Synopsis of the Wheel of Time Series Books by Lex

The Eye of the World

The Great Hunt

The Dragon Reborn

The Shadow Rising

The Fires of Heaven

Lord of Chaos

A Crown of Swords

Path of Daggers

Winter's Heart

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     The Eye of the World draws the reader into the setting and the original characters in this series.  The reader is introduced to Rand, Moraine, Lan, Egwene, Nyneve, Perrin, Mat, Thom, Min, and Elayne all in this first book.  I have not read this book in almost two years now so I will seek brevity as a front to cover my failing to remember a great deal of detail about the book.  The bulk of the starting chapters begins and takes place in the small back country of the the country Andor in a town called the Two Rivers.  Rand, Perrin, and Mat are just three young friends who believe in all the superstitious tales of monsters (Trollocs, the Forsaken, and other evils).  Nothing really separates this young men from others of their town at this point.  Perrin is abnormally big and strong but this is largely due to his working as an apprentice at the forge.  Mat is constantly getting in trouble and gambling.  Rand is taller than most but is normal in all other regards.  Then into this small town comes Moraine.  Moraine is a fabled Aes Sedai.  A woman who can touch the One Source and channel to make things happen.  She brings tales of evil brewing in the outside world.  She also notices that Rand and his friends are ta'veren, or people who shape events around them.   Moraine begins to discuss with the girls the possibility of going to the White Tower to be trained to be an Aes Sedai.  She also talks with Rand and the other boys about leaving the town.  The boys are reluctant at first but after the town is attacked by the creatures of the Dark One they are easily convinced.  The leave the Town of the Two Rivers and proceed across much of the country meeting new people and greeting old.  They eventually head to the Badlands where Rand first uses the One Power.

The Great Hunt begins in the Bad Lands still.  Rand is coping with the realization that he can touch the Male side of the One Power.  Matt has started to become delusional after having used the Dagger.  Perrin begins to develop his wolf senses and realize that he can talk to Wolves.  Egwene, Elayne, and Nyneve begin to become friends.  Verin comes into the forefront with her side travels with Rand and Matt.  They use the Traveling Stones.  Matt finds the Horn.  The book concludes with a great battle at Falme where Rand battles one of the Forsaken in the sky.  Matt calls forth the dead by using the Horn and Lanfear talks to Egwene and Min in person.  She tells them to protect Rand.

The Dragon Reborn is really the beginning of Rand's realization of who and what he is.  After his battle with one of the Forsaken in the previous book, he is shaken and doubts himself due to his inability to control saidin.  He sets out on his own while continuing to have delusional dreams and fantasies involving a mysterious woman.  Matt is taken to Tar Valon by Egwene, Elayne, and Nyneve to be healed of the taint of Shador Logoth and to deliver the Horn.  Perrin and Moraine begin the hunt for Rand.  While in the White Tower, Egwene, Elayne, and Nyneve are exposed to more peril.  They are eventually confronted by and sent out on their own again.  Rand makes it to his destination and with the help of others captures the it.  Along the way he learns another form of channeling that can destroy the threads of fate of an individual.  In the process he confronts another one of the Forsaken.   

The Shadow Rising begins to bring a very interesting people into the story line.  The Aiel.  They are fierce warriors with a very strange code of honor.  Rand goes to the Waste to try to bring the Aiel to his cause.  Egwene work with the Aiel to learn how to Dreamwalk.  Mat goes along with Rand and the others to try to fulfill the destiny that he has in front of him.  Perrin heads back home to do what he can to protect his family.  Nyneve and Elayne head out on their own with the help of Thom and the Thiefcatcher.  They are on a task to discover more of the Black Ajah.

The Fires of Heaven.   In this book, Rand leads the Aiel in a chase after Couladin out of the Waste.  All the Wise Ones continue to try to counsel him while Moraine continues to get more desperate for Rand to heed her counsel.  Near the end of the book we discover why.  Rand continues to grow strong in the Power while growing closer and closer to insanity.  The book also brings us to the relationship of Rand and Aviendha and where it might lead.  Egwene continues to make progress in her learning while getting into trouble.  Elayne and Nyneve continue to get in trouble.  Elayne is forced to take a Warder although it is one that we would not at first suspect.  By the end of the book, Nyneve has someone under her control that is very suprising.  Moghedian. Min and company finally find the broken Tower.  While there Siun discovers what her true feelings might be towards another human being while others discover a purpose for their existance. 

Lord of Chaos has a definitely interesting ending.  Rand getting into conversations with Lews Therin inside his head.  Interesting.

A Crown of Swords is in my opinion the worst of the Robert Jordan books.  It does not follow a good path through the story.  The ending of the book is also rushed.  It was like Mr. Jordan knew what he wanted to be the final product of the book but didn't feel like taking the time to write it.  So what did he do you might ask?  He gives a hazy image of what happened and then fills in the end product while at the same time leaving questions as to what really happened.  I will discuss what I remember in this book briefly.  I mainly remember that Rand discovers that Min loves him.  He is also inflicted with another serious wound to his side.  This one given to him by the hated Pedron Fial (I need to check the spelling).  He is saved by one of the Asha'man.  This one can channel in ways that no Yellow has thought of and it drives them to a great amount of anger.  Matt helps Elayne, Nyneve, and Aviendha to find the Bowl of Winds while at the same time facing one of the dreaded gholam and several Black Ajah.

Path of Daggers is a return back to the more traditional of Jordan's books.  The length and character duration is more consistent with some of the first books.  Elayne, Nyneve, and Aviendha have the Bowl of Winds but have not used it until this book.  They work in cooperation with the Kin and the Wind and Wavemistresses to use the bowl.  Some fascinating things occur when they do use the Bowl.  Elayne discovers that Aviendha can unravel weaves one tendril at a time and tries to do the same.  She soon discovers that her talents do not lie in that direction.  After a brief encounter with the Seanchan, Elayne, Aviendha, and Nyneve flee to Caemelyn to further Elayne's claim for the throne.  Egwene discovers that Siun Sanche is in love with their General.  She also finds and uses a way to cow the Sitters into doing more of what she wants.  Matt is still running from a Queen and trying to figure out what he is to do.  Perrin slowly travels through the land in the search of the Prophet.  Along the way he discovers two monarchs.  One he knows and one that he does not.  One hates him and one agrees to serve him without caring.  Rand continues in his search of answers and what Cadsuane wants with him.  Cadsuane in the mean time reaches a semi-alliance with the Wise Ones who show her how to Travel.  In the end Rand in attacked by a Sword of his own making that sends him on the run.

Winter's Heart is in my opinion the second worst book to date.  Although I am a fan of the series, Mr. Jordan is beginning to tax my patience.  I see more and more Conan the Barbarian books being released by Mr. Jordan, less and less Wheel of Time books.  He is apparently spending more time with Conan than Rand and his companions.  Enough of that though.  Winter's Heart is another attempt by Mr. Jordan to eliminate loose ends set up earlier in the series.  Among these loose ends are how is Logain coping with the other male channelers, is Lanfear still alive, who is the Daughter of the Nine Moons, and how does Rand try to remove the taint from saidin.  In the long line of complaints that I have about this book, is the ending of this book.  I like what was attempted but like all other parts in this book, the important details are left out.  In my opinion and maybe I missed something somewhere, but where did Nyneve learn to link with a male channeler.  Can someone tell me or did she miracously know how to.

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     A Complete Listing of the Old Tongue