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A review by beaconatnight
The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
4.0
Rand crossed the Dragonwall and united the Aiel behind him. There may be a few clans that still refuse see him as their Car’a’carn, but he can no longer wait, he has to quickly return from the Spine of the World and stop the bloody conquest of his relentless rival candidate and the Shaido Aiel. And we already know, some of the Forsaken placed themselves in positions of political power. Sooner rather than later the Dragon Reborn will have to face them, too.
As in the previous book, we follow different threads through the narrative. While we leave Perrin behind for the time being, two of the other storylines continue. Min joined Siuan Sanche and Leane, the Amyrlin passé and her former Keeper. With them is also Logain, one of the false dragons that was gentled at the White Tower. They are on their way to rejoin with the rebel Aes Sedai who like them won't accept Elaida's claim to the Amyrlin Seat. Generally perhaps the least important arc, though it'll have it's moments throughout the novel.
Likewise with Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and Juilin (the thief hunter, if you don't remember). As soon as they discovered what happened at the Tower, the fact that Siuan Sanche was ousted, their destination is the hiding place of the Blue Ajahs. For them, as well as for the other party, one problems remains: they don't really know where they are. So expect a few detours. Actually, expect them to become the stars of a menagerie!
Their episodes tend to be somewhat lighter and counterbalance what is generally a darker tone. I especially enjoyed the more prominent role of Birgitte Silverbow, one of the legendary heroes that will return when the Horn of Valere resounds. At least that's what myths and stories tell us, yet somehow she is removed from the World of Dreams and gains presence in the waking world. I quite liked how the dream realm turns out to be the land of legends, too.
Egwene in particular becomes much more powerful in her ability to control and travel Tel’aran’rhiod, though Nynaeve and Elayne to some extent follow suit. Similarly, Rand is now capable to more or less freely create gateways to other parts of the world, while shielding his own dreams from unwanted intruders. The fact that characters are thus able to escape the bonds of time and space occasionally propels a plot that I felt moved significantly slower than in The Shadow Rising.
The story focuses strongly on shifting relationships. Not only does Egwene develop her potential, we are as surprised as she is when she finds that Moraine talks to her as an equal. It's easy to emphasize how this would boost her confidence, which she uses to renegotiate her relative standing with Nynaeve. Back home the latter has always been her undisputed superior; now it's her who calls the shots. Nynaeve is all too aware of what is happening. Understandably, it puts her on edge and I think that's one of the causes for growing tensions between her and her travel companion, Elayne. In these moments the characters truly feel more mature and human.
At the end of the predecessor it was established that Asmodean – one of the Forsaken! – would be traveling with Rand. Of course there are only very few men who would be able to teach Rand to be stronger and to prepare him for Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle. There is the constant worry whether he really can be trusted. For the most part, though, he's rather surprisingly passive. I think he will take center stage only later. He already taught Rand some impressive tricks, though.
There is another characters that travels very close to Rand. As in the second half of the previous novel, Aviendha won't leave his side. At every opportunity she expresses her deep longing to finally leave, there being no man she would less rather be with and all that. So, if you've ever read a book you know, she will become his love interest (I think his fourth in the series?).
There is one scene in particular that drives this development forward. After he saw her naked, she panics and flees through a gateway she inadvertently created. Right into a storming blizzard! Quick actions in the cold outside leads to hot action inside. Frankly, it's all very silly. Not exactly The Left Hand of Darkness, that's for sure. But I still think that Aviendha has potential to remain one of the more intriguing characters in the cast.
To me the political developments were more interesting. In my introduction I already talked about the Shaido and the other man with claim to being the Car’a’carn. The Aiel despise the wetlanders for their reckless behavior in the past – I think they burned down trees the Aiel considered almost sacred – and to Couladin this is reason enough to burn their villages to the ground and to slaughter their inhabitants. The first big climax, somewhere around the midway point, portrays the fateful clash of Rand and Couladin.
Jordan asks us to think of battle in the most epic proportions. We learn that the enemy commands more than 160,000 warriors! To be honest, at no point in the narrative does it feel that grand. There was much more passion and stake in the smaller scale fights in the Two Rivers. The events see one unlikely hero – Mat, aided by the memories of legendary leaders. I don't think his strategies were captivating enough to make these moments memorable, and it was also a bit lazy that the big villain is killed in the off. Let's return to Perrin and his epic adventures, please!
The group around Nynaeve encounters another figure with potential to wield his influence: Masema, the Prophet of the Dragon Reborn. The unofficial Prophet, you may add. He's the familiar twister of religion and belief, the infuriating herald of conservative dogma. So far he was a minor character, but one that may succeed as a powerful symbol later on.
