartbreaking, following the tortuous training and initiation of an assassin, and introduced me to a series that I never knew existed! I'm now very excited to read The Crimson Sword, the first book in Thompson's series, and have already added it to my reading list on Goodreads!
The Bad
Although I enjoyed Unfettered and thought it was good overall, I did find it a bit hit and miss. Some of the stories were much better than others and (rather sadly) a few of them were actually quite bland and boring. I found myself skipping through parts of the book, which is a shame really as all of the authors are very respected and have published many fantastic stories through their career.
I have to say that I was particularly disappointed with the stories by Patrick Rothfuss and Robert V. S. Redick. Both of these men are among my favourite authors of all time and I find it painful even writing this - I was really looking forward to reading their entries, but they just didn't live up to my expectations . . . Both authors had tried to do something new and I feel their stories would have been much more enjoyable if they were based in the worlds they have so loving established in The Kingkiller Chronicle and The Chathrand Voyage.
My Thoughts
Unfettered is a bit inconsistent, but the good stories it contains certainly over weighs the boring ones and I think it's a nice little book to pass the time for avid readers of fantasy (in all of its forms). Furthermore the money raised is going towards Shawn Speakman's cancer therapy, which is as good a reason to buy the book as any! I recommend reading it, but it certainly isn't a memorable book that will stay with you for a long time after you finish it.
Unfettered is a delightful collection of short stories by some of the biggest names in fantasy, who have all donated their work to an anthology that is raising money for Shawn Speakman's cancer therapy. The authors included have really allowed their imaginations to run wild and the book is filled with magic and excitement. Many authors have based their stories on their best selling series and they provide further insight into their characters for fans and an opening into their worlds for new readers!
The contents of the collection is as follows:
- Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks
- How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
- Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
- The Martyr of the Roses by Jacqueline Carey
- Mudboy by Peter V. Brett
- The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian
- The Coach with Big Teeth by R.A. Salvatore
- Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood
- Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton
- Dogs by Daniel Abraham
- The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne
- Select Mode by Mark Lawrence
- All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
- Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth
- Nocturne by Robert V.S. Redick
- Unbowed by Eldon Thompson
- In Favour with Their Stars by Naomi Novik
- River of Souls by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
- The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan
- The Duel by Lev Grossman
- Walker and the Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks
- The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman
The UK edition of Unfettered also includes a bonus story: The Twilight Dragon by Shawn Speakman.
The Good
Some of the stories in Unfettered are superb and I really enjoyed the ones that were linked to the primary works of other pieces. The ones by Terry Brooks were both very good and the anthology also included Mudboy by Peter V. Brett - a short story that introduces a new character that will appear in The Demon Cycle!
Of all the stories in the collection, however, my favourite has to be Unbowed by Eldon Thompson. Thompson has based his entry around a character from his Legend of Asahiel trilogy. The story was exciting and heartbreaking, following the tortuous training and initiation of an assassin, and introduced me to a series that I never knew existed! I'm now very excited to read The Crimson Sword, the first book in Thompson's series, and have already added it to my reading list on Goodreads!
The Bad
Although I enjoyed Unfettered and thought it was good overall, I did find it a bit hit and miss. Some of the stories were much better than others and (rather sadly) a few of them were actually quite bland and boring. I found myself skipping through parts of the book, which is a shame really as all of the authors are very respected and have published many fantastic stories through their career.
I have to say that I was particularly disappointed with the stories by Patrick Rothfuss and Robert V. S. Redick. Both of these men are among my favourite authors of all time and I find it painful even writing this - I was really looking forward to reading their entries, but they just didn't live up to my expectations . . . Both authors had tried to do something new and I feel their stories would have been much more enjoyable if they were based in the worlds they have so loving established in The Kingkiller Chronicle and The Chathrand Voyage.
My Thoughts
Unfettered is a bit inconsistent, but the good stories it contains certainly over weighs the boring ones and I think it's a nice little book to pass the time for avid readers of fantasy (in all of its forms). Furthermore the money raised is going towards Shawn Speakman's cancer therapy, which is as good a reason to buy the book as any! I recommend reading it, but it certainly isn't a memorable book that will stay with you for a long time after you finish it.
