A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson Book Review

Perhaps it's just me. Somehow I couldn't stand reading about warfare in a book. Still, I read other series in the past with battles aplenty and I was thrilled. Here, I'm just bored to death. I mostly suffer through while reading the book. Still I give this book a perfect 5 since Brandon Sanderson finished writing this book with a flourish.

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Series: The Wheel of Time #14
Date Published: April 09, 2013 (first published January 8th 2013)
Publisher: Tor Books
Language: English
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
ASIN: B00BMKDTNC
Format: ebook
Pages: 1025

‘And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.’ – From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.

In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al’Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One’s prison – which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.

In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.

In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.

Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.

All humanity is in peril – and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world . . .

For twenty years The Wheel of Time has enthralled more than forty million readers in over thirty-two languages. A MEMORY OF LIGHT brings this majestic fantasy creation to its richly satisfying conclusion.

Working from notes and partials left by Robert Jordan when he died in 2007, and consulting with Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson has recreated the vision Jordan left behind.

Review

All the dialogues don't sound right to me. They felt forced and corny. Elayne's battle speech fell flat to my ears and doesn't command awe. Basically, the characters' voice just sound off to me. Like Moiraine's exchanges with Rand, I just feel like Moiraine doesn't add anything helpful. Things that had strong impression on me (spoilers hereon):

• I already like Talmanes as a character, so early on, I asked myself, "Why do we have to lose him?" He suffered a hit by a Myrrdraal with their poisonous sword. I already lamented his impending death only for him to be Healed by Nynaeve. He's just a minor character but just imagine how much of an emotional roller coaster did Brandon Sanderson put me through. And that's just the beginning.
• Elayne to lead the war while pregnant? While it's commending that a woman is going to lead a battle, having a six-months-pregnant woman ride to battle at some point is just worrisome.
• We already know how infuriating Gawyn could be from the previous book, but he'll be even more so in this book. Gawyn is really stupid for using the Bloodknives' ter'angreal. Doesn't he know that if he dies, Egwene will have gone into a vengeful rage or sorrow that would ultimately kill her?
• I thought that Gawyn was stupid for challenging Demandred in a sword fight, but after he died, Demandred was like, "Who's next?" It turns out Galad and Lan would do the same. *Rolls my eyes*
• Vanin and Harnan, darkfriends? Again, I'm fond of Mat's men already. And then turns out they just had a misunderstanding.
• Alanna's purpose is to die so Rand will be driven mad. Nice thought by the Dark One.
• After bonding each other, Pevara and Androl could switch talents.
• Siuan dead.
• I love how when Mat died with Rahvin's lightnings during the attack on Caemlyn (The Fires of Heaven), it has broken his link to the Horn of Valere so someone else can blow it.
• Mat finally had good use of people from Hinderstap. So funny.
• Past comes in full circle. Since Mat survived the poison he got at Shadar Logoth, he became immune to the mist or Mashadar attached to Padan Fain.

Chapter 37 is so long that according to a Reddit post, it contained 81,200 words, much longer than the entirety of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's stone at 78,000. Sanderson replied that he wanted the readers to feel as if they're on a marathon and by the end of that journey, they'd also feel the exhaustion felt by the characters in the book. This chapter with its long-winded writing is the reason I felt I was bored to death.

Anyhow, the story ended nicely (the epilogue was written by Robert Jordan which was already in the notes handed to Sanderson) giving you lots of thoughts that are open for speculations which abound the internet like while Rand could no longer wield Saidin or access the True Source, he could just will things to happen.