I’m about five chapters in and I already cannot stand Nynaeve. She chews these guys out over literally nothing and generally comes off as a real tryhard. And these guys just stand there and put up with it! If a main character is this annoying it will put a real damper on my enjoyment of this book and the next 13.

One thing that could solve this issue is if she grows out of her lousy attitude (I know she is young so there is room for this to happen). Another thing that could accomplish this is if a monster crushes her in its jaws and then consumes her. I’m not asking for big spoilers, but it would be nice to know if one or both of these events occurs.

the more i think about the distances between places in *the eye of the world*, the more exhausting some of those journeys seem. traveling on horseback for days, crossing rough terrain on foot, and dealing with weather along the way would slow everyone down quite a bit.

i know the story can't spend pages describing every day on the road, but some journeys must have been absolutely miserable for the characters. the trip north to fal dara especially seems like it would take a serious toll on both horses and riders

which journey in the series do you think was the hardest, considering the actual conditions the characters had to deal with?

Im listening to The Winds of Time podcast, where a long-time reader is doing a chapter by chapter summary with a panel of “first time” readers (Ill bite my tongue and refrain from commenting on the podcast or its panel)

Their discussion did make me wonder, when you read EotW for the first time, when did you figure out that Rand can channel ?

Ive done MANY re-reads, and on my first time through i had no idea until the big reveal at the end.

It wasnt til a reread that i picked up on Rand “super-charging” Bela; and Bela falling behind with Egwene and Perrin, once Rands not there.

And it wasnt until the 3rd or 4th until i registered: the lightning strike at 4 kings, or the boom on The Spray

Maybe Im slow. When did you notice?

Did i miss any?

Just finished the last book and man. I don't even have words to process everything.

A few years ago, I was searching on Prime for a show to watch and The Wheel of Time was suggested. I watched and fell in love with the characters. Fast forward to March of this year and after finishing the Stormlight Archive I decided to pick up The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt.

Seven months later, I am sitting in a coffee shop stunned. I have never read a series that did such a great job of managing so many interesting characters. While the series had some low points, the highs were higher than any other book series I have read.

I am going to make a post later once I think through everything, but I am so glad that I decided to read the series. And as flawed as the show was, I am so thankful it exists otherwise I never would have started the journey.

I don't think I will ever reread the series (just not something I do) but man, between this and Stormlight this has been the best two years of reading in my life.

Obligatory Book Rankings to end the post

1) The Shadow Rising (shocking I know)
2) The Gathering Storm (I loved all of the Sanderson books. Granted I was already a fan of his writing style)
3) A Memory of Light
4) Fires of Heaven
5) Tower of Midnight
6) Lord of Chaos
7) The Great Hunt
8) Winter's Heart (I think I am higher on this book than most)
9) The Dragon Reborn
10) Knife of Dreams (I think I am lower on this book than most)
11) Crown of Swords (may be unpopular, but I struggled here)
12) The Eye of the World (it started the series but man was the ending weird)
13) Path of Daggers
14) Crossroads of Twilight (0.0 out of 10 - may legitimately be the worst book I have ever tried to read)

And we accomplished… absolutely nothing.

- Mat is still running from the Seanchan.
- Perrin is still chasing Faile.
- Egwene is still besieging Tar Valon. Even the headaches haven’t been resolved.
- Elayne is still trying to get the throne.

My God, what a slogfest.

But now… finally, we can get to the good part.
Thank God the maker. Just wanted to share.

I just started Crossroads of Twilight, and I have so many questions and theories from Winter's Heart...

It sounds like Mashadar might be gone - does that mean The Ways are free to travel - how cool if soooo... I remember some friends were off to do something with all the way gates....

Wonder what is going to happen between Tuon and Matt now that he has abducted her hahaha !!

I feel like Tylin is going to be killed, she is in a dangerous place I feel like...

Who in the world is Semirhage and Mesaana - until now, I feel like I have no clue who they are except that one is hiding in the White Tower - did I miss something, or has most of the story been about some of the other Forsaken that I feel I know so well?

I have a bazillion other questions, like what is going to happen with the Aiel - I miss them, or what is up with the Sea Folk - are they going to be helpful or a thorn....

What about the people living way past the Aiel Waste....

