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Friday, October 9, 2015

The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time, #5)The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So I read this back in 2010, and gave it 3 stars at the time, based on the slowing pace. This time through the series I remembered that impression, and have been dreading the coming slow down. And guess what, it isn't really an issue for me this time. I'm sure that some psychologist has studied the phenomenon of expected events that never happen because they were expected, and it probably has a name, but I don't know what it is called, only that it happened. It could be due to my intellectual growth (unlikely) or my speed of reading this time (more likely). In any case, I am enjoying the series.

I will mention two aspects that could be better. First, Mat is getting really whiny. I see the need to develop his personality and relationship with Aes Sedai, but considering the world he lives in, his views are often over the top. Being healed, for example, is a function of humankind's basic will to live. His attitude about that doesn't make sense. His complaints come out as whiny in most cases. Stop complaining and grow up already.

Second, I understand that these books were already long, but I don't like unaddressed plot lines. Perrin has been mostly absent for 2 books. And where is Padan Fain? Again, I can see how it would be necessary to limit the scope of an already long book, but at the same time it feels like something is missing.