Bornite Reads

I love reading, so I've decided to start blogging about it so I have a kind of record of what I read and when and how I felt about it. If you have a recommendation, please send it on, I'm always looking for new books to read.

[bornitereads]

The Martian - Andy Weir

Reread: May 2025

This isn't the first time I've read The Martian and it will likely not be my last. It's made it into my comfort reading, can-read-it-in-48-hours book rotation. I have two science fiction books on there and both have to do with Mars in the near future. I think I have a type.

I really love the air of optimism in the book. The near future science that makes it all feel so real, like it'll be happening while I'm still alive believable. I really like science fiction where I can see the line that would lead us from where we are in reality to the where "we" are in the fiction. Of course this line in the The Martian is really short.

And of course I love the characterization of Mark Watney and Annie Montrose (honestly she's my favourite character). Mark is so ready to figure shit out and be calm and some how sane. Weir did a fantastic job writing him. I just love Annie for the amount of times she just says "fuck" lol.

If you want a pretty funny plot summary @petrova-frequency wrote one that made me laugh here.

Info: Broadway Books; 2011.

[bornitereads]

Bloodsucking Fiends - Christopher Moore

Read: Apr 2025

Moore really has a way with his writing. It's always fun. Well at least everything I've ever read by him. This was no exception. I was looking for more vampire books when I picked this up at the second-hand book shop. Although it sat on my "to read" shelf for ages before I actually cracked it open.

The plot is a human/vampire romance. Not incredibly ground breaking I know. But the way Moore approached with with... this irreverence, made it better than some run of the mill supernatural romance. I mean it's still heterosexual romance so like I'm not completely invested, but the way vampirism is depicted and the character work really did it for me. Okay so I'm actually pretty biased about vampire novels, sue me, I like what I like, but I still think this is a fun and good read.

Info: Simon & Schuster; 1995

[bornitereads]

Death's End - Liu Cixin

Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy book 3

Read: Apr 2025

Okay now we really have to get into. Things are about to get super weird. We're talking higher and lower dimensional space; changing the speed of light; pocket universes; time jumps measured in millions of years; alien AI robots shaped like humans. Like shit is wild here.

Like in the other books there is one main character. Which I'll give to Netflix that their show has pretty direct connections with each of the main characters of the novels. Another really direct character connections is Yun Tianming, who is the guy who has cancer and has his brain flung out into space. His character does the same shit in the show and the book, so that was fun. I've been trained at this point to expect the character plots not to line up 1:1, but this one did.

The main character of this book is Cheng Xin. The only woman main character. As a character I feel kind of meh about her. Frankly I dislike her actions and motivations a lot of the time. This all feeds into my feelings that there's more than a little misogyny going on in this trilogy. I'm not claiming anything in regards to the author other than there is a pretty clear bias showing up in this work. Is it an intentional choice or is it unconscious, I can't rightly say. But the portrayal and actions of Cheng Xin show her off as weak willed and naive. In contrast to many of the men characters who pull up their pants and get shit done in the end. Another thing that hit me the wrong way was the depiction of the men in the future as "too feminine" which was directly contrasted to the men from the past (who came to the future via cryogenic hibernation) who are more decisive, masculine, and who have what it takes to continue the fight. The more I read the more eye rolling I did about this. The ending for Cheng Xin is tragic and I'm not sure if it's because the whole bigger picture story is a tragedy or if it's because she's a woman who doesn't get a choice.

Of course is this an echo of meaning lost in translation? A cultural disconnect? I honestly don't know, but I felt more than a little weird about it.

Anyways despite that I cackled when I realized that flat-earthers finally got vindication with extreme prejudice at the end of the book.

Info: Tor; 2010; translated by Ken Liu, 2016

[bornitereads]

The Dark Forest - Liu Cixin

Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy book 2

Read: Apr 2025

This was such a fun book. In all honesty, it is my favourite one of the trilogy. This is where things get WEIRD. Not that there weren't weird things going on the first book, but it really ramps up in this one. Liu really just starts turning the weird dial and never stops until the books are over.

