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Title: A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time, Book 7)
ISBN: 1593979762
Author:
Robert Jordan
Publicate Date: 2006-10-17
Publish: 2006-10-17
List Price: $69.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Audio CD
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $28.73
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $33.25
Amazon Merchant Price: $44.07
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1: The WoT takes a dip down
It was at this point that the WoT started to suffer from bloated exposition, and drawing out scenes that in the long run didn't amount to anything. What was truly annoying was the scene in Ebou Dar, where the narrative was drawn out incessantly over Tylin/Matt, the introduction of the Kin and the petty squabbling with the Windfinders. Also particularly annoying was the introduction of Casuane-am I the only one who felt her introduction was a little too convenient (after the disappearance of another prominent Aes Sedai in Book 5)? Along with Faile, Cadsuane has become another character that grates on my nerves. Also the Rand/Perrin argument should not have been off-screen (as it were)-that scene deserved to be told in real time, not rehashed from memory.
Despite those complaints, Ebou Dar has some funny moments, and the second half of the book really pushed the action. We got to see some interesting Forsaken viewpoints, and the ending fight scene was decent. It would not have been bad if not for the lack of action in the first 200 pages.
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2: A decent addition to the series, but the cracks are starting to widen
The seventh volume of The Wheel of Time carries us over the halfway point of the series (with the final book now being split into two volumes, bringing the series total to thirteen) in terms of wordcount. However, in terms of the actual story we're much closer to the end. Robert Jordan made a decision in the latter part of the series to reduce forward story momentum in favour of developing subplots and character interactions, a rather controversial choice that has resulted in the series' overall mixed reviews across SF&F fandom. By this seventh volume, we are starting to see the impact of this decision.
The book opens in the aftermath of the massive Battle of Dumai's Wells, when the Dragon Reborn, imprisoned by the Aes Sedai loyal to Elaida, was rescued by his supporters and both sides had to fend off an attack by the Shaido Aiel. During this battle nine of the rebel Aes Sedai swore fealty to Rand to prove their loyalty and the Asha'man, a society of male channellers created by Rand to use in the Last Battle, proved their worth. Resisting the urge to revenge himself upon Elaida, Rand prepares for his much-foreshadowed confrontation with Sammael, whilst at the same time trying to finally win over the Sea Folk and the Cairhienin rebels to his cause. Meanwhile, in Ebou Dar, Mat, Nynaeve, Elayne and several other characters are trying to find the Bowl of Winds, an important artifact that will restore normal weather to the world. In Amador, stronghold of the Children of the Light, a shift in the balance of power puts Morgase's life in danger, and from the south and from the west an even greater threat is emerging to challenge the alliance Rand is hoping to assemble against the Shadow.
There's a lot going on in A Crown of Swords, and the book conveys a feeling of momentum and movement compared to the largely static Lord of Chaos, which makes it a moderately more satisfying read. There's also a widening of the worldbuilding, with the Sea Folk presented in more detail then we have seen before, the introduction of the Kin (a secret society of female channellers) and the revelation of a new form of magic, the True Power, and a convincing reason given why we haven't seen it before (although we have, kind of). We also get to meet a deadly new form of Shadowspawn which presents a real sense of menace, just as we were starting to get bored of Trollocs and Myrddraal. As with the last three books, multiple storylines proceed in tandem and build to a series of large-scale, epic climaxes which shift the balance of power in the world and the story and leave the reader eager to plunge into the next book.
However, several key problems emerge or are solidified in this book. There is a lot of talk and overlong chapters in which very little happens. Forward character development proceeds satisfyingly for several characters, but others (most notably Elayne) seem to be stuck going round in circles to the increasing frustration of the reader. The fact that one of the most interesting and morally complex characters in the entire series dies in this book is also rather irritating (given how reluctant Jordan is to kill off characters in this series). The introduction of the Kin also feels like a redundant step too far. On top of the Aes Sedai, the Aiel Wise Ones and the Sea Folk Windfinders, we really didn't need yet another group of female channellers and their attendant politics. On the other hand, Jordan sometimes gets criticised for his introduction of a whole new bunch of characters among the White Tower Aes Sedai who are assigned to flush out traitors, but he doesn't devote much time to them and they are clearly essential for the resolution of the Aes Sedai civil war storyline.
A Crown of Swords (****) is largely a satisfying continuation of the story despite the increasing longueurs in some of the storylines. Some of the new characters and elements introduced are more successful than others, but broadly there is still the sense the story is going somewhere with continuing hints that we are moving towards a definitive conclusion. Unfortunately, this is the last time for several volumes that this is apparent. The book is available from Orbit in the UK and from Tor in the USA.
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3: Slows down
3.5 stars. This is the 7th book in the Wheel of Time series, and only a few days have passed since the conclusion of the last book, Lord of Chaos.
At the conclusion of Lord of Chaos, Rand had been freed from the imprisonment by the White Tower Aes Sedai sent by Elaida, the Amrylin Seat of the Tower, to capture him and bring him to her to guide and use as the White Tower chose. It is while on the march to Tar Valon that Rand frees himself, and a great battle is fought there with Rand and his allies being victorious. Due to this event, Rand forces the Aes Sedai there to swear fealty and oaths to him.
It's during this book, A Crown of Swords, where I believe the plot slows down considerably. It doesn't move forward much, but there was enough going on that kept me reading and I did enjoy it overall. Like in the past few books, we get character viewpoints mainly from Egwene, Nynaeve & Elayne, Mat, more from Perrin, and of course Rand the star of the series.
