A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson


Jan 19, 2013

Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, is here. The Dragon Reborn and his allies have gathered together to fight the Dark One and his Shadow.  Will it be enough? Will the Dragon be able to stop the Dark One from destroying the Pattern and lay siege to the world? And if so, will it be to the Dragon’s death?

I remember picking up The Eye of the World, the beginning book of the Wheel of Time series, for the first time in 1990. I will be honest that I did not finish it in that reading. I am not sure why, but I remember returning it to the library thinking that I will look at it again later. And when I did a few months later, I was hooked. The Wheel had woven me in, and I couldn’t put it down. Thus began my relationship with the world of the Dragon Reborn.

Now 23 years and 14 books later, The Wheel of Time has come full circle. With the death of Robert Jordan on September 16, 2007, many thought that they would never see the great battle between the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One. Later that year, Tor Books announced that Brandon Sanderson, an author and long-time fan himself, would finish the series from Jordan’s copious notes. The dream was not lost.

Now we have A Memory of Light, the final book of the series. It has been a long time since I have looked forward to a book with such excitement and sorrow.  I have eagerly been waiting for the conclusion for over two decades, to see the story end and mysteries resolved. I grew up with these characters, with their stories and adventures. I remember reading myself into the story, pretending that I was there with our heroes. And now I know how it ends!

Strangely enough, it is for these exact same reasons that I have been dreading it as well. I am not sure that I want it to end. Yes, it has been a struggle waiting for each book to come out years apart, and to feel that the story would never end. And now that it is here, it is hard to let go.

With all that said, A Memory of Light was an awesome book. Mr. Sanderson has (in my mind) correctly interpreted Mr. Jordan’s notes, and has given us a wonderful and satisfying conclusion to the Wheel of Time. Are all questions answered? No, but that is okay. It kept me up at night, having to read just one more page and then put it down. When a book does that, I know it is good. Just be aware that no one is safe in the Last Battle.

So if you are looking for a read alike to Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire while waiting for the next book, look no further than Jordan’s completed series, The Wheel of Time.

Reviewed by Jared H.
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