He Who Comes With The Dawn...
Book Three has been my favourite of the series so far, continuing to build on the books that went before it. As ever, the ongoing world building and development of characters continues to help you invest more in this sprawling epic. For me, it helps grow fondness for your preferred characters, story arcs, and having a better appreciation of the different specific locations, politics and overall setting.
The Wheel of Time series is a classic multi-view fantasy epic. As the series progresses in Book Three we find ourselves viewing events through three distinct perspectives. This is a change from the book before, that although it did jump around a little, was predominantly from Rand's point of view. In juxtaposition, we start this story with Perrin, moving to Egwene and then Mat. The remainder of the book switches between these three with only small hints from Rand.
It's an interesting approach. Throughout The Great Hunt, we're learning more and more about Rand and experiencing his thoughts and struggles, only for him to be conspicuous by absence in The Dragon Reborn. That being said, the emergence of the others, with their own complexities and motivations is enjoyable. I confess that Mat's understanding of how Luck now plays a bit part in his life piques my interest. He's more on the begrudging side of heroism, but he's certainly a fun character. We follow him from Tar Valon to Caemlyn and then to Tear, unable to extricate himself from events, however much he wishes he could.
Perrin is more stoic in his approach. Starting out with Moiraine, Lan and Loial we follow his journey to Tear, chasing after Rand, who leaves the group very early on. He continues his struggles with the changes that have befallen him and the consequences of what that means. There's a moment toward the end of the book where he gets to spend some time in a blacksmith's forge, providing a reminder of his quiet, and somewhat contented, life before the events of The Eye of the World.
The age old joke of each of the three young male protagonist's views on their counterparts success with women continues to be referenced. We're introduced to a woman, Zarine/Faile, who attaches herself to Perrin and the party, following her calling as a Hunter of the Horn of Valere. It feels as if she will be a significant part of the immediate books and the growing interactions between her and Perrin provide a slight reprieve from the seriousness of the party's goal.
Egwene, Nynaeve and Elayne, like the others, spend the length of this book journeying for Tear, which you may have guessed is the culmination of events for The Dragon Reborn. Each of the first three novels in the series share a structure of characters journeying to a single destination where a significant event takes place. The second and third are similar in that it has our characters making that journey independent of each other and coming together for the conclusion. This in itself is representative of the driving theme of the Wheel of Time's pattern weaving events along a pre-ordained course.
The early novels surround the emergence of The Dragon, a revered figure from history, charged with breaking the world, yet destined to be reborn and come again. The events surrounding the resurrection of a figure who has a multitude of tales told about him to the point of terrifying the population of Jordan's world are the initial focus of these novels. Essentially there are a number of prophecies to be satisfied, which will indicate the Dragon's latest incarnation. Tear is the location for one of these such prophecies to be realised.
Throughout The Dragon Reborn there is also more acknowledgement of the Forsaken. They are exceptionally powerful individuals, who should be imprisoned alongside 'The Dark One'. They're one of many examples where an idea that has been referenced earlier in the series is beginning to be iteratively built upon. In this book we're shown the kind of impact that they have, more often than not looking to covertly establish themselves in high profile position's of power, pulling the strings to their own ends.
There is also more prominence for the Aiel, a warlike people from a harsh environment, who were referenced in Book One, appeared briefly in Book Two and then fully featured in Book Three. They are as good as example as any as to how Jordan patiently builds concepts and plot.
At this point it's impossible to tell what would happen in Book Four, each book so far has been part of the whole, shared concepts and structure, but each been very different in their own right.
In terms of a score, I would have to continue a trend of 0.5 increments, giving The Dragon Reborn 9/10.
Let me know if you agree with my thoughts, or how you found this book by leaving a comment.
I'm actually going to take a short break from The Wheel of Time for my next read or two, to try and catch up with some of my backlog! Next up will be R.F Kuang's The Poppy War. I'll share my thoughts on that and be back with Book Four, The Shadow Rising in the near future.
Cheers
Steve L
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