A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

A little slow but still a great read.

So I’ve always felt this is where the series really starts to bloat, though I’m sure other’s may disagree. This is where we start to get more and more POV’s from minor characters such as Morgase, Galina or Seaine, to fairly major ones such as Elaida, Sevanna and the Forsaken. It definitely adds more texture and scope to the story but does take away focus from the main characters, especially considering there are quite a lot of main characters as is.

As for the story itself, as there are so many threads going on, it does start to slow down. A lot of the book, and in particular the first half, is all about the consequences of Dumai’s Wells. It changes Rand profoundly as well as a lot of other people’s opinions and attitudes towards the Aes Sedai. I find it very interesting and is my favourite part of this book apart from the Mat chapters. He’s with Elayne and Nynaeve in Ebou Dar still looking for the bowl of the winds. Perrin and Egwene have fairly small parts to play in this book and is all set up for their next arcs.

I suppose we need to talk about Mat and Tylin a little. When I first read this, and even after, I found the whole thing quite amusing which I think was Jordan’s purpose. Being honest I still do a little. However I can see where people have issues with it and I know if we reversed genders I would have much more of an issue with it. This hasn’t aged well I suppose but I don’t think it was meant in a bad way and it’s all from Mat’s POV anyway who is famously unreliable. I love all his comments on wondering where Olver gets his bad habits towards women from.

Not quite as many legendary moments in this one but there are still quite a few. Rand coming back to Cairhien after Dumai’s Wells, the arrival of Cadsuane, Rand meeting the rebels, Mat and Birgitte, Elayne and Nynaeve’s apology, Nynaeve on the boat, Elaida when she finds out about Dumai’s Wells. As usual there are probably more I’ve forgotten about. I did find the end a little anti-climatic but it’s not bad as such. Roll on book 8.

4 stars