Book Worms  |  Amazon.com

When I sped through Robert Jordan's The Dragon Reborn and on to The Shadow Rising, I must admit that I had an unfair advantage. A friend of mine who had recommended this series to me informed me that the fourth and fifth books of Jordan's Wheel of Time saga are two of the best fantasy books he has read. With a testimonial like that, I eagerly trotted on to The Shadow Rising, and, I must say, I was rather impressed. The book excels on so many levels, but its power is due primarily to some compelling story lines for all three of its main characters: Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, and Rand al'Thor. This sets The Shadow Rising apart from the three preceding books, and it reinvigorates the reader for the rest of Jordan's spectacular journey.

When Rand al'Thor sacked the Stone of Tear at the end of The Dragon Reborn, he offered indisputable proof that he is the Dragon Reborn. By grasping Callandor, the mythical sword that only the Dragon Reborn can touch, he sent a shockwave across the known world, from the Aryth Ocean all the way to the Spine of the World. Yet Rand knows that enemies still surround him, and he realizes that the Foresaken, freed from an eternity of imprisonment, have returned and view him as an obstacle to greater power. The Lords and Ladies of Tear are jockeying for positions of favor, and the Aes Sedai of Tar Valon still seek to exert influence on him. With all these forces pulling him in different directions, Rand decides to do what they would all least expect.

Across this vast land, trouble rages in the Two Rivers, hometown of Mat, Perrin, and Rand. The Children of the Light have come, seeking a man with golden eyes, and the Trollocs have returned, burning homes and murdering innocents. While Rand must contend with his new status, Perrin Aybara races through the mysterious Waygates to return to his home. He knows that his family is in trouble and that it is he the Children are after. With the Ogier Loail, a Hunter of the Horn named Faille, and a small band of Aiel, Perrin heads off to do whatever is necessary to end the suffering in the Two Rivers. Even if it costs him his life…

Robert Jordan takes us one more time to his magical world, immersing us in a world we have come to know so well over the course of three previous books. As Perrin returns to the Two Rivers, we see his home for the first time since the very beginning of this odyssey. Despite being ravaged by attackers, it is still the same place he grew up, even if he has changed dramatically. Perrin's growth and his assumption of leadership in Two Rivers make for the most compelling story in this rich, layered novel. Rand's growing acceptance of his destiny leads him to a storied city in the clouds, one which shows him visions of a time long forgotten. These two characters, two which have become my favorites over the course of four novels, make this novel a must-read. If that is not enough for a Robert Jordan fan, maybe the knowledge that his fifth novel - The Fires of Heaven - is equally good will spur further reading.

•  Send Comments

(Reviewed 12/18/99.)