A Memory of Light Review (WOT 14)

[@androlgenhald476]

I dont know why ppl hate Androl and Pevara. Thier part of the story shows what a man and woman working together are capable of accomplishing. It shows what the future could hold for channelers. It provides hope.

[@JamesI88]

From what I've gathered, its not so much anything against those characters, it's more that peoples favorites that have been around from the first few books could have had more page time, instead of introducing even more characters. I'm indifferent on it personally, just kind of wish more time was given to Padan Fain.

[@celticmyst08]

I liked them all right, but I was frustrated to see how much page time they got vs other characters we already knew and loved. I also felt Androl was a pretty cardboard character; his one 'flaw' isn't really a flaw because his Superpower completely negates it. Finally, he was introduced so late that he seemed just like a Convenient Plot Device. Most of my issue would be solved by introducing Androl sooner. I know he was a Sanderson character (other than being mentioned briefly by name in...Winter's Heart, I think?) so that wasn't possible, but I hope they do that in the TV show. Assuming it gets that far!

[@wynnefox]

I liked them a lot and honestly wish I got a bit more of them sooner on some level. Especially given Androl is completely Sanderson's creation.

[@brycezen1896]

For The Wynne He is but also Sanderson used Him for some ideas that Jordan wanted to explore. Such as Leather Working and a channeler who was strong with Traveling.

[@nufvcosta]

Androl is amazing. They only hate him because he's Sanderson's creation, a good one at that imho.

[@JamesI88]

He came like the wind. Like the wind, touched everything, and like the wind, was gone.

[@boxbo7926]

You’re going to make me cry

[@JamesI88]

@@boxbo7926 all types of emotions from the last book. Never thought I'd get so many likes, that quote just fits well at the very end

[@loganbarnes8621]

SPOILERS obviously (I heard this quote a few books before the end and was convinced Rand would die and become the wind we heard through the whole series. Boy was I then surprised that I hadn’t spoiled myself haha)

[@MoviesNStuff]

​@@loganbarnes8621 SAME

[@Grungivaldi]

Bela is the real hero. I cried for her more than most of the others.

[@boxbo7926]

Don’t worry! She’ll be back with the heros of the horn

[@lordschwann5417]

This was one thing i think sanderson did on his own..i dnt think Bela was meant to die, im pretty sure she was meant to be the horse Rand rode off on at the end.

[@boxbo7926]

lordschwann really? I’ve heard Brandon wanted to keep Bela alive, but Harriet over ruled it. I’d be surprised if that was all Sanderson bc he was a petty big fan of the series, and I don’t see him doing something like that (it’s also not out of the realm of possibility lmao). Bela also was never really Rand’s horse from the beginning, so I don’t see that making much narrative sense. Idk tho 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@TheDjMoo]

Don't you bring up Bela. The onion ninjas always pop up whenever someone brings up Bela.

[@MrWykedtron]

Facts

[@sarveshlobana8573]

The thing I found frustrating was that Rand let Tam believe he died. And the scene of Tam mourning was so heartbreaking.

[@calvinjohnstone2664]

It's was an end, but not the end. There are no endings ect. You really believe he would not have visited his father afterwards? At some point.

[@Sam-jx8tv]

Oh I'm sure he went and found Tam later and let him know. I just don't believe Rand would let those closest to him, like his father, think him dead.

[@Zandohaha]

@@Sam-jx8tv Elayne, Min and Avi knew. They would let Tam know a day or two later in private. The world had to believe that the Dragon Reborn was dead or Rand could never live a normal life.

[@mordirit8727]

@@Zandohaha If their goal was making people think he was absolutely dead they should have done a lot more fake mourning and a lot less leaving his father to wallow in despair for no reason

[@HeronKij]

Something tells me Tam knew. He wasn't weeping because his son was dead. He was weeping because his son could finally rest.

[@TheEmpty0333]

I'll just leave this here: “Here is your flaw, Shaitan, Lord of the Dark, Lord of Envy, Lord of Nothing, here is why you fail. It was not about me. It’s never been about me.” It was about a woman, torn and beaten down, cast from her throne and made a puppet. A woman who had crawled when she had to. That woman still fought. It was about a man that love repeatedly forsook. A man who found relevance in a world that others would have let pass them by. A man who remembered stories and who took fool boys under his wing when the smarter move would have been to keep on walking. That man still fought. It was about a woman with a secret, a hope for the future. A woman who had hunted the truth before others could. A woman who had given her live, then had it returned. That woman still fought. It was about a man whose family was taken from him, but who stood tall in his sorrow and protected those he could. It was about a woman who refused to believe that she could not help, could not heal those who had been harmed. It was about a hero who insisted with every breath that he was anything but a hero. It was about a woman who would not bend her back while she was beaten, and who shown with a light for all who watched, including Rand. It was about them all. ~Rand Al Thor”

[@Liesmith424]

"That man still fights." I was giving a really poorly recollected and explained retelling of the series to my girlfriend, and she cheered out loud when I quoted that line. Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson both tried to kill Lan, but they better use kryptonite next time.

[@TheEmpty0333]

@@Liesmith424 Nothing can kill that man and book 14 is his book where he showed us all why we love him even without page time he deserved trough the books.Anything he does in the series is just amazing but the thing where I said YUP hes my favorite was him rushing into trolloc army that Demandred was behind and Tam covering him and opening his path with storm of fire arrows as Lan charges through them.THen he comes before Demandred and casually says "I'm the man that will kill you." and the man takes the head of the best blade master that has ever lived. Tai'shar Malkier !

[@jasonstevens8517]

....It was about a donkey named Bella, who plodded along tirelessly through a 13 book series, only to die with a muffled 'hee-haw'.

