Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: To the End!

Rhed al'Tere

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 17-21

Chapter 18

  • Alanna doesn't get used to the pain the way Rand has. It never fades for her, and she can't seem to block it. It's always "raw grief" to her, always fresh.
  • I wonder if the Wise Ones not participating in battle is inherited from when the Aiel served the Aes Sedai? -- because Aes Sedai don't participate either, if they can help it.
  • Berelain is eager to stay with Rand, helping him, because she doesn't want to be sent away to Mayene and forgotten. She's afraid he'll give away Mayene to a Tairen whose service is fresher in Rand's mind than hers.
  • LTT's sexy thoughts bleed through to Rand...
  • Cadsuane arrives.
  • One of Cadsuane's hair ornaments detects male channelers; that's how she has a nose for them.
  • Is Cadsuane treating Rand the way she does to prove she's not afraid of him? Later, she wants to make him feel, but why anger him so? I feel like that only contributes to the problem.

Chapter 19

  • Cadsuane declined to be Sitter twice -- once was unheard of. She also declined to be Green Head of Ajah.
  • Cadsuane was thought dead before the Aiel War, but she showed up 3 months after the fighting started, and then retired after the War.
  • Annoura hasn't chosen sides (Tower v. rebel).
  • Daigian is the weakest Sister. According to the Companion, she spent 27 years as novice, 21 as Accepted. Her strength is the lowest the Tower would accept for Aes Sedai.
  • The brightness of saidar depends on strength. Or amount of Power drawn? Unclear.
  • Cadsuane was eager to come out of retirement -- she chased after Logain, was tempted to take the Hunter's Oath, and then went after Taim.
  • Casuane knows of the Red Ajah's pogram against male channelers after the Aiel War.
  • Three legendary Gray Ajah members were mentioned. Alind Dyfelle and Sevlana Meseau, the Companion doesn't elaborate, other than they were legendary. Mabriam en Shereed was another Gray, Queen of Aramaelle, who forged the Compact of the Ten Nations.
  • Cadsuane doesn't like Elaida, considers her overambitious and a catastrophe waiting to happen.
  • Cadsuane may have had some thought to bond Rand, but dismisses the idea when she learns Alanna had. She's not pleased.
  • The Sisters conferred about the oath they made to Rand, and they decided there were no loopholes. They'd defend and support Rand, without standing aside, against anyone.
  • Herid Fel is dead.
  • Rand and Min finally have sexy times.
  • Cadsuane is determined to guide Rand. She knows it will be a delicate balance between keeping him intrigued but off-balance.

Chapter 20
  • How tall was Modarra? Companion: 6'2".
  • Sevanna meets with Sammael and Graendal in disguise (Caddar and Maisia).
  • (Companion: Maisia is the sort of name you'd give a pet in the Age of Legends. That's why Graendal was irritated at him.)
  • The Bands of Dominion will control a male channeler but not overcome him.
  • Sevanna is already plotting against her channeling allies.
  • Mesaana had a hand in Rand's kidnapping.
  • The True Source is only detectable by the one using it.
  • (Was Ishamael the one watching Sam and Graendal?)
  • The True Source rips a hole in reality that goes outside the Pattern.

Chapter 21
  • Mat loves fireworks.
  • Mat remembers Birgitte, but it was a memory from his own life, not a past memory.
  • Mat's idioms and accent change from era to era and place to place. Fascinating!
  • And so begins Mat and Birgitte's friendship.
  • Birgitte's memories have begun to fade.
  • Nynaeve, Elayne, et al are all back at the palace worrying while Birgitte gets drunk with Mat. :laugh:
  • Sun King and Talia sound like Sleeping Beauty.
  • Nynaeve didn't want to send Thom and Juilin to talk to Mat becasue she feared they'd go drinking and carousing with Mat.
  • Aiel Darkfriends are killed on discovery, and no one will stand in the way of their death.
  • :rofl Elayne was drunk because Birgitte was.
  • Birgitte and Aviendha both theink Elayna dn Nynaeve owe Mat an apology; Aviendha says there's also toh.
  • And there Nynaeve goes rewriting history again...
 

Rhed al'Tere

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Chapter 22

  • "juicy as a fiddler" :giggle :look:
  • The dice stopped when Mat had to move to the palace.
  • Setalle thinks there are only about 50 women in the Circle.

Chapter 23

  • Fishmongers are all women in Ebou Dar, as are most butchers, except the beef butchers.
  • Berowin is very good at holding shields. Her shields bend and balloon, which they shouldn't do.

Chapter 24

  • Berowin noticed that Elayne and Nynaeve didn't sweat.
  • Reanne was put out of the tower for refusing to continue with her Accepted test after 1 arch.
  • The Kin have a religious reverence for Aes Sedai. Aes Sedai are above question, and nearly omnipotent.
  • Many of the Kin hope someday to be reconciled to the Tower.
  • Sumeko would have been Yellow, but broke down testing for the shawl.
  • How much a woman channeler slows depends on her strength, but it always starts at 20-25.
  • And no one realizes the Oath Rod creates the Aes Sedai face (plus shortening life).
  • Nynaeve is super upset that she won't get gray hair for decades.


Chapter 25

  • Moghedian thinks the price of the True Power is not worth it.
  • cour'souvra - mind trap -- Moggy is terrified of it.
  • Vacuoles are spaces outside the Pattern.
  • Moridin has 2 mind traps. Who's the other one?
  • Moggy loses her hope of escape or return to favor when she sees Moridin with her mindtrap.

