The Wheel of Time Box Set 5: Books 13, 14 & prequel (Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light, New Spring) Mat Cauthon, finally cured of the illness caused by his association with the ruby-hilted dagger, leaves Tar Valon with Thom Merrilin, journeying to Caemlyn and Tear.

And anytime we learn anything about the Age of Legends (whence the Forsaken came), I am a happy camper. There are more and more strange events and inexplicable phenomena in the world, which clearly indicate that seals are binding Ba’alzamon and his minions are weakening. There are, of course, the ubiquitous conspiracies, plots, more or less particular interests that influence the direction in which the world turns. And it is this world, represented by its wealth of histories, lands, peoples and their customs, that is perhaps the greatest asset of the series. I was especially fascinated by the Aiel, who to my delight play an increasingly important role.

Like the first couple of WoT books The Dragon Reborn started a little slow and then developed into quite an engaging and exciting read. I like Jordan's storytelling style. He manages to keep me interested in the characters and the happenings even when not a lot is actually happening!

And FINALLY maybe FINALLY Rand will accept that he IS the Dragon Reborn and not try to deny his fate or destiny any longer. The Dragon Reborn was re-released again in e-book format on December 1st, 2009. A new cover, by Donato Giancola, depicts Rand al'Thor sitting on the Dragon Banner. Chapter 54 has five points of view, two of which are from Matrim Cauthon's POV. His first is 52% of the chapter and his second is 14% of the chapter. Mat, Perrin, Rand, and Egwene all got their separate story arcs here as they all went their different ways in the start of the book. Rand appeared only in 2-3 chapters. So when Rand went in to Tear to take Callandor and put the rumours down for once and all; it was Mat, Perrin and the girl gang (Egwene, Nynaeve, Elyane) who took the center stage here. Niall nodded grimly. There had been no male Aes Sedai since the Breaking of the World, but the women who still claimed that title were bad enough. They prated of their Three Oaths: to speak no word that was not true, to make no weapon for one man to kill another, to use the One Power as a weapon only against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn. But now they had showed those oaths for the lies they were. He had always known no one could want the power they wielded except to challenge the Creator, and that meant to serve the Dark One.Admittedly, for the first time in this series, I actually enjoyed the female side of the story. Previously, it seemed like Jordan could only write females in one way; they were all confrontational, moody, hot headed, physically attractive and at times even quite spiteful. It was beginning to get a little bit ridiculous; it was like he somehow naively perceived that all women have this same archetypal personality. This was regardless of their social standing or life experience. All the female characters were basically the same misogynistic reused stereotype. Thankfully, and at long last, Jordan’s women are actually developing their own sense of individualism. It took him long enough to get there, now they're finally out of the tower. Rand al'Thor has finally, and very reluctantly, embraced his destiny as the Dragon Reborn after the events at Almoth Plain. But his face is known throughout the nations now, and he is hunted relentlessly by the numerous followers of the Shadow. Thus begins a new journey, and at its end lies the Stone of Tear, the impregnable fortress of the Tairen in the far south. Also look out for The Complete Wheel of Time Box Set, a box set containing all fifteen novels in this monumental series, presented in a sturdy box with a wood-finish effect. Farmboy! Perhaps I will call myself Faile. My father used to call me that, when I was little. It means ‘falcon.’ ”

This event is witnessed by a hunter of the horn, Zarine "Faile" Bashere, who joins the party as well. Mat's character development is my favourite in this book, I disliked him in the first and second book but now I like him. He is cynical but not evil, he loves his friends and is willing to help them when in need. Just because fate has chosen something for you instead of you choosing it for yourself doesn’t mean it has to be bad. Even if it’s something you are sure you would never have chosen in a hundred years. ‘Better ten days of love than years of regretting,’ ” she quoted.” The Atha’an Miere, the Sea Folk, were said to be ignoring trade to seek signs and portents—of what, exactly, they did not say—sailing with ships half full or even empty. Rand - Still trying to save those around him and a little lost as to what to do with himself. Also he is struggling a bit with the madness. Is he mad or is the dark one just taunting him and making him think he is starting to go mad….idk the jury is still out on that. He is on a quest to retrieve a sword that is not a sword and so even though most of his journey is shone third person a quest for a magical sword is rarely dull.

Mat also gets the best fight scene in this book and I totally loved how he was able to take down Elayne’s brothers with a quarterstaff. Mat is a man not to be underestimated anymore. Min reports to the Amyrlin Seat, while Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran, Loial, and Perrin Aybara follow Rand. En route they acquire Zarine Bashere (alias Faile), battle Darkhounds, and discover that the Forsaken Sammael rules in Illian. ...

They can turn me, Egwene.” His breathing was so tortured, she wished she could weep. “ If they take me—the Myrddraal—the Dreadlords—they can turn me to the Shadow. If madness has me, I cannot fight them. I won’t know what they are doing till it is too late. If there is even a spark of life left when they find me, they can still do it. Please, Egwene. For the love of the Light. Kill me.”the book dragged in few chapters but Jordan surely knows how to write an amazing climax and all the different story lines and different prophecies converge beautifully in the end. A dozen small things besides, some perhaps only baseless rumors, but taken together with the rest . . . Sightings of Aiel reported as far west as Murandy, and Kandor. Only two or three in one place, but one or a thousand, Aiel had come out of the Waste just once in all the years since the Breaking. Only in the Aiel War had they ever left that desolate wilderness. During his lifetime, Jearom fought over ten thousand times, in battle and single combat. He was defeated once. By a farmer with a quarterstaff! Remember that. Remember what you just saw.” P.S. Since this is a series, and the plot is too intricate to include without spoilers, this will be my review for every book in the series. If you've read this one, then you've read the others. I stand by what I said. In my opinion this is the best fantasy series of all time, and that's all that needs to be said. Thank you Robert Jordan, for sharing your masterpiece with the world. RIP. A lot of WoT fans aren't particularly fond of Faile, and maybe I'll change my mind after rereading some of the later installments . . . but I doubt it.