This
series has got to be my favorite of all time. I know it's lengthy and
complex, but it is so worth it! I've read and re-read all 14 books over
and over anxiously awaiting that final book that will be coming out in
January of 2013. My excitement has mounted and boiled over to the point
that I've decided to do a post on every book! Don't worry, I wont do
them all at once! But if you love to read, and you've never read these I
intend to convince you to pick them up.
Book
1, The Eye of the World revolves around 3 village youths, Rand
(middle), Mat (left) and Perrin (right). The world Robert Jordan created
has a very 'Lord of the Rings' feel to it, but it's a unique world of
it's own. While the 'age' that Rand, Mat, and Perrin live in speaks of
'the age of legends' that had wondrous things that sound suspiciously
like light bulbs and automobiles.
In
the Age of Legends there was a war between people who walk in the light
and the Aes Sedai (men and women who could weild something called the
one power, which is kind of akin to magic) and the followers of the Dark
One and their dark Aes Sedai who are called the Forsaken. During the
Aes Sedai's attempt to defeat the Dark One they managed to force him
into a prison, but only at a very terrible cost. The Dark One managed to
taint the male half of the one power and turn all of the male Aes Sedai
mad. These men quickly went crazy and broke the world wielding the one
power.
The
most famous male Aes Sedai of that time was called Lews Therin, and
people called him The Dragon. When the madness hit him he killed every
person who had a drop of his blood in their veins including his wife and
children, and when he'd realized what he'd done he killed himself. As
the world tried to survive and piece itself together a prophecy was
revealed that The Dragon would be reborn in the world's greatest time of
need and would be the cause of much destruction and chaos as well as
being the people's last hope of surviving another breaking. The people
of Rand, Mat, and Perrin's age live in fear of that time coming to pass.
Rand,
Mat, and Perrin live in a place called the Two Rivers, it's a village
that has been mostly forgotten about by the world. One day 2 strangers
appear in this small town, Moiraine and Lan. They create a stir, but
that is nothing compared to the next set of strangers who show up that
night.
They
are known as Trollocs (the strange half animal half people monsters in
the background) and Fades (creatures that ooze hatred and fear and are
deadly quick and vicious). The show up in the Two Rivers in the middle
of the night and set fire to the town while they attack it.
Moiraine
and Lan manage to save most of the town, but they reveal to Rand, Mat,
and Perrin that the attack was aimed at the 3 of them. They are
convinced that they must leave the town or risk putting everyone they
love in more danger.
Rand
al'Thor is a shepherd boy who lives on a farm outside of town with his
father Tam. He's sweet and thoughtful along with being stubborn and more
than a little confused by women, particularly the mayor's daughter
Egwene. He's eager to help out where he can, and smart and able enough
to be a great asset.
Mat
Cauthon has a reputation for playing pranks (for good reason) and
causing trouble, however he's also got a mischievous smile and manner
that you can't help but love. Even though he's constantly getting his
best friends Rand and Perrin in hot water, they still find themselves
eager to join in his plans. Behind his afinity for thrills and jokes
he's the kind of guy who will go out of his way to help the downtrodden
and risk his life to save people in need (even though he'll probably
complain the whole time he's doing it).
Perrin Aybara
is the blacksmith's apprentice, and has forged large muscles along with
steel during his long hours in the forge. He takes his time to think
things through before he acts, and is always careful to be gentle so he
doesn't hurt someone accidentally. Some people might think he's shy and a little slow, but if you try and push him you'll find out that he's no easy meat.
Every
time I start this series over I feel like the boys I meet in book 1 are
completely different people from the men who are in book 13. They are
so innocent and naive in the beginning, starting out on a journey that
will not only change their lives, but the entire world as well. So after
the town is attacked these 3 boys leave the Two Rivers in search of
safety and answers, although fate does not let them leave alone.......
Thom Merrilin is a Gleeman who had the bad fortune to be hired to perform for a festival in the Two Rivers that happened to be coincide with the attack.
If you're asking yourself what a Gleeman, it's someone who is a great
storyteller, juggler, musician, acrobat, etc. Thom is a man of many
talents, and someone who's got a very interesting past. He spots
Moiraine and the boys trying to leave in the night and takes the
opportunity to leave town with them, unaware that this is far from being
the safer choice.
Egwene
al'Vere, you might remember, is the mayor's daughter who drives Rand
crazy. She's been training to be a Wisdom (someone who looks after the
sick, and helps the mayor look after the town). She also notices her friends trying to sneak out of town and demands to be included in the journey.
So this group vanishes into the night
pursued by dangerous creatures of the dark, trying desperately to outrun
them and reach safety. However, the Two Rivers was not going to give
them up without a fight.
Nynaeve
al'Meara is the current Wisdom who was training Egwene, and she manages
to catch up to Moiraine and the rest. Nynaeve has a large temper that
boils over frequently, and nothing makes her more angry than Moiraine.
Although Nynaeve planned on bringing the boys and Egwene home to the Two
Rivers, she gets swept away by fate as well.
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