2015 Re-Readalong: Eye of the World and The Great Hunt

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Just some read-along notes:

Chapter 16:

Min: "It's almost a wonder the inn doesn't catch fire."

Chapter 18:

"If you were close enough to see them," Egwene said worriedly, "they could have seen you. ..."
"He was not seen." Nynaeve drew herself up as everyone looked at her. "I have followed his trail, remember."
A Seed taking root.

"... Mat tossed a noose away from him with a shudder ... rubbing at his throat."
Always a professional risk for tricksters.

Chapter 19:

"I may not like her, it is true," Nynaeve was saying ...
... and being uncharacteristically reasonable with Lan ...

Thom: "The dead can be reborn, or take a living body, and it's not something to speak of lightly."
No, isn't, to be sure.

As if to validate Nynaeve's suspicions ("Mat's doing," she promptly says afterwards), Mat talks Rand and Perrin into danger. And when they return, Nynaeve scolds them - not least because Lan is now out looking for them.
"He's been gone a long time," Nynaeve looked worriedly at the night outside.
Lan has definitively become important to her.

Chapter 20:

Hooray! Our young friends are separated & out of Moiraine's reach, for the time being. This is not only a narrative necessity (evading danger after danger in the group might become boring), it is also an opportunity to take responsibility for themselves - and to find that they can do on their own.
Well, there is Thom (for some time) and Elyas (and both have important skills to impart), and Perrin and Egwene get into deep shit and need to be rescued ... but still, it's an empowering experience, makes them grow up further.

Just aside: Perrin loses his cloak in the river; perhaps the tinkers gave him one, because in Ch. 38 he's got one again.

Chapter 21: We learn about the onset of channeling the Power, and looking forward and backwards, we finally understand what happens to Rand.
One of my favorite scenes, when Moiraine hits hard enough to break through Nynaeve's denial.
"Why do I have to choose like this?"
It's the real world, we're out of the Two Rivers ... even Wisdoms need to grow.
For some time, the relationship to Lan will be one of competition - "I'll prove something ..."

Chapter 22: A well-reasoned plan, quite in character for Perrin. - Egwene needed the fire badly (and so she could light it with the power); on later occasions, the need is not that urgent, there are other alternatives, and she fails in her attempts.

Chapter 23: Perrin meets his destiny - and reacts with denial.

Chapter 24: Ba'alzamon somehow pulled Rand into a dreamshard; this will happen again.
Florian Gelb seemingly has a history of underperforming his duties, now he turns into culprit for all untoward things that happened. Reasonable thing would be to keep silent and just go off in Whitebridge and seek other employment, but he is not that smart. His attempts to exculpate himself only make matters worse. When we meet him for the next (and last) time, he'll be just as foolish and incompetent.
Rand's stunt can now be identified as reaction to his channeling when they board the Spray. (But then, he himself doesn't know this.)
Mat is shown drifting into paranoia. Will get worse. - And he is obsessed with treasure.
Domon's prophecy:
"The world will put a hook in your mouth. You'll set off chasing the sunset, you wait and see ... and if you ever go back, you village'll be no big enough to hold you."
And of course, Rand reacts with denial ...

Chapter 25/27: The issues of prejudice and pacifism have been discussed at length, let's pass them over. Of course, Jordan is with Perrin's argument of tit for tat against turning the other cheek.
Noteworthy the unease the tinkers feel, not just because of Elyas, but also because of Perrin and Egwene. Harmony comes from closing the group.
More character-building: Perrin unable to relax (his nightmares may be regarded as foreshadowing), Egwene trying to adjust to the group and trying to enjoy herself as long as there is time for it.
Aram a troubled one? Well, Ila must know; for what we see, he's firmly rooted in the way of the leaf.
Interesting, that quite ordinary people like Elyas and Raen can have valid premonitions.
Hopper and Dapple: an interesting relationship. May foreshadow Perrin & Faile ...

