Robert Jordan

Book Two of 'The Wheel of Time'

The Great Hunt

Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, 2)

This felt kind of similar to how most of the Hollywood sequels are. The scale gets bigger but the story gets shorter. 

We've barely moved further in terms of main storyline. However, the world has gotten bigger and more characters are introduced making the WoT universe richer.

The two standout points for me from this book were the friendship between Rand and Loial and the last big action sequences.

Adwait Kulkarni

This felt kind of similar to how most of the Hollywood sequels are. The scale gets bigger but the story gets shorter. 

We've barely moved further in terms of main storyline. However, the world has gotten bigger and more characters are introduced making the WoT universe richer.

The two standout points for me from this book were the friendship between Rand and Loial and the last big action sequences.

As Moiraine Sedai recognizes young Rand al'Thor as the Dragon Reborn, the prophesied hero who alone can stand against the power of the Dark One, the Horn of Valere, destined to play a key role in the final confrontation, is stolen

the last 100 pages is my fav plotline so far 

myonna

this installation of the wheel of times series was admittedly better than the first, but still fails to live up to the hype.

I think what Jordan did with rand is masterful, he has developed at exactly the right pace across the last two books, the same can not be said of the larger cast, the majority of the characters are flat and one-note and lack any meaningful motivations, it is considerably worse in the case of the female cast, they are all incredibly shallow and quite boring, their motivations are non-existent or WORSE nonsensical. it seems to me that they exist to be love interests or weapons, not humans; they would barely pass the bechdel test, if at all.

excluding lan and moraine, most of the relationships are just as shallow as the characters, a lot of telling rather than showing etc.

the first 10% gives you hope but it is immediately shattered, only restored in the last 20%. a big chunk of this book is repetitive and charmless

this one actually pissded me off cause wdym you have characters in a MAGIC SCHOOL and you can't spend like 10 pages actually exploring your magic system, at this point the magic system is just like "stuff happens".

one or two nations are explored incredibly well and are so epic and fascinating, I wish we had gone more in depth with the rest.

I enjoyed the plot and overall story, the action scenes were also delightful, the ending specially. there were one or two scenes where I wish we had been told what was actually happening in the fight instead of " rand used xyz stance", but that's just a nit pick.

overall, the last 20% was what saved this book for me, it was simply magnificent 

mehrsa

this installation of the wheel of times series was admittedly better than the first, but still fails to live up to the hype.

• character work

I think what Jordan did with rand is masterful, he has developed at exactly the right pace across the last two books, the same can not be said of the larger cast, the majority of the characters are flat and one-note and lack any meaningful motivations, it is considerably worse in the case of the female cast, they are all incredibly shallow and quite boring, their motivations are non-existent or WORSE nonsensical. it seems to me that they exist to be love interests or weapons, not humans; they would barely pass the bechdel test, if at all.

• relationships

excluding lan and moraine, most of the relationships are just as shallow as the characters, a lot of telling rather than showing etc.

• pacing

the first 10% gives you hope but it is immediately shattered, only restored in the last 20%. a big chunk of this book is repetitive and charmless

• magic system

this one actually pissded me off cause wdym you have characters in a MAGIC SCHOOL and you can't spend like 10 pages actually exploring your magic system, at this point the magic system is just like "stuff happens".

• world building

one or two nations are explored incredibly well and are so epic and fascinating, I wish we had gone more in depth with the rest.

• action/ plot points

I enjoyed the plot and overall story, the action scenes were also delightful, the ending specially. there were one or two scenes where I wish we had been told what was actually happening in the fight instead of " rand used xyz stance", but that's just a nit pick.

overall, the last 20% was what saved this book for me, it was simply magnificent 

'Epic in every sense' - Sunday Times The second novel in the Wheel of Time series - one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published. The Forsaken are loose, the Horn of Valere has been found and the Dead are rising from their dreamless sleep. The Prophecies are being fulfilled - but Rand al'Thor, the shepherd the Aes Sedai have proclaimed as the Dragon Reborn, desperately seeks to escape his destiny. Rand cannot run for ever. With every passing day the Dark One grows in strength and strives to shatter his ancient prison, to break the Wheel, to bring an end to Time and sunder the weave of the Pattern. And the Pattern demands the Dragon. 'With the Wheel of Time, Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal' New York Times 'A fantasy phenomenon' SFX The Wheel of Time The Eye of the World The Great Hunt The Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of Daggers Winter's Heart Crossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight A Memory of Light New Spring (prequel)

Book 2 of the Wheel of Time

Luke Harkness

I. Am. So. Invested.

This has to be the coolest world I have ever read. Never have I been so truly interested in learning more and more of the different cultures, histories, world's and people of this world that Robert Jordan created. This second book had more action, a new drive and some very interesting routes from which the journey can now take!

Vicky  Nuñez 

Not gonna lie, there were a few inconsistencies and things that made no sense to me plotwise, but the story is engaging enough to keep you distracted.
Personally, i enjoyed it a lot and look forward to read more about the characters.

Perhaps not quite as good as the first book, but more development for each of the characters and exciting story overall. A bit darker than the first book I think. On to the next one. 

