Becky's Book Reviews: 56. The Fires of Heaven

Monday, July 05, 2021

56. The Fires of Heaven

The Fires of Heaven. (The Wheel of Time #5) Robert Jordan. 1993. 704 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the great forest called Braem Wood. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.

If I had to review this one in just three words: WHERE IS PERRIN???????

The fifth book of the series mainly focuses on Rand and his continuing challenges as the Dragon Reborn. Mainly. Those still close to Rand include Moraine, Lan, Egwene, and Mat. But the one that literally gets up, close, and personal with Rand is Aviendha, whom we first met in book four.

The book focuses on the "real" world and the "dream" world. Often bad guys and good guys face off in both. It can occasionally be tricky to try to keep up of where these showdowns happen since dreams have the potential to have real world consequences.

Those not (literally) in Rand's camp (or fellowship?) are Elayne and Nynaeve (and company). They have gone from being the hunters to being hunted. Since the Tower fell--well--it makes things even more dangerous. Of course, they had plenty of enemies before the Tower fell. And they've just got a few more now.

Readers also spend time with Siuan Sanche (the former Amyrlin Seat) and Leane (former Keeper of the Chronicles) as they run for their lives. Min is among their company....

Is it strange that as busy as this book is--and it is VERY VERY BUSY--that I could spend so much time missing Perrin?????

Also there is the matter of Morgase (Elayne's mother, the Queen). We get like one chapter and one page towards the end of the book and the rest of the time she's missing in action. I was like GET BACK TO HER STORY, PLEASE, THANK YOU.

So perhaps I would have had a couple of words for Robert Jordan about this one. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous books in the series. But perhaps it makes up for it in body counts of the Forsaken???? Yet part of me is skeptical. Sometimes showdowns seem to be THE FINAL SHOWDOWN only to turn out to be a dress rehearsal.

Quote: It would be easier if this was a story, he thought. In stories, there were only so many surprises before the hero knew everything he needed; he himself never seemed to know a quarter of everything. (518)