I’m in the middle of re-reading Lord of Chaos right now. I used to say that The Shadow Rising was my favorite book, but I changed my mind after Book 11 came out. Knife of Dreams is now my favorite book of the Wheel of Time series.

But now that I’m reading Book 6 again, I can’t begin to imagine why Book 4 used to be my favorite. I never really cared much for the immense amount of Aiel history in The Shadow Rising. I always loved the breaking of the White Tower, but I was very impatient as I re-read the book… it’s not until nearly the end. Same with Faile and Perrin getting married. I kept waiting for my favorite parts, but there was too much to get through to get to them.

But I’m enjoying Lord of Chaos quite a bit, without so much impatience. (Well, there was the uber-long prologue to contend with…)

I don’t remember squeeing so much about Egwene and Gawyn before, but I’ve been getting all mushy just thinking about them. I love when Egwene gets caught up in Gawyn’s dream, them blushes herself scarlet remembering everything the next morning. And her inner monologue about how sensible women don’t do certain things… well, not unmarried women, at least. That makes me chuckle. And then when she and Gawyn meet at the inn in Cairhien each morning while she’s still apprentice to the Wise Ones… I melt thinking about how wonderful it is for them to be able to steal some kisses and forget the world for a while.

(They’d better get together by the end of A Memory of Light! You hear that, Brandon Sanderson?)

And Lews Therin finally starts talking to Rand.

And Nynaeve Heals Logain. That is an excellent scene. I love her inner monologue, keeping herself angry enough to channel. Then POOF! He’s Healed.

I think it’s safe to say that Lord of Chaos is my second favorite book in the series at this point. I may change my mind as I continue re-reading.

The one thing that will cement it as my second favorite is if the battle of Dumai’s Wells is in this book. What an awesome scene. I just can’t remember if it happens at the end of this book, or if it’s in the next one. It looks like it’s this one, since Elaida’s emissary is in Cairhien already, buzzing about the “Green Sister” with Rand. The only thing that has me doubting that it will happen soon is that Min is not yet in Cairhien. And I know that Min gets captured along with Rand.

Ah well. Maybe she arrives in the chapter I’m about to read tonight.

Originally posted on: The Wild Eggplant - A Wheel of Time Fan Site

Lord of Chaos Love

I think what I like most about what Brandon Sanderson has to say about The Shadow Rising is how he likes parts that other people don’t tend to like. He doesn’t even mention why it’s my favorite book, the breaking of the White Tower.

No, one of the things he liked about it resonates with me as well. When it comes to Perrin and Faile, I am a big fan. I agree with him about Faile being misunderstood. I mean, in a way, I sort of am Faile in many ways. Too many people loathe her. But she is my absolute favorite female character of the series. (Mat is my favorite male character.) If WoT’s new writer also likes Faile, I think that bodes well for how she is treated in A Memory of Light!

Originally posted on: The Wild Eggplant - A Wheel of Time Fan Site

Brandon Sanderson on The Shadow Rising