Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

Still one of the most epic endings I have ever read in a book.

This starts fairly slow but does gather momentum. In some ways this is one of the most significant books in the series considering it’s where Rand and the Aes Sedai really come into contact properly for the first time since he has been publicly acknowledged as the Dragon Reborn. It’s also where Egwene goes back and begins her journey properly. It also sees Mazrim Taim and the Black Tower come into existence. All these are huge and have massive inputs on the whole rest of the series.

Rand again has the majority of this book. He’s manoeuvring the pieces around him, and making the play on Sammael, but in a lot of ways this is one of the last times he’s relatively at peace. He’s basically just hanging around Caemlyn and Cairhien, and once Min arrives back on the scene it’s all fun and games. It’s definitely all pretty bittersweet, particularly his interactions with Mat and Perrin.

Mat doesn’t have too major a part here but it’s setting up his major arc which is to come. Perrin is back on the scene but it’s only towards the end and for most of it it concerns the whole Faile/Berelain thing which I dislike intensely. Still not sure what it adds to the overall narrative, other than some character exploration.

For our other main characters, they are all pretty much based in Salidar and the rebels. It’s interesting but half of the narrative is just about standings/rankings and who can make another person do what they want. The Wheel of Time is supposed to be fairly strong with its feminist credentials but I find the preoccupation with clothing and rank fairly stereotyping. I also really disliked how they all treated Mat, for two of them at least he is supposed to be a friend.

There are definitely a few things off putting here, and most of these will get worse before it gets better but this book also has some of my favourite scenes in the whole series. We have Mazrim Taim’s arrival, and everything on the Farm. Rand and the Maidens. Both embassies first meetings. Avienda and Elayne. The meeting in the inn in Caemlyn. Fire and Spirit. Rand and Min. And of course Dumai’s Well, which as I’ve mentioned already, is one of the most epic things I have ever read. I’m probably missing others. A huge but very entertaining book, and we’re not even at the half way point yet.

5 stars