So, the second book of The Wheel of Time was, in all honesty, better toward the beginning and the end than it was in the middle. I was very close to just DNFing the entire thing while Rand, Loial, and Hurin were in that alternate universe with “Selene.” I knew things were going to get better —almost had to — so I stuck with it.
This is the part where I remind my readers that I did watch the Amazon adaptation because I’m about to reference it. I think the adaptation leaving out the whole middle part of this book was a good decision, just given what we got in the show. I cannot speak to whether or not losing the stuff with the Portal Stones was ultimately a good thing, but since the show ended without it being an issue… good on the show for going a different way with “Selene” and Rand’s meeting.
I don’t really have any thoughts on the book, so here’s what I liked. The Seanchan stuff. World-Building is my jam and I largely thought the way their society was so different was neat. As much as the damanae stuff is ultimately gross, I enjoyed it as well. Having an entirely different way of dealing with channelers makes complete sense. I also enjoyed Rand as the reluctant Dragon. Not entirely pleased he was as whiny about it as he was, but it made complete sense given all the weight behind both The Dragon and all the false ones. Elayne, Egwaine, Nynaeve, and Min were delightful.
Favorite Lines
"The best of men are not much better than housebroken." Nynaeve paused, and added half to herself, "But then, the best of them are worth the trouble of housebreaking." - Nynaeve al'Meara
"But men often mistake revenge and killing for justice. They seldom have the stomach for justice." - Nynaeve al'Meara