There are similar religious undertones to how Garad's arc develops. Elayne's half-brother was always portrayed as uncompromisingly righteous, so in a twisted sense it's only fitting that he would join the Whitecloaks. He's seems genuinely determined to help Elayne and the others, yet it's very possible that his commitment to the greater cause might lead to darkness. Certainly one of the most intriguing characters, even if romantic tensions with Egwene seem inevitable.
We already know that Lord Gasbril, Queen Morgase's lover, was in fact one of the Forsaken. Now we learn that his real name is Rahvin and that he uses Compulsion to take mental control of her. Eventually, Rand's armies will be marching for Caemlyn and there will be a showdown. Interestingly, with the exception of a few lines at a gathering of the Forsaken at the very beginning of the book, Rahvin hardly appears as an actual character. Even in the last battle he's more like an ominous presence than a physical attacker. To my mind it added greatly to the dark atmosphere of the climax.
The nature of Rahvin's spells is worthy of mention, too. He's attacking with Balefire, another cool addition to the magic system. Apparently, this substance pulls a thread from the Pattern, to some extent undoing what the victim has done. The repercussions in the plot were quite predicable – did you really believe that Aviendha, Asmodean, and Mat would be killed so unceremoniously? – but it still adds an interesting element of time-travel to the mix.
There are meaningful deaths, though. I was sure that Moraine would reestablish her role as one of the more influential plotters in the bigger scheme of things. What I certainly did not expect was how suddenly she finds her end.
To be honest, the events that lead to her death felt weirdly convoluted. Something about that merchant guy who was quietly traveling with them since forever, then Moraine leading Rand to the docks for no obvious reason. Explosions, then Lanfear attacking. Her sudden fury is confusing, too. It's probably because of what Lewis Therion's ex lover discovered about Aviendha, but how did she find out, and why then? To me the lead-up doesn't do justice to the importance of the scene.
There are other key moments that unfold in ways that make it difficult for the reader to grasp what is really going on. For instance, Nynaeve once again faces Moghedien, the Forsaken she has had surmounted in The Shadow Rising . We learn that this time she is more successful because Nynaeve was able to capture her using the a’dam, but I wasn't able to visualize what this would imply. In any way, the outcome makes clear that we'll see a lot more of Moghedien in the future.
The Fires of Heaven left me slightly unsatisfied. The most significant moments felt rushed in their execution and hamper what would otherwise be an awesome tale once more. Yet, the Wheel keeps turning, and fascinating events loom ahead!
Rating: 3.5/5
As in the previous book, we follow different threads through the narrative. While we leave Perrin behind for the time being, two of the other storylines continue. Min joined Siuan Sanche and Leane, the Amyrlin passé and her former Keeper. With them is also Logain, one of the false dragons that was gentled at the White Tower. They are on their way to rejoin with the rebel Aes Sedai who like them won't accept Elaida's claim to the Amyrlin Seat. Generally perhaps the least important arc, though it'll have it's moments throughout the novel.
Likewise with Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and Juilin (the thief hunter, if you don't remember). As soon as they discovered what happened at the Tower, the fact that Siuan Sanche was ousted, their destination is the hiding place of the Blue Ajahs. For them, as well as for the other party, one problems remains: they don't really know where they are. So expect a few detours. Actually, expect them to become the stars of a menagerie!
Their episodes tend to be somewhat lighter and counterbalance what is generally a darker tone. I especially enjoyed the more prominent role of Birgitte Silverbow, one of the legendary heroes that will return when the Horn of Valere resounds. At least that's what myths and stories tell us, yet somehow she is removed from the World of Dreams and gains presence in the waking world. I quite liked how the dream realm turns out to be the land of legends, too.
Egwene in particular becomes much more powerful in her ability to control and travel Tel’aran’rhiod, though Nynaeve and Elayne to some extent follow suit. Similarly, Rand is now capable to more or less freely create gateways to other parts of the world, while shielding his own dreams from unwanted intruders. The fact that characters are thus able to escape the bonds of time and space occasionally propels a plot that I felt moved significantly slower than in The Shadow Rising.
The story focuses strongly on shifting relationships. Not only does Egwene develop her potential, we are as surprised as she is when she finds that Moraine talks to her as an equal. It's easy to emphasize how this would boost her confidence, which she uses to renegotiate her relative standing with Nynaeve. Back home the latter has always been her undisputed superior; now it's her who calls the shots. Nynaeve is all too aware of what is happening. Understandably, it puts her on edge and I think that's one of the causes for growing tensions between her and her travel companion, Elayne. In these moments the characters truly feel more mature and human.
