Knife of Dreams (Wheel of Time): 11/12 (The Wheel of Time, 11)

Product Information

Today’s entry covers Chapters 20 and 21 of Knife of Dreams, in which we have half a *headdesk*, a rather slapdash coronation, and a Moment of Awesome. Rand's PoVs are always a treat to read. Unlike Perrin and Matt his PoVs are not full of self-pity and longing for his lover (and he has three women whom he loves!) or cards, dices, and Tuon. He is focused on how to defeat the Dark One and that's what I love about him. He is trying and learning from every defeat.

Mat and Tuon playing courting games that seem more like battle strategy I LOVE THEM SO MUCH TOGETHER Knife of Dreams contains thirty-seven chapters, a prologue, and an epilogue, in twenty-seven different points of view:This richly detailed fantasy presents fully realized, complex adventure. Recommended.” — Library Journal And while Rand is battling to get to the Seanchan empress (or so he believes), Egwene is not only kept in the White Tower but physically chastised every day. That was actually my favorite part of this book: to see her embrace the pain, refusing to be embarrassed by the punishments, planting one seed after another for a rebellion against Elaida ... it was really something! Truly tragic was the Ogier taking up arms (literally) and entering the fray. I knew it had to happen. I mean, what we're getting to is the FINAL battle. It's not named that for nothing. But while I don't love the Ogier as much as Tolkien's Ents, it sent a shiver down my spine with a sense of darkest foreboding. Your viewings are never wrong,” he broke in. “What you see always happens. You’ve tried to change things, and it never worked. You told me so yourself, Min. What makes you think this time can be different?” Mat continues to travel through Altara with Valan Luca’s traveling circus. Along the way he grows closer with Tuon. Thom reveals to Mat that Moiraine is alive and being held captive by the Aelfinn and Eelfinn. They formulate a plan to infiltrate the Finn’s world using the Tower of Ghenjei thanks to Olver’s knowledge of the game of Snakes and Foxes. Mat and Noal agree to accompany Thom on his mission to save Moiraine.

Naturally, there was plenty to irk me, too. Not as if the writing was bad (plot holes or flat characterisations) but because I just want to see some people die. One in particular, as mentioned in the comments. Gawan usually is a close second, but at least here, he gave us one hell of a prologue when he was finally showing off his skills (so far, we had only heard of his skills but only ever seen him being an absolute idiot).In total, despite some series fans hailing this book as one of the best in the series, after the pain of the last many books (Three? Five or six? It depends on what series aspects are your particular triggers), I can't isolate this volume and hold it in particularly high regard, simply for containing the minimum amount of plot advancement that every book should have. Traveling with circus performers through Seanchan-controlled Altara, Mat Cauthon attempts to court Tuon, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, to complete their fateful prophesized marriage. Despite being surrounded by Seanchan seeking to kill her, Mat’s intended leads him on a merry chase while he wages guerrilla warfare to protect her. He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797. Egwene is captured by the White Tower and demoted to novice in an attempt to discredit her. She continues to lead the Rebel Tower, meeting them in Tel’aran’rhoid and refusing rescue despite frequent beatings and punishments. She begins a campaign to spread doubt about Elaida’s reign as Amyrlin.

Setting: Children of the Light headquarters in Amadicia, Serana in Tarabon, Ebou Dar, Tar Valon, MaldenThe Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai’don!” Managan shouted, leaping up so fast he overturned his chair. However, we got tons of Mat and Tuon, which is always awesome, so we will take it!!! He is reunited with his band of the Red Hand and Tuon, who although fascinated by him as a flirt, finally gets to witness the greatness that is Mat while in charge!!! He is becoming a character to truly root for! Jordan’s writing is so amazing! The characterization, the attention to detail!” —Clint McElroy, co-creator of the #1 podcast The Adventure Zone Egwene is in a coach after having been captured and dosed with forkroot on her way to the White Tower. Katerine Alruddin slaps her, aware that she is waking up. She will be taken to the cells in the White Tower and expects to be charged with falsely claiming to be Amyrlin and executed. Egwene asks who betrayed her so Katerine plans to slap her again but Felaana Bevaine stops her and they begin to argue and all of the Aes Sedai prepare to channel. Tensions in the coach are high between the two red Sisters and the other three Aes Sedai. She is asked what she did to the harbor chain. She is a bit impertinent when she tells them is it now cuendillar so there is nothing they can do without tearing down the gatehouses so Katerine slaps her very hard again. She plans to meet Siuan in tel'aran'rhiod to let her know what happened so the Rebel Aes Sedai can make arrangements for new leadership. As the very fabric of reality wears thin, all portents indicate that Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, is imminent – and Rand al’Thor must ready himself to confront the Dark One. But Rand must first negotiate a truce with the Seanchan armies, as their forces increasingly sap his strength.

And my goodness was I sitting on the edge of my seat when Rand was in the Empress' throne room, facing what he didn't know was a Forsaken and getting his hand burnt off! The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable... Galad confronts Eamon Valda, accusing him of murdering Morgase. Galad defeats Valda in single combat, killing him and becoming Lord Captain Commander of the Whitecloaks. Nynaeve: Well, sh*t, I continue to love Nynaeve ti al’Meara Mandragoran. She has one POV in this book, and it’s not even a full chapter, but god, is it brilliant. This is character respected, like she annoyed me here and there but never quite hated her. I did dislike her attitude toward Mat in LoC, but it’s evident from PoD onwards that she does care for him. Even if she was being obnoxious about it. I liked her arc in FoH, which I can tell is polarising for some folks, but it explored her trauma quite well. But yeah, from CoS onwards, I started loving her much more, especially during Winter's Heart, and without any hesitation, joined Rand on his mission, which seems like a suicide mission. And her affection and care for the people close to her are very much felt. But yeah, in this chapter in particular, she was quite sweet. I even liked the romantic aspects with her and Lan, it was quite cute. I do think the set-up for Lan and her relationship is terrible, but being married was the best thing that happened to Nynaeve. I loved her with her conversations here, her affection for helping Rand in his POVs, etc. Despite all her powers, at her core, she is still the Wisdom who wants to take care of her people (and loved ones).

His huge, ambitious Wheel of Time series helped redefine the genre.” —George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones But the star of the show was Egwene. The way things ended for her in Crossroads of Twilight, I was not expecting what she did in this book. The most tortures of treatment did not deflect her from her path, the severe punishments only made her stronger. It was good to see her finally standing up for a noble cause instead of thinking about boxing someone's ears who misbehaved with her. I am seeing now why everyone mention her when they talk about the good things about WoT.