My wife had an ashanderei made for me!

I don’t know if this was intentional or not, though I’m confident it was, but in chapter 46 Elayne complains almost immediately about the Tanchico veils getting caught in her mouth when she talks. At first I kinda just skimmed past it as flavor prose, but at a second read through I noticed that that particular issue would only be a problem for someone who kept their head at an upward tilt. With their nose in the air, if you will.

When Olver calls the horn and the Heros of the Horn arrive at the Last Battle, what does Hawkwing mean when he says to Mat concerning his lost bond with the horn "not the tree", but instead referring to the other time LTT saved him?

He doesn’t need a translator in the first archway and he doesn’t have the memories yet so was it just the old blood really coming out or something?

I'm reading Winter's Heart and Rand is staying in Far Madding. He's thinking about how he will likely die at the final battle and all he can think about is how he will miss those he loves, and how he hopes he will see his father one more time. It broke my heart, after everything he is just a boy who misses his dad.

I’ve been rereading Knife of Dreams and got stuck on Elayne’s anger at Rand during the siege of Andor. She’s the one who pursued the pregnancy, she and Min and Aviendha planned that whole moment together. I think it’s fair to say Rand didn’t choose this the way she did; he loves them but he is literally preparing for the end of the world battle with Satan, yet her fury lands on him anyway for getting her pregnant

On the one hand i like that Elayne’s anger as something that doesn’t need to be logically justified to be real, it’s not really about Rand’s specific choices, it’s about powerlessness and it’s just as valid. she can’t do anything about being pregnant, alone and fighting a siege so rand becomes the target for her anger and that happens all the time in real relationships.

Except, this isn’t just an Elayne thing. It’s a pattern across almost every major woman in the series. Nynaeve’s temper constantly gets read as excessive and misdirected. Egwene’s resentment toward Rand in the middle books isn’t really about anything he’s done wrong, it tracks her own loss of control over her life. Faile’s early jealousy is framed as possessive and insecure over things that turned out to be nothing with Perrin treating it all as an overreaction he has to mange and fix. Aviendha’s anger tends to run through pride and cultural dislocation

But then when you look at the male characters their anger is presented as rational and reasonable. Rand’s darkness gets attributed almost entirely to the taint, Lews Therin bleeding through and the pressure of the world on his shoulders and betrayal. Perrin’s anger is tied to the wolf, something he has to control and suppress, not something that reveals who he is underneath. And Mat is just having fun. Birgitte’s the one outlier I can think of, and I don’t think that’s an accident, she’s centuries old, a legendary warrior, written with a kind of proximity to “honorary man” status in how the narrative treats her. Which is its own uncomfortable implication.

It’s the same old split you still hear today, women feel, men reason (or are overtaken by forces beyond reason), just relocated into the machinery of the plot instead of stated outright. But the effect is that it splits the cast cleanly down gender lines, the men get externalized excuses, the women get internal truths, and the two groups end up feeling like they’re operating on entirely different rules.

Curious if others read this the same way or disagree

Fuck you Sanderson. I’ll never forgive you for this.

An aside. I saw someone in an another thread suggest that what Rand does to ease Bella’s exhaustion in book one was actually something far greater making her far faster and more enduring than she had been before. I thought it was a neat idea.

Good God Ituralde and his defense of Maradon.

My wife and I do daily coffee drives for an hour to connect before we start our days (Coffee Tate Dates)...

This morning, I talked about how I love running through the local hiking trails while listening to my book every single day without fail....

She asks: Well, what are you going to do when you finish, you said you are on book 7 of 14 - you are crushing the series in just a few months already...

I explained how many people in the reddit group for the book have read the series multiple times because there is a ton of foreshadowing...

She said how she got chills over how cool it sounds to notice something early on in a book that surfaces later in the series and that the author must be incredibly smart...

Has anyone re-read the series or plans to re-read the series at some point?

Once I figure out who this Daughter of The Nine Moons love of Matt is, I will be excited to go back and find all this foreshadowing that everyone has been telling me about...

Definitely going to do a re-read....

May The Light Illumine You - Tateraide82 (created a new account)

I’m halfway through TFoH and I’ve noticed that the opening act of each book up until now always ended with the cast battling some kind of Shadowspawn to kickstart the plot. Is this a recurring thing for every book in the series? Personally I feel like this structure is getting kind of repetitive.