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOURS STARS
Couladin, Clan Chief of the Shaido Aiel, is consumed by bitterness over his brother's death. The fact that Rand al'Thor has been accepted as He Who Comes With The Dawn continues to rile him. Aiel flock to Rand's side from the corners of the Three Fold Land and he is almost universally accepted as the Car'a'carn. Only Couladin stands against him and has led his spears from the Aiel Wastelands to strike at the Treekillers.
But Rand cannot stand by as Cairhien burns and takes his clans forth to meet him. The Car'a'carn is more powerful than ever before, both in wielding the One Power and in military might. Yet he is overconfident and the Forsaken are watching. Rand has refused to kneel before Ishamael too many times. They have their own plans regarding his future and they are in motion . . .
The Good
Set in a fantastic, scenic landscape, The Fires of Heaven continues to show just why The Wheel of Time is so highly regarded. Robert Jordan's imagination has carried his story to the same epic scope I have come to expect from him and the book is full of magic, swords and honour. It's battle scenes are well executed and Jordan has continued to develop characters that I'm really coming to love.
Over the last few books, Jordan has split his main ensemble of characters into a number of different storylines. This has been interesting and has helped The Wheel of Time to expand in multiple directions, but he has finally began to weave their threads back together. Jordan has begun laying the groundwork for them to reunite in subsequent books, which is something I'm really looking forward to reading. All of his characters are 'bigger' now than what they were, more powerful and wiser to the world. Their own social dynamics must have changed considerably and it will be fun to see how the old friends interact with other.
The Bad
I think The Fires of Heaven was a little too long. Once again it has large sections in it of people just wandering around, in which nothing much happens. Like Patrick Rothfuss, Jordan has a masterful way of keeping these scenes captivating so it didn't diminish my enjoyment too much and ordinarily I wouldn't mention it. But the book (and I read the massive hardback version) is nearly 800 pages long and I felt like it was dragged out somewhat unnecessarily.
Also, Perrin isn't in it! I was really disappointed to find this because Perrin actually had one of the best stories in The Shadow Rising and really came into his own. Jordan had really brought his character to life and I wanted to read more of his adventures in the Two Rivers with the Lady Faile. I'm really hoping to see Perrin again in Lord of Chaos, the next book in the series.
My Thoughts
Robert Jordan has done it again and The Fires of Heaven is another masterfully written book. Although it isn't quite as exciting as the previous titles in The Wheel of Time, it's still among the best fantasy books I have ever read and the series is unquestionably a must read for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy!
Couladin, Clan Chief of the Shaido Aiel, is consumed by bitterness over his brother's death. The fact that Rand al'Thor has been accepted as He Who Comes With The Dawn continues to rile him. Aiel flock to Rand's side from the corners of the Three Fold Land and he is almost universally accepted as the Car'a'carn. Only Couladin stands against him and has led his spears from the Aiel Wastelands to strike at the Treekillers.
But Rand cannot stand by as Cairhien burns and takes his clans forth to meet him. The Car'a'carn is more powerful than ever before, both in wielding the One Power and in military might. Yet he is overconfident and the Forsaken are watching. Rand has refused to kneel before Ishamael too many times. They have their own plans regarding his future and they are in motion . . .
The Good
Set in a fantastic, scenic landscape, The Fires of Heaven continues to show just why The Wheel of Time is so highly regarded. Robert Jordan's imagination has carried his story to the same epic scope I have come to expect from him and the book is full of magic, swords and honour. It's battle scenes are well executed and Jordan has continued to develop characters that I'm really coming to love.
Over the last few books, Jordan has split his main ensemble of characters into a number of different storylines. This has been interesting and has helped The Wheel of Time to expand in multiple directions, but he has finally began to weave their threads back together. Jordan has begun laying the groundwork for them to reunite in subsequent books, which is something I'm really looking forward to reading. All of his characters are 'bigger' now than what they were, more powerful and wiser to the world. Their own social dynamics must have changed considerably and it will be fun to see how the old friends interact with other.
