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I'm going to try to be coherent here. I know I won't quite manage, but I will make my best effort.
First and most importantly: was it "good?"
Oh yeah. Yeah, it was good.
Things happen. The pace is picking up. It's a return, for me at least, to the wonder of first picking up the earlier books, unable to stop reading, just - hooked. While I have since read a number of criticisms of the series and a number of very highly acclaimed fantasy serieses, Wheel of Time, I am pleased to see, has lost none of its shine. I would recommend to people who were discouraged by the slow bit in the middle of the series to pick it up here after reading a summary of whatever books they don't want to read. But of course, I am probably biased.
So was it good? Yes. And I'm satisfied.
I should note before going any further that I made a point of not looking up at what point Brandon Sanderson started writing; but I couldn't tell. Just personally. Well done Brandon, I'm proud of you, at least.Haters to the left!
And you know? With the books I've been reading lately (lately being over the past four years) I have to say: I liked the ending. With sudden optimism and slight THE POWER OF LOOOOVE and all.
Okay, time to get more specific. Yeah, there were things that disappointed me, but I'll start with the things I liked. First and foremost: Rand. I've always liked him, and I liked him even more here, even as I did want to bang his head into a wall because you! idiot! But nonetheless, watching his progression even through this book was even more intense than it has been over the series, peaking at chapter 23 when my brain was approximately going "!!!!!!" without pause. He was dark, he was bleak, he was cold, he was glorious. And okay, I fangirl over crazy not!heroes all the time, but still. I was pleased. And curious to see how the fanbase will react. If it'll gain any Rand converts. Probably not.
The other characters: I almost liked Egwene. This is really alarming, but not as much as almost liking Gawyn, though he really needs to get over this thing about Rand. Seriously, boyo, it sounds like you're just jealous to me. But as someone who has, in book jargon, found Gawyn a "wool-headed idiot" since day one, I actually almost liked him here. He was kind of charmingly clueless. Maybe he and Robb would get along? But probably not, I like Galad and Robb better. /off topic
Mat -![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
zorpisuttle the only other flister who has finished, expressed some dissatisfaction with his character in this book - that he'd become too comic relief-y. And I can see that, but overall it didn't jar too badly with my general perception of Mat, though I was a little disappointed. I want to see more of serious!impressive!general!Mat as in the last book. Perhaps he will turn up later. This was Rand and Egwene's book. I was happier about the Rand part.
Favorite parts...psycho Rand, obviously, in case you hadn't gathered. The part where Semirhage made him almost kill Min hurt me lots. As I'm sure you can imagine. (More on this in my "what I need to see next book" section.) Any bit where Semirhage was being her cold and creepy and very very menacing self, what? Don't look at me like that. And favorite favorite favorite? Was angry!daddy!Tam being all WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BOY on Cadsuane's ass. I have been wanting someone to do it for ages. I am firmly in the "Cadsuane pisses me off a little" camp, though her motives are admirable she is going about it abysmally - and firstly I loved seeing Rand being all awkward and kind of shy and I want more Dragon Reborn!Rand and his daddy please now? I also loved Tuon and her facing down Rand, and Nynaeve being all LEAVE MAT ALOOOOONE and Tuon and Mat spending generally too much time thinking about each other. Awwwwwww. The Hinderstap bit was - I liked it. It was a little ridiculous! But I liked the explanation, too. That would be a damn weird life to live.And seriously, zombies in my Wheel of Time? WHAT NOW!
AND NOW things I want to see in the next book - what's going to happen with Min? They're in an awkward place now. Actually, just the reaction to the change in general. Also, what the hell is Taim doing, it makes me nervous that we haven't seen him lately. Aaaand of course I would like to see more Aviendha, as I'm sure I will, and DAMN Moiraine needs to come back already now.
If I look at Forsaken tally, who's left? Mesaana, Aran'gar, and Demandred is almost it, isn't it? I can't think of anyone else.
Things I didn't like, now...I was disappointed with Semirhage and how quickly she was broked. I feel like it should have been harder. This might be because I like Semirhage for some reason. She makes such elegant threats, it's pretty. /not psycho swear. However, I did like that her weapon first and foremost was her intimidation and cold calm. Shiny. Fortuona makes me wince a little. I'm still going to call her Tuon, don't even care. :| *stubborn* I can't currently think of too much else.
I feel ridiculous for feeling like the guy in the prologue was going to die. I have clearly read too much GRRM lately.
So yes, in conclusion - I liked it. I liked it a lot. I liked it a lot a lot. And I'm very curious as to how other people will react.
And really, really need the next book right about now.
ETA: OH YES my new project is making a fanmix that tracks Rand's character arc. Because. If anyone has suggestions they are welcomed with joy! For any point, really. Though I already know I am using this song for sure for this book. Is my Rand song.
