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Fan Art Friday: Frenemies

It's Friday again, and that means Fan Art!
 
I'm not sure this is necessary at this point, but there are spoilers for probably the whole series ahead.
 

Cadsuane Melaidhrin by Jieroque
 
This week's topic happened accidentally. It was originally going to be all about Cadsuane, because she's my favorite and if I could pick one character from any book to be, it would be her. As I started to write, however, I realized that I couldn't write about Cadsuane without comparing her to Moiraine. It's hard to find art depicting the two of them together, however, since they have almost a The Notebook thing going on, but without the letters to each other and me falling asleep in the middle.
 

Moiraine by Francesca Resta(niji707)
 
Most of my comparisons come down to how I feel they did strictly in their advisory roles, and how at odds their approaches were. It naturally made me wonder what it would've been like if they'd both been active at the same time. In talking to my best friend, (Shall we say first-sister here? Yes? Good.) we got to talking a bit about how Moiraine and Cadsuane as rivals would compare to pairs who actually are rivals with each other at the same time.
 

Hawk Hunting Falcon by fee-absinthe
 
And so, we come to our topic for the week: Frenemies'.
 
As much as I hate the term itself, it's in our lexicon for a reason.
 
 

Temptress - Berelain sur Paendrag by endave
 
If there was ever a pair who embodied the term 'frenemy' it was Berelain and Faile. I'm not even sure I need to say anything else about this, except that pretending to be besties in front of your soldiers while also trying to keep the same man in your bed is the most classic example in any work of fiction. It became even more obvious when they purposely decided to and agreed to pretend to like each other in public.
 

Nynaeve al'Meara by ShinJei
 
To be honest, there are a lot of these relationships in The Wheel of Time; you could literally just connect any two Aes Sedai or any two Forsaken to each other and they'd fit the term. But some of them are a little more subtle than a Falcon vs Hawk cat fight. Yes, I really did just say that. I'm not taking it back, either. You can just let that phrase rumble around in your brain for a while.
 

Egeanin and Bayle Domon by Coplins
 
I always felt like the beginning of the relationship between Nynaeve and Egeanin fit the bill. I've never really bought into the subterfuge aspect. I see 'frenemies' more as being people who don't really like each other, but put a good face on it anyway for the sake of working together on a common goal--while both keep in mind that that could end the moment one of them finds an opportunity in which they no longer need the other. I have no doubts that Nyneave, at least, would've ditched Egeanin at the first opportunity, and I think if Egeanin could've done so without leaving Elayne behind, she would've done the same. In the end, they formed an actual friendship, which blurs the line more.
 

Al'thor by AlaisL
 
Men are no exception to this concept; there is usually just less hair pulling. Rand and Asmodean had a very similar relationship to that of Nynaeve and Egeanin. Working together because they had absolutely no one else to rely on for various reasons, and as we saw, it didn't take much for the whole thing to be forgotten. Asmodean's disappearance was barely a curiosity to Rand by that point in the series.
 

Asmodean by Shorelle
 
Asmodean is Forsaken. The Forsaken are the masters of being frenemies.
 
Some other pairings tossed out in a general poll among my friends: Cadsuane/Sorilea,  Logain/Taim, and even Thom/Moiraine.
 
What do you all think? Let me know in the comments if there's a pairing I missed, or you disagree with any of my choices.
Seafolk Sedai
Seafolk Sedai

Fantasy Review: I.E.Demon

Welcome back to another special edition of Dragonmount's Fantasy Review—looking at the Writing Excuses podcast's anthology Shadows Beneath!  Last week's featured story was Mary Robinette Kowal's "A Fire in the Heavens." We will pick up this time with Dan Wells' "I.E.Demon."
 
Synopsis:
This story follows an unnamed main character who is a member of an explosive ordnance disposal team (EOD) in Afghanistan.  His current mission is to test whether their technology, a BSE-7, is able to disarm ground mines as the military vehicles pass over them.  What he doesn't know is that the BSE-7 stands for a Bound Supernatural Entity, and the 7 makes it a gremlin.
 
The demonologist on the vehicle gets killed when the gremlin breaks free from its bindings, and it's up to our hero to put the creature back inside.
 
Pros:
This story was hilarious.  It is the first piece I've read by Dan Wells, and I will say I'll read more.  His style was quick paced and always exciting.  The dialogue and character's thoughts were sharp and witty.  The amount of gruesome horror was glossed over a bit, but the humor was pretty dark; I can see how Wells is considered to be a master in the horror genre.  
 
One scene of the dark humor is when the main character has to perform a rite to seal the demon back inside the improvised explosive device (IED).  Wells says the hero "proceeded to perform unspeakably horrible acts on the body of the dead engineer. The lead engineer fainted twice before the ritual was done…"  This scene made me laugh out loud.  It takes real talent to turn something as awful as war, and as gruesome as demons, into a ridiculously funny event.
 
Cons:
The only thing I can call a con with this story is the abbreviations.  As someone who isn't at all familiar with military terms, I had to look up all the abbreviations.  Most of them are pretty obvious through context, but I like to know exactly what I'm reading about, so I wanted to have a definite answer as to what each thing was.
 
It doesn't take away from the story at all; in fact, you could say it makes it more realistic.  A military member would spend time thinking about what all the abbreviated terms mean.
 
Conclusion:
This story was fantastic.  There was never a dull moment.  The characters were so compelling.  The plot line ridiculous, but completely believable.  The conclusion was very satisfying.  I loved everything about this.
Rating:
5 out of 5
 
 
If you'd like to listen to the Writing Excuses podcasts for the episode dealing with this story, the link is listed below.
 
Brainstorming with Dan
 
And, of course, you can purchase Shadows Beneath from Dragonmount's eBook store, here.  Next week's story will be Howard Tayler's "An Honest Death."
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Robert Jordan's signed copy of A Game of Thrones

Back in 1997, before George R.R. Martin's fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, had exploded into mainstream popularity, he had one very special fan:  Robert Jordan.  
Jordan had read--A GAME OF THRONES, the first book in Martin's series--end enjoyed it a great deal. He wrote a letter to Martin's publisher requesting a signed copy.  Here's a copy of this letter, as obtained by Terez. 


George Martin has been very open about his admiration and affection for Robert Jordan. In fact, Jordan went on to provide Martin with a quote that the publisher put on the cover of Martin's later books.

Back in those years, Robert Jordan was a significantly bigger name in the fantasy genre than Martin, so his endorsement carried a lot of weight. 
Just a few weeks after Jordan sent the letter above, George Martin sent Robert Jordan a signed copy of his book. The letter accompanying the book was dated March 27, 1997. Here's a look at the inscription and signature. 


 
The inscription reads:
Beautiful, right?
 
Tell us what you think in the comments.
Special thanks to Maria from Team Jordan for providing the photo.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Check out this heart-warming inscription George R.R. Martin gave Robert Jordan.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

WoT If… The Ogier Were Needed?

Welcome back to another edition of Dragonmount's Theory Blog, "WoT If?".  We're continuing our reread of The Eye of the World, with chapters 35 and 36.
 
