WoT Spoilers

Rand has managed to successfully transport his party from a Portal Stone in Tear to one just outside Rhuidean. This was the limit of his power at the time; Moiraine seems to think that he nearly killed himself in the attempt, but she also knows that the Aiel Wise Ones prophesied his safe arrival at the city. That same group of Wise Ones greets Rand and his party, they've been waiting for him. We'l...

Rand leads his odd procession of Aiel and Aes Sedai through the streets of Tear, to a Portal Stone just outside of the city. Aviendha is among the scouts Rand sends out looking for the ancient artifact, she's the one who finds it, it's one of their very fist interactions despite being in the Stone together. Using the Portal Stone is a gamble, and Rand is hoping that his own power enhanced by the S...

We're excited to watch Rand gather the nobles of Tear, and announce his plans through Moiraine's eyes; a master of The Game of Houses. Chapters from her perspective are fairly rare, but very informative. So, we'll take plenty of time to analyze Moiraine's insights into current events in Randland. This is the sequence where Rand leaves Callandor sunk into the Heart of the Stone, the moment that lit...

Elayne and Nynaeve are still in Tear's harbor when they feel the earthquake Rand creates as he drives Callandor in the Heart of the Stone. The two women are joined by Thom Merrilin and Juilin Sandar. The two men were sent separately, by different people to act as the young women's unofficial warders during their hunting trip to Tanchico. Although, the two men have not been informed that this trip...

Elayne and Nynaeve arrive at the docks of Tear, to board 'The Wavedancer', a Seafolk raker. They suspect the Black Ajah is active in Tanchico, although they don't know why or exactly where. In our first encounter with the Atha'an Miere we meet the powerful and clever women in charge of the impressive vessel, and experience their sharp negotiation skills that they're known for. We find out that The...

Perrin, Faile and their small party are preparing to enter the Ways. Gaul explains to Perrin that his clan has a blood-feud with the clan of one of the maidens that will be accompanying them to the Two Rivers. With a little luck he says, they won't have to kill each other. While the party is riding out of the city, the Stone “rang like a monstrous bell” this is Rand, slamming Callandor into the fl...

Moiraine wants Thom to travel with Nynaeve and Elayne to Tanchico. Every time these two have a conversation there are multiple meanings, implications, and shrouded threats. Each conversation between these two wonderful characters gives us SO much to break down, and attempt to understand. In the end, Moiraine convinces him to look after the two young women, we'll explain why, how, and what price ev...

Tune in for a special dramatic reading of Lan's monologue in this chapter! Perrin has his mind set on returning to Emond's Field, to die, alone, but Faile isn't having it. Her (and his) stubborn behavior over the next few chapters is un-endingly frustrating to read, and although it may seem counter intuitive, plot lines like this one are what make Robert Jordan's characters feel so real. They are...

There is only one place Mat can find the answers to his questions, the land of the Finn. Little does Mat know, Rand, and Moiraine have already entered the doorway, ALL THREE are there getting their answers at the same time. Mat of course somehow gets the Finn to answer 6 questions rather than three. So much to talk about here! We've been waiting to break down this scene for a long time! WoTSpoiler...

While Perrin is laying to sleep, and unexpected visitor walks into his room. We think her intent is exactly what she says, to have Perrin pass a message to Rand. The first of Mayene will be leaving Tear, and Berelain is afraid to approach Rand alone. Perrin's resistance at being used as a messenger boy is what makes Berelain initially re-think that intent. When Faile enters and finds them together...

Mat sits in an ale house, drinking and relieving the last few hours of his life. The Battle in the Stone; Mat's life was saved by a horde of Trollocs, we'll read his flashback to you. We'll spend a little time talking about Manetheran, and how the Pattern itself has picked the perfect people to save the world from the touch of the Dark One. While brooding to himself, Mat overhears a group of men t...

Egwene returns from Tel'aran'rhiod and tells her friends and fellow hunters about Amys, the Wise One she met in the Dream. Egwene knows she has to go to this teacher, and cannot travel to Tanchico with the other women. Luckily, she'll have a companion, because Aviendha has been summoned to the Waste as well. We'll fall off the deep end a bit, and spend a while talking about Aiel Culture, while Avi...

Sponsored by: Binding The Shattered Harp  Moiraine informs the Hunters Three that their two Black Ajah Captives have been assassinated while in their cells. Amico and Joiya were found with their throats slit, and their tongues cut out. Their doors were never opened, and their guards heard nothing. As readers we find out later who killed them and why, MUCH later. There is a long list of Egwene's pr...