First and most importantly: was it "good?"
Oh yeah. Yeah, it was good.
Things happen. The pace is picking up. It's a return, for me at least, to the wonder of first picking up the earlier books, unable to stop reading, just - hooked. While I have since read a number of criticisms of the series and a number of very highly acclaimed fantasy serieses, Wheel of Time, I am pleased to see, has lost none of its shine. I would recommend to people who were discouraged by the slow bit in the middle of the series to pick it up here after reading a summary of whatever books they don't want to read. But of course, I am probably biased.
So was it good? Yes. And I'm satisfied.
I should note before going any further that I made a point of not looking up at what point Brandon Sanderson started writing; but I couldn't tell. Just personally. Well done Brandon, I'm proud of you, at least.
And you know? With the books I've been reading lately (lately being over the past four years) I have to say: I liked the ending. With sudden optimism and slight THE POWER OF LOOOOVE and all.
Okay, time to get more specific. Yeah, there were things that disappointed me, but I'll start with the things I liked. First and foremost: Rand. I've always liked him, and I liked him even more here, even as I did want to bang his head into a wall because you! idiot! But nonetheless, watching his progression even through this book was even more intense than it has been over the series, peaking at chapter 23 when my brain was approximately going "!!!!!!" without pause. He was dark, he was bleak, he was cold, he was glorious. And okay, I fangirl over crazy not!heroes all the time, but still. I was pleased. And curious to see how the fanbase will react. If it'll gain any Rand converts. Probably not.
The other characters: I almost liked Egwene. This is really alarming, but not as much as almost liking Gawyn, though he really needs to get over this thing about Rand. Seriously, boyo, it sounds like you're just jealous to me. But as someone who has, in book jargon, found Gawyn a "wool-headed idiot" since day one, I actually almost liked him here. He was kind of charmingly clueless. Maybe he and Robb would get along? But probably not, I like Galad and Robb better. /off topic
Mat -
zorpisuttle the only other flister who has finished, expressed some dissatisfaction with his character in this book - that he'd become too comic relief-y. And I can see that, but overall it didn't jar too badly with my general perception of Mat, though I was a little disappointed. I want to see more of serious!impressive!general!Mat as in the last book. Perhaps he will turn up later. This was Rand and Egwene's book. I was happier about the Rand part. Favorite parts...psycho Rand, obviously, in case you hadn't gathered. The part where Semirhage made him almost kill Min hurt me lots. As I'm sure you can imagine. (More on this in my "what I need to see next book" section.) Any bit where Semirhage was being her cold and creepy and very very menacing self, what? Don't look at me like that. And favorite favorite favorite? Was angry!daddy!Tam being all WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BOY on Cadsuane's ass. I have been wanting someone to do it for ages. I am firmly in the "Cadsuane pisses me off a little" camp, though her motives are admirable she is going about it abysmally - and firstly I loved seeing Rand being all awkward and kind of shy and I want more Dragon Reborn!Rand and his daddy please now? I also loved Tuon and her facing down Rand, and Nynaeve being all LEAVE MAT ALOOOOONE and Tuon and Mat spending generally too much time thinking about each other. Awwwwwww. The Hinderstap bit was - I liked it. It was a little ridiculous! But I liked the explanation, too. That would be a damn weird life to live.
AND NOW things I want to see in the next book - what's going to happen with Min? They're in an awkward place now. Actually, just the reaction to the change in general. Also, what the hell is Taim doing, it makes me nervous that we haven't seen him lately. Aaaand of course I would like to see more Aviendha, as I'm sure I will, and DAMN Moiraine needs to come back already now.
If I look at Forsaken tally, who's left? Mesaana, Aran'gar, and Demandred is almost it, isn't it? I can't think of anyone else.
Things I didn't like, now...I was disappointed with Semirhage and how quickly she was broked. I feel like it should have been harder. This might be because I like Semirhage for some reason. She makes such elegant threats, it's pretty. /not psycho swear. However, I did like that her weapon first and foremost was her intimidation and cold calm. Shiny. Fortuona makes me wince a little. I'm still going to call her Tuon, don't even care. :| *stubborn* I can't currently think of too much else.
I feel ridiculous for feeling like the guy in the prologue was going to die. I have clearly read too much GRRM lately.
So yes, in conclusion - I liked it. I liked it a lot. I liked it a lot a lot. And I'm very curious as to how other people will react.
And really, really need the next book right about now.
ETA: OH YES my new project is making a fanmix that tracks Rand's character arc. Because. If anyone has suggestions they are welcomed with joy! For any point, really. Though I already know I am using this song for sure for this book. Is my Rand song.
