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Title: The Shadow Rising
Series:
The Wheel of Time #4
Author: Robert Jordan
Rating:
4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages:
1465
Words: 398K
From Tarvalon.net &
authored by Toral Delvar
Min
arrives in the Tower, where she tells Siuan and Leane that Rand has
gone after Callandor, and also that she has had a viewing that many
in the Tower will die in battle on the same day. She is recognized by
Gawyn, but not Galad. Neither believe Elayne and Egwene are safe.
Elaida and Alviarin begin plotting together. Siuan convinces Min to
stay and look for the Black Ajah. In order to accomplish this, Min
dresses in a more "girly" fashion and begins calling
herself Elmindreda. Siuan receives word from Moiraine that Rand has
taken the Stone and tells the Aes Sedai that the Dragon has been
Reborn.
With
Alviarin's help, Elaida organizes a coup and overthrows Siuan,
proclaiming herself Amyrlin. Siuan and Leane are stilled and
imprisoned before being rescued by Min, who is helped by the Mistress
of the Kitchens, Laras. They are allowed to leave the Tower by Gawyn,
who had organized the resistance when those loyal to Siuan tried to
free her. They are joined by Logain, who Min insists is important in
some way. Siuan promises to help Logain get his revenge.
Rand
is attacked in his room by his own reflection, scaring Berelain, who
was attempting to seduce him at the time. Perrin is attacked by his
own ax, while Mat is assaulted by playing cards. Moiraine claims that
these attacks are the result of "bubbles of evil" rising
from the Dark One, and that although they are likely to occur only
around ta'veren at first, they will eventually become commonplace.
Egwene,
Elayne and Nynaeve question the two captured members of the Black
Ajah, both of whom claim to be willing to help them. They are told of
a plot to rescue Mazrim Taim and blame his activities on Rand, and
also of an object in Tanchico, which could be used to control Rand.
Elayne
and Egwene try to teach Rand about channeling, but all he is able
learn is that he can sense when women channel. Egwene is surprised to
learn Rand is far stronger than she is. He and Egwene tell each other
that they don't love each other anymore, giving Elayne the chance to
move in on him.
Mat
asks Egwene for advice and she tells him about a ter'angreal which
will grant three answers to any who enter. He claims not to be
interested.
Lanfear
visits Rand in his room, and whilst she is talking to him, he is
attacked by a Gray Man. The Stone is attacked by Trollocs and
Myrddraal, which Rand eventually kills using Callandor. Afterwards,
the members of the Black Ajah are found dead in their cells.
Perrin
looks for rumors that could lead Faile away from Tear, as he fears it
is too dangerous. Instead, he hears that Whitecloaks have taken over
the Two Rivers and are looking for a yellow eyed Darkfriend. He
decides to go there and give himself up to be hanged in order to free
everyone. He tries to put Faile off going with him. Faile and
Berelain fight, with Berelain promising to take Perrin away from her
until she gets bored with him. Rhuarc splits them up and punishes
both of them. Perrin gets Loial to take him through the Ways, though
Loial and Faile have an agreement that he must take her. They are
accompanied by three Aiel.
In
spite of his earlier feigned disinterest, Mat enters the ter'angreal
that takes him to the realm of the Aelfinn and is supposed to give
him true answers to any question he asks. However, the answers he
receives - that he is to die and live again, that he must go to
Rhuidean and that he is destined to marry the Daughter of the Nine
Moons - leave him more unhappy than ever. The area inside the doorway
starts shaking and he is forced out. When he leaves, he meets
Moiraine and Rand, who are also leaving.
Thom
stays in the Stone, plotting against the High Lords that oppose Rand,
and also advising him. Moiraine does not approve of this, so she
promises to give him the names of the Red Ajah responsible for
illegally gentling his nephew Owyn if he will go to Tanchico with the
girls.
Egwene
enters the World of Dreams without the ter'angreal for the first
time. While there, she meets Amys, who says that if Egwene wants to
learn, she must come to the Waste. She also goes to Tanchico, which
Amys says contains an evil worse than men can make, whatever that
means.
