Review: The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time #4) by Robert Jordan

 

Coming in at 680 pages, The Shadow Rising put a big dent in my April reading.  These books are so worth it though.  I wasn't going to order more in the series till I had winnowed down my TBR pile, but they're irresistible, and I now have Fires of Heaven and Lord of Chaos in hand. 

Rand now rules from the Stone of Tear. He tries to mete out justice and encourages the nobles to be fair to farmers and any who are struggling.

Moiraine is convinced time is short and that Rand must make a move, and he says he has one planned, but he will tell no one what it is.  He has a very good reason for keeping his next moves secret.

At Tar Valon, Min, the girl who sees glimpses of the future, sees disaster coming to the Tower.  She tries to warn the Amyrlin Seat, but all comes tumbling down anyway.

With the Children of the Light moving on Two Rivers, home to all of our beloved characters, Perrin feels he has to go and try to defend his home. Time is of the essence and he takes a company of men through a Waygate with Loial's help.  

Mat, attempting to get answers, uses an ancient device that reveals strange, somehow hungry beings who advise him to go to the shrouded city of Rhuidean in the Aiel Wastes.

Egwene travels to the Aiel wastes to learn Dreamwalking  from the wise women there.

Nynaeve and Elayne travel to Tanchico, following the Black Ajah and attempting to stop them finding something they will use against Rand.

 I just love the storytelling, the writing, the characters.

Review: The Dragon Reborn (Wheel of Time #3) by Robert Jordan

 

Rumors of the Dragon Reborn's battle at Falme are everywhere. Young men who vaguely look like Rand are being captured or killed.

Meanwhile, Rand, Moraine, Lan and Perrin wait out the chaos in a hidden canyon.  One night Trollocs attack, and Rand is unable to help with the fight at all. Disgusted, he leaves, alone, determined to make his way to Tear and the Heart of Stone. There his destiny will be fulfilled, if he really is the Dragon. Somehow he still isn't sure.

 Perrin struggles to deal with his affinity with the wolves.  Part of him wants to forget his humanity and run with them, part of him fears and loathes losing himself.  He also gains a follower of sorts.

Mat, cured by the Aes Sedai of the poisonous effects of the dagger he's carried too long, is desperate to leave Tar Valon and take to the road.

Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne continue to develop their powers, training now as Accepted.  

Within the Tower, though, the foundations of all the Aes Sedai stand for are threatened by the Black Ajah who have risen among them.  Though thirteen left the Tower, they stole artifacts and murdered some of their sisters. 

Soon everyone seems to be heading downriver towards Tear.  Another great adventure in this series.