I find it fascinating, and honestly, I don't understand how it happened, but I started this saga three years ago and got to chapter 8 of 'The Great Hunt.' I found it a boring and heavy saga like no other. In fact, I wrote a post here complaining about the disgust I felt for the personalities of Egwene and Nynaeve. What's fascinating is that I'm rereading the saga now; I'm already where I stopped before, and I'm fascinated by its story and each of its characters. In fact, Nynaeve is one of my favorites. I don't know how there could have been such a drastic change in my way of interpreting these books. Could the saga I read before 'The Wheel of Time' have influenced it each time? The first time it was the Cosmere, and the second time it was the Dresden Files. Or maybe the fact that this time I read it in English instead of Spanish, my native language, has influenced it? Anyway, I think The Wheel of Time might be in my top 3 favorite books ever.

Perhaps it's because I used to read hastily, a result of not being able to handle the constant descriptions, descriptions that honestly have a vocabulary that seems more natural and familiar to me in their English version than in Spanish, where I encounter words I've never seen before and don't know what they mean. But the point is that when I first read it, there were many things I didn't notice; for example, I didn't realize [Book 1] >!the affair between Nynaeve and Lan until it was more than evident what was happening!<. In fact, I didn't remember more than half of the chapters I had read at all. I think it was a mixture of reading hastily, a translation that wasn't optimal, and letting myself be overwhelmed by extensive descriptions and characters I didn't want to open up to or empathize with. The solution has been to take this story slowly and be open to everything, enjoying every detail. In fact, in the first few chapters, I decided to enjoy something as simple as Rand's daily life on the farm

First time read through and half way through ACoS.

I’m really enjoying the Elaine and Nynaeve perspectives / storyline so far. All of it from Tanchico to now. I don’t know exactly why because it’s frustrating and annoying but I feel like they are just getting the best part of the “adventure”.

I’m 6.5 books in and still don’t have a favorite (although I’m soft on Perrin but loathe the Faile relationship) so Elayne and Nynaeve are not my favorite characters but more my favorite story… so far.

It was in one of the later books, not the last one. A younger aes sedai said to an older sister something to the extent of "I can not bare it" the older said "people often endure what they can not bare" this might be my favorite quote from the entire series and I can not fit the life of ne recall it properly. I hope asking for quote help isn't forbidden or otherwise annoying, but this has bothered me for a while.

Just finished Shadow Rising and still confused about the women see when they go twice? I presume the second time is the glass pillars with the history of the Aiel like the male clan chiefs see?

What do the women see or do the first time to Rhuidean ?

Finding it really hard to concentrate on all the similar female names and Aes Sedai doing different things. How important are all these plot lines for the over arching story? Am I missing much when I feel like I’m zoning out constantly?

After Rand is attacked by them in chapter 6 he remembers tales of them riding with the Dark One in the Wild Hunt, but Moiraine tells him that they are just another type of Shadowspawn. What is the Wild Hunt and does the Dark One ride with Darkhounds?

Moraine talking about the Taint. Snort!

Doing a different thread to not spoil that other guy.

Taim was definitely originally supposed to be Demandred, right? The way he is written in Lord of Chaos just seems to set him up as a forsaken. The two examples I can think of off the top of my head are:

Rand warns Taim to look out for men who are too good at channeling, or learn too fast. But the only person this applies to is Taim himself (this never is an issue with Dashiva). I think this is supposed to be dramatic irony on rereads.

Taim says "so-called Aiel," which is language that only the forsaken use. Who else has reason to doubt that the Aiel are Aiel?

​

That's why is was super lame that Taim is just a regular darkfriend, and the Demandred is doing the WoT equivalent of mining off-camera. Thoughts?

Ghosts

'What is it, Elsie? And don't tell me it's nothing. You look as if you'd seen a ghost.'The girl flinched. 'I did,' she said unsteadily. That she gave Elayne no title showed just how unsteady she was. 'Lady Neein, as was Lord Aedmun's grandmother. She died when I was little... ...she was right there in front of me and she scowled so furious—'

Elayne doesn't believe her. This suggests that ghosts aren't a common occurrence in the Wetlands.

