Plot:
The story picks up after the events of the The Great Hunt in which Rand al’Thor has declared himself the Dragon Reborn. He now travels to the Stone of Tear to prove his proclamation to the world. Along the way Rand is pursued by the forces of darkness while aided by those you support him. Much of the story focuses on the point of view of the supporting characters Mar, Perrin, and Egwene, not actually from the point of Rand (though he is the main protagonist of the series). The best stories surround Perrin and Mat’s stories. On Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne’s story arc, we get more on the conspiracy of the Black Ajah as well as the exposition of the Aes Sedai. It was good to get an insight into the Aes Sedai hierachy though it was very slow. Like his previous books, the story is damn complex. Rand is on his mission, and there are a ton of characters vying to either help him or hurt him. There are a lot of great twists that keep the read very engaging. There are some plot points that are introduced that aren’t resolved, but in good ole Jordan format, is a starting point for the next entry. The ending is damn epic with the world acknowledging Rand’s destiny.
There are a lot of new characters introduced to the
series. Jordan has done a fantastic job with the characterization.
This is the point where we get see the main three, Rand
al’Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara, have grown as they struggle to cope
with their destinies. Rand is dealing with the madness that the taint
brings to men who can channel but proves himself as the Dragon Reborn.
Perrin is struggling with his calling of being a wolf brother, but he does meet
and falls in love with Zarine “Faile” Bashere. Faile is an interesting
character although she is almost as big a douche as many of the other women
characters. I love how she teases Perrin. Matrim is finally cured of his
illness. Naturally he doesn’t want to get caught up with the war with the
darkness. Yes, the stubbornness of the Two Rivers folk is strong and
frustrating but they’re there when they need to be. Gaul is this Aiel from the
Stone Dog clan who was captured but later freed by Perrin, whom he pledges his
life to. Gaul is awesome and the guy shows he can throw down when the
situation calls for it. But he’s also surprisingly insightful. Nynaeve
al’Meara, Egwene al’Vere and Elayne Trakand are just as annoying as ever though
their story is interesting. Nynaeve’s stubbornness is annoying and Egwene
is just ridiculous wanting to fight about everything. Really didn’t like
how Siuan Sanche is so manipulative and how she treats Nynaeve, Egwene, and
Elayne is just plain stupid considering that they’re new to the game and that
she wants them to follow her orders. I do like Verin as she is more
helpful than the rest of the Aes Sedai who all strive to manipulate others. Min
is just a great character, and a breath of fresh air compared to most of the
female cast. Loial is normally a scholar, but he does get his kickass
moment. The characters are just awesome, even the bad guys.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Production:
Robert Jordan does a great job with the storytelling and pulling his readers into a rich world filled with rich characters, deep storylines, and fantastic world-building. However, writing does suffer in some areas. One being the heavy level of description which can be distracting and even convoluted the reading experience. Love the exposition of the Aiel, who are literally the definition of awesome. They have a harsh but interesting culture not only when it comes to their beliefs but also society. One of the most memorable moments of the novel is Mat’s fight with Elayne’s brother, Gawyn Trakand, and half-brother Galad Damodred. Literally made him look badass and shows that he is a terribly underrated character. Some travel sequences do make for some slow moments which feel long winded. I’m one of those who can appreciate these moments for their insight into the characters. I still hate the characterization of most of the female characters. The female characters get very cocky and rude for no apparent reason other than they are convinced of their own greatness and often put down the male characters. Mat saved Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve and they showed little appreciation for his assistance. The writing is spot on, and Jordan has done such a fantastic job with the series so far. Yes, the book doesn’t completely focus on Rand, but his presence is felt on every page. Thumbs up.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Verdict:
In the end, The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time Book 3) is a great read and great addition to the Wheel of Time series. Yes, it continues the trend of too much detail and during the Aes Sedai portions it slows down dramatically. Despite this, Jordan has continued to improve his characters who remain rich in personality, a very engaging and complex story, a rich world, a lot of memorable moments, and an epic conclusion. The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time Book 3) gets 4 out of 5.
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