If you read my previous review, you will know that my initial dive into this series started rather lukewarm, as the overused tropes and tame opening didn’t do much for me. However, the pace continues to pick up in “The Great Hunt”, the second installment in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. So without further delay, let’s dive in…
We got to spend a lot more time with the same cast of characters from the first book, and I am much more involved in the overarching plot that Jordan is telling. We are introduced to a lot more exposition about the world, it’s threats, and just so much more.
As I’m a character focused reader, I will begin there. Last time, I stated my favourite character had to be Rand, and I stick by this for now; however, I see the scales begin to tip towards other characters. Rand continues to prove to be a young man full of dangerous potential, and everyone around him is trying to use him for their own benefit. It’s satisfying to see him grow with his use of the One Power, but also see him damage himself and his friends when he is pushed too far. Too many authors provide their characters with a uniform growth of their powers, not letting them struggle much, and thus not letting the reader be kept on their toes. Although I want Rand to win, I don’t want it to be easy.
Loial continues to interest me, mainly due to his pacifist and scholarly nature. He is a fountain of knowledge surrounds by those who often choose to speak with fists rather than education. I was also beyond excited to be able to step foot into one of the Ogier steddings, and just being able to learn about their culture overall. I have a hunch we will see a lot more about the Ogier civilization, and I am living for it.
Another surprising upcoming star in my opinion is Egwene, who goes through so much in “the Great Hunt”. Her time as a Leashed One was so hard to read through, and really helped add much needed stakes to the overall story. Her conclusion to that mini story arc had me full of satisfaction and morbid joy lol. I’m excited to see how this experience will shape her as the future books unfold
In terms of plot, a lot more happened than I had expected. The introduction of the Seanchan was the point in the novel where I got super invested, as the appearance of a new party made things more complicated and intriguing. I’m sure they will be a major player in the story now, and I’m looking forward to see what Jordan has in store for them. Their connection to the Grolm, who we first meet in an alternate world, leads me to believe that bigger things are at play.
We continued to see the battle between Rand and company versus The Dark One and his armies. We don’t get to see much of the big bad himself, but we see more Fain who I am very fond of, as he is depicted as wonderfully devious and evil, which keeps things hectic.
Although this story was about the hunt for the Horn of Valere, I was blown away that it was actually used in this novel, as I was fully expecting it to be saved for the latter half of the series. The arrival of the heroes of legends introduced a whole new factor, and I’m curious to see how that will play out now that their first battle is over. Will they stay? Does the Horn have any use from this point on? I have no damn clue 😂
One last thing I want to focus on is the writing itself. Jordan had a few iffy moments in the first novel that took me out of the story. The main example is when he awkwardly uses flashbacks without making it very clear that he was doing so. Thankfully, I didn’t notice any issues of this caliber in “The Great Hunt”, and the actual reading process was smooth. A lot of characters have their own distinct voice, which helped me differentiate between the ever growing cast.
Final Score = 8/10
“The Great Hunt” builds upon a lot of the basic building blocks set up in the first book, and introduces a lot more moving parts in the plot, without making it confusing or hectic. I found myself way more invested and am actively looking forward to continuing my journey through the series
Be sure to stay tuned on the site, or visit my Instagram to get more updates on what I’m watching, reading, and enjoying (or hating lol) in general!