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Title: Lord of Chaos
Series:
The Wheel of Time #6
Author: Robert Jordan
Rating:
3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages:
976
Words: 405K
From Tarvalon.net &
authored by Toral Delvar
Trying
to find a way to cure stilling, Nynaeve probes Siuan with the Power.
She senses something cut. They learn Siuan can sense Moghedien
through an a'dam, but she can't make her feel anything or touch
saidar. Elayne has made an a'dam without the chain, which they can
use on Moghedien in her Marigan disguise without arousing suspicion.
An embassy is sent to Caemlyn to deal with Rand. Min goes with the
embassy. Perrin senses Rand needing him and sets off to find him,
with two hundred Two Rivers men. While arranging a meeting with the
Aiel, a peddler tells Gawyn that Morgase is dead, killed by the
Dragon Reborn. Aginor and Balthamel wake with new bodies and are told
by Shaidar Haran that they are now called Osan'gar and Aran'gar.
Aran’gar is female, which does not please her. Demandred receives
instructions from the the Dark One in Shayol Ghul. Demandred,
Graendal, Semirhage and Mesaana make plans. Sammael and Graendal
taunt each other. Semirhage tortures an Aes Sedai.
In
Amador, Morgase tries to get help from King Ailron. Pedron Niall says
she should use the Whitecloaks. She sees Paitr Conel, an Andoran who
was helping her escape, hanged for being a Darkfriend. She believes
that this was just an excuse and the help he was giving her was the
real reason. She gives in and signs a treaty allowing the Whitecloaks
access to Andor.
Elayne
has been making new dream ter'angreal and teaching Sheriam's circle
about Tel'aran'rhiod. They go to the White Tower to read reports on
what Elaida is doing. The Aes Sedai fall into a nightmare, from which
Elayne and Siuan are forced to rescue them, though no one believes
Elayne went in deliberately. Elayne visits Andor, where she is seen
by Demandred.
An
ambassador from the White Tower arrives. To put her off, she is told
more time is needed before a decision can be made. Nynaeve overhears
this and, using need, she and Elayne look in the World of Dreams for
an object to force them to help Rand. After first been taken to the
Tower, they go to Ebou Dar, where they find a bowl-shaped ter'angreal
that Elayne believes will fix the weather.
Theodrin
gets Nynaeve drunk to try and clear her block. Angry about this and
other things, Nynaeve accidentally Heals Logain of his gentling. She
repeats the process on Siuan and Leane, though they are only partly
Healed. The Yellows are surprised by her use of all Five Powers. They
grab her and make her demonstrate it repeatedly. Leane and Siuan
visit her later to ask her to try again because their low strength
means they will not be very influential. Aran’gar arrives and stays
with Delana.
In
Caemlyn, Rand practices the sword in front of sycophantic nobles,
with anyone willing to fight him. Bashere tries to stab him, to make
the point that Rand doesn't need to use a sword, and is stopped only
by Rand's quick actions.
Mazrim
Taim arrives in Caemlyn and claims to want a compact between them,
but agrees to merely serve when Rand refuses. Rand wonders about his
sanity and realizes he doesn't like him. Taim gives Rand one of the
seals, which Lews Therin's voice insists he must destroy. They travel
to a nearby farm where there are candidates to learn channeling. The
first one tested, Damer Flinn, is capable. Rand learns that several
of the High Lords of Tear are now rebelling against him.
Mat
sees two men attacking a small boy. He beats them and takes the boy,
Olver. He starts preparations to go to Illian.
Bael
and Bashere take Rand to an inn, where Verin and Alanna are staying
with several Two Rivers girls on their way to be Aes Sedai. Alanna
bonds him as her Warder. She tries to use this to make him obey her,
but is unable and he shields both of them. He frightens the girls
when he tells them he is the Dragon Reborn. He gives Taim permission
to go looking for new recruits.
Egwene
gets drawn into Gawyn's dream while supposedly keeping away from the
World of Dreams. She learns this can only happen with emotion so
strong it leaves no room for much else. She realizes that she loves
Gawyn.
The
higher ranked Andoran lords visit Rand. Dyelin tells him about
Tigraine, and he finally realizes Tigraine was his mother. The lords
threaten to rise against him if he tries to keep the throne. Sammael
offers a truce, which Rand refuses. Sammael claims Rand accepts it,
using this to gain some control over Graendal. Rand Travels to
Cairhien.
