Librariandoa's Sunday Word Finds The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

 

DOA's Answer Key for the Shadow Rising A Word Find

 

Review: The Fires Of Heaven (Book Five in The Wheel of Time Series) by Robert Jordan

 

Rand and the Aiel armies move through the Spine of the World, following close in the bloody trail of the false He Who Comes with the Dawn, Couladin.  

The world is already in turmoil and civil war, and the never before seen Aiel armies of thousands strike terror in the hearts of those they pass.

The city of Cairhien, already rocked by civil war, is now surrounded by Couladin's armies, who are surrounded by the Aiel army of the Dragon Reborn. How to drive them away from the city? Mat, who keeps wanting to run away, has been experiencing memories not his own of brilliant tactics that he uses to help free Cairhien.

In Caemlyn, Queen Morgase is literally under the spell of Lord Gaebril.  On his behalf she has exiled all of her allies in the city, and has been cruel about it.  She's the puppet of Gaebril, who is actually one of the Forsaken, Rahvin.  Two of her loyal retainers help Morgase fight free of the mental fog she's been in, and they make a daring escape from the city.

Siuan, former Amyrlin Seat, her former Keeper Leane, and Min are on the run with Logain, the False Dragon who was gentled.   They are betrayed by Logain who accidentally burns the barn they've spent the night in and he steals a coin purse from the farmer whose land they're on. Logain escapes, but the three women are brought to trial.  They swear an oath to work to repay the debt owed, though they're innocent themselves.  Led by Siuan, they've no intention of staying at the estate of Gareth Byrne, and will escape at the first opportunity.  They're headed to a secret city where Aes Sedai who fled Tar Valon now reside.

The Children of the Light are everywhere throughout the land.  Elayne's half brother Galad has become one of the Children. When he comes upon Elayne in a small city, he's determined to get her home again.

Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom Merrilin, Juilin and the  great heroine Birgitte travel with a menagerie show, trying to remain hidden from The Children and Galad.  Elayne does a high wire act and Nynaeve is the target for Birgitte's arrows in a thrilling act.

Everyone is on the move in this novel, trying to get someplace or just trying to escape.  It's constant peril for everyone. Action packed, yet the characters become even more defined as they try to do the right thing and stay alive.

Librariandoa's Sunday Word Finds The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

 

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.

DOA's Answer Key for The Dragon Reborn Word Find

 

Librariandoa's Sunday Wordfinds: A Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

 

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.

DOA's Answer Key for the Great Hunt Word Find

 

Librariandoa's Sunday Word Finds: The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

 

Review: The Great Hunt: Wheel of Time #2 by Robert Jordan

 

In this second volume of the fourteen volume series, the forces of The Dark One begin to move more openly in the world.  As many become convinced that the Last Battle nears, The Great Hunt is called to find the Horn of Valere.

This horn can be wielded by anyone, whether they are on the side of the light or dark.  When the horn is used, the dead will answer it's call.

Stolen by the Darkfriend Pad Fain from Fal Dara, Rand and a band of soldiers from Fal Dara pursue him across the world.

Egwene and Nynaeve begin their training in Tar Valon.  Egwene as a novice and Nynaeve as one of the Accepted.   It's interesting that the Aes Sedai are willing to work with Nynaeve at such a high training level right away, particularly when she seems most able to channel her powers when she's angry.

Travel is anything but ordinary, given the distances.  In addition to the Waygates, and the perilous travel through those dark ways, there are Portal Stones, rune covered stones and portions of stones which can transport a traveler to a mirror world.  

The first time one is used it's by accident, and the world they've entered is a strange, almost empty place.  Traveling there allows the group to journey a hundred miles in a short time once they find a way back home.  In another instance of using the stone, all of the travelers see other lives they might have lived.

As with the first book, the Great Hunt is packed with adventure, romance, and betrayal.  You feel as if you're right there along with our heroes and heroines, so well realized is the world.  An epic battle at the end of the book could easily have been the series end in any other story.  Luckily far more adventure awaits.

Merlyn's Word Find Wednesday Answer Key for The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

 

Merlyn's Word Find Wednesday The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

 

Book Notes December 20, 2021

 Ho Ho Ho! Santa looks rather sketchy.

From PenguinRandomHouse The top 50 Trending Books of 2021. Something for everyone?

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/the-top-trending-books-of-2021/

 

CrimeReads chooses their favorite debut novels of 2021.

https://crimereads.com/the-best-debut-novels-of-2021/

 

Currently Reading:

Leviathan Falls by James S A Corey, the final novel in the Expanse series.  I'm also watching the final season of the Expanse on Amazon Prime.  It is nowhere near caught up to the books in the series.  I wonder how the TV show will end.

For the novel, I'm about halfway through.  I believe the crew of the Roci and humanity in general deserve a  good fate, but I'm not certain they're going to get it.

Finished Last Week:

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.  It's tomorrow's review.  I really loved it and bought the next three in the series in hardcover. These are fat books and its hard to hold a paperback copy open.  Reading while eating is really tough.

I've been watching the Amazon series side by side with reading the book for the first time.  I feel the series (up until episode five) has done a great job of translating a long, incredible journey of four friends into a fast paced film version.  In episode five, so many things veer from the story and it's telling, I found myself saying over and over "that's messed up".

I highly recommend the books themselves if you've never read them.  The world is rich, the writing just lovely, and the characters are all unique and well fleshed out.

First Line Friday November 26, 2021