In this entry the focus is on humanity preparing for the arrival of the Trisolarans and the defence of the solar system. One of the programs rolled out as part of the UN defence program is the Wallfacers. Truly interesting concept to negate total surveillance of an enemy. The main character of The Dark Forest is Luo Ji, who is a Wallfacer, and honestly kind of shit at it. I could barely tolerate him for the better part of the book. He rises to the occasion in the end and redeems himself, but it was a rough journey getting there.

Liu takes the dark forest hypothesis and articulates it as an example of what it looks like if it moved from hypothesis to evidence backed theory. I won't lie, it is bleak. It invoked some deep feelings of hopelessness in me. Liu takes care to reinforce this in the next book as well. Belief in the dark forest hypothesis is, perhaps pragmatic, but ultimately one that I feel closes out hope. This is a story, a very good one, a scary example of the dark forest, but the dark forest remains a hypothesis and I had to remind myself of that.

Info: Tor; 2008; translated by Joel Martinsen, 2015

[bornitereads]

The Three-Body Problem - Liu Cixin

Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy book 1

Read: Apr 2025

I had watched the Netflix TV show before I read these so that's the angle I was coming from. I was expecting a plucky group of friends and I was expecting it to be set in China and not the UK like the show. I got one of those things.

I was really surprised to find the book had one main character: Wang Miao. If you've watched the show this character is the one who invents the nanowire. Of course Wang Miao is a man in the book, in fact it really feels like most of the characters are men, with only a few women who really matter to the the plot. This is something I feel for the whole of Remembrance of Earth's Past, and I feel it gets worse in the other two books - but let's discuss it when we get there.

One of my favourite characters from the show - the rough-spoken, smoking detective - was in the book. He was just as good in the book as he was in the show. I was really glad he was there. Obviously the Netflix show made a lot of changes. It was quite interesting to see how they teased apart plot beats for different characters when in the book, especially this first one, Wang Miao does basically all the stuff the main character group does in the show. It did help everything stay tied up very neatly together.

One of the things I liked (not enjoyed mind) was the pretty pessimistic take on how people reacted to finding out there was other intelligent life out there. Inviting them to invade? Have we not seen how bad colonialism goes for the natives? Yikes. Don't get me wrong I completely get where they're coming from, especially Ye Wenjie. When society treats you like shit, it's hard to not want that society to perish. But selling out every single human and the planet as a whole it a step too far, but unfortunately I can see it happening. The nice counterpoint to this is the rallying of humanity together when eventually the world discovers the truth.

Truly still one of the best sci-fi I've ever read. The oil tanker take down scene will stay with me forever.

Info: TOR; 2006; translated by Ken Liu, 2014.

[bornitereads]

Heirs of the Force - Kevin J. anderson & Rebecca Moesta

Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series

Read: Mar 2025

This was the first time reading a Young Jedi Knights book. Which is weird considering how much I was into reading Star Wars novels in the 1990s. An impulse, which admittedly, has not abated. Obviously I tore through this book in no time. Books geared for kids are like small to medium sized beverages, I will inhale them in 2 seconds flat.

Overall I enjoyed it. It was fun to see the introduction of Lowbacca, a Wookie jedi. And the kind of weird shit the twins and their friends were getting up to at the academy. Also nice to see Jacen as a normal person. I got too used to him being Darth Caedus. But young Jacen is just some teenager haha. I love the attempt at subverting typical gender characterizations with the twins. Jaina is into machines and is analytical and Jacen loves animals and talks to them via feelings. I understand what they were doing and hey, maybe with the target audience it worked great. But as an adult reading this is, it's so obvious and lacking any subtlety that it hurts.

Although having Jaina basically melt at affection from her father while Jacen couldn't care less kind of ruined it for me as well.

Guess that's why it's a kids book.

