“And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered, and the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age, and the Dark One shall once more lay his hand upon the world of man. Women shall weep and men quail as the nations of the earth are rent like rotting cloth. Neither shall anything stand nor abide…
Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once more as he was born before and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again by his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation.”
-Robert Jordan, the Great Hunt
If The Eye of the World was too derivative of Tolkien or other notable works at the time, the Great Hunt was where Robert Jordan really makes the Wheel of Time his own.
The book seems to incorporate an adventure storyline as its primary focus, giving us readers a comfortable, reminiscent feel; it’s something we’re used to when reading. However, what we get is something completely original as we begin to see the Wheel of Time for what it truly is.
It’s pretty much Jordan’s way of saying “Ok, you’re feeling nice and comfortable (after The Eye of the World), now here, eat this!”, as he throws The Great Hunt at you.
“There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet.”
-Robert Jordan, the Great Hunt
Warning! From here on will be SPOILERS for the Wheel of Time up to and including book 2.
Similar to The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt chiefly focuses on Rand Al’Thor, the newly ordained Dragon Reborn. There was a slightly wider variety of PoV’s than book 1, but Rand’s easily took up the most space. I am a massive fan of Rand, so the fact that he featured so prominently was only another reason for my enjoyment of the book.
We begin Rand’s arc at Fal Dara, in Sheinar. I loved his training under Lan, and not just the physical side, which is always fun to read. The way Lan taught him to keep a straight back and instructed him on how to converse with the Amyrlin was also touching. Rand and Lan’s friendship has got to be one of my favourites in the series so far. Not gonna lie, Lan’s tutoring of Cat crosses the Courtyard is something I actually started to use in my own life.
It’s a bit cooler than it sounds.
That meeting between Rand and the Amyrlin is one of my favourite scenes in the book, the chapter named, The Dragon Reborn. The title’s pretty self-explanatory; Rand and the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, having a leisurely chat about the role of The Dragon Reborn and his part to play in going mad and Breaking the world.
Over tea, of course. It’s the Wheel of Time we’re discussing here.
It was quite annoying when Rand started insulting his friends in order to keep them away from him. I know he was just doing it to protect them, and to him no doubt it seemed logical, but it was still downright . . . wool-headed of him. Insulting Mat and Perrin? Not cool. Insulting Loial? Way too far, Rand. Way too far.
Also, that bit where Rand says the Dark One’s true name. That was funny, but also creepy. Literally the second he utters it, Padan Fain breaks free (the weirdo) and Trollocs invade the Keep. Quick reaction (sort of reminded me of when Harry speaks Voldy’s tabooed name in the Deathly Hallows).
Shall we try it? Shai-
Just kidding. Let’s refer to him instead as ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’. There. That won’t cause any confusion, will it.
The whole hunt across Shienar (and Carhien) for Padan Fain and the Horn of Valere was actually pretty creepy, a new dynamic I really enjoyed. For example, finding the Myrddraal nailed to a door, and then the several sightings of a lady in white who disappeared just before they got close, were some of those stand-out moments that really added to the tension. Also, Rand’s repeated visions in that small town in Sheinar were spine-tingling stuff.
It was satisfying but sort of sad to see the reactions of Mat and Perrin when Rand whispers to them that he’s not just a male channeler, but the Dragon Reborn. It’s one of those cases where we would like to think we’d react like a Perrin, but in reality we’d probably be more likely to respond like a Mat.
Any guesses what Verin wants? I can’t make heads or tails of that woman.
I loved the subplot that was Rand, Loial, and Hurin in the Portal Stone, where they travel in an unfamiliar and fascinating new world that appears to be a dark reflection of their own. Everything in the Portal Stone world was awesome. Rand’s visionary encounters with Ba’alzamon (once the heron, to set his path), meeting Selene, and fighting off the Grolm by entering the void were all outstanding moments.