Synopsis, taken from Encyclopaedia-WoT:
 
Chapter 35, "Caemlyn"
 
Rand and Mat have arrived in Caemlyn in the back of Almen Bunt's cart. He tells them about the city; the Inner City was built by Ogier. Bunt turns down a side street and stops. Rand and Mat get out. Bunt asks if Rand's blade is really heron-marked. Bunt lets them know that he does not like Holdwin. Bunt then drives away. Rand remembers that Thom said to go to The Queen's Blessing. They start asking for directions. They notice that many people are wearing red or white strips of cloth or cording. Rand buys some of the red cloth and a white cord and wraps it around his sword to hide the heron mark. They see Whitecloaks in the street. They finally find The Queen's Blessing. They go in and meet Basel Gill. Rand tells him that Thom told them to come here. Master Gill leads them to the stableyard and asks them what is in the case they are carrying. Rand shows him Thom's flute and cloak. Rand tells Master Gill that Thom is dead, but Master Gill says that he'll believe that when he sees the corpse. Master Gill guesses correctly that the boys are having troubles with Aes Sedai. Master Gill tries to ask if either of them can channel. Rand denies it. Master Gill says that he will give them a room and some food. He also tells the boys a little of Thom's past. Thom was once a court bard in Caemlyn. Thom was intimate with Morgase, but then some trouble with his nephew came up and Thom left. When he returned, Thom and Morgase had an argument and Thom left Caemlyn one step ahead of the headsman's axe. Gareth Bryne, Captain-General of the Queen's Guard, probably still remembers.
 
Chapter 36, "Web of the Pattern"
 
Rand and Mat are inside The Queen's Blessing. Master Gill gives them a small meal. Rand tells Master Gill an abbreviated version of their tale so far. Master Gill advises against going to Elaida for help because of their connection with Thom. The cook then calls Master Gill away. As he leaves he tells them there is a recent infestation of rats. The boys finish their meals and then a serving girl shows them up to their attic room. They put their things down. Mat lies down on a bed and Rand goes back downstairs. A guardsman enters the inn, looks around, and then leaves. Rand asks the serving girl if there is another place where he could sit. She suggests the library. Rand enters the library and is amazed at the number of books. They include The Travels of Jain Farstrider, Essays of Willim of Maneches and Voyages Among the Sea Folk. He meets Loial, son of Arent, son of Halan there, who he first thinks is a Trolloc. They introduce themselves and Loial tells Rand that he has run away to see the Ogier groves and cities. The groves have Great Trees hundreds of feet tall. He has been in Caemlyn four days. Ogier rarely leave the stedding any more since the Ways started going bad six generations ago, just after the Hundred Years War. He has already seen Cairhien, which he calls Al'cair'rahienallen, Hill of the Golden Dawn in the Old Tongue. The Tear grove is now pasture and the Illian grove is the King's park. Loial quotes, "Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared screaming defiance with the last breath to spit in Sightblinder's eye on the Last Day." Confused, Rand asks Loial if the Great Trees are like Avendesora. Loial is now confused, saying Rand should know better than he does. He thinks Rand is Aiel. Rand explains that he is from the Two Rivers. Loial looks blank and Rand adds that it used to be Manetheren. When Rand mentions Manetheren, Loial says, "We could not come in time." Loial asks Rand what brings him here. Rand tells Loial the whole story, including Trollocs and Fades and even his dreams. Loial names him ta'veren and explains the term. Elder Haman said Loial does not listen, but sometimes he does. He explains that the Pattern bends to make the Web, ta'maral'ailen. The first bending is ta'veren. He also talks about Talents. Loial decides he wants to travel with Rand.
 
 
My take:
 
These two chapters are a bit slow, giving more background information, and foreshadowing that will make sense later.  But still, Robert Jordan does it in an interesting way.  This is the calm right before the storm hits—with seeing Padan Fain, Logain, Elayne, and Elaida in the next few chapters.  This is our chance to catch up on current events; Bunt let us know about Andor's past, and Basel Gill tells us about the political climate in Caemlyn now.
 
We also learn a bit about Thom's background.  What's interesting to me is that Moiraine and Siuan both wind up with ex-lovers of Morgase.  Isn't that a little strange?  But I also think that Gill's explanation should be a hint that Thom's not dead.  Why would Jordan give us so many details about a character that won't show up again?  And it is very touching how much Gill honors Thom as a friend, and how far he goes out of his way for two country boys who claim to know him.  Or is this another ta'veren swirl?  With Mat and Rand together, they might have gotten help from Elaida herself.  
 
More ta'veren work: Rand coincidently buying the right-colored wraps for his sword.  It doesn't save him completely when he's taken before the Queen, but it does help him gain access to her in one piece.  
 
I love the exchange with Loial in chapter 36.  He seems to be the only completely good character.  All the others have faults, and we're shown their faults repeatedly.  But Loial is so pure, and true, and perfect.  He's a good character to have juxtaposed to Rand, especially later in the series as Rand gets more and more insane.  Normally, having a perfect character is frowned upon; we need those flaws to relate to.  But I love how Loial is the embodiment of all that is good in the world.  (And it could be argued that he does have a fault: his long-winded talking.)
 
We also encounter our first bit of foreshadowing about Rand and his connection to the Aiel.  I really enjoy the humor—especially looking back on it from the end of the series—that Loial thinks Rand's playing some sort of Aiel joke on him.  Is that something an Aiel would really joke about, though?  I don't think they would.  But it's still funny.
 
Loial also serves as a bit of release for Rand.  He is the first person Rand's able to open up to.  Loail is a catalyst, releasing the pressure Rand had built up over a month of hard traveling.  And it's a good thing he did, too.  This moment is what leads to the Ogier backing Rand in Tarmon Gai'don.  It's a long road to that moment, but befriending Loial is the spark that started the fire.
 
On that subject, how important are the Ogier to the Last Battle?  Would we have had a different outcome if they had opened the Book of Translations and left the world?  Besides adding their fighting force—and Ogier warriors can be fierce—did they do anything important?
 
A few fans voiced complains about the Ogier's lackluster entrance in the Last Battle.  In an interview, Brandon Sanderson had this to say:
 
 
If it had gone this way, as planned, I could see the importance of the Ogier being a bit more noticeable.  I would have loved to see the Ogier standing strong against Machin Shin.  It would have been very powerful, showing again, that Ogier are the embodiment of good, of the Light.  It also leads to questions about whether their Song could have killed it, or healed it, or something.  We'll save that for when we actually get to the Ways.
 
Still, I'd argue that the Ogeir were needed to win the Last Battle.  If they had opened the Book of Translations, I'm sure it would have been a blow against the forces of the Light.  Loial was needed.  His relationship with Rand was needed.  His ability to understand the humans, after being so long Outside, was needed.
 
I'm going to have to reread A Memory of Light and pinpoint exactly what the Ogier did.  I know there's something we needed in them.  (If you remember, help me out and let me know; it's been nearly two years since I read it last.)
 
That's all I have to say about these chapters.  Some back-story, some new friends.  And mayhem in the next few chapters.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

The Wheel Turns: A Warder's Sword

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!
 
Remember a while back I posted an article about where you could buy a heron marked blade online?
 
Well, just recently, one was brought to my attention which takes my breath away! Here is the link.
 

 
It was custom made to specification by Brendan Olszowy and advertised on his website, called Fable Blades. Brendan doesn't replicate these; every item he makes is custom.
 
