Lots of stuff to wrap up today!
The Hero of Ages
Finished this last week.
It wasn't, ultimately, as good as the first two books to me. It lacked the unique dynamic Kelsier brought to the first book (Kelsier and Vin stand above the rest of the cast) and the excellent themes and relationships of the second. Still, there was plenty to like about the conclusion of the series, including the ultimate resolution, which went down an unexpected yet sensible and forshadowed path, and the blossoming of the third, underused magic system of the world. Hemalurgy was at the centre of a couple of key plot twists one of which I was embarrassed to not realise earlier (the one related to Spook) and one of which gets mega points for cleverness (Vin's earring, the innocent keepsake, being a spike of Ruin and the source of Vin's enhanced bronze ability).
The stuff in Urteau (the north) was... mm. It really suffered from not having a strong character there; Spook was forced as a main, although I'm not really sure who could have played the part better there. The payoff was solid, but it took a long time to hook me, because part of me would go "Spook POV? zzzz..."
TenSoon perspectives were some of the most interesting in the first half of the book, neat to finally get a look at kandra culture and I was curious about the character after he impressed me in Book 2. I wish more had been done with him towards the ending, but so it goes.
Vin and Elend's story isn't immediately as interesting at first, partly because neither koloss nor Inquisitors are especially interesting antagonists. However, their story gets rolling once Yomen enters the picture. Yomen was certainly one of the pleasant surprises of the book, since he presents a very real and needed antagonist that would naturally have come about after the conclusion of Book 1, and his arguments and actions are compelling. Thoughtful and competent. The stuff with him and Vin and later Marsh was pretty much the book's climax, and made for a great scene.
Marsh got more screentime in this book. He mostly serves to give us an insight into the actions of the big bad, though the scene where he finally gets to exert his own will, however briefly, is certainly satisfying.
As a series overall, well, I obviously liked it quite a bit. As mentioned, I think Vin and Kelsier were both excellent characters. I also liked TenSoon and Elend (although yeah, I don't really think he should have been made Mistborn. Sanderson justifies it as being a way to show the reader how Mistborn came about, and notes that it doesn't actually change Elend too much, which is true. It's actually a rather nice touch that althought he becomes a very strong Mistborn, he's not a very good one, because Mistborn is more about training and tricks than strength. Still, I think I'd rather have had him be an atium Misting, so we could still have the cool bit at the end of the book, and he could think he had a useless power before then). Sazed... worked reasonably well, he's a pretty unusual character type and went through some different crises than is usual for a fantasy character, although the angst in Book 3 pushed my patience at times.
Beyond the decent character work, it had a solid setting and a very good magic system, the latter being super important to me because without magic systems you might as well read non-fantasy; I just dig them a lot. In the description, and detail, and hard-and-fast rules Sanderson gave Allomancy, there is a magic system more compelling and interesting than any I have read about save the One Power (and it has some advantages over that, even... it's even better-defined, and makes for some excellent fight scenes, something I think fantasy typically fails at). It's not perfect, but certainly ends up as one of my favourites.
The Gathering Storm
Finished this yesterday. (Note: I've hidden spoilers for Book 12 here, but not spoilers for the previous books.)
It's certainly a good book. I can't second Super's hype for it being the best in the series, for reasons I'll get to shortly, but it is certainly good. We really only have two major perspectives, but both are handled well, and both go in somewhat unexpected directions. Going into this book, we expect Rand to deal with Forsaken, and we expect Egwene to deal with Elaida. Their actual conflicts don't take them away from those, but they add another ripple.
In Rand's case, despite the fact that he offs TWO Forsaken in this book, that's not the main conflict. His arc is instead about him coming to terms with the darkness that has consumed him, his need to be hard and emotionless. We come so close to seeing where this leads him. The chapter where he almost kills Tam, and then the one where he almost destroys Ebou Dar is haunting... both are nothing short of haunting.
In Egwene's case, her story becomes about more than simply dethroning Elaida. It becomes clear early in the book that removing her won't be especially hard, even. Elaida has already lost so much face with her fellow Sisters that Egwene is able to make good headway. The difficulty becomes not seeing the Tower Aes Sedai as enemies at all. Egwene's story becomes not about control, but about uniting the tower, and healing the wounds in it.
There's a lot to like in those two story arcs. The flaws in the book come from the rest. The Mat and Perrin arcs both feel like they generally waste time. They don't take up too many pages, at least, but that's not really the point.
