On the last fifth of A Memory of Light
Oh feelings, so many mixed feelings.
Sanderson writes combat well, and every chapter is full of intense battle sequences, both physical and magical. Channelers use their abilities in practical ways that frankly should have shown throughout the entire series. The channeling limitations are fairly well-thought out - healing is taxing enough that it needs to be triaged, and the stronger channelers are assigned specific roles and need to stick with that, otherwise they wear out too soon. I like that people are remembering that you can physically interrupt channeling, and who knew attack weaves can actually be dodged?
However, I would have preferred if he cut back on combat a bit to include the poignant reunion scenes I had been waiting for - and sadly did not get. Or more attention to certain deaths.
So far, Moiraine's return has been utterly wasted. She's barely had a presence in the book. I had been looking forward to her reuniting with the Two Rivers kids, Lan, and Siuan. However, the only time she speaks to Egwene so far was at the Merrilor Summit, and that was business. Her conversation with Rand was mostly distanced. Most hurtful - no scene with Siuan AT ALL. I am not certain Siuan knows she's alive! I hope someone told her, or that Moiraine met with her off-screen.
And because Siuan is dead (FUCK YOU GAWYN), a heart-felt Moiraine-Siuan scene will never happen.
And I have a sneaking suspicion a Moiraine-Lan moment won't happen either. I am very disappointed.
Seriously - Brandon couldn't squeeze some dialogue in? He could have cut some of Lame-andred's ranting. Once Jorden crushed the Taimdred theory, I guessed he was in Shara. I was correct. And I couldn't care less. Yes, he is crushing the Light's forces, but he was so late to the party! And he is being stupid - he calls out for Lews Therin - dude's HE'S IN SHAYOL GHUL! YOU'RE NOT WORTH HIS TIME! It's quite pathetic.
As for other Forsaken - Moridin is locked in a staring match with Rand. Lanfear is ... who the hell cares at this point. Where is Moghedien? At least Graendal, as usual, is being competent. I think she has done more for the Shadow during the Last Battle than anyone else.
Oh wait, someone else has done more to aid the Shadow. GAWYN TRAKAND I AM LOOKING AT YOU. YOU STUPID, STUPID EGOTISTICAL COCKFACE YOU HAVE TO GO RUIN EVERYTHING. Look at me, I'm a ninja! Leeeeeeeroy Jenkins! Because of fuckin Gawyn, Siuan and Gareth are dead. Neither get a dignified death scene, and Gawyn gets an overly long speech. At least the Warder bond made him suffer, so he can think about what he's done.
Oh Egwene, why didn't you take Silviana's advice and pass the bond to her?
And then ... Elayne. I knew there would be consequences for when that dumbass allowed the Darkfriends to steal the medallion copies. I knew that, being Elayne, it would mean collateral casualties. Because everyone else has to pay for her stupid while she prances around with Baby Insurance. But the sheer brutality of what happened to Birgitte - oh that hurt. And I was already upset from Bela dying (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT BELA!). I hope that Birgitte was returned to the horn ...
It sounds terrible, but I am pleased that something I've been anticipating may actually happen - babies are born, Elayne bites it.
Androl and Pevara, while fun to read, are getting too much attention. In the meantime, Jahar Narishma, who has been around for half the series, fetched Callandor, was there for the Cleansing, and detected Halima has nothing to do but call out Taim's attacks? How wasteful. I hope he gets to something interesting later.
Cadsuane is ignored. And Min has been neglected so much, it is criminal. She doesn't even get a Rand scene! Her becoming Tuon's latest acquisition was one of the very few surprises in this book, so at least that's something.
Interesting that Rand now believes that defeating the DO and creating a world of pure Good is just as detrimental as pure Evil. I am bugged that his reaches this conclusion largely because he finds the Good Elayne and Aviendha dull and boring. That's a weak rationale.
How is Rand ignoring the pain of Alanna and now Elayne? Shouldn't he be feeling that? And how did he not notice Alanna was right there in Shayol Ghul in the first place?!
My speculations:
1. Elayne's speshul babes will be untimely ripped. Somehow they are alive and well despite the massive prematurity and Elayne falling off her horse twice.
2. Elayne bleeds out and perishes. YAY! PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN! No reason for the Dreadlord to leave her alive, yes?
3. Rand berserks, grabs True Power to deliver beatdown.
4. Perrins kills Slayer. Yawn. No one notices or cares.
5. Egwene burns herself out channeling. If burn-out cannot be Healed, I will cry. I doubt she will die since she needs to be Amyrlin. Before this, she slaps a collar on Tuon and puts her through her paces.
6. Olver, in desperation, blows the Horn. Lo and behold, Mat's hanging severed his connection. Heroes spill out, including Birgitte, with her memories restored. I sigh in relief.
7. Logain organizes a massive circle to take down Lame-dred. Stop trying to solo him already! (Why the hell wasn't Logaine already in a circle?! Would there have been a disadvantage?)
