New Spring

Fast-paced and engaging. Strange to have a standalone story set in this world; the pacing of this was very different than the rest of WoT.

Strange to see Moirraine so young, quick-tempered, and immature. She and Siuan felt much younger than early 20s. I don't know if I like the added context of her youth, or if it undermines her untouchability and stature in EotW.

You know when a series is so delicious, you never want it to end? This is one of those ... but this one doesn't end! Jordan started his series 20 years ago (Eye of the World was published in 1991), supposedly as a trilogy, but we're still waiting for the last book, which will be number 14. I love the rich detail that he puts into these books, although a lot of readers get impatient with the constant skirt-twitching that all the ladies seem to have to do (especially in the later volumes)! It is understandable, because right at the beginning of the series he told us that he knew exactly what the very last scene of the whole story would be; and, naturally, we want to know, too! Unfortunately, Robert Jordan passed away before writing the show more last book, which he promised would be a single volume. Before doing so, he passed the torch on to his wife and Brandon Sanderson. However, there was so much information that they decided to publish it in 3 volumes - and so we are still waiting for the end of the series ....

This is a prequel to the Wheel of Time series, with events occuring about twenty years before Eye of the World, though it was written more than half-way through, in 2004. This book tells the story of the prophecy made in the White Tower, when Moiraine was not yet an Aes Sedai, that told of the birth of the Dragon Reborn, the only hope of the world; but in saving the world, he will break it. The series itself is about how the prophesied Dragon is found and fulfills his destiny.

Having read the first ten or so books in the series, I recognise some of the characters at an earlier point in their careers. This story covers Moiraine (a central character in 'Eye of the World') becoming an Aes Sedai (a woman who can wield sorceress-like powers), the beginning of her search for the Dragon, and how she met and bonded her Warder, Lan. It can be read as a stand-alone book, and is not essential to the series itself; but it does fill in some points of interest, and gives some insights into the workings of the Aes Sedai.

I like the way Robert Jordan writes, rich with trivial-seeming details that bring the story to life: wall hangings are "colourful winter tapestries ... bright scenes of spring and garden parks". Because the cast of characters in the series are spread over two continents and several centuries, these little details that characterise each person help keep them in mind the next time we meet them. The atmosphere in this prequel takes me back to the first three books, before the scope of the narrative widened so dramatically.

I really enjoyed this book, and reading it makes me want to re-read the whole series (especially now that it seems the end is in sight!). show less

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Title: New Spring
Series: The Wheel of Time #0
Author: Robert Jordan
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 336
Words: 122.5K

Synopsis:

From Tarvalon.net & authored by Kyria d'Oreyn

Lan's point of view

The Aiel War is over and Lan rides north to the Blight with Bukama. In Canluum, Kandor, they meet Ryne, an old friend. He informs them that Edeyn Arrel, Lan's carneira, intends to raise the banner of the Golden Crane of Malkier. Together they ride to show more Chachin, noticing someone following them. It turns out to be a woman, (Moiraine), who claims the right of a woman alone, and gives them the name of Lady Alys. Bukama pledges to escort her to Chachin. Lan doubts that this woman is who she claims she is. He believes that Edeyn sent her.

Once in Chachin, their ways part and the three men ride on to the Aesdaishar Palace, where Lan is received by Brys, Prince-Consort to Queen Ethenielle of Kandor. A few days later, Lady Alys appears again and wants Lan to spy on Merean Redhill, an Aes Sedai staying at the Palace. When he and Moiraine/Alys uncover a plot of Merean's that involves killing Brys, his son Diryk and Edeyn's daughter, Iselle, they rush to save the three innocent victims. Lan confronts and defeats Ryne in a duel. The next day, he rides out of the city. Moiraine rides up to him and asks him to be her Warder.