Info: Boulevard Books, 1995

[bornitereads]

A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Wheel of Time Book 14

Reread: Feb 2022

And so here we are at the end of the series. When this came out I was in uni and between classes I went to the bookstore to buy this. I couldn't wait to read the conclusion. I tore though it and I gotta say I was happy with the ending. This time around I'm still happy with it. I appreciate Moiraine more, even though I still think she should of had a larger part to play. Granted the role she did play was pretty important. Some of my faves for this book include Faile (never thought I would be saying that), Mat (obviously), Androl/Pevara, Aviendha, and Gaul. What about Perrin? Or Rand? You might ask, but while they are good and nice to read, I just liked these others more. Besides the gigantic Last Battle chapter, there are some great confrontations. I'm thinking especially of Tuon and Egwene. And Tuon and Rand. And Tuon and Min. Wow Tuon really said I'm gonna piss everyone off now that I think about it. Except Mat of course. But really, I thought it was a fitting end to the series, good wrap up and good unexplained mysteries. You gotta leave some things for people to speculate about. I'm not sure how much of this book Jordan actually had written before he died, but I definitely felt this book was more of a joint effort. Special shout out to Alanna for getting to see the consequences of her actions.

Info: Tor, 2012

[bornitereads]

Reread: Mar 2025

Honestly what more can I say about this that I didn't say above?

I really love Androl and Pevara at the Black Tower. That whole storyline is just so good. Especially because it's not any of the mains coming to save the Asha'man from the Shadow, they did that themselves. I'm not counting Perrin because he had no idea what was going on and basically helped by accident (with Cyndane boo!). Although Perrin does continue his incredible work in Tel'aran'rhiod during the Last Battle (with Gaul yay <3).

Although, listen, come closer, closer.... Sanderson can pry Cyndane's snapped fucking neck from my cold dead hands. I will not stand for it.

Tuon and Mat fucking in the garden is great, I'm sure Mat showed her a good time. Although I keep thinking Tuon would absolutely be pegging Mat. Something fun to think about for the Fourth Age lmao. And then Rand showing up immediately in the morning before they are even dressed cracks me up. I still stand by my Tuon vs everyone comments though, that shit is so good and funny.

Oh and can we comment about how Romanda gets blasted into pieces!? Fucking RIP old girl.

Really love Hessalam vs Aviendha in Thakan'dar. Although I'm sad about Sarene Nemdahl. It's my private belief she made it through after Avi nuked Hessalam with her own compulsion. She was one of my favourite background Aes Sedai.

Loved Thom sitting at the entrance to Shayol Ghul and knifing everyone who comes up to the point he has a big pile of bodies. It's the most I've loved Thom since Eye of the World.

Give it up to Nyneave shaking the shit out of Alanna to get her to release the bond. Personally I always just picture Nyneave pulling out some coca and being like time to fucking wake up girlie!

Really love that when Olver blows the Horn of Valere it brings the wolves as well. That was A+.

Forever annoyed that Moiraine never talked to Siuan before Suian also got blown up. Every time I read that part I dislike it more to be quite honest.

Anyways shout out to Lan for killing Demandred. Shout out to Demandred for killing Gawyn! Sorry I cannot get over how badly handled canon Gawyn was, it was really a harsh piece of character assassination on everyone's part.

[bornitereads]

Towers of Midnight - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Wheel of Time Book 13

Reread: Feb 2022

This is a thick book. Just this book alone makes me understand exactly why they split the last book into three haha. First I want to address the title. Why? I fail to understand it. Is it the towers in Seanchan that are barely referenced? Seems like the obvious choice since they are actually named the Towers of Midnight and there are thirteen of them. But like why? They are never a setting, they are never discussed by the characters. I just don't get it. But anyways on to the book!

I like Rand now that he has some chill. Him and Egwene was fun to see. Perrin especially has fun stuff this book. His "it's just a weave" line slaps so hard. Like imagining Egwene's face at that just makes me so happy. I also really liked the Aybaras vs Elayne. Elayne was never going to get what she wanted haha. I didn't like Perrin and the Whitecloak stuff, but then again when has any of the Whitecloak stuff been good? The really undecided part of this book for me was the Mat storyline. It's an interesting premise, but I'm not sure I like the execution. I don't know, every time I read it I find myself going "is this good?" And I have not come to a satisfactory answer yet. I know this may seem wild considering the outcome is generally seen as good, and I agree but the getting there...? It's maybe not it for me.

Info: Tor, 2010

[bornitereads]

Reread: Mar 2025

Okay so I have since seen some stuff talking about how the "Towers of Midnight" are actually the tower representations of the Foresaken Egwene dreams about. Which frankly, is a better explanation than the actual Towers of Midnight in Seanchan. Although only 6 of the original 13 are still alive at this point, so...

