Finished A Memory of Light
So. It wasn't the best of endings. But it *was* an ending.
Some things worked out well, but too many didn't.
Is it a fitting ending? I guess so. There were unanswered questions, and character send-offs were largely disappointing. As the audiobook faded away, I didn't feel satisfied. I didn't feel sadness that the series is over (and I felt that way after reading *Renegades of Pern* in my teens, since that was the natural end point for Pern). I felt more like the series was so exhausted that the most humane thing to do was conclude it, even if the conclusion was abrupt.
And that IS how it felt. After a slow and frustrating start, the book was battle battle battle battle battle battle battle battle battle, and suddenly, it's the epilogue. A TERRIBLE EPILOGUE. WORSE THAN MASS EFFECT 3'S EXTENDED CUT EPILOGUE. As of this writing, I think the ending of AMoL upset me more than ME3. Not because of what happened (or what didn't), but how poorly it was executed.
I'd say 90% of the book consisted of the inevitable, and certain speculations coming to pass, and the remaining 10% were genuine surprises. Perhaps I am being too generous with that 10%.
Moiraine was completely and utterly wasted. Why was she brought back (and in a diminished state)? She was sadly unnecessary. She never pulled a Gandalf after all. She didn't even have interactions other than with Rand, and I was looking forward to that more than anything else.
Padain Fain and Slayer - also wastes. Didn't matter at all. Rand never noticed them make an appearance. I don't think Rand was ever aware of Slayer's existence throughout the series! With the way it was written, remove Slayer, and Perrin has absolutely nothing to contribute to the Last Battle. That's a problem. Matt had plenty to do before Fain showed up for a split, pointless second at the end.
Nothing came of the Salidar Aes Sedai's advances in previous books. What happened to using linked novices and Accepted? The recently made cuendillar? Assorted re-discovered weaves? We also don't know which AS are still alive! How many Egwene-supporters made it? Considering how Egwene is dead (sniff), and Cadsuane was put in charge, I don't expect any of Egwene's reforms will stick. Did she and Egwene ever actually meet? I don't think so. And considering how Cadsuane is approaching the end of her life, the White Tower will likely be in a very bad place again in a few years. At least half of their numbers were balefired. Siuan is dead. Moiraine is so weak now that probably no one will pay enough attention to her. The two most powerful surviving AS, Nynaeve and Elayne, are likely to stay out of Tower politics, preoccupied with their respective kingdoms. Who is going to continue diplomacy with other channeling factions? That is not Cadsuane's forte.
Even if the WT tower manages to hold itself together, things are STILL FUCKED thanks to the fucking Seanchan. I HATE THEM SO MUCH! Why oh why did Rand have to ally with them? Was it only so he didn't have a second opposing faction to worry about during the LB? Was that IT?! The Seanchan wound up contributing so little, reserving troops for as long as possible. They had the fewest losses. And Tuon didn't have to compromise a single thing, not even with damane?! Did she promise to not expand Seanchan territory in Randland? I don't think so. And even if she did, the massive damane problem remains. The Aiel could very well still trigger a war with the Seanchan - their newly assigned role of enforcers could support that. By the end of the book, there was no evidence that the Aiel future was avoided. (And I was annoyed at how gaishan refused to do jack for the LB. If there is a time to drop pacifist tradition, it would be now!!! Same with Tinkers. That stupid-ass Tinker woman who contemplated life under the Shadow may not be so bad? BAH! You deserve extinction!)
Min. I am stunned that she survived. There is no indicator that Tuon released her. Is she still stuck as Tuon's property? Will anyone even care?!
I was expecting that the bonds between Rand and his women, and Elayne and Avi would make a difference, yet they didn't. Not even oh shit Avi's feet got blown off! NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO ELAYNE, but Avi is cripped and Min is a slave. Nice.
And then Rand's end himself. I expected him to transfer into Moridin, so I wasn't surprised. The execution was a let down. First off, terrible acting by his three women. If you want to convince the people he's dead, then act like you are in mourning! Don't be all, "why are these people expecting us to do something? Maybe we should.". That was an actual line of dialogue, folks. So was Rand's hyuck, hyuck, I gotz three ladeez, which one will follow me. I'd be fine with any of them, or all of them, because I wuv all three! It was so ludicrous, it knocked me right out of the book. (Especially since Avi can't walk anymore and Min is a goddamn slave. Not one thought given to these issues. Not even sympathy. And he doesn't think about Elayne or his unborn offspring either.)
Alivia's predicted role of helping him die amounting to stealing supplies. So, so lame. Especially since she was deliberately sidelined because other characters were afraid of what she might do.
So, yeah. Rand fulfilled his destiny, and is rewarded with a second life in the body of an arch-enemy. In self-imposed exile. Uhhh ... yay?