Rand
sets Berelain to running the city. The Wise Ones take to her, much to
Egwene's confusion. Berelain is allowing noblewomen to form societies
based on the Maidens. Rand visits a school he has set up, where
people are inventing all sorts of things. He talks to Herid Fel about
Warders and the seals. On his return, Egwene asks for help with the
Wise Ones. He refuses.
Ogier
arrive and ask about Loial. Rand convinces them to tell him where the
Waygates are. They go to Shadar Logoth to place a trap for
Shadowspawn around the Waygate there. Sulin talks to one of the
gai’shain as though she is still a Maiden. To make up for this, she
becomes a servant. One of the Maidens, Liah, disappears. They spend
the rest of the day looking for her before Rand Travels to the Two
Rivers, where he leaves the Ogier.
Vanin
finds murdered Tinkers. That night, one of the Forsaken drops Aiel
into Mat's camp, but they are killed before they can seriously harm
him. Mat gives Olver a job carrying messages, mostly as an excuse to
keep him around and ensure he is fed and looked after.
Egwene
goes into Cairhien and sees the Tower embassy. She also meets Gawyn,
who is convinced Rand murdered Morgase. She makes him promise not to
harm Rand. They reveal that they love each other, and Egwene says
she'll bond him as her Warder.
Whitecloaks
try to kill Rand, killing one of the Maidens instead. Rand hangs
them, but sends one to Pedron Niall, to tell him that he will hang
for it. Egwene goes to Rand to try and tell him how to behave with
the Aes Sedai. They arrive while she is still there, so he hides her.
He tells them he can feel when they embrace saidar, though Galina
doesn't believe he can sense it. Later, Rand senses a Gray Man and
holds him in Air. Taim arrives and kills it. He tells Rand that a
student, Narishma, has the spark, and would channel without being
taught. Rand is sent a letter from Queen Alliandre, which is very
friendly.
In
Tel'aran'rhiod, Egwene is summoned to Salidar while Rand watches
secretly. She enters in the flesh and goes in one night, after first
having the Wise Ones beat her for lying to them. When she arrives,
she is told she is to be Amyrlin. After a little opposition, mostly
formalities and Sitters trying to show they won't be pushovers, the
Hall agrees. As her first decree, she raises Nynaeve, Elayne, Faolain
and Theodrin to full Aes Sedai. Rand sends Mat and the Band to
Salidar to fetch Elayne. Aviendha goes with them to make up toh to
Elayne. Lan arrives in Salidar in secret.
Egwene
is told about Moghedien and agrees that they can learn from her. She
says there will be no more putting people out of the Tower and that
anyone will be allowed to enter if she can. Egwene learns from
Moghedien how to Travel, though she had already figured it out
herself.
Mat
arrives and Egwene uses the presence of the Band to force the rebels
to move towards Tar Valon. Elayne and Nynaeve go to Ebou Dar with
Mat, who has promised Rand that he will stay with Elayne. Aviendha
tells Elayne of what happened between her and Rand and offers to let
Elayne beat or stab her. Elayne decides that she doesn't want to. On
the way, Elayne goes out of her way to irritate Mat. The girls move
into the palace, while Mat moves into an inn run by Setalle Anan.
Min
and the Salidar embassy arrive in Caemlyn and she goes straight to
Rand. She sees Melaine and reveals that she is to have twin
daughters. Min gives her opinions on the Aes Sedai that came with
her. Rand goes to warn Taim away from them. He tells the students
that they are to be known as Asha'man.
Perrin
arrives and talks to Bashere, who is very much annoyed about Faile's
marriage. He threatens to take her away, and Perrin threatens him in
turn. He stands up to Deira, Bashere's wife, and they decide that
Faile is old enough to marry. Perrin makes Faile promise not to spy
on Rand. One of the Aes Sedai in the embassy is attacked by Aiel.
They go to tell Rand that it is unacceptable and that they will do as
they wish from then on. He has no idea what they are talking about
and tells them things will remain and they are to show respect. He
dismisses them. Bera and Kiruna arrive and take control. This takes
the number to thirteen, the number traditionally used to gentle men.