Perrin is the standout for me in this book. I just love his continuing competency in Tel'aran'rhiod. Sorry but Egwene could never imo. Especially because he straight up shows her they he has better control than she does during the White Tower Dream Battle.

I'm also a fan of Elayne having to deal with both Mat and Perrin this book. I especially love Morgase being like umm maybe we can just make things easier if we include Perrin, because he will not go down quietly or easily.

Again, I wasn't completely sold on Mat's Sindhol adventures. I like that Moiraine is back at the end. But I think really my whole issue with it is the way Sanderson writes Mat. Somehow he's made out to be a bumbling, barely literate, idiot. Which is contrary to what Jordan was writing him as in previous books. So I guess it's not really landing home with me because the differences in characterization.

I refuse to discuss the situation with Thom. I do not see it. It did not happen.

[bornitereads]

The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

Wheel of Time Book 12

Reread: Jan - Feb 2022

So this is the first Sanderson Wheel of Time book (since Robert Jordan died in 2007) and as much as people discuss the differences between Jordan and Sanderson, I personally don't have a change in my enjoyment of the series. Of course the writing is different, but it's not something I consciously pay attention too or analyze. For me it's just a difference in tone and feel, but beyond these generalizations I couldn't give you specifics. And nor do I desire to. Anyways what I really enjoy about this book is Egwene, she's so good and her story here is so juicy and fun. Rand's story isn't as fun, it's sad. But the end is great. I cannot stand Aviendha in this book, she seems so dense and self-absorbed . Although maybe this is more because I have a hard time with her inter-personal relationships. She never seems to act in a reasonable manner. Despite knowing that this book was the first part of A Memory of Light originally, it does end up giving that "we have moved into the end game" feeling, which is something I enjoyed.

Info: Tor, 2009

[bornitereads]

Reread: Mar 2025

I stand my assertion that the change to Sanderson didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story. To be fair I have heard the arguments and there are some that I agree with, but I'll cover that next book.

This book however has some great stuff in it! Especially Egwene so dramatically showing up Elaida. Like bitch you did it to yourself lmao. And then using the novices and Vora's sa'angreal to toast the Seanchan? We love to see it. And can we talk about Verin!! Verin is completely my favourite Aes Sedai. Her part in this book was just incredible. Egwene would have had a much harder time dealing with the Black Ajah if Verin didn't hand her everything she needed. Speaking of which, the purge was so good!

The other part of this book was Rand completing his fall to rock bottom, which was interesting to say the least. Semirhage getting got by Rand's access to the True Power was so good, the way she knew exactly what was happening is something I savour every read through. Of course then we have to deal with Natrin's Barrow, the abandonment of Arad Doman, and the Tam situation. But the end result? I cannot state how much I love the reforging of Rand into zen mode.

[bornitereads]

Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time book 11

Reread: Feb 2025

This is the last of the books Robert Jordan wrote fully before he died. Its kind of sad whenever I pick this book up. But at least it's a great book. So much fun shit happens in here. Even Egwene's plot which kind of slows down still slaps.

First we have Mat which is the end of his whole escape from Ebou Dar plot. I'm very engaged with Tuon watching him and go "oh, oh no he is a great general." Of course the Deathwatch being like shit this man is dangerous is funny too, especially after Tuon finishes marrying Mat. They don't know what to do about it. I think Karede almost died when that happens.

Rand continues an unfortunate descent into madness. And Semirhage confirming this is so chef's kiss. The way she's like "oh yeah Graendal dealt with this a couple times, it's pretty brutal, but for real Lews is in there; hi Lews!" is so funny to me. But it's an incredible piece of worldbuilding.

The other plotline I like a lot here is Perrin smashing the Shaido. He was so practical about it and the whole feeding the Aiel the forkroot thing was so good. Shaido fucked around and massively found out. Therava takes them back to the Waste but it makes me wonder what happens to them after everything since they never would have signed onto the Dragon's Peace.

Shame this was Jordan's last entry, but it was a really good one honestly.