That sword though, is, I think, by far the nicest take on a heron marked katana I've seen. Possibly one of the nicest swords I have seen, full stop. It's just exquisite.
 
The website has a large gallery of his other work, including several weapons from The Lord of the Rings and other fiction, as well as some historical swords and weapons. It's well worth perusing and if you have the cash, then this guy can do some serious work.
 
That's all for now! Have fun!
 
Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

Fantasy Review: A Fire in the Heavens

This month's Fantasy Review is going to be a little bit different.  The chosen book is Shadows Beneath, a short story anthology written by the four members of the Writing Excuses podcast: Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Howard Tayler, and Brandon Sanderson.  Each week, a different story of the anthology will be featured.  This week's will be Mary Robinette Kowal's story "A Fire in the Heavens."
 
But first, a quick explanation of this book.  The Writing Excuses team put this anthology together as a tool for new and emerging writers.  The book includes the initial brainstorming session that took place on Writing Excuses for each novella.  The podcasters all share their ideas and work out the overall plot for their story.  The book also includes the first draft of the story, allowing the readers to get a feel for what was added to and what was cut from the final version.  And finally, each story has a second podcast where the first draft is discussed and improved.  The bonus material in this story is overwhelming!  For the podcast episodes, there's also a link (in the eBook version) to listen to it online, rather than read the transcript in the book.
 
Without further ado, I bring you:
 
"A Fire in the Heavens"
By Mary Robinette Kowal
 
This review will contain spoilers.
 
Synopsis:
Katin is a follower of the Five Sisters—a religious group that believes their people came to the current continent from Selen, their homeland across the ocean.  Katin has been sent, along with a hired ship and crew, to search for the ancestral homeland. 
 
As they sail, they spy a moon on the horizon, which gets bigger and higher in the sky the further they sail.  The crew and Katin are apprehensive about the moon's appearance, but they press on.  Finally, they spy land, and they sail into port.  The people's complexion is similar to Katin's, and those who follow the Five Sisters.  She is convinced they have found their homeland.
 
But, once in port, there is a communication barrier.  Katin's religious texts use an old dialect, which is similar to the one spoken on this continent, but not quite the same.  And worse, she discovers that the people here don't worship the Fives Sisters.  They worship the moon, and anyone who does not worship the moon is sentenced to death. 
 
Katin must fight for her life—and the crew of the ship—with a bare minimum of cultural and linguistic knowledge of this unknown land.
 
Pros:
This concept is so fascinating.  I love the idea of two worlds, on complete opposite ends of the world, having no knowledge of each other.  Katin is a well-developed character, one who is easy to relate to as she searches for the roots of her heritage.  There are times when the things she believes are completely shattered—like the existence of the moon—but she presses on.  She doesn't let all the stumbling blocks deter her from her faith or her path.
 
The language barrier on the new continent is well done.  It seems like in movies or books, we fall into that tendency of having everyone speak the same language.  Having that be one of the main conflicts was very refreshing.  Katin could communicate a little, but the language had evolved from the ancient texts the Five Sisters worshippers study.  The lack of reliable communication really added to the reality of the story and to the overall plotlines.
 
Cons:
The idea, though interesting, felt a little too grand to be condensed into a short story length.  I feel this tale would have done better at twice the length, or even as a full novel.  There were so many aspects that could have been explored that weren't, due to the size.  I would have loved to see more of Katin's current continent—it's mentioned, but never shown—and the way of life there.  I would have loved to see more of the new continent—much of the time there is spent in jail.  Short stories have been expanded into novels before; I hope Mary Robinette Kowal will eventually expand this one.
 
Conclusion:
This was a solid story.  The action, the conflicts, the characters were all well done, and interesting.  The story kept me hooked.  The ending, too, had another hook, which begs for an extended version, or perhaps a sequel.  Like Kowal's other works, its language is beautiful, like poetry; she does an excellent job of illustrating the wonders of a new world with only words as her medium.
 
Rating:
4 our of 5
 
 
If you are interested in buying this book, it is available here, at the Dragonmount eBook store.  You can listen to the first and second Writing Excuses brainstorming sessions on this story by clicking the links below.
 
"Brainstorming with Mary"
"Critiquing 'A Fire in the Heavens'"
 
 
Next week's story will be Dan Wells' "I.E.Demon."
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Sea Folk

Hello! Welcome once again to Fan Art Friday! I’m Seafolk Sedai, and so you probably won’t be surprised that my very first topic will be…the Atha’an Miere.
 
I’ve been in love with the Sea Folk since the very first time Bayle Domon mentions them in Eye of the World:
 
 
Adventure, strange sites, treasure, and an entire ethnic group that lives on ships? Yes, please. I’ve always been fascinated with the ocean, and all things related, so when I saw a mention of Sea Folk in the first book, well, that was the moment that hooked me on the series. I put my book down, stumbled down the rabbit hole of internet fandom, and fifteen years later I come before you as Seafolk Sedai.
 
Enough about me, though. Let's get to the art!

Seafolk Porcelain by minnearts
I enjoy a little tongue-in-cheek art! This is really well done, and informative!
 

Apprentice Windfinder, source "Pattern Weavers" in ''Dragon Magazine: Annual 6''
I found this piece of artwork on what my one semester of Spanish and context clues told me was the page for Windfinders, and I find this image to be stunning. Especially since I have never seen this one before. It reminds me of more traditional fantasy art, and there is so much intricate detail. This is also on the English version of the WotWiki, but Spanish is totally sexier, so I’m keeping Detectora de Vientos in mind for future use. Speaking of sexier, this one pushes the envelope a little for PG-13, but do you know how hard it is to find Sea Folk artwork that is PG-13? My troubles, let me tell you about them.
 
I know the toplessness is meant for the provocation factor, but I find the attire worn by the Atha'an Miere to be fairly efficient, and pretty egalitarian. It only sucks that the shorebound are so conservative and weirdly mysogynistic for a culture with so many women in positions of leadership that the female Sea Folk feel the need to cover themselves--even if it's only nominal.
 

Atha'an Miere of Wave Runner by DrowElfMorwen
This is a piece of digital art by DrowElfMorwen for some RolePlay characters. It looks simplistic, but I know that digital art is far more complex than it seems. I like that this artist actually put thought into the colors for each rank, and the accessories each character is wearing, since they're such important aspects of the Sea Folk culture.
 

Zhai din Eiran by Noiry
This is a lovely image of an Atha’an Miere woman who is Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. Seems  SweetYuya and I had similar thoughts on what that would look like! I like the sketch/watercolor feel of this piece; usually sketched style art looks somewhat unfinished to me, but this looks completely finished, entirely purposeful, and it’s lovely!
 

Airelle by Jefita
And now for my very favorite Seafolk image. I’m completely biased. In full disclosure, this is an image I commissioned for a character I roleplay on the Prophecies of the Pattern MUD, which was my first introduction to Wheel of Time fandom. This is another Sea Folk Aes Sedai – Airelle din Diko. Jefita, as the artist goes by online, also has another piece of Atha’an Miere art, but it is of the more traditional sort, and therefore not PG-13: Atha'an Miere by Jefita. It is too amazing not to share.
 

Sea Folk Man, source The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game
 
And because yes, there are men among the Atha’an Miere, here’s a Cargomaster, all decked out and ready for battle.
 
