I have been eagerly awaiting to start this new book series that I obtained probably almost a year ago now but I have been spending my time getting through the Saxon Stories series of books by Bernard Cornwell of which were very good (and a quite long series) and I had gotten them following my watching of the Last Kingdom on Netflix which is an adaptation of those books although they ultimately diverge by quite a degree, but I do love both the books and the show.
After that I was reading through a Series of Unfortunate Events which I had obtained following having watched the series adaptation of that also on Netflix which I had also enjoyed and the books are certainly still well worth a read. But through all the time it took reading those books I often looked at my bookshelf where I had the entire Wheel of Time series, all 14 books plus the prologue just waiting to start. I am very excited to finally be here.
I have never read this series before and have purposely avoided watching the tv series adaptation on Amazon Prime Video so I can go in completely blind and have a fresh and unbiased perspective, I’ll likely check out the tv series after having read the books but given how very long this series is that will probably be a while away yet.
This is indeed a very, very long series – so much so that the original author – Robert Jordan – sadly passed away before he could finish it off and so Brandon Sanderson finished off the last few books for him – and I must say he himself is another great author having read his Stormlight Archives series and eagerly awaiting for future releases and novellas from that – and so I’d like to imagine he did his justice here, but of course I shall have to see for myself.
With this series I will be giving my thoughts and perspective chapter by chapter as I make my way into this new world and story. I have not really done anything like this before so it may perhaps start off a bit choppy but I hope it shall improve as time goes on. And so without further ado I begin with the prologue which itself has a whole book dedicated to it before we actually reach the first main book in this mammoth series: The Wheel of Time: New Spring.
Chapter 1 – The Hook
So the first POV character we are introduced to here is called Lan. He seems like quite a battle hardened character and not someone you’d particularly want to cross. We also get introduced to the Aiel who for now seem to be the enemy. Lan had previously fought the Aiel before the current war in the Shienaran marshes ‘a matter of duty to friends’ – I wonder if we shall hear more on that in the future?
The chapter gives us some interesting information on Lan’s sword, in that it is ancient, and made with something called the ‘One Power’ before the ‘Breaking of the World’. Of course I have no idea what either of these things mean yet but I imagine we shall learn as we go. I can already tell there is going to be tons of world building and lore which I love. The Breaking of the World was during the War of the Shadow, which the chapter says is when the Dark One had touched the world for a time.
Ah – the Dark One – now I don’t know about anyone else but this guy or whatever this thing is sounds pretty bad, is it the Big Bad? I guess we shall have to see. We learn only legends remain of that age, but it says ‘except what the Aes Sedai might know’ whoever they are, though it says ‘the blade was hard fact’. I guess we shall have to take his word for it, assuming these are Lan’s thoughts or at least what Lan knows or believes.
‘The sword could not be broken and never needed sharpening. And although the hilt had been replaced countless times over the centuries not even tarnish could touch the blade’. Yeah I think we can confirm Lan has a pretty badass blade here. We also get told that it had once been the sword of Malkieri Knights. Once? Why not anymore?
I learn that Lans helmet was open – in the style of dead Malkier, supporting a steel crescent moon above his forehead. I don’t really know what to make of that yet but obviously it means something as to why Lan has such a helmet.
Further on I take note that Lan is called a Lord by a sentry he inspects ‘a copper-skinned Domani by the name of Basram’. I also like how Lan is calm and collected in his command and not shouty and annoying. The environment this chapter is set in is a cold and snowy place and so sounds like a miserable place to have to have battles in, although battles themselves are miserable affairs. ‘Winters were nearly as cold in Arad Doman as in the Borderlands’. Okay.
Next the Aes Sedai are mentioned again and we get to learn a bit more about them. ‘They were offering Healing – injuries and sickness gone! Apparently something called the black-rot is a problem for soldiers in this cold environment and that it could lead to loss of feet or worse legs from amputation. Sounds fun. But Lan seems to be wary of the Aes Sedai’s Healing, believing they attach to you what amounts to bad juju and that they could use you later, years later even! They apparently think far ahead, and seldom cared for who they used in their schemes or how they used them. Does Lan have history here perhaps?
We also get some information on the army that Lan is a part of – the Great Coalition – the Grand Coalition! The Grand Alliance! Plus other names – ‘some worse than uncomplimentary’. So this is interesting to know but now I wonder, why does it exist? What caused it to be formed? Who is a part of it? We’ll find out soon I imagine.
Further on we meet two further characters, another sentry called Jaim who has mastered the art of sleeping while standing up, although does not fool Lan, and another guy who does not fool Lan – Bukama – I like that name, simply the sound of it – who Lan calls out for sneakily tailing him. We learn that Bukama was one of Lan’s teachers. Bukama wore a Malkieri helmet but without a crest although apparently he has the right to one. But Bukama had more concern for duty than rights. Clearly Lan respected this to a degree but also would like Bukama to not spurn his rights so completely. I guess I would agree with Lan here, why not take what you have earned? But perhaps Bukama has his reasons.