Chapter 26: "Owyn died a few years later" - does that match later accounts?
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

From chapters 22-24
22 - Nothing much happens here
23 - Elyas briefly mentions the Amyrlin. Do we know which one that would be?
If Burn got a trolloc wound once, he must have wandered far since then
The wolves could smell the Trollocs in the story - just from Perrin, or from both Perrin and Egwene?
24 - Lots of little things in this.
They pass the Tower of Ghenjei, we hear about ''cuendillar'', one of the Choedan Kal and some mysterious hollowed out mountain with a spire that kills. I don't think we ever hear of this again to know if it is real, or just some strange rumour. Same with the crystal lattice Domon mentions

What is Ba'alazamon up to? Rand says at one point he seemed surprised to see him. Was this real or for show? Is he playing some game when he talks about Rand evading him?
 

Wil Cambrae

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Elyas makes hints that he was a warder at one time. "I'm known as Elyas, Elyas Machera." This is similar to how phrases his introductions so that he's speaking no word that is not true.
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Elyas makes hints that he was a warder at one time.
Later on, Lan says "he was a warder" (when talking to Perrin after the rescue). In fact, he still is (which may explain some of the extraordinary physical prowess he shows in the "Eyes without Pity" chapter), but we learn about this only at his second appearance in the series.

In WH; though having run away, he is still bonded to Rina Halfden (Green Sitter at the Tower during the split; one of the "squabbling brats too young to be a sitter" - TGS, Ajah head conference).
 
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Ealandrelle Melyma

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

One thing which struck me as I read this was the Rand/Egwene thing. Obviously now I'm reading with the knowledge of what's to come. But it's interesting to see how hard they both fight to hold on to this "not quite relationship" - almost as some remnant of home? I'd forgotten just how much it's pushed forward in the first 2 books.
 

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Ok, putting this in spoiler tags, since we haven't quite gotten that far in the reread :look:

Elyas is indeed Rinas Warder. We see them both in New Spring, when Moiraine carries a message up to the Green Quarters. She is a Sitter during Elaidas reign, and later under Egwene.
I first thought she was one of the Sisters caught by the Seanchan early, but that was Ryma :look:
 

Sabriane Diamodred

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

In WH; though having run away, he is still bonded to Rina Halfden (Green Sitter during the split; one of the "squabbling brats too young to be a sitter" - TGS, Ajah head conference).

I don't remember that quote :/ who said it?
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Chapter 25
We hear about the Eye of the World, though not what it is (it seems likely no one knows)
We meet more people later who heard this story about the Dark One wanting to blind it. What was going on here? It was just a pool of pure saidin. Aginor goes for it as soon as he is free, so it seems likely Ishamael could have got it at any time. Was it just an elaborate trap - plant enough rumours and eventually one of them would draw the Dragon Reborn?
We also hear about the Aiel - they are searching for the Car'a'carn (much like we just heard the Sea Folk were searching for their Coramoor), and that they avoid the Tua'athon
Raen seemed about to let slip that Elyas was once a Warder
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

I put off starting on this because I knew once I did start, I'd want to keep going at super speed. :laugh:

EoTW, Prologue - Chapter 6:

I got into the books because I picked up a friend's copy of EoTW one day and started randomly thumbing through it. I happened to land on the part of Tam's fever dreams where he talks about the Aiel. His description of the battle sent shivers down my spine, like I had stumbled unwittingly into something epic. And then I, who never bought a book without borrowing it from the library first, went out and bought the first three novels. :pleased-1:

For the prologue, I remember wondering if it was the past or the future, like maybe by the end of the book (or series) this was where we would end up.

Then I also had trouble adjusting to the first few chapters which were so much LESS dramatic than the prologue.

I didn't mind any of the characters except Egwene. I was SO mad that she didn't understand the seriousness of the situation.

I also thought it was pretty obvious that Rand was going to be the Dragon Reborn, since his was the only perspective we got.

I wonder how many people in Emond's Field recognized an Aes Sedai and a Warder for what they were? The Mayor obviously knew but gave no sign of it until Tam was sick and Thom started dropping hints. The boys had no clue but they were pretty young honestly, so even if it was something that most adults or even just the village council or the women's circle knew, it's not so surprising that the boys would have no clue. Later on it feels like no matter where they go, people recognize an Aes Sedai face or ring, no matter how remote the place is.