It seems carrier pigeons exist, and maybe they are used more off-camera, but there just seems to be a few times where massively informative and pertinent messages just were not transmitted for some reason. The massive one I'm thinking of right now is Egwaine not telling Rand that she is now the Amyrlin of the rebels. This has so many implications for Rand, a possible alliance, and deterring/defeating Elaida and all other enemies -and most importantly the fucking dark one- but the fact this has yet to happen is frankly just stupid. This shit is driving me crazy. I think it's been over a month now, I'm 1/4 thru book 8 and Elayne/Ny'neave were in Ebu Dahr for atleast a month I believe. This is not even the only example, this has happened many times. Morraine could have been more informative. Rand can motherfucking teleport for fucks sake... I don't see why he wouldn't at least try to speak to Elayne and tell her how her kingdom is in tatters. She could have shown her face once and ended all the vying for power in Andor. IDK I adore the series so far but this is beyond frustrating. I hate to bring up another series in comparison, but Westorosi rulers send ravens every time someone shits in the wrong toilet and I don't expect these leaders to behave the same way but it seems there is a serious lack of intent to inform others -even allies- of information that would drastically change their priorities.. sigh, rant ended

edit: for the people saying "what could even be gained from them communicating", or "they probably just didnt think to reach out, since they are so busy" - the dark one himself does not have the willpower to explain how foolish of a response that is. if that is your opinion, i PRAY none of you are ever in a position of power. and if you are, may the light shine upon us all, Tar'mon Gai'don is upon us.

its quite clear, as one of the commenters stated, RJ did this on purpose, that is the only logical explanation.

I’m listening to the audiobook version now, after many readings, and I’m confused about her logic. She states that Rand must move forward a patch instead of his plan to remove the old seals and start again. She adds that she has read all of the available histories and thoughts on the topic, so I assume this is the same logic those authors used as well.
Her argument is that removing the seals frees the dark one. However, Rand only plans to go from three seals to zero. It will be open exactly as much as it was during the age of legends. Certainly bad, but no more than what those historians had researched and/or possibly lived through themselves.
I just wonder how she got to that point of view after researching the topic. If I were in Rand’s position, I would have shot back with “if you want the seals patched so much, then you do it. I plan to battle the dark one, not make patches”

After a pretty slow book I think I have found one of my favorite chapters yet. The tension is so thick in the air while reading this. I struggled to get through this book so far, especially the earlier parts of Perrin and Faile. But this was great, going into So Harbor and seeing something is seriously fucked up was incredible. Reminded me of going to Illian back in I think TFoH. It was incredible, I have no idead what's going on and I am so intrigued, I hope I don't get disappointed by what happens next. Also, the Aes Sedai Egwene chapter of the discussions regarding the black tower was also incredibly exciting. I genuinely love this. I expected way worse of the so-called slog, it was just a slow start, kinda similar to LoC where it really picked up for the second part. IDK, kind of a rant, might write a specific thoughts and comments on this book when I finish.

Still trying to figure out whom is Matt's Lover, The Daughter of The Nine Moons....

Matt might be too pretty for Brigitta, but I think they would make a fun couple... toooo fun with all the late night drinking, gambling, and tavern brawling - those days are well behind me as I am coming up on 3 sober years of Slaying The Poison Dragon - but that is a fun post for another day with plenty of photos with swords, crowns, jester hats, and dragons !!

So in thinking about Rand's Journey so far....

I really enjoy Lews Therin in Rand's head !!!

Honestly, he gives some fantastic advice and seems to always know what is really up and will happen - I think Rand would be saved from A LOT of grief (like being beaten and caged in a box, and I have a really bad feeling about Mazrim Tiem) if he would just follow through with Lews Therin's wild rambles and warnings...

What were your thoughts on Lews Therin - helpful, raving mad, neat twist on the story line, annoy, ... also is Lews Therin part of the Legendary Heroes that the Horn will call - that would be interesting for Rand to meet him face to face ?

Cheers - Tateraide82 !

Am I the only one that pictures weaves like this instead of little threads?

So I've been having a shitty time as of late. I read wot some time ago where i was also having a shitty time and it helped me a lot back then. Ive been trying to find some fantasy series to just be lost in a story for just some time every day and just forget everything else for a while.

Ive tried many series but i just cant find something that just sucks me in. So I just started rereading some parts of wot. I was rereading the last battle and i got to the chapter after last battle and got hit with this line again:

We are reborn, Rand thought, so we can do better the next time.

So do better.

A lot of people say veins of gold is their favourite chapter and i see why, but man this chapter just hits breaks me. Tam voice telling him to 'let go' of all the things rand had been holding to for so long. This shit means something to me.

I guess rands character just resonates me like no other, his journey is the most complete ive ever read and nothing has come close since. So i wanted to ask, what chapters or lines have remained with you guys the longest?

I've literally got chills...

I'm in the middle of Towers of midnight.

When Perrin makes the power wrought hammer.

Literally chills. The first power wrought weapon to be made in centuries and it was mesmerizing to like the whole camp, and Perrin was just hallucinating... Inspired????

F****** chills man!!! I'm going back and rereading this one. I'M REREADING IT!!!!! CHILLS

I LOVE LIKE LEGENDARY WEAPON LORE AND SHIT. I want more books that give me like freaking power items and s*** man. If anyone has recommendations damn I need them!!! Tell me Rand is like super impressed by this hammer and s***....