And that’s it this time! If you have other Sea Folk art that you love, please share it in the comments below. I’ve seen pictures out there of a couple people who have done Sea Folk costumes; if you’re one of those, I want to hear about it!
Seafolk Sedai
Seafolk Sedai

Gleeman's Tales: "Royals" parody

After the #justwheeloftimethings post last time, I couldn't help but read off the list as if I were singing the song "Royals" by Lorde, so I decided to write some lyrics!
 
For your enjoyment, a parody song entitled "Wheel of Time Things."
 
Verse 1:   I’ve never seen Randland in the flesh  Cut my teeth on 14 books (but still no movie) The wheel of time turns And ages come and pass, leaving memories…   Pre-chorus:   The Wheel of Time is like  Smooth skirts, Darkfriends, chasing the Forsaken Aes Sedai, braid tugging, blank expressions Egwene don’t care; she’ll spy on you in your dreams   And Wheel of Time is like Sul’dam, angreal, Daes Dae’mar Ta’veren, tel’aran’rhiod, saidin, saidar We don’t care; we are caught up in a love affair   Chorus:   Just Wheel of Time things (Wheel of Time things) This series runs in our blood The Dragon battles The Dark One While romancing more than one woman   It’s just Wheel of Time things (Wheel of Time things) You can call me Empress JK I’m an Aes Sedai (Aes Sedai, Aes Sedai, Aes Sedai) The Seanchan are the worst   Verse 2:   Folding your arms beneath your breasts Draghkar, Myrrdraal, Trollocs, Gray Men, and Darkhounds And everyone in Randland knows That men are woolheads And women are impossible   Bridge:   Rand’s got Lews Therin in his head And Mat’s got memories from the dead Nynaeve battles Moghedien And wolves are talking to Perrin       I hope you have enjoyed my little attempt at songwriting. The Light illumine you; have a great week!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

The Wheel Turns: Board Game Geeks!

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!
 
You may or may not be aware that one of my major hobbies is board gaming. I believe I have previously written articles on a couple of my favorite board games.  I would like to interject here and say that there is an excellent website where you can get information on a huge variety of games, including detailed ratings which tell you how the game plays so that you can decide if it likely something you would enjoy before you buy! It is called Board Game Geek.
 
Let me reiterate that when I speak of board games, I don’t mean Monopoly and the like. No, no, no. The beauty of real board gaming is that there is a whole world of games out there, different types of game, be they deep strategy or hilariously fun. And many of them have a variety of themes, settings or inspiration.
 
I would like to suggest a few games for you to look into. There is an excellent board game based on A Game of Thrones, of the same name. It is based on a system you may recognize--if you are into older strategy games--called Diplomacy. What is great about it is that it is a strategy game which does not involve dice! So it is almost totally down to you how you fare in-game. It also does a really excellent job of capturing the feel of George R R Martin’s epic series of political intrigue and the character of the world of Westeros. It is produced by a company called Fantasy Flight Games who are an excellent producer of board games--in fact, they are my favorite and are hugely popular. I have never bought a game by them which I did not thoroughly enjoy. Here is a link to the Board Game Geek page for this game.
 

 
There is also a Wheel of Time Collectible Card Game (CCG) produced by a company called Precedence Publishing. I don’t particularly have experience with their games and am not a fan of CCG’s (not that they are bad; they are hugely popular) so I can’t vouch for it but considering this is a Wheel of Time fan site I thought it best to include it here! Here’s the Board Game Geek page.
 

 
If you like gaming, why not try one of these out? I’ll bring other games to your attention in the future. If you haven’t really tried these kinds of board games before, why not give one a go? What do you have to lose?!
 
That's all for now! Have fun!
 
Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

Fantasy Review: Kushiel's Dart

The review might contain a few spoilers.
 
Kushiel's Dart
by Jacqueline Carey
 
 
Synopsis
The story revolves around Phedre. She is a child of the Night Court but she was born with an imperfection in a place where any sort of imperfection is unacceptable. The imperfection is a red mote in her eye which actually marks her as chosen of one of the gods, Kushiel. She is sold to a House of the Night Court who later sells her to a man named Delaunay with a mysterious past. Not long after she receives a warning that she would curse the day she learns Delaunay's past. Meanwhile, she starts a new life in Delaunay's household where she is taught how to observe and how to think. But when Delaunay and his household is killed and she is sold into slavery to Skaldians she learns of a plot which threatens her country and warn her people of the danger.
 
 
Pros
The plot is interesting and Delaunay's history keeps you going when the story seems to be stretching with nothing interesting happening. There are some stories which can be related to the real world which makes it easier to understand but there is a big twist in the way they are expressed.  It's interesting how the plot twists and changes and how Delaunay's teachings help Phedre save the day.
 
 
Cons
There are parts which are boring where it seems that the story would not progress. Either I was in a great hurry or there were just huge gaps between important events. And sometimes even important events stretched for so long that they didn't seem important anymore. With nothing interesting even happening, slowly the suspense begins to die at times.
 
Night Court. I don't like the concept of this whole stream of thinking of Night Court, though it's understandable if seen through the history of the place. Some of the Houses are just creepy.
 
Conclusion
This book is good for reading when you want to read a story with love, romance, intrigue, and mystery. It is a good read when you are not in mood for a light story but neither want to attempt something huge. Well, almost any sort of mood would suit reading this.
 
My Rating
I give it 4 out of 5
 
 
If you are interested in reading this, you can buy it here at Dragonmount's eBook store.
Panchi
Panchi

Wheel of Time Companion Completed

Dragonmount received word earlier this week that the first draft of the Wheel of Time Companion (previously known as the Wheel of Time Encyclopedia) was completed and delivered to the publisher. The Companion is currently scheduled for a November 2015 release. We previously reported that it's expected to be about 350,000 words (about the length of one of the series novels) and will be illustrated with new artwork and maps. It'll be written from a post-A Memory of Light perspective and will be considered a definitive source of information on the series. 
 
We'll have more information about the book as we receive it, including information on the artwork. 
JenniferL
JenniferL

Gleeman's Tales: #justwheeloftimethings

In the spirit of #justlittlethings and #justgirlythings, I present to you #justwheeloftimethings, an ever-growing list of things that are distinctly Wheel of Time. Feel free to add your own in the comments!
 
The following list comes, respectively, from knifeeared, livia-sedai, mats-bloody-hat, gandalf-sedai, vikrattlehead, morichele, and shootdoctorallen.
 
 
-telling no one your problems
-talking to wolves
-hunting men that can channel
 
-hearing voices in your head
-going into Tel’aran’rhiod
-balefiring things out of existence 
 
-channeling the power
-talking to dead people
-killing trollocs
 
-tugging braids
-woolheads
-not following advice
 
-floating in the void
-smoothing skirts
-having an expressionless face
 
-Ignoring the weather so it doesn’t affect you
-Eating some pipin’ hot honey cakes
-Bonds so strong you are truly emotionally and physically tied to another human being
 
-Hiding expressions in sips of wine
-Playing Daes Dae’mar
-Carving the Dragon’s Fang in your neighbor’s door
 
 
I hope those of you who are at Dragon Con are enjoying yourselves! Again, I'd love for you to add to this in the comments.
 
