Official Littafi Logo (2)
Africa Fantasy News Blog Shop

Fantasy, thewheeloftime

Winter’s Heart (The Wheel of Time #9) by Robert Jordan

Also, the character development has reached a level where readers can actually identify characters by their speech, mannerisms and actions. It’s the height of realism.

Written by Akinwale
Published on March 20, 2023
Winter's Heart

I think I’m running out of superlatives to describe this series, so I’ll describe Winter’s Heart as “very good”.

The major plotline is the attempt by Rand al’Thor, aided by Nynaeve, to cleanse the taint in saidin. Aes Sedai politicking and meddling continue, Elayne sets about securing her throne, and there’s little mention of Perrin, while Mat Cauthon eventually meets the Daughter of the Nine Moons.

I would give a year of my life to spend a day in the world of the Wheel of Time. While Malazan is merely vast in setting and Sword of Truth sacrifices almost all else for top-notch character development, WoT seems to combine both elements plus more and then magnify it a hundred times. It’s just too vast to take in completely.

The book starts out slowly, as with most books in this series, and then suddenly bursts to life in the final third or so. Despite this, there are quite a number of things to enjoy before the climax: the events leading up to Mat’s discovery of the woman prophecy foretold he would marry, and Rand’s bonding by all three of Aviendha, Elayne and Min.

Several things make this particular story stand out from the entire series. First is the relationship between the characters. The main characters are beginning to somewhat understand each other, unlike the endless bickering in the previous books. Rand seems to have realised he cannot defeat the Dark One without Aes Sedai help.

Second, the magic system reaches new heights. Most WoT fans do not give the magic as much credit as it should. It’s incredibly well-structured for its somewhat casual use.

Also, the character development has reached a level where readers can actually identify characters by their speech, mannerisms and actions. It’s the height of realism.

It’s a great book with a blockbuster ending that will leave every reader wanting more.

Akinwale

The Tyrant Overlord. Fantasy buff and avid football fan.

Share your thoughts

    Top Posts
    Cartoon Characters That Were Villains

    Top 30 Cartoon Characters That Were Villains

    Our list rounds up the top 30 cartoon characters that were villains, each one more wonderfully wicked than the last.

    The Eternal Debate: DC vs. Marvel

    The Eternal Debate: DC vs. Marvel

    DC is great at making comics and animated movies, while the MCU has the upper hand in its cinematic aspects

    Best Apps to Read Books

    Top 8 Best Apps to Read Books For Free in 2025

    Discover the best apps to read books for free in 2025. Access thousands of free e-books and audiobooks on your phone or tablet. ...

    Funny Cartoon Characters

    20 Funny Cartoon Characters Sure to Crack You Up Good

    There are some outright funny cartoon characters who exist solely to crack you up, loud, hard, and with zero apology.

    Things Fall Apart quotes

    Top 10 Quotes From Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

    Things Fall Apart is for the colonizers as well as the colonized, helping to understand the role of colonialism in the realization...

    Nollywood movies

    Best 20 Nollywood Movies of All Time

    While many of the Nollywood movies on our list are quite old, it’s a testament to the capabilities of the industry’s p...

    Top 50 Mythical Creatures in Folklore From Around The World

    Top 50 Mythical Creatures in Folklore From Around The World

    While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it comprises some of the most popular mythical creatures from around the world.