Rand
calls a meeting, where he tells all the Tairen Lords that they must
trade with Illian and restore order to Cairhien, which is caught in
the throes of a civil war. He sends the Tairen Lords who are plotting
against him most to deal with it. Rand says he is going away and
drives Callandor back into the Heart of the Stone. He then tells Mat
and Moiraine that he is going to Rhuidean in the Aiel Waste.
Rand
and the Aiel, together with Mat, Egwene, Moiraine and Lan go directly
to the Waste using a Portal Stone, which Rand requires an angreal to
use. They arrive next to a city - Rhuidean.
Perrin
and company are attacked by Trollocs in the ways and only just escape
Machin Shin, which kills the Trollocs. In the Two Rivers, Perrin
shuts the Waygate so it is only possible to open it from the outside.
He discovers someone is killing the wildlife. In dreams he chases the
man responsible for this, who is called Slayer. Slayer disappears
through the Tower of Ghenjei, which leads to the worlds of the
Aelfinn and Eelfinn. Here, Perrin meets Birgitte, one of the heroes
of legend who warns him that Slayer is dangerous and that he is in
the World of Dreams physically.
Perrin
learns his entire family has been killed. Trollocs have been blamed
for this. Perrin decides against giving himself up to the Whitecloaks
and instead to rescue people from them. Padan Fain has linked up with
the Whitecloaks, and we learn that he was the one who killed Perrin's
family. Bornhald does not trust Fain, as Whitecloaks sent to
accompany him tend to die. Fain has killed two Gray Men sent after
him and is keeping a Myrddraal prisoner in his tent.
Perrin
learns that two Aes Sedai, Alanna and Verin, are in the area,
ostensibly to look for recruits. He meets several families and
convinces them to move to the village for their own safety. He also
meets a man calling himself Lord Luc, who he does not trust, though
the others think highly of him. Some of the young men agree to go
with Perrin to free the Whitecloaks' prisoners. After doing so, he
goes hunting Trollocs. After initial success, he and his men are
ambushed and many of them are killed. Perrin is severely injured.
They spend the night with the Tuatha'an before returning to Emond's
Field, where Alanna Heals him. Faile tells Perrin about her father,
Davram Bashere. Perrin talks to Slayer in dreams and notices how much
he resembles Lan. Loial and Gaul go to shut the Waygate permanently;
Slayer has told Perrin it is open again.
Trollocs
mount an attack on the village and are beaten back. They also attack
a group of Tuatha'an, who Perrin convinces to come into the village
for safety. When they return to the village, they see a wolf’s head
banner, as well as a Manetheren banner. The Aes Sedai are behind
this. One of the Tuatha’an, Aram, picks up a sword and asks to be
taught to use it. Perrin allows it. Whitecloaks arrive to arrest
Perrin on charges of being a Darkfriend. Perrin agrees to go with
them if they stay and help defend the village against the
Shadowspawn. The men and women of the village start coming to him for
instructions.
In
Tel'aran'rhiod, Perrin shoots Slayer before returning to the real
world. Lord Luc runs through the house injured. Perrin realizes that
Slayer and Luc have a similar smell and decides he is to be arrested
if he reappears.
Perrin
sends Faile off to tell the Queen what went on, though in reality he
just wants her safely out of the way. She agrees, on the condition
that he marries her. They get married. The village is almost overrun
by Trollocs chanting "Isam", but is rescued by men from the
other Two Rivers villages, some of whom were led there by Faile. They
receive no help from the Whitecloaks during the battle, which enables
Perrin to refuse to go with them when they try to arrest him. People
start referring to Perrin as Lord Perrin, which displeases him.
Nynaeve
and Elayne, along with Thom and Juilin, set off for Tanchico on a Sea
Folk ship, which only agrees to take them because they believe they
are serving Rand. Elayne suspects that she knows Thom. The Windfinder
teaches Elayne a great deal about controlling the weather.