Chapter 26

  • The show between Suroth and Elbar -- did they mean for Morgase to know that it was a show?
  • Lopar are hairless, bigger than a bear, have a round head, flat face, heavy ridges around their eyes, and pointed teeth, as well as retractable claws.
  • We see Pura/Ryma again.
  • Thera is Amathera.
  • Morgase has no concept of slavery.
  • Alwhin knew that sul'dam could be held by a'dam, which is why Suroth keeps her close.
  • Balwer helps the Andorans escape, and Tallanvor insists they go.
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

The Kin have a religious reverence for Aes Sedai. Aes Sedai are above question, and nearly omnipotent.
Watching the way this changes over the next several books is highly entertaining to me. It is similar to the change in attitude the Wise Ones experience regarding Aes Sedai, but for me the change the Kin experience is much more fun to read about. :P

Moridin has 2 mind traps. Who's the other one?
The other cour'souvra is for Lanfear, correct?

The show between Suroth and Elbar -- did they mean for Morgase to know that it was a show?

Interesting ... I thought Morgase caught on to something she wasn't supposed to see, but if in fact they WANTED her to see that they were putting on a show, that gives the scene a different twist. The Seanchan, Suroth in particular, are even more devious than I thought. What do the rest of you think? Was Morgase supposed to see that it was a show or did she just see through their act?

Alwhin knew that sul'dam could be held by a'dam, which is why Suroth keeps her close.
I'm so glad you pointed that out ... I had forgotten about Alwhin's knowledge.
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

The initial meeting with the Kin drives me crazy. :tug I keep thinking that if Elayne and Nynaeve had just acted a bit more mature, everything would have been fine. With the accelerated pace they took through the Tower and the amount of time they spent outside of it, there's no way they could have satisfactorily answered all those questions, but REAL Aes Sedai would not have submitted to such treatment period! :laugh:

Interesting ... I thought Morgase caught on to something she wasn't supposed to see, but if in fact they WANTED her to see that they were putting on a show, that gives the scene a different twist. The Seanchan, Suroth in particular, are even more devious than I thought. What do the rest of you think? Was Morgase supposed to see that it was a show or did she just see through their act?

I always have trouble with the Seanchan, especially once we get inside Tuon's head and see how differently she thinks about things. I assumed the above was a show, but whether Morgase was expected to know that or not...not sure.
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

The initial meeting with the Kin drives me crazy. :tug I keep thinking that if Elayne and Nynaeve had just acted a bit more mature, everything would have been fine. With the accelerated pace they took through the Tower and the amount of time they spent outside of it, there's no way they could have satisfactorily answered all those questions, but REAL Aes Sedai would not have submitted to such treatment period! :laugh:

:rofl Yeah, Elayne and Nyneave definitely didn't act like Aes Sedai - they acted like spoiled, petulant children. I always envision them stamping their feet and shouting/whining "but I AM Aes Sedai!" :P


I always have trouble with the Seanchan, especially once we get inside Tuon's head and see how differently she thinks about things. I assumed the above was a show, but whether Morgase was expected to know that or not...not sure.

What exactly do you have trouble with, particularly in Tuon's head? I always found it fascinating how different her worldview is. I'm not saying I agree with them, but I find them fascinating.
 
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Aduiavas Ida

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Isn't Alwhin Semirhage? :scratch Or was she another A name :look:
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Just that it IS so different! For example, I thought Morgase acted very respectful to Suroth, but Suroth was probably thinking about all the concessions she was making and how she would normally execute someone for acting as disrespectfully as Morgase was. :P
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Adui I don't think that's Suroth ... irrc Suroth arrives with Tuon.

Meg :laugh: ok that makes sense. That's why I love reading about them though. :P
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

I don't think anyone else would have done any better with the Kin. For the most part they were remarkably calm.
 

Rhed al'Tere

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Alwhin is not Semirhage -- the only reason I knew she knew about sul'dam was cuz I read her Companion entry. :laugh:
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Oh, these 2k+ names - Semirhage's alias is Anath, and under this name we first meet her in WH, arriving in Ebou Dar together with Tuon, whose truthspeaker she is.
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

The changing names of the forsaken trips me up so much reading the later books in the series... I can't keep track of who's alive or dead :/
though the companion is definitely making this a lot easier, albeit more time consuming
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

Totally agree, Ellura!
 

Ryu Shadowborn

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 22-27

The changing names of the forsaken trips me up so much reading the later books in the series... I can't keep track of who's alive or dead :/
though the companion is definitely making this a lot easier, albeit more time consuming

I only really hate it for Ishamael, who has half a dozen and I have no idea what the fandom preferred name is.
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Chapter 31 is hands down one of my favorites in the entire series. Mostly because of Nynaeve (Lan! No more block! Wah!) but I didn't realize it's the same chapter where Elayne gets revenge on the Kin. EVEN BETTER! :joy
 

Toral Delvar

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Elayne taking control of the other Aes Sedai is one of my favourite scenes and one of the few times I actually liked her
 

Leira Galene

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Man, poor Morgase. So did Valda basically coerce-rape her? Am I reading that right?
 

Megana Vallentin

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Yeah that's basically how I read it...

I'm also finding the Matt/Tylin stuff more uncomfortable than I used to.
 
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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Man, poor Morgase. So did Valda basically coerce-rape her? Am I reading that right?

I don't know how I overlooked this before. Or maybe I just don't remember it? Regardless, it is very uncomfortable to read this time through.
 

Ealandrelle Melyma

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Re: Re-Readalong: A Crown of Swords: Chapters 28-33

Chapter 31 is hands down one of my favorites in the entire series. Mostly because of Nynaeve (Lan! No more block! Wah!) but I didn't realize it's the same chapter where Elayne gets revenge on the Kin. EVEN BETTER! :joy

Me too! I think this book is probably the last time I like Elayne, because once she gets to Caemlyn, she's just... ugh :indifferent:
 
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