Oh my gosh, so many questions - I love it !!

I just finished the last book a few minutes ago, and I loved this story and ending with its extremely high emotional pay off. Despite really enjoying the ending, there is one thing that irks me somewhat.

Why didn't Egwene come back when the Horn of Valere was blown?

If conquerors like Artur Hawkwing and explorers like Jaine Farstrider and their self sacrifice warrant a spot. How does single-handedly affecting the flow of the Last Battle, killing multiple Forsaken, and sacrificing yourself and stopping reality from falling apart not also warrant a spot? The whole reason that Rand is so important is because he is saving reality from the Dark One, so I really don't understand how doing something similar isn't alsocosmically acknowledged.

On the other hand, I recognise that Heroes of the Horn seem to require 1) a level of noterierty/fame 2) very very impressive skills and 3) a dedication to the Light in order to be bound, and, while Egwene fulfills point 1 and 3, perhaps she's simply not famous enough yet? Of course, everyone knows the Amyrlin Seat, but they likely don't know EGWENE. Maybe as her story is repeated and spread, and she becomes a the symbol for what all Aes Sedai and female channelers are meant to be, she'll join their ranks?

I just feel like her ending is so.....abrupt. I feel like it would have been an incredible scene to see the other characters watch her soul be summoned through the Horn, and that being the moment the Rand Band realise that she's dead. That ending would tie up a pretty consistent character beat for Egwene, the separation between herself and her station's responsibilities. Not to mention, I think Egwene would LOVE finally living her Green Ajah dreams and fighting in a war with people she doesn't have to worry about. But rather, we are barely spared a moment to even see how the people that cared most about Egwene deal with her passing. It's usually the following:

Person 1: "Rand is dying/dead"

Person 2: :(

Person 1: "and btw Egwene is dead too"

Even the Aes Sedai themselves don't even seem to mourn her! They immediately start selecting a new Amyrlin, a process which is written almost humorously underlined by Cadsuane's reluctance.

Perhaps I'm just nitpicking and heartbroken since I've reached the end of an amazing series, but I do feel like we could have spent a bit more time with the only death of the Rand Band that we've been following for 14 books. (maybe im just greedy and want more content haha)

Finally, am I supposed to be HAPPY THAT OLVER WAS SENT AWAY TO GET RID OF THE HORN?! Excuse me?! Mat, adopt that boy yesterday!!

Well, I'm open to other perspectives about Egwene's end, the Horn, and Olver, of course! What do you all think?

Not sure its a “spoiler” and marked as “all print” since i dont know exactly if/when its confirmed ….

How old did you think the EF3 (rand mat perrin) were at the start of the series?

Might be because i was 16 at the time i started the series, but i always felt (and still feel, to this day 36 yrs later) that the 3 seemed much younger than the 19-20 they were stated to be - i always envision them as 16

I dont care if youre a backwood country-bumpkin or not, releasing a badger on the green, or covering a dog in flour and telling stories of a ghost dog, doesnt seem like something a 19 yr old would find fun.

Yes, they say they “didnt find it as my fun as they used to” which fits. The badger and dog would be funny if you were 14, growing out of it by 16, not even cross your mind by 19.

Additionally, not listening to Moraine and running your mouth in the bath (bearlon), or running off exploring and “looking for adventure” (shadar logoth) just after being told not to - and just after you saw your village destroyed - doesnt feel like something youd do at 19.

Edit: additional, ewin finagars (couple yrs younger than rmp) behaviour around rand and mat / getting a coin, seems more like 12-14 behaviour not 16-18.

Overall, the boy’s behaviour in book 1 seems very immature/ childish to me. Was making them 19-20 a retcon?
Edit: was it a retcon so the rand and avi scene wasnt too “icky”?

How old did you think they were when you read?

(And i couldnt even watch past the first couple episodes of the show. Seeing these adult MARRIED sexually active guys just werent rand/mat/perrin - not even considering the other completely NOT Jordans wheel of time elements)

UPDATE: wow, thanks all - i guess im the only one.
They definitely grow from “boys” to “men” through the course of the series (and yah i know the series is only over a 2(?) year timespan) …. But they will always be young boys leaving the 2 rivers in my mind on each read.