Liam Richardson

Im going to use the same review for the first 3 Wheel of Time books. Partly because they all follow a similar plot line. They are simply extensions of themselves. Mainly though, because It’s been a little while since reading them and I’ve forgotten much of the way I felt upon closing out each chapter. 

What I can say, is that I largely wanted to get through them. It often felt like I was reading to achieve a goal, rather than enjoy the story itself. Something I really try to not do, and something that I usually look back on as a sign of a book I did not love. 

That brief criticism aside, I did very much enjoy these books. I wouldn’t dare critique the fantastical genius if someone so well regarded as the late Robert Jordan. But Robert, I’m hoping for a little more here my brother. I was staging to tap out after 3, but a close friend (and respected fantasy enthusiast) hinted that the turn i’ve been seeking is waiting for me with the Shadow Rising. Do i believe it?? Well,  a girl can dream. Will I make it to the fabled final 3 books penned by the demigod Sanderson? Will the peloton-esque middle 7 books be enough to carry me through?? Who am I to say? The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come to Pass. I’ll see you back in the third age kid. i’m 

connor arnette

Im going to use the same review for the first 3 Wheel of Time books. Partly because they all follow a similar plot line. They are simply extensions of themselves. Mainly though, because It’s been a little while since reading them and I’ve forgotten much of the way I felt upon closing out each chapter. 

What I can say, is that I largely wanted to get through them. It often felt like I was reading to achieve a goal, rather than enjoy the story itself. Something I really try to not do, and something that I usually look back on as a sign of a book I did not love. 

That brief criticism aside, I did very much enjoy these books. I wouldn’t dare critique the fantastical genius if someone so well regarded as the late Robert Jordan. But Robert, I’m hoping for a little more here my brother. I was staging to tap out after 3, but a close friend (and respected fantasy enthusiast) hinted that the turn i’ve been seeking is waiting for me with the Shadow Rising. Do i believe it?? Well,  a girl can dream. Will I make it to the fabled final 3 books penned by the demigod Sanderson? Will the peloton-esque middle 7 books be enough to carry me through?? Who am I to say? The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come to Pass. I’ll see you back in the third age kid. i’m 

C. J. Daley 

The second book in The Wheel of Time series. I decided to continue on after finding the first book kind of lackluster because I watched the show and heard it was kind of pulling from books 2 and 3 as well as the first. Although I personally find the show to be lackluster as well unfortunately… 

This may be a semi-hot take again, but I am finding this author’s writing to be so incredibly dull. You have to read hundreds of pages in between the action, and the action isn’t really good anyway. The amount of just traveling in these books is insane (and at least in The Eye of the World it was tensed with them being chased…). I once again did the audio for this one (which is still weird with the split male and female perspectives, but I at least am used to it now) and at the end of this one there was also an interview just like the first one. The author kind of says stuff against the genre (and TOLKIEN) in terms of wanting to be different, and yet he still manages in 1400 pages to write nothing really different at all? I mean that’s not to say there isn’t some good stuff, but avoiding others tropes does not mean you’re not just falling into other ones… 

I think the Great Hunt falls short in terms of characterization. For me, I didn’t love the first, but I wanted to know more and see more. In the sequel, I don’t think there’s any character development. Yet again Matt and Perrin are hardly in use, and Rand says the same 4 sentences the entire time. Egwene becomes increasingly annoying, and Lan and Morgaine are pretty much MIA? 

The climax picked up in the slightest bit, and I did find myself invested. Weirdly enough, two back-to-back not great reads and I still find myself interested in continuing? Is this self punishment, or is there something more to gain here?

Florence

Loved it. Could hardly put it down. I found it even better than the first one. The world is so detailed, so beautifully crafted, and I loved meeting new characters and see how they fit in the Pattern.

Gillian Rose

3.5 stars

Still enjoying the throwback fantasy feel. However, I cannot stand Rand and wish he wasn't the main character. I'm actually having a lot of problems with the characters who don't want magic?? Why are you like this?

The great hunt

Beatriz Aguiar

I'm here purely for the vibes at this point. <3
Rand is the same ol' stubburn bitch but i can't help but like him a little. 
mostly the fun in this book is in all the suspense. just cliffhangers, questions and bamboozles alllll theee time.
even though i love reading about Moiraine, i surprisingly didin't mind her not being very much present in this book tho i did miss her. 
i mean, the characters are all fun to follow, each with their own troubles and plights and the setting is just idyllic. the atmosphere of the story we're in fills my heart and soul. 
i especially adore reading the books with the amazon prime show's soundtrack on <333 just completely transports me to a world where i could be a badass mysterious Aes Sedai like Moraine with a hot brooding Warder like Lan. 
Beatriz Sedai. I like the ring of it.

Alejandro

I enjoyed this one better than the first :) Things are getting more and more interesting ^^
But I still thing it moves too slowly.