[@paulc1497]

When Merphy was speaking about this story being a different take on the chosen one trope, that every other character needed to be exactly where they were for the Light to win, I couldn't help but think of this quote. Jordan and Sanderson told us straight, it wasn't just about Rand, but it was everyone else doing what had to be done, continuing the fight, standing up no matter how many times they were knocked down, and working together to win. Maybe that's the moral: Never give up, learn from your mistakes, and "do better" the next time the spinning of the wheel gives you the chance!

[@littleladyd1]

Very well put...

[@marklinton4567]

I found the hardest part about finishing book 14 was that there was no more "Randland" stories to follow. The world was so well realized that I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends I actually knew.

[@danakinstreetrider]

Tam is amazing. He is WoT's Iroh.

[@dark_ones_taint5993]

For me, what made this so much sweeter was the realization that-despite how powerful they became and how much they learned-at the end of the day, they fell back on their true selves to save the day. Mat gambled, Nynaeve healed, Egwene showed insurmountable strength, Rand fell back on love.

[@shahrg]

Great review. As for Tuon, I just wished that I get to read what happened when she met Artur Hawkwing. If it was up to me that would be the moment where all these slavery thing gets resolved.

[@Haxerous]

@Drewmer MRooster12 may be. But a lot of Hawkwing's hatred towards Aes Sedai is fuelled by Ishamael's manipulation. So I like to think he doesn't hold that opinion anymore.

[@TathagataMitraTom]

do you really think slavery can just disappear with divine intervention?

[@ZivelaGeneracija95]

Some of my favourite moments in the book were when people started realising that Mat knows what he's doing. They went from thinking he's a lunatic to thinking he's a genius in a few moments

[@Chilrona]

My favorite thing about Rand and Egwene's interaction at Merrilor was how it was a call back to their relationship at the beginning of the series. They met as the two most powerful people in the world in front of kings, queens, and Aes Sedai and began bickering like we were back in book one, except this time the fate of the world was in their hands. Just the gravity of that moment gave me chills.

[@buckmanriver]

Well said.

[@TheSushivj]

Sanderson has confirmed that he'll never say how Rand lit the pipe, but my favorite theory that I've found is that "Rand can now see the Matrix"

[@michael305m3]

I believe because rand created his own reality he then became “the creator”. The legends say that the dark one was imprisoned by the creator at the beginning of time. Since there was no beginning to the turning of the wheel of time it would make sense that whoever bound the dark one would technically be the creator and I believe rand is the creator for that time cycle. He can shape the pattern to his will thus does not need to channel to light his pipe.

[@gimiked8685]

I was thinking it worked like the dream world. He was living his dream. He made the world so why not have the power of of the creator. I'm glad that Sanders left it un answered. Little bit of mystery at the end to let us know something is going on, but we have no answear and never will.

[@Haggan514]

I also thought about the Matrix

[@dassadec]

He woke from the dream

[@sn2967]

It was obviously one of his ladies lol

[@Torsin2000]

When Rand lit his pipe with his own thought reminds me that a bit ago he was literally making realities. The Dragon is one with the land and the land is one with Dragon. (or something like that)

[@heygus20]

Omg I loved Androl and Pevara and personally, I wish we had more of them. It was such a lovely addition to the book!

[@mrpolskija]

The key for Nynaeve's and Moiraine's presence with Rand is that through the whole story they were the only women Rand would trust. He needed women he could trust to wield Callandor. Also, Nynaeve's skill with herbs and traditional healing kept Alanna alive so Rand wouldn't go into death frenzy.

[@hulkslayer626]

My thoughts exactly 💯 In order to use the sword, he had to be connected to 2 women. Nynaeve has been the ONLY woman he has trusted completely throughout this entire series! He kept all women who can channel at a distance and warned most not to channel in his presence. But Nynaeve would always, upon seeing him possibly in pain, just rush to his side while channeling everything she can think of to diagnose and fix him. Keeping in mind how that was described as having ice water dumped over you, which can be misinterpreted as an attack, he never once put up a fight or tried to shield her just in case, or even jump back in defense. His trust in her being a healer and protector was never in doubt this entire series. Nynaeve HAD to be one of the 2 by his side at the end. 💜

[@doc837]

I loved thematically how Nynaeve saves the day without magic.

[@melaniev9446]

Personally I feel like an issue with Tuon, that I have, is how her story arc wasn't completed. She and Mat were supposed to have a spin off series putting order back to Seanchan and I feel like RJ would have wanted her growth to happen more naturally, during that time. It doesn't make sense for her to change her cultural view so quickly, she is a very careful thinker. I believe Min was supposed to be in those books to and i believe she so would have used her visions to manipulate Tuon into seeing the wrong in her own culture. But we never got that, and never will, so we can't say it does happen and so she's left unfinished; will she ever see the wrong of her people or remain the way she's always been forever? Who knows.

[@imperium3556]

I like to think of it as a setup for a "next story" (one we'll never see, but is the next part of the never-ending turning of the wheel) where the Seanchan, whether under Tuon or perhaps her child, become the main antagonist. It shows that the story didn't end with the Last Battle.

[@joakimnyback1931]

i would have liked to see Tuon manifest the power herself by saving Mat in some way and by doing that knockong a big fat hole in the sanchean empire

[@donvineyard8654]

@@joakimnyback1931 ... funny you mention that. There is a FanFiction story that took that post-story path showing Matt being all but killed and Tuon deciding to wield the power to save him. She used the healing she had with the collared training she had done. But then she had to deal with the fact she couldn't ignore it anymore... feeling like she was horrible. Interesting idea.

[@joseywales7463]

@@joakimnyback1931 yup her never being called out as a ChaNNELER WAS HUGE. It would have brought much more closer to the series to have it revealed that Ishmael was behind Hawkwing turning against AesSedai-leasing them. Rushed endings suck.

[@joseywales7463]

@Krish Nair that no one forced the seanchan to confront the lie was bs. It wasn't even attempted. Damn we don't even have any pages talking about how the leashers reacted to the fact they should be leasshed as well. Would have changed much.

