How could you not talk about Ingtar! His redemption after living all his alternate lives was the single scene that sold WoT to me during my first read! It still gets me teary every time I go back!
because of Loial's reaction I think we can't really blame Rand's teenager hormones at play. Selene beauty must be supernatural for Lolial to react that way, teenage rand didn't had worse odds than older Rand i'd bet.
Mat giving Rand the cold shoulder at the beginning was really the only part that genuinely triggered me for personal reasons. My frustration with him though basically evaporated the moment Rand threw a pebble at him and Perrin went, "SHUT UP, MAT." Plus all those reminders that Mat was in fact slowly dying the whole book just made me go, "You know, you can be such an idiot, but I just can't stay mad at you."
Hey, this is completely unrelated to the video I just wanted to get someone’s opinion on this, so I’m not really an avid reader unless it comes to manga, and I wanted to broaden my horizons when it comes to reading so after watching this channel for a little bit I decided to start reading stuff from the cosmere soon; I know when it comes to the cosmere it’s pretty much dealers choice of where you would want to start, but I wanted to start with the mistborn trilogy since it’s one of the authors earlier works in that set universe. Like an idiot I decided to check out the wiki just to get a basic synopsis of what the series is about and who would be the lead characters (only read the first few sentences from the character descriptions so I tried not to get spoiled) But I scroll down and it accidentally spoiled a character death, and it was a major character. So I was wondering is it still worth it if you know one particular character that is insanely important to the story dies?
@@alexalonzo8965 Probably not. I started this series already knowing several major plot points through fantasy osmosis. If anything that made the read better because I knew the series at least had a sort of plan.
I mean, Fain literally nailed a fade to a barndoor with nails/stakes through its eyes. If Fain told the trollocs they were gonna be puppets, i dont think they would complain much haha.
I'm about halfway through this book right now. All I have to say is that Rand is unbelievably clueless or in denial. Hypothetical Prophecy: His name will be Rand and he'll be from the Two Rivers. Rand: That could be anybody
@@Orkillester1 Exactly. At this point, he still believes that he can just "not channel" and everything will be hunky dory. He doesn't truly accept it until The Dragon Reborn, (book 3).
Ingtar's reveal and return to the light is one of my favorite scenes in the series. May you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.
Ok, you said you didn’t like how the political “genius” that is the Cairhienian game of houses went crazy over Rand refusing to participate. I agree that it is ridiculous and rather contrived, but I think it’s one of the best early examples of rands Taveren status at work. Aside from that I just love how ridiculous it is that one minor noble showing up and saying that he doesn’t want to play their game of houses resulted in the complete meltdown of the government and sparked a civil war.
@@TheLordofMetroids the shaggy Gleeman only killed the king because the king killed his new lady friend trying to get dirt/get even with Rand for going to his biggest rivals party, who also gets killed because he's a Darkfriend and failed his mission, so there is no major/dominant group in the country, plunging them into a civil war which weakens them for the Shaido until Rand shows up.
Exactly this; the chance that they would think "Hmm, he must be hiding something awful important" is... small. But because Rand is Taveren, the chance that they think that is suddenly awfully big. I kind of... really like that Robert Jordan made "convenient plot point" an actual plot point.
The way i imagined Rand fighting in the sky is like as if the fight was projected in the sky/clouds, so you see these huge ethereal reflections of the two of them fighting on clouds and sky. Idk why i imagined it that way.. maybe it was described as such but nonetheless i always remembered it that away
For me The great hunt was the book that said to me " you are hooked in this series, now you can't D.N.F this series". So basicly im reading winter's heart right now and man im loving every single moment so much!!
Im jealous! To read this series for the first time again. Crossroads of Twilight is the slowest book, but every book after that is a fucking rollercoaster, have fun!
You are just barely a book ahead of me! I have 50 pages left in Path of Daggers and am really trying to finish the series before daniels recaps are released
@@matthewletexier currently 104 pages into winter's heart! Are you feeling the slog? I'm not feeling it that much, really enjoying this more slow books to build the final action of the series can't wait.
@@ProvidenceNL not gonna lie this experience is being one of the best in my life. This series is starting to feel special to me. I can't even start to imagine what the post series depression will be like!
@@saursoar I'm not feeling the slog, but I'm also not sure when it is supposed to start. Maybe I'll see it next book, but for now I'm happy with the series
26 isn't old. I just turned 53 on Tuesday. I had an 8 track player in my 1st car! My 1st 3 WOT books were Science Fiction Book Club editions from the 90s.
I interpreted Rand beating Turak as his past life getting accessed via the Void. Like, Lews Therin is a blademaster and it seemed to me that whenever Rand accessed the Void that his mental instability got worse. In my mind, him beating Turak was the first time he began to remember Lews Therin. This is also why the series is top notch, you can read it so many times and get completely different interpretations of events
I appreciate this perspective, because Rand defeating Turak was the one thing that always really bothered me about this book. Even within the void, Rand had only had a bit of training from Lan at this point. Thanks for offering a reason this actually makes sense.
@@mikem1585 I just wanna point out that Rand had been training for a few months with Lan by now (and we know who Lan is) like the goblin said training for a bit with him ...also Land had been training him for the journey from two river to shinear
@@avrumycanda7501 yeah I appreciate that, but…idk going from never holding a sword to defeating a Blademaster with a few months of training just always felt hollow to me. Even if Lan was the trainer, it was always hard for me to believe.
I always thought that the way Lanfear came across as the hottest thing in the world to absolutely everyone had maybe a bit of power trickery to it. She was just that vain and she maybe didnt want to be seen as second to anyone. I thought she low key compulsed people to think this about her.
One thing I loved of the world building is how it shows you that the world you see is much older than it looks. Milennia have passed and millions of people have lived and died, influencing the shape of the land and history. RJ shows you the ruins of the old and you feel almost overwhelmed by how large the world seems
Daniels done my boy Ingtar dirty! I couldn’t recall much before watching this video (last read TGH over 15 years ago), but I definitely remembered his redemption scene. The highlight of the book for me, and one of the highlights of the series.
Daniel i think the sword skills are also partially the first sign of the madness as he and Lews Therin merge so he is using the reflexes from his previous life
One of the small moments of World Building that just felt so natural in the moment despite it being surrounded by all the big things that were happening, was when Loial just started freaking out to the three boys about the girls in Stedding Tsofu. It shows his level of care and detail about the individual cultures on another level.
Honestly if they do decide to adapt the whole Rand vs Ba'alzamon in the sky thing in the show, they might try for something abstract, like...make flashes of lightning and clouds that kind of look like them? That was kind of how I saw it in my head. Like, think Ang Lee's Hulk movie climax except...not...terrible.
If you've ever watched Legion, there was a badass "magic" (mutant) battle in the sky in the season 2 finale and it's basically how I always saw the battle at falme go down in my mind
i was kinda thinking like avatar the airbender type beat if you know what i mean. I honestly think the only way Wheel Of time can be properly adapted is animated.