The Light illumine you!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

Call for Applications: Front Page Blogger Position Open

I am calling for applications for one person to join my staff as blogger. Applications for this positions will be open until Monday, September 8th, 2014.
 
Description of the Job Position:
 
The open position is for a Fan Art Friday Blogger. This person will be responsible for a short weekly column that will have such content as fan art, analysis of fan art, and occasional interviews with artists. Please look here for past examples of this column.
 
 
Job Duties for Front Page Blogger Position:
 
1. Bloggers are expected to produce content in their respective areas for the front page at least twice a month. They must be able to meet deadlines in a timely manner.
 
2. Bloggers occasionally will be called upon to assist the Front Page Admin with brainstorming new ideas for features.
 
3. Bloggers are expected to dedicate time each week to the Front Page Bloggers Staff Board and the DM Staff Board. As members of DM Staff, they act as representatives of the members of DM and their input is vital in the decision making process. Bloggers should be actively engaged in discussions on staff boards.
 
4. Bloggers must be able to give at least a 6 month commitment of approximately 5 hours per week. LOAs will come up, of course.
 
Anyone who thinks they can fulfill the requirements may apply. Strong candidates are people who possess the following qualities: efficiency, writing ability, organizational skills, creativity, maturity, and the ability to work well with others.
 
 
The Application Process:
 
If you are interested, please send an email to frontpage@dragonmount.com.
 
In each application, please include:
 
* Your DM Handle.
* Some details about who you are in real life, including anything you think will have prepared you for leadership (including past online leadership experience).
* A sample of your writing consisting of at least three short paragraphs. This can be in the form of a brief essay, a blog, a school paper, a newspaper article, a forum post, a short story, or a role play. You do not have to write something new for this application; in fact, many of you already have forum posts that are long enough to count. I mainly want to get an idea of your writing style.
* Anything else that you think would set you apart from other applicants. Why are you the best candidate?
 
Note: Please specify the position for which you are applying (Fan Art Friday Blogger) in the subject of your application email.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer them.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

"Wheel of Time Companion" to be published in November 2015

Last weekend at WorldCon, Harriet McDougal, the editor of the Wheel of Time series and Robert Jordan's widow, announced that the Wheel of Time Companion (formerly known as the Wheel of Time Encyclopedia) will be published sometime next year, likely November 2015. According to Adam Werthead, the panel moderator and a long time blogger and friend of Dragonmount, the Companion will be around 350,000 words and contain new artwork and maps previously not seen in the series. There will also be an Old Tongue dictionary of about a thousand words and complete profiles on every character (including Bela!).  Harriet and Team Jordan have promised to update us when the Companion manuscript heads to Tor for publication. 
 
For more details on the Companion and tidbits from the Wheel of Time panel at WorldCon, please visit The Wertzone.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    The Wheel of Time companion volume is set to be released in November, 2015

JenniferL
JenniferL

Gleeman's Tales: Karaoke Night

This week I give you a modern alternate universe in which a few main characters go out for a night of singing, drinking, and merriment. In other words: karaoke night.
 
knifeeared
 
minnielikes (yup, that's me!)
 
failemyfalcon
 
knifeeared
 
Which led to this incredible sketch by karaburrito (aka failemyfalcon):

 
Sounds like a wild night!
 
I want to party with Moiraine...
 
That's it for this week. The Light illumine you!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

WoT If… We Can Figure Out the Flashback?

Welcome back to another edition of Dragonmount's Theory Blog, "WoT If?".  We're continuing our reread of The Eye of the World, with chapters 33 and 34.
 
Synopsis, taken from Encyclopaedia-WoT:
 
Chapter 33, "The Dark Waits"
 
Rand and Mat are getting a ride from a farmer named Hyam Kinch. Mat's eyes are getting better and Rand seems to be feeling better, although it has not been mentioned yet when he was sick. A group of the Queen's Guard pass by going the other way. Hyam Kinch tells them the Queen's Guard rarely goes further than Breen's Spring. He is surprised that neither Rand nor Mat recognizes them. The farmer finally stops and lets the boys off when he reaches his road home telling them they are two days from Caemlyn. The next village is Carysford. Mat acts suspicious of the farmer as he drops them off.
 
The time shifts back to the night at The Dancing Cartman. They stagger away from the inn and find some bushes to hide in. They both fall asleep soon. Rand starts dreaming:
 
He is back at Four Kings. He goes inside The Dancing Cartman. Howal Gode is there, only recognizable from his clothes. His face is charred. Rand realizes Gode is dead. Then Ba'alzamon appears and the two start talking. Ba'alzamon sends Gode away to his fate. His final words to Rand are "You are mine, youngling, alive or dead. The Eye of the World will never serve you. I mark you as mine." A ball of flame explodes in Rand's face.
 
Rand wakes up and notices Mat is having a nightmare. Rand wakes Mat up. They do not sleep the rest of the night. They start walking at daybreak. They pass through a village and then past that, Alpert Mull gives them a ride in his wagon. Times are so hard he must buy hay from Old Bain. He lets them get off just as he heads off the main road, and gives each of the boys a woolen scarf. At dusk, the boys arrive at Market Sheran. There is only one inn. They go in and are greeted by the innkeeper, Rulan Allwine. Rand and Mat are shocked at the price he is charging. The next day they have breakfast in the common room when a boy comes in and sits at their table. His name is Paitr. Mat figures out that he is a Darkfriend. Paitr tries to get them to wait, but Rand and Mat get up to leave. Paitr then yells out "You won't get away. No matter how strong you are, the Great Lord of the Dark is stronger. The Shadow will swallow you!" An old man inside the inn hears Paitr and Paitr flees. Rand and Mat also leave quickly. They get six rides during that day and they hear rumors about what happened in Market Sheran. One farmer tells them it is the best story he heard since Ackley Farren got drunk. They enter another village (Andor Village 1) and enter The Queen's Man inn. The innkeeper, Master Inlow, at first thinks that they are on their way to Caemlyn to see Logain. Rand and Mat give their spiel to the innkeeper about performing. He gets ready to clear a room for them when Rand gets very ill. The innkeeper lets them go into the stable. Mat goes to find someone to help, but the local midwife, Mother Brune, is out. Rand sleeps fitfully and has nightmares:
 
    Ba'alzamon and Myrddraal follow him.
    Egwene tells him they are all dead.
    Moiraine tells him only the Aes Sedai can save him from the Dark One.
    Thom asks who will find him first, the Red Ajah or the Black Ajah.
    Lan, Perrin, Marin al'Vere, Bayle Domon, Master Fitch, Min and Tam all seem to blame him for their troubles.
 
Rand wakes the next day when he hears the door open. There is a woman entering the stable. Rand wakes Mat up. She comes over and asks if Rand is all right. She bends over as if to help Rand and then she lunges toward Mat. She has tried to stab Mat and now her dagger is stuck in a post and Mat now has the ruby dagger up against her throat. Her dagger is blackening the wood around it. Mat prepares to kill her, but Rand convinces him not to. Instead, they lock her up in the tack room. They then leave town. About a mile out of town, Hyam Kinch gives them a ride.
 
