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celf's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
geekspertise's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hawkwood_'s review
3.0
Honestly a bit of a difficult one to describe, even as a Wheel of Time fan. I’ve heard of people starting with this one, going chronologically as it’s a prequel, but that would just be confusing as lots of terms are introduced as call-forwards or callbacks rather than being properly explained. I’ve heard of people reading it after they’ve finished the series as a palette cleanser or a “dessert”, in case you grew really attached to Jordan’s writing style. I’m somewhere in the middle (as I write this I’m halfway done with Book 11, the last Jordan wrote before his passing)
On its own, the book drags a lot and meanders in many places, with a typical (but enjoyable!) exciting conclusion in the last hour in true WoT style. It’s very indicative of the series as a whole, in some ways. If you vibe with the books you’ll love this. If not, this won’t save you.
Overall my recommendation is, in order to get the most enjoyment out of this prequel, to read it if you truly love Moiraine and Lan, as this fleshes them out both beautifully and puts them on the level of the main characters from the series proper, or even if you’ve seen the Amazon series and want a segue into the books but are intimidated by the idea of a 14-volume series. It’s a great way to see if you enjoy the writing style of the books.
On its own, the book drags a lot and meanders in many places, with a typical (but enjoyable!) exciting conclusion in the last hour in true WoT style. It’s very indicative of the series as a whole, in some ways. If you vibe with the books you’ll love this. If not, this won’t save you.
Overall my recommendation is, in order to get the most enjoyment out of this prequel, to read it if you truly love Moiraine and Lan, as this fleshes them out both beautifully and puts them on the level of the main characters from the series proper, or even if you’ve seen the Amazon series and want a segue into the books but are intimidated by the idea of a 14-volume series. It’s a great way to see if you enjoy the writing style of the books.
dhardhar's review
5.0
Not too much of a plot if you’ve finished the main series, but still nice to read about Lan and Moiraine and their origin story.
fehreric's review against another edition
2.0
I'm true Jordan-style, almost nothing important happens in the first half of this book. I was disappointed to wade through so much empty filler. It seemed there was more wasted prose then one of his normal books.
However, I did enjoy getting a glimpse at Moiraine and Lan. I chose to read this after "The Fires of Heaven," and had a few questions answered.
I feel super committed to finishing this series. If I had started here ... Well, this would be where I stopped.
However, I did enjoy getting a glimpse at Moiraine and Lan. I chose to read this after "The Fires of Heaven," and had a few questions answered.
I feel super committed to finishing this series. If I had started here ... Well, this would be where I stopped.
anteros's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bglad94's review
4.0
This was my first WoT book since I finished the main series 2+ years ago, and it's good to be back in Randland. Moiraine is one of my favourite characters in the series and getting to see her origin story, the beginnings of her search for the Dragon Reborn, and her relationship with Lan are well worth the price of admission.
rebecca_3's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first Wheel of Time book I have read. Since it is a prequel, I was a little confused at first, as things are not fully explaing, assuming the reader already knows how things work in this wrold. But, with time I figured it out and I am glad I read this first. I guess I dont know for sure until I read more, but it felt like a really great setup, like it very well could have been written first.
What a page turner! As I read I became more and more amazed by the complexity of the story and the society created to tell it. And it has everything! Adventure, revenge, conspiracies, betrayal. And thats another good thing about reading the prequel first. I didnt know what was going to happen. I didnt know who Lan was and how he was going to become significant. When I reached the end I was actually shaking with excitement and anticipation for the adventure to come.
What a page turner! As I read I became more and more amazed by the complexity of the story and the society created to tell it. And it has everything! Adventure, revenge, conspiracies, betrayal. And thats another good thing about reading the prequel first. I didnt know what was going to happen. I didnt know who Lan was and how he was going to become significant. When I reached the end I was actually shaking with excitement and anticipation for the adventure to come.
sicaurigus's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm… this wasn’t at all what I was expecting from the prequel, but then, it never is with RJ, is it?
Perhaps this one should’ve stayed a short story, because honestly the book was boring. We spend half of it just focusing on Moiraine and Siuan cataloging names to try to find the Dragon Reborn (an endeavor that the reader knows going into it is going to be fruitless), and then the other half is just Moiraine being insufferable to Lan. I was so excited to see them meet and find out how she bonded him, but it was just so lackluster.
