THE SHADOW RISING (The Wheel of Time #4) by Robert Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written April 17, 2020)

Forgive any doubts in book three -- we have boarded the hype train.

Split the Wheel of Time series in three equal-ish acts, this would have to be the end of Act I. And it is truly a mic drop before intermission.

Dreams and prophecies provide the framework for this installment, danger and shadow ramping up in places once thought safe. This world continues to expand, introducing and teasing with no end in sight. The names and societies to keep track of hover just below overwhelming, yet make you crave more information. At this point it’s harder knowing I have to wait 10 more books for all the answers rather than having to actually read all those pages.

The best part is the break from formula and allowing characters to seek their own destinations without the need to reunite at the last minute. This way we lose the heavy foreshadowing for the endgame and have no clue what to expect, plus we get more than one main payoff. I’m talking FOUR epic climaxes to end this book, each competing and probably besting the earlier endings in the series. It’s a 980 pager, and the last 150 are worth the task.

Also, shoutout to my favorite section: the Aiel ancestral flashback. This shook the storytelling up when it needed a shaking, rerouting the experience with a massive world-building curveball. It’s as vivid at page 300 or so as the final scenes, and signals the rise in quality from the previous books. And it’s packed with insight and history that I imagine will continue to unfold as we move forward.

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Update 12/31/21:

This is still at least top two if not the best book of the series. The major climaxes are an early preview of the final ending and Jordan’s ability to bring together the entire world he’s built.

The last book is something special, but I honestly can’t wait to reach this one in future rereads.