In Knife of Dreams, every single one of the major character arcs saw significant movement. Rand met and battled Semirhage, Egwene turned her imprisonment in the tower into a way to bring down Elaida, Mat's relationship with Tuon deepened ending in their marriage and his hunting down of Suroth's minions sent to kill her, Perrin finally resolved the damn Shaido arc, and Elayne secured the Lion Throne while eliminating her Black Ajah and Darkfriend guardsman spies and a large number of their allies.
So Book 12 only having major movement on two arcs is disappointing by comparison. Elayne is also absent entirely for the first time in the series... but I'm actually more forgiving of this since she has had more screentime than anyone else in recent books, and her arc reached a satisfying conclusion in Knife of Dreams, so it's more like Perrin's absence from Fires of Heaven than it is like Mat's absence from Path of Daggers. Still I'd obviously be happier if she had more of a role!
But yeah, back to the good, and that is certainly the Egwene arc and the Rand arc. Actually, this seems as good a time to get into...
Best scenes: (in order of occurence, rather than how good they are)
0. The end of Masema
I almost forgot this scene, which is why it's numbered 0. It's in the prologue, I can get away with it! We finally see Masema's thoughts, and he comes to a satisfying end. "Sometimes a wife must do what a husband can not", indeed.
1. Rand is chained by Semirhage and channels the True Power:
It's stock storytelling. Rand is caught unawares by Semi, who, in true fashion, tortures him the best way she knows by having him try to kill Min. In furious desperation, he channels the True Power, the power of the Dark One himself, as his only way out, killing Semirhage. It should be a victory, but instead the scene is very dark. Rand has channelled the True Power, something permitted only to servants of the Dark One, indicating the Dark One wanted this. And he is broken, as Min's efforts to soften him, which seemed to be working, are now at an end and he becomes near emotionless. He dismisses Cadsuane, who, bully though she is, is essential to Rand's survival. It's a victory for Rand, but one that we know has sent him down the wrong path, and it sets the stage for the rest of Rand's story.
2. Egwene vs. Elaida
Egwene has worked admirably to win over the support of many. She's impressed Silviana, the woman who spends a couple hours a day beating her at Elaida's order. She's impressed various Ajah Heads and Sitters, including the Black Ajah Hunters (Saerin et al.) and has learned of their hunt from them. Elaida finally forces Egwene into an outright confrontation here. It's a pathetic display for Elaida. Egwene is in the right, and everyone, readers and most characters, know it. Egwene blasts Elaida not for her grab of power, but for daring to let the Tower fall into ruin during her tenure, and it brings to a head Egwene's quiet war for the hearts and minds of the Tower. After the scene, there's little doubt Elaida is finished, and she never appears onscreen again except briefly as she is pulled to her karmic fate in the Seanchan attack.
3. Rand vs. Graendal
See Dhyer's comments. No Forsaken has had more screentime than Graendal save Ishamael, who is a different beast entirely. What Rand does, thus, is shocking. His explanation is suitable: "sit down to play the game, then punch your opponent in the face". It's probably the only way he could have dealt with Graendal. Perhaps it's fitting that he dealt with her during some of his darkest moments, the second and final time he truly unleashes the power of the Choeden Kal. Part of me feels it's a waste to get rid of Graendal like that; by comparison, Demandred and Mesaana still live and have very little character development (besides Dem's comic self-importance), but hey, that's part of why it works.
4. Verin
I don't really need to say more here. It's delightful to see that polite old woman give the Dark One the finger in such a way. The scene COULD have been better, like if we'd heard the wording of the Black Ajah oath of allegiance before (I don't think we had?) but it still works pretty darn well. Verin utterly betrays the Dark One and the Black Ajah. I liked her comments about how she and Tomas were both just looking for a way out, and Tomas, just like Verin herself, has taken his own life to escape. Still, it's a fitting conclusion to an often perplexing character, and explains her often curious actions very well.
5. Egwene fights off the Seanchan
Forkroot? No problem! The scene just highlights how resourceful Egwene can be. She has really learned the Tower well, and she knows, unlike most Aes Sedai, to look outside her own ranks. Linking with novices and using a sa'angreal in order to repel an invasion is unexpected and effective. It's more a stylish scene than anything else, but Egwene is due one after spending two books captive and being beaten, even if she was experiencing victories. Also, Elaida is carried off to her karmic fate. Jordan sure loves those.
6. Egwene takes control in Salidar
There's a lot to like here. Romanda and Lelaine, though humanised in recent books, are both threatening to take control. Egwene had to come back and take a firm hand, and she does just that. Her leadership in this scene is commanding. Armed with the Oath Rod and the list of Black Ajah names, she does what has needed to be done for a long time, and runs with the Black Ajah hunters' plot on a leadership level. Sheriam meets her end, and you can't help but feel a bit sorry for her as she realises she is going to be the Dark One's eternal plaything even in death.