Moiraine feels like the woman we know and love while in the Tower, but the moment she leaves it she suddenly turns into a brat. She gets offended that nobody treats her like an Aes Sedai while actively disguising the fact she’s Aes Sedai. She torments Lan for days on end (or maybe even weeks?) because of something she overheard him say while eavesdropping. The irony of throwing tantrums when people don’t respect you. I find it so hard to believe this is the same woman from the rest of the series.
Lan was his usual broody self, but we found out more about his past and Malkier than I ever wanted to know. Just one thing actually: carneiras, the title for someone’s first lover. The women get to choose whoever they want, that’s fine. But the men get chosen and apparently can’t refuse whoever picks them? Lan, at FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, got chosen by a THIRTY YEAR OLD WOMAN. And we just act like there is no issue with this. (That same woman now wants to set him up with HER OWN DAUGHTER.) And there’s something about a braid of his hair that means the carneira has power over him or something? It’s all so awful. I hate it.
Bukama was cool except for his constant nagging that Lan wasn’t respecting Moiraine enough and he should swear an oath to her despite how much she didn’t deserve it. It’s still too bad he died though.
I wish Siuan had been in the story more. She was pretty cool honestly. She’s so over the bullshit politics at the Tower and in the other kingdoms. Her and Moiraine’s friendship was lovely, and I’m pissed we almost never saw them interact in the main series now.
I find it funny that Cadsuane is “not like other Aes Sedai” and she bends the rules and doesn’t care about the stupid social etiquette of the Tower… and yet still expects everyone to bend over backwards to please her for no reason, just like every other Aes Sedai.
There isn’t much else to report on, because nothing really happens in this book that relates to anything in the main series. Moiraine bonds Lan, and she and Siuan are the only good Aes Sedai that know the Dragon has been born. And I guess Elaida develops her lifelong grudge against the girls that eventually leads to her deposing Siuan? But that might’ve happened anyway.
Overall an okay story, but probably didn’t need to be told tbh. It was nice seeing a normal shawl testing, to compare to Nynaeve’s unfair one, but that’s about it.
Perhaps this one should’ve stayed a short story, because honestly the book was boring. We spend half of it just focusing on Moiraine and Siuan cataloging names to try to find the Dragon Reborn (an endeavor that the reader knows going into it is going to be fruitless), and then the other half is just Moiraine being insufferable to Lan. I was so excited to see them meet and find out how she bonded him, but it was just so lackluster.
Moiraine feels like the woman we know and love while in the Tower, but the moment she leaves it she suddenly turns into a brat. She gets offended that nobody treats her like an Aes Sedai while actively disguising the fact she’s Aes Sedai. She torments Lan for days on end (or maybe even weeks?) because of something she overheard him say while eavesdropping. The irony of throwing tantrums when people don’t respect you. I find it so hard to believe this is the same woman from the rest of the series.
Lan was his usual broody self, but we found out more about his past and Malkier than I ever wanted to know. Just one thing actually: carneiras, the title for someone’s first lover. The women get to choose whoever they want, that’s fine. But the men get chosen and apparently can’t refuse whoever picks them? Lan, at FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, got chosen by a THIRTY YEAR OLD WOMAN. And we just act like there is no issue with this. (That same woman now wants to set him up with HER OWN DAUGHTER.) And there’s something about a braid of his hair that means the carneira has power over him or something? It’s all so awful. I hate it.
Bukama was cool except for his constant nagging that Lan wasn’t respecting Moiraine enough and he should swear an oath to her despite how much she didn’t deserve it. It’s still too bad he died though.
I wish Siuan had been in the story more. She was pretty cool honestly. She’s so over the bullshit politics at the Tower and in the other kingdoms. Her and Moiraine’s friendship was lovely, and I’m pissed we almost never saw them interact in the main series now.
I find it funny that Cadsuane is “not like other Aes Sedai” and she bends the rules and doesn’t care about the stupid social etiquette of the Tower… and yet still expects everyone to bend over backwards to please her for no reason, just like every other Aes Sedai.
There isn’t much else to report on, because nothing really happens in this book that relates to anything in the main series. Moiraine bonds Lan, and she and Siuan are the only good Aes Sedai that know the Dragon has been born. And I guess Elaida develops her lifelong grudge against the girls that eventually leads to her deposing Siuan? But that might’ve happened anyway.
Overall an okay story, but probably didn’t need to be told tbh. It was nice seeing a normal shawl testing, to compare to Nynaeve’s unfair one, but that’s about it.