I started reading this series in 1999. What a feeling of accomplishment! 15 huge books. So many years wondering if I would ever get
to complete it, especially when the author dies, and now I can say I’ve done
it. Was it worth it? Would I tell someone that’s considering to
read The Wheel of Time to do so? Mostly
yes, because it is an entertaining read.
Some of the books in this series I’d put up there as the best fantasy books I’ve ever
read. My hesitation is it is a huge
commitment (especially if you’re a slow reader like myself) and the ending
(while mostly excellent) isn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. But let’s be honest. Endings are really hard. Most writers would fail trying to tie up all
the loose ends and have events conclude with a ring of believably. Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal are
heroes for giving us fans an end to a series that would have never seen an end
if not for their passion. I feel silly
to nick pick and find fault in any decision that was made, but I will because
that’s my right. I get to have an
opinion just like every other reader.
Tarmon Gai'don has begun.
At the Field of Merrilor team Rand al’Thor plan for the onslaught. Egwene and Elayne will lead the charge while
Rand goes to fight the Dark One at Shayol Ghul.
Perrin will have to join the fight in Tel'aran'rhiod. Will Mat be able to convince Tuon and her
Seanchan army to join the last battle?
Everyone is on hand in a book jammed packed with battles and carnage and
victories and defeats. It’s almost too
much at times but when you’re talking about the end of the world and with
dozens of character arcs to explore, of course it’s going to be a lot. It’s all very exciting and well-paced and
makes for a solid conclusion. If you’ve
made it this far and don’t keep reading you’d be a fool. Grade: A-
Spoilers: I had a
bad feeling there wouldn’t be many great deaths when in the opening prologue
Sanderson sets up what would have been a fantastic and heroic end to the
character of Talmanes as he fights to save the Dragons from Caemlyn’s
destruction but alas, just before he dies, an Aes Sadai heals him. In the end there were some great deaths,
Egwene being the best. Siuan Sanche and
Gareth Bryne both getting killed helped make for a believable story. But of the three Ta'veren, Rand, Perrin and
Mat, they all live. I can see why
keeping Perrin alive is a good idea. I
even like Mat living, but Rand should have perished at the end. I can see how Jordan and Sanderson probably
were trying to avoid the whole “messiah” concept but for Rand to fake his death
and be able to wander the world free of responsibility (remember he’s a father
now) and let his wives take care of the mess he left behind, it’s just some kind
of cruel male fantasy. Yeah, I saved
the world and now I get to retire. I’m
not saying more people needed to die (many do of course) but when only one of
the main characters perishes (Egwene) it’s just feels too easy. It was the end of the world, the last battle,
people sacrificed their lives so others would live . . . just make sure none of
our favorite characters die? It was a
bit of a cope out. I was hoping for a
more inventive end where Rand surrenders himself and becomes the new Dark One,
or Perrin loses his wife and vows to never marry. Maybe the Aes Sadai are tricked by Tuon and
have to fight two battles at once.
Maybe have it that Rand fails and Perrin and Mat have to join him to
kill the Dark one. Anything to make the end of this story stand out and be
different. In the end we have a
satisfying conclusion with no real guts.
It’s the happy ending we were expecting but not really needing. What starts off as one of the most memorable
fantasy epics ever ends as a long drawn out bang that will be forgotten over
the next few years.
No comments:
Post a Comment