The Fires Of Heaven: Book 5 of the Wheel of Time (Now a major TV series)

It will be impossible to review each of these books separately, as the story has to be read from start to finish (yes, all fourteen books). This series really is a true epic fantasy, and I have loved it ever since I read my first part back in 1997. I got that book from my then boyfriend our first Christmas together, and I use to joke and say that was the reason we eventually got married (we're celebrating our 30th anniversary next year, and the books are still amazing). This series really is unique, and to me it has a little bit of everything. The characters are great and very well written, and the magic system really is one of a kind. The world building is amazing, and all the different cultures in the different countries are very well written. I love all of the different monsters, even though I find the Myrdraals particularly spooky. The story is such an adventure, and the books are fantastic. Every fantasy fan that likes a long epos should really read all of them.

Alright, once again I'm in a 'four or five stars' predicament. And as usual, I'm calling it a 4.5 and rounding up. Call it generosity, call it not being critical enough, whatever. This was a great book. I don't know why I even say when I'm between ratings, I could just rate it and move on. And now I'm talking about the fact that I didn't just rate it and move on. Anyway... Another thread in the Pattern complete. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills and it wills me to love this series. I am in deep now, this being the fifth of fourteen books, and the best way to describe my feeling within this world is.. comfortable. I have reached a point where even areas of the story that are paced slower still remain interesting to me, simply because I've grown fond of this world and the characters that fill it. Jordan remains a descriptive master, and if you give his writing the thought that it asks for you will find yourself in places as fully realized as those around me as I type. Now, that isn't to say that I will let any and all slow pacing off the hook, I'm just saying that it didn't bother me in this book. Maybe it will in the future, who knows? Now, the slower pace for this one did lend itself to some excellent characterization. Especially in Nynaeve. We get to spend (what felt like) more time with she and Elayne in this one, and I am really enjoying Nynaeve's growth. She is finally becoming a bit more self-reflective, which I've been waiting for for some time. You can feel her start to change, and feel how it affects the characters around her too. I will admit that she has a long way to go when it comes to her attitude toward men. And really, no character gets a pass on this. It seems every man in the series can hardly stand to be around women, and the same for every woman with men. At least in their internal dialogue. It comes off false, and frankly a little weird. It's one thing to fear Aes Sedai, but this is just frustratingly blind, and way too generalized. I'm ready for that to change. It doesn't bother me totally, because it's sort of been this way from the beginning, but if it did change it would be welcome. Anyhow, I was also pleased with Mat's POVs, I just wish there were more of them! I won't detail his growth because it's a major spoiler for readers in the earlier books, but it is very satisfying to watch, and Mat has come a long way from the boy he was back in Emond's Field. I have the sense that he has a long way yet to go, too. I was a bit surprised to find that Perrin has no POV chapters whatsoever in this one. He is mentioned offhandedly a couple of times but other than that, we are left in the dark as to just what Perrin Goldeneyes is up to during this book. I'm eager to have that cleared up in the next book. Rand's part of the story remains as compelling as ever, and is likely still my favorite bit, but I'm glad to see some interest building in areas of the story where it may have lacked before. Areas of slow pacing aside, The Fires of Heaven really did have some moments that packed a punch. These are long books, and reality never takes a break, so they can take me some time to finish, but I was pretty enthralled with the story throughout. I can usually tell how invested in a series I am by how many notes and highlights I have for each book in my Kindle, and I've got a whole hell of a lot for this one. The Wheel of Time is so far living up to its reputation for me, and has maybe even exceeded my expectations a bit. It's ambitious, interesting, full of magic, and shows no signs of stopping now. Lord of Chaos is up next. Life is a dream from which we all must wake before we can dream again.

