mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.25
Writing: 3.5⭐️/5
Jordan has a vision for this novel, but this vision feels like it’s a bit surrounded by repetitive phrases and scenes. The writing itself is serviceable. It gets the job done, and is easy to read when it needs to be. But the overall impression of the writing is a bit unsubstantial. Apart from a few moments of truly good writing, the novel doesn’t shine in its prose. That being said, it also isn’t held back by its prose. It’s served by its prose: nothing more, nothing less.
Characters: 3.25⭐️/5
*Some Spoilers*
Where the first book truly drew me into the characters, this book offered a number of reasons to question their characterization. Min, for one, has a moment that seems completely out of character for her. Not to mention a lack of any growth towards many of the characters we grew to love in the first book. Plus, and I can’t emphasize this enough, we have the fridging of a minor character solely for the purpose of advancing Thom’s plot, which I must (and truly do) consider a cardinal writing sin. If I’m being honest, the only character who retained growth from my perspective was Nynaeve.
Plot: 3.25⭐️/5
I feel the plot of this book will be entirely necessary to the plot of the series. And yet, it left me with the same taste in my mouth as a filler episode of a sitcom. Much of the plot felt pulled at – lengthened where it wasn’t necessary – and padded with fluff. The truly adventurous or intriguing parts of the plot were quickly (and sometimes far too easily) resolved in order to advance the next section. Of course, all that being said, it’s not an unenjoyable read at all and did keep my interest, whether deserved or not.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Those who read book one of The Wheel of Time (The Eye of the World)
Content Warnings?
- Slavery, confinement, kidnapping, toxic relationships, toxic friendships, blood, gore, torture, abuse, child death, war, misogyny, sexism, death, murder, injury, injury detail, fire, emotional abuse, gaslighting,
Post-Reading Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
As much as parts of this book IRRITATED ME (hi, Rand), I am very excited to start the third one.
Final Rating: 3.25⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Body horror, Gore, Toxic friendship, Grief, Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Trafficking, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Slavery, and War
Minor: Addiction, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Self harm, and Racism
cmklaft's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
I'm impressed I could even get through this. Robert Jordan has an amazing ability to draw out a story that could 100 pages 650 pages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Blood, Violence, and Slavery
wogslandwriter's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love Matt Cauthon so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Torture, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Violence, War, Death, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gore and Blood
Minor: Alcohol
Spoiler
Towards the end of the book a main character is captured and forced into slavery and servitude through a magical device that also enables magical torture. She is physically and emotionally tortured by her captors. She is freed by the end of the book, but other side characters who are seen briefly are still enslaved and are taken away by the enslavers.nadiaherondale's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Certainly an improvement in pace and interest for me. I'm glad things are picking up as I can actually enjoy what is a well written and thought world (that was obvious on the first one but all the introduction and the slow pace made it way too hard for me to enjoy it). Although I still feel like the climax of both the first and second books led to rushed endings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Torture, Blood, and Religious bigotry
annick's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Rosamund pike is an excellent narrator. But the book is such a mess. Systemic misogyny by the authors writing and characterisation. And such reductive statements that can’t just be down to the immaturity of the main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and War
ednapellen's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My relationship with The Wheel of Time books is complicated. I enjoy and appreciate it well enough but I'm not necessarily a fan of it as it and I, unfortunately, just haven't clicked.
As far as quality is concerned, this should be at least a 4/5 or 7/10.
The star rating given, 3.75/5 or 6/10, is to refer to my personal enjoyment rather than the quality.
There were several moments - and even entire sections - throughout this book that I really genuinely enjoyed and found impactful, as well as tons of worldbuilding that I greatly liked, but overall I'd say I was fairly indifferent to this book.
While there were those things I genuinely really liked, there was an equal amount of things that I just didn't care for one way or the other. I found parts of the story almost exhausting, though I think that's appropriate given the contexts of those moments.
I will say I greatly liked the majority of characters, though many of my favorites were set on the back burner.
I've heard Rand described as bland before, but I don't find that to be the case. I quite like his attitude and approach to his circumstances, including his faults. Not because said faults are likable, but because they make him more believable. I continue to enjoy the execution of the "reluctant hero" trope and look forward to seeing where Rand develops from here.
All in all I appreciated and generally enjoyed this book and don't really have a direct issue with it, but something unknown prevents me from confidently saying I liked it. I'm carrying on to book three in hopes that it enables me to really truly like, if not love, this franchise.
As far as quality is concerned, this should be at least a 4/5 or 7/10.
The star rating given, 3.75/5 or 6/10, is to refer to my personal enjoyment rather than the quality.
There were several moments - and even entire sections - throughout this book that I really genuinely enjoyed and found impactful, as well as tons of worldbuilding that I greatly liked, but overall I'd say I was fairly indifferent to this book.
While there were those things I genuinely really liked, there was an equal amount of things that I just didn't care for one way or the other. I found parts of the story almost exhausting, though I think that's appropriate given the contexts of those moments.
I will say I greatly liked the majority of characters, though many of my favorites were set on the back burner.
I've heard Rand described as bland before, but I don't find that to be the case. I quite like his attitude and approach to his circumstances, including his faults. Not because said faults are likable, but because they make him more believable. I continue to enjoy the execution of the "reluctant hero" trope and look forward to seeing where Rand develops from here.
All in all I appreciated and generally enjoyed this book and don't really have a direct issue with it, but something unknown prevents me from confidently saying I liked it. I'm carrying on to book three in hopes that it enables me to really truly like, if not love, this franchise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
Very minor innuendoes and references for the most part. In one case a woman is naked among other women, but it is not in a sexual context and her body is not described at all.leighskarz90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Slavery, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Confinement
pagesonfire's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, and Gore
Moderate: Torture and Body horror
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
shlowee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Rand al'Thor!!!! Most favorite Average Guy of all time ❤️❤️❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery, Gore, and Violence
Minor: War and Vomit
josiah17's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Great read. It had a very Sanderlanche-esque ending which was awesome. There's also some really solid character development here, particularly with Rand. The worldbuilding is also once again fantastic. I'm really digging Jordan's ability to set the scene. His writing style is really easy to follow and it's effective. I can see the connections and inspirations from his work to Sanderson's writing. The magic system also really shines in here. It becomes much easier to understand and visualize. I was sort of lost in Eye of The World when it came to the magic and how it was used.
This book was also DARK! There's some pretty disturbing stuff in here. It might not be interpreted that way by everyone, but it was tough to read some scenes in here.
Now something that really didn't work for me in this book was the romantic (if you want to call it that) subplot going on. Or the attempt at one. It's just not working for me. There were some moments when the romance was brought up in awful moments and just took me out of the story. I really hope it's resolved soon.
Besides that, I liked most of the book. I'm very happy I decided to jump into the Wheel of Time.
This book was also DARK! There's some pretty disturbing stuff in here. It might not be interpreted that way by everyone, but it was tough to read some scenes in here.
Now something that really didn't work for me in this book was the romantic (if you want to call it that) subplot going on. Or the attempt at one. It's just not working for me. There were some moments when the romance was brought up in awful moments and just took me out of the story. I really hope it's resolved soon.
Besides that, I liked most of the book. I'm very happy I decided to jump into the Wheel of Time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Torture