I've just finished reading tGS and overall I thought it was great. I'll need to re-read it a time or two before I can write any kind of comprehensive review, but two things that I do want to write about now are the portrayal of Egwene and Semirhage.
When Semirhage was captured at the end of KoD, I was convinced that Rand would be an idiot and she would end up escaping due to his softheartedness and the Aes Sedai's incompetance. I was pleased to see this didn't happen. She was guarded well - though not stilled, which she should have been - and only escaped thanks to Shaidar Haran. But I found myself disappointed in her - this legendary figure, the Mistress of Pain, did nothing with her captivity except spout ridiculous threats. Where was the divide-and-conquer? Where was her subtle, clever plan to escape? I know that whole spanking scene with Cadsuane had been about showing her to be 'only human'. But I was still disappointed. I would have expected more from the newest-raised Aes Sedai.
And at the other end of the spectrum was Egwene. A lot of the book was devoted to her undermining of Elaida, and it was a tense, gripping plot from beginning to end. Throughout it all, Egwene bore near-intolerable pain, indignity and fear. She plotted and planned and played politics with a masterful skill far beyond her years. When the Seanchan attacked, Egwene fought them off with nothing more than a circle of novices and a sa'angreal. Oh, and in a spare moment, she destroyed the Black Ajah that had infested the Tower for over a thousand years.
In every page that was written about her, she was faultlessly noble and completely self-sacrificing. Her sections of the book were a thumping good read. But tGS has finished the job begun in CoT of making Egwene into a character who is simply too good to be true. She is wise, clever, never makes mistakes, and seems to utterly lack flaws. Beside Egwene, other characters start to become insignificant and washed-out. Elaida went from being a stubborn, blind megalomanic that you could still, somewhat, relate to and sympathise with, to simply violently insane. Two books of careful, nerve-shredding detective work by the BA hunters was made irrelevant in an instant.
In short, for all that I liked her sections of the book, she has become a Sue of the highest order, and I really hope Sanderson tones her down a bit in the next two books.
When Semirhage was captured at the end of KoD, I was convinced that Rand would be an idiot and she would end up escaping due to his softheartedness and the Aes Sedai's incompetance. I was pleased to see this didn't happen. She was guarded well - though not stilled, which she should have been - and only escaped thanks to Shaidar Haran. But I found myself disappointed in her - this legendary figure, the Mistress of Pain, did nothing with her captivity except spout ridiculous threats. Where was the divide-and-conquer? Where was her subtle, clever plan to escape? I know that whole spanking scene with Cadsuane had been about showing her to be 'only human'. But I was still disappointed. I would have expected more from the newest-raised Aes Sedai.
And at the other end of the spectrum was Egwene. A lot of the book was devoted to her undermining of Elaida, and it was a tense, gripping plot from beginning to end. Throughout it all, Egwene bore near-intolerable pain, indignity and fear. She plotted and planned and played politics with a masterful skill far beyond her years. When the Seanchan attacked, Egwene fought them off with nothing more than a circle of novices and a sa'angreal. Oh, and in a spare moment, she destroyed the Black Ajah that had infested the Tower for over a thousand years.
In every page that was written about her, she was faultlessly noble and completely self-sacrificing. Her sections of the book were a thumping good read. But tGS has finished the job begun in CoT of making Egwene into a character who is simply too good to be true. She is wise, clever, never makes mistakes, and seems to utterly lack flaws. Beside Egwene, other characters start to become insignificant and washed-out. Elaida went from being a stubborn, blind megalomanic that you could still, somewhat, relate to and sympathise with, to simply violently insane. Two books of careful, nerve-shredding detective work by the BA hunters was made irrelevant in an instant.
In short, for all that I liked her sections of the book, she has become a Sue of the highest order, and I really hope Sanderson tones her down a bit in the next two books.
Semirhage and Egwene
04/12/2009 02:31:45 PM
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I agree with all of that.
04/12/2009 02:58:48 PM
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Re: I agree with all of that. *NM*
04/12/2009 03:22:49 PM
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Re: I agree with all of that.
04/12/2009 03:29:46 PM
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The entire cast is full of Perfect Sues and Stuarts (I may have just made latter up)
04/12/2009 03:14:27 PM
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If you plan to write that review before the last two books are out, you better get re-reading now. *NM*
04/12/2009 03:20:31 PM
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about Semirhage
04/12/2009 03:21:32 PM
- 1215 Views
but
04/12/2009 03:26:29 PM
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She was never THAT person.
06/12/2009 01:22:39 AM
- 776 Views
Alas, Semirhage was actually an idiot
04/12/2009 05:03:48 PM
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Re: Alas, Semirhage was actually an idiot
04/12/2009 06:42:41 PM
- 793 Views
If one compares the characters...
05/12/2009 11:24:16 AM
- 725 Views
Did I miss Rand's marriage ceremonies? I always thought the three girls only bonded him *NM*
05/12/2009 11:27:36 AM
- 378 Views
Egwene had the best mix of teachers and a desire to learn. Most believable, IMO. *NM*
04/12/2009 10:17:56 PM
- 401 Views
That's really nonsense
05/12/2009 11:13:20 AM
- 731 Views
And yet Egwene is still a fool regarding Gawyn.
04/12/2009 05:44:49 PM
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Egwene has a long way to go ...
05/12/2009 06:16:31 PM
- 776 Views
Hardly a blunder
06/12/2009 01:43:54 AM
- 736 Views
Re: Hardly a blunder? Send Egwene back to Silviana.
07/12/2009 04:03:08 PM
- 760 Views
Or she her rescue forced her hand. She lost her advantage
07/12/2009 04:47:56 PM
- 664 Views
She should have attacked when they first arrived
07/12/2009 09:35:33 PM
- 687 Views
Don't damn me, damn Graendal
09/12/2009 12:51:18 PM
- 722 Views
Yes, the Aes Sedai need to rediscover the meaning of "servants of all" *NM*
06/12/2009 05:03:19 AM
- 718 Views
I'm re-reading the series now for the first time in years. Egwene has always been a weak character.
07/12/2009 01:12:15 AM
- 754 Views
I think you'll find few people who agree with you on both of those counts...
07/12/2009 01:53:58 PM
- 708 Views
Irritating teen spirits ...
07/12/2009 04:32:51 PM
- 784 Views
You must not have been reading the same series I have.
07/12/2009 10:33:23 PM
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