The
girls arrive in Tanchico, where they again meet Bayle Domon, who
agrees to help them look for the women they are seeking. Elayne gets
drunk and makes Thom tell the truth about himself. They also
encounter a Seanchan captain, Egeanin, who has remained in Tanchico,
looking for escaped sul'dam. She is paying Floran Gelb to look for
them. When he mistakenly goes after Nynaeve, she stops him. Egeanin
is interested in Aes Sedai and the Power, so she meets with Nynaeve
and Elayne. She attacks Domon when he walks in, for which they blame
him. Egeanin releases the captured sul'dam.
After
using the Power, the girls are visited by Moghedien, who uses
Compulsion to make them reveal their plans. She tells them to forget
about the visit and leaves them alone, as she doesn't believe they
will interfere with her. They locate the Black Ajah, and enter the
World of Dreams to check if it is safe. They also locate the object
of danger to Rand, using a method taught them by the Wise Ones.
Nynaeve sees the Black Ajah holding the Panarch hostage before seeing
Moghedien and remembering their encounter. She is prevented from
attacking her by Birgitte. Slayer attacks Nynaeve in Tel’aran’rhiod.
They
head for the palace. Egeanin accompanies them. Elayne goes to rescue
the ruler of Tarabon, the Panarch, from Temaile. Nynaeve's objective
is to find the object that could hurt Rand. She finds some bracelets,
and is interrupted by Moghedien, who tells her the bracelets can be
used to control men who can channel. They battle with the Power, and
are evenly matched until Nynaeve throws the bracelets at her, then
shields Moghedien and ties her up. She retrieves the bracelets and
one of the seals, and is attacked by an Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah
using a ter'angreal that produces balefire. By the time it stops,
Moghedien has escaped. The girls then leave the building.
Rand
asks the Wise Ones' permission to enter Rhuidean. Permission is
granted, and Mat makes the same request. He is refused permission,
but when Rand tells them he is going whether they allow it or not,
they relent. Couladin attacks Rand and Mat, and is stopped by Melaine
and Amys using the Power, to Moiraine's surprise.
The
boys leave all their weapons and head to the city, which is
surrounded by a strange fog, one which cannot be penetrated in
Tel’aran’rhiod. In the center of Rhuidean, Rand enters a crystal
ter'angreal, where he starts to see visions of Aiel long dead,
including most of the important events from their history. He learns
the truth that most Aiel don't know; that once, they followed the Way
of the Leaf. In fact, the original, full name of the Aiel, "Da'shain
Aiel", means “dedicated to peace” in the Old Tongue. Rand
also learns that the Tuatha’an are descended from the same people
in the Age of Legends. He sees Couladin's first-brother, Muradin,
apparently dying.
Mat
enters a separate ter'angreal, this time to the land of the fox heads
(Eelfinn), in the belief this will also allow him to ask questions.
Instead, he is given gifts, based on requests he makes. These are
memories of dead lords, soldiers and generals, to fill up holes in
his memory from when he had the dagger, an amulet to protect him from
Aes Sedai and the One Power, and the ashandarei, which is like a
spear, but with a more sword-like blade on the end. He also gains the
ability to fully understand and speak the Old Tongue. The people
behind the doorway leave him hanging from the Tree of Life. Rand
resuscitates Mat after leaving his ter'angreal. They make their way
out of Rhuidean, overcoming another "bubble of evil" on the
way.
They
arrive at the camp outside at dawn and Rand reveals dragons on both
arms, showing him to be the Car'a'carn. Couladin attacks him and is
threatened with being outlawed. He learns Moiraine has also gone, as
has Aviendha, and they have been gone seven days. He also learns of
his mother and how she became a Maiden of the Spear. She is obviously
Tigraine, though Rand doesn't realize it. He learns how his real
father died, killed by a man who looked like his mother.
Rand
and Mat journey with the Aiel to Al'cair Dal, following Couladin, who
has said the Shaido will not accept Rand. Rand is accompanied by
Aviendha, who claims to dislike Rand because he has treated Elayne
badly. Despite this, she is told by the Wise Ones to teach him Aiel
ways, which she does.
