Rand is starting to feel like somebody who has power before he really knows what to do with all of it.
He’s making decisions that affect armies, nations, and people who are constantly trying to pull him in different directions. Everybody around him has advice, but almost nobody is completely neutral. That’s what made his leadership more interesting to me here. He’s supposed to be the guy at the center of everything, but that doesn’t mean he suddenly knows what the hell he’s doing.
I liked that Jordan doesn’t make leadership look easy just because Rand is important. A lot of the time he’s choosing between bad options, trying to figure out who he can trust, and dealing with people who have their own plans for him.
Nynaeve is still one of those characters who can be really entertaining and really frustrating at the same time.
She’s proud, stubborn, and used to being the person who knows what needs to be done. So anytime she feels powerless or out of control, she reacts badly. I understand where that comes from, but there were definitely times when I wanted her to stop arguing and just move the hell on.
Her back-and-forth with Elayne can be funny, but sometimes they stay stuck in the same disagreement longer than I need them to.
Moiraine was more interesting to me here because her relationship with Rand starts changing. She realizes she can’t just order him around anymore, and I liked seeing her adjust instead of constantly trying to win every argument with him. Sometimes backing off and choosing when to push has more impact than another fight.
The pacing can still be uneven. Jordan will get one storyline moving really well and then suddenly you’re somewhere else traveling again. That’s something I’ve noticed more and more as the series gets bigger.
But when the major confrontations hit, they usually work because they’ve been building for several books.
That’s what I like most about this series by this point. The big magic moments are cool, but the better parts are usually when somebody makes a choice because of what they know about another person. These characters have history now, and they know exactly where each other’s weak spots are.
That makes the conflicts feel more personal than just “who can throw the biggest amount of power around.”
Who I’d recommend it to: Anyone already invested in Rand’s rise and the growing tension between the people trying to guide, control, or protect him.
Caution: The pacing still jumps around, and some of the Nynaeve/Elayne arguments can drag longer than they need to.
Discussion question: Who do you think understood Rand better at this point—Moiraine, Nynaeve, or nobody?
— Cory Lane