The Shadow Rising: Book Four of 'The Wheel of Time' Kindle Edition

he was an amazing world builder. And he developed an amazing story. He's also pretty sexist, when you get down to it. I don't think a single female character isn't conniving and/or petty. It wasn't until the 3rd in the series that I realized I was getting angry and frustrated by certain characters, then I realized that's just how Jordan portrayed women.His writing isn't great, either. But his story is. I loved the world he built, the cultures, the history of the cultures, the mystery, and the magic. So ... that's my 2 cents. I have heard that after Jordan's passing, when Brandon Sanderson finished the series (based on Jordan's notes) that the writing improved ten-fold. If you can make it that far through the series, that is.

I find myself torn between really liking these books and being totally done with the Jr High behavior of the characters, especially the female ones. Really like Perrin as a character and the plot line going on; however, what adult would put up with the childish behavior of Faile? Let alone how the relationship developed. Does Robert Jordan really see women like that? And the Aes Sedai? What gives them the right to simply do what they do? Robert Jordan criticizes Tolkien for how it is unbelievable that someone would simply run off on an adventure, but the heroines in his book are “mean girls” that are not even likable.Tolkien’s hero’s have nobility, Jordan’s need to grow up.

After finishing The Dragon Reborn, I began to really consider giving up this series. It wasn't that the book (or the series to that point) was bad; it was that it wasn't good enough to justify investing the time into reading through 14 novels in the series. I came very close to "cutting my losses" right there but I had already purchased A Shadow Rising and I decided to make this the book that makes the decision for me. All that I can say is that I am now on board for the remainder of the ride!This book was truly outstanding. Finally the pacing was not an issue. The story is told from multiple perspectives across a large geographical area and this is one of the few books that pulls that off without boring you with some of the less interesting plot threads. There were only 1 or 2 lulls in this 900+ page novel and that's not easy to accomplish.The story is really going places now and the world that has been built here keeps getting more and more interesting. The history and lore that Robert Jordan has imagined here is beyond and fantasy series I can think of. There is a depth to it that is palpable.The book isn't perfect. There are still issues with the way some of the characters make decisions and I was a bit annoyed with a few sequences but this book is a classic. Hopefully future novels int eh series can maintain this standard.

Whew. This one took me a while. But clocking in at a little over 1000 pages (and according to Wikipedia's word counts), it's the longest one yet. Don't be fooled though, into thinking my long read time was due to the book itself. No, real life simply got in the way. The Shadow Rising, much like The Great Hunt, was entertaining all the way through. And like The Dragon Reborn it felt very complete. I felt that it accomplished a lot for being the fourth of a fourteen book series.There was a particularly satisfying amount of worldbuilding in this one, still Jordan's greatest strength I'd say. We especially learned a lot about the Fremen- er, the Aiel, in this one, through some really excellent Rand scenes. I've always said that Brandon Sanderson is very accomplished at answering reader questions through his books, while at the same time using those answers to raise greater, and even more complex, questions. I now see that this was a tactic he'd had some inspiration for in the form of Robert Jordan. Jordan does exactly that in this book, showing the reader a glimpse, giving us a taste, of the vast, deep mysteries surrounding certain elements of this story. He gives us some answers. And I have a whole lot more questions. I'm also consistently pleased with just how.. cosmic, and mystical, this series can be. For a traditional Fantasy story, the Wheel of Time has some truly trippy moments brought about through the One Power. To the point of me wondering how multiverse theory could fit in with the Power and the True Source. Exciting stuff.Beyond that, there was some very solid character development in this installment, and unfortunately some areas where I'd like to see improvement. Perrin's plot line took center stage for me in this one. Perrin is a character in turmoil. A man struggling between the life he'd choose and the life duty has seen fit to give him. Ta'veren can only stray so far from the Pattern.. And as he wrestles with this internal battle, Perrin is growing. I won't give anything away, but the events surrounding him in this book are really fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing him progress. Now, the other side of the coin. I'm a little put out at some of the female characters. Specifically Nynaeve and Elayne's plot line. Don't mistake me, I really enjoyed it. It was a worthwhile segment of the story. But at times Jordan's female characters do feel a little underdeveloped. Not all of them mind you, but some. Many of them seem to be driven by nothing more than either unending desire for men, or hatred of the same. Aspects of Nynaeve's character for example are really well done, and very interesting. And then there's the part of her that seems to be perpetually spiteful to everything moving. It's a little.. stale. So as I said, it isn't that I didn't enjoy it, but I'd like to see improvement there. As for our 'main' character.. Rand's chapters were some of the most interesting in the book. It's hard to review these and mention specifics, because the characters and their situations have changed so much from the first book. Rand has come a long way from sheepherder in the Two Rivers. Watching him do so has been exciting, and I'm eager to see what he'll do next.Hell, I'm eager to see what all of them will do next. I am loving this story, and the journey so far. Book five up next.

I'm not sure why fantasy (and some other) authors insist on writing 1,000 page books so often... I would argue it takes away from the experience. However, when you're into the fourth book in the series, you're already enthralled by the world and the lore and so you just keep reading as you almost see it as an encyclopaedic telling of the tale. As with all the Jordan's other books, the characters are very oddly written and this series is seriously missing any sort of personality in any of them other than anger and annoyance (why does everybody just react negatively and sharply?!). I've given this book four stars because the writing is incredible, the world Jordan is building (and has already built) is an absolute epic and it was a good ending which has got me excited for the follow up books.

Book four begins to shed more in depth light on the individual characters in the WoT, showcasing Perrin more than most. I did enjoy this book the 3-4th time I read through it. Mat continues to be amusing, falling through calamity after calamity.One thing I love about the WoT is that you discover something new with each read through. The series is worth every hour spent reading.

