Reactions to the Dragon Reborn

[Fifth of Daybreak he/him]

What an exquisite read this book was!

 

Other than the obvious Callandor foreshadowing, this was a book that had me guessing the whole time, I had very few predictions, and the few I remember were wrongs. For instance:

I thought Matt would deal with the Forsaken in Tear, after that snippet of him being so proud of beating Lews Therin at Stones, and all the buildup with Matt's luck. The real version was satisfying enough for me that I wasn't disappointed by this. 

 

Speaking of Matt, I think that's part of the reason I loved this book so much. Matt's point of view is everything I expected it to be. Matt is still the gruff jerk on the outside, but he can't hide the good person beneath him. I also am pleased to see signs that he's becoming the real ladies man. 

 

The lack of Rand in the book was really a breath of fresh air for me. There was just enough of him to keep me interested in what he was doing, but I thought it was more fascinating to just follow along behind him and watch the dominoes fall. 

 

Perrin was interesting, and much less frustrating. I felt like his story arch was very genuine, and believable, especially his interactions with Moiraine (although those were frustrating, when will these sheepherders learn to tell her things?)

 

Thom.....oh Thom....one day you'll live up to my expectations, I know you will. Hang in there buddy.

 

I thought that Egwene's comment about Nyneave being as good at manipulating as Moiraine was spot on. Nyneave is a perfect Aes Sedai, and the irony of her harboring her grudge against Moiraine for it is just delicious. Nyneave doesn't even realize how much of a hypocrite she is, gallivanting off and meddling in other peoples' lives under the pretense of cleaning up Moiraine's meddling in theirs. 

 

Verin...I still don't trust her. At this point I feel like her allegiance might be to Lanfear. 

 

Lan made a few more jokes. He's a bit less of a bump on a log than I thought when it comes to being personable. 

 

Where be Captain Domon?? Fortune prick me I no thought he'd be out of the story. 

 

Loial is definitely my favorite character, despite his constant complaining. 

 

Rand's channeling sword was wicked cool. Enough said. 

 

The one thing that did bug me was Matt's quartstaff skill appearing out of nowhere. Yes, it was justified a bit by saying his father was the best in town, but still, it felt like it was just a bit contrived. 

 

Egwene kind of scares me. She may say she doesn't like 'returning the favor,' but she's still done it twice. There's a seed of darkness in her I don't like. Nyneave may be just as abrasive, but her personality can account for it. Egwene used to be this sweet innocent girl. I know she's been through a lot, and I'm certainly not holding her reactions to those events against her, but I'm concerned for her in the future. 

 

As for future predictions...I'm stumped. This book was so unexpected I was-and am-content to sit back and enjoy the ride. 

 

Edit: I did correctly predict the People of the Dragon long before they ever got to Tear.

Edited June 15, 2014 by EMTrevor

[Terisen he/him]

Perrin was interesting, and much less frustrating. I felt like his story arch was very genuine, and believable, especially his interactions with Moiraine (although those were frustrating, when will these sheepherders learn to tell her things?)

 

You've touched on one of the things that is most frustrating in the series.  It's not just this series, either.  I'm not saying that characters have to share everything (that's not realistic), but good heavens, they never say anything!  Warning: it doesn't get much better.

 

 

The one thing that did bug me was Matt's quartstaff skill appearing out of nowhere. Yes, it was justified a bit by saying his father was the best in town, but still, it felt like it was just a bit contrived. 

 

Aw, come on.  Mat's just awesome like that!  Natural talent man!  

[Topomouse he/him]

I thought that Egwene's comment about Nyneave being as good at manipulating as Moiraine was spot on. Nyneave is a perfect Aes Sedai, and the irony of her harboring her grudge against Moiraine for it is just delicious. Nyneave doesn't even realize how much of a hypocrite she is, gallivanting off and meddling in other peoples' lives under the pretense of cleaning up Moiraine's meddling in theirs.

.

.

.

