"my biggest question at the end of the book is, 'who the hell killed asmodean'" Wow, so nostalgic... haha

I can't believe he built up Couladin for a book and a half, and then didn't even give us a battle scene. Truly one of the most mind-boggling things ever.

“Game Of thrones : a woman and her 3 dragons Wheel of time : a dragon and his 3 women”

"Lan, biggest heartbreaker in all of Rand land." I chuckled at that. Lan is my favorite character.

Oh the Recaps.... By the way, I love, how Jordan explains us book after book after book, how the dreamworld works, but then completely without explanation throws in a character mentioned once 500 pages ago, acting as if anybody of us remembers the guy.

A bit late, but I've been having fun with a rewatch. As one of those guys who hates Egwene... If I were to attempt to be objective, I personally think Egwene's anger towards Rand in this book is a manifestation of her realizing that their power dynamic has changed. He's out there conquering nations and leading armies and changing the world... and she's still an apprentice. He has outgrown her, and she doesn't like that fact. After her capture by the Seanchan, and even before that to a lesser extent, control is extremely important to her. On top of that, the Aes Sedai made a huge fuss about how powerful she'd be... and Rand makes her look like a child there too. This in particular gets highlighted near the start of book four - right after the conversation between her, Rand, and Elayne. She knows the Dragon is the most powerful channeler to ever live. She knows Nynaeve is far more powerful than she is. And, she still assumed Rand was only about as powerful as she and Elayne. This is just the book where all of that is settling into her head... and she DOESN'T like it. That's my take on it, anyway. (SHRUG)

Just finished this book, my favorite Mat moment so far has been in book two when he’s holding the horn of valere and he says “The prophecies never said we can’t use it now” and everyone’s like 🤷‍♂️

I had a hard time believing moraine actually died. I felt that very same way, a bit bummed... she was a huge player for me

Duuuuude I loved that part where Lan sneaks into the tent with Mat and gets him to speak on his opinions on how to prepare for the upcoming battle sneakily. Well done 👏🏼

It was in my 6 or 8th re-read of the series when I had the thought that Loial is Robert Jordan. Long-winded, too-much detail, then sometimes too blunt and always writing more. It's funny to me now every time Loial goes on too long with a story then says something hasty, thinking of how we review the books as too long-winded in some spots then rushing through so much content in the 3rd act.

My theory is that Nyneave find a way to heal the gentling of Logain since Min had that vision of him being great

I wasn't emotionally ready for that Lan quote at the beginning. 😭

I feel you on the lack of Perrin. I stated reading the series when I was a teenager and there were only 4 books out, and I loved the Perrin 'scouring of the shire' plot in book 4. Bought 5 when it was released. No Perrin. Not even a little bit. Man was I pissed 🙂 I love seeing your reactions to these book as you read them. Sad to see your only up to book 6 so far, but that does feel oddly appropriate...

The reason for Moiraine sending Lan to another Aes' Sedai is so he would not suffer the madness Warders feel from losing their bond and wanting to commit suicide. It gives him a reason to continue living.

I just finished TFOH in my first read through of the series. Big fan of your book reviews and this one mirrors my thoughts/feelings on this book to a T. From the dragging on with the menagerie to the holy crap what just happened final acts, you put it perfectly. Thank you!

I 100% agree with the criticisms on this book. I really believe RJ’s books could have benefited from some outside editors. (As I understand it his wife served has his editor) These books all could do with a great deal of abridgement. (So far. I mean I can only speak up to end of this book.)

Robert Jordan has a rough.. and I mean rough time writing female characters but he absolutely nails Moiraine. And it made her death so much more difficult

I must admit your reviews on WOT are completely on point! I am a first time reader of the series and I am glad you hit and didn't miss major parts in the story. These books have a lot going on and you can easily miss important information. I have watched other reviews and they have left out so many important events in the story. Great review brother. Look forward to watching the rest as I continue my journey book 6 here I come!!!

It was only in hindsight after finishing all the books that I realized just how big the story is. It began to make sense why some books did not contain all the important characters. Even though I miss not reading about my favorite characters, I understand now. Upon further re-reads (lost count, more than 10 I think), this point gets even more pronounced (for me at least) because I pick up on things I had not noticed before. This is a really big (both wide and deep) story. In a sense, it is The Story. Still, I get bored during the "slogs", too. I differ on some of what you describe as a slog, though. I liked all, that stuff about the Aiel for example. But, I agree, there was too much circus.