At the end of the predecessor it was established that Asmodean – one of the Forsaken! – would be traveling with Rand. Of course there are only very few men who would be able to teach Rand to be stronger and to prepare him for Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle. There is the constant worry whether he really can be trusted. For the most part, though, he's rather surprisingly passive. I think he will take center stage only later. He already taught Rand some impressive tricks, though.
There is another characters that travels very close to Rand. As in the second half of the previous novel, Aviendha won't leave his side. At every opportunity she expresses her deep longing to finally leave, there being no man she would less rather be with and all that. So, if you've ever read a book you know, she will become his love interest (I think his fourth in the series?).
There is one scene in particular that drives this development forward. After he saw her naked, she panics and flees through a gateway she inadvertently created. Right into a storming blizzard! Quick actions in the cold outside leads to hot action inside. Frankly, it's all very silly. Not exactly The Left Hand of Darkness, that's for sure. But I still think that Aviendha has potential to remain one of the more intriguing characters in the cast.
To me the political developments were more interesting. In my introduction I already talked about the Shaido and the other man with claim to being the Car’a’carn. The Aiel despise the wetlanders for their reckless behavior in the past – I think they burned down trees the Aiel considered almost sacred – and to Couladin this is reason enough to burn their villages to the ground and to slaughter their inhabitants. The first big climax, somewhere around the midway point, portrays the fateful clash of Rand and Couladin.
Jordan asks us to think of battle in the most epic proportions. We learn that the enemy commands more than 160,000 warriors! To be honest, at no point in the narrative does it feel that grand. There was much more passion and stake in the smaller scale fights in the Two Rivers. The events see one unlikely hero – Mat, aided by the memories of legendary leaders. I don't think his strategies were captivating enough to make these moments memorable, and it was also a bit lazy that the big villain is killed in the off. Let's return to Perrin and his epic adventures, please!
The group around Nynaeve encounters another figure with potential to wield his influence: Masema, the Prophet of the Dragon Reborn. The unofficial Prophet, you may add. He's the familiar twister of religion and belief, the infuriating herald of conservative dogma. So far he was a minor character, but one that may succeed as a powerful symbol later on.
There are similar religious undertones to how Garad's arc develops. Elayne's half-brother was always portrayed as uncompromisingly righteous, so in a twisted sense it's only fitting that he would join the Whitecloaks. He's seems genuinely determined to help Elayne and the others, yet it's very possible that his commitment to the greater cause might lead to darkness. Certainly one of the most intriguing characters, even if romantic tensions with Egwene seem inevitable.
We already know that Lord Gasbril, Queen Morgase's lover, was in fact one of the Forsaken. Now we learn that his real name is Rahvin and that he uses Compulsion to take mental control of her. Eventually, Rand's armies will be marching for Caemlyn and there will be a showdown. Interestingly, with the exception of a few lines at a gathering of the Forsaken at the very beginning of the book, Rahvin hardly appears as an actual character. Even in the last battle he's more like an ominous presence than a physical attacker. To my mind it added greatly to the dark atmosphere of the climax.
The nature of Rahvin's spells is worthy of mention, too. He's attacking with Balefire, another cool addition to the magic system. Apparently, this substance pulls a thread from the Pattern, to some extent undoing what the victim has done. The repercussions in the plot were quite predicable – did you really believe that Aviendha, Asmodean, and Mat would be killed so unceremoniously? – but it still adds an interesting element of time-travel to the mix.
There are meaningful deaths, though. I was sure that Moraine would reestablish her role as one of the more influential plotters in the bigger scheme of things. What I certainly did not expect was how suddenly she finds her end.
To be honest, the events that lead to her death felt weirdly convoluted. Something about that merchant guy who was quietly traveling with them since forever, then Moraine leading Rand to the docks for no obvious reason. Explosions, then Lanfear attacking. Her sudden fury is confusing, too. It's probably because of what Lewis Therion's ex lover discovered about Aviendha, but how did she find out, and why then? To me the lead-up doesn't do justice to the importance of the scene.
There are other key moments that unfold in ways that make it difficult for the reader to grasp what is really going on. For instance, Nynaeve once again faces Moghedien, the Forsaken she has had surmounted in The Shadow Rising . We learn that this time she is more successful because Nynaeve was able to capture her using the a’dam, but I wasn't able to visualize what this would imply. In any way, the outcome makes clear that we'll see a lot more of Moghedien in the future.
The Fires of Heaven left me slightly unsatisfied. The most significant moments felt rushed in their execution and hamper what would otherwise be an awesome tale once more. Yet, the Wheel keeps turning, and fascinating events loom ahead!
Rating: 3.5/5