Our friend Daniel Greene joins us again to discuss The battle for the Stone. Rand wades out into the madness, now unafraid of the Shadowspawn, and begins rallying defenders, Aiel, and whoever he can to defend the women and children who live in the Stone.  Robert Jordan gives us a beautiful and unrelentingly brutal depiction of the battle that we will discuss line by line. Sammael sent the half doz...

For this episode we have a very special guest, Daniel Greene, a WoT fan, and book reviewer whose work we really enjoyed Click here to visit his Youtube page. Seriously.  Do it and tell him we sent you.  We'll spend a little time talking with Daniel about the Kingkiller Chronicles, Daniel's other projects,  how we found eachother, and ended up working as book reviewers and book-club runners. As we...

After Egwene leaves Elayne and Rand alone, the daughter heir makes her feelings clear him, and guides him through the budding romance. After the first of their many make-out sessions, Gaul enters the room to warn Rand that a group of Tairen High Lords are waiting outside to negotiate some of the Dragon's new legislation. After Elayne leaves him to it, and Rand finds the Lords' protests disgust him...

Egwene and Elayne implement their plan to deliver the Dragon into the arms of the daughter heir of Andor. Rand is still suffering from his haunted dreams. Some are real, some are not, but it makes little difference, the young man is under an incredible amount of stress, he isn't sleeping, and someone or something tries to kill him on a nearly daily basis. Is Rand on edge for these reasons, is it t...

While Nynaeve takes pleasure in Moiaine's frustrated attempts to direct Rand's actions, Moiraine informs the prisoners and their jailers that she has made arrangements for the captives to be sent by river boat to Tar Valon, to be tried, and undoubtedly executed by the women of the Tower. We'll spend a bit of time explaining the over-arching timeline of Moiaine's messages to the tower, the assassin...

After healing and counseling Rand, Moiraine returns to the Hunters Three, to advise them in their questioning of Joiya and Amico, the two captured Sisters of the Black Ajah. The three younger women have managed to glean a few choice bits of information from their interrogation, but don't know what they can trust, let alone act on. Aviendha notices that the stilled Sister's appearance has changed -...

A Gleeman's Strings, The strings which tie Thom and Mat to the Dragon, and just for good measure, Thom is playing the games of houses like a fiddle for them both. When Mat arrives at his door, Thom is just finishing up a forged letter. His intent is to create a rift between Rand's detractors. This plot eventually leads to one of the Dragons enemies killing another in a 'hunting accident'. We spend...

Perrin and Faile move quickly through the corridors of the Stone. The Tairen High Lords avoid the Dragon and his retinue. The first section of this chapter really highlights the growing tension between the two groups in the Stone. Rand's Aiel guards try to discourage Perrin from bothering Rand, but even Bain's spear point directed at his neck doesn't deter him. We'll spend some time discussing the...

This section begins with Rand, dreaming a sexually charged dream about Min and Elayne. Berelain enters his room and he snaps awake. She wants to seduce him, but Rand is having none of it. He does try to remain polite through most of the encounter, even when Berelain refuses to take no for an answer. Luckily for her, Rand loses his patience, and slowly pushes her away with a wall of air. Before she...

Mat is playing cards with the sons of the High Lords of Tear. Later with the exception of one who dies, these men will be commanders in the Band of the Red Hand, underneath it's general, Matrim Cauthon. Mat tells the men the story of how he discovered a new game, Maiden's Kiss. Outside in the darkness, a cock crows and Mat's hand, the highest card in each suit, kings and queens, come to life and a...

In a lengthy and beautiful intro, Robert Jordan brings us back to The Stone of Tear, where the Dragon's Banner whips in the wind on the top of the mountain fortress. Perrin and Faile are in their rooms, arguing, believe it or not. We discuss their relationship, and debate a bit about just how intimate it has become. Faile wants Perrin to accept her as a long-term partner, but he doesn't feel right...

Elaida has growing suspicions about Suian, and quickly realizes that this “Elmindreda” is connected to Elayne, Nynaeve, and Egwene. She knows that the three young women are connected to Rand, Moiraine to all of them, and most importantly Suian to Moiraine. The White Cloaks are moving toward the Two Rivers, Mordeth in toe, now known as 'Ordeith', a reference to Worm Tongue of LOTR, and have taken a...