Author : Robert Jordan
Description : After reading the 10th book, Crossroads of Twilight, I was really looking forward to the next book, Knife of Dreams. It's nearing the conclusion of the series, and although the previous book was slow-moving, I felt it was necessary to set up for this book (and the one after it, the final book..woohoo!). There are a lot of things going on in this book. The plot does move forward, not as quickly, or with as much action, as earlier books, but a vast improvement over the last book. This book was very good. I think what makes this book better is the fact the conclusion is imminent. The Last Battle is coming, all the key players are being lined up, and so I have a feeling the final book, A Memory of Light, is going to be fantastic. It's all building up for a great finale.
A quick re-cap of Crossroads of Twilight: Egwene was getting ready to lay siege against Tar Valon, and was turning the iron chains that surround the harbor into cuendillar when she was caught by the White Tower Aes Sedai, betrayed by one of her own (although she doesn't know who betrayed her...), Rand is in hiding in a remote manor house in Tear, Perrin was contemplating how to rescue Faile having found the Shaido camp where she is being held, Mat was still on the run with Tuon from the Seanchan (not to mention agents of the Shadow), and Elayne was grappling with another claimant for the Lion Throne who had surrounded Camelyn and was laying siege.
Knife of Dreams picks up where all these plot lines left off in Crossroads of Twilight. There are more Rand chapters in this book, and he is now contemplating an alliance with the Seanchan as he doesn't have time to fight them into submission as the Last Battle is nearing. There are several signs (besides his appearance, The Dragon Reborn) that show this: the dead walking the earth again (i.e, ghosts), food and drink that spoil after a few days, the distortion of reality, and the abundance of rats, crows, and ravens (the "eyes and ears" of the Dark One, he uses them as spies).
There are several action-packed scenes in his chapters, one in which the voice inside his head (Lews Therin) actually gained control of the One Power. Basically, Rand was helpless and had no control over saidin and watched as this "voice" wielded the One Power during an attack on the manor. Btw, that scene was great to read, Jordan was able to describe the destruction created very well and my only complaint was that it was too short! LOL.
The voice in Rand's head gaining control raises questions on whether this voice *is* separate from Rand, or only a side effect of the taint on the male half of the Source. While Rand did cleanse the taint back in book 9, Winter's Heart, whatever effect the taint had on him up to that point remains. One theory on this voice I've heard is that Lews Therin never fully integrated into the current reincarnation of Rand in the Third Age. Rand is the reborn soul of Lews Therin, just as Lews Therin was the reborn soul of a previous one. (Note: in WOT world, everything is circular). Perhaps something got mixed up, although if Rand is the creation of the Creator (born to combat the Shadow, the Dark One), then you'd think it wasn't a mistake on the Creator's part. However, I still hold to the theory that the voice of Lews Therin in Rand's mind is only a side effect of the insanity all male channelers were threatened with prior to the cleansing of saidin.
Anyways, I could go on about that, but I'll also mention another new development between Rand, Mat, and Perrin (all three are ta'veren that can shape the Pattern and those around them). It was always obvious reading the series that the three were connected. They were all raised in the same village, Edmond's Field in Andor, and all within the same age range (months apart). Starting from Crossroads of Twilight each of the three "see" the other, they truly *are* connected. For instance, whenever Rand has thoughts of Perrin or Mat, or if someone else mentions their name, he can see in his mind's eye exactly what Perrin or Mat is doing at that moment miles away (and the same goes for Perrin and Mat). I speculate this is only now happening between the three of them because the Last Battle is very close, and this connection has somehow strengthened the ties between them. Rand needs Perrin and Mat in order to win against the Dark One.
Besides Rand, most of the book is told from the perspectives of Mat, Egwene, Elayne, and Perrin (with a few from other characters such as Faile). I had a lot of favorite scenes in this book and to name a few: the opening prologue had a very good scene with a minor character, Elayne's half-brother Galad, the battle scene at the manor house near Tear, Mat learning about Moiraine from Thom, Egwene's defiance and determination in the White Tower, and perhaps my most favorite scene with Nynaeve and her rousing speech of asking men in the Borderlands to ride to Tarwin's Gap with her husband when the Last Battle comes.
In Perrin's chapter, Perrin has decided to make a temporary alliance with a Seanchan general to get rid of the Shaido, as the Seanchan have also faced trouble from the Shaido Aiel. I have to admit, Perrin has never been a favorite character of mine, more so once he married his wife, Faile. While Faile's character could get frustrating, she isn't the worst, and she was always firm in her decisions once they're made so that was admirable. Perrin seems too self-effacing and reluctant to do anything! Of course, except when it comes to Faile and then he's willing to do anything for her. I understand Jordan wrote Perrin's personality that way for a reason, but he never was my favorite character. I even like Rand's character at the present time more than Perrin. Rand's continual self-condemnation over women that died because of him is better than Perrin and his awkwardness. He is always self-conscious and never changes throughout the series from the first book personality-wise. The times he did display some grit and backbone only occurred when he let his temper fly and I'd think, "Finally!".
My favorite character perspectives in this book were Egwene and Mat. I enjoyed reading about Egwene here. In the beginning of the series, she came across as a petulant girl most times, and trying too hard to be Aes Sedai when she wasn't. I didn't find her very likable in the beginning. IMO, Egwene really shines in the later books and I like her character better. Starting in Lord of Chaos, but more so in Crossroads of Twilight and in this one, Knife of Dreams. Egwene is brought back to the White Tower after her capture. Instead of facing execution as an imposter Amyrlin Seat, the Tower Amyrlin, Elaida, puts her in novice white again as Egwene is too talented to waste, with her knowledge of new weaves of saidar being a benefit to the White Tower. Egwene is punished quite frequently for refusing to bend and acknowledge to the Aes Sedai she's only a novice and not Amyrlin.
I loved reading about Egwene's different ways of defiance, all subtle and some outright, and her determination to win the battle to become the leader of all the Aes Sedai. From within the White Tower itself, her machinations may cause Elaida to be deposed and stripped of the Amyrlin's stole, with Egwene and her rebel Aes Sedai winning without having to resort to a more traditional means of fighting. I can't wait to see what happens when she takes Elaida down, not to mention when she faces Rand (in a prophecy noted in a prior book, it was said the Dragon Reborn, that's Rand, would face the anger of the Amyrlin Seat, that's Egwene). That will be interesting to read about!
Another character I really enjoyed reading about was Mat, although I will say I didn't enjoy reading about Tuon as much in those chapters. It was amusing to watch Mat play his little game with Tuon, trying to "woo" her and failing was very funny. Mat even gave a pet name to Tuon, calling her "Precious" in retaliation for her refusing to call him by his name and naming him, "Toy". My favorite part of Mat's chapters was Mat learning from Thom about Moiraine.
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