The Bad
I think The Fires of Heaven was a little too long. Once again it has large sections in it of people just wandering around, in which nothing much happens. Like Patrick Rothfuss, Jordan has a masterful way of keeping these scenes captivating so it didn't diminish my enjoyment too much and ordinarily I wouldn't mention it. But the book (and I read the massive hardback version) is nearly 800 pages long and I felt like it was dragged out somewhat unnecessarily.
Also, Perrin isn't in it! I was really disappointed to find this because Perrin actually had one of the best stories in The Shadow Rising and really came into his own. Jordan had really brought his character to life and I wanted to read more of his adventures in the Two Rivers with the Lady Faile. I'm really hoping to see Perrin again in Lord of Chaos, the next book in the series.
My Thoughts
Robert Jordan has done it again and The Fires of Heaven is another masterfully written book. Although it isn't quite as exciting as the previous titles in The Wheel of Time, it's still among the best fantasy books I have ever read and the series is unquestionably a must read for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy!
Thursday, 8 May 2014
The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
The Stone of Tear has fallen; Rand al'Thor holds Callandor, the Sword that is Not a Sword, and is finally beginning to accept his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. Rumours of his existence are sweeping across the lands and conflict is rife as his supporters flock beneath his banners. Yet Rand has no time to dwell on such things and is hardening, growing colder as he begins to view events as a whole rather than individually. He is becoming obsessed with the prophecies of the Karaethon Cycle and turns his attention to the arid Three Fold Land of the Aiel. The Aiel know war like no other race alive and Rand will need their spears if he ever hopes to challenge Ba'alzamon and defeat the darkness he brings. But to win the Aiel, Rand must prove beyond all doubt that he is He Who Comes with the Dawn - the warrior their own prophecies say will lead them from the Aiel Wastes forever.
Yet even as Rand heads towards the Three Fold Land with Matt, Egwene, Moraine and Lan, Perrin turns his attention the Two Rivers. His homeland is besieged by Whites Cloaks; plagued Trollocs and Myrddraal. It is no longer the safe haven Perrin left behind with his friends barely a year earlier. He has been named Darkfriend by the Children of the Light and the legion's leader, Dain Bornhald, will happily see the Two Rivers burn if it means he can tie a noose around Perrin's neck . . .
The Good
Once again, I found myself stunned by the scope of Robert Jordan's story. It's imaginative and can only be described as truly epic. I really got the sense that the whole world is danger during the story and so much seems to hinge on Aiel, and whether Rand can secure the support of the prickly warrior race that resists change and despises any outsider to the lands. Now that the Forsaken are loose and are beginning to meet the main characters, the battles are becoming truly devastating.
The appearance of the Forsaken also adds a real sense of danger for the protagonists in the story, which has been diminishing through the series as the main characters own powers have grown. The Forsaken are all Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends, where men and women were so powerful that they could do things with the One Power that current Aes Sedai can't even imagine. The Forsaken are fully trained and have had thousands of years to master their powers, making them more than worthy adversaries for Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne.
I especially liked the divergence of story arcs in the story. The Dragon Reborn set Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne up with their own storyline, which The Shadow Rising continues to build on as they continue with their quest to eradicate the Black Ajah - their own sisters who have turned their back on the Light to serve Ba'alzamon himself! But Jordan begins to go further than this in this book and gives Perrin his own story as well. As well as being interesting, it's nice to finally see his character get some use (as he's been a little pointless in the previous books) and Jordan uses Perrin's storyline to show how the world is beginning to be effected by Ba'alzamon's evil.
Jordan's characterisation is as good as ever and all his characters continue to develop. In fact, none of the Two Rivers protagonists are the same people as they were in the first book and all of their personalities have undergone significant changes. This is something that isn't really seen in many books (which I guess is due to the constraints of smaller series), but Jordan really has the time to grow his characters and can add a very aspect to his story. Let's face it, if fantasy was real, then there's no way a person wouldn't be changed by the hardships they endure and the evils they struggle against! They would surely harden as the world burns around them.