The reason for the recaps was the amount of time that passed between each book, easy enough to scim read through those parts during all my rereads. You are right to not try and remember each character, if they are important enough you will remember them.

Hey, Mike! So I have been watching your reviews and they are great! I am actually in the middle of my third readthrough of the series and whenever I finish a book, I go to watch your corresponding book review. It is always so so interesting listening to the thoughts and feelings of first time readers. Some comments I smile at and think "RAFO!" and then there may be some negative comments that I sadly agree with. When you say that we don't need a recap of the story, I think I know what you are talking about. For instance, how he explains what it is like in Tel'aran'rhiod in every single book. Or how he really likes to drill in how enhances someones's senses are when they are holding on to the Source. I agree, it gets a bit annoying. That scene with Mat in the tent, talking about the battle plans with Lan was so awesome. One of my favorite Mat moments. He is truly coming into his own and He only gets better from here.

love the honesty in these reviews, great review

Weirdly Aviendha one of my top 3 characters atm and her relationship with Rand works better for me than Rand and Elayne or Min

You got my sub. I just started reading this series. It may become my favorite series, but that is to be determined.

I love Moraine's decision to follow Rand. I get why people don't like it, but when people are dedicated to a mission and humble, they're willing to put aside their rights and self to serve the mission. She's serving the mission. It's great, we can come to see that she wasn't just a know-it-all authoritarian, she was a servant leader trying to help a plan unfold and serve those around her.

"Who killed Asmo?" used to be the biggest one

This is Nagwene at her most arrogant. I feel ya bro. In my rereads I skim Luca's show chapters. Quickly.

I’m really late to this video but I’m enjoying watching these as I go through the series now. Moraine’s death didn’t shock me because of how Jordan wrote her but how it happened did; I thought it would be in the final battle against Rahvin so the dock scene slapped me in the face. I enjoyed it and I’m excited to start Lord of Chaos. I’ve subbed and built a heavy TBR list thanks to your channel. I appreciate your work!

Probably my favorite so far in the series, currently starting book 6

Ah, 120 pages into Lord of Chaos, barely finished the prologue then ;) Stick it out with Lord of Chaos, it is a bit of work but man is it worth it in the end.

"I need Egwene to do more." That wish is absolutely gonna be fulfilled. xD

you had the winterfell banner in the background in just the right light during this, i glanced up and it looked like a mirror for a split second. the blue light does it justice.

Hey Mike I've watched your reviews and really dig em. You totally smashed this one in my opinion. You echo everything I thought with the exception of min lol (I like her). I'm a first time reader and cant wait till the lord of chaos review . Thanks man

I watch your videos after every book and man you are so in line with most of my thoughts.

Same here: first time through I read the first four books in fewer than three months and I couldn't get enough of it. This was the first one where I was like "Ah...coulda skipped this." I haven't reread this one, despite everything in the final act, and Rand and Aviendha's frisk in the snow.

im on my first read through and after every book i come to your reviews and watch what you think and recap what i read, and i cant believe you didnt know moiraine was going to die when she did, she spent all book and last book like she knew she was going to die soon and then she just needs to go to the docks. as soon as lanfear blew up i knew her time was up.

I just finished this book, and I agree with pretty everything you say with the cons. I can't stand Egwene or Nynaeve, and was a bit disappointed with the lack of Perrin. However, so far, this has to be my favourite so far. So much happening.

This book is one of my favorites in the series Jordan definitely did a great job

I understand you're frustration with this book. I have to say that I enjoyed it more on rereads because of a the little things you pick up. Like Callandor. He was lugging it around for throughout most of the book

I agree, some parts of the book I had to switch to audiobook while I am driving/cleaning house just to get through the chapters. The amount of time i had to read about dresses changing in Tel'aran'rhiod I thought this was a New York fashion show. O my goodness but the last third of this book was amazing, could not put it down. Morraine falling with Lanfear threw that door, felt like Gandalf falling with Balrog to there "death".

I had to explain to my girlfriend why I was laughing so hard when Rand walked in on naked Aviendha and she reacted by ripping a hole in reality and streaking through the snow

It does feel icky at first, with the whole three loves thing. It's interesting to see how each plays an important and unique role in Rand's story, and how Jordan maintains them as whole characters in their own right at the same time. They don't lose their own plots in the process of building those relationships. Which lets be honest, wasn't A Thing in the 90's!

