A Memory of Light [Apr 15, 2020]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan starting April 15, 2020.

[jess]

Holy sh*t, Im in!

[jess]

I’ve got a break in planned reading so Ive decided to start this today, since it was actually supposed to be scheduled for March 15, not April 15, since we read Towers on Jan 15.

I’m excited to finish this series!

[Andrew]

I can start early, too. I've got a couple books in progress to wrap up first so I'll probably join you in 7-10 days.

[jess]

Andrew wrote: "I can start early, too. I've got a couple books in progress to wrap up first so I'll probably join you in 7-10 days."

Great, Andrew.

By the way, good to know that Sanderson continues the tradition of a novella-long Prologue! Ha!

[jess]

Ch 11 (view spoiler)[ Wait. Have we always known that Shadowspawn cant use Gateways? Then how do Taim and his legion Travel?

Ive asked questions before and had Sanderson answer them spon after I posit them. Hoping so. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrew]

jess wrote: "Ch 11..."

(view spoiler)[Pretty sure they use the Ways, rather than gateways. (hide spoiler)]

[jess]

Im in Ch 16 (view spoiler)[ and Loial is back! It is making me look back and wish we had had more of him and his twitching ears and carrying books in his coat! That makes me more upset, looking back and seeing such a lack of him in the last 4 or 5 books!

Also, we didnt get to see a Lan and Moiraine reunion!! I was looking forward to that, and we skipped right past it! I also feel like Moiraine has no more knowledge to give Rand, she’s just become a less-harsh Cadsuane. Almost interchangeable. Bummer. (hide spoiler)]

[jess]

Ch 23 (view spoiler)[ Wow. Did I not mention the Sharans a couple days ago? What the heck is going on?

So many questions: Why do the Sharans follow Demandred? How did he become their leader? Are the Sharans actually dead (like the warriors from the Horn of Valere)? What are the different roles of this army?

Im thinking the Seachan will face this new Sharan army now. (hide spoiler)]

[Saar The Book owl]

Glad to see that they're a few who started. I hope to finish the first one in time.

[Andrew]

Started on the prologue last night. Hard to believe we're just 1000 pages away from being done! I will likely take this one a bit slow. Partially because I really want to enjoy every last page on this read-through. And partially because I've got kids at home with schools closed, so work+parenting+homeschooling=less reading time.

[Andrew]

jess wrote: "Ch 23 "

Sanderson actually wrote four chapters that answer these questions, and he had intended for them to be in this book. But alas, the editors cut those chapters. He later published them as a short story called "River of Souls" which you can find in the Unfettered anthology.

[jess]

Andrew wrote: "jess wrote: "Ch 23 "

Sanderson actually wrote four chapters that answer these questions, and he had intended for them to be in this book. But alas, the editors cut those chapters. He later publish..."

Thats good to know, thanks!! Hopefully I dont have to buy that

[Kris]

I am likely to start this one early April, so I will be lagging behind ;)

[jess]

Well, I did buy Unfettered bc it was $3 on amazon and I really want to know how Shara works into this book.

Lola, join us whenever! I am up for the discussion. And Andrew, uou’d think I would’ve finished this by now with being under Lockdown in Durham, North Carolina. But I’m pleasantly dividing my reading time to get previous things checked off my to-do list, spend quality time with hubs/dog, and craft a bit.

Getting there!

[jess]

Ch 29

(view spoiler)[ So Lan’s sections have been boring me the last few times. There’s been nothing big thing except Agelmar’s aturning, which wasnt that big.

And what the eff...Egwene/Gawyn squeeze by getting murdered by Sharans and its back to business. Isn’t this time to really thing about that army?!

Just some thoughts. (hide spoiler)]

[Andrew]

jess wrote: "Well, I did buy Unfettered bc it was $3 on amazon and I really want to know how Shara works into this book.

Lola, join us whenever! I am up for the discussion. And Andrew, uou’d think I would’ve f..."

Unfettered was a solid short story collection. I bought it specifically to read the Wheel of Time short story, but it was also a nice introduction to some other authors that I hadn't tried previously. Well worth the $3.
And my reading time has been pretty slow, too. Trying to work from home, homeschool a kindergartener, and keep a three year old from destroying everything has my wife and I pretty busy. And we are enjoying getting out in the wilderness and hiking in the mountains, thanks to our recent move. :)

[jess]

Ch 37 (The Last Battle)
(view spoiler)[ Mat is super worried about spies in the camp. Yet, Egwene and her group are keeping Gareth Bryne around, knowing he is being Compelled. Wouldn’t this be the one person you wouldn’t want eavesdropping on battle-planning?

Im excited to see what happens here in this huge chapter! (hide spoiler)]

[Andrew]

The Last Battle is my favorite chapter I've ever read. So good!

[jess]

I have just finished. Need to process it a bit.

Execution of this novel: 5 stars

Decisions themselves: 4 stars

Series as a whole: I’d give an average of 3.5 stars.
Sanderson very mindfully tied everything together.

(view spoiler)[ Why did Fain show back up? The fight that Logain is taken to at the top of the dam, with the villagers from Hinderstrap, was that just a ploy by Androl to get him aeay from Demandred’s sceptre? The fight itself between Rand and the Dark One underwhelmed me a little, probably because it was more about philosophy and not physical action. And how could Rand suddenly light his pipe at the end? (hide spoiler)]

[Andrew]

Just finished the Last Battle chapter and ALL THE FEELS

(view spoiler)[I love how Sanderson gives cameos to so many characters that appeared previously in the series, giving the reader closure.
From Uno, to Huron, to the farmer that gave Mat and Rand a ride in the very first book...and I could go on and on. Masterfully done, and what a nostalgia ride.

I also love how perfectly Jordan and Sanderson use each character's unique abilities in this chapter. Min's viewings are what pull the Seanchan back into the last battle; Egwene's unique talent with weaves destroys M'Hale and the Sharans; ...so many intricate details thrwon in one after the other. I loved this chapter the first time I read the series, and again it was such an emotional rollercoaster. SO GOOD!!!
(hide spoiler)]

[jess]

Andrew wrote: "Just finished the Last Battle chapter and ALL THE FEELS

I love how Sanderson gives cameos to so many characters that appeared previously in the series, giving the reader closure.
From Uno, to Hu..."

End of book spoilers
(view spoiler)[ Man. The loss of Egwene...that was so surprising and rough! Lan too. I wonder how Lan and Nynaeve’s relationship was after Tairmon Gaidan. (hide spoiler)]

[Steph]

Finally completed this series today. Glad I read it with the group here as I likely would never have finished it. Too long and repetitive for my taste. Happy to have completed as it is "one of the great" fantasy series, but not my favorite by any means. Did enjoy the Sanderson books better but was a long haul. Began with the group July 1 2017 and finished today.

[jess]

Yay! Congrats on finishing Steph! Were glad we read it, now bring on the amazon series!