8. Lan dies. Nynaeve rezzes him after she rezzes Rand. Letting him stay dead would be too damn depressing.
Sanderson writes combat well, and every chapter is full of intense battle sequences, both physical and magical. Channelers use their abilities in practical ways that frankly should have shown throughout the entire series. The channeling limitations are fairly well-thought out - healing is taxing enough that it needs to be triaged, and the stronger channelers are assigned specific roles and need to stick with that, otherwise they wear out too soon. I like that people are remembering that you can physically interrupt channeling, and who knew attack weaves can actually be dodged?
However, I would have preferred if he cut back on combat a bit to include the poignant reunion scenes I had been waiting for - and sadly did not get. Or more attention to certain deaths.
So far, Moiraine's return has been utterly wasted. She's barely had a presence in the book. I had been looking forward to her reuniting with the Two Rivers kids, Lan, and Siuan. However, the only time she speaks to Egwene so far was at the Merrilor Summit, and that was business. Her conversation with Rand was mostly distanced. Most hurtful - no scene with Siuan AT ALL. I am not certain Siuan knows she's alive! I hope someone told her, or that Moiraine met with her off-screen.
And because Siuan is dead (FUCK YOU GAWYN), a heart-felt Moiraine-Siuan scene will never happen.
And I have a sneaking suspicion a Moiraine-Lan moment won't happen either. I am very disappointed.
Seriously - Brandon couldn't squeeze some dialogue in? He could have cut some of Lame-andred's ranting. Once Jorden crushed the Taimdred theory, I guessed he was in Shara. I was correct. And I couldn't care less. Yes, he is crushing the Light's forces, but he was so late to the party! And he is being stupid - he calls out for Lews Therin - dude's HE'S IN SHAYOL GHUL! YOU'RE NOT WORTH HIS TIME! It's quite pathetic.
As for other Forsaken - Moridin is locked in a staring match with Rand. Lanfear is ... who the hell cares at this point. Where is Moghedien? At least Graendal, as usual, is being competent. I think she has done more for the Shadow during the Last Battle than anyone else.
Oh wait, someone else has done more to aid the Shadow. GAWYN TRAKAND I AM LOOKING AT YOU. YOU STUPID, STUPID EGOTISTICAL COCKFACE YOU HAVE TO GO RUIN EVERYTHING. Look at me, I'm a ninja! Leeeeeeeroy Jenkins! Because of fuckin Gawyn, Siuan and Gareth are dead. Neither get a dignified death scene, and Gawyn gets an overly long speech. At least the Warder bond made him suffer, so he can think about what he's done.
Oh Egwene, why didn't you take Silviana's advice and pass the bond to her?
And then ... Elayne. I knew there would be consequences for when that dumbass allowed the Darkfriends to steal the medallion copies. I knew that, being Elayne, it would mean collateral casualties. Because everyone else has to pay for her stupid while she prances around with Baby Insurance. But the sheer brutality of what happened to Birgitte - oh that hurt. And I was already upset from Bela dying (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT BELA!). I hope that Birgitte was returned to the horn ...
It sounds terrible, but I am pleased that something I've been anticipating may actually happen - babies are born, Elayne bites it.
Androl and Pevara, while fun to read, are getting too much attention. In the meantime, Jahar Narishma, who has been around for half the series, fetched Callandor, was there for the Cleansing, and detected Halima has nothing to do but call out Taim's attacks? How wasteful. I hope he gets to something interesting later.
Cadsuane is ignored. And Min has been neglected so much, it is criminal. She doesn't even get a Rand scene! Her becoming Tuon's latest acquisition was one of the very few surprises in this book, so at least that's something.
Interesting that Rand now believes that defeating the DO and creating a world of pure Good is just as detrimental as pure Evil. I am bugged that his reaches this conclusion largely because he finds the Good Elayne and Aviendha dull and boring. That's a weak rationale.
How is Rand ignoring the pain of Alanna and now Elayne? Shouldn't he be feeling that? And how did he not notice Alanna was right there in Shayol Ghul in the first place?!
My speculations:
1. Elayne's speshul babes will be untimely ripped. Somehow they are alive and well despite the massive prematurity and Elayne falling off her horse twice.
2. Elayne bleeds out and perishes. YAY! PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN! No reason for the Dreadlord to leave her alive, yes?
3. Rand berserks, grabs True Power to deliver beatdown.
4. Perrins kills Slayer. Yawn. No one notices or cares.
5. Egwene burns herself out channeling. If burn-out cannot be Healed, I will cry. I doubt she will die since she needs to be Amyrlin. Before this, she slaps a collar on Tuon and puts her through her paces.
6. Olver, in desperation, blows the Horn. Lo and behold, Mat's hanging severed his connection. Heroes spill out, including Birgitte, with her memories restored. I sigh in relief.
7. Logain organizes a massive circle to take down Lame-dred. Stop trying to solo him already! (Why the hell wasn't Logaine already in a circle?! Would there have been a disadvantage?)
8. Lan dies. Nynaeve rezzes him after she rezzes Rand. Letting him stay dead would be too damn depressing.