[@Dovieandi_Se_Tovya_Sagain]

congrats on finishing. Welcome to the club. "Once I got to a certain point I couldn't stop" Felt the exact same. Androl"s gateway scene with the lava is the stuff of legends. Why is this guy at the head of the circle...Ohhh that's why.

[@Sdramsay1977]

One of my favourite scenes too. I loved that the dismissed "pageboy" was able to decimate an entire trollock army. So satisfying! My only regreat is that Taim didn't ever realise quite how many times Androl screwed him!

[@nickywal]

Nynaeve isn't a warrior, she can fight sure and she kicks ass when she has to, but she's not a fighter. The greatest healer in the world had to be there to keep Alanna alive. Plus there are very very few people Rand would trust to have his back in that battle, the Two Rivers people still unquestionably trust and turn to Nynaeve in most circumstances

[@wswordsmen]

You understate how good Nynaeve is. She is the greatest healer since AT LEAST the age of legends. Basically every other title of "greatest" in something tacitly acknowledges that there was someone better in the AoL, not her she does things that were thought impossible then mostly by instinct.

[@nickywal]

You're right, I think all they would have had to do to break Semirhage was bring her in. She healed stilling, she reinvented this ancient way of healing. What you got sis

[@cdubbau135]

One of my favorite scenes is at the end where they are lighting Rand's funeral pyre and Tam is openly weeping and he says, "You did well. My boy... You did so well." After reading his entire story... Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly glad he survived, but a part of me wishes Rand had died. It would have been a fitting ending, him being finally able to rest. I'm glad you enjoyed the series so much. I wish I could read this series again for the first time.

[@dudeguy8686]

"I win again, Lews Therin." Still gives me chills every time..

[@callinicobo5991]

I think Ninaeve and Moraine were the only ones who Rand could have really trust in that situation

[@bernard6255]

Gaul was my hero in MOL. He is the embodiment of the fully formed Aiel.

[@emmamckenzie5503]

Okay, you've convinced me, I'm going to read this series. Wish me luck!!

[@kylevasser6388]

Me too. :)

[@stephenbarrett8861]

Emma McKenzie enjoy, it’s so worth it!

[@armanisar-feinial1789]

Its a great series.

[@aishathlimya6761]

Same!! Goodness this will be some commitment

[@Jrdn357]

@Emma McKenzie & @Aishath Limya, brace yourselves. You're going to experience some horrible post-series depression.

[@nickywal]

I can't believe you finally finished. Androl is one of my favourite characters, I love that Jordan puts in characters like him and Sorilea who are weak but it doesn't matter, they're some of the strongest characters in the series. Who needs strength when you can erupt a volcano on your enemies. One of the frustrating things about Egwene is that so many people she trusts like Nynaeve and Amys have seen that Rand is sane, all she'd have to do is ask Literally just remembered Androl is all Sanderson, Jordan nerd points lost

[@Chilrona]

Androl was first mentioned in Book 9 I think as a very very minor character. Sanderson did a great job expanding his role and showing us how awesome gateways can be.

[@timpeterjensen2364]

Androl was mentioned by jordan, though Sanderson asked Harriet for a char to exspand and mane his own, Androl was that guy, and yes, him and Pevera are awesome. Kind of fun that 3 of 5 of my favorite aes sedai ended up being reds. Pevara, Teslyn and Silviana, random order.

[@nickywal]

@@timpeterjensen2364 Some of my favourites too, I really didn't expect to like Teslyn at the start but her loyalty wow. That an Amadacian red in Silviana turned out to be so good and honourable was a surprise too. And yes I know Androl is mentioned just after Logain bonds the aes sedai but Sanderson asked for an asha'man he could make his own

[@timpeterjensen2364]

Nichola Walker teslyn just show many good qualities, she might have been wrong from the start, but she sees that and changes and silviana stands by honor and integrity ☺️ other two are Verin and Moi. Ofcourse (note i dont count Nyn. My favorite, as an aes sedai, cause she never truly lived as one)

[@nickywal]

@@timpeterjensen2364 who doesn't love Verin, oh don't mind me I'm just this silly bookworm who's so forgetful and stuff. Take down the black ajah, be as capable as greens in battles nbd

[@aimeelindsey9549]

Wheel of Time really was about the friends we made along the way.

[@partoftheproblem229]

I think you need to read Rand's final thoughts again as, IIRC, he is musing about which one would follow and then it occurs to him that none of them might choose to come after him (and he's sort of okay with that).

[@QuiqueFuenteSIT]

Yeah my initial read of it was he was going off on his own to be alone and he wondered who would try to chase him down if anyone.

[@johnswenson9140]

I agree, and I also feel like one of them lit the pipe right? That's why they could still feel where he was IE the bond is still there and they knew he wanted the pipe to be lit when he thought about it.

[@TheWedusa]

@@johnswenson9140 i dont think any of them had fire as a special talent, also the final chapter was written by RJ and not sanderson, and bondweaving was a sanderson idea.

[@kopicat2429]

Pretty damn sure Min would follow. Elayne would choose her Kingdom. Aviendha her people. But Min, she's basically the actual girlfriend. She's the one willing to throw away everything to be with him. So i believe she would follow.

[@DEFKNIGHT]

@@kopicat2429 Agreed. Min would follow.

[@latinoheat300]

The Shara. Continent size civilization arriving out of nowhere and helmed by Damodred in full battle regalia and instantly all but destroying one of the strongest forces of the Light. Was just amazing. Its like the antithesis of Lan's cavalry charge.

[@snkline]

People don't like Androl and Pevara?! They were my favorite late addition to the series. I would literally read a series of books following the adventures of Androl and Pevara.

