Book Review, A Memory of Light

Prepare yourself. After so long a wait, so many pages read, you’ll want the journey to continue.

For me, The Wheel of Time began in 1991. The first three volumes are crinkled and stained from much love. Now, with the last book, one emotion overwhelms me:  

Satisfaction.

I haven’t read a series-ending book that gave me such satisfaction as A Memory of Light. It tied the threads of stories together neatly, gave me the kind of drama and tension that moved me to tears. The battle between Darkness and Light was as epic as the parting of the Red Sea, climatic, thorough, and majestic.

Yes, majestic.

I walked beside Perrin, threw the dice with Mat, and gasped as Rand fought the Dark One. The images created by Brandon Sanderson using Robert Jordan’s notes are branded in my consciousness. The battle scenes, balefire cast, Rand’s choices, Egwene’s decisions, the unsung heroes; all contributed to the ‘heart in my throat’ feeling.

There is life and death, winners and the injured that the Aes Sedai cannot heal. I sorrowed and sometimes startled my hubby with shouts of ‘Good for you’.

And then the last page and Mr. Jordan’s endless wind dropped me.

I wanted it never to end.

To the critics of Mr. Jordan’s widow, who initially decided not to publish this book in Ereader form, IMO, to read this epic story in any other way than paper and glue is a travesty.

A Memory of Light...

...and of Robert Jordan.

The last book in the series, The Wheel of Time, arrives today. It started twenty-three years ago with Eye of the World and ends with A Memory of Light. 

This series is the definition of epic fantasy; magic, a real world, history, backstory, and foreshadowing. Clues are given and mysteries inserted throughout.

This series hit major high points with me. And some serious lows. The first half dozen or so tomes were breathtaking. But after number seven...eh, not so much. Too much 'arms akimbo' and bitchy women, blah blah blah. I wanted the storyline to move forward. By that time, with so many players involved changing from head to head wasn't intriguing anymore. I still bought the books. I mean, after I invested that much time, dollars, and energy into them I HAD to. 

By number eleven, the story settled down, focused on fewer characters and I enjoyed the books again. Still, there were many words/miles to go before the end. Then, tragedy struck and the author, Robert Jordan died. We grieved at the loss and wondered if the end of the series had passed along with him.

The world of fantasy sighed in relief when Brandon Sanderson, along with Mr. Jordon's widow, took over the job and, using the deceased author's copious notes, finished the last three books.

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As Fed Ex pulls into my drive tomorrow, I'll be there to meet him when he stops. I will take the box with the Amazon label on it, thank the nice man, and find my easy chair for the rest of the night.

Because, Writers and Bloggers, I won't sleep until I've read the last page.