Moiraine's point of view

In their time as Accepted, Moiraine and Siuan are present when Gitara Moroso speaks her Foretelling of the Dragon's rebirth. Later, Tamra Ospenya, the Amyrlin Seat, decides to give out a bounty of one hundred gold marks to every woman who bore a child in the camps around Tar Valon during the last week of the Aiel War. This is actually a plan to find out who the Dragon Reborn might be. At first, Moiraine and Siuan ride out with the other Accepted to record names for the bounty, but the following day they are instead told to re-copy some of the less legible lists. This gives them the opportunity to create their own list, of babies that meet the description of the soon-to-be-Dragon. Moiraine is told by Tamra to take a letter to Kerene Nagashi, asking her to appear before the Amyrlin. Other sisters receive letters as well, which leads the young women to think that Tamra wants to send out searchers for the boychild. One after the other, those sisters leave Tar Valon, and one morning Tamra is announced dead.

After she and Siuan are raised to Aes Sedai, Moiraine leaves Tar Valon to search for the boychild herself. In Canluum, she meets Merean and Cadsuane. Siuan is also there, having left the Tower to tell Moiraine that Tamra's searchers are all dead, possibly killed by the Black Ajah. Moiraine avoids Cadsuane, and after leaving Canluum, she follows three riders (Lan, Bukama and Ryne), who she believes may be Darkfriends. She claims the right of a woman alone to have an excuse to ride with them. On the way, she looks for the women from the list of possible mothers of the Dragon Reborn, but none of them is who she is searching for.

In Chachin, she meets Siuan again. Siuan has located Ines Demain, the next mother on their list, in the Aesdaishar Palace. When Moiraine hears that Lan is also there, she immediately wants to go back to her rooms to avoid running into him, but on her way there she meets Merean again. No longer sure who she can and cannot trust, and who is and is not Black Ajah, she decides to go to Lan and ask him and Bukama to spy on Merean. Later, after Lan accuses Moiraine of attempting to have him killed, not knowing that Merean was the one behind the attempt, Moiraine becomes certain that Merean is a Black sister. They run to confront her. Merean kills Brys and Diryk before Moiraine kills her. Moiraine tries to save Iselle, but fails. The following day, she rides out after Lan to ask him to become her Warder.

My Thoughts:

(This so-called Kyria d'Oreyn has written over 1000 articles at TarValon.net and the above summary is the best he can do? Torval would totally kick his sorry little summary butt! I'm only complaining because I don't have to write any of it, hahahahaha!)

This was pretty close to a perfect book and I shall articulate why that is fact (and if you disagree, Lightning from Above Strike your degenerative head!).

* claps hands *

Now pay close attention, class.

First off, there are only two point of views here. One from Lan and one from Moiraine. None of this silly 57 eleventy pov's like there are in some of the books. While the cast of characters is just as large as in some of the other WoT books, Jordan does an admirable job of simply telling 2 tales and how they intersect. At under 400 pages, this is tight and to the point. Jordan could have taken some lessons from himself and this book. But since he's dead, my advice will never be followed. Oh, the tragedies I endure as I serenely hand out blessed wisdom left and right like water to parched souls.

Second. Moiraine isn't a bitch. Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe how Jordan portrayed her anger and impatience without making her a horrible, terrible, no-good person that I wanted to strangle (all those DO apply to Nynaeve by the way). Moiraine isn't perfect, but I simply didn't want to wrap my hands around her throat and throttle her to death. She was actually FUN to read about, you know, like a main character should be?

Third, the story has a definitive beginning and a definitive end. While it was speculated when this was released that it would be a trilogy (and I'm pretty sure Jordan himself lent credence to such rumors), nothing ever came of it and Sanderson expressed zero interest in doing such a project after finishing up the mammoth ending trilogy. Which makes the fact that this can stand on it's own feet a VERY good thing.