The Forsaken are loose, the Horn of Valere has been found and the Dead are rising from their dreamless sleep. The Prophecies are being fulfilled - but Rand al'Thor, the shepherd the Aes Sedai have proclaimed as the Dragon Reborn, desperately seeks to escape his destiny. Rand cannot run for ever. With every passing day the Dark One grows in strength and strives to shatter his ancient prison, to break the Wheel, to bring an end to Time and sunder the weave of the Pattern. And the Pattern demands the Dragon.

Rick Dobrowolski

I enjoyed this book even more than the 1st book. I hear that the series tends to drag along towards the late middle, so we'll see how things go, but so far I'm impressed with Robert Jordan's world-building and especially his building of characters and development of them. Unlike Tolkien, Jordan does well with male and female characters (IMHO, Tolkien struggles a bit with female characters, both their existence and their development).

Celeste Richardson

I’ve tried, I really have. I just don’t think that Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is for me. I want desperately to read it in its entirety and love it, but I’m roughly 1500 pages in and it’s already a struggle. The sad thing is, the plot and the world building are actually very interesting, as is the magic system and the mysteries it holds. But I just can’t seem to get past the characters. The way women view men, even while fighting over them, is so insanely irritating. The main perspective characters come across as whiny and mulish, and are so focussed on the same handful of thoughts repeating over and over again in their minds that they rarely have room to notice something new. 

The three stars I’m awarding this book are in large part thanks to the world building and the plotting of the last quarter of the book. Perhaps I’ll try again one day, but I feel that as a modern reader of fantasy, going back and rereading the classics of the genre doesn’t hold the same power for me as for readers who came to these classics before the newer novels so popular in the genre were written. I appreciate that there are dozens of authors I love who might not have been able to craft the books that have inspired awe within me if Jordan had never penned this series. But having read those amazing works before coming to the series that inspired them as made the foundational material very difficult for me to enjoy.

If you’re a reader who loves this series and know it will always hold a special place in your heart, I’m sorry that I can’t join you in that love. But I can see why you love it, even if I can’t share the feeling.

Brianna

Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burns us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation. 


Finally writing a mini review/thoughts after a reread. This book didn’t really stand out to me while looking back after having finished the series for the first time, though I remember really enjoying it and its probably the one I read the fastest. I love the climax at the end. I enjoyed it again just as much if not more the second time around. Domon remains one of my favorite side characters and I know for a fact my love for him started in this book. 
Gist is, Great Hunt is solid book. One of the best in the series that I keep forgetting about because my nostalgia for beginnings tend to overshadow direct sequels, and I am insanely excited to see an adaptation of these particular events.
Also, I just fucking love RJ’s writing style. I feel like I should take a shot every time I say it. It’d be great.

Aidan Francis

Phenomenal, I love this series so much😭

Ashutosh

This one was much better than the first book as we get to know much more about the world and some cultural aspects of the world. There were times where I got bored and felt like I won't be able to continue with this series, but I pushed myself towards the end somehow and it was totally worth it. There are several aspects that make this book a better sequel, but for me the introduction of Seanchan and their culture was something unique and interesting. 

While I still struggle with immersing myself into the characters to the level that I start caring for them, I think that I'll reach that stage soon enough with respect to where the story is proceeding. The plot had a sense of adventurous feel to it which I'm not a fan of, but still it was engaging enough, with some boring parts and a worthwhile ending. I don't think I would've continued with the series if the ending turned out to be the one similar to the first book, coz that was seriously lame and made me question the hype surrounding the series. But, to simply conclude, I will be continuing this series, just hoping that at some point in time I'll start caring for the characters.

Maddie Holverson

A great sequel! Got through this book much quicker than the first and was intrigued by all of the new elements and details. This book advances the story in an exciting way

Kireth Sandhu

Ah... so, this was an improvement on The Eye of the World. Personally, The Great Hunt was very up and down. There were moments where I was hooked on the story, and then stretches where I was wondering how long more I had to read before returning to a point of motion in the story. The book is long, and when you read it in the context of a larger series it isn't that bad - but as a single novel, it doesn't really have an identity of its own.

Read here for my full thoughts: 
https://life-of-karrot.com/the-wheel-of-time-part-1/

Sean Fash

Never trust females that only talk about the horn and greatness.

Juliette van Duijn

This second book was a lot easier for me to get through. I suppose now that I was more familiar with the characters and the world it was a lot easier to be invested. I actually felt myself growing more attached to the major characters, then I did in the first book. Likely because not everything revolved around Rand in this book. One thing that did stay the same was the ending being incredible.

Imane

4.5/5

Did I stay up until 5:36am to finish this book? Absolutely!

Things take a turn in this fast-paced quest and I loved every single minute of it. This was definitely heavily plot-driven and we didn't get to see some of the characters develop but you win some, you lose some. This was such a blast but it was also darker than in my memories, not that I'm complaining about it. I love how we don't get all the elements composing the pieces on the chessboard and that we can still speculate as to what is going to happen next, with all the foreshadowing done and the sheer vastness of this world and its potential. My main critic would be that the relationships aren't cultivated organically but I'm not reading these books for the romances lmao. Special mention to my girl Verin Mathwin for being one step ahead of everyone... Truly iconic.

The Great Hunt Book Two of 'The Wheel of Time'

Reviews