u/Djfantastyka

Hey.

I'll admit that this volume was the most interesting in the series so far and had the most above-average moments.

Where to start... Let's start with Rand. I still can't say I love/like him, but the author is doing some interesting things with him. His secretiveness, less moral inhibitions. For now, his chosen one storyline is developing the way I'd like to see storylines developed in other fantasy series. Rand is maturing, and the series is maturing as well... But more on that in a moment.

Overall, Rand's storyline was interesting, although aside from Aviendha, the author didn't develop his dynamic with other characters... Maybe a Rand + Rhuarc pairing made interesting interactions.

As for Aviendha... There was a funny moment when she described Elayne's body to Rand, in such detail that it was definitely a memory of a naked body. Besides that, Aviendha is the typical "I hate you/despise you at first, but then I love you" storyline. I mean, she tells Rand that he belongs to Elayne, but Min predicted Rand's foursome, so I guess Rand + Min, Elayne, and Aviendha are the obvious answer, since Egwene rejected Rand definitively... Because I doubt Lanfear would be Rand's third woman.

By the way, Lanfear wasn't have much screentime, but it's always nice to see her in a series where there are few interesting antagonists at the moment – a topic for later.

Returning to Aviendha, she hasn't won me over yet, but she'll probably stay in the plot permanently; there's still plenty of time for me to change my mind.

Egwene irritated me less than in the third book, and I'm glad she was a supporting character now. I suspect there will be too much of her in the future.

I'm still not sold on Moiraine, and Lan is still neutral. The only positive thing is that he finally kissed Nynaeve, because how long could we wait?

Mat was still a plus, though he was also a supporting character. Well, you can't be important for all the books. Even Rand took a break from that during the third book.

The traders were a painfully obvious subplot. Of course, they were Darkfriends. Kadere and Isendre were so unsubtle that they probably won't survive until the end of book 5. Darkfriends are in this series to die.

Asmodean was a plus, and it was an interesting subplot, with Rand cutting him off from the Dark One. Besides, the male antagonists are so weak in this series so far that a character like that would be useful as an ally-enemy.

Couladin is one of those criticisms of the male antagonists. He was absurdly aggressive, and the interesting twist was that he declared himself the chosen one... It's obvious it wasn't his idea. Most likely Asmodean's, and perhaps Sevanna's. Strong women controlling men is standard in this series. Honestly, the only potential I see in stupid Couladin is to somehow develop his dynamic with Sevanna as an evil duo. His dynamic with Rand is based solely on Couladin being a racist and being too stupid to change his mind in the future.

I've talked a lot about Rand's storyline, but there were two other important ones.

Regarding Perrin, his relationship with Faile initially really irritated me, but after Perrin wouldn't let her continue slap him (I think he gave her a slap an her ass or two to calm her down?), things calmed down between them. I still don't like Faile, but over time, she became tolerable. Since she became Perrin's wife, well, I can live with her presence in the story. At least Perrin rode a horse with Faile on his belated wedding night in his last scene—that's my interpretation.

Gaul's presence is refreshing, knowing Perrin has a new friend and doesn't have to deal with some of Faile and her friends' nonsense alone.

The whitecloaks... I don't know how to treat them. Their threat is a joke, and Bornhald and Byar are absurdly fixated on punishing Perrin, who had every right to defend himself and kill those whitecloaks.

I thought the reluctant alliance in defense of the Two Rivers would make Bornhald respect Perrin, but Ordeith/Padan Fain would kill him and blame Perrin. Surprisingly, Bornhald is still alive.

Unfortunately, predictably, the Whitecloaks remained a joke, and Padan Fain didn't confront Perrin. He murdered Perrin's family, and so far, nothing. Maybe the author will return to this someday. There are still 10 volumes left. Padan Fain doesn't excite me because he's an absurdly awful person. A psychopath.

Nynaeve and Elayne, surprisingly, were a pleasant storyline. In the third volume, they were boring, but there, Egwene's presence, who I have the least positive feelings about of the trio, might have had a significant impact.

In any case, the Tanchico storyline was a positive one, which was obviously greatly helped by:

- Thom's return (I adore Thom and will defend him until my last breath)

- Bayle Domon's return (he was one of the more interesting characters in the second volume and I simply like him)

- "good Seanchan" Egeanin - I thought she would irritate me, especially after the story about selling Lady Leilwin to slavery, which angered me, but her dynamic with Nynaeve and Elayne was interesting in terms of the clash between her culture and reality. Egeanin is okay, but if she hurts Bayle in the future, I'll change my mind.