Chapter 34, "The Last Village"
 
Rand and Mat are a day away from The Queen's Man. It is three nights since Four Kings, two since Market Sheran and one since the Darkfriend woman. They are approaching Carysford. The town is next to the River Cary and there is a bridge over the river. Rand and Mat pass through the village and spent the night in haystacks. The next morning they notice that the road to Caemlyn is filled with people going to see the false Dragon. Merchants and Queen's Guard pass them several times. They pass through two more towns. At the third town (Andor Village 2), which they reach at nighttime, they pause near an inn, the Goose and Crown. At one end is a man on a cart, and at the other end are two other men. One of the two men walks away, and Rand realizes that it is a Fade. The man on the cart is Almen Bunt and the man returning to the inn is Raimun Holdwin, the innkeeper. The two hold a short conversation and it is apparent that Bunt is suspicious of Holdwin. Holdwin says that his "friend" is looking for two young men, one of whom carries a stolen heron-marked blade. Holdwin goes inside his inn. Rand and Mat approach Bunt and ask for a ride to Caemlyn and Bunt agrees.
 
During the ride, Bunt tells the boys a little about Queen Morgase. She has an Aes Sedai advisor named Elaida. She has a daughter named Elayne and a son named Gawyn. Luc is dead and Tigraine is gone. Taringail Damodred married Morgase. Taringail is also dead. Rand falls to sleep and has nightmares. In one nightmare, Thom tells him, "The Dragon is one with the land; and the land is one with the Dragon." He awakes in the morning, and Bunt tells them that they have arrived at Caemlyn.
 
My take:
 
This is the chapter where we get the awkward flashback.  I think if you read from chapter 31 all the way through 34 in one sitting, it wouldn't be as awkward.  Robert Jordan established a liking for this sort of flashback all the way back in chapter 13, "Choices."  As a writing style, it's an interesting tactic: establishing that they wound up at their final destination, then explaining what happened along the way—I think the line is something like "the week-long trip to Barelon was uneventful" then Jordan goes into detail about what happened on all the days.  But, when used through four chapters, it gets a bit difficult to keep everything straight.
 
Here, chapter 31 starts with the end of chapter 33, with Alpert Mull giving them the scarves.  And on top of that flashback, chapter 33 starts with them riding with Hyam Kinch, then tells how they got to that point.  So, we get a flashback within a flashback.  It's understandable that some find it confusing.  But if you're still having a hard time getting your head around it, the WOT FAQ has a wonderful page that details the timeline of these four chapters.
 
First, we get the aftermath of Rand channeling the lightning at the Dancing Cartman.  He gets ill a few nights later before they are going to play at an inn.  The innkeeper lets them sleep in the stables.  Rand has a bunch of fever dreams.  But are they from his own mind, based on is own worst thoughts, or can these be influenced by Ba'alzamon?  The most important one being Thom talking about the Red Ajah after him.
We talked last week if Rand might be wondering if he can channel.  We don't really have a good comparison to that sort of situation in our world, so it's hard to find something to use as an analogy.  We see Nynaeve go through that sort of denial earlier.  But it's a hundred times worse for Rand.  Some people think women who can channel are evil; everyone thinks men who can channel are evil.  But could this dream of Thom and the Red Ajah show that Rand's thinking about it?  Or is it another trick from Ba'alzamon, trying to force Rand into his clutches? 
 
He has to be wondering.  Even if he's not thinking it about himself, he has to wonder why the Dark One would be after them.  He would have to contemplate why Moiraine would be helping him.  He and Mat have a bunch of time on the road together; a lot of time to reflect and think.  He may still be in denial, but I think the thoughts are in his brain at this point, that he might be able to channel.
 
He also brings up the idea of the Light's luck again.  He thinks, "He really was feeling better, he realized. It was a wonder to get over being sick so fast. More than that, it was a gift of the Light. It has to be the Light. It has to be."  This shows how much he's trying to convince himself that he's fine—and Jordan is trying to signal the readers that there's more than meets the eye going on here.
 
During the first part of chapter 33—pre-flashback—we find out that the Two Rivers is part of Andor.  We could tell that from the map at the beginning, but this is where it first comes into play in the series.  It seems like such a throw away comment—"Rand wondered what Master al'Vere would say if someone told him the Two Rivers was part of some Queen's Realm. The Queen of Andor, he supposed."—but this idea has such a huge role as the books continue.  We see Perrin struggle with this the most, but Mat and Rand also encounter it.
 
When the story finally gets back to chronological order, running away from the Dancing Cartman, I love how insecure Mat gets about being left behind.  The dagger from Shadar Logoth has really messed up his mind, for him to even think that Rand would leave him.  The paranoia he feels fuels that—and I've no doubt that Mat would have considered leaving Rand behind at some point if he wasn't so weak himself.  But these are some of my favorite scenes of Mat.  He is so helpless, so dependent on Rand.  After Rand—and I'm assuming Mat—had the dream of Ba'alzamon and Gode, Rand wakes up to find Mat having a nightmare.  When Mat wakes up screaming that Ba'alzamon took his eyes, and weeping against Rand's chest, it's one of the most touching moments between these two characters.  They are young men, trying to be adults, yet here they are so beat down, so broken.  Mat has to be nearly crushed to show so much weakness.
 
And later in the series when Mat and Rand meet up again, Mat mindlessly does what Rand says.  We see that Perrin maintains a bit of an argumentative nature with Rand—mostly over the treatment of the Aes Sedai—but Mat never shows signs of argument.  I wonder if a part of him, even with the holes in his memories, remembers how much he needed Rand during this part of their journey.  Mat owes Rand so much.
 
When they meet Paitr in Market Sheran, the boys get a rude awakening about Darkfriends:
 
 
This is a very good theme within the series, that people are not always what they seem, or that they can be more than what they seem.  It also takes the suspense to another level.  With Trollocs and Fades, you can tell they are monsters.  But with Darkfriends, you don't know who is who until it's too late.
 
When Mili Skane tries to kill Mat and Rand while Rand's suffering from his reaction to channeling in Four Kings, Mat seems to have no qualms about slitting her throat.  This is quite strange because he also struggles with the weakness of not wanting women to die.  It's only Rand's pleading that keeps Mat from killing the Darkfriend.  Could it be that the ruby-hilted dagger took away that value for a short time?  I can't think of any other explanation. 
 
And chapter 34 serves little purpose besides backstory.  But, this backstory is very important.  Almen Bunt, who is the same farmer who witnesses Rand's apple miracle in A Memory of Light, blabs the whole night about the politics of Andor.  I love the way Jordan gets all the information into the story, so long before we know it's important.  It may seem like filler, but everything Bunt says is a clue about Rand, his past, and his future.  
 
We'll have to stop there for today.  But we'll continue next time.  I was hoping we could get to Loial, but he'll have to wait.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Watch the Hugo Award Ceremony Live

The Hugo Award ceremony will be held this coming Sunday, August 17th, at 8 PM BST (which will be at 3PM EDT for viewers in North America).  The ceremony can be viewed live from your computer at the Hugo's UStream channel.
 
Want to watch it with other Wheel of Time fans?  Well, JordanCon is hosting a "Hugo Watching Party" in Atlanta, Georgia.  Details can be found on JordanCon's Facebook page. 
 
You can also join in the discussion on Dragonmount, in our Wheel of Time Book Discussion forum, or in our live chat room.
 
