Book 6 - Lord of Chaos Discussion (Spoilers)

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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Status: I am currently on page 372 of Lord of Chaos. I’ve read Books 1-5, but not New Spring as I’m still unsure as to when I should read that one.

Favorite Parts so far:
I loved that scene with Demandred and the Dark One. The fact that he spoke in all-caps made me screech with excitement. The Prologue was long but I liked how it set everything up and I was so thrilled to see all the different points of view, especially the Forsaken (who I have so much fun with for some reason).
Something that is strong in this book is the various points-of-view, which is something that I enjoy a lot in a book. And I think it is especially fitting in The Wheel of Time. The Forsaken chapters are some of my favorites, I keep wanting at least one of them to end being good in the end. But, in the end, I think that Jordan doesn't like redemption as a character arc. For instance, if we look at Asmodean, he was only helping Rand through force via Lanfear. But was he really changing? I am not so sure. And I am devastated that he has been killed.
While I am heartbroken at the events of the shattering of the Tower, I do enjoy the plotline a lot. I like being able to see some parts of Elaida's side of things. Seeing her become unhinged is just phenomenal. My only thing is that I wish we knew more about Elaida who she really is, apart from being an Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah who couped the Amyrlin Seat. If it is true that the Red Ajah set up the false Dragons, why is she so bent out of shape about Rand? I feel like there is something more to it all, but maybe there isn't. Sometimes things just are what they are.

Updates:
[1] 14 July 2021: Initial Post (Lord of Chaos, Page 372); Added Prologue, Points-of-View, and The Aes Sedai Spoilers.

**I am hoping to use this thread to update my thoughts and reactions as I read the Book, if slowly. To remain in accordance with the Rules, I will only edit this first post as to not double-post. If this is somehow the wrong place to post something like this, please let me know so I can change it. I am still trying to get used to how the forum works .
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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Oh great! Thank you. That makes things so much easier.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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Status: I have finished Lord of Chaos.

Thoughts:
This book was probably my favorite so far in the series. To me, I see this as a continuation of Books 4 and 5, to a point where it feels separate from Books 1-3. It is distinctly a new part of the story. I will organize the following spoilers by position in which the characters are first appearing within this book.

We see very little of Demandred in this book, but what we do see is very interesting. I have to say that perhaps the Prologue is my favorite part of this book, just because of how it hooked me. "DEMANDRED. HOW FARES THIS WORLD?" (page 15). I believe it is fascinating what we learn about the Dark One here. "...YET EVEN I CANNOT SAVE HIM FROM BALEFIRE. EVEN I CANNOT STEP OUTSIDE OF TIME" (page 15). Here we, as the readers, are learning that the Dark One has constraints on his power. I would like to see more of Demandred and what he can do, as well as who he is as a person. Demandred seems the most put together of all of the male Forsaken. Sammael, Rahvin, and the others all seem cracked. He's the most composed in my mind.
Nynaeve will, probably, always been one of my favorite characters. Sometimes, I just wish she would get out of her own way. Nynaeve is an exceptional channeler, having this book Healed Siuan, Leane, and Logain. Though, I would say I saddened that Siuan and Leane seem to be weaker in the power than they used to be, not sure on Logain's status on that front. I would really like to see Nynaeve get together with Lan, at last. It has been ages since they've last been together.
I adore Siuan, she reminds me of my toughest teachers. Yet, now, we see her in a more human light. I also like her budding relationship with Gareth Bryne that seems to be coming about. Siuan is everything, I would like to see more of her.
I feel in the middle about Leane, I like her because she was wronged and she's generally kind and keeps Siuan in check. However, I don't feel a lot of agency from Leane yet.
Elayne has quickly descended in my eyes. I feel like she is just annoying and she doesn't vibe well with me. Once she became Aes Sedai, along with Nynaeve, I felt like she's gotten much worse. Maybe it's because she's trying to act Aes Sedai.
For some reason, there is a soft spot within me for Moghedien. Out of the Forsaken, apart from Asmodean, I understand Moghedien. I am often afraid of things that lurk within the world. Though what possessed her to become a Forsaken, I am not sure.
I think that Birgitte is epic, but we didn't see much from her in this book. I would like to see her more often.
I like Gareth Bryne a lot. I admire him for going after Siuan, Leane, and Min, because they made an oath to him. Now that he's gathering an army, I see him like a Dalinar-esque figure. I hope to see more of him and Siuan.
I understand a lot of what Nynaeve and Elayne feel about the Aes Sedai of Salidar. They were frozen there and I think that they didn't know how to act without being within the White Tower. In this book, I feel like the authority of the Aes Sedai, in general, was watered down. Not because of the Tower breaking, but because we are seeing more behind the curtain. I love the Aes Sedai, I think they are great, but sometimes I think they don't always know what they are doing. It makes me miss Moiraine, she felt reasonable and understandable. The Salidar Embassy to Caemlyn was a disaster, because they didn't treat Rand like he was human. In honesty, I am not sure what they were thinking. It was frustrating to read because I just wanted to them to do well. I wanted the Salidar Aes Sedai and Rand to get along, but for some reason that is not in the works.
Min remains to be one my besties in this series. She hasn't changed much at all, in my view. Despite what some people think in this world, I believe that Min has first "claim" on Rand, if you can call it that. She met Rand first and then also cared for him when he was injured after his battle at the end of The Great Hunt. Where she was confronted by Lanfear. However, I do get annoyed with how Rand is being treated by the other women in this world: Min, Aviendha, Elayne. They aren't really discussing with him about all of this at all.
I really like Faile, despite her jealousy. I enjoyed her character until the very end of this book. I am not sure what's going on with her and Perrin and I do not know why she won't talk to him about it. I am very interested in this relationship dynamic that's supposed to be going on according to her parents. I also want to know everything about this Broken Crown.
For someone who has changed a good amount over the books, he still feels the same to me, which is different to how I feel about Mat and Rand. I enjoy Perrin a lot even thought we didn't see much of him until the end of the book.
I like Gawyn so far, but I am not sure what to do with him. He put his lot in with Elaida and the White Tower. And now he thinks that Rand killed his mother without so much as proof to know it for certain. I am not sure why he despises Rand so much at this point. I do like him and Egwene together, even if it seemed mashed together on Egwene's part.
These White Tower Aes Sedai, especially the embassy were foolish. I can't believe they thought they could get away with kidnapping Rand. Did they not think they would do it without consequences? I am angered because they ruined all Aes Sedai for Rand.
I don't like this woman at all and I do not really care about her goals. I wish she had more to her than an ambition for power, something more down to earth. There is nothing to like about her, she even killed one of her own people. She is a terrible leader who doesn't care about her people. I don't even think she knows what she is doing.
I enjoy Morgase's story a lot and I hope she gets together with her guard, Tallanvor. I am extremely worried about her choice to ally with the Whitecloaks.
I will update once I get some food! I still have some more reactions and characters to go through.***
 

Toral Delvar

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I think the ending of this book is my favourite of the whole series
 

Hal Bahalla

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I’m looking forward to getting to it in the reread.

I believe it was my favorite book in the whole series, but that is hard to commit to after a single read of each one.
 
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