Book 2 of The Wheel of Time is a lot of setup. It’s interesting because, despite the name, there’s not really much active hunting (in my opinion), and, instead, we find ourselves zipping around to expand the cast. To me, this book is like party introductions when you are a freshman. You will probably need to know all these people later so pay attention and try to grab a quick fact about everyone you meet to tell them apart.
Perrin and Lan are still my favorites, the Children of the Light and the Machin Shin are freshly disturbing, and Selene is so exhausting (stop the pining, Rand, you teenage boy, ugh). Also, you had to know Thom wasn’t dead because he kept being mentioned and all the other characters that die are just forgotten.
The Seanchin collars are a fantastically diabolical new evil that I feel is a great setup for what could come. The whole kidnapping arc there also further develops a strength of this series that (other than Dena, RIP) the females are actual characters instead of just pawns and prizes. Hooray!
Nynaeve is so endlessly irritating that I love her (and it’s a testament to Jordan’s understanding of humans that to make someone irritating loveable, have a lovable character love them). Loial is an awkward delight, as well. Ingktar is confusing, but, I guess, the point is that choosing a side is not permanent? I feel as though that is critical backstory again for what may come. Redemption could be possible.
Sigh. Mat and the dagger, Mat and the horn. Mat seems unable to keep himself away from entanglements.
Ending note: I hope we come back to the final-battle-worldwide-sky-projection later because… why? what? how? Hmm. I did not love that. (I also hated Min’s declaration at the end, entirely. Left field. Zero stars for that twist.)