Any guesses who Selene is? She’s definitely not a Carhienin lady. And how’d she find herself in another world when the only ways in are by Portal stone, for which the One Power is required?
Hmmm. Suspicious.
“Better to have one woman on your side than ten men.”
-Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt
That is, unless that woman happened to be Selene. Strange one, she is. Sorry, I’m starting to sound like Yoda. The whole scene where she tries to seduce Rand was super tense. You know what, I’m starting to think she might be a Forsaken in disguise. Stunningly beautiful. Check. Access to the One Power. Check. Strange obsession with Rand. Double check.
And then when Rand escapes her advances by stealing the Horn of Valere from the Trolloc camp is maybe even more tense, albeit in a different way. And the dagger. Right from under Fain’s nose.
Tough thing, that. His is rather prominent.
Other moments in Rand’s journey to Cairhien I loved were when he came across that buried statue that was brimming with Saidin (I love the history and world-building aspects of the Wheel of Time), Rand using his flute skills, and meeting . . . guess who, in Cairhien?? Thom. He’s alive!
Honestly, I didn’t think the trusty old gleeman had died, but I’m still glad to see him alive and kicking singing.
Then Fain uses his large snout to sniff out the Horn and the dagger. Great. And just as Mat and Perrin arrive. Rand at Barthanes’ party was another scene that really stuck out to me. A running aspect of the Wheel of Time I always love are people’s reactions to Rand, being, well, Rand. And ta’veren.
Loial is one of my favourite characters. His race, the Ogier, are a group we haven’t seen much of so far, so the brief exposure we had into their culture was really nice.
That then being followed by the Portal Stone scene, where Rand’s party experience thousands of different lives as they cross from Cairhien to Toman Head. Wow. What. A. Scene.
Flicker. I win again, Lews Therin. Chills.
“Women often seemed to leave things unsaid, and in his limited experience it was what they did not say that proved the most trouble.”
-Robert Jordan, The Great Hunt
I think I’ve already mentioned how much I love Moiraine (and Lan). I loved seeing Moiraine with Siuan and their friendship. Additionally, I really liked that scene where Lan saves Moiraine from the Draghkar. Their friendship, man. So good.
Egwene and Nynaeve had amazing arcs in The Great Hunt. We hadn’t seen all that much of them in The Eye of the World, but in The Great Hunt we really start to see them come into their own.
I loved Egwene’s first impression of Tar Valon and the White Tower in the night (no spoilers, but her fascination with all things Aes Sedai becomes very significant as the series progresses).
Probably my favourite moment in their time at the White Tower was Nynaeve’s Testing. Man. That was phenomenal. I don’t believe I’ve yet had the chance to profess my love of the Wheel of Time’s ritualistic(?) scenes, but yeah, that scene was everything I hoped. 3 arches, 3 visions, and 30 minutes where I lived the story. That final scene especially. I did not expect to feel that emotional.
Man.
Quick side-note. Nynaeve’s relationship with Lan, however out-the-blue, was done really well in The Great Hunt. He’s a bit of a paradox, that guy. Considering how hard he is, mentally and physically, he surprisingly happens to be one smooth guy.
Anyway, I also appreciated the moment where they glimpsed the recently stilled Logain Ablar. It was quite emotional, as well. Such a fascinating character, I hope we see more of him. In fact, while on the topic of men in the White Tower, Egwene and Min (now bestest friends with Elayne), meet Gawyn Trakand and Galadedrid Damodred.
Galad, Galad, Galad. Handsomely handsome, beautifully beautiful, with a side of gorgeously gorgeous. Rather boring, I do say. A man needs a broken nose or a scar or two to lend him proper . . . charm.
Jokes aside, I like Galad. Gawyn, however . . .
Then Egwene gets betrayed by Liandrin, collared with an adam, enslaved by the Seanchan High Lady Suroth, and is taken to Falme.
