Ok, not really 5 stars (I rate that as "nothing could be improved", and this isn't perfect), but 5 stars if you have been following along and largely enjoying the series.
The last 2 books have been a bit rough in my mind. I was simply floored by just how little happened in the previous book. Contrasted with this book, which had so many great scenes... it is just weird. I wish he had largely elided the previous book and just combined it into it's two adjacent books.... Anyway.
This book is just so many great scenes. I am just reiterating them form myself so I remember
Nynaeve & Lan
My name is Nynaeve ti al'Meara Mandragoran. The message I want sent is this. My husband rides from World's End toward Tarwin's Gap, toward Tarmon Gai'don. Will he ride alone?
So freaking great! You know he will never fly the Golden Crane on his own. You know that he is a great man that could lead but is honor bound not to. You trick him into taking the long route home, and you seed news of his coming to everyone on his way. Damn. She knows he is going to be furious with her, but she does it anyway because she loves him. Just. Freaking. Great.
Mat & Tuon
“Matrim Cauthon is my husband,”the High Lady said in a loud, clear voice. Everyone froze where they stood. “Matrim Cauthon is my husband.”
Karede felt as if Hartha had kicked him again. No, not Hartha. Aldazar. What madness was this? Cauthon looked like a man watching an arrow fly toward his face, knowing he had no chance to dodge.
“Bloody Matrim Cauthon is my husband. That is the wording you used, is it not?”
I mean, it is good that it finally happened. I never felt that strongly about Tuon and Mat, but I really enjoyed their sorta 1940's screwball comedy romance.
Perrin and Faile
Finally, this captive story is resolved. I mean, yes, it is tragic that he killed the man who in multiple situations saved Fail (though also abducted her in the first place). But honestly this whole thing was kind of a boring sidequest the entire time. I feel like this story was supposed to temper Perrin, who is largely more sensitive than either Matt or Rand. In that regard, I guess it succeeded (he cut off a guys hand), but it was just a little dull. Also, I just find Faile kind of annoying as a character. I remember telling someone more than 20 years ago that I thought she was going to die as a character (and I still don't know), but that may just reflect my exasperation with her.
Egwene gets accepted by a bunch of novices
Good for Egwene. I find the whole idea that the White Tower literally chose to keep her alive so preposterous that I am just whatever on her whole plot at this time. This whole arch feels a little on the "Yes Mr. Bond, but before I kill you, first let me tell you what I am trying to accomplish, and also give you plenty of time to potentially escape from this trap" level of plot line. I am just having a real hard time understanding why she wasn't just dissapeared, stilled, and killed. She is instead allowed to run around and become a possible martyr (or, to her credit, a coup-leader) in the actual white tower. It just... I try to make allowances for the will of the pattern sometimes. :]
Rand looses a hand
This was boneheaded move number 2 by Rand (admitedly, he is under pressure). But damn man, you literally walk into what is so obviously a trap. You have become so high strung that you literally have no one to rely upon. And you are so arrogant that you didn't just like, slow the role down so that you could wrestle the power before walking into obvious danger... Dude.
Taim reveals himself
"What would you have me say? Fair is fair? Equal shares? Accept 'very well' and ask who will let you bond them. Besides, you must remember the old saying. Let the lord of chaos rule." The chamber erupted with men's laughter.
Pevara had never heard any saying like that. The laughter made the hair on the back of her neck try to stand.
Ok, the setup and scene is kinda cliche. Feels like the end of a serial that is designed to get you to read the next one. But damn, I don't know why, it really hit pretty strong. It was actually a pretty great end to the book.
Anyway, having captured all that for my future self, my suggestion to you (if you ever need to re-read these), would be basically to just skip the previous book "Crossroads of Twilight" (read the online summaries) and go directly to this one.
This is peak Jordan.