The Bad
My main criticism of The Shadow Rising is actually the overall storyline. It was good - don't get me wrong - but it wasn't strongly defined in the start of the book and nothing much really happened for the first third or so. Considering the book's 1, 001 pages long, this problem is definitely worth mentioning as there is about 300 pages that are quite slow paced! That being said, I wasn't bored at the start of the book and still found it enjoyable to read. It just felt slightly separate from the rest of the book somehow . . .
My Thoughts
The Shadow Rising is a superb instalment to The Wheel of Time and was filled with all of the action, characterisation and imagination that I've enjoyed so much in the series earlier books! The book (and series) is definitely an example of epic fantasy at its best and is something that all fans of the genre should read. I'm really excited about reading The Fires of Heaven, the next book in the series, and am confident that it will be every bit as good!
The Stone of Tear has fallen; Rand al'Thor holds Callandor, the Sword that is Not a Sword, and is finally beginning to accept his destiny as the Dragon Reborn. Rumours of his existence are sweeping across the lands and conflict is rife as his supporters flock beneath his banners. Yet Rand has no time to dwell on such things and is hardening, growing colder as he begins to view events as a whole rather than individually. He is becoming obsessed with the prophecies of the Karaethon Cycle and turns his attention to the arid Three Fold Land of the Aiel. The Aiel know war like no other race alive and Rand will need their spears if he ever hopes to challenge Ba'alzamon and defeat the darkness he brings. But to win the Aiel, Rand must prove beyond all doubt that he is He Who Comes with the Dawn - the warrior their own prophecies say will lead them from the Aiel Wastes forever.
Yet even as Rand heads towards the Three Fold Land with Matt, Egwene, Moraine and Lan, Perrin turns his attention the Two Rivers. His homeland is besieged by Whites Cloaks; plagued Trollocs and Myrddraal. It is no longer the safe haven Perrin left behind with his friends barely a year earlier. He has been named Darkfriend by the Children of the Light and the legion's leader, Dain Bornhald, will happily see the Two Rivers burn if it means he can tie a noose around Perrin's neck . . .
The Good
Once again, I found myself stunned by the scope of Robert Jordan's story. It's imaginative and can only be described as truly epic. I really got the sense that the whole world is danger during the story and so much seems to hinge on Aiel, and whether Rand can secure the support of the prickly warrior race that resists change and despises any outsider to the lands. Now that the Forsaken are loose and are beginning to meet the main characters, the battles are becoming truly devastating.
The appearance of the Forsaken also adds a real sense of danger for the protagonists in the story, which has been diminishing through the series as the main characters own powers have grown. The Forsaken are all Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends, where men and women were so powerful that they could do things with the One Power that current Aes Sedai can't even imagine. The Forsaken are fully trained and have had thousands of years to master their powers, making them more than worthy adversaries for Rand, Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne.
I especially liked the divergence of story arcs in the story. The Dragon Reborn set Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne up with their own storyline, which The Shadow Rising continues to build on as they continue with their quest to eradicate the Black Ajah - their own sisters who have turned their back on the Light to serve Ba'alzamon himself! But Jordan begins to go further than this in this book and gives Perrin his own story as well. As well as being interesting, it's nice to finally see his character get some use (as he's been a little pointless in the previous books) and Jordan uses Perrin's storyline to show how the world is beginning to be effected by Ba'alzamon's evil.
Jordan's characterisation is as good as ever and all his characters continue to develop. In fact, none of the Two Rivers protagonists are the same people as they were in the first book and all of their personalities have undergone significant changes. This is something that isn't really seen in many books (which I guess is due to the constraints of smaller series), but Jordan really has the time to grow his characters and can add a very aspect to his story. Let's face it, if fantasy was real, then there's no way a person wouldn't be changed by the hardships they endure and the evils they struggle against! They would surely harden as the world burns around them.
The Bad
My main criticism of The Shadow Rising is actually the overall storyline. It was good - don't get me wrong - but it wasn't strongly defined in the start of the book and nothing much really happened for the first third or so. Considering the book's 1, 001 pages long, this problem is definitely worth mentioning as there is about 300 pages that are quite slow paced! That being said, I wasn't bored at the start of the book and still found it enjoyable to read. It just felt slightly separate from the rest of the book somehow . . .