I think the point of the game of houses wasn’t supposed to be this subtle masterful thing it was supposed to highlight the stupidity of politics because like everyone describes the game but nobody can say why they play it it doesn’t sound like anyone is actually trying to accomplish anything they just do it because that’s what’s expected and the very idea that somebody wouldn’t participate is so mind boggling that they assume he actually has a deeper and more subtle plan
it is said that most people are playing it to either curry favor with the king or plot against him so it think it was meant to be a real cloak and dagger intrigue but the way the "veteran players" read Rand's moves make it seem cartoony. i did someone point out that it could be a way to showing just how much being ta'veren means that Rand fumbled his way through it with cheer luck and destiny on his side.
@@austinfarley8457 having read a few more of the books, the games is definitely no joke. It's implied that much of Morgase's success after she took the throne is due to Thom's help and his knowledge of the game of houses.
Try Audible I got through the series in 4 month's, granted I listened while I was at work but still it's probably fastest and easiest way to experience the story. Plus the narration is phenomenal 🙌
I started back in high school and read through to book 9 so fast, I burned out. I didn’t finish until I was almost done with college. I read the synopses on a website and picked up at CoT. The finish is sooooo worth it. Enjoy the journey!
I like how a lot of what feels contrived can be explained by "Taveren." But you have to admit. Anyone willing to burn invitations from nobles in Cairhien itself is either very powerful or very stupid. Little did they know it was both
One of the things I like about the Wheel of Time is that he made me feel a slight repulse to the One Power. I always picture it as some drug in my head.
Something that really stood out to me in this book was the sort of sub-plot with Bornhald and the Whitecloaks. I just loved how Bornhald was sort of questioning the leadership and I figured he had such great potential as a character.
Just finished A Memory of Light last night, my impressions of the series as a whole are still percolating, but Great Hunt is definitely one of the three books in the series I would put in the highest possible tier of quality, along with Shadow Rising and Gathering Storm. I think Great Hunt might be my favorite of the lot, though the other two are strong contenders. The first book left me kind of unsure how I feel about it when I read it back in November 2020, but this book was the one that made me absolutely certain I was gonna finish the series ASAP. It introduces my favorite villain (Lanfear), my favorite side character (Verin), my "favorite" (i.e. favorite to read about lol) culture (the Seanchan), and ends with one of my favorite climaxes.
Amazing how different minds come to different conclusions. I agree about Shadow Rising but Great Hunt doesnt make my top 5 an Gathering Storm is the worst outside the slog. My top 3 are Shadow Rising, Eye of the World and Towers of Midnight.
I completely agree. My S tier list is The Great Hunt, The Shadow Rising, and The Gathering Storm. All of these are rather Rand centric books, and he is my favorite character. But shadow rising has a great Perrin story and Gathering Storm also has a great Egwene story, and I love both those characters too. But there’s something about The Great Hunt that always draws me back in. It’s that classic fantasy quest adventure but with so many new spins to it. It’s the one I want to reread the most.
@@notchbeard9007 It is amazing how different minds come to different conclusions. I still have half of Towers of Midnight and the last book left, but I loved The Gathering Storm, for me it was like Lord of Chaos turned up to 11.
@@iiXalexXii thanks! I can't wait to get to the Brandon sections. I know him so much better as an author in his own right now, I think that's what will help me get through the volumes, and I desparately need to read the last battle again... So much to digest!
I agree that fighting in the sky can look goofy on screen, but I hope they keep it. I think the fight taking place in the sky is important for the people of Falme to see because of the ripples it causes in the area afterwards. Maybe the fighting in the sky will be shown more in the other characters perspective so like there's a huge battle happening on the ground and above them there are these two dudes fighting each other sending ripples of the power through the clouds, this I think can look ominous. Keeping the fighting in the sky and not showing it close up does make it difficult however to show Rand getting his wound. MINOR SPOILERS**** Plus I want to see Elaida sulk at the painting of Rand fighting in the sky****
I loved the Great Hunt and I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention Nynaeve who was so powerful and confident. I literally cried when I thought of her being a damane and thank god she hasn't been one. Also, I loved that Great Hunt explained so many things about the world of Wheel Of Time to us
I LOVED the Cairhien game stuff! That was the highlight for me of this book, and I thought it was absolutely hilarious that him throwing away the invitations just made people more interested in him.
That prologue hits different now. I just finished the first couple chapters of Knife of Dreams and it’s kinda awesome to go back to reflect on all the sewn seeds.
I was not the biggest fan of TEOTW when I first read it, but this book was complete game changer and was the book that really "sold" the series for me so I have a ton of respect for it. The Great Hunt to me had a very fun and adventurous element to it the eye of the world was seriously lacking
When I started reading The Great Hunt, I didn't expect it to be what it was, but after the ending, where Mat blew the horn I just fell in love with the series and everything that RJ was writing just fell into place for me.
Yes! I thought there were lots of Cairhien-France hints. Like the Sun Throne of Cairhien and the Sun King of France (Louis XIV). The new palace in the middle of what was woodland (Casa Damodred/Versailles) Also, the towering hairstyles for the women.
the dress code seemed pulled out of Paris but the game and all the cloak and dagger shit seemed out of Italian Renaissance alright. The Medici or the Borgias would be right at home playing Daes Dae'mar.
I've just started book 9, and I think I'll have to go back and skim read Great Hunt. I forgot some stuff where they referenced the Karaethon cycle and that prologue totally slipped my mind.
If you’re returning to the prologue, here’s a thing to keep an eye out for: - Pay attention to the description of characters in the darkfriend meeting. You may see a certain Shienaran.
I know Rand is actively avoiding the power at that point but I think having Rand experience a “flicker” during his fight with the blade master could have strengthened that scene a bit. If it described a flicker of him fighting a thousand different battles, driving his sword through a thousand different opponents, remembering the looks on their faces, dying himself in some of them. Recognising the forms Lan taught him while witnessing these fights but finding different names for them flash through his mind. Instead of him suddenly jumping up several levels in swordsmanship it could be that he recognises the attack the blade master is about to perform. Perhaps in another reality he was killed by it and so performs the counter out of instinct rather than skill.
Wait even Liandrin, and Elaida?!? Like damn they were intro pretty much as villains. I get it sorta like my first time through the first book all I could think of was “listen to the damn wizards you dumb hayseeds”. But after that scene with Rand and Liandrin in the dungeon I went “ok murder the arrogant witches”. I ain’t gonna touch the mom thing, any joke I could make would be low hanging fruit
I agree 100% with what you said about Jordan's storytelling, the chapters of worldbuilding sprinkled with really great moments. That was what kept me reading book after book and the reward later on was so grand. Such a great series.
Hey Daniel. I am now 30% into reading while listening to Winter's Heart. I have 6 books left to go and I will have read the whole series for the first time.
Hi Daniel! I think reviewing WOT Books in depth like you do is a great idea since it helps us catch up on what's important for the upcoming WOT series as I've read the books a whileee ago so I don't remember everything. Thanks :) !
I'm so glad you are doing a re-read through right now! I had started my read through of Wheel of Time not realizing and I just finished The Great Hunt. Perfect timing!
While I can't do the read along (because I'm the slowest reader ever to walk the planet), I started reading WOT last year with a friend, and I am half way through Towers of Midnight. It's been wonderful and I am very glad to have read it. Truth be told, it's because of one of your videos that said if you can read George R.R. Martin, you can read Robert Jordan that I read it. I first tried Eye of the World in 2001 and bounced off it because of the descriptiveness, but now that I'm older and have read more, I absolutely love it. Thanks for all your WOT videos and summaries, I've been watching them after finishing each book.
