The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (Novel) [Revisited]

Ironically Rand, who is the Dragon Reborn, isn’t a primary character in this book. Sure he’s very much a centerpiece of the story with Perrin and Moiranie chasing after him toward the Stone of Tear and Eqwana, Nynaeve and Elayne trying to protect him from the Black Ajah. But I found this book to be where Mat becomes his own hero. Mat is taken to the White Tower for healing and finds himself gifted with luck and on a quest to deliver a letter from Elayne to her mother Queen Morgase in Camlyn. It’s also fun to see Aes Sedi in training with Eqwana, Nynaeve and Elayne becoming friends before getting assigned a secret and dangerous mission from the Amyrlin Seat herself. This is such a satisfying book. Mr. Jordan really keeps upping the ante that you’d think he’d at some point fail to improve upon what he’s doing so well here, and that’s create a memorable and rewarding epic. This one also has the start of the book’s best love story with the introduction of Zarine Bashere (Faile). Another wonderful achievement in long form storytelling that just makes you want to keep on reading, no matter the size of the next book. Grade: A