My Thoughts
The Shadow Rising is a superb instalment to The Wheel of Time and was filled with all of the action, characterisation and imagination that I've enjoyed so much in the series earlier books! The book (and series) is definitely an example of epic fantasy at its best and is something that all fans of the genre should read. I'm really excited about reading The Fires of Heaven, the next book in the series, and am confident that it will be every bit as good!
Saturday, 8 February 2014
The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan
RATING: FIVE STARS
Rand al'Thor has finally proclaimed himself as the Dragon Reborn! Throughout the lands, people are flocking to his banner and his support is swelling as Ba'alzamon seizes the aristocratic peerage and increases his control of peoples' minds. But Rand's destiny is too much for him and, while plagued by dreams of a shining, crystal sword, he decides to flee before more people die in his name.
Led by Moiraine, Loial and the rest of Rand’s trusted friends set off in pursuit of him before he is killed or worse - captured by Ba'alzamon and forced to bend to his will. Even as they track Rand, the Amyrlyn Seat sends Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne on an adventure of their own, tasking them to identify and hunt down the Aes Sedai traitors who serve the Dark Lord himself at heart – those that call themselves the Black Ajah . . .
The Good
As I had hoped, The Dragon Reborn is more complicated than The Great Hunt and resumes telling the story from multiple points of view. Although Rand slips as a PoV character for much of the book (somewhat disappointingly), many of the characters Robert Jordan neglected in his second book are really coming into their own. Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne have a particularly good storyline, while Perrin and Mat both have their own, individual story-arks. Jordan also introduces a few new characters in the book, one of which looks to be extremely interesting as (and if) she is developed in later books.
Jordan has really upped the sense of scale in this book and has begun to weave political intrigue into the storyline. He is showing how Ba'alzamon’s plans to conquer the world are moving forward and, at every turn, our heroes are beginning to realise how insurmountable their task is. This gives them a real sense of desperation that I thought was extremely clever and makes the whole story more believable as I could really imagination that Ba'alzamon has been making his plans for three thousand years from his prison of Shayol Ghul!
I know I've mentioned this in earlier reviews, but Jordan's characterisation was superb once again. Each of his characters really reads as an individual and has their own distinct voice, thought processes and reasons behind their actions. This allowed me to relate them to a degree that few other authors have managed and Jordan really seems to have understood that characters make a story truly great, not just the plot!
The Bad
Hmmm, 'the bad' . . . Honestly speaking, I don't think there was anything majorly wrong with The Dragon Reborn! Overall, it was an exciting, well thought-out and masterfully executed book! That being said, Jordan's language did get a little repetitive in places and his tendency to repeat words a few times in as many sentences still persists, which does weaken his writing slightly.
My Thoughts
The Dragon Reborn was absolutely fantastic and I blitzed through it in less than a week! It's exciting, builds the story up for grandeur later in the series and reaffirms exactly why The Wheel of Time is so acclaimed! Like its predecessors, the book is well deserving of its place on my ‘Shelf of Fame’ and is a must read for anyone who wants to read high fantasy at its best!
Saturday, 25 January 2014
The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan
RATING: FOUR STARS
Rand al’Thor wants nothing more to do with Aes Sedai. He is sick of being manipulated, tired of being hunted by Ba'alzamon's servants and wants nothing more to do with resisting the Dark Lord’s plans to break the Wheel of Time once and for all. He is unsafe to be around and, after great consideration, decides that he must leave his friends behind him before they come to harm.
But Rand’s plans are shattered when the Horn of Valere—a relic from the Age of Legends that brings heroes back from the dead—is stolen by the foul Darkfriend, Padan Fain. Rand cannot leave the Horn in Fain's and reluctantly joins the quest to retrieve it.
On Lord Agelmar's behest, Rand, his friends and Lord Ingtar pursue Padan Fain and his Darkfriends as if they were heading straight to Shayol Ghul itself, following a swathe of death and destruction. But trollocs and Myrddraal are the least of the heroes’ worries as Fain’s powers grow. Even Ba'alzamon has underestimated the corruption that lies in the gleeman’s heart and, touched by madness, Fain challenges Rand to end their great dispute in Toman Head – a peninsula that’s being invaded by the Seanchan, the direct descendants of Artur Hawkwing. The Seanchan bring strange magic and monsters with them; seeking to own all and enslave the Aes Sedai to their terrifying will.