On a side note, when I re-read this back in '11 I noted that it shouldn't be read before Book 8 (Path of Daggers I believe). I'm torn whether that was the right place or if where I read it this time (just after Book 5, the Fires of Heaven) was better. Honestly, I saw no reason not to read it at this point. Since I don't ever plan on re-re-re-reading this series, I guess that particular issue will simply have to remain one of life's ineffable mysteries ;-)

★★★★★ show less

My one note on Goodreads on this book was "Not nearly as much spanking in this as in the main series" - and that's a bit sad, considering there was still more spanking than I would consider normal in a non-erotic-type novel. (That's one thing I'll say for Jordan, is the spanking is never erotic. I think that's a plus. I think.)

This is a prequel to the WoT series, expanded from a short story or novella telling how Lan Mandragoran and Moiraine Demandred met and wound up bonded as Aes Sedai and Warder. I think I raised a scornful eyebrow when I first heard of it, simply because of the extended wait time between books - really, sir, what are you doing exploring the past when the present and immediate future of your world desperately need to show more be dealt with? But it is a good story. I don't believe I ever read the novella (short story?) but in the novel the tale of How Lan Was Bonded is tied up with the birth of the Dragon Reborn, and the youth of Moiraine and Siuan Sanche, and also with White Tower politics, and - most fun for me, I think, and smartest, what exactly brought Moiraine and Lan into the Two Rivers that day.

The depiction of the White Tower from the inside, from the points of view of two very different young women living and learning there, was wonderful. There was a lot of good stuff in here. I hadn't ever realized how short-changed we as readers were by the fact that Our Heroines never spent that much time in the Tower; it was startling to learn just how uninformed I was about the step between Accepted and Aes Sedai. We were never shown much of the training, and never anything at all about the later phases.

I always liked Moiraine, and it was good to see some of the formation of the personality I met in WoT. And to find out just how she dodged the bullet that was the crown of crown of Cairhien – I had wondered. As for Siuan Sanche … I never liked her all that much (early on, little more than "hard as nails" and outbursts about fish guts, later on nearly as angry all the time as Nynaeve and still more fish guts), but this was enlightening. I'm not sure how I feel about her and Moiraine being "pillow friends", or not; this is the one time I wish Jordan was less Victorian about sex in his books and would just say one way or another what the nature of their friendship was. Coyness does not become a grown man – what it does become is irritating. (Not, mind, that I have any – ANY – interest in the boys' sex lives in WoT (A-N-Y), but for Pete's sake just come right out and say it instead of putting on a fan dance.)

The story took a couple of unexpected turns, and ended up being something quite different from what I did expect. I approve – and I appreciate the story. And, sadly, it makes me wish Jordan had had the chance to explore a few other areas of the canon which might have tantalizingly received little or no attention. I'd love more set before the Breaking. Who knows? Maybe there's stuff still to be released in his papers… show less