Good luck to our beloved series, and to Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Hugo Award for Best Novel announced

Congratulations to Ann Leckie, the author of Ancillary Justice, which won the 2014 Hugo Award for Best Novel. 
The Hugo Awards are one of the most prominent awards in the Science Fiction and Fantasy community. They are given out annually at the WorldCon convention. The Wheel of Time was honored as one of the five short-listed nominees for the award this year. 
We’ve posted a lot of information over the past few months about WoT’s eligibility and subsequent nomination. Despite the fact that it didn't win, I believe the series is cementing its legacy as one of the most beloved and important fantasy sagas in the industry. For all its ups and downs, the simple fact remains that these books have positively impacted millions of readers across the world. They’ve inspired several generations readers, and paved the way for an entire sub-gengre of epic fantasy writers.  The series' success has allowed Tor (and likely other publishers) to stabilize their product line and invest in new writers. There’s never been a complete, literary saga this long, which, despite its flaws and low points, captured so many minds and kept us awake at night. Taken as a whole, the grand story arcs of a doomed man and a doomed world encompass all of the attributes that the World Science Fiction Society looks for when it presents the Hugo Awards each year.
We would also like to wholeheartedly acknowledge the other nominees in the Best Novel category, listed below. Please take the time to check out these books, and share them with your friends. Robert Jordan’s books are familiar to us, complete, and always available for future re-reads. But we encourage you read these these contemporaries and enjoy the worlds that they present so well.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (Orbit US / Orbit UK)
Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross (Ace / Orbit UK)
Parasite by Mira Grant (Orbit US / Orbit UK)
Warbound, Book III of the Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia (Baen Books)
Congratulations again to Ann Leckie, for her historic win! 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    The Hugo Award for Best Novel has been announced.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Charity Auction: Unique Gauntlets signed by authors and artists

Our friends at the Waygate Foundation have notified us of a charity auction they're hosting to benefit Room to Read, which is a worthy organization helping to promote literacy and gender equality across the world. 
Up for bid is a unique set of medieval gauntlets, signed by an impressive list of authors and artists. Here are the names:
Brandon Sanderson Howard Tayler Michael R Underwood Howard Andrew Jones Tobias Buckell John Klima Pat Rothfuss John Scalzi Courtney Allison Moulton Aimee Carter Kelley Armstrong Saladin Ahmed Jaime Ramsey Matthew Alan Thyer Jacqueline Carey Sandra Taylor Kameron Hurley Bradley P Beaulieu Myke Cole Michael J Sullivan Wesley Chu Brian McClellan Cherie Priest Seleste deLaney Sam Sykes Larry Elmore Jana Oliver John G Hartness Head over to eBay to see the auction. If you bring these awesome gauntlets home, be sure to let us know on Facebook or Twitter!
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Bid on a set of unique medieval gauntlets signed by a collection of well-known authors and artists. Proceeds go to help Room to Read, a worthy cause.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Gleeman's Tales: Forsaken High

Ever wondered what the Forsaken would have been like in high school? This graphic was made by shorelle on DeviantArt (however, I think it has since been deleted). Please enjoy a hilarious reimagining of the Forsaken.
 
 

 
 
I hope y'all don't mind that this post is a bit short today. I haven't been feeling well this week but wanted to still get some laughs in! The Light illumine you!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

WoT If… It's the Dark One's Luck?

Hello, all!  Welcome back to another edition of Dragonmount's Theory Blog, "WoT If?".  After a long summer break, the Theory Blog is back!  We'll pick up where we left off, covering chapters 31 and 32 of The Eye of the World.
 
Synopsis, taken from Encyclopaedia-WoT:
 
Chapter 31, "Play for Your Supper"
 
Rand and Mat travel the road from Whitebridge to Caemlyn. They hide when mounted patrols pass. Rand keeps hoping to see Thom come up from behind. Mat keeps fingering his ruby dagger. They spend their first night out of Whitebridge outside on the ground. They are running out of money and cannot afford to stay at an inn. Rand asks Mat about selling the ruby dagger, but Mat gets angry. They stay at several farms and get some meals in exchange for a few hours work. After several days they arrive at the Grinwell farm and Master Grinwell invites them to stay the night. The eldest daughter is Else Grinwell. She starts flirting with Rand. Mistress Grinwell has yellow hair, which Rand has never seen before. The Grinwells suggest that Rand and Mat play at inns. Mistress Grinwell is suspicious of Rand's intent for her daughter and is happy to see him leave. The next day, at dusk, they enter the village of Arien. There is only one inn, and the innkeeper lets them stay there and have a meal in exchange for them performing. The next morning, Eazil Forney gives them a ride out of town. Rand and Mat continue traveling in this manner for several days and then they arrive at Four Kings.
 
Chapter 32, "Four Kings in Shadow"
 
Rand and Mat arrive at Four Kings at dusk. The Caemlyn Road runs through the center of town. It is a rougher town than Rand and Mat are used to. They finally stop at the fourth inn, The Dancing Cartman. Saml Hake is the innkeeper. Jak and Strom are the bouncers. Rand and Mat have to bargain harder for their room and board than they have at any other place. They play for a very rough crowd. They figure out that Saml Hake is going to rob them. They take notice of a noble in the back of the room who is watching them. Rand overhears that he stopped and looked in all the other inns, including the Royal Inn, then came here. Rand steps outside and sees the man's carriage. The man's name is Howal Gode. Rand remembers seeing him in Whitebridge. Eventually all the patrons leave except for Howal Gode, who takes a room there for the night. Rand and Mat are shown to their room. After Saml Hake, Jak and Strom leave their room, Rand and Mat block the door. They try to escape through the window, but find it is nailed shut. Howal Gode comes to their room and tries to enter. Gode tries to get them to surrender. Rand and Mat look outside and see men outside, watching the window. Lightning then strikes their room. The wall with the window has a hole in it. Mat cannot see but he and Rand take their belongings and leave.
 
My take:
 
First off, let me apologize for taking such a long summer break.  I was still reading, but unable to get the time to write anything!  I'm sure you all understand.  Second, I apologize for taking my summary from an outside source.  I like to phrase my synopsis in my own words, paying attention to certain things I noticed while reading.  However, Encyclopaedia WoT is such a fantastic source, and all the major facts are there.  Using this is easier on me, which makes it easier to get the writing done. 
 
Now we can get to the story.  With the last two chapters focusing on Perrin and his conflicts, it's a nice change of pace to see Rand's and Mat's woes.  Perrin's struggles are mostly internal—except the little Whitecloak problem.  With Rand and Mat, all their problems are physical—except the nightmares of Ba'alzamon.  This is a good juxtaposition of emotions.  Both groups are running, but Mat's and Rand's adventure is a bit more reactive; they constantly have the Darkfriends nipping at their feet, forcing them to move on.
 
I also like the fact that Perrin discovered some inner talents and ran from them, while Rand and Mat are able to use their talents to get meals and rooms at inns.  Obviously talking with wolves and juggling are two very different things, but it shows that Perrin is able to hide his skills, let them go unused because he is afraid of them.  Rand, on the other hand, uses all that he has.   This is very closely related to his attitude once he starts channeling.  He does try to hide from it, at first, but he quickly accepts that it's a tool, and he must use it.  Of course, Rand also gets to the point where he views people and friends in this same light.  And, of course, Perrin wouldn't use people or friends—especially Faile—even when it was the logical thing to do.
 