 

Egwene kind of scares me. She may say she doesn't like 'returning the favor,' but she's still done it twice. There's a seed of darkness in her I don't like. Nyneave may be just as abrasive, but her personality can account for it. Egwene used to be this sweet innocent girl. I know she's been through a lot, and I'm certainly not holding her reactions to those events against her, but I'm concerned for her in the future.

 

Trust me my friend, you have yet to see how the Supergirls (Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve) will develop and who the true royal-pain-in-the-arse Aes Sedai is. Imho, after everything is said and done Nynaeve is the nicer of the three and probably the most resonable. Not to say that she isn't an hypocrite, but then there are maybe three character in the whole series who aren't. Also, if you know where too look(maybe during a future re-read) you will notice that Egwene has never been so sweet and innocent as she may appear.

Last but not least, have faith that Jordan will deliver many more moment of delicious irony on par with that.

[Left he/him]

Matrim is my favorite of the three guys. I can't stand most of the females. They're just so..... well, mean.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Leftinch

[Terisen he/him]

Matrim is my favorite of the three guys. I can't stand most of the females. They're just so..... well, mean.

 

This.  Seems like everyone in Randland is just a horrible, horrible person.

 

Except Mat.

[Left he/him]

I don't mind Rand too much, and they're people from the later books, but I can't say right now since this he's only read up to three.

[Gamma Fiend he/him]

Mat is by the the best character in the books, in my opinion. While everyone else is just off fuming and being angry, Mat just absentmindedly rants it off, grabs a bar wench to sit on his lap, and drinks and gambles the night away.

Although his 'sudden' skill with the quarterstaff does also have some other possible explanations once you reach later books. At first I was confused at how he managed that, too, and a lil skeptical, but Mat is just awesome like that, as everybody brings up. (Because it's so true).

[king of nowhere]

Well, if the main characters talked to each other, they would have defeated the dark one at the third book already. as it is, they will start putting some effort in cooperation only much later in the book.

 

the womed in wot (and also most men) are unsufferable. apparently randland is filled with arrogant people believing they know everything and never listenining to others. real closeminded people, even when their heart is in the right place.

However, I think elayne is ok. yes, she expects to be in control, but, well, she is an heir to a throne, so she has quite a right to be; but as far as I remember, she is a person you can talk to and reason with. I don't remember any specific moment (will need another reread), but I have the distinct impression that, if you're not trying to bully her or taking power from her (something the other girls do all the time), she will actually listen to you and include your informations in the plan. While ninaeve will just keep thinking that she knows better than anyone, that two rivers ways are better and you should just listen to her, and egwene will tell you that you're getting a big head for thinking you know something that she doesn't and bully you into doing what she wanted anyway.

Moiraine is also much more reasonable that the two river guys give her credit for. In her case, she is in fact right, she really does know much better than anyone else (at least at this stage of the story, before the others take several levels in badasses) and resisting or questioning her instructions at any step really is something that the two river guys could avoid. She still is arrogant and with an urge for controlling everything; it's just that she is the only character who actually is experienced, informed and smart enough to have some right to behave that way.

Yeah, it is a wonder humans still managed to reproduce in that world. I'd pick min for myself, she's probably the only female character in the whole series with whom you can afford to disagree while still remaining in friendly terms.

Not that males are much better. it happens somethimes that two characters are separated for long periods of time, and they will wonder what the other is doing and come up with the most outlandish theories based on wild connections from rumord and hearsay. then they will meet the character in question, ask them what actually happened... and then they will ignore the answer and keep using their outlandish theory. They are llike conspiracy theory guys, only instead of imagining absurdly complex conspiracies made by the government or the corporations and then ignoring all the contrary evidence, they will imagine absurdly complex conspiracies from their friends, and then ignore all the contrary evidence.

Again, it's a wonder humans manage to reproduce. If I were a girl, probably the only men I could even take into consideration would be rand's father. He's very wise and treat everyone with respect, but won't stand for abuse. Now that I think about it, also gareth bryne is a nice one.

 

Oh, and fortune pricked you, captain domon do be in future books. he's a nice side character, and i liked his appearences.