'The dead cannot harm the living, Elsie,' she said gently. The more gently because she had laughed, not to mention wanting to box the ninny's ears. 'They're not of this world anymore, and they can't touch anything in it, including us.' The girl nodded, and dropped another curtsy. but by the size of her eyes and the trembling of her lips she was unconvinced. Elayne had no time to cosset her, though. 'Fetch the men for my cases, Elsie,' she said firmly, 'and don't worry about ghosts.' With yet another curtsy the girl dashed off, her head swiveling anxiously in case Lady Nelein leaped out of the paneled walls. Ghosts! The fool girl was a ninny!

Later on in So Habor, there seems to be pandemic of ghosts.

'How do we know you're alive?' a hoarse voice shouted down at last.

Suddenly someone shrieked outside in the street. Not a cat or a rat but a man in terror. Perrin did not even realize he had drawn his axe until he found the haft in his hand as he pushed through the merchants in the doorway. They huddled closer together, licking their lips and not even trying to see who had screamed.

Kireyin was backed up against the wall of a warehouse across the way, his shining helmet with the white plume lying on the pavement beside his winecup. The man's sword was hallf out of the scabbard, bet he seemed frozen, staring with bulging eyes at the wall of the building Perrin had just come out of. Perrin touched his arm and he jumped.

'There was a man,' the Ghealdanin said uncertainly. 'He was just there. He looked at me, and...' Kireyin scrubbed a hand over his face. Despite the cold, sweat glistened on his forehead. He walked through the wall. He did. You must believe me.' Someone moaned, one of the merchants, Perrin thought.

'I saw the man, too,' Seonid said behind him, and it was his turn to give a start... ...'The dead are walking in So Habor. Lord Cowlin fled the town for fear of his own wife's spirit. It seems there was some doubt as to how she died. Hardly a man or woman in the town has not seen someone dead, and a good many have seen more than one. Some say people have died from the touch of someone dead. I cannot verify that, but people have died of fright, and others because of it. No one goes out at night in So Habor, or walks into a room unannounced . People strike out at shadows and surprises with whatever is to hand and sometimes they have found a husband, wife or neighbor dead at their feet. This is not hysteria or a tale to frighten children, Lord Perrin. I have never heard of the like, but it is real.

Finally, just outside of Jurador, Mat dodges and weaves between 3 people who disappear soon after, only neither Tuon, nor Selucia saw them, Maybe Seanchan can't see ghosts?

​

Also is Mat ever going to figure out why Aludra needs a bellfounder? I have no idea.

I’m most of the way through towers of midnight right now and this question keeps bothering me. Is he one of the forsaken? Is he a powerful dark friend? Or is he just some male channeler with dark inclinations? I have always assumed he was one of the forsaken, but his actions don’t really make sense. I’d prefer not to have major plot points spoiled, but don’t mind being spoiled on who he is

My uncle and I are huge Brandon Sanderson fans, and we both have read Mistborn and Stormlight Archive together. Those two series were our only introduction to the Fantasy genre and we looked for more epic fantasy series to read that would provide the same level of epicness that Stormlight Archive provided. We came upon a list of series like Malazan, Game of Thrones, etc etc. which included Wheel of Time.

Both Malazan and WOT sounded interesting, however while researching about WOT, I had heard that the series was very descriptive in nature and about the infamous slog within the middle of the series( My uncle and I both don't like wordy or descriptive heavy books) so Malazan was our pick.

Choosing Malazan wasn't the best choice, due to the fact that my uncle is blind so he listens to the audiobook while I read along, and Malazan is a very complicated series to digest with only the audiobook alone, so we ended up dropping it.

After this, I decided to read WOT for myself and although I've only read the first 3 books so far, I was suprised to find that the description wasn't that bad. To keep this short, I convinced my uncle to give Eye of the World a chance three days ago; we're currently on chapter 6 The Westwood and he told me that he doesn't mind the writing style. I think listening to the audiobook rather than reading it probably helps as well imo.