7. Egwene's acceptance speech as Amyrlin
I said these scenes were ordered by appearance, because I find it easier to talk about them this way. The other reason is because I have trouble ranking them. However, I will say this: this is my favourite scene in the book.
Egwene takes no prisoners here. She reminds everyone that mistakes have been made, reminds everyone that allowing this fracturing to happen is the last thing the world needed. She attacks even those who we would consider good characters. She doesn't spare Siuan, nor her own followers who raised her, nor the Sitters such as Seaine and Saerin who hunted the Black Ajah then supported her. At the same time, she reaches out to everyone, even naming a Red her Keeper. She forces the Tower to contront its future of dealing with the Dragon Reborn and the Last Battle, and forces them to face the fact that reconcilation with the other faction may be painful. But damned if she doesn't make them, and the reader, believe that it is what must be happen, and that the White Tower isn't about to be the strongest it has ever been. The sword will be reforged, indeed.
Side note, the Black Ajah leaves this book in ruins, but I'm surprised just how many there were. Explains where a lot of the Tower rot came from, but one can't help but wonder why so many Black Sisters couldn't accomplish more. Meanwhile, with the remnants of Liandrin's group, along with Galina, dealt with in Book 11, and Sheriam and the majority of minor Black Ajah sisters dealt with in this book, there aren't many left... but Jordan made a point of some of the key names escaping. Alviarin and Katerine chief among them, though other escapees have been dropped. And two Forsaken still have their hands in that group. Safe to say we haven't seen the last of them.
8. Rand almost kills Tam
Rand is seriously fucked up. There's little to say about this scene. It's touching to finally see Tam and Rand meet again, and it serves as a highlight to how crazy Rand has gone that he almost kills his father. It's understandable that Rand doesn't like being manipulated, but... holy fuck. The scene just... works, as an illustration. The Ebou Dar scene shortly after has the same effect, but it's less personal, so it doesn't work quite as well... except it shows what Rand is capable of at the moment, even when he is being "rational".
9. Rand laughs
Narrowly averting two disasters, Rand runs away to think. It's almost too convenient that he comes to the realisation he has to on his own, but perhaps it's the way it had to be. He had built his walls so high that nobody could reach him. I thought it would be Tam, but nope. Still, seeing his father likely gave him the push he needed. Rand remembers the good things he has lived for, and remembers what makes life worth living. And he finally realises that, obsessed over Ilyena as Lews Therin is, the only thing he can do for her now is to ensure the Pattern continues so that her rebirth is assured. As Rand regains his senses, we are treated to the resolution of the Lews Therin arc, and the confirmation that yes, Lews Therin IS nothing more than a voice in Rand's head. Rand had been insane, but now, at last, he is on the road to healing. It'll be interesting to see how Rand has turned the corner in Book 13.
Destroying the Choeden Kal seems almost secondary to the scene. I'm not entirely sure why he did it. Perhaps he saw the massive power as too much temptation to simply destroy when the Dragon Reborn's job is so much more. He did almost use it to destroy the Seanchan when this was something he could not afford to do, just because his attempts to bludgeon them failed.
I liked how the book painted some sympathetic people on opposite sides, here. Tuon's scenes deserve note as an effective small arc. She's sympathetic, yet stands up to the Dragon Reborn and sends her armies against the White Tower. Granted, it's been strongly forshadowed that the Seanchan are here to stay and the southwest is going to be permanently under their control (Beslan swearing to Tuon is strong evidence) so making a rocky peace with the White Tower is likely in the cards somewhere. Interesting to see how that plays out, given how opposed the two naturally are.
Whoops, went on there longer than I should have. Oh well!
Best characters
1. Egwene. Yeah if you've read the spoilers, you know this was an easy pick.
2. Rand. I enjoyed his personal struggle in this book.
3. Verin. One scene is just one scene, but this was one pretty badass scene.
4. Gareth Bryne. Didn't get a chance to hype him in the above, but seeing him through Gawyn's eyes brought out another side of him, and I liked his interaction with Siuan.
5. Silviana. Egwene has to win over a lot of people in this book. By screentime alone, Silviana is probably the most convincing. And yeah, implied Elaida ownage is badass.
Good book. Not as good as Knife of Dreams, but I'll have to decide exactly where it falls compared to Books 4, 5, and 9. Sanderson's handiwork can be seen on it (characters are more introspective, focus on fewer, stronger arcs), but for the most part, the mixing of his style and Jordan's worked well. I do have a slight complaint about how Sanderson keeps changing perspectives but ultimately it's not that big a deal.