Agree Moraine's death was crushing in part because of what it does to Lan. I didnt like Lan leaving either I felt like at the time I read this when it came Rand needed Lan around him. In some ways Lan is his mentor at least as much as he can be, thinking back to the Great Hunt when he helped Rand out. Egwene ugh.. I do like Aiel I had read a lot of fantasy like Dragon Lance and Forgotten Realms as I was a D&D nerd, before I read these in the mid-90s as such I didnt have any context at the time for them so I ended up really liking them in part because they are loyal to Rand and how far they will go for him. So much to comment on. Love the reviews.

I will be shocked if Moraine and Lanfear are dead, no one has died in last 4 books but bad guys, no stakes yet, on to book 6

Nothing wrong with the re-caps... hard on binge readers, but not a problem to an original release reader. I waited 1-2 years in between books on my first read, and was happy to come up to speed on where we left off, much quicker than re-reading the previous book.

Oh, you’re not supposed to *remember* the names. Jordan gives you enough context that you can figure it out who they are when they reappear.

Another great one

“I feel like Min is just the most useless character in this book right now.” Buddy, you don’t know the half of it

How can you not tai’shar that quote at the beginning of the video.. you can’t leave that out ! Tai’shar manetheren ! Tai’shar malkier!

i love the aiel, its so interesting to me and it just fits real well for me

I'm sure its here in the comments somewhere, but small correction, it is actually Moghedian who pulls Birgitte out of T'Rd and Nyn trys healing her to keep her from dying in a way that kicks her out to the pattern of rebirth with her man, but that didnt work so elaine bonds her

Shoutout to the Black Company!

I really enjoyed Egwene's story. In Shadow Rising and this book, she is learning how to become a wise one. She learns about honor and leadership and the dream world... This is important to her character arc.

Hi Mike I like you reviews, to understand Egwene in this book you kinda have to take yourself out of Rand's perspective and realize that in less than a year they both are changing rapidly as people. Her frustration is the lost of the boy she always knew, and for a time though she would marry. Is it childish, yes but she is also a 19 year old girl. She doesn't deserve the undulated hatred of the fan base.

Hopefully in later books Mat and Perrin get more chapters. They’re awesome and hugely under used. It’s starting to frustrate me that we get all these Nynaeve chapters while those 2 are sidelined.

Dude literally fucking same about Perrin's absence in this book. He's been my favorite character since his time with Elyas Machera in book 1. I haven't started book 6 yet but if he's not back in a big way I'm gonna riot.

on the 3 wives thing for rand, its ladies night. they are the ones who decide that it is ok, rand feels just as icky about it as you do. and no, i don't think it is some marvelous invention of robert jordan, but i think it works well enough.

15:50 being in tel'aran'rhiod in the flesh being "evil" is never resolved, because like aes sedai, the wise ones don't know everything. they just know that the forsaken do horrible things using that technique as best anyone can theorize. and this isn't a spoiler because it remains entirely unresolved and not covered at all. so i am willing to hand it out. just so that you remember that the characters don't KNOW anything. they believe many things.

Dude, your accent coming through as you quote the series transforms Lan Mandragoran into a Cowboy from the Wild West 🤣 and it Seriously still Works.🤣 I recommend you read A New Spring now after reading Book 5. It's awesome

Agree about recaps but most authors do that, books take 1-2+ years between publishing

Nice review. This is where you will stay to really see the complaints about Jordan's descriptions. Moraine scene is actually one of the key scenes in series. This scene was written 25 years ago. Before the ASOIAF and other darker fantasy. On characters Rand: is the starting to grow for his mistrust of ase sedai starts here. In a lord of chaos it's well you will see this is the start of the Jordan's Male insanity ... Mat foundation was laid last book. His death is important you wont find out why til [spoilers] Perrin 2nd awsome scene is coming This point in series where the narrative shifts to more the female plot lines. Egwene this is her real foundation book. From 6 on she has some of the biggest growth in series. Nyneve this is her flip book she going ti get brought to earth and rebuilt. Elaine shes starting her growth her portion of upcoming story more political Avienda. Shes the least screen time of the wives 3. Alot her neat comes at end of the series. Min. Only hint is shes the point of sanity starting book 6 through the rest of the series. Her really everything starts in chaos. Lan. He gets more after chaos. Aiel. Sorry you don't like them that mitch they do play fundamental roll in test of the series. They act asf a foundation for rands forces and humility through out

Do you remember by chance what kind of hilt Rand had put onto Laman’s sword? Was it ever described?