It appears that we both are going to be sticking with WOT for a while, and as long as the ending is very satisfying then it'll be worth it.

How long did it last before you guys gave in and reread the series? It’s been about 4 days since finishing it all for the first time and I’m already ready to pick it all back up again.

It’s been a 2 year journey and I’m just wanting Robert Jordan’s writing to be a thing in my life every day again.

I’m really curious about those who have been rereading this series for years and what your habits are like? Is there a slow but constant cycle of wot year to year? Is there a big binge once every few?

No spoilers here.

I read the 14 main books in publication order, and then the prequel - New Spring. I loved it! It's my first time through the books so everything was new to me. I really enjoyed how short and interesting New Spring was after the main series, almost like a fine desert after an amazing dinner.

I’ve been avoiding reading the Karaethon Cycle because I heard it contained spoilers. I just started The Gathering Storm and I’m curious if it’s safe to read now in its entirety or if I should wait longer (maybe until the end?). Obviously there’re parts that still haven’t happened yet but have been mentioned already ([Books] >!blood spilling at Shayol Ghul!<), but if I read it completely now would it still have other spoilers (or hints at spoilers) that haven’t been discussed previously?

I’m listening to EOTW and I die laughing ever time I hear a phrase like

and the boys hobbled the horse

Hobble Gobble

There are so many reasons I wish RJ had lived to tell more stories set after A Memory of Light, but one more just occurred to me.

How cool would it have been to read that first book, with some absurdly long prologue and then the usual passage about the turning of the wheel, and get to “In one age, called the fourth age by some…” !?! I would have hooted and hollered.

Okay so why did Moridin wanted to break the wheel? Why did he want never to be reborn again? I just don’t get it because the reason he joined the shadow was the opposite. Also at what point of the series did he change his mind to not wanting to be reborn again. Also I would love to get some detailed analysis if someone wants to do it or attached a post that already has it on evidences throughout the series about Moridin not wanting to be reborn again.

Its the first time that I'm listening to the audio books and got near the end of Chapter 5 and suddenly it says "The Story continues on cassette 6". you would have thought amazon would have edited it out I haven't owned a cassette since 1997 myself so I was surprised

That's the Dark's whole strategy. Cause mayhem everywhere. Force disorganization. Every nation, every major organization. The aes sedai, aiel, children of the light, etc, etc. Even Rand's expression of the Taint. Actually I think mayhem is a better word for it. That way it encompasses the dark one's effect on the pattern. Mashadar being more hatred, he makes sense as a counterpart to the dark one. I feel like he should have been more important in the last battle

Like whenever I see "two river" anywhere my mind goes straight to WOT. "Dragon Reborn" is another combo I see a lot.

So I’m on my first re-read and I realised in TSR the chapter “Into the Doorway” Mat gets 4 questions answered by the Aelfinn even though it’s meant to only be three! Did anyone else notice this?

Question #1: “Should I go home to my people?”

Answer #1: “You must go to Rhuidean.”

Question #2: “Why should I?”

Answer #2: “If you do not go to Rhuidean you will die.”

Question #3: “Why will I die if I do not go to Rhuidean?”

Answer #3: “You will have sidestepped the thread of fate, left your fate to drift on the winds of time, and you will be killed by those who do not want that fate fulfilled.”

Question #4: “What fate?”

Answer #4: “To marry the daughter of the Nine Moons!” “To die and live again, and live once more a part of what was!” “To give up half the light of the world to save the world!”

I just finished Winter’s Heart and then reread the final chapter. I’m still relatively fuzzy on most of what happened with everyone besides Rand, Eben, Moghy, Cadsuene, and Cyndane.

Would anyone be able to either give me a run down or link a summary that doesn’t contain any spoilers for future books?

I’m blaming my confusion on a busy day at work, but I know I’ve probably just forgotten a lot of context or something

For me it's Cairhien. I know it's Key-rih-en but my brain just hates that.

Care-hi-en? Key-heer-en?

Anyway, what word just makes your brain stumble over itself?

As alot of people probably have thought and commented before, the conclusion to Padan Fain's story in the books is all but satisfactory in terms of build-up and delivery.