Info: Tor; 2005

[bornitereads]

Crossroads of Twilight - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 10

Reread: Jan 2022

I hate to say this, but this book is really "the slog." For me. This book has a lot in it, but ultimately goes no where. It's a whole novel of set-up. For good things to be sure, but it's still slow going. There are good things to be sure. The Traveling Show plot definitely. Mat and the things that happen around him continue to be very interesting. The rebel Aes Sedai plot is getting interesting, but mostly because Egwene. The rest is kind of meh honestly. Like I said, it's a long bit of set-up for next stage of the story.

Info: Tor, 2003

[bornitereads]

Reread: Feb 2025

So me and @monkeysaysficus agree this book is pretty blah. Its a book that we both just can't wait to get through. The only thing really exciting is Egwene and her masterful stroke in the Siege of Tar Valon. Too bad about the aftermath. But that too has its upsides in the next two books.

[bornitereads]

Winter's Heart - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 9

Reread: Dec 2021 - Jan 2022

I always think of this book with a bit of dread. I always recall it being one that drags on and on and on. But really, the reason I feel this way is because when I read books taking place in cold af weather, I feel cold and often the weather irl tends to be cold too (or I just think that w/e). With Winter's Heart I always have such timing to read it during winter, and during a cold snap. Just lucky I guess. Anyways I'm annoyed and depressed with the weather so I'm annoyed and expressed with the book. But this time I was en guard. So I really was monitoring myself for this reaction, I had it, but I contained it. In short, I found this book much better than I remember haha. But again we're in that territory where I'm really over Perrin and Elayne's plots. Perrin especially is boring in this one. But anyways, despite Elayne being god knows how much of this book, Rand is the one who really slaps in this one. And I love the setting for Rand. Far Madding is one of the most interesting places in the Westlands in my opinion. I love world building that gives so much but leaves you so hungry for more. Jordan did that with Far Madding. Setting aside there are some good plot points in this one. The polycule goes official, Nynaeve is finally back with Rand, some motherfuckers die so hard, Cadsuane and her merry band of channelers slap the Shadow's reaching hands whilst Rand and Nynaeve punch the Shadow full in the face. I absolutely love the end events in this book. Damn I almost forgot about Mat being back! His stuff is good in this book. That's part of his upward trajectory though. Plus Tuon is introduced in this book, there's so much YIKES! with the Seanchan but she's still an interesting character.

Info: Tor, 2000.

[bornitereads]

Reread: Jan 2025

I honestly have come to love this book a lot. Except Perrin. Honestly he's so annoying while Faile is gone. The whole Rescue Faile arc needed to be way shorter. But still the whole end game for this book is still one of my favourite ends to a book in Wheel of Time.

[bornitereads]

The Path of Daggers - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 8

Reread: Dec 2021

Past the halfway point of the series with this one, and the course of this book doesn't end with a big bang like a lot of the previous books did. It's at this point in the series that the books become more of a run on story than an encapsulated arc. Which I can never remember and I'm left wondering what the end game for the book is until I get there and I'm like, "right, no endgame for this book." That's not to say the book isn't good. There are several delicious scenes of course. This book is when I really get into the rebel Aes Sedai plotline, it just gets so good. And the Law of War shit?? Chef's kiss. But sadly the balance is the Andor plotline. My god I'm not into it. At least the finish for the Ebou Dar arc is satisfying. I just love when people are shookened by uses of the One Power. On a personal favourite note: Moridin having a heart attack over the gateway? Amazing. It's like the only time you see him express real fear. A big plus for me in this book is that Rand's campaigning gets us my girl Alivia. Love that bish, even if she's really weird haha. Perrin sadly also goes into another one of my least favourite plotlines. Elanye and Perrin in this book are just a big no thanks for me.

Info: Tor, 1998

[bornitereads]

Reread: Jan 2025

Poor Rand has such a hard time this book. The Altaran campaign against the Seanchan, the Dreadlord attack in Cairhien. He's really going through it. I've warmed to Elayne's succession story, although I'm still of the opinion it takes too long, though this is just the beginning of it here. Same with Perrin's stuff in Ghaeldan and Altara.

I will always love how freaked everyone is after the Bowl of Winds slaps the Dark One's hand off the weather. So much power being used, no one is used to it.