[@timpeterjensen2364]

I think Pevera and Androl are great, i loved them, i do understand how some people feel about them though, sadly alot of the "hate" i have seen towards them, stem from the falsehood, that they wanted to make more than one book, to earn money, and therefor had to make alot of filler to stretch the story, its untrure, but i have seen it used as an argument against them before. My main wish about them is more that i would have wanted them more in the first two sanderson books, so that they did not feel as dominant in the last book.

[@snophund]

It just hit me that Avengers Endgame totally stole the Avengers assemble scene from WoT Lan is basicly Captain America..

[@Sdramsay1977]

Me too! Only when Murph was describing it was I like "hang on...this sounds farmiliar..."

[@spdcrzy]

Oh wow. I didn't even think about that. Even the gateways are ripped STRAIGHT from the books lmao.

[@DEFKNIGHT]

I was thinking the same damn thing. Total rip off!

[@michael305m3]

Nah bro dumais wells when the asha’man come in through the gateways is what was stolen

[@meganega123]

I thought about Avengers: Endgame so much during this book

[@warmonkey3216]

What bugged me was how open ended the series ended up with the seanchan. It would have been nice to get some hint that eventually their society would change and slavery would be a thing of the past.

[@Loomx5]

"I didn't come here to win, I came here to kill you. Death is lighter than a feather" Is the most fucking baller, fist pump line that it feels like Jordan came up with that first and then designed a character to say it.

[@richierich1213]

Agreed so much. Lan is the best!

[@AnakinTheWeird]

Gawyn described in one word: Useless. His only accomplishment in 14 books is saving Egwene from the bloodknives, and that's literally it. He is so useless that he literally kills himself because he feels useless. And even that accomplishes nothing because he's just that useless.

[@stevemarethyu3003]

I hated him in Book 13, but on a recent reread I had a bit more sympathy for his actions in A Memory of Light. Some people claim that he caused Egwene's death, but that's not true. He weakened her by dying, but she chose her own ending, in my opinion. Also, if he hadn't use the rings Egwene and he would have died after Demandred arrived the first time. It was only his ability to hide that allowed them to escape. Yeah, maybe he shouldn't have tried to take Demandred on later, but it felt more self-sacrificial to me than self-aggrandizing as some people claim.

[@curtiswfranks]

No, it is worse. He kills Egwene in the process. Yes, she goes out in a literal blaze of glory and heals the Pattern, which is awesome and well-earned although painful and tragic, but he still did it to her. I do not want to take away from her choice or sacrifice, but she was pushed to that point because of his stupidity and therefore he deserves A LOT of blame.

[@donvineyard8654]

@@curtiswfranks ... agree... a spoiled royal boy that grew up thinking he would be amazing... resented not himself being the Dragon... but just a lowly warder. And then not caring a wit about hurting Egwene. She might have decided anyway to go out like she did, but he made sure of it. His loyalty to her was horridly absent.

[@whitewolf8460]

He was someone who was jealous and hated Rand but after that row boat ride with Elayne he truly grew as a person and overcame his jealousy and hate. He was already going to die because of the ter’angreal rings anyways and would have died even sooner without them. Him attacking Demandred and their exchange was one of the coolest moments in the series to me.

[@yoavshamir9055]

@@curtiswfranks the ending literally has Egwene telling Rand, post death: it was my choice. My sacrifice. Don't blame yourself(or anyone) for not protecting me. It was my choice to fight, and die for doing the right thing. After this, tossing it as Gawyn's fault is really unfiyting. He is an idiot, but this was Egwene

[@BxLxOxO]

It appears you've misunderstood Rand's thoughts at the end of the story when he's thinking about the girls. He's not wondering who he is going to choose, he's wondering which of the three is going to be the first to follow him. He knows full well that all three will eventually join him because they're all still bonded, but he also knows that they can't all follow him immediately. As to what is happening with Rand at the end when he lights the pipe, he can't channel but he can adjust the pattern of the wheel so that what he wants happens. He thought of the pipe being lit and so the wheel itself made it so that the pipe was already lit.

[@stevemarethyu3003]

This was very confusing to me the first time! Once I understood the implications, it made me extra sad that Jordan was gone and could no longer explore the world after the Last Battle.

[@timpeterjensen2364]

Bloo thats how i remember reading it aswell, but i went back and read it and can totally see how it can be understood the other way aswell

[@cdubbau135]

I always thought of it as Rand being like Neo. Or how Morpheus described who The One is to the Matrix. "He could change things as he saw fit."

[@davidlantz3302]

My interpretation was that Rand and the Darkness were fighting to remake the universe as they chose. When Rand won, he chose to recreate the world exactly as it already was. But he remained the creator and still had the power to shape the world.

[@thedragonreborn7444]

Bella's death hurt the most for me. Not even joking.

[@jasonstevens8517]

Joke's on you. Bella was actually The Creator all along.....

[@kylevasser6388]

Thank you for putting out all this wot content. It really helps the community. :)

[@boy__jordy4481]

Had been so cathartic to finish each book and come back here to listen to your review! No one else that I know has read this series and there is SO much to talk about. You hit the nail on the head with how satisfying the series has been. Cheers!

[@oliverbrady6342]

This book left me wanting Brandon Sanderson to write some heroic fiction.

[@oliverbrady6342]

They moved like water...but he was the wind.

[@AnakinTheWeird]

Stormlight Archives, bro. The whole point of book 3 is to assemble the Avengers.

[@pmarr78]

I think people are starting to realize how lucky they were to have chosen Brandon to finish this series. To think that the author they chose to finish WoT would go on to surpass Jordan in popularity is hard to believe.