The Good
Robert Jordan has outdone himself again in The Great Hunt. The story is every bit as imaginative as its predecessor (The Eye of the World) and he builds upon his mythology well, creating a vivid, detailed world with a well-established history. Jordan also continues to steer clear of ‘conventional’ monsters and uses those of his own invention as antagonists. This makes for an interesting read and really helps the book stand out in a genre that’s full of goblins, trolls and orcs!
Jordan’s characterisation is also exceptional and he has managed to give his entire cast their own unique voices and thought processes. This adds a sense of realism to The Great Hunt and allowed me to really relate to certain characters. It was also interesting to read about their motivations and how these influenced their actions throughout the book. Despite many of the characters being in the same place, with the same intent in mind, very few are there for the same reasons.
The plot of the book was also quite good. Admittedly it was simple, with much of the book being based around Lord Ingtar's men pursing Padan Fain as they tried to retrieve the Horn of Valere, but Jordan has written it well and The Great Hunt never became stale. He has also taken the time to lay the groundwork for things that will presumably happen later in the series and begins to unveil aspects of certain characters’ pasts.
The Bad
To be honest, there wasn't really anything I disliked about The Great Hunt and it more than lived up to the standard set by its predecessor, being exciting and extremely interesting throughout. One thing that did stand out to me though, was the book was very heavily focused on Rand as the 'point of view' character. The Eye of the World was written from the perspective of several characters with different story arcs and I felt as if Jordan neglected many of his characters overall. Hopefully, this is something he remedy's in The Dragon Reborn and I'm looking forward to a more complex story too!
My Thoughts
I have to say that I was very impressed with The Great Hunt and it lived up to expectations. Its settings and cultures were as rich and detailed as those seen in The Eye of the World and Jordan continue to develop his characters and story. Once again, I recommend that you read the book (or begin The Wheel of Time) as it's certainly worthy of its status as a masterpiece of fantasy!
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan
RATING: FIVE STARS
Honestly, I've never really been bothered about reading The Wheel of Time. It’s a fantasy classic, yes, which I think you have admit regardless of whether or not you’re a fan the series, but it was just too long for me. I mean fourteen books? Was there really any need?
I didn't think so (and still don’t, in fact), but one of my friends has read The Eye of the World recently and really enjoyed it (click here for his review). Naturally, this meant that I decided to give it a go and I’m glad I did. I found The Eye of the World to be a real page-turner and struggled to put it down right from the prologue. It’s imaginative, full of twists and turns and Robert Jordan has a very vivid way of writing that made it possible for me to really visualise the scenes he was narrating throughout the book.
I will admit that the story is a little cliché though and begins with yet another farm boy who escapes a common life of grafting over crops and sheep because he is the ‘chosen one'. Naturally, his life is turned upside down when his farm is attacked and he finds himself fleeing for his life with an unlikely band of companions.
I think that the story is well written as a whole though and its quality makes up for any of the similarities it has with other fantasy books. I also think that the story has an air of The Lord of Rings about it, which really added to my enjoyment of it. In fact, I think Jordan has done some things even better than Tolkien. A major example of this is in the fact that Moiraine, a magically powerful Aes Sedai, actually uses her powers to fight with and aid the party on a regular basis! I always think this is where LotR falls a little flat, to be honest, because despite all of his powers, Gandalf barely uses magic in the entire trilogy (with his epic fight with the balrog being a notable exception).
This isn't to say The Eye of the World is perfect, however, and I thought that Jordan has an irritating tendency of repeating what’s going a lot in his prose. He also seems to be a little obsessed with mist and I think he goes too far in describing the recurrent nightmares that plague three of his main characters.
Overall though, The Eye of World is a fantastic read and is a superb example of pure, escapist fantasy at its best. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes epic fantasy and think that you shouldn't let the sheer size of The Wheel of Time daunt you. I’m expecting to be proved right in later books where the series begins to drag a bit, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it! For now, I’m a huge fan of the book and am looking forward to delving into The Great Hunt.
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