They
stop off at Cold Rocks Hold, which is where Rhuarc lives. Couladin
asks to enter as a clan chief but is welcomed as a beggar. Rand gives
Aviendha a bracelet as a thank you, and to try and pacify her. Her
friends take this to mean he is trying to attract her attention, and
they approve of him. Lanfear appears in his dreams and argues with
Asmodean. Aviendha accidentally reveals that the Wise Ones are
watching Rand through his dreams. The hold is attacked by Trollocs
and other Shadowspawn. One of the Wise Ones, Seana, is killed by a
Draghkar. They are joined by a group of peddlers, who Rand knows to
be Darkfriends. Couladin heads for Al'cair Dal, prompting Rand to
leave earlier than he wished.
At
Al'cair Dal, Rand announces that the Maidens carry his honor, which
pleases them greatly. He and Couladin both announce they are the
Car'a'carn. Both have dragons on their arms. Rand is accepted only
after revealing the secret of the Aiel's history. He confronts
Lanfear, who was masquerading as one of the peddlers. She tells him
that Asmodean has gone to Rhuidean in search of something useful.
Rand Skims after Asmodean to Rhuidean, where they battle with the
Power next to the Tree of Life, after grabbing a ter'angreal that
links them both to the giant sa'angreal outside Cairhien. Rand cuts
Asmodean off from the Dark One, and Lanfear shields him partially so
he will not escape. She almost kills Asmodean when he accidentally
calls her by her original name, which Rand recognizes as one of the
Aes Sedai who created the bore in the Dark One's prison. Asmodean
agrees to teach Rand to channel, as the other Forsaken will turn on
him if they get the chance. A great lake is created in Rhuidean, the
fog having been dispersed.
Just want to say, AGAIN, that Toral Delvar IS THE MAN!!! All that
work for a synopsis each time, saves me 100 million headaches. And
I'm only slightly exaggerating.
Going through the various storylines here.
As Gru, from the movie Despicable Me, would say “The Goils”.
Much better than in the previous book but that is ONLY because they
are all split up from each other and in ones or twos can only be so
catty and bitchy. I do not understand why Jordan chose to write them
all this way. You can write about females acting irrationally without
making them be unlikable. For me, the biggest pitfall is how Nynaeve
and Elayne are in Tanchico seeking the Black Ajah and as such they
can't channel without drawing attention to themselves and the city is
filled to overflowing with refuges and violence. But they want to go
out on their own and “sniff” (Oh, I am beginning to HATE that
word) at the men who want to give them some protection while out on
the street. It takes them almost being kidnapped and killed to even
make them consider they might not have acted so wisely. Other than
that, their storyline was actually pretty cool. Going head to head
with a Forsaken, how much cooler does it need to get?
Perrin and Faile. Perrin is a control freak and is one of those
people who feel guilty about everything that happens around them even
if it is totally outside of their control. Faile provided a good foil
to his mopiness and I can't wait until he gets rid of the axe and
takes up the hammer. I seem to remember that is when his attitude
changes and he stops being such an insufferable bore and resigns from
being the General Manager of the Universe.
Matt & Rand. Matt has accepted that he's going to tag along on
Rand's coattails and pretty much decides to have as much fun as he
can while doing it. Rand has the biggest changes so far. He has taken
to studying various prophecies of the Dragon and has formulated his
own set of plans to make things work. He's studious, powerful,
assured in his Dragon'ness but oh so afraid. I really enjoyed his
parts of the story.
Overall, Jordan wrote a crackerjack of a novel here. The world
building continues to expand, the Forsaken are introduced as real
beings of power rather than just vague “Oh, the Forsaken, they
exist, somehow, somewhere”. However, this also seems to be where
the storylines start to get big enough that every storyline can't fit
in each book. The Seanchan are pretty much ignored and the Children
of Light are only ancillary to Perrin's tale. Nothing was unwieldy
here but knowing what is coming, now I can see the proverbial cracks
in the foundation.
While this was a fun read, I am not sure that I'll feel the same way
in another 10 years. I've already downgraded this from a 5star read
in 2011, so I'm thinking it might be wise to let this series rest
after this re-read.
★★★★☆