[bornitereads]

A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 7

Reread: Dec 2021

The start of this book follows directly the events that ended Lord of Chaos, so the first but is dealing with that. But honestly to me this book is about the events in Ebou Dar, or what I like to call Mat's "suffering period." I really feel bad for him especially when it comes to Tylin. I'm not quite sure what Jordan thought he was presenting with that. But I somehow don't think sexual abuse was it. But you can't really look at it any other way sadly. And unfortunately this book has a lot of sexual abuse in it. I guess I just glossed them over before, but you really can't ignore them. I'm not convinced it was a good decision to include such things. It certainly didn't serve any kind of plot that I could see. So we're just stuck with the knowledge of it having happened. But shitty, gross things aside, Elayne continues to be hideously awful until the girls gang up on her to be less awful. And truly, I enjoyed her knocking more than a few people down many pegs. One of the things I liked the most, world building-wise, is the Kin. Jordan liked shaking the world of the Aes Sedai and, frankly, in my opinion, they needed it, but this one is just too good. I really love the implications it has for the Aes Sedai. It really does put a different spin on things. I do feel sorry for them in a way, they thought they knew everything and so were blind. Rand's endgame for this book, is literally the last chapter. Which is classic Robert Jordan, but usually he gives us like the last three. But only one this time. It made it feel rushed honestly, but the whole story of it was a rushed event so I guess it fits.

Info: Tor, 1996

[bornitereads]

Reread: Jan 2025

So here's the thing I like the Ebou Dar stuff. I like the setting, the plotlines, the character growth, the Sea Folk, the Kin. But the thing is I wish more time had been spent on Rand vs Sammael. Its so abrupt. I know it's meant to mimic the rushed feel of Rand's snap decision to confront him. I wished it had just stayed in Illian and not gone to Shadar Logoth, and I wish for a final confirmation instead of what we got. I suppose I'll just have to be happy with the shows demise of Sammael. It was definitely suitably gruesome enough. I guess I just wish better for Sammael. He one of my favourite Forsaken.

[bornitereads]

Lord of Chaos - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 6

Reread: Nov - Dec 2021

For most of this book it feels like not a lot happens. But really so much happens. Especially at the end. I really enjoy Egwene's character development in this book. She has felt like she was growing for a bit now, but to me she really grows up a lot in this book. Not just with her changes in position, but personality wise as well. The only thing I really dislike about this book, specifically in regards to Egwene is Gawyn. Like no wonder he turns out so awful if everyone he loves keeps abandoning him. The lack of trust and communication in this book series is unbelievable. And it really reaches new heights in this book. I'm really not sure why Jordan felt this was how people relate to each other, especially people on the same side of a conflict. But here we are. This is also the book that Elayne becomes completely insufferable. She easily falls out of favour with me and never really recovers. But to balance it out we have Min's return and Perrin's (sadly also Faile, she is also insufferable if I'm being honest). The main crux of this book is Rand and his trials and tribulations. And torture. Like he needed more trauma piled on his trauma but here we are. For me this is one of the craziest endings to any of the series. It's so effective and so brutal and honestly quite good. I always look forward to the ending of Lord of Chaos every reread.

Info: Tor, 1994

[bornitereads]

Reread: Jan 2025

I still get stuck on Gawyn every time here. Like Egwene should have taken him with her. He would have given over everything for her. It would have been a much more satisfactory direction for his character. Best I think would be something I read in a fanfic where he learns to channel. Makes sense considering his mother and sister. And we know the Damodred side has some channeling in it too. Honestly don't know if he wouldn't have been so insufferable. Could have given more weight to the Black Tower plot later in my opinion.

[bornitereads]

The Fires of Heaven - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 5

Reread: Nov 2021

There is so much journey in this book I feel like. Rhuidean to Cairhien; Tarabon to Salidar; Andor to Salidar. Lots of moving. But we start to see more into the Forsaken's plans which I always enjoy, plus the introduction of three more of them. We get a new POV character, which is interesting, but I think it's only for a couple books that she's on her own plotline before being sucked into one of the Emond's 5 story again. But she has a lot of character growth, being cast down from the heights has a tendancy to do that. I really enjoyed the Chasing the Shaido plot, not that it's the main plot or anything haha, but it's interesting. Plus Rand and Aviendha finally fuck. As an aside: after seeing the show, I'm really struck by the lack of sex in the series. I mean 50 year old American puritan values are likely the cause. Authors do bring their cultural programming into their work with them (like everyone I suppose). But like young 20 somethings are gonna be fucking, even in the mid-1900s. But I digress. I love Nynaeve's plotline in this one, she goes through so much and comes out quite on top. The conflicts between her and Elayne I could have skipped. It was too catty and too annoying, and I'm not sure what the purpose was. And of course at the end we have Mat coming into his own for real during the Battle of Cairhien (unlike Rand, who acted the fool). And then big throw downs in Caemlyn and on the docks in Cairhien. Big oof for the latter, and a big hell yeah for the former. We getting into it now, the apron strings have truly been cut.