After four good books, Jordan's series continues to get better and better and better. The Fires of Heaven tops even the sprawlingly complex "The Shadow Rising" with it's deep character development, faster pace, and excellent climax. The Fires of Heaven might have the most characters of any book so far, with a whopping eighteen major characters, each of whom have their own points of view at one point or another. However, that's a poor indicator of how the series is divided. Most of the book is dominated by Rand al'Thor and Nynaeve (arrgghh . . .), each of whom has about 30% of the book. Egwene, Elayne, and Mat each have significantly smaller POVs (though Elayne is present in most of Nynaeve's chapters), and following them are thirteen characters who's POVs are only seen briefly. Perrin is largely absent from this book, having no POV and only appearing in a brief cameo. (I guess that's fair, considering how big a plotline he got in the last book.) The book itself is mostly divided into two key story arcs: Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom, and Juilan traveling while they seek the rebel Aes Sedai and encounter Moghedien. And Rand (along with Egwene, Mat, Moiraine, Lan, Aviendha, and Asmodean) as he takes his Aiel forces over the Spine of the World to defeat the Shaido and take control of Cairhien. Character development reaches an even higher peak than in previous books. Rand and Elayne get the brunt of it, but every character benefits in some way or another. However, the annoyingness of several characters is really building. Egwene and Aviendha are almost at Nynaeve's level now. (How does Rand put UP with these people?!) However, Egwene compensates partially for this when she calls Nynaeve out and gives her a taste of her own medicine, quite literally, while in the world of dreams. Of the storylines, Rand's is undoubtedly the best. Elayne's and Nynaeve's is certainly interesting, but gets bogged down in places with unnecessary details. Of particular note is the menagerie, a section that could be skipped with almost no problem for the rest of the story. I'm taking increasing issue with the way romance is portrayed in these books, though. Elayne suddenly flirting with Thom was utterly bizarre, even if it wasn't serious. What's worse is Rand's relationship with Aviendha, the third member of his growing harem. (Rand is apparently too attractive for his own good, especially given Lanfear's unhealthy obsession with him. Who's next?) The whole relationship was terribly developed, came out of nowhere, had more WTF moments than all the previous books together, and just didn't make any sense to me. I'm really not a fan of the love/hate relationships that Jordan seems to think are normal. The Fires of Heaven finishes strongly, with the last several chapters packed with explosive action. It is prefixed by an awesome scene where Rand totally loses it and goes on a rampage against one of the Forsaken. Rand fights two Forsaken (separately) in the last few chapters. The first such incident is an absolutely amazing, spectacular, breathtaking one-on-one duel. The second such fight is also intense, though it comes with the problem of Rahvin's cowardice. Why do the Forsaken, the strongest wielders of the One Power in the world, always run away? The Fires of Heaven starts strong, stays strong, and ends strong, populated with awesome characters and built with massive complexity and deft worldbuilding, but still with some definite flaws. I'm currently reading Lord of Chaos, and can't help but wonder the dreadful question: When will the glory end, and when will the infamous decline of the series begin?

Book 4 and 5 were the best in the series. It's very unfortunate that Amazon prime destroyed this work with the show and you can't get the books without the unremovable sticker anymore. Now I have an incomplete set.

Having rated all the previous books in the series 5 stars already, it’s not possible for me to go any higher. I will say this though, this is my favourite in the series so far. All the books have contributed to the lore, of course, and this one builds on it. A very brief and unfair review would be to say that this is a book about traveling. Rand Al Thor travels west with Egwene, Mat, Moraine, Lan, and the Aiel. Elaine travels with Nynaeve, Thom, and Julien. Siuan Sanche travels with Leane and Min. No Perrin in this book, unfortunately, but a bit more of Mat. Some good stuff there! The series has me so involved in these characters, that even the slowly diminishing influence of Moraine and Lan hasn’t upset me too much (so far). Once again, a five star book, in what has so far been a five star series. Slow at times, lengthy to an intimidating extent, but definitely worth it.

I am a fan of Robert Jordan, I already have the Italian paper edition of all books and wanted to read it in the original languange. Some description are maybe too detailed or repeated but I knew it already from Italian so nothing new. To me absolutely worth to read

Je ne note pas le tome mais la saga. J'ai adoré cette saga en dévorant tous les tomes. Elle est rythmée, pleine d'actions, de complots, de revirements qui nous maintiennent en haleine tout le long. Le monde où se déroule l'action est bien pensé : on conserve un réalisme, les nouveautés proposées (magie, croyances, politique, etc.) sont bien interconnectées et nous changent des histoires habituelles. A titre personnel, je le range en N°1 de l'heroic-fantasy avec l'assassin royal. De part des héros qui sont humains par leurs défauts, et une puissance magique qui reste contrôlée [magie limitée en capacité et dans le temps ; risque de s'y abandonner ; etc.], cela permet d'avoir une mis en danger constante : le héros peut basculer du côté obscur, ou se perdre dans la magie, etc. Ils supplantent à mon gouts les autres séries (Seigneur des anneaux [trop de longueurs], la Belgariade [trop simplet], ...).

