The Fires of Heaven: 5/12 (Wheel of Time)

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In Rhuidean, worried by news that Aiel from other clans join the cause of his enemy Couladin, Rand al’Thor confers with the Clan Chiefs who have recognised him as the Car’a’carn – Chief of Chiefs – on how to win over the four remaining Clans. To get past Jordan's fluff and irritating character rants, I regularly had to skim over several paragraphs, which is a very draining feeling for me. I wondered why this is so especially when an Aes Sedai is included in a scene or I read from one of the channeling women’s POV. It seems to me that kings - and queens - can be fools when they forget what they are and act like who they act, but they're worse when they only remember what they are and forget who.

Lan solicits Mat’s thoughts on the coming battle, and Mat reflexively draws on the other men’s memories inside his head while studying the problem. It is the first novel in the series to not involve an appearance by each of the three ta'veren from the Two Rivers, due to Perrin's absence. Elaida, the newly raised Amyrlin in Tar Valon, struggles to assert her will over the Tower and the world in the wake of the Dragon’s rebirth. Gareth Bryne, having tracked Siuan all the way to Salidar, is talked into gathering an army for the Salidar Aes Sedai.The former peddler Isendre enters, clad in nothing but bracelets and a scarf; Aviendha believes Rand is encouraging her. Betrayed by his allies, pursued by his enemies and beset by the madness that comes to the male wielders of the One Power, Rand rides out to meet the foe. This installment of the series places us in the Aiel Waste with Rand, Mat, Egwene, Moiraine, and Lan; and in the southern countries, where Elayne and Nynaeve are located with Thom and Juilin in tow. Rand is making plans for crossing the Spine and chasing after and confronting Couladin, Egwene is continuing her lessons with the Wise Ones, Mat is trying to pull away from Rand’s ta’veren influence, Moiraine is trying to convince Rand to do things her way, and Lan is there for whoever needs him.

In Samara after she encountered Galad Damodred, Nynaeve finally remembers that the rebels are in Salidar; after they arrive, Nynaeve is able to trap the Forsaken Moghedien in Tel'aran'rhiod with the use of an a'dam. In The Fires of Heaven, Nynaeve is caught by Moghedien and this time isn’t able to take down a Forsaken - because apparently they are really freaking strong and skilled at using their powers. Ronde Macura keeps Elayne and Nynaeve sedated with a tea made from forkroot, but Thom and Juilin arrive and turn the tables on her.Finding out that Rand may be in danger, she drags the forsaken along to help save him through the world of dreams.

But all should beware: the few months covered here suggest it may be years and many more volumes before this series reaches its conclusion.He realizes Lady Colavaere is responsible for sending Selande and others to seduce him, and invites her to visit him later, intending to make an end of it. Continuing the epic tale of Rand al Thor, Jordan uses this novel to delve deep into the lives of our heroines. It is while the women are in the circus that we get a very interesting look at the Prophet Masema, and how someone can take a simple belief (in this case that the Dragon Reborn will save the world) and use it to cause chaos.

If you are going to be Aes Sedai, you had better start practicing how to bend the truth, not break it into shards. She punishes Liandrin by shielding her with a weave so complex that it will never unravel, and Compelling her to live on no matter what future horrors beset her.

It’s probably because I read it as a fantasy that I interpreted it as Elayne placing a leash on Rand to maintain her possession….