I have read the series so many times, and have followed along with the news group back in the day (1994) and with Leigh Butler‘s blog. Now I can’t wait to hear Daniel’s take!
26 ain't old bruh. I turned 41 this year and my son just turned 5. I had a walkman cd player in middle school too but that was a rather 'new' advancement back then. I didn't pick up WOT until my mid-30's so I WISH I had discovered such amazing writing at that age! Love your channel!
Lanfear also plays into Rand’s sexism. Whereas Moraine is obviously in charge and not taking chuff, Lanfear is willing to play the victim and feed Rand’s ego. He loves it.
Can we please talk about how you know when Lanfear's in a chapter because of the icon at the start of it? I really love how Jordan gives foreshadowing like that. My brother's listening to the audio book while I read the book (I bought the first one for him so I'd have someone to talk to about it) and he doesn't get to see them. So he's ahead because he listens for a good chunk of his workday and generally tries really hard to keep me from spoiling stuff for myself (I've read some hefty spoilers on the wiki in the second book so he should really stop wasting his time) and for a future book I was asking him "so which one of these characters is secretly Lanfear?" And he tried to play it off as none of them. So I told him I knew she had to be there because of the chapter icon and he just went silent for a few seconds and then says "that's... Something you miss with the audiobook" I love that Jordan sprinkles in enough foreshadowing that you can guess as to what conflicts are going to show up soon. Trying to match new icons to new events or characters is a lot of fun for me. Interpreting the dreams so many of them have is another thing I like to do
Sooooo ready for these read alongs... Currently halfway thru The Shadow Rising and gotta say... as a nerd, I'm so angry I never read these when they first came out... BUT as an OLDER NERD, I am beyond stoked that I now can binge the whole series in one go (without begging my parents to drive me to Borders and camp out on release day, after a year (or more) of bitching constantly that it was taking so long for the next book...) Battle in the Sky though: I never read it as LITERALLY a big ol Rand and Flame Eyes up in a bunch of clouds, but more like a projection? Of their battle... like a broadcast of the prophesy beginning to be fulfilled... That's what I got... horn blowing fog an all... pushing up clouds. My fantastical imagination pushed the reflections of their battle UP. Easier to digest than Randy in the Sky with Fire Eyes. And, Selene... cmon, girl. Eeeeeevillllll, like the deviiiiilllllllll much?
To the point on Rand's swordsmanship (from someone who has only just finished The Great Hunt a few days ago), there are a couple reasons his sudden ascension to blade-master didn't bother me that you didn't mention. The channeling makes a huge difference of course, but the more important bit to me is that he already has the Void. Tam taught him the state of mind that is the core of the skill, from there it's just a matter of learning how to actually hold the sword and move his body, which he gets from Lan. He's had 'the hard part' this whole time, and you can see that in how the fight turns around once he starts using it.
First time reading the series. What really got me hooked in this book was Nynaeve's testing. That chapter took her character from someone I was very neutral about to being easily my favorite character so far, and THE main reason I want to continue reading the series.
I remember that being a very powerful moment for me the first time I read WoT as well. I think it's because it's the first time we feel like her anger is really justified. She is no longer a motherly, if meddlesome, village matron out to save her flock. In an instance, this scene transforms her into a warrior fighting for the light. From here on out she is filled with "righteous anger" that fuels her strength and grants her access to the one power.
Forever grateful that you turned me on to the wheel of time. I was not a fan of the eye of the world, but I decided to push through to the great hunt. Best decision I made, I absolutely love this book.
I think Rand fighting Baalzamon in the sky is prefereble to what they did in the show. A cowboy screaming in the sky would also have been a akseptable subsetution
I'm loving this series even more than I hoped I would!! The realistic human element to all of Jordan's characters is what has gotten me completely hooked. Finished The Great Hunt last night and I can't wait to start The Dragon Reborn this morning. What a dream to be able to write like Robert Jordan!
Halfway through book 13. Cant believe there's only one book left! I think this is the most raw & real that a fantasy could be. Where the protagonists are not only imperfect but also their ego, sadness, anger etc play a huge role in the storyline. Can't wait to see how everything ties up. Also saving these videos to my WOT playlist.
I’m getting these audiobooks from the library and listening at work. First time through. I’m loving the series so far and I like that these “Daniel debriefs” are here to help me to process what I just heard. thanks.
This Read Along pushed me to continue after 1st book, whiich tbh did not leave me wanting to continue. And i will be forever thankful for that. Currently on Dragon Reborn and loving it. Keep doing great work Daniel.
i'm just now reading the series for the first time and just finished this one and the feeling i got after the end especially knowing how many books follow is that this was the beginning and now the story is starting for real i love it
From a Fantasy Geek THANK YOU. I found this channel this last week and I LOVE IT . . . . I'm planning on re-reading WOT because of the channel, that I actually stopped 13 or 14 years ago at book 10. Just WOW. (Now I cant remember the detail so yeah) Also watched these video's of reading together and loved hearing from someone else on how they see this and fantacy as a whole. Also your HUMOR is so so so on point it actually makes me crack up out load. I'm now watching both your new posts and older when I have time. One of my all time favourite Authors and book series are from Devid Eddings and his "Belgerion" & "Malorian" 10 book series. Also the "Belgareth the Socerer" & "Polgara the Soceress" are must reads. For the last couple of years I've REALLY been enjoying eastern fantacy novels (translated) as they just scratch all my itches when it comes to EPIC Fantacy. You might never get this comment, but look up "Coiling Dragon Saga" & "Stellar Transformation" novels (not the anime or manga) I've read and reread these series and the world building and character development is great.
Yep, I haven't seen anyone making those huge world-building chunks feel THAT natural with those little moments. Brandon definitely does good work in that too, on the second thought
5This was my favorite of the first 3 books. The characters,the places,it was just a nice adventure,much more concise than eye of the world in my opinion.
I guess I attributed Rand's manipulation of the game of houses to his Tar'verin status. In these early books it acts like plot contrivance the magic system, so yeah its contrived but it's supposed to be. That makes it better for me.
The point in the beginning where Rand alienated himself from Mat and Perrin by doing the "I don't care about you and I'm doing this so that you'll go away and I don't want to HuRt you" was the only part that made me annoyed, because that's my least favorite trope like... ever. So that's just personal taste for me. Also, in the Cairhein section with the Trollocs being puppeteered, my attitude at that point was pretty much just 'yeah that may as well happen'. But this journey of reading this series has been wonderful, and one of the things that's been awesome about it is the amount of books I know I have left. SO MUCH CONTENT!
Egwene and Nyaneve really were the focus of this book for me where in TEOTW Perrin and Rand were my focus. Nyaneve in the white tower with her training and becoming an accepted and Egwene’s experience with the Seanchan are captivating I need more chapters like those
What makes the world feel alive to me is how events have lasting effects outside the main story arc. Like the battle of falme and it's aftermath is constantly mentioned because it influences individual biographies throughout the continent. Also I like Daniels take on the cultural clashes.
i absolutely agree with what you said on the human element. i’m following the readalong and what really grounds the wot for me is exactly that feeling, like these characters are real people (despite some plot armor/conveniences). it’s why i feel instantly so invested in this series as opposed to game of thrones, which i had to muscle through
On my first reread and I'm enjoying it even more than my first read! I love your insight into the series cuz I found through reading forums on Reddit that I don't remember EVERYTHING that happened. So I love these videos man, will definitely not finish the books along with the release of these videos but I'll keep watching. Thank you From one goblin to another.
