A Review: Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

I started my re-read of the sixth installment in The Wheel of Time Series, Lord of Chaos with a lot of hope. Honestly, it has been so long since I read this book that I don’t remember almost anything that happened within it. But perhaps I read it too quickly in my youth. So I took my time this time.

What is Lord of Chaos About?

Lord of Chaos continues the epic tale of Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, as he struggles to unite the world against the growing threat of the Dark One. Political intrigue, rising tensions among the Aes Sedai, and the emergence of new players in the battle for control of the One Power drive the story forward. Meanwhile, Rand’s friends—Perrin, Mat, and Egwene—embark on their own journeys, each grappling with personal challenges and their roles in the larger conflict. As the stakes rise and alliances are tested, the delicate balance of power threatens to crumble under the weight of betrayal and ambition.

Review

One of the things that I wanted from the previous novel that I got in this one was more development with Nynaeve, Egwene, and Siuan. It was great to see their growth and Siuan’s big cathartic moment. Egwene really came into her own in this book, while Nynaeve’s abilities are outpacing her good sense.

I can’t tell you how much I missed having Perrin and Loial in the story. Perrin’s relationship with Faile continues to be complicated (and possibly frustrating for some readers), but I appreciate how the worldbuilding established by Jordan in this volume explains a lot of Faile’s behavior. It may not be enough for some readers to enjoy her, but a character being likable as a person isn’t what draws me to a character in general. Loial, on the other hand, is a character I enjoy specifically because I like him as a person, and I can relate to his plight as a character, even if it isn’t a driving force of the novel.

Of course, Rand, the dragon reborn himself, is a more interesting character than ever. Watching him navigate various political forces and the forces within his own mind is fascinating. He feels isolated in his power. No one quite understands him, and while there are those who want to help him, there are many more who can’t wait to take advantage of him… or worse. But let’s not get into spoilers. Rand no longer feels melodramatic as he may have felt in earlier installments.

While so much of the middle was needed to move each character to their next step in their stories, I can’t help but think it could have been done much more efficiently, especially since we’ve lost a bit of the wonder in this novel because of the relative lack of new worldbuilding to explore. Additionally, the ending wasn’t as epic as the previous installments. The final battle was a climactic moment, but it lacks the emotional weight and grandeur of earlier books in the series, especially books 4 and 5.

Is Lord of Chaos Worth Reading?

Because of its weaknesses, it’s hard to recommend Lord of Chaos to someone who isn’t already loving the series. However, I have the foresight to know that there are great moments I want to re-experience. If this is your first read, and you’re lukewarm on the story, there is a radiant light at the end of the tunnel.

If you love epic fantasy stories like The Wheel of Time, you’ll be perfectly at home in my epic fantasy stories. And the good news is that your journey can start right now, for free!