"Sometimes they make me want to visit the real dream world." That made me laugh and its true.

Love your WoT reviews

The tediousness of the Aiel was mind numbing for me. The series never reached the peak of the first four books for me. I really wish that Harriet had been a much better editor for her husband. This series would be much more revered if it had been tightened up greatly.

24:47 keep it up mike I think ya got something

Maiden, mother and crone, the three facets of many feminine conceptualizations of divinity. Aviendha is the maiden, Elayne the mother and Min the crone (because she's wise, mostly--the woman who sees beyond--but you'll also note she is deliberately older than either Rand or the other two girls).

You like Grimdark? Please tell me you have reviews or plan to do the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever (finished series).

I agree with Mike about Min she kind of seems like a 5th wheel kind of wanted her to branch away from Siuan and somehow make her way to Rand.

“If Jordan has taken his kids to the circus recently”….. He did, or at least a circus came to Charleston, and this gave him his solution to bring Galad, the women and Masema all together.

For me the slog started a book ago. 4 through 12 all have significant portions of extraneous material. A really great series that unfortunately weighs about twice as much as it should. As opposed to Way of Kings, where I've read 1000 pages and not a whole has happened to the (only) 3 main characters, but there's no fat on it, there aren't chapters that could be removed wholesale, the author is very clearly purposeful, whereas after book 4 of WoT it seems like the editor was dismissed. I read WoT before Dune, and honestly the Fremen did not remind me of the Aiel. The similarities are obvious of course, but I don't know, the worlds are different enough maybe. WoT is almost a YA novel, while Dune is definitely more adult. In hindsight saying Jordan was "inspired by" is pretty generous, considering just how similar they are. ah Balefire plothole/inconsistency. An example of an idea too cool for the conceiver's execution.

I really liked this one- equal to Great Hunt for me and slightly better than Shadow Rising. I actually loved the circus. I know, unpopular opinion 😆

Totally agree with WAY to much on the circus. I think entire chapters could have been deleted and the necessary information all combined into a single chapter. This book could've really been a full quarter shorter, if not a third.

It's interesting you feel that way about the three wives thing. I have only just started lord of chaos so I don't know where it ends up but I guess with the way that destiny rules almost everyone in this story it feels more like the way things have to be? It hasn't felt icky to me I guess. Maybe thats because it's not rand wanting them all and so that's what he gets. He hardly knows what they feel for him and how strongly they feel it. I think it's going to be a very big shock to him when he realizes what 2/3s of his wives half agreed on. All without his knowledge or input. I can see it not going very smoothly for Min and Elyane. But I doubt they will be very up front about it because no one is ever up front about things they should be in this series.

I enjoyed this review and agreed with a fair bit of it. I am not looking forwards to the three wives thing, along with the horrible romance are the two things that put me off this series. But it's doing something right because I do want to start the sixth book.

Take a shot every time Mike says "Frank Herbert's Dune" in the whole WoT series review.

Egwene's character always bothers me because she never either listens to Rand or give him any credit. She cuts him off and assumes it's wrong or a bad idea from him -argues but no discussion. Other character growth for her was much better but not that part. IMO after several reads of series.

I have to wonder if I am the only one in the world who knew who killed Asmodean at the end of the book on my first read. I did NOT look up spoilers, no one told me, and I didn't even get it confirmed until I finished the series and read the Companion. I just put two and two together and came to my own conclusion which turned out to be correct. My friend who was reading at the same time had no idea and when I proposed my theory she was like "oh yeah, how did I not see that..."

You are right about Min :D She is just a hangaround.

Endless Aiel Traditions, haha...my main complaints about tSR and tFOH

we all have ways to say the names we prefer. I just know that if I ever get to see the Amazon series, I'll get endlessly pissed at how they say shit 'wrong'. :P

Egwene, Egwene... I had the same problem with her. She is a character who i liked some of her arcs but doesn't liked her very much. If it makes sense. The circus is a unanimity in the fandom. Nobody likes it. About Nynaeve... I love her. She is pretty much a character love or hate.. Moiraine was a surprise for me :/ i cried.