I love this books so much. First book was journey and this was hunt or a chase that are very classic Fantasy tropes. One thing I would add to that teleport situation with the multiple lives is that I think Rand doesn't at first really know what to think about it but in later books he talks about the things he saw and how it made him believe in his destiny or what not because some things can't be chanced. It's a really nice moment to add some character growth that only comes up later. Also low key Ingtar very good character with flaws and redemption seeking and a touching end. Good stuff from Robert as always.
Verin after a book with Moiraine felt like the chill parent's weekend with the kids to me. Maybe it was because of how Kate Reading played her but she felt so much chiller of a baby sitter to me as a first time reader. Moiraine is always like "no do not do that, like ever" and Verin is like "the wheel weaves as the wheel wills honey, have fun."
Almost forgot to continue this series with you! According to Kindle I'm 90% of the way through the dragon re on so ill be commenting on your next video soon. I agree with other comments about ingtar, I felt he was skipped over in this read along and it really is a shame because his redemption was amazing. Learning he was a darkfriend turning g back to the light after his experience with the traveling stone, and giving his life, fulfilling the prophecy of 5 ride in, 4 come back. Gave me shivers. But ultimately I agree with your assessment of book 2, solid 8/10
Hey Daniel, keep up the good work. I've been whitening to WOT and I can't get enough. Have you ever thought about making a series where you summarize each book. It would be quite the undertaking.
It's ok, I'm old enough that I recorded things off the radio. Onto cassette tapes. In high school. I also started reading physical copies of these books in the mid 90s, because audiobooks were too expensive. iPod's didn't exist yet and neither did streaming services. Good times. I still haven't listened to them yet, mostly because I can't get over spending the money for them when I have the physical copies. I love the portal stone sequence with the multiple lives. I think Jordan does some of his best stuff when he does the alternate history / past / future history sequences. It helps so much with the world building.
Re the sword fight, absolutely agree with everything you said about alternate lives and Lan's training, but now I'm on book 7, what I always go back to is the opening for every first chapter: "the Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again." Rand can't lose to some Seanchan captain because if he is killed, the Dark One can be freed unopposed.
Yeah, that sense of mystery as you try to uncover who "Bors" is, was a great aspect of this book. I forgot whether we explicitly found how who he was in and whether it was in this book. I love how Jordan put those little scenes in from the Darkfriends or just some seemingly random NPC perspective... and then weaved them into the broader narrative. He used a lot of description and this drove away some reader, but he didnt just describe scenes in lush detail because he wanted to, he managed to use that to sprinkle worldbuilding through the world without it feeling like an exposition dump. Some people disagree with that statement, but personally, I read fast and didnt mind having more detail than I strictly needed. He used those words well.
Books on cassette were a thing... My God so many cassettes. I remember thinking cd's wouldn't catch on b/c of the skipping lol. Enjoying this series, read all these each like 20 times and never gets old.
How could you not talk about Ingtar! His redemption after living all his alternate lives was the single scene that sold WoT to me during my first read! It still gets me teary every time I go back!
Yes, 100%!! 😭
Light and Shinowaaaaa !!!!
Agreed
Just finished book 2 and... Yep. Made me cry and love Rand for respecting his wishes and giving him a chance to redeem himself his way.
Is this closer to the end of the book? I’m still like a bit more than the halfway point
"To the point when loial who is not even her species is like "would clap cheeks"'
-Dishevelled Goblin 2021
because of Loial's reaction I think we can't really blame Rand's teenager hormones at play. Selene beauty must be supernatural for Lolial to react that way, teenage rand didn't had worse odds than older Rand i'd bet.
Poor cheeks, considering proportions and all...
Loial was like "she can get this sung wood".
@@brandonstephens5057 *tear streams down my face* ...beautiful.
@@brandonstephens5057 Dude...NIIIIICE one.
The portal-gone-wrong scene gave me CHILLS! The idea of seeing all the different ways your life could have played out gives me a lot of feelings.
'Sliding Doors'
damn that one life where egwene died and he went mad but still fought the darkness... that was crazy.
Say it with me: Flicker, flicker, flicker.
really tied in well with the scene of Nynaeve in the trials too.
Mat giving Rand the cold shoulder at the beginning was really the only part that genuinely triggered me for personal reasons. My frustration with him though basically evaporated the moment Rand threw a pebble at him and Perrin went, "SHUT UP, MAT." Plus all those reminders that Mat was in fact slowly dying the whole book just made me go, "You know, you can be such an idiot, but I just can't stay mad at you."
I can still be mad at Mat for his behavior in the early books.
@@MeMySkirtandI oh for sure.
Mat's the only 1 of the 3 main dudes that has any personality til like yhe 5th or 6th book. He's the best.
Hey, this is completely unrelated to the video I just wanted to get someone’s opinion on this, so I’m not really an avid reader unless it comes to manga, and I wanted to broaden my horizons when it comes to reading so after watching this channel for a little bit I decided to start reading stuff from the cosmere soon; I know when it comes to the cosmere it’s pretty much dealers choice of where you would want to start, but I wanted to start with the mistborn trilogy since it’s one of the authors earlier works in that set universe. Like an idiot I decided to check out the wiki just to get a basic synopsis of what the series is about and who would be the lead characters (only read the first few sentences from the character descriptions so I tried not to get spoiled) But I scroll down and it accidentally spoiled a character death, and it was a major character. So I was wondering is it still worth it if you know one particular character that is insanely important to the story dies?
@@alexalonzo8965 Probably not. I started this series already knowing several major plot points through fantasy osmosis. If anything that made the read better because I knew the series at least had a sort of plan.
I mean, Fain literally nailed a fade to a barndoor with nails/stakes through its eyes. If Fain told the trollocs they were gonna be puppets, i dont think they would complain much haha.
I read this as Faile at first and thought I missed some serious stuff in book 2
That's the moment when you realize that Fain isn't merely a dirty beggar
I'm about halfway through this book right now. All I have to say is that Rand is unbelievably clueless or in denial.
Hypothetical Prophecy: His name will be Rand and he'll be from the Two Rivers.
Rand: That could be anybody
Well, he's not known for being a stubborn af "woolhead" for nothing lol
I took it as more of him being in denial. No one wants to be the Dragon Reborn, let alone able to channel as a man.
@@Orkillester1 Exactly. At this point, he still believes that he can just "not channel" and everything will be hunky dory. He doesn't truly accept it until The Dragon Reborn, (book 3).
He was in denial and being a fuckin teenager didnt help lmao
@@muchtartidakbahagia he's 20
I have won again, Lews Therin.
Man, I love that line!
Lews sounds like light in Spanish.
@@omardavid4427 I think that's the idea
Ingtar's reveal and return to the light is one of my favorite scenes in the series. May you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.
yeah that was beautiful.
