Plot or Premise

The Fellowship is running around trying to reunite in Salidar while Rand starts to marshal his forces against the Forsaken and the men they lead.

What I Liked & Didn’t Like

The book includes a lot of travel from point A to B, with not a lot happening in between that matters too much to the overall story. Siuan, Leane, Min, and Login are trying to travel to Salidar to meet the self-exiled Aes Sedai, with numerous minor incidents, including an encounter with Gabriel Bryne, who begins to follow them. Meanwhile, Nynaeve and Elayne are running and hiding, running and hiding, and end up working for a travelling circus (aka a menagerie) doing high-wire work and acting as the target for knife-throwing and arrow-shooting. However, while they travel, they also hunt at night in the Dream World where they encounter Moghedien, Lanfear and Birgitte. Two battles with Moghedien end up about as good as one can hope when facing a Forsaken, and even Birgitte is returned to the living realm.

Meanwhile, Rand leads the Aiel to Cairhien to face Sammael and the Shaido Aiel. Moiraine starts listening to Rand and obeying him, in exchange for talking his ear off all day long, sharing info and advice that he’ll need for the future. Sammael escapes but the large battle is magnificent, with a reluctant and departing Mat turning into a massive tactician who faces superior forces, unrelenting odds, and wins three major victories. So much so that men start to follow him, even if he isn’t a Lord. The info in his head gives him insights into battles he was never part of in his life, hundreds of years of history that gives him a tactical advantage, whether he wants it or not. However, it doesn’t help him understand how Melindrha, the woman sharing his bed, is — spoiler alert #1 — revealed to be a Darkfriend in the end.

However, the real climax is seeing Rand go supernova on Rahvin in Andor after he hears of the apparent murder of Morgase. He burns the castle corridors with Balefire while running through traps and other realms. Nynaeve joins him for the final battle, and — spoiler alert #2 — three more Forsaken seem to be addressed — Rahvin by Rand, Moghedien by Nynaeve, and Lanfear by Moraine.

The Bottom Line

Too much travel, not enough General Mat