#mantasy

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 5/5

I said it last time, but I changed my mind. THIS is hands down the best Wheel of Time book so far. Holy lore dump, Batman. Jordan has gotten comfortable in his writing, and he knows his characters. The comedic irony is incredible, I wasnt expecting to laugh as much as I have. We're also getting further and further from the LotR retelling, which is nice. My one and only gripe is that there are so. many. characters.

Maybe I'm just in an emotional place, but the battle at Emmond's Field had me full on crying. The women showing up because the supposed protectors didn't is what really broke me. Rand has also finally accepted and stepped into his fate. Then theres Mat. Oh, Mat. What a goofball.

Nyneave realizing (or at least admitting) why she can't channel unless angry was cathartic to read; and let's not glance over the fact that she took down a Forsaken. I cant wait to see even more growth from her, she's still my favorite.

Book: The Shadow Rising

Author: Robert Jordan

Series: Wheel of Time (4)

24/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 4.75/5

I said in a previous post that the kids were all stepping into their roles, but that wasnt true. They were stepping onto the paths to get them to where they belonged. This is where they truly stepped into their power.

This was the perfect penultimate book in an epic. Suspense has been building for 13 books, everything is lined up for an incredible conclusion. We are at the tipping point, and I cant wait to see how this will end.

Book: Towers of Midnight

Author: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Series: Wheel of Time (13)

50/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 4.5/5

I did it, I finished The Wheel of Time. This will probably be long, and it will for sure be rambly.

There were two main parts for me. The first part, roughly the first half, was a combination of Helm's Deep and the scene in Endgame where everyone comes through the portals. People are having their hero moments, reunions happen, unthinkable heroism occurs. And then it doesn't. Then, the second part, the real last battle happens and shit goes south.

As for the ending, I'm torn. I love the way the story concludes (especially the last paragraph being a parallel to the paragraph that starts all the books), but many of the characters feel like they deserve more closure. I love that Rand is able to slip back into obscurity and be Rand again. In my mind, he's a sheep herder somewhere. But it's at the cost of getting to reunite with any of his loved ones. That doesn't sit right with me. His character flaw is that he cares too much for the people he loves, and now he's forced to live his life without them? No. Is Min just with Fortuona and the Seanchan now? Hate it. Nyneave as a queen though? Yeah that seems right.

For the story though, I love the open ending. The Wheel keeps turning, lives come and go. We dont need to know how nations healed. We dont need to know if pieces of Aviendha's visions come to pass, or if the Dragon's Peace is upheld. I'd like to know about her though. Where does she end up?

Honestly I could keep rambling about this book for paragraphs and paragraphs, and maybe one day I'll sit down and write something a bit more thought out. I didnt even touch on Mat and his battle tactics or Perrin and his wolves. Until I do decide to do that, I'll leave it with this: there are no endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time, but this was an ending.

Book: A Memory of Light

Author: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Series: Wheel of Time (14)

51/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 4.5/5

We are SO back to good books, baby!

Rand's arc throughout the series has been masterfully done. His slow descent into numbness was so well written, but his conversation with Tam and his turning point here were perfect. The scene at Dragonmount was truly beautiful.

Speaking of beauty. Egwene MF al'Vere fighting against the Seanchan. That would be something to behold. Especially after weeks of beatings, forkroot, and being treated as a less than human. Her surviving, then going on to become the true Amyrlin Seat was stunning work. Every woman in this series is more badass than the last.

Book: The Gathering Storm

Author: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Series: Wheel of Time (12)

49/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 4/5

ALERT ALERT Things progressed!

I'm talking about a book 11. Obviously there will be spoilers.

Faile and Perrin were FINALLY reunited. It felt like she was separated for books and books, but I think it was only for one full one. But now Elayne is captured (again). Can we please stop kidnapping women?

Matt and Tuan are married! My little rogue finally got hitched. I adore their relationship and I hope we get to see it grow and develop. I freaking KNEW Moiraine wasnt dead dead, and I love that Mat, of all people, has to help get her back.

I really just want all my ducklings back together. Or at least more together than they have been for a while.

Book: Knife of Dreams

Author: Robert Jordan

Series: Wheel of Time (11)

48/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 3.75/5

Ahhhhhh, so that's what they mean by The Slog. A lot of this just did not feel necessary. Maybe I'll change my mind when I finish the series, but it felt like a book of side quests. Also, where are the rest of my babies? We only really saw half of them through the whole book.

I did love the ending, though. This is the type of event where a lot of POV bouncing is beneficial, and I was happy to see what was going on from different perspectives. I'm quite interested to see what the consequences of cleansing saidin will be. Will it still be a fight to use it, or will it be more like how the women use saidar?

Book: Winter's Heart

Author: Robert Jordan

Series: Wheel of Time (9)

42/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 5/5

The kids are DOING shit. Rand and the other Two Rivers crew have gotten power before this book, but now they're stepping into it and I love it.

Egwene was the real star of this book for me. She was put in her position to be a puppet, but the older women didnt see that she was actually the one holding the strings. Finally, she was able to embrace her role and act for herself. Rand, while mildly crazy, does try to listen to advice from others and wants to be a good ruler. Elayne has only just reached her throne, and I'm sure there will be plenty of challenges, but she's finally there.

The politicking and factions in the White Tower is one of my favorite parts of the story, so I was very excited to get so much of it with both the Tower and the rebels.

I'm very ready to read about the Prophet getting knocked down a peg or ten.

Book: The Path of Daggers

Author: Robert Jordan

Series: Wheel of Time (8)

41/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio

[thestarlesscircus]

⭐️ 4.5/5

This one, while a TON of major things happened, just didn't quite do it for me. Even more people were introduced to an already massive cast, and there was too much bouncing around for me. Chaos was an appropriate word for this title.

I Iove me some political intrigue in fantasy, I just didnt think it was a good balance between that and all the other stories already happening.

Okay. Spoilers now.

Nynaeve MF al'Meeara is a BOSS. She can heal Stilling and Gentling holy moly. And then there's a new Amyrlin Seat with Egwene! My girls are crushing it. I almost wasnt annoyed by Rand at the end, and that's almost as much progress for him. His line at the end, though, fucking BARS.

Like i said before, my chief complaints with this book are the sheer number of characters, its honestly overwhelming trying to keep everyone straight; the glossary in the back gets more use than I'd like to admit. I'm still so interested to see where this story is going and how things will all fall into place. For now, though, I need a break. On to some other books that came into my libby holds, and maybe a few silly romcoms for a minute.

Book: Lord of Chaos

Author: Robert Jordan

Series: Wheel of Time (6)

26/75 books for 2026

Format: Physical/Audio