The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

Another amazing entry.

So there’s no Perrin in this book. The first time I read it I found it quite strange but he had such a big part to play in the last book that it kind of makes sense. We also had basically no Rand in the third book so it balances out. However we did have a load of Mat so it worked out well.

So Rand is basically just reacting in this book. He first moves because of what the Shaido do and then when word reaches him about Morgase. However he is learning, both through Moiraine once they come to their arrangement and then from Natael, and we are starting to see the Dragon Reborn as the ruler/conqueror more than Rand Al’Thor who are becoming more distinct personas now. The affects of saiden, or just the pressure of who he is, is also starting to become more of a factor. At this stage it’s still hard to tell.

Mat also has a brilliant arc in this book, him coming to terms about what happened to him in Rhuidean and everyone around him starting to suspect is one of the best arcs of the whole series. When he tried to flee the battle but his own better instincts getting in the way sums his character to a tee. Just thinking about where he started in that to where he ends up always brings a smile to my face.

Nynaeve’s and Elayne’s arc in this book is pretty bizarre. More so now on this read than others but I always found it slightly odd. The whole circus thing just doesn’t seem to provide anything and it probably one of the reasons people bounce off the two characters in this book. Neither comes off well and the plot adds nothing apart from one bit. The Brigitte/Moghedien subplot could have been done anywhere.

Saying that there are so many brilliant moments in this book. We have the battle with Couladin in Cairhien and every arc in there. There is the far snows, the docks and one of the saddest moments in the series. There is Caemlyn, as well as Nynaeve meeting both the Prophet and Galad and starting a war. There is the Min and Salidar as well as the whole Brigitte part. The quality and speed in which these first books were written is still pretty astonishing. These first five book came out in the space of three to four years which is hard to believe considering their size, it spoiled me for years. Great book and really enjoying the series again.

5 stars