Looking at it this way, Rand and Perrin are almost complete opposites.  In literary terms, I think Perrin could be Rand's foil, a character that's used to highlight both their differences.  Only when you look at them side by side do you see how drastic their distinctions are, and how strong their characteristics are.  Despite growing up in the same town and raised on the same values, their innate personalities are nowhere near the same.
 
And where does Mat play into all of this?  He's just the comic relief.  At least, he is at this point in the story.  He gets more important as the story progresses, but he's not as developed as the other two in this book.  And I don't blame Robert Jordan at all for keeping Mat in the shadows at this point.  That's what makes his rise to stardom in The Shadow Rising all the more interesting and fun.
 
Actually, Mat does function as more than just the comic relief.  He's a red herring for the one Moiraine is looking for—when he randomly speaks the Old Tongue, we're forced to wonder if the Shadow wants him.  And he also serves as a companion for Rand, aiding in Rand's character growth.  The way Rand reacts to Mat's paranoia, and his blindness, and his weaknesses shows us more about him than about Mat.  Personally, I love the way Rand cares for Mat during the next few chapters (one in particular, we'll talk about next time).  This shows us Rand's true core.  How deeply he loves his friends.  Rand is so tender in these moments, and it's a great contrast to how callused and distant he becomes in later books.
 
Now, talking about all their troubles, we know that the Darkfriends are drawn to the ruby-hilted dagger from Shadar Logoth.  We'll talk about this more later when we reach the end of the book—remember Aginor's "An old friend, and old enemy" line?  But we can touch on it now.  It's curious that there are men who are so far in the Shadow that they can feel the dagger.  Gode says he can feel it coming off them in waves, that they are already halfway turned to the Shadow.  That's a very creepy thought.  Is the dagger so powerful, or is Gode so evil?  And could you imagine what would have happened if Rand had grabbed the dagger instead of Mat?  For him to be corrupted so much would definitely be a bad thing!
 
Also, this part of the journey is really teaching Rand and Mat about the real world.  Before, they were pretty sheltered in the Two Rivers.  When the innkeeper means to rob them, I think they learn some important lessons.  Poor country bumpkins need to grow up quickly.
 
Rand channeling is another main part of chapter 32.  I think it's interesting here that he's beginning to wonder where his luck is coming from.  After the lightning hits the window, he thinks, "Luck. The Light's own ... Is it?"  So even Rand is wondering if it's the Dark One's luck that's helping.  Or could it be that he's wondering about channeling?  Maybe that Mat is channeling?  Or that he is channeling?  It seems odd that he wouldn't notice the signs of the reaction.  But, we see Nynaeve's point of view when Moiraine tells her she can channel, and it's very easy to understand how they could be in denial.  But still, with Darkfriends and worse after them, wouldn't Rand begin to wonder a little?  To look at the weird experiences his body has had over the past two weeks or so?
 
Maybe.  Maybe not.  But I think we'll stop there for now.  I really like the next few chapters, with Rand's arrival into Caemlyn and the events that follow—especially meeting Loial.  See you next time and thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fantasy Review: The Emperor's Blades

Welcome to another edition of Dragonmount’s Fantasy Review.
 
For this edition, I am examining The Emperor’s Blades: Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne (Part I) by Brian Staveley. The sequel, The Providence of Fire,  is due to be published in January, 2015.
 
Synopsis:
The Emperor of the Unhewn Throne has been assassinated by an unknown murderer, leaving behind three children: two sons and a daughter.
 
His heir, Kaden, has been away for eight years, training with monks in a distant, remote monastery, learning the ways of the “Blank God” and the mysteries of the vaniate, or “nothingness.”  His training is spiritual and emotional, and deemed necessary to rule in the Unhewn throne. Mysterious creatures have returned, killing off monks and novices, and suddenly, the monastery is no longer a safe place for the new Emperor.
 
Meanwhile, during the last eight years, the younger son, Valyn has been training to join the Kettral--a group of fierce warriors who fly enormous birds into battle. After hearing of his father’s murder, Valyn becomes suspicious of the other Kettral Cadets, afraid for his life and that of his dearest friend. His driving goal throughout the story is to complete his training and go warn (and possibly rescue) his brother from would-be assassins.
 
While her brothers were away learning to be a monk and a soldier, the late emperor’s daughter Adare has become finance minister. She is bright, intelligent, and fierce. She holds the kingdom together after her father’s murder, and is seeking vengeance against his killer while patiently waiting her brothers’ return.
 
Pros:
I like the shifting points of view between the three siblings of Kaden, Valyn, and Adare.
 
I enjoyed that Adare seems to be a strong, competent, independent girl. Yes, she’s a princess, and yes, she becomes a minister of finance for the Empire upon her father’s death, but she is competent enough an individual that no one seems to question the appointment as nepotism. It is through Adare’s POV chapters that we learn about the intricacies of the Empire.
 
I also enjoyed that there was a younger brother without overt “jealous of big brother” tendencies. Valyn has his own dreams, to become a Kettral, and he does not seem to care that he won’t inherit the Unhewn Throne.
 
Cons
I wish that we had more of Adare’s perspective. Her POV chapters were scattered throughout.  The concept of vaniate is a little esoteric.  I really hate the idea of the “army without a family” like Staveley uses for the Kettral (or that George R.R. Martin uses with the Night’s Watch and the Kingsguard). That’s a personal preference, however, and does not interfere with my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
 
Rating
4/5.  I’m excited to see what happens in the next adventure of the story!
 
If you are interested in reading this book, it can be purchased from Dragonmount's eBook store here.
Moon Sedai
Moon Sedai

Gleeman's Tales: Drinking Game

I'm sure many of you have already seen or briefly glanced at the Wheel of Time Wiki's Drinking Game, but if not I thought I would share the glorious hilarity of it here. Since this has been around a while, I suppose this is kind of another Throwback post? Throwback Thursday (on a Wednesday) Part 2!
 
First of all, the disclaimer:
 
Sounds like something Nynaeve would say.
 

Just that right there is enough to knock a person out in the first 20 pages! The wiki page goes on to mention events requiring two, three, and four drinks, but I won't list them all here.
 
 
Hopefully you got a good laugh today. The Light illumine you!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

Gleeman's Tales: Ask Blogs

A trend has popped up in the Tumblr community of "ask blogs," which are blogs where you can ask a question and you will get an answer in the character of whoever is being portrayed. There have been some great posts as a result of this, and I wanted to feature just a few. At the end, I'll include a master list of all the ask blogs I know of right now (but more are being added just about every day).
 
First off, from askgraendal:
 





 
There have also been some great posts from ask blogs of our favorite steeds: Mandarb and Bela.
 
From askmandarb:

 
And from belathehorse:
 

 
Finally, I'll end with a great ongoing saga from askmoridin (the beginning of the ask has something to do with a previous conversation)
 

 
Hearteater now makes frequent appearances in many of Moridin's answers. 
 
That's all for this week, just a small taste of the many great things that have been happening on ask blogs. Here is the master list that I mentioned before, hopefully I get most of them:
 
Asmodean Moridin Lanfear Graendal Mat Cauthon Gaul Nynaeve Elayne Rand Egwene Lews Therin Ingtar Mandarb Bela Aelfinn Shaitan
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn