Hey. I’m currently reading In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan, and I think my next read will be the 12th volume of Wheel of Time—a book I’m approaching with some trepidation. I hold Sanderson in high regard, but I know the experience is simply going to be different.
This post serves as my personal reckoning with the series before I dive into the volumes where Jordan’s signature style is no longer present.
I’ll cover volumes 1–3 only briefly, as I must admit that the beginning of the series was the least enjoyable part for me. The story felt too naive at the start, and it took a long time for the concept the author had in mind for Rand to actually become interesting. In fact, I didn’t really warm up to Rand until the fourth book.
The first volume was just okay, though it contained many tedious stretches. The second was much better—more consistent, with fewer dull moments—and it introduced Lanfear. The third volume featured some excellent plotlines involving Mat and Perrin, but the arc following Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve as they hunted the Black Ajah was exceptionally irritating to me.
The fourth volume was a significant improvement. Rand finally developed the character depth needed for me to actually care about him. His interactions with Aviendha and the Aiel in general were compelling—even if (controversial take?) I still haven’t grown to like the Aiel. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve really liked any of the peoples in Wheel of Time so far. Unless you count the folks from the Two Rivers as a distinct group?
Beyond Rand, the storyline involving Nynaeve and Elayne benefited greatly from the presence of Thom and Juilin, while Perrin’s arc in the Two Rivers—featuring the Whitecloaks and Padan Fain—was quite engaging. Mat was fine, too, though in this volume, he was essentially just... there.
I definitely consider the fifth volume the best in the series so far, and I doubt any of the volumes written by Sanderson will surpass it. I enjoyed all the major plot threads, and I’ve truly come to love the character of Nynaeve—with whom I previously had a complicated relationship, best described as: "I feel like I could like you, but you’re certainly not making it easy for me right now." She won me over after her defeat by Moghedien, which led to a nervous breakdown—a turning point that ultimately enabled her to win a rematch against Moghedien and assist Rand in defeating Rahvin.
It’s a pity, however, that this volume removed Lanfear from the narrative for many volumes. Up to that point, she was the only truly compelling antagonist, and I wish Jordan had further explored the dynamics between her and Rand/Lews Therin. While she does eventually return as Cyndane, her absence lasts far too long; I’m not sure if Sanderson will do her justice in volumes 12–14.
The sixth volume also maintained a high standard, though it was frustrating to see so clearly that Rand’s actions were steering him toward catastrophe—even if he arguably had no other choice, given the overwhelming number of responsibilities resting on his shoulders alone.
Overall, volumes 4–6 were much better, though they were also far too long.
Then came volumes 7–11, along with the prequel—and honestly, I’m not sure if that wasn’t the best part of my entire experience reading Wheel of Time. It’s not necessarily about the quality of the individual volumes; rather, I simply grew accustomed to these characters. With few exceptions—Egwene, Elayne, and any member of the Black Ajah—spending time with the various POV characters was a pleasant experience. Each subsequent volume felt like another episode of a series, and as I progressed, I felt increasingly at home in this world.
The only storyline that truly bored me was Elayne’s struggle for the throne of Andor. While Elayne could be engaging when surrounded by other interesting characters, on her own, she is simply dull and irritating—and even the presence of Birgitte didn’t make enduring those chapters any more bearable.
Overall, the characters I was most excited to see were Mat, Nynaeve, Siuan, and Thom. Along with Leane, Siuan is the only long-standing Aes Sedai I actually liked; most of the others I found deeply annoying.
As for the schism in the White Tower, I wasn’t particularly invested in it on an emotional level, though it did feature some genuinely good chapters and segments. Furthermore, having Siuan and Leane by Egwene’s side helped me shift from outright dislike toward a more neutral stance regarding her. I’ll likely never truly care about Egwene—given that I don’t care about her now—but at the very least, her presence in the story stopped being a source of irritation for me. Overall, as far as the main six POV characters go, I’d classify them like this:
- Mat and Nynaeve – I love their chapters.
- Rand and Perrin – I like their chapters.
- Egwene – just okay.
- Elayne (especially in volumes 10–11) – why do I have to spend time with her? Help!
Returning to volumes 7–11, a definite plus was that they were noticeably shorter. Compared to volumes 4–6, it felt as though the author was making it easier to continue reading—or rather, making it easier to jump back into the story. I’ve reached a pace of two volumes per month; given that I might finish volume 12 in October, I wouldn’t be surprised if I complete the entire series this year. Of course, that depends on several factors—not least whether Wheel of Time books written by Sanderson prove easy or difficult to read, and how quickly I can adapt to the inevitable shifts that come with a change in author. In my view, at least, Jordan’s and Sanderson’s styles are quite distinct.
As for Jordan’s writing style in general, I eventually grew accustomed to his descriptions, even if he did occasionally include far too much detail. There were some problematic elements—such as the recurring focus on women’s large busts (though, to be fair, this mostly occurred within Mat’s POV chapters), as well as instances of nudity, spanking, and the enslavement of female antagonists. Ultimately, I’ve come to accept that these aspects reflect the era in which Jordan was writing—a time very different from our own—and that some elements simply haven’t aged well. Rather than getting annoyed by them, I’ve decided to view certain parts as a source of humor instead.
Admittedly, the author went overboard at times (for instance, Volume 11 definitely featured the most spankings in the series—some even shown on-screen, such as those involving Mat and Joline, or Tylee and Sevanna; the image of Sevanna, naked and bound, slung over a horse, was perhaps an excessive display of humiliation—though I suppose some fans might enjoy seeing an unlikable antagonist treated that way). Still, these elements do set the series apart; they aren't the sort of thing you’d typically encounter in other fantasy series, at least not in contemporary ones.
In terms of humor, Mat and Nynaeve are, for me, the best characters. Nynaeve’s fits of rage are charming (just don’t tell Lan... or Nynaeve herself, for that matter), and she goes to great lengths to protect those she cares about. Mat, meanwhile, has a laid-back approach to life and the instincts of a gifted scoundrel—yet, no matter how often he denies it, his heart is always in the right place.
Overall, I do wish the antagonists were better written; few of them actually held my interest. Pedron Niall was a clear favorite, followed by Lanfear/Cyndane, Mazrim Taim, and Moridin. I also found Sevanna more engaging once I decided to view her as comic relief—after all, how could I take a character seriously when her primary tactic is shoving her massive breasts into men’s faces? (Berelain does something similar, but with far more class.) Then again, it’s a common issue: very few fantasy series manage to feature truly high-caliber antagonists. It’s a good thing that Jordan gave the antagonists their own POV chapters/scenes; many authors don’t even bother to develop their antagonists at all—if you know of any series that do this well, I’d appreciate some recommendations.
I do wish this series had more compelling antagonists, but all things considered, it could have been worse. It’s fortunate that, as the story progressed, other interesting antagonists appeared alongside Lanfear—though I do miss having a "criminal mastermind" type of character: someone who feels like a genuine threat, someone I could truly believe might defeat one of our protagonists, leading to significant, lasting consequences. Moghedien could have been that kind of figure for Nynaeve, but she failed miserably.
I’d also like to touch upon the romances in the series. To be honest, most of them suffer from a common issue: either I only care about one of the characters involved (e.g., Nynaeve and Lan, Perrin and Faile, Mat and Tuon, Rand and his three partners, Siuan and Gareth Bryne), or I don’t care about either of them (e.g., Morgase and Tallanvor, Gawyn and Egwene). For instance, do I care about Gareth Bryne? Not really—but I do care that he makes Siuan happy. After all, do you really need to like your friend’s partner if that person brings your friend happiness? Overall, I think the romance I was most invested in was the one between Rand and Aviendha during books 4 and 5.
Anyway, that’s about it. I’m not sure if I’ll write another post before I start the 12th volume. All in all, I’m quite apprehensive about this book, but since I see a chance to finish the series this year, the only thing left to do is find out as soon as possible what the volumes written by Sanderson have to offer.
