OK, so the latest WoT installment is just around the corner, and for the first time in decades I'm not completely enthused about it. The reasons are twofold, Perrin and Moraine

1. Perrin - How come he has suddenly gone all EMO on us? It's like he backtracked with his whole "I'm not a lord" nonesense. This was OK up to a point when they were back in the two rivers, but to still be harping on about it years later is just boring.

And the whole master the inner wolf theme, once again I thought he'd sorted this out several books ago, with the final straw being to throw away the axe so he would be human and a builder rather than a savage who enjoyed to kill. It's like these two issues were just put on hold while he rescued Faile. But now they are back with a vengence. Yawn!

2. Moiraine (are there two i's or one, I'm not sure now). Ok, so I have never ever liked Moiraine. Ever. She was always a bully who thought she knew what was best for everyone, when clearly she was just winging it and hid her ignorance behind Aes Sedai mystery. Some of my favourite scenes in the whole series are when the 3 boys finally stand up to her. So i'm not exactly looking forward to her return. Now if we ally this to the fact Brandon Sanderson loves her I could be in for some painful reading. I'm going to hate it if she comes back as some messiah figure. I'm just glad Rand found his laughter and tears before she came back. Would have had to put the book down if her return was what broke his mental dam and made him cry like a baby.

So, can anyone restore my optimism about ToM or does anyone else fear it may be as I'm dreading?

Cheers,
Ben