The Fires of Heaven

Action packed! Characters developed in rather unexpected ways. A completely unexpected turn of events and overall a really solid read. Even the weird parts ended up paying off... Though I don’t feel like going to a circus ever again... ( )

The only plot points for which this book was worth reading are Siuan Sanche's sacking, her plot and character development with respect to Gareth Bryne, and the last four or five chapters. Other than that, I believe Jordan has surely spent too much time (excruciatingly) detailing fussing over the unnecessary and glossing over the unnecessary. Just thinking that Nyaneve's traveling menagerie got more time than the war at Cairhien sends shivers down my spine.
Get you sh*t together -_- ( )

On rereading... you know, it was perfectly good, but I can't remember what happened in it, just now, days after finishing. It's so much just a part of the whole. ( )

This series is slowly creeping up on a five star rating.

I liked this book very much. it took me way too long to finish it, as I was pretty busy with university and misc. real live stuff, but this week, I finally got around to finishing the audiobook.

The book was, in parts, very predictable. But then again, in some other parts, it was completely unpredictable, which is a rare thing for me lately, and especially surprising coming from a series that is three months younger than I am.

As always, my personal highlight of the book (and the series in general, for that matter) is the world building. Give me a book with an interesting world, and I will happily read it, even if the story is predictable. Give me a book with an interesting world AND a good story, and I will devour it. At least if I have the time for it.

I will most definitely keep reading this series (or, rather, listening to the audiobooks, which are also superbly done). ( )

The Wheel of Time continues to deliver, but not as smoothly as the previous entries. I've seen a lot of gripes concerning the reminders of details that were covered in earlier books, and they do slow down the plot. I'm assuming the reminders are there for those who haven't read book 4 recently. In any case, they are not the biggest issues.

Perrin and his group are absent in The Fires of Heaven, likely since he got some time to shine in The Shadow Rising. Also absent is the Jordan's world building. The heroes return to lands that have already been seen, so no new cultures are introduced. Instead, we see how recent events are reshaping the lands west of the Dragonwall. People are vying for power in the Dragon Reborn's wake while the Dark One's prison is weakening, and a prophet is gaining influence in the less stable areas.

Mat continues to try to escape from it all, although Rand finally gives him a talking to. Both Rand and Mat are forced to re-examine some of their feelings on women in warfare. Rand especially, since he has to deal with the consequences of his (in)actions. Both of them grow as characters, along with Egwene who is beginning to realize her own potential.

My two biggest gripes are Nynaeve and the amount of text that could be trimmed without affecting plot or characters. Often, especially in the beginning, there will two or three chapters in a row with the same POV character where the first one was almost unnecessary. That first chapter would be talking about doing something, and the following chapter would be doing that thing. The book can be a good two or three hundred pages shorter if these chapters were cut or combined. That said, when things are happening, they do not disappoint. The conclusion was especially satisfying.

Nynaeve was by far the most annoying part of it all. She's headstrong, stubborn, and used to getting her way, but how many paragraphs need to be her bickering with Elayne (who isn't much better sometimes) or thinking how great everything would be if everyone just does what she wants. On top of this is a lack of self awareness when she berates her group for being reckless, only to charge into danger herself when others who are far more experienced give her very explicit warnings of what can go wrong. Though she does eventually face consequences for this, its still pretty grating. ( )