Then we get a quick lore bomb on Malkier and Lan’s origins. We learn that the nation of Malkier had died, and that twenty men had the task of bringing Lan Mandragoran – cool name bro – to safety for whatever reason, I guess he must have been important? I mean he is called a Lord after all. Out of the twenty only five survived to raise and train Lan, Bukama being the last of them still alive. So this establishes to us that Bukama is probably someone quite important to Lan. The helmets and sword also makes sense now.
Both Lan and Bukama also seem to be quite tradition oriented. They both still wear the ‘hadori’ ‘a thin braided leather cord holding the hair back’ of which few men still wore. And Lan will die wearing his.
The Dark One (which I keep accidentally reading as the Dark Lord) is mentioned again with Lan wondering if the Aiel are even pledged to them. Bukama seems to think so and is also very wary of the Dark One – especially his true name that we learn is Shai’tan and that it was bad to speak it allowed. Apparently Bukama and Lan had seen the misfortune that followed speaking such a name aloud – but Bukama also believed even merely thinking it drew the Dark One’s attention. He sounds very powerful and certainly instills fear, even in these seemingly tough-as-nails characters.
Lan recites a catechism for us ‘The Dark One and all the Forsaken are bound in Shayol Ghul, bound by the Creator at the moment of creation. May we shelter safe beneath the Light, in the Creator’s hand’. So I am not sure what to entirely think here. I think it is clear the Dark One does exist but there is also a degree of legend and religion mixed in as well that is murky-ing the waters, what is true, what is belief, what is legend? Who is the Creator and is he real, an amalgamation, or something else?
Anyway, Lan clearly is not as supersititous as Bukama is. He had given his word to stay until the end and so that is what he intended to do. It would seem both Lan and Bukama are pretty honourable men.
We learn a bit more about the Aiel next in that they had spilled across the immense mountain range called the Spine of the World. They had burned the great city of Cairhien, ravaged the nation of the same name, and had fought through Tear and then Andor before reaching the ‘killing fields’ outside the huge island city of Tar Valon. Good to know, thanks for the lore injection. We are slowly getting up to speed.
Speaking of lore we get more. We learn that the current nations that exist had been carved out of Artur Hawkwing’s empire, and that the Aiel had never before left the desert called the Waste – although it is possible they may have invaded before then but no one could be sure except maybe the Aes Sedai who apparently know everything. These Aes Sedai all seem to be women and come from the ‘White Tower’. Apparently it is often they leave people high and dry on their vast, unnatural knowledge.
We get another big lore bomb. We are told of a pattern that many outside of Tar Valon were beginning to see. ‘A thousand years has passed between the Breaking of the World and the Trolloc Wars, according to most historians, and that it had destroyed the nations that had existed then, and many suspected the Dark One’s dirty mitts to be all over it – imprisoned or not? So it seems this Dark One is extremely powerful and is eternal? Immortal? And that he had been behind the War of the Shadow, the Breaking, and the end of the Age of Legends. We learn Hawkwing’s empire had fallen after their death, in the War of the Hundred Years.
Some historians suggested the Dark One had also had their hand in that stuff too. And now a thousand years after that empire had died, the Aiel came! And so many believed this to be a pattern. And that the Dark One must also be behind this latest shitstorm. So either the Dark One is the biggest scapegoat ever, or he is completely and ridiculously powerful.
Also apparently the Aiel only ride at great need, and reluctantly even then – apparently they don’t like horsies? Their loss I guess. Speaking of horsies a messanger arrives for Lan riding one.
This messanger is a Tairen from Tear, and one who enjoys scenting up his beard with oil of rose – apparently common for Tairens to scent themselves up, which Lan clearly believed to be foolish in the field of battle. The Tairen, an officer of low rank which Lan notes is unusual to send as a mere messanger, was clearly not used to the climactic conditions of the area, having come from Tear in the South where it is much warmer – so much so not even a single flake of snow fell there, which Lan could not even believe until he saw it for himself. The man was born in cold it would seem.
We meet our first Saldaean, another Sentry called Rakim, who had cheated death from arrow to the throat by an Aiel. It had made him a lot more ballsy to the disapproval of Lan. Lan’s attention was soon distracted by the rudeness of this Southerner (the messanger) who seemed to be unsettled by the way Lan and Bukama were dressed, given their station.
Apparently these Southeners dress quite posh and uppity, and richly, even in the field. Lan was clearly not someone to be impressed by this. Anyway we learn from this guy that a Lord Emares is following five-six hundred Aiel with his men, whom it was noted were headed East, which is unusual, away from the river. Lord Emares wants Lan to be the anvil to his hammer by setting up upon a ridgeline called the Hook – THE NAME OF THE CHAPTER.