Nachdem Rand al'Thor den Großteil der Aiel Clans unter seiner Führung versammelt hat, gilt es jetzt die abtrünnigen Clans zu unterwerfen. Und das auch mit gutem Grund, schließlich terrorisieren diese, angeführt von Couladin - dem falschen Drachen und Häuptling des Shaido Clans - das Land Cairhien. Aber auch die Forsaken sind eine ständige Bedrohung, könnten diese doch jederzeit auftauchen und dem Dragon Reborn das Leben schwer machen. Aber Rand ist nicht allein. Mit Rat und Tat zur Seite stehen ihm Mat, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan und Aviendha. Rand versucht nebenbei seine Fähigkeiten mit der einen Macht mit Hilfe von Asmodean, einem gefangenen Forsaken, zu schulen. Derweil befinden sich Min, Siuan und Leane auf der Flucht aus dem White Tower und vor Elaida, der neuen Amyrlin Seat, und versuchen Kontakt zu dem Dragon Reborn und seinen Mitstreitern aufzunehmen. Sie stoßen dabei auf kleinere und größere Schwierigkeiten. Gleiches gilt für Nynaeves Gruppe, bestehend aus ihr, Elayne, Thom und Juilin, welche aus Tanchico flüchtend das Weite suchen. Werden die im ganzen Land verstreuten Gruppen wieder Anschluss zueinander finden? Und dann gibt es da noch Moghedien, eine weibliche Forsaken, welche eine Niederlage gegen Nynaeve einstecken musste. Von Rachegelüsten gepackt sucht sie nach Nynaeve, um ihr diese Niederlage heimzuzahlen. Währenddessen versucht sich Morgase, Elaynes Mutter und Königin von Andor, aus den Klauen des mysteriösen Gaebril zu befreien ... Nachdem Band 4 mich persönlich eher enttäuscht zurückgelassen hat, sah ich dem 5. Teil der Reihe eher skeptisch gegenüber. Aber fast alles, was mich am 4. Band so gestört hat, zB. das Herumreiten auf kleinsten Details, langwieriges Vorantreiben der Handlung und wenig Entwicklungen, sucht man hier vergebens. Stattdessen zieht die Geschwindigkeit wieder deutlich an - ab dem 2. Drittel des Buches überschlagen sich die Ereignisse nur so - und macht diesen Band wieder deutlich interessanter zu lesen. Insbesondere Rands Handlungsstrang, der für mich im letzten Buch noch ein Schwachpunkt war, ist hier deutlich unterhaltsamer und der beste Teil des Buchs. Die Kapitel aus Mins Sicht waren, wie immer, sehr spannend zu lesen, aber leider wieder recht kurz - Sie belaufen sich in etwa auf 100 Seiten. Trotzdem reicht es aus, damit sich Siuan immer mehr zu einer meiner Lieblingsprotagonistin entwickelt. Lediglich Nynaeves Handlungsstrang fällt etwas ab. Lange Zeit passiert recht wenig. Stattdessen wird bis zur Ermüdung die Kleidung von ihr und Elayne beschrieben, auch nimmt der Geschlechterkampf hier wieder seinen Lauf. Leser der Vorgänger wissen, was sie davon zu erwarten haben. Hinzu kommt ein Ausflug der Gruppe zu einer Art Wanderzirkus, der auch eher Seiten füllt, als dass er die Handlung wirklich vorantreibt. Aber auch diesem Teil der Geschichte gibt es positive Seiten abzugewinnen. Die Ausflüge in die Traumwelt Tel'aran'rhiod, über die Nynaeve mit Egwene in Verbindung steht, sind allesamt sehr kurzweilig und wendungsreich. Trotzdem sind diese Kapitel der schwächste Teil des Buchs. Für Freunde von Perrin wird dieser Band zur Geduldsprobe, da seine Figur kein einziges Mal im gesamten Buchverlauf auftaucht. Ansonsten kriegen Fans der Reihe das geboten, was sie vom Autor zu erwarten haben. Im Verlauf der Handlung kommt es zu epischen Schlachten, Magieduellen, Intrigen im Königshaus, zu Ausflügen in fremde Welten, wie dem mysteriösen Tel'aran'rhiod, es werden mächtige Artefakte genutzt, und, und, und... Insbesondere Rand macht hier wieder einen großen Sprung nach vorne, während sich auch Nebencharaktere weiterentwickeln, die in den letzten Teilen etwas untergegangen sind. The Fires Of Heaven hat meine Bedenken, was die Reihe anbelangt, komplett beseitigt und mich mit richtiger Vorfreude auf den nächsten Teil erfüllt. Für mich persönlich ist dieser Teil einer der bisherigen Höhepunkte der Reihe!

Action-packed and more fast-paced than the previous books. Tons of character progression in this one as Rand continues to build his harem, power and ambition. If you are getting tired of this series, this book will revitalize your interest.