"Talk to each other."
How many times have I said that throughout the books?
Oof.
A lot.
Like, the books would be half as long if people just talked to each other
@@gokbay3057 Half as long is one thing, but half as frustrating... That'd be the prize.
I think this series is why "JUST FUCKING TALK TO EACH OTHER" is the ethos of my own writing
to be fair, in life too
It’s realistic a lot of problems are the result of poor communication
Ok, you said you didn’t like how the political “genius” that is the Cairhienian game of houses went crazy over Rand refusing to participate. I agree that it is ridiculous and rather contrived, but I think it’s one of the best early examples of rands Taveren status at work.
Aside from that I just love how ridiculous it is that one minor noble showing up and saying that he doesn’t want to play their game of houses resulted in the complete meltdown of the government and sparked a civil war.
Well, it was more the shaggy Gleeman killing the king than Rand refusing to play the game, but that's still mostly Rand's fault.
@@TheLordofMetroids the shaggy gleeman, lol
@@TheLordofMetroids the shaggy Gleeman only killed the king because the king killed his new lady friend trying to get dirt/get even with Rand for going to his biggest rivals party, who also gets killed because he's a Darkfriend and failed his mission, so there is no major/dominant group in the country, plunging them into a civil war which weakens them for the Shaido until Rand shows up.
@@andrewdiaz3529 true dat
Exactly this; the chance that they would think "Hmm, he must be hiding something awful important" is... small. But because Rand is Taveren, the chance that they think that is suddenly awfully big.
I kind of... really like that Robert Jordan made "convenient plot point" an actual plot point.
I didn't expect my favorite character at the end of this book to be Nynaeve, but damn I loved all her moments
The way i imagined Rand fighting in the sky is like as if the fight was projected in the sky/clouds, so you see these huge ethereal reflections of the two of them fighting on clouds and sky.
Idk why i imagined it that way.. maybe it was described as such but nonetheless i always remembered it that away
Yeah me too. Like Mufasa in the clouds kinda vibes
That might be the only way to do it visually - have it be a kind of "projection."
Came to the comments to say the same thing. I just finished The Great Hunt and envisioned it as a sort of projection on the clouds.
Same
I mean, how else would they be able to recognize Rands face. I believe the book says that his face was recognisable to all. Not 100% sure
For me The great hunt was the book that said to me " you are hooked in this series, now you can't D.N.F this series". So basicly im reading winter's heart right now and man im loving every single moment so much!!
Im jealous! To read this series for the first time again. Crossroads of Twilight is the slowest book, but every book after that is a fucking rollercoaster, have fun!
You are just barely a book ahead of me! I have 50 pages left in Path of Daggers and am really trying to finish the series before daniels recaps are released
@@matthewletexier currently 104 pages into winter's heart! Are you feeling the slog? I'm not feeling it that much, really enjoying this more slow books to build the final action of the series can't wait.
@@ProvidenceNL not gonna lie this experience is being one of the best in my life. This series is starting to feel special to me. I can't even start to imagine what the post series depression will be like!
@@saursoar I'm not feeling the slog, but I'm also not sure when it is supposed to start. Maybe I'll see it next book, but for now I'm happy with the series
26 isn't old. I just turned 53 on Tuesday. I had an 8 track player in my 1st car! My 1st 3 WOT books were Science Fiction Book Club editions from the 90s.
Well said.
I interpreted Rand beating Turak as his past life getting accessed via the Void. Like, Lews Therin is a blademaster and it seemed to me that whenever Rand accessed the Void that his mental instability got worse. In my mind, him beating Turak was the first time he began to remember Lews Therin. This is also why the series is top notch, you can read it so many times and get completely different interpretations of events
I appreciate this perspective, because Rand defeating Turak was the one thing that always really bothered me about this book. Even within the void, Rand had only had a bit of training from Lan at this point. Thanks for offering a reason this actually makes sense.
@@mikem1585 I just wanna point out that Rand had been training for a few months with Lan by now (and we know who Lan is) like the goblin said training for a bit with him ...also Land had been training him for the journey from two river to shinear
@@avrumycanda7501 yeah I appreciate that, but…idk going from never holding a sword to defeating a Blademaster with a few months of training just always felt hollow to me. Even if Lan was the trainer, it was always hard for me to believe.
@@mikem1585 I hear you I like sir goblins take
That's how I saw it, that in the void he unknowingly accessed sword fighting from Lews Therin.
I always thought that the way Lanfear came across as the hottest thing in the world to absolutely everyone had maybe a bit of power trickery to it. She was just that vain and she maybe didnt want to be seen as second to anyone. I thought she low key compulsed people to think this about her.
I mean, that's basically confirmed based on how Perrin interacts with her in the last book.
When Rand first met lanfear, she was using magic to tone down her beauty.
@@bozoforce I thought she was just making herself appear more his age, not necessarily less beautiful.
@@Arezoo298195 she was less beautiful looking Rand's age and still took his breath away.
Maybe not specifically compulsion but some form of Power is likely
One thing I loved of the world building is how it shows you that the world you see is much older than it looks. Milennia have passed and millions of people have lived and died, influencing the shape of the land and history. RJ shows you the ruins of the old and you feel almost overwhelmed by how large the world seems
Daniels done my boy Ingtar dirty! I couldn’t recall much before watching this video (last read TGH over 15 years ago), but I definitely remembered his redemption scene. The highlight of the book for me, and one of the highlights of the series.
Daniel i think the sword skills are also partially the first sign of the madness as he and Lews Therin merge so he is using the reflexes from his previous life
One of the small moments of World Building that just felt so natural in the moment despite it being surrounded by all the big things that were happening, was when Loial just started freaking out to the three boys about the girls in Stedding Tsofu. It shows his level of care and detail about the individual cultures on another level.
Honestly if they do decide to adapt the whole Rand vs Ba'alzamon in the sky thing in the show, they might try for something abstract, like...make flashes of lightning and clouds that kind of look like them? That was kind of how I saw it in my head. Like, think Ang Lee's Hulk movie climax except...not...terrible.
I picture it like the final battle of Avengers:End Game and Rand is like Ant Man in his giant form punching the huge flying alien thing
@@MireVale lol
If you've ever watched Legion, there was a badass "magic" (mutant) battle in the sky in the season 2 finale and it's basically how I always saw the battle at falme go down in my mind
i was kinda thinking like avatar the airbender type beat if you know what i mean. I honestly think the only way Wheel Of time can be properly adapted is animated.
I think the point of the game of houses wasn’t supposed to be this subtle masterful thing it was supposed to highlight the stupidity of politics because like everyone describes the game but nobody can say why they play it it doesn’t sound like anyone is actually trying to accomplish anything they just do it because that’s what’s expected and the very idea that somebody wouldn’t participate is so mind boggling that they assume he actually has a deeper and more subtle plan
it is said that most people are playing it to either curry favor with the king or plot against him so it think it was meant to be a real cloak and dagger intrigue but the way the "veteran players" read Rand's moves make it seem cartoony. i did someone point out that it could be a way to showing just how much being ta'veren means that Rand fumbled his way through it with cheer luck and destiny on his side.
@@damp2269 yeah but I think it was supposed to be stupid to show how absurd politicians will get if someone doesn't play by their rules
I like this take
@@austinfarley8457 having read a few more of the books, the games is definitely no joke. It's implied that much of Morgase's success after she took the throne is due to Thom's help and his knowledge of the game of houses.
@@damp2269 it can highlight absurdity while also being a important plot element
I never finished the series. But this is a perfect excuse to go back and reread the ones that I did finish and continue on
Try Audible I got through the series in 4 month's, granted I listened while I was at work but still it's probably fastest and easiest way to experience the story. Plus the narration is phenomenal 🙌
@@chrissleeping65 yeah that's what I'm going with since i can listen for large parts of the day at work
Spoiler for the entire series: Rand is actually the dragon reborn
I started back in high school and read through to book 9 so fast, I burned out. I didn’t finish until I was almost done with college. I read the synopses on a website and picked up at CoT. The finish is sooooo worth it. Enjoy the journey!
Sanderdon did a better job finishing the series than Jordan would have.
I like how a lot of what feels contrived can be explained by "Taveren." But you have to admit. Anyone willing to burn invitations from nobles in Cairhien itself is either very powerful or very stupid. Little did they know it was both
😂 very much both
One of the things I like about the Wheel of Time is that he made me feel a slight repulse to the One Power. I always picture it as some drug in my head.
I think you're a Whitecloak at heart. ;-) Or at least you can sympathize with their views on Power users.
Something that really stood out to me in this book was the sort of sub-plot with Bornhald and the Whitecloaks. I just loved how Bornhald was sort of questioning the leadership and I figured he had such great potential as a character.
Just finished A Memory of Light last night, my impressions of the series as a whole are still percolating, but Great Hunt is definitely one of the three books in the series I would put in the highest possible tier of quality, along with Shadow Rising and Gathering Storm. I think Great Hunt might be my favorite of the lot, though the other two are strong contenders. The first book left me kind of unsure how I feel about it when I read it back in November 2020, but this book was the one that made me absolutely certain I was gonna finish the series ASAP. It introduces my favorite villain (Lanfear), my favorite side character (Verin), my "favorite" (i.e. favorite to read about lol) culture (the Seanchan), and ends with one of my favorite climaxes.
Amazing how different minds come to different conclusions. I agree about Shadow Rising but Great Hunt doesnt make my top 5 an Gathering Storm is the worst outside the slog. My top 3 are Shadow Rising, Eye of the World and Towers of Midnight.
I completely agree. My S tier list is The Great Hunt, The Shadow Rising, and The Gathering Storm. All of these are rather Rand centric books, and he is my favorite character. But shadow rising has a great Perrin story and Gathering Storm also has a great Egwene story, and I love both those characters too. But there’s something about The Great Hunt that always draws me back in. It’s that classic fantasy quest adventure but with so many new spins to it. It’s the one I want to reread the most.
@@notchbeard9007 It is amazing how different minds come to different conclusions. I still have half of Towers of Midnight and the last book left, but I loved The Gathering Storm, for me it was like Lord of Chaos turned up to 11.
I am on my 2nd read and I am reading The Last Battle chapter right now
Daniel's intros are what keeps us going in life
I've just started Knife of Dreams. I actually may finish the entire series before the TV show is released 😀 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Same, I'm on FoH and speeding the fuck up to finish it
Good luck! Those last four books are absolutely incredible
@@milospollonia1121 good luck!! 😁
@@iiXalexXii thanks! I can't wait to get to the Brandon sections. I know him so much better as an author in his own right now, I think that's what will help me get through the volumes, and I desparately need to read the last battle again... So much to digest!
just started gathering storm haha. Trying to finish series by august.
I agree that fighting in the sky can look goofy on screen, but I hope they keep it. I think the fight taking place in the sky is important for the people of Falme to see because of the ripples it causes in the area afterwards. Maybe the fighting in the sky will be shown more in the other characters perspective so like there's a huge battle happening on the ground and above them there are these two dudes fighting each other sending ripples of the power through the clouds, this I think can look ominous. Keeping the fighting in the sky and not showing it close up does make it difficult however to show Rand getting his wound. MINOR SPOILERS**** Plus I want to see Elaida sulk at the painting of Rand fighting in the sky****
T'Veren is the greatest plot device ever created, it explains EVERYTHING, not only our characters actions, but backstory details as well.
I loved the Great Hunt and I'm a little disappointed that you didn't mention Nynaeve who was so powerful and confident. I literally cried when I thought of her being a damane and thank god she hasn't been one. Also, I loved that Great Hunt explained so many things about the world of Wheel Of Time to us
I LOVED the Cairhien game stuff! That was the highlight for me of this book, and I thought it was absolutely hilarious that him throwing away the invitations just made people more interested in him.
"I'm old."
*Laughs in 40 & waited for every WoT volume since book 4*
That prologue hits different now. I just finished the first couple chapters of Knife of Dreams and it’s kinda awesome to go back to reflect on all the sewn seeds.
I was not the biggest fan of TEOTW when I first read it, but this book was complete game changer and was the book that really "sold" the series for me so I have a ton of respect for it. The Great Hunt to me had a very fun and adventurous element to it the eye of the world was seriously lacking
When I started reading The Great Hunt, I didn't expect it to be what it was, but after the ending, where Mat blew the horn I just fell in love with the series and everything that RJ was writing just fell into place for me.
Rand blew the horn not mat
I always saw Caemlyn as London/Camelot and Cairhien as Paris
Yes! I thought there were lots of Cairhien-France hints. Like the Sun Throne of Cairhien and the Sun King of France (Louis XIV). The new palace in the middle of what was woodland (Casa Damodred/Versailles) Also, the towering hairstyles for the women.
Makes a lot of sense to be honest
The whole height reference of the Carhien I took as a nod to Napoleon as well being historically short of stature.
the dress code seemed pulled out of Paris but the game and all the cloak and dagger shit seemed out of Italian Renaissance alright. The Medici or the Borgias would be right at home playing Daes Dae'mar.
I've just started book 9, and I think I'll have to go back and skim read Great Hunt. I forgot some stuff where they referenced the Karaethon cycle and that prologue totally slipped my mind.
If you’re returning to the prologue, here’s a thing to keep an eye out for:
- Pay attention to the description of characters in the darkfriend meeting. You may see a certain Shienaran.
@@hardstroker947 thank you, Asha'man.
That intro was Daniel's version of a TH-cam Dad Joke.
And I am here for it.
I know Rand is actively avoiding the power at that point but I think having Rand experience a “flicker” during his fight with the blade master could have strengthened that scene a bit.
If it described a flicker of him fighting a thousand different battles, driving his sword through a thousand different opponents, remembering the looks on their faces, dying himself in some of them. Recognising the forms Lan taught him while witnessing these fights but finding different names for them flash through his mind. Instead of him suddenly jumping up several levels in swordsmanship it could be that he recognises the attack the blade master is about to perform. Perhaps in another reality he was killed by it and so performs the counter out of instinct rather than skill.
Bruh I low-key trusted every single Aes Sedai in the beginning until selene. They reminded me too much of my Mom
Wait even Liandrin, and Elaida?!? Like damn they were intro pretty much as villains. I get it sorta like my first time through the first book all I could think of was “listen to the damn wizards you dumb hayseeds”. But after that scene with Rand and Liandrin in the dungeon I went “ok murder the arrogant witches”. I ain’t gonna touch the mom thing, any joke I could make would be low hanging fruit
@@AverageAwesomeDude not Liandrin that much cause she gave off sketch vibes but Elaida do sho
@@samuelbeauzile5192 the rebellion must have hit u like a ton of bricks
@@AverageAwesomeDude naw Liandrin and the black ajah fo sho being real changed my all aes sedai are gud attitude
I agree 100% with what you said about Jordan's storytelling, the chapters of worldbuilding sprinkled with really great moments. That was what kept me reading book after book and the reward later on was so grand. Such a great series.
Hey Daniel. I am now 30% into reading while listening to Winter's Heart. I have 6 books left to go and I will have read the whole series for the first time.
"I'm old" says a 26 year old man. Oh the youth of today.
With the way the world is shaping up to be living one year today is enough to make you feel old.
@@Wintercourse thank you
hahah yeah, when I heard that I crumbled into dust. I first read Eye of The World almost 30 years ago
Hi Daniel! I think reviewing WOT Books in depth like you do is a great idea since it helps us catch up on what's important for the upcoming WOT series as I've read the books a whileee ago so I don't remember everything. Thanks :) !
I'm so glad you are doing a re-read through right now! I had started my read through of Wheel of Time not realizing and I just finished The Great Hunt. Perfect timing!
While I can't do the read along (because I'm the slowest reader ever to walk the planet), I started reading WOT last year with a friend, and I am half way through Towers of Midnight. It's been wonderful and I am very glad to have read it. Truth be told, it's because of one of your videos that said if you can read George R.R. Martin, you can read Robert Jordan that I read it. I first tried Eye of the World in 2001 and bounced off it because of the descriptiveness, but now that I'm older and have read more, I absolutely love it. Thanks for all your WOT videos and summaries, I've been watching them after finishing each book.
I have read the series so many times, and have followed along with the news group back in the day (1994) and with Leigh Butler‘s blog. Now I can’t wait to hear Daniel’s take!
26 ain't old bruh. I turned 41 this year and my son just turned 5. I had a walkman cd player in middle school too but that was a rather 'new' advancement back then. I didn't pick up WOT until my mid-30's so I WISH I had discovered such amazing writing at that age! Love your channel!
Lanfear also plays into Rand’s sexism. Whereas Moraine is obviously in charge and not taking chuff, Lanfear is willing to play the victim and feed Rand’s ego. He loves it.
Can we please talk about how you know when Lanfear's in a chapter because of the icon at the start of it? I really love how Jordan gives foreshadowing like that. My brother's listening to the audio book while I read the book (I bought the first one for him so I'd have someone to talk to about it) and he doesn't get to see them. So he's ahead because he listens for a good chunk of his workday and generally tries really hard to keep me from spoiling stuff for myself (I've read some hefty spoilers on the wiki in the second book so he should really stop wasting his time) and for a future book I was asking him "so which one of these characters is secretly Lanfear?" And he tried to play it off as none of them. So I told him I knew she had to be there because of the chapter icon and he just went silent for a few seconds and then says "that's... Something you miss with the audiobook"
I love that Jordan sprinkles in enough foreshadowing that you can guess as to what conflicts are going to show up soon. Trying to match new icons to new events or characters is a lot of fun for me. Interpreting the dreams so many of them have is another thing I like to do
Loial, “would clap cheeks” 😅😂🤣
Sooooo ready for these read alongs... Currently halfway thru The Shadow Rising and gotta say... as a nerd, I'm so angry I never read these when they first came out... BUT as an OLDER NERD, I am beyond stoked that I now can binge the whole series in one go (without begging my parents to drive me to Borders and camp out on release day, after a year (or more) of bitching constantly that it was taking so long for the next book...)
Battle in the Sky though: I never read it as LITERALLY a big ol Rand and Flame Eyes up in a bunch of clouds, but more like a projection? Of their battle... like a broadcast of the prophesy beginning to be fulfilled... That's what I got... horn blowing fog an all... pushing up clouds. My fantastical imagination pushed the reflections of their battle UP. Easier to digest than Randy in the Sky with Fire Eyes.
And, Selene... cmon, girl. Eeeeeevillllll, like the deviiiiilllllllll much?
To the point on Rand's swordsmanship (from someone who has only just finished The Great Hunt a few days ago), there are a couple reasons his sudden ascension to blade-master didn't bother me that you didn't mention. The channeling makes a huge difference of course, but the more important bit to me is that he already has the Void.
Tam taught him the state of mind that is the core of the skill, from there it's just a matter of learning how to actually hold the sword and move his body, which he gets from Lan. He's had 'the hard part' this whole time, and you can see that in how the fight turns around once he starts using it.
First time reading the series. What really got me hooked in this book was Nynaeve's testing. That chapter took her character from someone I was very neutral about to being easily my favorite character so far, and THE main reason I want to continue reading the series.
I remember that being a very powerful moment for me the first time I read WoT as well. I think it's because it's the first time we feel like her anger is really justified. She is no longer a motherly, if meddlesome, village matron out to save her flock. In an instance, this scene transforms her into a warrior fighting for the light. From here on out she is filled with "righteous anger" that fuels her strength and grants her access to the one power.
@@messie.jessie.guenther Amen!
I'm reading the series for the first time and this read along is motivating me to keep going. On to The Dragon Reborn!
Forever grateful that you turned me on to the wheel of time. I was not a fan of the eye of the world, but I decided to push through to the great hunt. Best decision I made, I absolutely love this book.
No, the best intro yet! I’m loving this read through!
I read WoT for the first time last year and am really enjoying the perspective of someone who's read it so much. Thanks for this video series!
I think Rand fighting Baalzamon in the sky is prefereble to what they did in the show. A cowboy screaming in the sky would also have been a akseptable subsetution
I'm loving this series even more than I hoped I would!! The realistic human element to all of Jordan's characters is what has gotten me completely hooked. Finished The Great Hunt last night and I can't wait to start The Dragon Reborn this morning. What a dream to be able to write like Robert Jordan!
Brooooo the stealing of the horn scene was one of the best in the book. Rand going full Wesley Snipes Blade was epic.
Halfway through book 13. Cant believe there's only one book left! I think this is the most raw & real that a fantasy could be. Where the protagonists are not only imperfect but also their ego, sadness, anger etc play a huge role in the storyline. Can't wait to see how everything ties up. Also saving these videos to my WOT playlist.
Just finished this awesome book! The scene in which Rand experienced how all his lives played out gave me very strong Dark Tower vibes
I’m getting these audiobooks from the library and listening at work. First time through. I’m loving the series so far and I like that these “Daniel debriefs” are here to help me to process what I just heard. thanks.
“It is never over al’Thor ” ... so intense
That blood on the walls scene set up so much! Lanfear, Slayer/Luc, Toman Head, Prophecies of the Shadow. So much foreshadowing!
This Read Along pushed me to continue after 1st book, whiich tbh did not leave me wanting to continue. And i will be forever thankful for that. Currently on Dragon Reborn and loving it. Keep doing great work Daniel.
When I was in middle-school CD players didn't exist yet, but I was also reading Piers Anthony books so everyone knew I was a big nerd anyway...lol
Yeah,flying in the sky made me roll my eyes. Oh well. The rest is awesome.
Also Hurin is awesome.
"Would clap cheeks" 🤣 funniest thing I've heard in a long time ✌
i'm just now reading the series for the first time and just finished this one and the feeling i got after the end especially knowing how many books follow is that this was the beginning and now the story is starting for real i love it
I’m only on book 6 but This is by far my favorite book so far, great hunt felt epic and kinetic, everything was constantly in motion and I LOVED it.
From a Fantasy Geek THANK YOU. I found this channel this last week and I LOVE IT . . . .
I'm planning on re-reading WOT because of the channel, that I actually stopped 13 or 14 years ago at book 10. Just WOW. (Now I cant remember the detail so yeah) Also watched these video's of reading together and loved hearing from someone else on how they see this and fantacy as a whole.
Also your HUMOR is so so so on point it actually makes me crack up out load. I'm now watching both your new posts and older when I have time.
One of my all time favourite Authors and book series are from Devid Eddings and his "Belgerion" & "Malorian" 10 book series. Also the "Belgareth the Socerer" & "Polgara the Soceress" are must reads.
For the last couple of years I've REALLY been enjoying eastern fantacy novels (translated) as they just scratch all my itches when it comes to EPIC Fantacy. You might never get this comment, but look up "Coiling Dragon Saga" & "Stellar Transformation" novels (not the anime or manga) I've read and reread these series and the world building and character development is great.
I will say that Malazan has a huge humanity feel. Even the gods have humanity in some cases. Love both series! So pumped!
Yep, I haven't seen anyone making those huge world-building chunks feel THAT natural with those little moments. Brandon definitely does good work in that too, on the second thought
5This was my favorite of the first 3 books. The characters,the places,it was just a nice adventure,much more concise than eye of the world in my opinion.
I laughed at the intro...I guess my sense of humour is broken. Or it's just the goblin vibes
Eye of the World was a solid intro, but the Great Hunt really reeled me in! I enjoyed listening to the audiobook for this so much.
I guess I attributed Rand's manipulation of the game of houses to his Tar'verin status. In these early books it acts like plot contrivance the magic system, so yeah its contrived but it's supposed to be. That makes it better for me.
The point in the beginning where Rand alienated himself from Mat and Perrin by doing the "I don't care about you and I'm doing this so that you'll go away and I don't want to HuRt you" was the only part that made me annoyed, because that's my least favorite trope like... ever. So that's just personal taste for me. Also, in the Cairhein section with the Trollocs being puppeteered, my attitude at that point was pretty much just 'yeah that may as well happen'. But this journey of reading this series has been wonderful, and one of the things that's been awesome about it is the amount of books I know I have left. SO MUCH CONTENT!
Egwene and Nyaneve really were the focus of this book for me where in TEOTW Perrin and Rand were my focus. Nyaneve in the white tower with her training and becoming an accepted and Egwene’s experience with the Seanchan are captivating I need more chapters like those
Found the series on Amazon, then your Episode review. Now reading the whole series and I love your videos. I can't put the books down.
What makes the world feel alive to me is how events have lasting effects outside the main story arc. Like the battle of falme and it's aftermath is constantly mentioned because it influences individual biographies throughout the continent.
Also I like Daniels take on the cultural clashes.
The events of Falme are integral to events 10 books later which is amazing writng. Only Jordan and Sanderson have done this correctly kmo.
Just finished memory of light last night. Glad I can follow this series cause I’m not ready to leave the world
i absolutely agree with what you said on the human element. i’m following the readalong and what really grounds the wot for me is exactly that feeling, like these characters are real people (despite some plot armor/conveniences). it’s why i feel instantly so invested in this series as opposed to game of thrones, which i had to muscle through
Hey I just finished book 3 but I wish you had mentioned Egwane. Her experience was the highlight of this book for me
On my first reread and I'm enjoying it even more than my first read! I love your insight into the series cuz I found through reading forums on Reddit that I don't remember EVERYTHING that happened. So I love these videos man, will definitely not finish the books along with the release of these videos but I'll keep watching. Thank you From one goblin to another.
I love this books so much. First book was journey and this was hunt or a chase that are very classic Fantasy tropes. One thing I would add to that teleport situation with the multiple lives is that I think Rand doesn't at first really know what to think about it but in later books he talks about the things he saw and how it made him believe in his destiny or what not because some things can't be chanced. It's a really nice moment to add some character growth that only comes up later. Also low key Ingtar very good character with flaws and redemption seeking and a touching end. Good stuff from Robert as always.
I am loving all the books behind you. I love me some Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden.
Verin after a book with Moiraine felt like the chill parent's weekend with the kids to me. Maybe it was because of how Kate Reading played her but she felt so much chiller of a baby sitter to me as a first time reader. Moiraine is always like "no do not do that, like ever" and Verin is like "the wheel weaves as the wheel wills honey, have fun."
Almost forgot to continue this series with you! According to Kindle I'm 90% of the way through the dragon re on so ill be commenting on your next video soon. I agree with other comments about ingtar, I felt he was skipped over in this read along and it really is a shame because his redemption was amazing. Learning he was a darkfriend turning g back to the light after his experience with the traveling stone, and giving his life, fulfilling the prophecy of 5 ride in, 4 come back. Gave me shivers. But ultimately I agree with your assessment of book 2, solid 8/10
Hey Daniel, keep up the good work. I've been whitening to WOT and I can't get enough. Have you ever thought about making a series where you summarize each book. It would be quite the undertaking.
Already done
It's ok, I'm old enough that I recorded things off the radio. Onto cassette tapes. In high school. I also started reading physical copies of these books in the mid 90s, because audiobooks were too expensive. iPod's didn't exist yet and neither did streaming services. Good times. I still haven't listened to them yet, mostly because I can't get over spending the money for them when I have the physical copies. I love the portal stone sequence with the multiple lives. I think Jordan does some of his best stuff when he does the alternate history / past / future history sequences. It helps so much with the world building.
Re the sword fight, absolutely agree with everything you said about alternate lives and Lan's training, but now I'm on book 7, what I always go back to is the opening for every first chapter: "the Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again." Rand can't lose to some Seanchan captain because if he is killed, the Dark One can be freed unopposed.
Yeah, that sense of mystery as you try to uncover who "Bors" is, was a great aspect of this book. I forgot whether we explicitly found how who he was in and whether it was in this book. I love how Jordan put those little scenes in from the Darkfriends or just some seemingly random NPC perspective... and then weaved them into the broader narrative. He used a lot of description and this drove away some reader, but he didnt just describe scenes in lush detail because he wanted to, he managed to use that to sprinkle worldbuilding through the world without it feeling like an exposition dump. Some people disagree with that statement, but personally, I read fast and didnt mind having more detail than I strictly needed. He used those words well.
Bro i think the fight in the sky could be absolutely sick in live action. I can picture it perfectly.
Books on cassette were a thing... My God so many cassettes. I remember thinking cd's wouldn't catch on b/c of the skipping lol. Enjoying this series, read all these each like 20 times and never gets old.
Oh man, listening to audiobooks on walkman/portable CD player at school. I was there man, I feel that.