[@dannoffsinger5201]

​@@pmarr78I think the apprenticeship he underwent while writing The Wheel of Time played a massive role on the caliber of author he is today. The Way of Kings, the book he wrote after A Memory of Light, is so much better than anything he published before imho

[@Torsin2000]

We needed all the characters to succeed, according to Min's viewing from book 1. Nynaeve needed to be with Rand as he needed one of the most powerful channellers to use to seal the bore, Moraine needed to be there as someone Rand trusted to not try and take him over. One other piece of Moraine being with Rand is that Thom guarding the entrance as her Warder.

[@elmorty]

It wasnt till my second time through that I remembered the flash back to the age of legends in book 4 where they sing to make crops grow. Thats how rand can make trees blossom and seem to control nature.

[@andrewhanson405]

Congratulations of joining the ranks to the most elite and greatest faction in all of fantasy fandom!

[@ashmakwana9004]

Epic fantasy Master Race! ;)

[@quelin1]

Time is a wheel, and I was expecting the books to end with Tam Al'Thor, Olver, and Bella pulling a cart walking down the lane where the 1st book began.

[@thepotato513]

I should note that I think the main reason that Tuon is so adamant about wanting damane here is because she needs them in order to restore order to the Seanchan homeland after it was plunged into total anarchy by Semirhage in Knife of Dreams and Mat is probably aware of that as a military commander. She's in a much more desperate situation than she gives off in her outward appearance. I'd even go so far as to say that they consequences of Semirhage's actions probably cemented the continuance of the practice, which is kind of fitting seeing as Jordan draws a connection between her and the A'dam beyond her affinity for torture

[@OracleTruth24]

I actually like Tuon's character. Not that I sympathize with her, but that her presence represents the "necessary evil" arguments that were pervasive in the U.S' history with slavery. I like that this series ended with leaders that would cause turmoil even beyond the Dark One's reach, and that not everything was peachy after the Last Battle. Completely agree on the fake out deaths, though I did enjoy Lan's and Rand's (mainly because I wanted them alive :) ) On a lesser point, Rand musing about who would be the first of his three lovers to chase after him at the epilogue was suppose to be playful. He was not questioning his love for any of them. It was a weird thought regardless.

[@Loomx5]

A weird thought for a weird relationship tbh. And it's Min, it's clearly Min who's going to go looking for him.

[@timswabb]

It’s daring to feature an important character who believes that slavery is justified. Yet historically there were many such people, and not just in the U.S. but throughout the world. Many works of fiction or even of history gloss over that fact, but Jordan did not. It’s controversial and horrifying, but it’s quite plausible. And it also makes Rand’s decision to leave the world flawed that much more difficult..

[@judasbarnet8604]

Let her put the collar on all teh bloody aes sedai..

[@sinjun1973]

@@timswabb There are more slaves in the world today than any time in it's history. Think about it. When Obama bombed Libya people there started open air slave markets for the 1st time in decades. People are being bought and sold while people here are complaining that they feel triggered by a banana and need a safe space.

[@unholynexus]

Min was and has always been “Best Girl”. Elayne and Avi just don’t make sense and I blame the author(s) for that. Only Min was devoted to him unconditionally. Time after Time that’s demonstrated. Also, in my mind Lanfear / Selene was as well in her own way and probably one of the rare moments Rand was “almost” happy.

[@TheKoiFish]

Your videos are what got me into the Wheel of Time series. I learned about your channel a few months ago. The first video that I ever watched was your video on the Eye of the World. I've been watching ever since. Thank you for the content. I love it and can't wait to see what you have for us next.

[@Liesmith424]

"It feels like my pain was stolen from me." .

[@DEFKNIGHT]

I can't help but to remind people that had Lan died Nynaeve would have been taken out of play. She would not have been at S G to help Rand.

[@wiz952k]

I just finally finished the wheel of time, and your series kept me going through the slog, and I’m so glad I did. The ending was magnificent, though I agree on the fake out deaths. I would have been satisfied if they left Faile dead.

[@praetorxyn]

I feel the exact same on Egwene. I absolutely adored Egwene in the White Tower; I can't tell you how many times I've re-read just those parts, particularly the Seanchan raid. The whole point of that arc for me wasn't that Egwene was amazing - it was that the Aes Sedai are arrogant brats completely out of touch with regular people. They all have this "I am always in control" facade and are so up their own asses they were easily manipulated into being at each other's throats by color, but in terms of mental fortitude and control the Aiel Wise Ones would eat them for breakfast, and Egwene is almost at the same level due to her time spent apprenticing to the Wise Ones. The things the Aes Sedai put Egwene through would have the vast majority of Aes Sedai weeping like little girls, but Egwene proved she was stronger than them all. She became a bit annoying in book 13, but she was all right in the battle of Tel'aran'rhiod. Then after that they pretty much made her an arrogant brat just like all the other Aes Sedai and I didn't like her for the rest of the series right up until her final act.

[@elmorty]

Jordan put so much time and thought into all the lines of the profecy and having Moraine stitch them together was the highlight of this book. "How many tears have you shed for your salvation."

[@claytonaddison3451]

I also love that someone finally called Egwene a spoiled brat.

[@stevemarethyu3003]

I'm not defending the Seanchan's system of slavery, but I don't think it's fair to say that Tuon refused to help save the world purely because she didn't want to give up her slaves. It was also because she knew that she would end up losing control of her empire if she tried to force through such a change at that time. I hold out hope that there were some changes in Seanchan society in the future, because it was a hideous and visceral depiction of how slavery dehumanizes people. It would have felt cheap to have it end by royal fiat, but you have to hope that eventually things would change. Perhaps just wishful thinking, though.

[@aderounmuadedeji183]

Tuon sucks

[@SorrowTillSunlight]

We rode on the winds of the rising storm, We ran to the sounds of the thunder. We danced among the lightning bolts, and tore the world asunder. Thank you for reviewing a series that has been dear to me since I was a young kid.