As the fourth part of the Wheel of Time Epic, it seems needless to say that it continues the tale that has been carried through the first three books of the series.For me it is compelling reading. Although the books are long there is not the feeling of 'padding'. the writing is detailed and draws the reader in.In my opinion, and probably that of every other fan of the Wheel of Time, you do need to start with book one.It took me a long time to get started on this wonderful epic but I am so glad I did!

Don't have anything to say on the story really. We learn more about the Aiel, get a hint of Moraines thinking, Perrin goes home.Overall I like the story and will continue to the end but there are huge flaws for me.The women are doing my head in. Elayne and Nyneave - so far, could do without them. Got tired of them very quickly. Well, by book 3 anyway. Min so far in my view is the only woman character I have much time for.Love Perrin, Mat, Loial, Rand, Gaul - actually the male characters are far more preferable to the women, the women let the story down I think, too much about fool men, yanking braids, chins up in the air in haughty manners, getting one over on each other, putting each other in their places - seriously - get over it already..wish they would mature and get a serious sense of humour. It's just too much of the same rehashed without moving on. Maybe I don't get them, but so far I don't want to.Hunt for the Black Ajah was somewhat disappointing. Big build up and then over and done with and out of there..Overall Perrins story and Mat kept me interested in this book. The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time)The Shadow Rising (Wheel of Time)

For a massive 34% of this novel the characters remain in the Stone of Tear. This has the possibility of being a very slow beginning, but much happens during that time. Egwene and Elayne attempt to teach Rand what they know of using the Power; and while interrogating the two Black sisters caught at the end of the last book, they discover some information leading to Tanchico. Mat struggles with being unable to leave as he wishes, due to the pull of ta'veren, eventually leading him into a ter'angreal to get answers. Rand finds out the difficulties of being a ruler amongst a bunch of scheming high lords who only follow him out of fear, leading him to seek out the Aiel, who would follow He Who Comes With The Dawn because they want to. Perrin finds out the Two Rivers has been overrun by Whitecloaks and attempts to investigate, while trying to upset Faile for her own good so she won't go, inevitably leading to arguments and a devilish trick by the Saldean leaving Loial stuck in the middle.With all of this going on, Jordan seems to have thought the audience would get bored without a little action, so he inserts a random encounter with 'bubbles of evil' and a trolloc attack. Neither of which seem to have any bearing on the plot. The 'bubbles of evil' more so; it seems to be just another thing for the characters to worry about. And by the time of the trolloc attack (an event that is becoming increasingly tired and predictable at the beginning of these books) everyone is well on their way to their separate paths. The only important scenes within this attack are Lanfear encouraging Rand to use Callandor, leading to an excellent scene where he tries and fails to resurrect a dead girl.After the first third, the novel branches out into three separate stories in three man locations: The Two Rivers, Tanchico, and The Aiel Waste. With a shorter but no less significant, plot set in the Tower. Once the characters go their paths, they never intersect, so I shall review them separately.The Two RiversProbably my favourite part of the novel. Perrin, Faile, Loial, Gaul, Bain and Chiad travel through the Ways to get to Manetheren. Despite the many warnings before about the dangers, and Loial's insistence that he never travel them again, the biggest danger they face is from Faile's and Perrin's arguments. However, when they actually get to Emond's Field, things start picking up. Perrin learns that Trollocs have been invading the district and discovers the terrible fate of his entire family leading to an emotional scene between him and Faile. He begins to rally the villagers to arms and most of the rest of the novel is him doing just this, including the fulfilment of Min's viewing of a Tuatha'an with a sword. This last is very well handled showing the weakness of the Way of the Leaf, lamenting its honourable concept that can never be. The final attack is climactic, exciting and uplifting, leaving you to wonder if The Two Rivers will ever be the same again.TanchicoThis is the weak point of the novel. Not much goes on here, it's basically Elayne and Nynaeve sitting back while Thom, Juilin and a re-re-re-introduced Domon Bayle do all the investigating off page. While it's great to have recurring characters like Bayle, it is starting to become a stretch to believe that he appears everywhere, and aside from lending an army of bodyguards, he doesn't do much for the plot. Neither does another reintroduction; that of Egeanin. However, she does give an example of a Seanchan who is beginning to have her faith shaken.I really would have liked to read more about the investigations rather than hearing it second hand, however, this is balanced by a fantastic introduction of Moghedian. She comes out of nowhere, with no announcement or previous foreshadowing, just like her character. The climax for this story ends at the Panarch's palace with Nynaeve fully realising the extent of her power (when she CAN channel).The TowerI can't really say much here without spoiling it, but this story marks a monumental change and even when you expect it, you really desire for things to go differently. However, the best part of this story is a small scene between Min, Siuan and Gawyn, leaving you to wonder about the Andoran noble's loyalty.The Aiel WasteHere, we get a look into the warrior culture of the Aiel. I'm not a huge fan of Warrior Societies as they are often an overused concept in fantasy and science fiction. The Aiel aren't really any different, they have a huge obligation to honour and a complex system of strict customs. However, they aren't as badly realised as they could be.It is in this storyline that we have, probably, the most interesting part of the book: a glimpse of the Age of Legends. It is told through flashback in a reverse chronology (similar to the film 'Memento') so it is difficult to understand fully and may be a good idea to read it in the proper order afterwards to get the best out of it. Once this flashback is over, the story leads on to more travelling as they make their way to Alcair Dal to inform the clan chiefs that He who Comes With The Dawn has arrived. Again, this is riddled with Trolloc attacks and side plots which feel like filler. By the time we get to the climax, we're used to things going a certain way, which makes the surprising ending more so, setting things up for the next novel.All in all, a very decent addition with many surprises and wonderful character moments, though pointless skirmishes needlessly break up the quieter moments.