Egwene’s time as damane is genuinely horrifying. I enjoyed reading it, but the whole sul’dam-adam-damane system thing is so messed up. It’s worse than slavery. Treated like a pet (with ‘rewards’ for good behaviour. Eurgh, that one got me bad), given a new debasing name, and it being literally impossible for the one enslaved to free themselves or even commit suicide?
Breathe.
Anyway . . . that final climax of the book at Falme (by climax, I mean the last 9 chapter’s or so), was SPECTACULAR.
Firstly, Rand’s duel with Turak as they infiltrate the building to steal back the Horn and the Dagger. Turak’s initial contempt as he plays with Rand, then his concentration when Rand finally embraces the Void. You’re a true Blademaster now, Rand.
“It is every man’s right to choose when to Sheathe the Sword.”
-Robert Jordan, the Great Hunt
The last words of Ingtar Shinowa. Former Darkfriend turned to the Light by sacrificing himself for the escape of Rand’s party. May he shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome him home.
Ingtar’s reveal as a Darkfriend and his sacrifice were some of the most emotional moments in the entire book. The Sheinaran’s reflection on how he’s lived his life, everything he regrets, everything he saw in the Portal Stone visions, added to Rand’s growing comprehension. Bam.
Jordan. Always. Delivers. Pizza (sorry, I’m hungry).
Trust me, at the point I’m at in the series, Mat definitely gets better than he is at this point. However, I will say Mat’s one stand-out moment from The Great Hunt is when he blows the Horn of Valere, bringing back the heroes of legend to fight the Seanchan. Unexpected, to say the least. That guy seems to be gathering all the trinkets.
At that point, it’s a wrap. Artur Hawkwing himself, Amaresu with her Sword of the sun, Birgitte with her arrows, Gaidal with his . . . ugliness(?). The Seanchan stood no chance.
Quick mention: does anyone else find it funny how the Seanchan invaders were technically driven off by Artur Hawkwing, the acclaimed progenitor of their entire civilization, the ancestor of their Crystal Throne?
Irony on a whole new level.
The last epic moment in that epic climax was Rand’s epic fight with Ba’alzamon with the sky. That was epic. If I had to choose the most epic moment of the finale (not my favourite, mind you, just the most epic), that would be my errr . . . pick.
Hehe, see what I did there?
Epic’s aside, that scene was crazy. Their solitary duel, just Rand vs Ba’alzamon, the sword forms, the imagery, and Rand’s determination to take one final hit for a hit. Rand’s final words to Ba’alzamon gave me goosebumps, “I will never serve you, Father of Lies. In a thousand lives, I never have. I know that. I’m sure of it. Come. It is time to die.” Wow. Just wow. That was so ep-
Sorry, no more.
My very last thing I want to say that I really enjoyed was the aftermath of the battle of Falme. Min caring for Rand when Selene pops in and casually announces she’s actually Lanfear (I knew it!), Rand’s new coldness and seconded heron brand (twice the Heron, to name him true), and the news finally spreading of the rebirth of the Dragon Reborn.
“Some men […] choose to seek greatness, while others are forced to it. It is always better to choose than to be forced. A man who is forced is never completely his own master. He must dance on the strings of those who forced him.”
-Robert Jordan, the Great Hunt
The Great Hunt was such a fantastic book. It took what the first book, The Eye of the World, had done so well, and made it even better. There were very, very few moments that felt like a slog to get through (no spoilers, but some later books are much slower) and the story was concise and gripping.
Rand’s storyline in particular was the driving force of the book, although Nynaeve and Egwene also had their fair share of great moments. It had an extremely satisfying end, but there’s easily enough for me to crave more of this fascinating world.
Rand has now been announced as the Dragon Reborn, Mat and Perrin are beginning to come into their own, the Aiel and the Seanchan have been introduced, Nynaeve and Egwene are training to become Aes Sedai, and you can just feel all these different threads branching off and connecting, even if you don’t understand them right now.
The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, I guess.
The Dragon Reborn, here I come!
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