I do enjoy The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. The books are not without their flaws: the characters are somewhat flat, especially the women who all seem bad-tempered, passionate and dangerous. What I find compelling is Jordan’s world building. This is a complex world, with various societies, a long, detailed history and plenty of action from both heroes and villains. And I am fascinated by the continuity of these books: in ten volumes I have not found a single plot conflict, even after re-reading the works.
In the latest book, Jordan looks back to the beginning of the Dragon Reborn, following the early years of Moiriane Damodred as she becomes an Aes Sedai, and the path of Lan Mandragoran as he fights the invasion of Aiel. To show more those who have read any of The Wheel of Time series, these names will be familiar: to those who have not, these are pivotal characters in that series. You need not have read any of the series to understand New Spring: being a prequel, it does not rely on the other works to enjoy this one.
Moiriane maybe a noble in the Cairhien court, but this counts for little in the White Tower of the Aes Sedai, where all the Accepted are treated the same regardless of their background. She receives the same training and discipline as her best friend, Siuan, who is a fisherman’s daughter. Both of these women are determined to become full Aes Sedai and much of the book is their struggles to gain that position. The Aes Sedai are women with the One Power, a magical force that gives them huge influence, both politically and socially. This comes with large responsibilities and as Moiriane learns, becoming a sister does not give her complete freedom. Only a few Aes Sedai know of the birth of a baby boy who is prophesied to save the world by breaking it: among these are Moiriane and Siuan, who want to find and protect this child, but must first deal with Tower politics and rivalry. When an evil force appears within the Aes Sedai, they choices become more constrained and urgent.
As the same time, we follow Lan, a warrior facing the now retreating hoards of Aiel. As the war winds down, Lan finds he is in the middle of political intrigues, as a former lover has raised the flag of Malkier, a kingdom that was wiped out twenty-five years before, but for which Lan is the last heir. During his travels to prevent this dangerous cause, he meets up with Moiriane and the two begin a intermittent and contrary relationship. Both the soldier and the Aes Sedai need each other to face the dark forces that are threatening them.
Because of a long trip, I listened to the audio version of this work. The entire text is under 350 pages, a small work for this series, but the CDs were a total of thirteen hours. While not as fast as reading the book, the audio version was a very pleasant experience, as Audio Renaissance choose the readers carefully and Kate Reading and Michael Kramer did an excellent job. Not only did they have fine speaking voices, but they conveyed the story with the right level of feeling and intrigue. Listening to a book has a different feel than reading it, and while I did not sink into the plot the same way, it was still a good experience AND I now know how to pronounce Tuatha’an.
Whether you read or listen to this work, it is a interesting story. Jordan’s characters are still a bit flat, but the further explanation of this world makes it worth the read. As a introduction to The Wheel of Time or as further reading, New Spring is a good book. show less

Much better than Crossroads of Twilight and The Path of Daggers. At about 1/3 of the length of the other volumes in The Wheel of Time the writing is more direct and not as weighed down by excessive description of fashion and culture. It was interesting to read of Moraine’s ascension to the shawl and how she became caught up in the search for the Dragon Reborn and how she recruited Lan to the cause.

I see I gave it a 5 star initially... upon reread, I think 3.5 rounded up to 4 is more accurate. I love having more Wheel, and I adore baby!Moiraine and Siuan, fresh-faced 22-year-olds who spend half the novella as Accepted, woo. But, on its own without the context of the grander story? I'm not sure it holds up as well, but it's a fun prequel (kind of like Rogue One, where we know the conclusion and it's contained, but weaker).

The strengths of NS are building Aes Sedai lore, and the test for gaining the shawl- we don't see that in the main series until the Sanderson books. I decided to place this after book 4 in my reread- I've seen recommendations for after 5 ([b:The Fires of Heaven|13895|The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, show more #5)|Robert Jordan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327866286l/13895._SY75_.jpg|588034]) for story reasons or after [b:Crossroads of Twilight|113435|Crossroads of Twilight (The Wheel of Time, #10)|Robert Jordan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408325146l/113435._SY75_.jpg|195579] for publication order, but by putting it between 4 and 5 it really reemphasizes the urgency Moiraine has over her goal: to find the Dragon Reborn and keep him safe until the Last Battle. (Some prefer not putting it so early because an Aes Sedai introduced in 7 shows up here but honestly, she's formidable no matter when she comes in so let her pop in whenever.)

I would NOT recommend new readers start here even if it is a prequel unless you really like learning about the magic system upfromt; however, due to casting I suspect elements of NS are going to be pulled into the first season of the Amazon Prime adaptation of WOT.

spoiler thoughts: The Black Ajah are a great bogeyman because they're so mysterious, and the White Tower is in denial of their existence... but honestly it's a wonder that they're able to pull off anything? By sheer numbers- Egwene discovers there are over 200, or about 20% of Aes Sedai- there's enough to cause chaos, but with their structure and inherent backstabby nature... yeah.

I cannot remember if Queen Etheinelle references the events of NS later, though surely her consort and second son being murdered would affect her perspective on interacting with sisters. show less