Moiraine seems much more friendly in these early chapters than any other time.

EoTW, Chapter 7 - Chapter 13:

After Moiraine heals Tam and is all exhausted, I felt so sorry for her. She's worked SO HARD to find Rand and she's so tired and she's going to miss half of the cool stuff that happens. She's the one that set the three boys and Egwene and Nynaeve on their paths and so much goodness comes from all of them.

I also noticed Rand getting goosebump while Moiraine was healing. I wonder if even back then he could sense a woman channeling? Other things, like Rand's reaction while mentally urging Bela to run, have extra meaning now too. It's really amazing neatly that was written in there. It didn't sound unusual or like foreshadowing at all, just like a normal emotional reaction for the circumstances. It bugs me sometimes when foreshadowing is too obvious.

EoTW, Chapter 14 - Chapter 20:

I didn't like Min at first. She seemed too sure of herself and too willing to tell Rand all these things when she probably should have just been talking to Moiraine.

Nynaeve blushed when Lan complimented her and instantly became way more interesting. Rand/Egwene was cute, but Lan/Nynaeve immediately sounded much more fun to me. :giggle I forgave a lot of annoying Nynaeve scenes because I was hoping for romance later on.

I always loved the dancing scene!

EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Belatedly realizing we've started seeing from other characters' perspectives and I didn't even notice. :look: Later on, I remember never trusting any characters until there had been a chapter from their point of view.

I really disliked how bossy Egwene was to Perrin. I thought he was probably smart to just go along with it though. Not like later where he decides to get stubborn with Faile...then they were BOTH being annoying.

I think even on my first read I assumed Elyas had been a Warder at one point.

The Aiel message didn't make any sense to me, but I remember thinking it must be a key piece that everyone would probably forget to pass on to Moiraine until it was too late (or almost too late). It felt like an annoying plot device.
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

It was interesting that although to some extent the deep love comes out of nowhere, it is obvious that there is some connection between Lan and Nynaeve
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Later on, I remember never trusting any characters until there had been a chapter from their point of view.[/SPOILER]

Don't we get POVs from some of the baddies later on? I THOUGHT so, but now I'm not so sure ...
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Yes we do and then I know for sure where they stand. ;)
 

Ashlyn Sindal

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

I don't know, I thought Jordan did a really good job of keeping Verin's loyalties ambiguous in...whichever prologue she got a POV.
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Oh yeah, that caused me so much frustration! :tug
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Ah Verin, how I love thee! :pleased-1:
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

That happened with both Verin and Sheriam, although Sheriams made it a little more clear that she had/was trouble :look:

There is also some POVs from Sevanna...
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that we only get perspectives from the good guys, just that I was never totally sure if they were good or bad until we could see inside their heads. :pleased-1: Unless they were especially tricksy.
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

@Sabriane Diamordred
I don't remember that quote :/ who said it?

I was quoting from memory. The correct text (TGS ch. 43) has Jesse Bilal speaking:

Many sisters we chose were odd. We wanted women who would do exactly as we said, but instead we got a group of squabbling brats with inflated opiníons of themselves , too immature for more temperate minds to influecnce."
 
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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

It was interesting that although to some extent the deep love comes out of nowhere, it is obvious that there is some connection between Lan and Nynaeve
Well, not out of nowhere. Lan has some good words for Nynaeve (when did she hear something like that for the last time from an Emondsfield man?) - and there is sheer physical attraction. I listed some instances above where Lan becomes important to Nynaeve (and that is an onset of love!), and at least at the end of the rescue operation - when Nynaeve seems to be missing - we see that she has become important to Lan too. They are still in competition mode then, and her "small laugh" said: "I got you one better". - For once, it's a bit subtle, but no surprise.
 
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Leira Galene

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Re: 2015 Re-Readalong: EoTW, Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

You know, rereading this is reminding me how sorry I felt for poor Cloud. It irks me that the horse was given a name and personified then he is probably eaten by Trollocs.
 
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