[@DennisHeikki]

I finished the book 13 hours ago. Literally read all night cus i couldn't stop. It isn't perfect, but i absolutely felt the impact of this ending. And it's god damn amazing. Have never experienced anything like this feeling before. The hope, the sadness, Egwene dying (hit me harder than Hopper dying, even). Sanderson said that Rand is the most powerful individual, and Lanfear the second (yes, she tricked Perrin. she ain't dead!) which implies that Rand can rewrite the pattern to the extent that he is powerful as hell, despite losing his channeling! Listening to you really put a smile on my face and let the emotions flow more. What an amazing story!

[@mephestopholes]

I hope you enjoyed your journey. It has been very entertaining to watch you take it.

[@vertigov5303]

I binge watched all of your reviews for WOT a few weeks ago, and have anticipated daily for this one.

[@indubitable49]

Sorry to see you are still sick, get well soon!

[@ashamanassemble8899]

for me Perrin, Nyneave and Moiraine were the three characters that learned that through sacrificing what they want to contribute for what they need to contribute, is more effective and powerful than anything. It may not be flashy that they were not given a role where they could go into 'beast mode' but for me it was more gratifying to have them where they not only needed to be but where most wouldn't want to be.

[@BobDylan530]

I get why you were frustrated with Nynaeve's role in the last battle, but for me it was pretty much the perfect culmination of her character arc: she initially only left Emonds Field because she wanted to protect the kids from her village, and I think its extremely fitting that she finished the books doing exactly that.

[@kyllikki11]

in Rand and Eqwene's confrontation at Merrilor, ***Egwene didn't want to restore the taint***. She just opposed Rand breaking the Seals for fear of the Dark One being free. She considered it better to rebuild the flawed Seals and let the Dark One be held again for another few hundred years, rather than breaking them, in the risky hope of sealing the Dark One away completely, after "clearing the rubble". Also there was the fear that insteak of just Saidin being tainted, Saidar would also.

[@spencergellsworth]

Mat missed that the Eelfinn who shouted "To marry the Daughter of the Nine Moons!" followed it up by muttering "and getting a shotgun divorce a year later!"

[@kev4366]

I injured my back yesterday helping a friend move house, and so I have found myself off work today watching your entire review series of WoT. It has been interesting to see your reactions as a first time reader back to back and seeing the highs and lows in your enthusiasm for the series. (book 10 lol) I've reread the series several times, and I highly recommend you run it through at least once more at a leisurely pace, there is just so much more to unpack once you already have a good grasp of the fundamental concepts of the world. I've really enjoyed your reviews, thanks for reigniting my love of this series TAM>THE WORLD

[@Megalith_]

Just happened to catch this 1 minute after it drops?! Let's GO!

[@firstamongcows8426]

I appreciated the funny ad at the end. Great video!

[@graybabyoracle]

I totally agree on the fake-outs. It did take away a lot of emotional impact unnecessarily. While the end of the series wasn't everything I hoped for, I don't regret sticking with the series at all. Yes, it had its share of things that fell flat, but I still admire just how much ambition there was driving it, how much love for the detail there was. Thank you for sharing your journey!

[@Scobz1985]

Honestly, the best chat about this book i have watched. This book was a rollercoaster just a perfect final.

[@donvineyard8654]

I love the Androl + Pevara arc. The weakest and the red... both turning the 13 books prior bias on its head. Androl was awesome and I came to love Pevara. What happened between them broke so many bias molds and turned everything upside down. And while doing so gave a glimpse into the future; and insight into what could be, beyond the books. Love that.

[@tsimmons12]

What friend did you call? Was it Daniel Green? Lol

[@DJRedd52]

It has been wonderful riding along with you on this journey. WoT is my favorite series and watching you experience it again just rekindles my love for it. Thank you for that.

[@angusferdinandleonardojone8501]

I loved the respect that Lan showed to Tam after seeing him handle himself in battle and call him "Blademaster." I also loved how Tam lit the way for Lan on his way to fight the forsaken. Basically........I just really love Tam and Lan! LOL I totally get your point about the fake out deaths too. It wears thin pretty quickly. A ton of side characters get killed off though. This book is so packed with amazing moments its hard to list them all. Logaine finally deciding to do the right thing and then him finally being shown some love at the end always gets me a little misty eyed as well. I loved seeing you take this journey through my favorite series. It is not without its flaws, but it is a true masterpiece of character/world building. I loved the way Jordan (with a major assist from Sanderson in the end) managed to weave plot points through the entire arc of the story that come to fruition in such a satisfying way in the end. New Spring is very entertaining as well. Its a much shorter book and will be a nice way for you to get a WOT fix after you've had some time to recover. It focuses on how Moraine and Lan first came together and gives a lot of back story for them. I think you'll really enjoy it.

[@oliverbrady6342]

I love how Egwene is written. She has become the Amyrlin. And just like everyone who holds that position- it becomes the most important thing. So no matter how strong we know her to be- both character and Power- she is beholden to her role. Also- Gawyn is a cause of her ending. What an absolute dickbag he was.

[@praetorxyn]

I absolutely adored Egwene in the white tower, and and she was all right in the battle in Tel'aran'rhiod, then they made her a n arrogant brat that annoyed the hell out of me for the rest of the books.

[@stevemarethyu3003]

Gawyn also saved her life when the Sharans attacked. If he hadn't been there and used the rings, she would have died before the main battle had barely begun.

[@nufvcosta]

@@stevemarethyu3003 And then, after supposedly learning a lesson of being the support, pulled the two One-Rings out, and yolo'd right into mordor's main gates to 1v1 Sauron (its irony, and in reality his death is as stupid as that analogy of mine sounds).

[@josh-cz3ey]

Love this series soooooo much. Its so deep and diverse. Even through the 'slog' if you really pay attention there are so many details and character development... It's amazing!