Rand continues to get more insane, he still doesn't believe the voice he hears inside his head is just that, "hearing voices". He still believes it is another person (Lews Therin) talking to him inside his own head. I've always wondered about his denial of the facts, with him refusing to acknowledge the fact that, "Ya know Rand, you *are* going crazy and it is a symptom of channeling tainted saidin!!".
He knows the fate of all male channelers, as he knows the male half of the True Source was tainted by the Dark One's touch during the War of Power thousands of years before. He understands this, yet he still believes that the voice he hears is a separate person from himself (although how he manages to convince himself that a separate person could reside in his own head and converse with him....heh).
Oh well, I don't think it's meant to be rational, Rand's belief the voice is separate from himself. I think in some ways he's desperate to believe Lews Therin's voice in his head *is* a real person, because in his eyes if it's not, he's already insane. Rand has a lot of struggles regarding this, his fate and trying to come to terms with his approaching insanity, not to mention his impending fight with the Dark One and Forsaken at the Last Battle. So, I can almost understand how he may be going insane already. It's already clear he's got some anger management issues (he flies off the handle quite frequently, rages and temper tantrums), and I thought Jordan did a great job over the last few books slowly giving you, the reader, a glimpse of Rand's descent into madness and how it is effecting him already.
Nynaeve & Elayne, with Mat in tow, also continue their search for an object, the Bowl of the Winds, in Ebou Dar that could correct the unseasonably hot weather. Their viewpoints are probably my favorite sections in the book (other than the bits from the Forsaken). Nynaeve & Elayne encounter other women that can channel that may be able to lead them to the Bowl. While Mat is disgruntled and frustrated with having to put up with the 2 women. I enjoyed reading his sections, his thoughts about women, which was hilarious to read about, especially the parts about how horrified he was at the thought of a Queen chasing him. Which was ironically amusing, as Mat's character is very roguish and something of a womanizer. Very funny to be privy to his thoughts concerning what he thought about that!
Egwene struggles to be more than a puppet Amrylin of the rebel Aes Sedai, and succeeds in subtly manipulating the Aes Sedai around her (with the help of the deposed former Amrylin Siuan, who is now an Aes Sedai again after being healed by Nynaeve in Lord of Chaos). One interesting thing with Egwene's section of the book, one of the Forsaken has attached himself (or should I say "herself"?) to Egwene and while it's not clear what his/her orders are, it's obvious the Forsaken was placed with the rebel Aes Sedai and Egwene to cause more trouble for the Light.
That leads me to the roles of the Forsaken in this book. Each book has given more glimpses into the Forsaken, so each new bit of information is like a puzzle piece that fits together into the puzzle of "What is up with the Forsaken?". Like I said before, while their orders aren't entirely clear it isn't hard to piece together what they are doing. Mainly to cause as much chaos and confusion for Rand and his allies. There is also a new Forsaken that appears in this book, named Moridin. It is actually quite easy to figure out who he was before, as Jordan gave clues and if you've paid attention to previous books it's quite easy to solve. Hint hint: the Dark One can bring dead Forsaken back into new bodies to cause more mischief! All the more so because only you, the reader, know this as the characters have no idea about this!
This is one thing I liked about Jordan. He teases with various clues, he doesn't outright explain to the reader, you have to take the pieces he gives you and figure it out. That is what makes this series such interesting reading, you can have many discussions with other readers of the series as there are so many theories, answers, and what if's that you could spend forever musing, "What did Jordan mean by doing it this way?"
Anyways, there is a short fight at the conclusion of this book between Rand and a male Forsaken, but despite the slower scenes and less action I still felt this was a good read. Not my favorite of the books, but not too shabby. There is a lot going on, and it just gets more complex as the series goes on, but IMO, in a good way. It takes patience to read this series, but I think it's worth it. The next book is A Path of Daggers.
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4: Starting to think this series is a train wreck...
This is the most disappointing book yet of the series. I hate to spoil all the surprises, but here I go:
- The Aes Sedai are still so arrogant and annoying that you actually start hoping they'll all be stilled. Better yet, collared and whipped mercilessly. All hail the Seanchan!
- Rand, Mat, and Perrin continue to regard women as The Grand Mystery of the Universe. Not to mention them acting like a bunch of chaste catholic school girls about sex. Well, with women anyway. Maybe Two Rivers is a place where the sheep are more nervous than the women. Come on guys grow a pair or get out of the closet already.
- Infinitely more insignificant characters are introduced that you will never remember if you spend any time between this book and the next. Don't worry, none of the assistants to the Assistant Peon are relevant.
- For all the women with low cut attire and men running around with swords, where's the senseless violence or gratuitous sex? Someone kill somebody already! Not even much sensible sex and necessary violence. Even Rand's one duel with another blademaster is over before it begins, with a remarkable lack of description. Tragic
- These books are getting cookie-cutter. Hmm, only 5 or so Forsaken left...and 4 more books? Gosh, who could possibly get killed in the last chapters of this and the next 4 books? Rand skulks around talking to himself. A Forsaken plots against Rand. Rand kills Forsaken.
- Just skip the last chapter and make up your own climax, you'll probably be more satisfied than with what Jordan wrote.
If, like me, you have concluded that the majority of Jordan's writing is fluff, just start skimming for dialog, you won't miss anything important and it will trim this book down from 855 pages to about 55 pages.
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5: Still strong, but Jordan begins to milk it
While I rate this book highly, this is the first book in the series where I really began to feel that the story was being stretched out deliberately to yield more books in the future. Many of the subplots advance slowly and more subplots are introduced, leaving more loose ends to tie up later. Don't get me wrong, this is still a wonderful book and worth your time. If you're a fan of the series, this is a book you need to read, just prepare yourself for a story that is still as long as previous volumes but not as deep.
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