Wera's Reviews > The Shadow Rising

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4.25 stars
**Although this is a spoiler-free review (spoilers are hidden), there may be spoilers for previous books (scroll down)**

This time I am keeping the spoiler-free section fairly small because there is so much I want to talk about. After the ending of The Dragon Reborn, the squads split up on many missions: Elayne, Nynaeve, Thom, and Juilin go to Tanchico in pursuit of the Black Ajah; Rand, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan, and Mat journey with the Aiel to the Three Fold Land for various reasons; Perrin, Faile, Gaul, Loial, Chaid and Bain go back to the Two Rivers in hopes of resolving the Children of the Light/Trolloc conflict; (and farther north, and somewhat unrelated) we get the perspective of Min who arrives at the White Tower and has a vision of a great catastrophe that is about to befall the Aes Sedai.

All the perspectives were engaging and furthered most of the characters. There were parts that I definitely enjoyed more than others, but overall the plot was well progressed, characters built up better, and more cultures explored. The story manages to pull out of the slightly formulaic flow it was starting to build up by book 3, and really developed into its own thing.

Overall, I can totally see why this is a favorite of so many people. It is filled with many small amazing, and great breath-taking moments. It's short comings for me were pacing and the confusion that sometimes followed the fact that so much was going on and I needed to go back and wrap my head around things. But thats because I'm stoopid sometimes :) Highly recommend.



Ok, now onto spoilers :)))
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This will be divided into my thoughts on each separate story-line.

Rand and gang in the Aiel Waste:
This segment was pretty epic, but it was also the segment that had me going "what" every two seconds. This is probably because I have a problematic memory and listened to the audiobook for many parts of this book. This meant I had to go back and reread many moments to remember who was who. And that reveal at the end that the fat lady Keille was Lanfear? Didn't see it coming. The reveal that the gleeman Natael was Asmodean? Didn't see it coming. I guess I was thrown off by all the Isendre and Kadere stuff going on. When I went back and reread the first interaction that Rand/Mat have with Keille/Lanfear it clicked and I saw the foreshadowing. Honestly, I can't believe I missed it. Epic reveal, nonetheless. Also, I want to appreciate that Rand didn't face the Dark One in an epic battle at the end. The epic battle happened, but it was to further the plot in a way that made sense. This was a great deal-breaker for me in book 3 and the issue has been rectified.

Another thing that was hard for me to understand was Aiel culture. It is really intense and different. Around 80% through I think I actually understood what was going on. When Rand tries to reveal himself as He Who Comes With the Dawn, and Couladin is being a brat, I understood what was going on enough, so that was nice. Rand and Mat's journeys to Rhuidean were some of my favorite moments. I want to know more about the Aelfinn and Eelfinn. I think that they have been set up well. I also think I can puzzle out what the Eelfinn do. Requests right? As much as I liked this segment, I didn't like Mat as much. He was by far the best part of book 3, but here he was either nonexistent, comic relief, or whiney. I want more of who he was in book 3 please. As for Rand, I thought the backstory of the Aiel was honestly really interesting. The way that so much of what the normal Aiel know is lies. Fascinating. I also love seeing how slowly Rand is coming to fulfill more and more prophecies.

Egwene and Moiraine, especially the latter, I wanted more from. Egwene was there in the beginning when she did her thing to Rand where she passed Rand to Elayne, but then she is not always very present. Moiraine had an epic fight scene in the beginning (loved that scene OMG), but then she and Lan both fade. Aviendha is coming more into the spot-light which is kind of cool. I see so much of myself in her so obviously I am drawn to her and her story. I hope the next book has more of her. I love her friendships with Egwene and Elayne. Looking forward to more of her.