Some things worked out well, but too many didn't.
Is it a fitting ending? I guess so. There were unanswered questions, and character send-offs were largely disappointing. As the audiobook faded away, I didn't feel satisfied. I didn't feel sadness that the series is over (and I felt that way after reading *Renegades of Pern* in my teens, since that was the natural end point for Pern). I felt more like the series was so exhausted that the most humane thing to do was conclude it, even if the conclusion was abrupt.
And that IS how it felt. After a slow and frustrating start, the book was battle battle battle battle battle battle battle battle battle, and suddenly, it's the epilogue. A TERRIBLE EPILOGUE. WORSE THAN MASS EFFECT 3'S EXTENDED CUT EPILOGUE. As of this writing, I think the ending of AMoL upset me more than ME3. Not because of what happened (or what didn't), but how poorly it was executed.
I'd say 90% of the book consisted of the inevitable, and certain speculations coming to pass, and the remaining 10% were genuine surprises. Perhaps I am being too generous with that 10%.
Moiraine was completely and utterly wasted. Why was she brought back (and in a diminished state)? She was sadly unnecessary. She never pulled a Gandalf after all. She didn't even have interactions other than with Rand, and I was looking forward to that more than anything else.
Padain Fain and Slayer - also wastes. Didn't matter at all. Rand never noticed them make an appearance. I don't think Rand was ever aware of Slayer's existence throughout the series! With the way it was written, remove Slayer, and Perrin has absolutely nothing to contribute to the Last Battle. That's a problem. Matt had plenty to do before Fain showed up for a split, pointless second at the end.
Nothing came of the Salidar Aes Sedai's advances in previous books. What happened to using linked novices and Accepted? The recently made cuendillar? Assorted re-discovered weaves? We also don't know which AS are still alive! How many Egwene-supporters made it? Considering how Egwene is dead (sniff), and Cadsuane was put in charge, I don't expect any of Egwene's reforms will stick. Did she and Egwene ever actually meet? I don't think so. And considering how Cadsuane is approaching the end of her life, the White Tower will likely be in a very bad place again in a few years. At least half of their numbers were balefired. Siuan is dead. Moiraine is so weak now that probably no one will pay enough attention to her. The two most powerful surviving AS, Nynaeve and Elayne, are likely to stay out of Tower politics, preoccupied with their respective kingdoms. Who is going to continue diplomacy with other channeling factions? That is not Cadsuane's forte.
Even if the WT tower manages to hold itself together, things are STILL FUCKED thanks to the fucking Seanchan. I HATE THEM SO MUCH! Why oh why did Rand have to ally with them? Was it only so he didn't have a second opposing faction to worry about during the LB? Was that IT?! The Seanchan wound up contributing so little, reserving troops for as long as possible. They had the fewest losses. And Tuon didn't have to compromise a single thing, not even with damane?! Did she promise to not expand Seanchan territory in Randland? I don't think so. And even if she did, the massive damane problem remains. The Aiel could very well still trigger a war with the Seanchan - their newly assigned role of enforcers could support that. By the end of the book, there was no evidence that the Aiel future was avoided. (And I was annoyed at how gaishan refused to do jack for the LB. If there is a time to drop pacifist tradition, it would be now!!! Same with Tinkers. That stupid-ass Tinker woman who contemplated life under the Shadow may not be so bad? BAH! You deserve extinction!)
Min. I am stunned that she survived. There is no indicator that Tuon released her. Is she still stuck as Tuon's property? Will anyone even care?!
I was expecting that the bonds between Rand and his women, and Elayne and Avi would make a difference, yet they didn't. Not even oh shit Avi's feet got blown off! NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO ELAYNE, but Avi is cripped and Min is a slave. Nice.
And then Rand's end himself. I expected him to transfer into Moridin, so I wasn't surprised. The execution was a let down. First off, terrible acting by his three women. If you want to convince the people he's dead, then act like you are in mourning! Don't be all, "why are these people expecting us to do something? Maybe we should.". That was an actual line of dialogue, folks. So was Rand's hyuck, hyuck, I gotz three ladeez, which one will follow me. I'd be fine with any of them, or all of them, because I wuv all three! It was so ludicrous, it knocked me right out of the book. (Especially since Avi can't walk anymore and Min is a goddamn slave. Not one thought given to these issues. Not even sympathy. And he doesn't think about Elayne or his unborn offspring either.)
Alivia's predicted role of helping him die amounting to stealing supplies. So, so lame. Especially since she was deliberately sidelined because other characters were afraid of what she might do.
So, yeah. Rand fulfilled his destiny, and is rewarded with a second life in the body of an arch-enemy. In self-imposed exile. Uhhh ... yay?