u/Normie316

I'm doing my first read through and I'm on Book 6: Lord of Chaos. A person casually mentioned in book 1 has just shown up at the front door. Thinking back he's been mentioned at least once in all the prior books. My mind is absolutely blown that he's just here now as a character.

Does anyone know any behind the scenes stuff on how Robert Jordan planned this series? There are so many characters and places and things going on. How did he plan these monster novels and know to have certain characters prepped for their appearance several books down the line?

The only other author I can compare this to is GRRM and even he can't handle finishing the last two books of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Spoilers for cool stuff in Book 5. Holy cow this book was awesome. I loved the Rand and Mat chapters and could not put them down. I'm really enjoyed the Aiel and their entire culture. I love how Mat picked up a Spear Maiden baddie on accident. Rand trying to balance his plans, duties, relationships with others, and understanding every faction surrounding him was really interesting.

The Nyneave storyline started off really slow but thankfully picked up once they joined the menagerie. I remember liking her more in the previous novels but in this one she came off as really bitchy all the time...to her friends...that she is trying to protect and save the world with...I don't think she grew as a person but she definitely made progress with her abilities which was nice to see.

The Min and Siuan chapters were fantastic and hilarious. I don't know why but Leane is becoming my favorite side character. At first she's just a friend who takes her job too seriously and annoys Siuan. Then she squawks like a chicken after she finds out that Rand is real and the end of the world is coming in her lifetime. She gets screwed over when Elaida takes over. After losing her powers and being told to find new purpose with her life the first thing she decides to do is become a pick up artist. Then at the Tower in Exile she reveals that she's also a spymaster. I hope we see more of her.

After Siuan's treatment by the Tower in Exile I totally get Rand's mistrust of the Aes Sedai. If that is how they are willing to treat their own leader of 10 years, I wouldn't want any of them near me either. Like wow man you're starting a civil war because of what happened to her but you have to be convinced to keep her around...as a servant!

Aviendha really grew on me this book. Book 4 dropped hints at what might have been going on underneath but this one did a really good job of opening her up and showing us how complicated things are for her. I'm glad at least she's growing as a person and having a better attitude towards someone she cares about.

I really enjoyed Asmodean and wish he stuck around longer. It felt like a really good opportunity for a complicated frienemy relationship with a Forsaken. Jordan made an effort to show that he wasn't a cartoon villain and had aspects of humanity in him. Even if he were to escape or betray Rand later I think it would be a good story element to have a potential ticking time bomb right next to him. It felt like a wasted opportunity to have a bad guy know all of Rand's strengths, weaknesses, and plans by being in his inner circle but not do anything with it.

Melindhra's storyline made me feel so bad for Mat. He doesn't really have friends in the Aiel camp and with Rand changing the two seem like they're growing apart. Melindhra and Mat both knew it was a fling but she was still a partner to him. Having her go out like that was heartbreaking.

Having Birgitte "die" and show up in real life was an emotional roller coaster and an amazing plot twist. She's really funny and I appreciate how she doesn't put up with Nyneave's BS at all. Also having Uno be exactly her type was great to see.

Moghedien was absolute nightmare fuel in book 4 and of all the Forsaken to keep chained up in your closet I'm pretty sure she is the worse one. She's super patient and knows how to hold a grudge.

Elayne's thing for Thom this book was weird and I hope its never mentioned again.