As you can imagine, there has been a lot of discussion already and you'll see some of these same things in other threads down the board. The threads are good reads.
Yeah I would agree with all of that. Nynaeve vs. Semi would have been nice instead of "Cadsuane pwns Semi!!!!!111!!!1!"
On the bright side for the Shadow, it's good that Semi's moronic plan of killing Min didn't go through. Now Rand still has dead weight to carry around and fret over. If he killed Min, he'd cry for an hour then realize, hey I've got two more babymommas.
rofl - yeah. You really should read some of the threads further down the board. The stupidity/incompetence of evil seems to reach a new high in every book (at least in the last couple).
Mmmm, I think we'll eventually find out who it is. I think many here still think she is in the Tower (myself included).
I liked the surprise of this scene. It seemed like a good twist, at least until she produced Diderot's Encyclopedia of the Black Ajah out of nowhere. It would have been better if she really were evil, IMO. At least there would be one competent bad guy/gal, then.
I didn't go quite that far
, but glad it's through and over with already.
Personally I found the Masema story line to be really boring. Probably because it had to do with Perrin and it never seemed like it would have a significant impact on the outcome of the story. I mean if Forsaken and Black Ajah can't get Perrin, what chance does an idiot like Masema have? And even if he did get Perrin... so what? It's not like he's necessary anyway.
Personally, my favorite part of the book was the meeting between the Forsaken and Moridin in the Prologue. I also liked seeing the Seanchan get trapped in the Prologue.
There were lots of things I didn't like - we've mentioned a couple already. It's not so much that I didn't like this book, it's just that lots of seemingly little things seemed out of place, which, in context, are actually pretty big. I think this book could have benefitted from some extra editing time, but it looks like Tor just want to get these to market ASAP.
Over all, I enjoyed it... really. 
The only issues I had were small...
1. I disliked how quickly Semirhage was killed. RJ spent how many books building her up into practically a nightmare... then she cries because she gets humiliated and then dies in a puff of glittering dust? I was not pleased. I expected an epic duel between Semirhage and Nynaeve... evil Healer gone bad against cranky Healer gone good.
And we got none of that... she latched the collar on Rand, had Elza kill some nobody Aes Sedai, and then tried to make Rand kill Min... and poof, she's gone.
The only issues I had were small...
1. I disliked how quickly Semirhage was killed. RJ spent how many books building her up into practically a nightmare... then she cries because she gets humiliated and then dies in a puff of glittering dust? I was not pleased. I expected an epic duel between Semirhage and Nynaeve... evil Healer gone bad against cranky Healer gone good.
And we got none of that... she latched the collar on Rand, had Elza kill some nobody Aes Sedai, and then tried to make Rand kill Min... and poof, she's gone.
Yeah I would agree with all of that. Nynaeve vs. Semi would have been nice instead of "Cadsuane pwns Semi!!!!!111!!!1!"
On the bright side for the Shadow, it's good that Semi's moronic plan of killing Min didn't go through. Now Rand still has dead weight to carry around and fret over. If he killed Min, he'd cry for an hour then realize, hey I've got two more babymommas.
2. Graendal... pretty much the same problem I had with the treatment of Semirhage.
Honestly, with these two, it almost felt like RJ/BS realized they couldn't wrap up the book with that many Forsaken running around, so they make Moridin tell Rand about Balefire permanently removing Forsaken from the playing field... and suddenly, wham, bam, thank you Rand, a few more Forsaken are gone.
Honestly, with these two, it almost felt like RJ/BS realized they couldn't wrap up the book with that many Forsaken running around, so they make Moridin tell Rand about Balefire permanently removing Forsaken from the playing field... and suddenly, wham, bam, thank you Rand, a few more Forsaken are gone.
rofl - yeah. You really should read some of the threads further down the board. The stupidity/incompetence of evil seems to reach a new high in every book (at least in the last couple).
3. Mesaana. I liked that Verin revealed that she was in the Tower... but we never got any closure as to who she was. We never got to have the big reveal... and unless she appears as a damane in the next part of the last book, we never will.
Mmmm, I think we'll eventually find out who it is. I think many here still think she is in the Tower (myself included).
Some parts that I really liked, and might take over as my favorite scene, were:
1. A visit with Verin. That scene was perfect... the shock on Egwene, the fact that you were still guessing until Verin connected all the dots for you, and the way she died. It brought to mind Socrates taking his own poison knowing it was for the greater good. Verin gets mad props from Phelix.