Egwene and all the other characters can’t communicate properly. She has reason to be annoyed at him but she does nothing to get his trust or be his friend. When you think about it they’re not actually good friends. I think she would put her life on the line for him and vice versa they have a loyalty to each other but she wouldn’t keep his secrets or counsel him more like scold. I think she has the right to be rude to him, they have history and our from the same village. Same with everyone else. If he demanded she bow down to the lord dragon it would be weird and gross. I hope they portrays their relationship better in the show. Even if it’s a deteriorating/ shifting relationship. It’s tough bc she sees herself aligned with the tower so she can’t just be rands girl bestie.

I see how you could see that the Aiel are representative of the Freemen in dune. However, this is all based on religious themes. Jesus (the Dragon) was a jew, there were 12 tribes of Isriael. The Jews wandered in the desert fo 40 years as a punishment. The Aiel are clearly a take off of the Biblical Jews as the Last battle is a take off of Armagedon in the book of Revelation.

This is the point when you read New Spring.

Cool review. Just remember to let The Lord of Chaos Rule.

The first 2/3 of the book felt slow and repetitive to me, it took 2 weeks to get to 65%. From 65% -> finish took 1 day and started LoC the same evening

Birgitte rhymes with an Arctic cheetah: Brrrr-GEET-uh.

keep in mind the books came out two years apart so It kinda was necessary for a recap. You much like myself when I started reading the series years ago are burning straight though with no time lapse so the recap comes across as unnecessary. I am responding to a video you did months ago and I'm sure someone has already mentioned this to you but there are a couple of filler books in the series, one of which takes place over a period of two or three days. I won't say which but It left me really disappointed. I'm interested to see how you react when you finally get to those books. Your analysis is pretty good even on things I may disagree with you on. You have it over on me with regards to the fact that I had to read each book a second time to do a proper analysis.

If you want to know who killed Asmodean go to The glossary and look for Asmodean you will find the answer. Not this book but the next one

Egwene, and other women, have the misguided notion they need to keep Rand humble. Despite the fact that he is literally a king at this point, and they would NEVER treat someone born as a king in this manner to keep him humble. Pretty sure they're just incompetent (see: the Aes Sedai in everything they try to do ever).

Nooooo I love Min!

AH! for some reason I thought there wouldn't be a new WOT book review for a long time so when I saw this video pop up I was pleasantly surprised :) I love Min! I fear for the TV adaptation that they will cut or morph characters but honestly out of Elayne, Min & Aviendha, I like Min the most, so if the writers can keep her please T^T I am one of those people who hates Egwene. Not so much judged on her actions but more on her words. TBH as a female I dislike a lot of Jordan's female characters. Sometimes it feels as if he just created them to be annoying characters :/ I get why people like Mat so much but I like Perrin. Moiraine's death really got to me too, even though she wasn't one of my favourite characters or anything. As for who killed Asmodean, I won't tell you of course, but I recently read some really interesting info on the decision why he got killed off here, and its funny how things have changed.

I also groaned out loud when another Kate Reading-read Circus chapter started. But it was 90% due to the abrasive and terrible character that is Nynaeve in this book (and go a lesser degree the earlier books). I hear she gets better. But man the combination of her character is written, the WAY Jordan writes her POVs and the way Kate Reading Reads most characters but especially Nyn, all added up to just a dreadful and frustrating experience.

Yea the circus stuff took waaaaay too long for me smh. This was the beginning of the slog for me honestly.

algorithm

If you don't like Matt now you never will.

welcome to the writer who doesn't know what brevity is

I just finished the book 5 minutes ago and jumped to watch your review right away as always. I have to say I find most of the women in this series to be quite annoying. Egwene is by far the worse and as the books progress I get more and more annoyed by her as a whole. Nynaeve is also a bit annoying in her weird hatred toward men? The whole dynamic and thoughts of men to women and women to men is mad annoying. I also am annoyed at Rand and Mat with their aversion to even touching a women even when they are gonna die by one. I personally found the circus stuff not horrible just very drawn out and unnecessary but it's not as boring as most of the story lines of the women. I struggle through more of the women's POV to get to Rand, Mat and Perrins POV. I find them much more interesting, rewarding and better personally. I do enjoy this book though and think there were lots of great moments and loved Rands progression and the battle and political scenes. Overall excited to read the next book leave a comment on your Lord of Chaos video once I'm done reading!

Why why why must we have so much nyneave and so little mat and Perrin? Frustrating!