[@FallenAdam]

Watching this with my breakfast was a great way to start the day. The ups and downs in the review reflected the book really well. But now there's an odd melancholy, knowing you're, obviously apart from NS, done with the journey. It's been really fun watching you take the greatest journey in literature. Luckily I just found a fledgling booktuber who just finished EotW, so I can vicariously experience the series for the first time with him. Such an odd addiction to have.

[@StannisHarlock]

40:00 I never thought I'd ever get to see someone pull their braid that way before I died. It was always so difficult to imagine what that was supposed to look like. I hated it in the books, but mocking it in real life was glorious. Thank you!

[@MrProstateCancer]

What bout Bela's death??? No love for Bela??

[@petedread]

Moraine and Nynaeve at Shayol Ghul was about ultimate trust.

[@thebkg]

Merphy, thank you for sharing your WoT journey with us. So many of your viewpoints have been different and at least a couple times I had to really consider my own views, and I like that. Overall your journey has been refreshing to watch. Hopefully I'll re-watch this review and add more with an edit. Right now I'm too tired.

[@TheDjMoo]

Oh man, where to start. I'm sure that's the thought everyone has when they think back on the series to sum up their thoughts and feelings. I agree that the fake-out deaths kind of sucked. I'm fine with some of them if done well or foreshadowed well, but some death is necessary and the emotional moment we get when some of the characters die and others live is huge. Egwene's sacrifice was such an incredible moment and it seems to me that we could have had more of those. I'm perfectly fine with the way Elayne was saved and I completely expected it. Birgitte was bound to the Pattern and the Horn. It was a satisfying moment for me. As for Lan's survival, I couldn't find myself agreeing. Obviously I'm happy for Nynaeve and Lan, and I got some satisfaction from that, but Lan left himself open to a killing blow in exchange for taking his opponent's life too. It wasn't believable to me for him to survive and I think his survival kind of subtracts from the epicness of the moment. Though its still absolutely epic. "I didn't come here to win. I came here to kill you." Just so badass. I also think Faile should have stayed dead. Would have sucked for Perrin, but thats what made that moment so heart-rending. Moving on, I loved that last scene with Rand walking away. His body swap was excellent and foreshadowed properly from as early as when Morridin first appeared, and more so when they crossed streams of balefire (totally where the phrase comes from btw). And when he figures out how to light his pipe? That moment just made me smile. He has truly become The Dragon in this moment. The most satisfying moment of the entire series though? "Here is your flaw, Shai'tan" That entire quote was the most satisfying thing I've ever read. I binged the series in 7 months without breaks. I had dreams about those books. Seeing everything come together at that moment, with Rand acknowledging the journey that each of the characters took, the growth they all had, how every pivotal moment led them here, doing exactly what they needed to be doing. Anyway, now that you've finished the series there's only one thing to do. Reread them, because you'll pick up on so much shit that you missed the first time through. The foreshadowing. The clever storytelling. That is if you're up for spending another few hundred hours with Rand and the troublemakers.

[@SirCharles12357]

Listening to your reaction and recollections of the last book almost brought me to tears. What a great story on so many levels. On deaths: I know some characters have to die, but Bela? And also, I would have enjoyed Siuam and Bryne settling down to a quiet country life and the end.

[@Sdramsay1977]

I loved this review! I am also a hug fan of Androl and Pevara,I found myself looking forward to their scenes together. I think their characters showed how the White Tower and the Black Tower would eventually be able to respect each other and start to work together again to create a new Age of Legends, maybe to a greater degree than before given that bonding was new to the current age. I also think in a series full of slightly awkward romances, Androl and Pevara growing to love each other was really nicely handled.

[@thebkg]

"I had too many emotions going on... I couldn't handle it. I just had to call my friend and talk out my feelings.". ~ GOOD BOOK!

[@TheQwerty841]

A surprise 40 minutes wot spoiler review. Just the right video to cap the the day. Thanks Merphy.

[@iamthejolson]

I'm super stoked that you finally finished. I'm glad you found it a satisfying ending :-) As far as Nynaeve I loved that one of her major contributions came down to the herbs that everyone had been putting down for 14 books Also - People don't like Androl and Pevara? Huh. I don't really talk to other fans much so I had no idea

[@nickywal]

Its mostly the ewwwww Sanderson is so icky and ruined the whole series people

[@goatforcemcgoat8233]

Look at Rand's face off vs the Dark One, then read a bit about Carl Jung's theories on "the shadow". I loved that it seemed that the Dark One seems to have been wrapped up in Jung at least in that conflict. Pretty masterful conflict.

[@AICpants]

The best part is being able to go back and watch all Daniel's content that has spoilers lol

[@OrionPSG1]

I am happy that you enjoyed Mat and Rand's bragging competition. It's quite divisive in the fandom.

[@MyBoomStick1]

Why would that be divisive?

[@BinaryHedgehog]

Androl and Pevara were my favourite characters - especially Pevara, what a character! What a relationship!

[@MashedIrony]

I have a theory about the ending. It is well established that the world of WOT is full of dualities: Light and Dark, Saidin and Saidar, The Dark One and the Creator etc. Everything has it's pairing. We hear this in Egwene's final moments where she discovers the opposite weave to balefire: "Two sides to every coin. Two halves to the Power. Hot and cold, light and dark, woman and man. "If a weave exists, so must its opposite." (A Memory of Light p.794) Given this, I think it is well within the logic of the universe that the "True Power", the power coming from the Dark One, must also have its own opposite. In fact, I believe that the logic of the world demands that this must be true. So that is what Rand taps into at the end to light his pipe. The paring for the True Power, another power that exists outside of the pattern, a power that comes from the Creator, just as the True Power comes from the Dark One. This doesn't mean that Rand becomes the creator, just as Moridin or any of the Forsaken don't become the Dark One by using the True Power. It is just that the power of the Creator is lent to Rand, perhaps consciously by this greater being, or perhaps it was something Rand discovered as he briefly touched that place outside of the pattern where the Dark One was locked away.