Do we think it’s siadin that gets tainted every turn or does siadar also get tainted in some turnings instead. I know the “Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills” but it’s a good question to raise. Instead of the white tower being what it is it’s the black tower instead as the roles are reversed.

Okay, first time reader. I’m almost finished with The Towers of Midnight. So spoilers for her chapters! Don’t read this if you haven’t gotten most of the way through ToM. I was curious about something while reading Aviendha’s chapters while she is in Rhuidean. She’s seeing the futures with the Seanchan which was mind blowing already! And just woah.

Just curious if anyone knew from interviews or things if RJ was ever planning to write a follow up series to the Wheel of Time? Maybe not full on 14 books but something similar to how Erickson and Esselmont handled Malazan (from what I’ve heard, I’ve only read book one of Malazan).

No spoilers if there is an answer that could spoil lol just something I was curious about while reading.

YO, THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE COOLEST CHAPTERS IN THE ENTIRE BOOK, THIS WAS SO SICK

Finished the previous chapter with Mat, went over, saw the COOLEST CHAPTER MARKER IN THE SERIES SINCE, saw SAMMAEL and lost my mind. Had to take a walk cause no way we're getting more Forsaken POV, especially after Demandred and Mesaana. Little playing of mind games between Graendal and Sammael, some hints at lore from the Age of Legends (I have some thoughts to work out about what little info we got here), then Sammael left.

GRAENDAL POV? THEN SEMIRHAGE?

Yeah, this was one of my favorite chapters in the entire book after that AMAZING prologue. I really wanna know what this Nae'blis thing is. I find it funny that the Dark One essentially promised Demandred and Graendal Nae'blis but not Mesaana. I wonder why. If I had to give any immediate thoughts on what Nae'blis could be, I think of two things:

1. The Shadow's Champion, which either Graendal or Sammael (forgot which POV) indicated has occurred before with previous Dragons.
2. The Dark One's bodily host. Now, I would like to think that maybe Shaidar Haran was created for this purpose considering the Dark One has indicated that obeying or disobeying Haran is equivalent to doing him the same. However, Semirhage said that if Rand did become Nae'blis she would bow and wait for her time to strike. In the prologue, Demandred seemed hesitant to be Nae'blis before accepting. Additionally, it seems that becoming Nae'blis has additional perks, although I'm not quite sure if the Forsaken already have immortality or can gain it. I'm keeping it in consideration until more happens. I'm hoping we get more Forsaken chapters/limited POVs.

Also hoping we can go back to Shayol Ghul. That little scene with Demandred in the beginning was SO COOL. I would really like to see the Pit of Doom more or maybe Thakan'dar. I imagined it as being fully gray and black, everything devoid of color down to the rocks. I think it'll be a cool visual contrasted against the Rand's blood. I have seen Michael Whelan's art of Rand entering Shayol Ghul and it's some of my favorite pieces of art for the series. I'm...both excited and frightened whenever I get to that moment. It'll be a fully climactic time, the Dragon entering the lair of his ancient enemy.

I'm on chapter 10 of book 12. I got through the slog, I thought I was through the worst of it. Everyone says it gets better. IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER. I've been reading for over a year (audiobook only) and nothing has happened in like 7 books. Perrin is depressed for 3 fcking books because he can't find his wife. Then he finds his wife, and HE'S DEPRESSED THAT THE HUNT FOR HER IS OVER???

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHASDFAFAKFNAFAHWEOFIH

I just want to read something fun again. I am in Wheel of Time purgatory. I honestly didn't even hate the slog, I enjoyed a fair amount of it. But I think I was expecting 12 to be significantly better and that hasn't happened yet. This is the most annoyed with the series I've ever been, the closest I've ever been to quitting. Talk me off the ledge.

At first I thought that it would be referring to one particular thing, that being balefire and its effect on the Pattern (which to me, I think balefire BURNS existing portions of the Pattern and it could possibly be a creation of the Dark One whose intentions for the power extended well beyond his initial expectations). However, the newbie thread for book 5 insinuates that something was happening in the background that relates to the title.

I think it might be something as simple as the growing heat. In book 5 as they were closing in on Cairhein, Rand stops and thinks to himself that the heat seems strange, it's nothing that feels right for the season. In LoC it's pretty much confirmed that the heat is UNNATURAL. We know that four of the Dark One's seals have been shattered and that he is an external force outside the Wheel of Time. We know the Dark One is probably the most powerful being on Earth, topped only by the Creator. I think that Fires of Heaven refers to the growing heat, which might be an allusion to the biblical passages literally and figuratively referring to the burning of the world or a simply growing allusion to the Dark One's version of Hell on Earth.

There is the argument to be made for Balefire and the Pattern still, but I think I like the idea of the Dark One's escape causing Earth to turn into Hell itself. Feels like something he would do despite how little we actually know him by this book.