Lan though had become very offended by this pompous Southerner, for various violations of expected etiquette, and speech suggesting Lan and his men did not know that East would be away from the River Erinin. Lan is good though at not letting his emotions get in the way of things and agrees to do as requested.
We then get a little insight into the army – the Grand Coalition or whatever you want to call it – made up of near 200,000 men representing more than a dozen nations, plus Tower Guards from Tar Valon and a contingent of the Children of the Light, the language in the book suggests this last addition is interesting but I of course do not yet have a clue what they are.
Anyway that little mini lore drop was merely the premise to say that Lan had no idea who this Lord Emares guy was. But the messanger seemed to indicate that Lan would regret making Emares regret not doing as ordered. Perhaps this guy becomes an annoying thorn in the near future, we’ll see.
Lan demonstrates his excellent emotional control ability, something known as ko’di – a oneness he could now attain in less than a heartbeat from much practice and was good for not allowing emotion to get in the way of battle.
The slow had died in the first year fighting the Aiel. Most now were Saldaeans and Kandori, the rest Domani. Some Malkieri had come south, but Lan would not lead them, not even here. Although Bukama rode with him, he did not follow.
We soon learn the harsh reality of war from this line – ‘the slow had died in the first year fighting the Aiel.’ – and that most in the army were now either Saldaeans and Kandori, the rest Domani. There were also some Malkieri who had come south, but Lan would not lead them – and Bukama who I believe is Malkieri himself did ride with Lan but did not follow him, as in I take this as Lan does not command him unless I am missing something.
Obviously there are personal reasons behind this, perhaps he is too ashamed for some reason to command them? Does he feel guilty for some reason or other? We shall need more information on this to get the full picture. But from the lore we know Lan is Malkieri himself if I understand things correctly and so without knowing more it is odd he would not want to lead his own (now stateless) people.
Next we are introduced to a Kandori called Caniedrin, who despite his fresh face was actually an efficient and experienced soldier, a great archer, and often laughed while fighting in battles which to me makes him sound a bit like a maniac but okay. I also got a bit confused with the horsies in this part, if I have it correct Lan is using a yellow roan gelding called Sun Lance while Caniedrin is using a bay stallion called Cat Dancer who is also owned by Lan but this one is half-trained.
On their journey to the Hook to set up the anvil, we get another little lore package, this one telling us the White Tower in Tar Valon is the tallest structure in the known world – and that there is also a huge mountain called Dragonmount a part of the Spine of the World and that it has a prophecy that will be fulfilled one day, to me it sounds like this propechy is that this mountain is going to erupt in a big way and kill many, many people, and destroy many, many things.
We also find out that the bow is preferred by Lan and his men for taking out the Aiel in order to reduce casualties before entering direct combat but that for some reason the southlanders have disdain for the bow and so instead Emares and his Tairen soldiers will just ride straight into the Aiel with lances and swords. I would like to know why they do not like using bows considering that you’d think strategy trumps personal distaste but I don’t know maybe we’ll find out more.
We get the hammer and anvil tactic explained to us – Emares army (the hammer) is going to smash the Aiel into Lan’s army (the anvil). The tactic is simple yet effective which is why many adopted it, and that even the ‘pigheaded’ Cairhienin had learned to use it, Lan’s thoughts here suggesting these peoples are known to be dumb? And that many Altarans and Murandians had died for refusing to learn.
We finally get our first ‘look’ at the Aiel. They are tall men, many of whom are as tall or taller even than Lan who himself is taller than average. The snow also did not seem to be slowing them down despite the messanger suggesting it would. It is noted that sometimes the Aiel women also fought alongside the men. This Aiel army was also much larger than had been reported by the messanger.
Also to note Lan clearly seems to favour the Saldaeans and Kandori, whom I believe are people from the ‘Borderlands’ whom Lan seems to trust a lot more, and sees them as more harderned than other nations. For one he seems to view the Domani of his army below the people of those two nations when it comes to holding nerve and being dependable when it comes to battle.
Lan also begins noticing oddities, in that the Aiel are not acting as expected – for one they do not end up engaging Lan’s army and the Aiel shouted out a single word – ‘Aan’allein!’ – which Lan identified as the Old Tongue, a language spoken in the Age of Legends, and in the centuries before the Trolloc Wars, and his best translation of the word was ‘One Man Alone’ but did not know the reasoning behind it being said – is it reffering to the Dark One? Can the Dark One even be considered a man?
Lan also seems to have been weirded out by the trumpet sounds that had seemingly been coming from the direction of Emares army during the confrontation, and so it looks like Lan will be having a word with Lord Emares about whatever just happened. I for one have absolutely know idea but it certainly hooks you in for more. I’m pretty sure that is the second reference I’ve unintentionally made. Will Lan be given Lord Emares a bollocking? We shall see…
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