[@BR_SH01]

I just finished , i read the last 7 in the last month or so because it just drew me in again so hard. I love your review so much and I see what you mean on every point. I loved how this ended and loved every single part of it so much. It felt like every characters arc and role was so meaningful. Every book to me is great and I see how it all comes together here. How we seen all of them grow and each thing every one did just wraps everything up so much. As well as how they kept parts of themselves from when we first seen them. Gosh so much unexpected and so many amazing moments. It might be the most interesting, intriguing and fulfilling story I’ve ever heard of, so far. I’m just in awe Reading Stormlight next ☺️

[@4uksan]

Great video, I loved how emotional you felt about the ending! I was waiting and smiling for a year in anticipation to see this final video :-)

[@catrionainglis5483]

I hear you about the book ending in the exact right place where you can imagine the characters going on. But also I think I could read a whole 15th book of these characters just living their lives and sorting out the ending which is still a bit of a mess. I feel like there's so much uncertainty still! And in some ways I like that but in other ways I just want more ...

[@maxbrennan8221]

Just finished the Mistborn trilogy which I read at your recommendation. Wow was that not what I expected and holy hell was it good!! The ending blew me away.

[@dediguise0018]

Great series

[@themarcazard]

Thank you for a forty minute review to do this justice 😊

[@Unlitedsoul]

22:45 - 25:08 This can be summed up with, "The wheel weaves as the wheel wills." The entire foundation philosophy behind the story is the idea of circular fate. No matter your choices, ambition, desires, and actions; the wheel will weave your thread in the pattern so that you will eventually do exactly what the wheel needs you to do, in order to carry out the master plan. You see it with virtually all characters regardless if they are one of the primary POVs, secondary POVs, supporting characters, minor characters, and even a few that are mentioned on just a single page or even a single paragraph. How it all ties together is absolutely incredible, and I honestly believe that if Sanderson had not been required to tie up all the loose ends from Jordan's extensive notes, we would never get Stormlight. Or at least, it would not be the epic it is. This was Jordan's genius behind his grand masterpiece, and a lesson his successor has learned quite well.

[@buckmanriver]

Thanks for creating this! Want an epic way to conclude this book series. I particularly liked the non-chosen one points you made!

[@tommy_svk]

I agree with pretty much everything you've said here, it's truly the most satisfying ending in the history of endings. What makes this entire series my favourite series of all time is actually its length. It took me more than a year to read the entire series. It was such a long journey and that's why the series has grew on me so much. I spent so much time in it. Most of my favourite book series are the ones which I've read as they were coming out. Meaning there was a lot of time between books, I had a lot of rereads during that time and I spent a lot of time in the world. Wheel of Time was already finished when I started reading it and yet I was still able to experience that exact feeling. I spent so much time in the world, with the characters, I fell completely in love with it. And this final book is like a thank you note to all the fans who stuck with the series for so long. It's like it's saying "you've made it this far, it took you 13 books to get here, now here's your reward, the most epic conclusion to the most epic series ever". The length of the series makes it that much more satisfying to get to the end. Oh and by the way, I love it when you read quotes directly from the book. The only problem is that I tear up everytime. Because there are so many strong emotions in all of these quotes, I can't help myself. I love Wheel of Time.

[@greibach_vt]

I have been following along reading with your for these past half dozen or so books, it's been a trip. The way I took Rand's final moment with the pipe was that it implied, along with other elements in the series, that this world was just another facet of Tel'aran'rhiod, that they are one in the same in many ways. As the Aiel say, life is a dream from which we all must wake. Rand is merely more attuned to that fact now that he experienced the battle with the Dark One where they spun alternate realities with the Pattern. Characters can weave spells withing Tel'aran'rhiod and yet those spells can be defeated by simply willing them not to work, Rand has discovered a similar thing about "reality". All of that is just my read though, I haven't really looked into theories. With regard to Tuon, I get where she's coming from. Obviously I don't support slavery, and it is clear that their nation is a product of thousands of years of false dogma, but I also understand her position. If we flipped it and Tuon came to Rand saying "You will forfeit your rights and culture and all be assimilated into Seanchan, it is the only way to be victorious", would we not expect them to fight tooth and nail to preserve their culture, their lands, and their power? We experience the entire story from this land's perspective so of course we side with them, but that's why it's complicated. We don't just yell at the rest of the cast that they should agree to whatever terms they are offered "for the greater good". I also feel that it was clear that Tuon was feeling some of the cognitive dissonance and it was shown, both by her actions and the "future memories" that Aviendha, that she was the rare type of ruler that could be reasoned with and learn from her mistakes and biases. Those things don't magically happen overnight after all. With regard to Egwene, I was actually really frustrated by her arc as a character. I seem to have almost the opposite opinions as you interestingly, I enjoyed her character through most of the series but hated her ending. She grew, learned, and perhaps most importantly lead by example. She was the embodiment of a meeting between the old and the new, an Amyrlin that could usher in a new age of experimentation, growth, new paradigms, cooperation, while still holding to the values that make the Aes Sedai what they are at their core. But nah, she alone (among the main cast) dies because she is just so angry that she decides to go out in a blaze of glory, and in her place they put a stern, conservative, stuck in her ways 400 year old to lead (Cadsuane). I'm not exactly mad that she died per se, more just that she was the *only* major death. If several major characters died, and if they hadn't replaced her with Cadsuane, then I would have been more okay with her resolution. However, what we really got was a killing-off of minor characters while all the major characters miraculously survived multiple fake-out deaths (as you noted) *except* for her. Anyway, I really enjoyed following this journey with you as a fellow first timer.

[@angelamccollister]

Yay! I've been looking forward to this. Hope you feel better soon.

[@nathandilday1314]

Egwene’s death made me BAWL! I cried more when I THOUGHT Lan died but he didn’t which I was very happy about