"I'm going to cleanse the male half of the Source," he said in a flat voice. A momentous announcement. A grand scheme, more than grand. Grandiose, most would say. He might have said he intended to take an afternoon stroll, for all of Min's reaction.
The finale is surprisingly thrilling even if there's no doubt at any point that Rand could fail in his attempt. The opposition thrown at them seemed half-hearted, though. I was expecting much more from the Forsaken, considering they knew of Rand's secret plan long before its execution. And they had all day to Travel to the site to stop him, the amount of True Source channeled shining like a beacon all over the world (or "Randland"). But no, only few of the Chosen show up.
And they're not enough to go through the Aes Sedai and Asha'man protecting Rand and Nynaeve. While their numbers are not many, the Power they are able to wield is considerable, thanks to the many angreal (including properly used Callandor) in their possession. One of the Chosen even gets killed, by Elza, an Aes Sedai secretly of the Black Ajah. Again a minion of Shadow right under the noses of the good guys! They really are everywhere.
Death is not final (unless by balefire) for the Forsaken, however, as Cyndane confirms to be Lanfear, resurrected by the Sightblinder. I wonder if we'll see Moiraine at some point too.
Apart from the gripping end, the ninth book of the Wheel of Time falls pretty flat in regards to exciting stuff happening. People just go about their daily business as usual. Sure, Rand kills the rogue Asha'man who tried to kill him, and once again encounters Padan Fain, who flees, again.
Mat makes a comeback, though, which is nice. Evidently, he is just fine in Ebou Dar apart from the injuries he got in the Seanchan attack from what he's now recovering. Mat finds a new, mysterious minor character, Noal, who joins his company. I hope he won't turn out to be a minion of Shadow as well. His character seems similar to Elays, just less wolfy.
Also, the Daughter of Nine Moons finally enters the play. And she is no other than the heir to the Seanchan throne. And Mat kidnaps her...
I wonder if they will play a key part in allying Hawkwing's descendants to Rand. The Seanchan version of the Karaethon Cycle claims the Dragon Reborn will bow to them for the battle against the Shadow. Hah, that will never happen. I think the Seanchan historians have altered the prophecy to please their Empress, may she live forever.
Now that the saidin problem is dealt with, Rand can focus on other matters. Surely, the Seanchan need to be dealt with somehow. Then there are rebelling people all over the places Rand has conquered. Luckily, he now has Cadsuane as his advisor. Who is going to teach Rand to laugh and cry again.
"He is turning into a stone, Verin, and if he doesn't relearn that he's human, winning the Last Battle may not be much better than losing."
We shall see how that well that goes.
The book's title is obviously a reference to Rand's growing hardness (as well as to the winter that finally came). I like book titles that make sense.
On a side note, I think I'll take a little break from the Wheel of Time and read Salvatore's Gauntlgrym, before continuing with Crossroads of Twilight.
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