REVIEW
It is quite a shock to even process the reason as to why I stopped reading this series back in November 2022. I am, as always, still afraid in the commitment reading this series entails; however, I did find a renewed vigor in my desire to restart these books! I have always had the desire to read The Wheel of Time, but I never really had the proper motivation and the group of friends to talk about it. And, I guess, that’s the tipping point in me starting this again. Instagram has ever so kindly showed me that my friends have been reading the series and, of course, it means I have got people to chat it with. Although, if I’m being honest, I have Luke (@lukesbooks) to blame as he has been such a purveyor in pushing me to finally do it again. Yeah, that is quite a tangent.
The book began with such a curious perspective—a meeting between, what are supposedly, the antagonists of the story. It propels your curiosity for the story. The author allowing the viewpoint of the villains provides an intrigue and a possible evaluation of how their minds work. After finishing this portion of the book, I was left wondering what reason I might have in halting my read of the series, as this was a powerful beginning to a story.
“Patience had marked much of his life. Always, if he waited and watched long enough, someone made a mistake.”
I haven’t got many to compare it with but, assuming most epic fantasy partakes in a similar direction, the book begins and ends on a journey. If it wasn’t already obvious, the story follows the gang in an equally boring and action packed adventure to retrieve the stolen Horn of Valere and another artifact of great significance to the story. It might be quite an enigma if you didn’t have the original cover of the book, otherwise it is an in your face detail.
An aspect of the book I absolutely love is how, with every moment, it never fails to introduce you to something new, present details about it, yet still leave something that’ll make you question the veracity of what you’ve read. It continuously lay down a schematic idea of whatever it is trying to acquaint you with, but will purposely maroon a portion of it unsaid.
“A sword is dangerous to the man at the point, but not to the man at the hilt. Unless the man holding the sword is a fool, or careless, or unskilled, in which case it is twice as dangerous to him as to anyone else.”
There is an obvious reason as to why people might see the books from this series tedious to read. Jordan’s attention to details is unparalleled, or perhaps I haven’t read enough fantasy to assimilate it with. Regardless, his talent in writing is brilliant, even when, at times, it can get a little drab.
The way he made his characters make you feel involved. They are perfectly flawed and that is what makes them even more fascinating. With the length of the series, I expect no less in acquainting myself with them even more. I hate Rand. And I think that just shows how effective he is as a character—his youth makes him both reckless and immature and that translates well into the story.
I really can’t say much without summarizing the entire story and basically putting out a film of my own; however, to put it simply, this book was a wonderful read. It had everything I wanted: a good climatic rise and fall, burning secrets, scheming people, magical setting, and most importantly a wonderful story-telling that left me craving for more.