Info: Tor, 1993

[bornitereads]

Reread: Dec 2024

Wow I really nailed it last time haha. More comments I want to make... let's see...

I like Mat's Aiel lover, dark friend and all, but honestly I wish it had been a man. I'm totally here for bisexual Mat. For all the Aiel's openness about nudity, sex, and non monogamy, Aviendha's hang ups over Rand kind of drive me crazy. I struggle to find a way to make her resistance make more sense. Love the first circus arc. Nynaeve especially makes me laugh here.

The Tower coup I wished Jordan had included more of in the books. Especially considering how important it is. Off screen violence and fighting is really cutting it for me. See Couladin.

[bornitereads]

The Shadow Rising - Robert Jordan

Wheel of Time Book 4

Reread: Nov 2021

Here we are at book 4 and shit is starting to get so real. This book deals a lot with the Aiel, their culture, their land, and their past. It's an amazing amount of world building. The Aiel to this point have been kind of a mysterious force. But now we get to pull back the curtain. I especially love it because through them we get a glimpse into the Age of Legends. It's very, very interesting. We also deal with Rand learning more and more about channelling. Especially in the Stone of Tear in the beginning of the book. That whole thing with the little girl? Yikes. Speaking of channelling, the women get a big surprise in this book. Wise Ones? Windfinders? Oh boy, have some certain people in a certain white tower been deceived haha. The mystery with the darkfriends seems so transparent to me now, but I guess it's not that fun when you know the answer. One of my most hated characters is here in this book, Couladin. He's a giant Aiel cunt. At least he gets shown up a lot haha. The stuff with the Aiel is the main plotline, but there are two other that I really love. Perrin's return to the Two Rivers, which is amazing; and Elayne and Nynaeve in Tanchico, where Nynaeve is proved to be a badass. I really love it, just her facing down the Spider. Ugh, it brings me so much joy. Also Perrin gets married in this book! Which is cute, but like boring? Jordan didn't want to waste a lot time with marriage customs I feel. The ending with Rand's wince-inducing, rolling-in-dirt fight in Rhuidean is kind of hilarious. Plus Lanfear in this book? It's like she doesn't know what she's going to do really. Impulsive and kind of blind. But she ends up helping, which is kind of strange. Lots of very interesting things happen in this one. Just makes me so hungry to keep reading.

Info: Tor, 1992

[bornitereads]

Reread: Dec 2024

This is one of the funnest books in the series in my opinion. The look back into the Aiel past is so revealing and places a lot of things in context, like the Green Man. Plus we have the Battle of the Two Rivers. I always really love this part. Perrin becoming a lord even though he desperately doesn't want to be.

Now that I've heard The Hills of Tanchico, the book Tanchico story feels less exciting. Except the Panarch's palace stuff, that's WAY better in the book. I have so much fun imagining Nynaeve and Moghedian just standing there staring at each other hateful and hissing words at each other. The outside perspective gives me joy haha.

I also like that it's Asmodean's introduction. I love his character and dislike how quickly he's gone. One thing the show did that now that I think about seems great is sending Mat to Tanchico. But I understand I can't have my cake and eat it too. I prefer the outcome of Mat's journey through the Waste. Don't know how the show is going to top that.

One of the things that I can't really stomach is Faile and Perrin. Their relationship is so annoying at the start of this book and their sudden marriage doesn't help it. I know Jordan was not able to write good romance, and perhaps for someone his age a quick marriage seemed normal. But he really had a hard time showing they had a relationship that was heading towards marriage. Even just leaving it until a later book would have been wise in my opinion.