Rand flees to Cairhien, taking Min, Perrin and Loial. He tells Merana
to follow with no more than five others. Bera and Kiruna ignore this,
taking nine.
In
Cairhien, Rand tries to put the Tower embassy off while Berelain
stalks Perrin. Eventually they grow tired and kidnap Rand, claiming
that Rand has gone and they are fed up of waiting. When Dobraine
reveals Meilan and Maringil have been murdered, probably on
Colavaere's orders, and Berelain reveals Rand has left his sword,
Perrin realizes that the Aes Sedai have taken him and resolves to get
him back. Sulin stops acting as a servant.
The
Aes Sedai punish Rand for trying to escape and killing Warders when
he saw Min being beaten. Sevanna visits to discuss her arrangement
with the Aes Sedai. She has her Wise Ones kill one of their own, who
is against her, and blames the Aes Sedai to get the Shaido to fight
them. Perrin takes Maidens, siswai’aman and Wise Ones with him. On
the way, he talks to wolves, who are furious to learn of Rand's
capture. They are also joined by the Two Rivers men and the Aes Sedai
from Caemlyn. Sulin and another Maiden, Nandera, fight for leadership
of the Maidens. Sorilea and Amys talk to discuss leadership of the
Wise Ones.
They
catch up with the Tower Aes Sedai, who are besieged by the Shaido.
Led by Perrin, they charge. Taim and the Asha'man arrive through
gateways. In the confusion, Rand breaks through the shield on him,
stilling the three still holding it. He wanders around, shielding and
knocking unconscious any Aes Sedai he sees. Gawyn escapes. The area
is secured and the Shaido dispersed by the Asha'man who simply
butcher them. Taim forces the Salidar Aes Sedai to swear fealty to
Rand as punishment for bringing more than six.
Egwene
releases Logain, who goes to join Rand. Moghedien is rescued by
Aran’gar and goes to Shayol Ghul. Herid Fel is killed by a gholam.
Thank goodness for good ol' Toral. He has saved me years of work (at
least it feels that way) AND if I ever get the itch to re-read this
series, I can just read his synopses and be done.
This book is where I start to struggle with the series overall. It
also appears to be the same book that I struggled with in the past.
Back in '11 I only gave this 3 stars. I didn't rate it in 2000, but
that is because I wasn't rating anything back then. In fact, as I
type this, I still don't know what I'm going to rate this. I guess
I'm going to write what I write and then add the star rating after
the fact.
I was really torn about this book. There were times where I was
almost jumping up and screaming “Yes! AWESOME!!!!!” and other
times where I just stopped reading because I was so
angry/annoyed/disgusted. This was a big book, at over 400K words. In
fact, it is the longest book in the series so far.
The best part of the book, for me, was the battle at the end where
everyone comes together to rescue Rand from the Aes Sedai and the
Shado Aiel. The ashaman, the male version of Aes Sedai that Rand is
gathering, just rip apart the Shado. Jordan aptly describes it like a
meat grinder and I completely got that vibe from how he describes it.
It was horrifying and yet perfect for the situation.
The bad parts though? Just ugh. The quote I did from my Currently
Reading post really expressed it well. Unfortunately. Egwene
was about the only woman who didn't act like a complete bitch for the
entire book. It was beyond aggravating to read such characters. Then
the guys were just stupidly “take charge and protect” and
ignoring just what the girls were turning into (powerful Aes Sedai
able to take care of themselves). Nobody actually talked to each
other, they just told and did and commanded. Everybody. And of
course, it didn't turn out well for anyone. You can't tell the Dragon
Reborn what to do. You can't tell the Amyrlin Seat what to do. I
think what really got me though was the little bit about Perrin and
Faile. They are married but Berelain, a woman who is a queen of a
small country is chasing Perrin. Perrin is doing his best to avoid
her but somehow pisses off Faile in the process. But neither Perrin
nor Faile will talk to the other about what is going on and it gets
worse and worse. Stubbornness, pride and stupidity were on display at
all times.
I don't want to read that. There is no need for it. It also
reinforces my decision to not re-read this series again. I will
finish this series this time, but never again. Which means that I'm
going to give this 3 stars again.
★★★☆☆