- Moghedien - it was good to see a subtle antagonist, although her lost fight with Nynaeve made me doubt she was as threatening as she initially seemed.

- Elayne and Nynaeve were okay, although Elayne irritated me with her naivety and clearly messed with poor Rand's head with her letters.

I'll briefly mention Siuan's plot - it's a shame she lost her position as Amyrlin, but if I remember correctly, Egwene saw that she would fight Elaida in the future, so it's clear Siuan had to lose. At least she's still alive, because she remains the only Aes Sedai I like... Even if technically she might not be an Aes Sedai anymore.

Generally, regarding the antagonists, well, this series is getting on in years, and the main plot of the series is the fight between good and evil, but it's a shame things aren't better in that regard.

- Bornhald, Couladin, and Padan Fain are boring antagonists for me.

- Lanfear, as usual, is a plus, and love does give her a bit of depth.

- Asmodean has the potential to be interesting if his dynamic with Rand is well-developed.

- Moghedien has the potential, though her loss to Nynaeve is questionable.

- Elaida might be interesting, but the awfulness of her character is a caricature.

- Suroth might be interesting, but for now, her dynamic with damane is boring and shallow.

- Sevanna... I suspect she'll emerge from Couladin's shadow, because such a fool like him clearly won't live long, but she'll probably be shallow too. It's an interesting detail that she's more likely to emphasize her breasts, but maybe that's a cultural thing. At least she could be interesting in that I enjoy seductive female characters, even if, in my experience, their mortality rate is naturally high in fantasy.

Overall, the number of seductive females in this volume has increased. In addition to Lanfear, Berelain, Isendre, and perhaps Sevanna have appeared – here I'm still not sure if she's seductive or if it's a cultural thing.

I generally have a weakness for the trope of seductive women, so I like this change because it shows the author's style is losing its innocence. He increasingly draws attention to the fact that women have breasts. Berelain, some Black Ajah, Sevanna, Elayne, according to Aviendha's colorful description.

Good, because characters can't be shy about such matters until the end of the series.

I just don't like that this mainly applies to negative female characters. Perhaps Berelain has the potential for moral grayness.

Finally, my top 10 favorite characters right now:

Thom
Perrin
Siuan
Lanfear
Mat
Bayle Domon
Rand
Gaul
Nynaeve
Berelain (why not?)

In summary, this volume is definitely the best overall, but I didn't love the series and I don't know if I ever will. The plot is a series of good chapters/scenes, followed by an above-average chapter or scene.

I will continue the series, but I won't start the fifth volume until June or July. For now, my priority is the three books by Guy Gavriel Kay I borrowed from the library.

P.S.: Thom is Elayne's father, and until the plot dictates other answer, this is my headcanon.

English is not my native language, so I apologize for any possible mistakes.

Hey.

Kaladin is probably the fantasy character I feel the greatest connection. I was convinced that if Sanderson killed him off in the fifth book instead of giving him a well-deserved retirement with his family, I'd be furious. Now, Kaladin has become a herald, but his mortal body is dead.

And... A year after reading it, I still don't know what to think.

I thought Sanderson would let the main characters of the first five books retire or die, and... I don't think that even happened with Dalinar. All the plots are hanging in the balance, and I feel like I'm stuck on a cliffhanger that will last about 10 years before the story continues...

Returning to Kaladin, I was hoping he could be happy, and in books 6-10, new main characters will be concerned about the world - other characters will have flashbacks in books 6-10, so the changing of the guard seemed like a natural progression to me.

And now... I don't know if Kaladin will finally be happy? As if, instead of finally choosing himself, he lives for others again, and as a herald, he'll be crucial to saving the world in the future. It's sublime, but I simply wish Kaladin could think for himself. And now, as a herald, his earthly family will likely die, and he likely won't be able to start his own... Although I have a feeling the author was building something romantic between him and Syl in book 5. I don't know if a herald and a spren could have children, though I have a feeling Sanderson will answer that question someday... Or maybe I missed the answer; that's also possible.

Anyway... Can Kaladin be happy? Because he won't return to mortal life, and as a herald, I don't know how much happiness he can find, except for Syl still being in his life.

I want Kaladin to be happy the moment I say goodbye to him forever. Is that possible?

Which characters do you think are the MVPs of specific volumes?

I made this grid because why not 🙃?

(first time reader) I finished The Shadow Rising. Here are my impressions of the fourth volume

My grid 🙂

I know Dunia and Nura are the final ship, but do Ara and Nura have to become ash and enemies? I really like this dynamic and would like them to be friends by the end of the season regardless

(first time reader) I have a question about chapter 36 of The Shadow Rising