Nynaeve, Elayne, and the boys in Tanchico:
First off, Nynaeve is pissing me off. She was my favorite in book 1 and I liked her a lot in book 2, but these past two instalments are making her into a person who really is pissing me off. She is rude, she is senseless, and she is entitled. Did I absolutely love that scene between her and Moghedien at the end when they both try to still each other? Yes. Does it excuse all the BS from the other 900 pages? No. Thing is, even Elayne could see it. The way she went off at Egeanin just for being Seachan was annoying too, especially since it is obvious that Egeanin is going through a lot of character development. She is not the same woman as the captain who caught Bayle Domon's ship back in book 2.

Talking about Egeanin, she is actually one of my highlights for this book. We get tiny glimpses into more of the Seanchan culture through her; something tells me we are going to be seeing much more from them soon. I like her and Domon getting along. I wonder were this will lead. Overall, I want more of her too in the next book. I want the Seanchan to come back for another attack and I want her to suffer not knowing whose side to choose after growing closer to Elayne and Nynaeve and learning about the Sul Dam being able to Channel.

Elayne took the female spot-light. I absolutely loved her. That scene where she gets drunk is great. All her interactions with Thom are great and heartwarming. Her admonishing Amathera for how she knows nothing of how her people live like, was great. Elayne will be a great queen. I didn't think she'd jump higher on my ranking of characters I love, but she did. In the previous two books she was overshadowed by Egwene a lot, so I hope that those two stay apart for a little while longer.

When it came to the actual story with the Black Sisters, not a lot happened. I mean, they found them in Tanchico and they rescued the Panarch, but so what? They all got away either way. At least they have the a'dam for Rand and neutralized a threat. So although I liked this story, it was more so because hanging out with Elayne and Egeanin was fun.

Mistress Elmindreda and the coupe of da Tower:
This might have been my favorite story-line. Firstly, the Trakand brothers?!? Gawyn went nuts in the end. Galad obviously will now become a White Cloak (way to go Elaida). UGH! SIUAN IS STILLED!!!! WHAT! UGHRAAA! Real talk, the foreshadowing with Elaida and Min's visions was so much fun, although I didn't see the coupe coming. Siuan was probably my favorite character in this book (surprising I know). Siuan, Leane, Min, and Logain are bound to make an interesting group in book 5 and this is the part that has me hyped the most. There's not much to say here. It was a ride. I love Siuan. I love Min. I am really excited for Logain. This will be great.

Perrin Goldeneyes and his troubling love life ft. Emond's Field:
This section was great. Perrin unfortunately didn't come back to my no. 1 spot he used to share with Nynaeve after book 1, but he had the most character growth I think. It was definitely reminiscent of Rand in book 2, where he says he isn't a lord, but is forced to be one anyway. The entire situation with Faile really pissed me off in the beginning. The way she used Loial pissed me off and I hated her. By the end though, I found her kind of endearing and the entire marriage stuff was hilarious and heart-warming in a bizarre way. Do I want a lot more of Faile? No, but I think things will die down a bit now that they are married.

The segment with Aram giving up the Way of the Leaf was heart-breaking. I cried so hard. It was one of the most powerful scenes I have ever read, to be honest. The Emond's Fielders getting together for that final showdown was epic. The struggle with White Cloaks in the end, was epic. It was all epic. I have no words. I am speechless. The one thing I want more of will be the pursuit of Slayer (Lord Luc?) and Loial. Then I will be happy.

That about wraps up my general thoughts on what happened. Hope it wasn't too chaotic :)
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Books in series :
#0 New Spring: ★★.75
#1 The Eye of the World: ★★★.5
#2 The Great Hunt: ★★★.75
#3 The Dragon Reborn: ★★★
#4 The Shadow Rising: ★★★★.25
#5 The Fires of Heaven: ★★★★
#6 Lord of Chaos: ★★★★.25
#7 A Crown of Swords: ★★★.75
#8 The Path of Daggers: ★★.25
#9 Winter's Heart: ★.25
#10 Crossroads of Twilight: ★.5
#11 Knife of Dreams: ★★★.5
#12 The Gathering Storm: ★★★★.5
#13 Towers of Midnight: ★★★
#14 A Memory of Light: ★★★.5