My thoughts on book two (just finished)

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First of all I really enjoyed this book, I felt like it was a better read than the first one...which I also enjoyed.

Spoilers ahead if you have not finished book two.

There were only a couple things I took issue with this book:

First, Rand's development in his capabilities seems a bit...sudden. In a very short time, it's as if he's gone from being a clumsy village boy to an elite warrior who can defeat blade masters, pick off grolm eyeballs from 100 yards away, and face the dark one in single combat and walk away alive. It's very cool! But like I said, it does seem a little sudden.

Second, Bornhald and his Children of Light seemed like a pointless plot line in this book. I was a little underwhelmed by what happened with them, it seemed as if all they did was march around causing some trouble in villages, showed up for the final battle and were utterly destroyed. What purpose did they serve? Maybe their destruction will lead to further developments in book 3, but for now I'm left wondering why they were even included.

Thats it. Onward to book 3!
 

Sailea Nerid

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I must agree with you about Rand, not only here but in the next books too, I also found his change too sudden in comparison to other characters. As for the Children of light, you will see ;)
 

Rhed al'Tere

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Fraghin, I agree about Rand's sword abilities -- it does seem like he gets really good really fast. As for the archery, though, he started out that good. All the Two Rivers folk excel at archery, and Rand's dad was one of the best (I think it was mentioned in the first book that Tam had won the Beltine competition?). So I don't find that hard to buy.

And Sailea already RAFO'd you on the Children. :laugh:
 
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I agree with Mother about the sword abilities, but also I feel like at some random point in the series he gets incredibly muscular all of a sudden. I mean, he did have to work hard on the farm, and sword training likely bulked him up, but all of a sudden he just gets ripped. I thought Perrin was the muscly one. :grumble
 

Megana Vallentin

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Yeah remember when Lan first started training the boys, they all easily bulls-eyed the target and Rand I think was the one who split one of the other arrows or something insane like that.

I think I explained the super-sword skills away as a trick of being ta'veren or part of his destiny or something else silly like that. Not really a good explanation (about as good as timey-wimey in Doctor Who) but it got me to quit dwelling on it.
 

Toral Delvar

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Rand does improve, but did little training from when he was last with Lan to when he fights Turak (unless he had been practicing with Ingtar and this is never mentioned, even then, he probably only has a couple of weeks). I don't think we really know how good Turak was, and he was certainly overconfident, but he probably shouldn't be beating any experienced swordsman
 

Elania al'Manir

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I think part of his skill also comes from the flame and the void. While that's not a full explanation for the explosion of his abilities, which I also wondered about, I think it definitely contributes.
 
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I think part of his skill also comes from the flame and the void. While that's not a full explanation for the explosion of his abilities, which I also wondered about, I think it definitely contributes.

That. I think his fast progress is because he started out knowing about the void, and already using it for archery. My guess is it made his training with Lan much faster. Further more, if I remember correctly, several MONTHS have passed between books 1 and 2, and I got the impression that he practiced basically all day, every day, and several hours with Lan.

Also I don't recall he was ever that muscular. Pretty well cut, but not huge.
 

Aran Cherubim

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Rand and Perrin have different body types though, Perrin is a lot more bulkier, and Rand is taller and thinner, iirc.
 
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I definitely see what you mean about Rand's sudden skill development.
 
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However.. spoiler...

He was the Dragon Reborn.. so at that point, a returned soul with that knowledge?

Perhaps?
 
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My take on Rand's sword skills is that he had a natural talent for it. His height, reach, and genetics gave him advantages. And he had the best teacher in all Randland giving him lessons for months, starting from their flight from the 2-Rivers. Gareth Bryne, during Rand's audience with Morgase, commented that the heron-marked blade is his (belongs on him); and Bryne is a blademaster, or the next thing to it. There is another reference ....

Galad (in book 3) was an extremely fast learner. He mastered the sword in a matter of months. He could have beaten warders he was as dedicated to practice as Rand was. Gawyn said as much, iirc.
 
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