How fitting then, that the TV show is doing an ever better job at fumbling his storyline.
It's basically at the latest Star Wars movie's level of failure, where it seems there are multiple writers tugging in completely different directions.

[SEASON 2 TV SHOW] >!First he is built up to become the original corrupt, evil, disturbing force of evil we have all come to know and love to hate. This depicted in the short hunt after his company and with death left in his wake. Then we get the very disturbing scene with the Myrdraal strung up after having been tortured. Marvelous.!<

!And then it's like they decided to just completely forget about this trajectory for him, and once again he is Ishamaels fanboy minion, with nothing to show for it whatsoever. He carries the dagger but has no issue giving it to Mat. He seems harmless at this point. What happened?!<

Some people tried to explain Fain's disappointing death in the books with some kind of "He is a chaos factor, emobidment of bad luck, and becomes less woven by the pattern itself" and hey, I am starting to agree.

For a character in a (epic) story, he sure seems to embody being spun in and out of the pattern carelessly by the wheel more so than anyone else.
Never thought I'd say this but... Poor guy. What you done to my boy PF? :(

https://twitter.com/WiCnet/status/1775911514538488049

Go here to vote for Rand! Let's face it, in this contest, Rand cuts Crowley into bits and throws the bits into random gateways.

She knew her mother was “dead” and yet still wanted to go off on her little journey to Ebou Dhar to find the bowl, even though it could have been done by Nynaeve or others.

Then she gets all pissy for Rand “holding” Caemlyn for her? As if the throne was just sitting there waiting for her. It’s not like there were other claimants building support for their claim or anything /s

Her privilege and view of self importance seems to shine bright on a reread

This is my first readthrough of the series, starting in fall 2022 and now just completing book 10. I'd been made aware of The Slog(TM) thanks to this sub but hadn't really seen much of it, given that 7-9 were some of my favorites so far, but SHEEEESH book 10 is. A book. It is certainly a stack of pages sewn together. I still enjoyed the read, if only because I love these characters and am super invested in the worldbuilding and mythos. But holy hell, what a longggg prologue for a book that didn't happen. Took all the way up to the penultimate chapter before things really went anywhere, and not very far at all, at that. I've been waiting for my girl Egwene to be on her throne in the Tower since book 6, and now I'm headed into 11 with it still not having happened and her now being KIDNAPPED 😭. I just can't. I gotta fuck off and go read New Spring to cleanse my mind before Knife of Dreams. Yeesh.

People, I come from Brandon Sanderson, I'm not much into watching movies or series, that's why I don't know ANYTHING about the world of the wheel of time. I heard that I had to read the Lord of the Rings or something like that. The truth is that I don't feel like reading that. I was interested in the wheel of time, I tried to read Hobbit once but I dropped it, I didn't like it (most likely I didn't give it enough time, the same thing happened to me with Brandon Sanderson's The Final Empire, but that's me, it's hard for me to get into a new world and I tend to abandon things easily).

I would like you to provide me with all the information possible to read The Wheel of Time, I am interested in this novel and I would like to be able to enjoy Robert's books, as much as I enjoy Brandon Sanderson's.

​

Ah, sorry for the spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, I don't speak English and I'm using a translator.

So I’m going through the series again and just got to the part in Winters Heart where Rand is in Camlyn and confesses his love to Elayne Min and Aviendah and noticed something funny about Lan’s reaction. When Rand makes the confession Lan starts an intense study of his pipe bowl and it’s probably him being socially awkward but it can also be interpreted as him going “How bloody certain am I that this is tabac in this flaming pipe?” I’m personally of the opinion that Lan is way funnier than he lets on to others and if he weren’t trained to always be ready to kill everyone in a given room at a moments notice he’d have some really good jokes.

I've re-read the series multiple times and I still can't figure out this comment. Kind of a random little moment but it always made me wonder.

When Perrin and crew are about to go scout the Whitecloak camp before saving the Emonds Field folk Verin says he is "a tricksome young man." What does she mean by that? What has Perrin done around Verin to make her think that? I can't think of anything.