1. A visit with Verin. That scene was perfect... the shock on Egwene, the fact that you were still guessing until Verin connected all the dots for you, and the way she died. It brought to mind Socrates taking his own poison knowing it was for the greater good. Verin gets mad props from Phelix.
I liked the surprise of this scene. It seemed like a good twist, at least until she produced Diderot's Encyclopedia of the Black Ajah out of nowhere. It would have been better if she really were evil, IMO. At least there would be one competent bad guy/gal, then.
2. Egwene's throw down with the Seanchan. In fact, I've been so impatient to finish the whole Egwene/White Tower Split story line, that all of her scenes made me smile, clap, and/or cheer.
I didn't go quite that far
, but glad it's through and over with already.3. Faile and Masema... on the one hand, it was sad to see such an interesting character just disappear... but on the other, it made Faile just a bit more badass in my mind.
Personally I found the Masema story line to be really boring. Probably because it had to do with Perrin and it never seemed like it would have a significant impact on the outcome of the story. I mean if Forsaken and Black Ajah can't get Perrin, what chance does an idiot like Masema have? And even if he did get Perrin... so what? It's not like he's necessary anyway.
So, would any of you like to share your favorites and dislikes?
Personally, my favorite part of the book was the meeting between the Forsaken and Moridin in the Prologue. I also liked seeing the Seanchan get trapped in the Prologue.
There were lots of things I didn't like - we've mentioned a couple already. It's not so much that I didn't like this book, it's just that lots of seemingly little things seemed out of place, which, in context, are actually pretty big. I think this book could have benefitted from some extra editing time, but it looks like Tor just want to get these to market ASAP.
I finished tGS last night... and really had to come back to you all.
- 09/12/2009 02:11:05 AM
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- 09/12/2009 04:44:10 AM
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- 09/12/2009 02:11:05 AM
1422 Views
You bring up some good points
- 09/12/2009 03:20:37 AM
891 Views
Silly Verin! She did not need to die.
- 09/12/2009 03:53:23 AM
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Re: Silly Verin! She did not need to die.
- 09/12/2009 06:11:02 AM
663 Views
And does she know that Stilling breaks the Oaths? *NM*
- 09/12/2009 06:16:54 AM
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She should. Some of the Aes Sedai who swore to Rand had been Stilled and then Restored by Flinn.
- 09/12/2009 03:18:10 PM
630 Views
Then, wouldn't the BA/Shadow just kill her off? I think it'd be kind of obvious what she did. *NM*
- 09/12/2009 03:23:05 PM
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Doesn't mean they experimented with it.
- 09/12/2009 08:48:23 PM
575 Views
Rebels had no reason to research a way to break the oaths. Verin did.
- 10/12/2009 02:00:21 AM
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You're going at it upside-down.
- 10/12/2009 02:33:41 AM
562 Views
Verin should have figured it out
- 10/12/2009 03:03:14 AM
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I was just rereading that section yesterday....
- 10/12/2009 10:52:23 AM
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It all seems intuitively obvious to me!
- 10/12/2009 07:58:46 PM
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- 10/12/2009 07:58:46 PM
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I don't think those would work
- 09/12/2009 07:03:38 AM
630 Views
She should and could have found a better way.
- 09/12/2009 07:41:28 AM
609 Views
I always thought Masema was an irritating distraction and was glad he was killed quickly.
- 09/12/2009 03:53:44 AM
625 Views
Re: I always thought Masema was an irritating distraction and was glad he was killed quickly.
- 09/12/2009 04:21:35 PM
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- 09/12/2009 04:44:10 AM
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It's great to see you around again!
- 09/12/2009 07:06:45 AM
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- 09/12/2009 07:06:45 AM
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Good to see you too.
- 17/12/2009 10:01:57 PM
563 Views
- 17/12/2009 10:01:57 PM
563 Views
Re: Good to see you too.
- 19/12/2009 06:12:11 AM
542 Views
- 19/12/2009 06:12:11 AM
542 Views
Hee... gotta love zoos.
- 19/12/2009 06:18:35 AM
513 Views
- 19/12/2009 06:18:35 AM
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Mine added up to many vet bills this week. 
- 19/12/2009 07:22:40 AM
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- 19/12/2009 07:22:40 AM
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